novelraw Chapter 312 - 313: Saving People [3]
Chapter 312 - 313: Saving People [3]
Suzhou Gardens are numerous, but Luo Xiaoqian didn’t visit the largest, the Humble Administrator’s Garden; instead, she chose the Canglang Pavilion, the closest to her workplace and the oldest in history.
They say "the mists and rains of Jiangnan," and Canglang Pavilion is renowned for its waterscape. Indeed, appreciating the garden in the rain has its own unique charm.
Due to the weather, there weren’t many tourists in the garden. Holding an umbrella, Luo Xiaoqian took a leisurely walk among the quaint and exquisite corridors. Standing atop Canglang Pavilion, she closed her umbrella and watched the rain tapping the water surface, sending out endless ripples, imagining the ancients from thousands of years ago boating and enjoying rain-soaked wine here—she was utterly lost in her daydreams.
"Grandma, hurry up!"
A tender voice followed by the sound of small, hurrying footsteps came from not far behind.
Luo Xiaoqian turned around and saw a little girl with fair, clean skin and a pair of big eyes hurrying into the pavilion. She held a small red paper umbrella in her hand and ran to the railing. Placing her little umbrella on the platform, she immediately reached for the small buns hanging at her waist and fished out some fish food to feed the fish.
The little girl was obviously very familiar with the place. As soon as she sprinkled the fish food, a good number of red carps swam over from afar, vying for the food. The sight of the green waves, red carps, and the drizzling rain was truly pleasing to the eye.
A gust of wind blew the small paper umbrella aside, and in her urgency, the little girl reached out to grab it; unfortunately, she slipped, and her whole body fell toward the pond.
"Be careful!"
Luo Xiaoqian cried out in alarm and reached out to grab her, but caught nothing but air. With a splash, the little girl fell into the water.
Dropping her backpack without a second thought, Luo Xiaoqian jumped into the water, grabbed the frantically flailing girl, and swam towards the shore. Having grown up by the sea, she was a good swimmer. Plus, with the little girl being light, despite taking quite the effort, she managed to pull the child to safety smoothly.
"Xin Xin!" A short distance away, an elderly lady with slightly white hair screamed and rushed over. Seeing her granddaughter’s pale little face, she hugged her close and burst into tears, "You gave grandma such a fright, does it hurt?"
Clearly shocked and soaked through, the little girl forgot even to cry; she just clung to her grandmother’s clothes in her arms, coughing incessantly.
"It’s ok, she just swallowed a few mouthfuls of water." Luo Xiaoqian clambered out of the water with effort and didn’t forget to comfort the frightened pair.
"Thank you, thank you so much..." The grandmother finally came to her senses, bustling to bow and thank her repeatedly.
"It’s nothing," Luo Xiaoqian said with a smile, steadying the elderly lady, "Take her to change clothes and then to the hospital for a check-up, the water isn’t clean, don’t let her catch pneumonia."
Worrying over her granddaughter, the old lady thanked her profusely and walked away with the child in her arms. Luo Xiaoqian then bent over to wring the water from her clothes.
Even though it was early summer, the water was chilling due to the rain, and it was really uncomfortable to be in such wet clothes.
A hand reached out to her, holding a clean cotton handkerchief.
"Thanks, but I am too dirty..."
Luo Xiaoqian expressed her gratitude but did not take the handkerchief. Completely drenched, a small handkerchief wouldn’t be of much help. The lake water was dirty, and she was covered in muddy water; she really didn’t feel right about using such an immaculately white handkerchief.
Shaking the mud off her feet, she tugged at her wet clothing when the same hand stubbornly reached out again, pressing the cotton handkerchief into her palm.