"I…"
The woman immediately shrank back and kept quiet.
Her man was important to her, but her life was even more important. It wasn't as if she didn't hear what he had said just now—he didn't care if she and her children were dead or alive.
She had two children. She couldn't go back.
Just like that, An Jiuyue made a few rounds around the village. She first rescued the elderly and the children and sent them to the foot of the mountain, making several trips back and forth. She instructed them to make their way up the mountain by themselves and wait.
Before the sky turned dark, she rescued all the villagers she found and brought them to the mountain.
Although many were saved, there were also many complaints. Most of them were men who were upset that An Jiuyue rescued the women and young first. They felt that she should have saved the men first.
After all, they were strong laborers. The strength of a man was comparable to three women.
An Jiuyue was completely unbothered by these complaints. She was most concerned with how her two precious children had been doing this whole day. I have to rush home immediately.
"Hey, An Jiuyue! Why are you leaving? Come back!"
Someone noticed her leaving and was instantly unhappy. He began chasing after her, but his clothes were too wet and caused him to fall to his face after running for a bit, mud smeared all over his mouth.
"Let me help you up, Brother Dog."
A man, who often hung out with him, saw that he fell and rushed over to help him up.
"Who do you think you are? Did you think you're so great because you rescued us? Don't expect us to be grateful to you! If you hadn't saved us first, we wouldn't have to stay in the water for so long! A widow like you sure is cheap!"
The man referred to as 'Brother Dog' cursed An Jiuyue repeatedly as he got up with the help of the other man.
He spoke of An Jiuyue as if she was an unpardonable sinner for not saving him first. His words resonated with many of the men who had stood in the water in fear the entire day.
If An Jiuyue had saved us earlier, would we have to be so mad?
However, before anyone could say anything, 'Brother Dog' was slapped hard in the face by someone. He was stunned and almost pounced on the person in anger.
"Which bastard… uh, uhm… Chief…"
He was about to curse when he found himself face to face with the Chief, whose expression had darkened and was glaring at him with anger in his eyes. His hands remained ready to strike him anytime.
He was just an ordinary villager and dared not go against the Chief. He did not want to be chased out of the village, after all.
"Why don't you continue cursing!"
The Chief glared at him coldly and took a step towards him.
"I… I…"
The Chief was addressing him directly and he dared not talk back. He took a step back weakly.
He could do whatever he wanted in the village but he had to behave himself in front of the Chief. The Chief could remove him from the pedigree of the clan.
"Jiuyue has been incredibly kind to build a raft and rescue all of you. What else do you want? Will you only be satisfied and happy if you allow your parents, sons, and daughters to submerge in the water and be swept away by the currents?"
The Chief raised his hand and pointed at those who were complaining. He was furious.