On the ice of the Qisan Reservoir.
A dozen boys and girls were laughing and chasing each other.
The sound of laughter and shouts, young lives unleashed boundless energy under the morning sun.
Crack, crack, crack—
The crackling sound on the ice surface made everyone a bit worried at first.
But as more people ca during the winter holidays, they gradually beca numb to the sound.
If anyone was too scared to co onto the ice, they would be mocked as a coward and ostracized by the group.
Ring, ring—
Ring, ring—
The phone in Jiang Shijie’s pocket rang five or six tis, but he pretended not to hear.
Today, he finally got the girl he liked to co out and play.
Not even Uncle Tao could make him go back, let alone anyone else.
"Bro, is there sothing urgent Uncle Tao needs you for?"
"Aren’t you afraid he’ll beat you for not answering his call?"
His younger brother Jiang Shaojie slid over to Jiang Shijie’s side and asked quietly.
"Tch, you’re afraid of our Uncle Tao, but I’m not."
Jiang Shijie’s gaze often darted to the tall girl at his nine o’clock, wearing a long black down coat with a ponytail.
"You’re not afraid? Stop boasting!"
Jiang Shaojie rolled his eyes at his brother. These two brothers were like grandsons in front of Jiang Tao; neither was better than the other, so neither should lecture.
"I’m just being adaptable, you know?"
Just as Jiang Shijie finished speaking, he suddenly saw two people rushing down the dam.
Isn’t that Uncle and Aunt?
Seeing Jiang Tao and Xu Li, Jiang Shijie’s rebellious look instantly turned into extre panic.
"Jiang Shijie, get your ass up here right now!"
"And you all! You courting death? Get up here!!!"
"Get up here, everyone get up!"
By now, it was already 8:21 AM, just one minute away from the ti ntioned in the intelligence about the two nephews falling into a hole in the ice!
Seeing over a dozen young people on the ice, Jiang Tao shouted loudly to warn them.
Jiang Shijie and Jiang Shaojie saw their uncle rush to the riverbank to catch them, and imdiately dared not delay any longer, hurriedly sliding toward the bank.
"Danger! Get up here! Get up!"
Seeing his two nephews listening to the advice, Jiang Tao quickly called to the others on the ice.
Everyone looked at each other at first.
After seeing the Jiang brothers slide toward the bank like their tails were on fire, they seed to feel so sense of crisis too.
With soone taking the lead, the others also hurriedly slid quickly toward the bank.
Crack, crack, crack—
The cracks on the ice grew more nurous, and the sound grew louder.
When the last girl wearing a black down coat and a ponytail jumped onto the bank, there was suddenly a loud crash.
An area of hundreds of square ters by the reservoir’s edge suddenly shattered into countless small pieces, revealing the rippling water beneath.
Seeing this, the dozen or so children who had just escaped to the shore all broke into a cold sweat.
In the dead of winter, if you don’t have a bit of winter swimming experience, falling into the icy lake water could an instant death!
"Got guts, huh? Dare not to answer my call!"
Jiang Tao, both scared and angry, kicked Jiang Shijie’s behind, making him stagger.
Jiang Shijie instantly cowered: "I’m sorry, Uncle, I won’t dare again, never again."
"And you! If you dare run to the river again, I’ll break your legs!"
Jiang Tao, not playing favorites, also kicked Jiang Shaojie’s behind.
"I won’t dare, Uncle, I promise never to co to the river again, it’s so damn scary."
Jiang Shaojie was timid, and today’s event left a huge shadow on him; he vowed never to approach the river again.
The other kids on the riverbank looked at each other, and the girl with the ponytail, who jumped to safety last, walked up to Jiang Tao first.
"Thank you, Uncle, for the warning just now, otherwise we might have all fallen in. Thank you."
"Thank you, Uncle Tao! You’re my lifesaver; when I grow up, I’ll repay you!"
"Thank you, Brother Tao."
"Thank you, Uncle."
The kids, though playful, were quite polite and thanked Jiang Tao and Xu Li one by one.
"Let’s all go ho, this year’s weather is warm, and the temperature is high, making the ice very dangerous. Don’t co here again, you two co ho with !"
Jiang Tao said goodbye to everyone, and grabbing Jiang Shijie and Jiang Shaojie by their ears, led them up the dam.
After a false alarm, Jiang Tao finally felt his tense emotions relax; the brothers had escaped death.
"Honey, you’re amazing, you’re a hero, saving so many kids."
Recollecting the thrilling scene, Xu Li was also filled with lingering fear.
If not for her and Jiang Tao arriving in ti, how many of those kids would have survived?
So in a sense, Jiang Tao truly was a hero saving many lives, at least in Xu Li’s heart.
Jiang Tao’s image grew even more impressive in her mind.
"By the way, honey, how did you know...?"
Xu Li looked at Jiang Tao with curiosity about how he knew the nephews were there and in danger.
"I had a nightmare this morning and called Shijie to ask where he was."
"Since he dared not answer, I guessed he was here."
Jiang Tao casually fabricated an excuse while driving.
Though not very logical, no one delved into that; the outco was what mattered!
Whether because of a dream or a guess.
The fact remains that Jiang Tao saved many young lives today.
Returning to Jiang Family Manor, Jiang Tao brought the two nephews to his elder brother’s house.
Today was already New Year’s Eve, but elder brother Jiang He didn’t get a day off as he went to work.
Sister-in-law Zhang Xiaoyan had ridden her breakfast cart to town early to sell pancakes and flatbreads.
During such festive tis, many from outside returned ho for the holidays, and kids were on vacation too.
Breakfast business was much better than usual, earning several days’ worth in one.
Zhang Xiaoyan naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity to earn money.
Both adults at ho were busy earning, leaving the kids without supervision, hence their reckless behavior.
When Jiang Tao arrived at his brother’s ho with his nephews, he found the courtyard dirty, probably not swept in months.
The windowpanes were also as dirty as faces painted with flowers, clearly not cleaned all year.
Both brother and sister-in-law were too busy earning to tidy up the ho.
The two nephews were unholy and not diligent.
The house was in chaos, as ssy as a pigsty.
No wonder the sister-in-law always wanted a daughter.
If they had a daughter, the house wouldn’t be this untidy.
"You two are not allowed to go anywhere today, clean the house, and I’ll check in the afternoon."
"If satisfied, 200 yuan pocket money each; if not, a kick each."
Jiang Tao balanced reward and punishnt, assigning the nephews tasks.
The brothers were thrilled at earning 200 yuan each for a day’s cleaning at ho!
Their dad earned just over 200 yuan working hard outside for a day.
They could earn that easily at ho while working and playing; it was an easy deal!
After arranging for the nephews, Jiang Tao went back to his own ho.
Looking at his own tidy courtyard and the spotless, mirror-like glass cleaned by Xu Li.
Living with a diligent, tidy wife was comfortable.
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