Chapter 36: The River Dries Up

"That's right, that's right, if you want to eat snow cakes, go line up. Why are you cutting in line here? How old are you, and do you have any quality!"

Those who lined up in front also echoed, while looking at Li Xiufang with disdain.

Li Xiufang had never suffered such grievances at home, and her eyes turned red instantly.

After all, she was thin-skinned and not as tough as her mother. After being pointed at and scolded by people, she almost couldn't help but walk away.

But looking at the white, crystal-clear snow cakes, she was drooling with greed and couldn't bear to leave.

Finally, she went to line up very reluctantly.

But in the end, Li Xiufang didn't manage to buy a snow cake.

The long line had only lined up halfway when the snow cakes were sold out.

Jiang Wei packed up the ice cabinet, pulled Jiang Xiaoxiao, turned around, and left, ignoring the three of them at all.

Li Xiufang was angry and furious. Not only did she not eat the snow cakes she was thinking about, but she also made such a big fool of herself in front of everyone, and immediately pulled Old Madam Li to cry and complain, "Mom, look at her, she didn't even give me one!"

This time even Zhu Shi was dissatisfied, "That's right! Mom, even if we separated, at least we are acquaintances. She would rather sell these snow cakes to others than leave one for us!"

Old Madam Li's old face was as black as the bottom of a pot. Looking at the backs of the mother and daughter walking away, she bit her teeth hatefully, "Pah! Rotten-hearted money-losing goods! Cheap hoof! What kind of fart snow cakes!"

She scolded and cursed a few times, belittling the Jiang mother and daughter as worthless, then went to coax Li Xiufang, "Xiufang, be good, we won't eat her snow cakes! Things made by that money-losing good will make your stomach rot if you eat them, we won't eat!"

After a lot of talking, she finally coaxed Li Xiufang.

The mother and daughter didn't deliberately hide the matter of selling snow cakes, and it soon spread to the village.

"What? You said the five-wen-each snow cakes in town were sold by Jiang Shi!?"

"That's right! I saw it with my own eyes today. The little girl of the Li family was making a scene wanting to eat it, and almost fought with people on the street!"

The woman said with an exaggerated expression, adding oil and vinegar to what she saw on the street today.

Several women shook their heads upon hearing this, "Hey, the people of the Old Li family are too unreasonable. The daughter is about to get married, and she still makes such a big joke on the street!"

"That's right, that's right, and I don't know what kind of vision the young master of the Huang family has, how could he take a fancy to a girl like Li Xiufang who is so unreasonable!"

Several people shook their heads and sighed, but some still grasped the matter of Jiang Wei selling snow cakes and wouldn't let go, "According to what you said, Jiang Shi must have earned a lot of money selling snow cakes, right? Five wen each, more expensive than mung bean porridge and sour plum soup!"

"She must have earned a lot of money! You didn't see how many people were in front of their stall. When they sold out and left, more than half of the people didn't manage to buy any!" The woman described the scene she saw today again.

"Hey, how delicious is this snow cake? How could so many people be willing to spend five wen to buy it?" Someone said jealously, "Five wen, you could buy five eggs!"

"That's right, that's right!" Someone nodded in agreement, "Auntie Wang also went everywhere telling people she was kept by a wild man outside. I think she is earning money by her own ability!"

The topic circled around and returned to the matter of Auntie Wang slandering Jiang Shi for hooking up with a wild man a few days ago.

Those few women who believed Auntie Wang's words and followed to mock Jiang Wei all had awkward expressions and didn't dare to speak again.

Several women carried water buckets, talking all the way, and walked toward the river.

However, when they arrived at the river and saw the dried-up riverbed, the sound of their conversation suddenly went quiet.

Jiang Xiaoxiao only heard the sound of gongs and drums in the village after she and her mother returned home and finished their meal.

She poked her head out the window and saw the Li Zheng leading a group of people to gather everyone at the village ancestral hall.

"What big thing happened?" Jiang Wei also poked her head out to look.

Jiang Xiaoxiao frowned and didn't speak, just looked up at the cloudless sky.

According to the plot development in the novel, the drought should be starting now...

The mother and daughter didn't delay, packed up the bowls and chopsticks, and rushed to the front of the ancestral hall to gather.

The Li Zheng stood in front of the ancestral hall and said with a heavy face, "... I suppose everyone already knows that the river in our village has dried up."

"What should we do now?!"

Upon hearing this, everyone became anxious.

"If there is no water in the river, what should we do about the crops in our fields? It's almost August, and the rice is about to head. If the water is cut off, will the rice in the fields survive!"

"Hey, don't talk about the crops in the fields. If it goes on like this, even the water we drink in the future will become a problem!"

"Oh Heaven! Open your eyes and let it rain quickly!"

While everyone was complaining, the Li Zheng spoke again, "Everyone, be quiet! Now there is no water in the river, and only two wells in the village still have some water. Everyone, save some. Using the water in the wells might get us through this dry season."

There are two wells in the village, one is at the ancestral hall, and the other is at the Li Zheng's house.

The well at the ancestral hall is public, and everyone can come to fetch water, but when there are many people, it is inevitable to line up, and once you line up, it takes a whole day.

Everyone was a little unhappy.

The Li Zheng could only say, "The well at my house is also provided for everyone to use for free. If there is no water to drink at home, you can all come to my house to fetch water."

"By the way, don't I remember that Jiang Shi also dug a well at home?" Someone saw the Jiang mother and daughter standing on the periphery and instantly had an idea.

Following that person's words, everyone looked at the mother and daughter in unison.

Jiang Xiaoxiao turned to look at the person who spoke; it was Zhao Wulai, a well-known hooligan in the village.

He looked at Jiang Wei with lecherous eyes and asked frivolously, "Hey, I say, Jiang Shi, can I go to your house to fetch water in the future?"

Jiang Wei glanced at him and didn't make a sound.

Zhao Wulai became even more energetic, "Hey, we are all fellow villagers, you wouldn't disagree, would you?"

"What do you mean?" Jiang Wei finally spoke, staring at Zhao Wulai with sharp eyes, "There are only me and my daughter at home. You, a big man, come to a widow's house to fetch water. What are your intentions? Are you afraid that my reputation isn't bad enough?"

"I, I..."

Having his little thoughts poked, Zhao Wulai wanted to defend himself, but just as he opened his mouth, the Li Zheng interrupted him, "Enough, stop talking! It's not easy for Jiang Shi to bring up a child alone. The two wells in the village are enough for everyone to use. Don't always go and trouble others."

The Li Zheng had spoken, so Zhao Wulai shut his mouth resentfully, and everyone withdrew their gazes.

Actually, if Zhao Wulai hadn't mentioned it, no one would have thought of going to Jiang Shi's house to fetch water.

After all, the Jiang mother and daughter lived at the tail of the village, far from where the villagers lived. Since there were already wells at the ancestral hall and the Li Zheng's house to use, they didn't need to run all the way to Jiang Shi's house to fetch water.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 37 =====