That evening Su Fei literally packed a bundle with her sister that was excited to see MeiMei and summoned absolutely everything in house.
Including tables, big pots, even window paper and firewood.
The garden was plucked clean directly from ground and she planned to replant it in the Lin village.
Now she just has to get on time there.
"Uncle..." She glanced at Su MeiMei's grandfather. He loved when people called him uncle and not grandpa.
He glanced at her and saw strange deep eyes. He saw Su Yue sleeping in her lap and whispered.
"Something is going on?"
Su Fei pointed at opisit mountain where huge monastery was visible even from this far. "Three years ago I met famous monk that died after. He told me something that at that time I didn't believe as it was ridiculous. But I got news from Capital and I worry."
"What is it?" He could literally feel how each small hair stood up as this girl had strange ability to control mood.
"Three years ago the monk said that three days after Autumn Festival, that means after everyone harvested food, the flood will come. Tens of thousands will die. Our Su clan has good position and can get saved. In two days Su clan will harvest grains. Tell them not to sell single grain. Nothing. No, tell them to buy more. Elder, I'm leaving today and I won't come back. Your second son is having large family and need space. I'm gifting him my house. I already sold everything as I need money. If you want, you can trust me. You can as well ignore my plea. Norther Chi is having winter of century. But as spring is coming all that water won't stay there. It's coming to us. And rivers won't be able to contain that amount of water. "
She looked at him again and then at nearing mountain.
"I would recommend to run to mountain as well. There you can at least hunt and spread more. Or you can stay in safety of Su clan walls. Elder, that is your choice."
Giving him information is good enough. His choice was anyway to stay put inside clan and that truly isn't wrong.
Real problem will be food and dirty water and people that survived the flood but are like hungry locusts.
Someone might ask her why she left?
It's safe there.
Yes. But once most fields get list under water, those that hold fields will ration food, and she is not quite a family.
Su clan will go trough tough times. Staying together is questionable.
The silence between them two was not depressing as both had deep thoughts.
Sounds of children made both if them snap out of it as they slowly reached the village that was famously poor.
A dozen or so simple houses and two that looked better. Qian Feng and his family were never wealthy and most of wealth was invested literally into the houses for his son's that are now left for his older brother.
Another simple house was built for the two of them. Nothing special.
Two rooms. One was kitchen and one room where the two slept together.
One large Kang bed that will warm them in cold nights and only thing she asked for was high walls around house.
Two orphaned girls were easy target to stupid ideas but those that had them, didn't dare.
Even if they are in their village the three Su girls could cause them to literally die over night.
Su clan was famous to be very revengeful.
So no one would dare to even had second thought of attacking any of them.
Su MeiMei rushed outside and even Qinqin rushed out of her own house that she made after divorce.
Her parents agreed for her to come back and her brother promised not to mention marriage ever again.
The two girls literally just brought their beddings, pits and pans and food to new house.
This time even village elder was stunned as he realized that his village got another pair of girls from Su clan.
By now he knew something was going on but Su Fei just shook slightly her head. His curiosity has to wait.
MeiMei saw her grandfathers serious face as he helped the girls settle down and leaving without many words that were spoken.
"Jie (big sister), what is going on?" She asked as villagers slowly gathered, more curious than anything.
Su Fei waited until everyone gathered, stepped on table and spoke loudly. "I got message from Capital. Whole north was under heavy snow now for two years. The problem us, it's melting now too fast. Rivers won't be able to hold on thatuch water and as we are lower then northern Chu and Luo Empire, we will get in big trouble. The problem is , the Emperor os not ready for this disaster so he never notified anyone. Nobles are leaving cities like rats sinking boat. But no one notified commoners. I warned Su clan and left. Su clan has hundreds of households with thousands of people. Once flood comes, they might be safe, but how long? I chose this village as it is on high ground. Anyone having families in lower parts should warn them on time. I'm going to town to buy more supplies with leftover money I have. After that I'll enter forest to gather wild vegetables, mushrooms and such. There is no such a thing as toouch food. Let's get ready. By the way, I will warn you only this one time. Don't ask me for food or try to steal mine. I will not stand still and akt weak. I'm Su. Do we understand each other?"
Those that had shimmer of greed just shut up whole rest ignored her words. Including village chief that thought she was panic monger.
Qian Feng went down to the Qian village and brought back only his youngest brother that trusted his words and built another house near him.
Days after that were ignored by everyone.
Su Fei went to city and came back with only five bags of grains, one pot of fat and small bag of salt.
This was enough for the two of them.
No one took it seriously and no one considered how expensive silk embroidery was. Those that knew how to sew some small bags got just few coins so the villagers thought that these two girls were as poor as them do they easily accepted them.
About the land they bought from Cuo town, they couldn't control as it belonged to county.
And they didn't buy a lot. Even Su Fei and Su Yue bought only one plot of land each.
Qian Feng and his brother Qian Meng bought each one acre of land worth five plots each. Other villagers had same amount so there was no greed for it.
Things became calm on outside, but inside Su clan there was power fight.
Elders separated into two groups. The ones that beliced in Su Fei's story and the other half refused believing even if they saw written reports of massive snow and ice melting on north.
So those that beliced went to their families and went big shopping. Grains they had were collected, dried and kept after paying taxes.
Those that had slight doubts kept the food as they knew if nothing happens they can always sell it when colder weather hits the land.
But as days passed and warmer weather came, many started doubting. Unfortunately, their doubtsade them loose caution.
On other hand, Lin village became larger suddenly. Five of Su clan families chose to transfer here.
Men stood in front of Su Fei that made plans. "Everyone bought enough supplies?"
They all nodded while she opened latest letter that princess Mingzhu sent her and she gave it to nearest young man that wS next scholar of Su clan.
He paled as he read the letter. "Fuxia, Liang, Sheng and Chong are completely under water. No survivors. Emperor got sick and gave throne to Prince Wei. New Empire name is Sui. New Emperor sent messages to all counties to warn commoners but realized that even City Lords escaped long ago and went on rampage killing many as they hid in Capital. The flood is spreading and those that can escape will be gifted land later on."
What land?
"Go with this letter from village to village and save as many you can. Those that don't listen, you can't save anyway."
The men spread around and ran. Literally ran.
Su Fei sat by the table with heavy expression and looked at Qian Feng. "Go down to Qian village and tell them one more time. This time officially. If they don't act fast, they will die..."