The family walked the seawall before the repair crew began. Jian led them to a section where the stones dipped toward the lower houses. A dark scar crossed the face of the wall.
“This was the last major storm,” he said. “Water hit here and ran along the top, but the ward kept it from crossing into the houses.”
Yao pointed toward a smaller mark nearby. “That flood was older. The water reached the steps, but the wall held.”
Sato touched the dark scar. “This wave came over. The water reached our storage room.”
The seawall had protected them in more than one storm. It had also failed at one point. Its past success did not prove the current payment was fair, and the old contract did not prove that reducing the share would be safe.
Bai asked each relative what they would choose if the ward had a tested alternative.
Yao answered first. “I would keep the house. I would consider ending the share if the hall honors the housing rule.”
Jian looked at the water. “I want to maintain the current contract until the test shows the wall can survive a storm without it.”
