Nearby, Madam Wang and Madam Liu were equally heartbroken. They clutched the pillars tightly, their bodies trembling slightly as they sobbed in low, muffled tones. Those hundred acres of wheat were their family’s hope—the guarantee that they would make it through the harsh winter.
Now, in an instant, everything had vanished like smoke. How could they not be devastated? Tears fell like beads from a broken string, streaming down their faces to pool on the sodden ground, mingling with the rain. Their wailing echoed through the empty schoolhouse, sounding desolate indeed.
The other farmhands looked at the baskets and couldn't help but weep softly. Some covered their faces with their hands, trying to suppress the grief, but the hot tears continued to spill through their fingers. Si Beishu was especially inconsolable; he hammered his fists against a pillar, pouring every ounce of his strength into the blows, venting his frustration and helplessness.
Chapter 489