Chapter 7: Water is Coming Out

"Cough, cough, cough!" Madam Han was so startled she choked on her own saliva. It took her a good while to recover, and she widened her eyes in disbelief. "You brat, don't you go spouting nonsense!"

Fearing a beating, Su Tai hurriedly took a big step back. "Mother, everything I said is true. Shen Yi said it himself. If you don't believe me, go ask him."

Madam Han’s expression shifted unpredictably. She glanced outside, then back at the stiff-faced Su Tai. She really wanted to go out and ask for the truth, but she felt embarrassed to pry too deeply into someone else's private affairs. After hesitating for a moment, she shook her head. "I'll ask when I have the chance. You keep your mouth shut; don't go shouting about it and embarrassing Shen Yi."

"It just came up in conversation! I wouldn't have even remembered if you hadn't brought it up." Su Tai muttered a couple of words, but seeing Madam Han glare at her, she immediately backed down.

The two finished tidying up the room, and Shen Yi finished chopping the firewood.

Madam Han hurried to cook, telling Su Tai to come in and help.

Su Tai took the opportunity to swap the water for spring water. Just as she squatted down to tend the fire, she saw Madam Han walk in with a face full of worry.

"The grain in the house is almost bottomed out. With no water to irrigate the fields these past few days, the crops are likely all dried to death."

As Madam Han spoke, tears began to fall one by one, her hands trembling with heartache.

Su Tai felt a pang in her heart. She tugged at the corners of her mouth to offer comfort. "Mother, they've already started digging the well. I believe there will be good news soon."

"Mm." Madam Han responded vaguely and continued with her work.

At the dinner table, the Su family and Shen Yi sat together.

Madam Han looked at the porridge, which was so thin the bottom of the bowl was visible, and her face flushed with shame. "That... Shen Yi, our family's circumstances are limited. I've wronged you..."

Shen Yi shook his head earnestly. "Auntie, there's no need to be polite with me. Everyone is having a hard time right now. I'm already very grateful that you let me stay the night. I'll see how things are tomorrow; it's about time for me to head back."

Upon hearing this, Madam Han immediately asked nervously, "Will you be able to dig up water?"

Shen Yi paused, his expression grave.

Madam Han's heart sank to the bottom of the well.

Because the well-digging wasn't going smoothly, Madam Han didn't have the heart to press Shen Yi about his broken engagement.

The next day, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Shen Yi got up. He had just stepped out of the Su family courtyard when he heard movement behind him. Turning around, he raised an eyebrow. "Miss Su, heading out so early?"

Su Tai adjusted the wicker basket on her back and spoke vaguely, "I want to go see the place where they're digging the well and help out with some work."

Hearing this, Shen Yi was somewhat surprised, though his expression softened considerably. "I thought you never did any work."

Yesterday, he had noticed that Su Tai was different from the other girls in the village. She looked more like someone raised delicately in a well-off family in town. It was truly surprising to hear her say she wanted to help.

Su Tai pouted in frustration. Fearing that saying more would only lead to more mistakes, she simply shut her mouth and followed closely behind Shen Yi.

The well-digging site was not far from the Su house, located in the shade of a hillside. There used to be a mountain spring here, and the water output wasn't small, but unfortunately, the spring dried up in the second year of the great drought. Another site was nearby, closer to where the villagers lived.

Su Tai observed carefully for a long while and decided to place the spring eye at the first location.

For one, there had originally been a spring here, so it would seem normal if water were found. For another, the village had started digging at the other site yesterday, while this one had just begun, allowing her to place the spring eye closer to the surface.

Having made up her mind, Su Tai made an excuse to look around and slipped out of Shen Yi's sight. She immediately entered the Water Space, spent 50 virtual coins to purchase a small spring eye placement right, and spent another 1 virtual coin on medium tools. After fussing for a while, she finally managed to place the small spring eye in the designated spot.

By the time she emerged from the Water Space, she found that some villagers had already arrived at the well-digging site, seemingly wanting to start work before it got too hot.

The place was chaotic, and Shen Yi was surrounded by people, unable to pay attention to Su Tai. She was just contemplating leaving when she suddenly saw Su Changxi leading a group of people over.

"Can your village's well actually produce water?" Zeng Kuan asked, staring at the villagers digging the well.

Su Changxi picked his teeth, let out a sigh, and feigned composure. "We only started digging yesterday; how could there be results so quickly?"

Zeng Kuan, the village chief of Zhongmen Village, sighed. "Our village started digging yesterday too. Everyone thought we'd dig a few more spots to increase the chances of finding water, but after a whole day of work, the village is just full of holes like a rat's nest, and we haven't seen a drop of water! Those bastards from Ximen Village even came over to laugh at us. It makes me so mad!"

Zhongmen Village was sandwiched between Dongmen Village and Ximen Village, so they couldn't escape any trouble.

"Didn't they go to the Canglan River to fetch water? I wonder how that's going!" Su Changxi mused. He had already decided: they would dig for three days, and if no water appeared, they would have to head to the Canglan River for water too.

Zeng Kuan shook his head. "If they come back with water and we still haven't made progress, we'll be a laughingstock for the rest of our lives."

Thinking of the faces of those people from Ximen Village, Su Changxi spat on the ground. "If we can't win the steamed bun, we'll at least win the pride. We have to dig something up today, no matter what!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than an exclamation came from the well-digging site: Shen Yi's voice. "There's something! The soil here is wet!"

Su Changxi froze for a second, then sprinted over, so excited he couldn't speak clearly. "Quick, quick! Call everyone else in the village who's slacking off to come work! We'll definitely find water today!"

Everyone had spent their whole lives dealing with the land; just one look at the moisture of the soil was enough to guess what was happening underneath.

With Su Changxi's shout, in less than a quarter of an hour, all the men, women, and children in the village had gathered. Some hadn't even bothered to put on their shoes, showing just how excited they were.

The group from Ximen Village hadn't expected to run into someone finding water on their visit, and for a moment, they were filled with mixed emotions.

Zeng Kuan told the other villagers to go over and help.

With so many people digging together, they dug half a zhang deep in less than an hour. The moisture below grew heavier and heavier. When Shen Yi made the final shovel stroke, a stream of water suddenly gurgled out.

Zeng Kuan was stunned, muttering to himself, "They really dug up water!"

Coming to his senses, he immediately lunged to the edge of the well, looking at Shen Yi imploringly. "Shen Yi, can you come to our Zhongmen Village and take a look too?"

Shen Yi looked up, a rare, faint smile on his face. "Okay."

Once Shen Yi climbed out of the well, everyone rushed to the edge to peer inside.

Many people shed tears of excitement and joy.

Shen Yi said to the beaming Su Changxi, "Uncle, the water has been dug up, but the flow isn't large. We don't know how much water it will produce or how long it will last. To be safe, we should still assign people to guard this well and continue looking for other spots. If we can find a few more, it will provide more security."

"Yes, yes, you're right to think of that." Su Changxi nodded repeatedly.

Zeng Kuan was anxious. "Your village has already found water, but our village hasn't made any progress at all. Let Shen Yi come back with me to take a look first."

Su Changxi was somewhat reluctant, but he agreed, repeatedly urging Shen Yi, "Go take a look, but come back to our village tonight. Uncle still has to find a way to put together a table of food to thank you properly."

(End of chapter)