Shen Zizhen clearly hadn't expected Yuan Guoqing to bring up natural disasters.
Subconsciously, Shen Zizhen glanced at the surrounding mountains and rivers.
This place didn't seem like one prone to natural disasters.
Here, with a few more branches and peach blossoms, it would probably look like a paradise.
"Brother Guoqing, will there really be natural disasters here?" Su Xiaotian asked incredulously.
"Yes, don't let the peace and tranquility fool you. When natural disasters strike, there are no warnings at all."
"Perhaps the weather is fine now, but who knows if a torrential rain won't arrive the next moment," Yuan Guoqing said with a wry smile.
If it weren't for the sudden disasters that occurred every now and then, perhaps the people here could have lived better lives.
He and his fellow villagers would also have had better lives.
Su Xiaotian found Yuan Guoqing's words very surprising. This place didn't look like it could experience floods at all!
She couldn't help but look around, finding no signs of any sudden downpours.
Unfortunately, despite her extensive reading, Su Xiaotian did not understand meteorology.
At this moment, Su Xiaotian suddenly thought that perhaps this was an area she could specialize in.
After all, agriculture and meteorology were closely related.
Not only should she study it, but her third brother should also learn meteorology.
"Guoqing, aren't you exaggerating a bit? Even if there are natural disasters, there are usually some preceding signs," Su San Gong also found it hard to believe.
Yuan Guoqing replied, "I've seen it so often since I was young. There are no signs. Teacher Shen, Xiaoshu's father, died because of a sudden natural disaster while saving people."
If they could have known the weather conditions in advance, perhaps many disasters could have been avoided.
At the very least, people could have been evacuated.
They all knew that Xiaoshu's father had passed away early, but they didn't know how he had died.
In the evening, Shen Zizhen and the others arrived at Secretary Du's home. Su Dan Novel Network.
Mayor Liang had already spoken to Secretary Du about the matter.
Secretary Du knew that Shen Zizhen was from the capital and was a leading agricultural expert recognized by the higher-ups, so he was very courteous.
Upon meeting Shen Zizhen, he couldn't help but offer some words of flattery.
But Shen Zizhen's purpose for visiting today was solely for Xiaoshu, so after a few humble remarks, he got straight to the point.
"Teacher Shen, Mayor Liang has already informed me of your purpose for visiting today. To be honest, I want to help with this matter, but I am powerless," Secretary Du said with a troubled expression.
Su Xiaotian looked up at Secretary Du.
She didn't understand why Secretary Du would say that.
As a grassroots government leader, how could he say such a thing?
Su Xiaotian couldn't help but frown.
Shen Zizhen also hadn't expected Secretary Du to refuse outright.
He had initially thought that it would at most be difficult, not an immediate declaration of powerlessness.
At this moment, Shen Zizhen felt that he might have made this trip in vain.
However, Shen Zizhen still wanted to try his best to secure something.
At the very least, sending the child to an orphanage would be better than him wandering about.
"Secretary Du, can't a child like Xiaoshu, who is an orphan, be sent directly to a welfare institution?"
A child of five or six years old wandering outside, it was fine now that the weather was warm, but what about when it got cold?
"Teacher Shen, you are from the capital and do not understand our local situation, which is why you say that." Although Secretary Du was smiling, his expression revealed a hint of bitterness.
"Which child would willingly be sent to a welfare institution?"
"Xiaoshu is different."
If it were a child taken in and well-cared for by a family, Shen Zizhen would naturally not have said such a thing, but Xiaoshu clearly was not.
Generally speaking, families willing to take in children would not let them go to welfare institutions.
A stable family was very important for a child.
But given Xiaoshu's current situation, it would be better for him to go to a welfare institution than to continue living with his uncle.
At least he would have enough to eat and wear.
Secretary Du said with a wry smile, "Our county does not have an orphanage. To send Xiaoshu to a welfare institution, we would have to coordinate with the city. However, the city only has one orphanage, which takes in children who cannot find their relatives, and the conditions are not good. Children like Xiaoshu, who technically have guardians, are usually not accepted."
"Teacher Shen, I understand your kindness, but we are also in a difficult situation. How about this, I will try my best to find a way to resolve Xiaoshu's problem."
"Xiaoshu's father was swept away by the flood while saving people back then, making him a local hero. A hero's child deserves better treatment."
When Secretary Du said this, he was clearly moved, indicating that the death of Xiaoshu's father had left an indelible mark on Secretary Du's heart.
Shen Zizhen felt that Secretary Du might genuinely be unable to solve Xiaoshu's problem.
"Secretary Du, I am giving you a difficult task. However, I have repeatedly heard that Xiaoshu's father died saving people. What exactly happened?"
Shen Zizhen finally couldn't suppress his curiosity and asked the question.
"Not far downstream from us, there is a dam. One year, a sudden torrential rain flooded the entire village.
At that time, people from several surrounding villages were trapped in higher ground.
The only way to save these people was to release the floodwaters.
However, at the critical moment, the dynamite failed due to dampness.
Xiaoshu's father discovered this problem when he went to inspect it.
To save everyone, he risked his life to cut the damp fuse and ignite the dynamite.
However, Xiaoshu's father did not manage to..."
At this point, Secretary Du was choked with emotion and could not continue.
Shen Zizhen was also clearly surprised that Xiaoshu's father had died saving people from several villages.
If that were the case, shouldn't the villagers have taken good care of this unfortunate child?
Why did Xiaoshu still suffer such a fate?
Shen Zizhen couldn't help but voice his thoughts.
"Did the government not provide any assistance to Xiaoshu?"
"Of course, they did. When Xiaoshu's father passed away, a relief fund of one thousand yuan was provided, and Xiaoshu also received ten yuan per month for living expenses."
The government had given what it should have, but the fact that Xiaoshu was young and had no one to care for him was a real problem.
As a local leader, Secretary Du was also helpless in such situations.
Previously, when Xiaoshu and his grandmother lived together, they received ten yuan each per month, and the two of them managed to get by.
Who knew that the old lady suddenly passed away, leaving the lonely Xiaoshu to be mistreated. He had failed in his oversight.