Everyone knows that professionals should handle professional matters, but what about when there are no professionals?

David Sullivan had at least read some materials about the 1998 flood, and had fought alongside the villagers and soldiers for several days to get through Typhoon Lekima in 2019. Although in the end they lost to the highway underpass that always flooded whenever it rained, among a group of short people, he was still considered tall—so he had some experience, right?

This was not the time for modesty or hesitation!

“Third Grandpa, I’ve been watching TV these past two days, and the south is starting to flood too.” David Sullivan found a plausible reason to increase his credibility: “The news mentioned signs that appear before a levee is about to fail.”

Brian Sullivan didn’t trust the unreliable David Sullivan, but he did trust the news: “Go on!”

He didn’t understand, but he had the ability to make judgments.

David Sullivan first pointed to the slope on the outside of the levee: “The experts say that before something happens to the river levee, there’s usually seepage or piping.”

Brian Sullivan vaguely remembered seeing something like that on TV, and instructed, “Chris, go call a few people and take a close look.”

Chris Sullivan responded and ran back.

Because of the sound of the gong earlier, even more people had gathered near the dam.

David Sullivan turned back to the river: “We need to go down and check if the underwater part of the levee has been scoured out—if so, how big is the hole, and exactly where is it…”

Although the person saying this hadn’t always been reliable, Brian Sullivan’s rich life experience was enough for him to make a judgment.

Many rural clan relationships are extremely complicated, especially in conservative and traditional provinces like Taidong.

Not just anyone can become the backbone of a village with such complex clan ties.

It takes more than just seniority.

“And another thing,” David Sullivan spoke rapidly as always, “get the woven bags and sand and gravel over here as soon as possible…”

Brian Sullivan exhaled, fell silent for a moment, and made a decision: “Prepare for the worst.” He turned and headed back to the triangular dam, calling out as he walked, “Chad, take a few people to the yard and get tools—bring more ropes and shovels.”

These were things that could be returned after use. Stingy Carter hesitated a little: “Ah, okay, I’ll go right away.”

David Sullivan didn’t bother with Stingy Carter, who had gone down the levee, and followed behind Brian Sullivan.

Brian Sullivan wasted no time and shouted to the dozens of people up and down the river, “Everyone, the levee isn’t safe! This concerns the safety of the whole village! Frank, Red Star, drive your tractors and bring the gravel and yellow sand from the south entrance of the village! Some people go help! Anyone with woven bags at home, go get them! The more the better! If you have sand and gravel, go to the accountant for registration!”

“I brought a load of yellow sand three days ago, haven’t sold it yet, it’s still on the truck.” Many people weren’t highly educated, but they knew the consequences of a levee breach. Red Star said anxiously, “I’ll bring it over first.”

David Sullivan silently watched a group of people head south. Everyone actually understood that if they wanted to protect their homes, this was not the time to be petty.

Brian Sullivan was still shouting, “Emily, Linda Thompson, Kevin Sullivan, Gavin, go beat the gong in the village, call all the able-bodied men over, even those on duty tomorrow! When the trucks arrive, women fill the bags, men carry them up!”

In this era, you couldn’t count on machinery. There were only a few trucks in the village, and you could count the tractors on two hands.

Not just in Sullivan Manor—even in the south, where the floods were huge, most of the work was done by manpower.

Compared to David Sullivan, Brian Sullivan was more thoughtful and mature. He specifically told the gong-beaters, “Get all the young and old from every street up, and go to the newest two-story buildings on each street. Go knock on the doors of the butcher Eric Clark and the banquet host Henry Scott, tell them to prepare water and food, put it on the brigade’s tab for now! You can’t work hard on an empty stomach!”

As soon as they left, Stingy Carter came back with people carrying shovels and several bundles of rope.

Brian Sullivan glanced at the ropes and shouted, “Old Seven! Where’s Old Seven? Hurry up, get ready to go into the water!”

Someone replied weakly, “Old Seven got drunk this afternoon, even firecrackers wouldn’t wake him.”

“That little rascal!” Brian Sullivan said through gritted teeth, “Always dropping the ball at critical moments!”

For some reason, David Sullivan felt that when Third Grandpa said this, he glanced at him.

When it came to messing up, even two of him couldn’t compare to one Uncle Seven, right?

David Sullivan was lost in thought, but his mouth didn’t slow down: “Third Grandpa, let me go down.”

Brian Sullivan looked at him with increasing surprise: “You?”

“Other than Uncle Seven, who in the village is a better swimmer than me?” David Sullivan walked over to Uncle Carter on his own accord. “And I’m younger and stronger…”

It was only later that he truly understood the importance of his hometown, and realized how many times the The Sullivan Family had helped his family after his father died early in Laoshan.

Besides, with a rope, it wasn’t that dangerous.

David Sullivan took the rope, tied it around his waist with a dead knot, and walked north. Suddenly, he thought of something and turned back: “Uncle Carter, you guys hold the rope tight, let’s test it first.”

The people behind quickly pulled the rope tight. David Sullivan pulled forward with all his strength, and with a snap, the rope… broke!

David Sullivan’s face turned green. How old was this rope that Uncle Carter the cheapskate brought?

A clansman behind Stingy Carter suddenly spoke up, “Good thing it broke! Better it breaks now than when you’re in the water!”

David Sullivan was speechless for a moment. He took another bundle of rope, tested it and found no problem, and only then got ready to go into the water.