Chapter 90

The rain had been falling relentlessly since noon, showing no signs of stopping. Ethan Miller stood at the doorway of the main hall, staring blankly at the droplets dripping from the eaves. In one corner of the room, a leak had formed, the steady plink-plonk of water hitting the floor and creating a small puddle.

"Emily, why don't you take a nap? You didn’t sleep well last night," Michael Stone said with concern.

Emily Johnson blinked. She had slept perfectly fine—why would she need to rest now? Still, the rhythmic patter of rain made it hard to focus on reading.

"Alright. David, Tommy, what about you?"

"We want to play!" David grabbed his little brother’s hand, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Emily returned to her room and lay down, but sleep eluded her. The children’s laughter from next door mingled with the sound of rain drumming against the roof. She turned toward the window, where the downpour veiled the world in a hazy mist.

Back in the 21st century, she’d never had the luxury of watching the rain—always rushing between projects or working overtime. Now, with time to spare, she noticed how beautiful the falling droplets looked.

"Each autumn rain brings deeper cold..." she murmured softly.

A memory surfaced—a picture she’d once seen in a short video: red lanterns hanging between dark-tiled roofs, a persimmon tree heavy with fruit, yet no children playing beneath it. The scene had been heartbreakingly beautiful.

City life had always been a blur of haste. Here, time moved slower.

Ethan watched as the rain eased and stood to leave. "Michael, I should head back. I’ll wash your clothes before returning them."

"Mm." Michael patted his shoulder. "If things get unbearable, just move out."

Ethan froze. Move out? He’d never considered it.

"You earn work points now—you can support yourself," Michael said earnestly. "Winter hasn’t set in yet. If you leave now, you can still forage in the mountains for food."

Ethan lowered his head, fingers twisting the hem of his shirt. He knew his sister-in-law had been itching to kick him out.

"Go see Captain John and the Party Secretary," Michael advised. "Don’t wait until they throw you out."

"Thanks, Michael." Ethan’s voice cracked slightly.

After seeing Ethan off, Michael led the boys back inside and found Emily already asleep. He pressed a finger to his lips. "Quiet now. Don’t wake your mother."

The two little ones tiptoed onto the bed and burrowed under the covers, soon drifting off as well.

Once the rain stopped, Michael took a fishing net to the riverbank, where villagers had already gathered to scoop up fish.

"Michael, you’re late!" Robert Stone waved at him. "Most of the big ones are gone."

"That’s fine. Small fish will do," Michael replied with a smile.

A familiar voice called from a distance, "Michael! Michael!"

Samuel Bright jogged over. The game Daniel River had brought yesterday had made for a fine meal, and today he hoped to try his luck too.

The river had swollen from the heavy rain, and the bank buzzed with activity. Everyone wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to bring home extra food.

"Michael..." Samuel hesitated.

Michael turned. "What is it?"

"I heard..." Samuel lowered his voice. "Inspectors are coming to the village..."

Michael’s hand stilled, his gaze sharpening. "When?"

"Within the next couple of days. Sent from above..." Samuel rubbed his hands nervously.

Laughter still filled the riverside, but Michael’s heart sank. This autumn rain seemed to have brought more than just a chill—it carried unsettling news.