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In the mid-1990s, one day in late September, the Beijiang City Sports Ground was guarded by armed police since early morning, and everyone who came for morning exercise was persuaded to leave. Riot police with police dogs searched every nook and corner for possible hidden explosives. A few old men who came for morning exercises whispered: "It's so mysterious. Are they going to shoot people and hold a public trial?" At eight o'clock in the morning, the red flags in the sports ground were waved and the loudspeakers played cheerful music. The rostrum was full of people, and the onlookers were on three floors outside. Armed police were maintaining order. The old men were still puzzled: "This is not like shooting people at a public trial?" "Yes, yes. Do you know how to read? Doesn't the banner on the rostrum say 'Beijiang City Police Power Display and the First Police Culture Festival'." A young man sneered at them in a funny way, speaking the next few words in a long voice.

Beijiang City has been raining for forty-five consecutive days. According to statistics from the meteorological department, there have been ninety-nine rains. Dark clouds are always hanging over the city. There is water everywhere in the city, and even the air you breathe is damp and smells fishy. People in Beijiang City have simply forgotten what the sun looks like. The water in the river was also rising rapidly. The turbid water carried the roots, branches and even whole trees that had rolled down during flash floods, as well as cans, foam blocks, plastic bags, dead cats and dogs discarded by people in the upstream towns... And swirled toward the sea. No matter morning or evening, people wearing raincoats and holding umbrellas came to the riverside in groups in the heavy rain, watching anxiously as the river water rose centimeter by centimeter, getting closer and closer to the top of the dam.