Captain Zhou breathed a sigh of relief. "Good, good, good. I told you the government wouldn't abandon us." He happily patted his grandson. "Dashu, go back, wash up, and get something to eat."
Zhou Dashu said to the crowd, "It's a good thing we were in the drying hut roasting mushrooms. The main part of the village below was hit by a landslide. A few families still had people inside who couldn't escape in time—they were buried."
Everyone who heard this was overcome with relief. Their possessions were gone, but their families—young and old—were all safe.
Another agonizing day passed before the rain finally stopped. Captain Zhou organized everyone to dig for ginger taro and wild vegetables.
Someone suggested digging for their buried supplies, but Captain Zhou stopped them. "The rain just stopped. The mud and gravel that washed down are still very loose. The slightest disturbance could trigger another collapse. What's the point of getting your things if you lose your life?"
