Chapter 49: A Dispute Arises

"Who knows? I reckon the Huang family is short on daughters-in-law and is in a hurry to marry one in to leave an heir for their Young Master."

"Tsk, I heard that Huang family Young Master isn't exactly young anymore—he's in his thirties. How come he still doesn't have any children?"

Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoxiao's head buzzed. The Huang family Young Master is over thirty!!?

No, at that age in ancient times, he should be a grandfather by now, right? How can they still call him "Young Master"?

Do you all have some sort of misunderstanding about the words "Young Master"?

The few old women were chatting enthusiastically when they suddenly saw several young wives carrying water buckets, hurrying toward the Ancestral Hall.

"What's going on?" The old women stopped one of the wives and asked, "Shuanzi's mother, why are you all running?"

"Oh, Auntie, you don't know—something big has happened! The well at the Li Zheng's house has run dry! There isn't much water left in the well at the Ancestral Hall either. I have to hurry and fetch some, otherwise, my whole family won't have any water to drink!"

After the wife finished speaking, she hurried off without stopping.

"How, how could it be out of water!?" The old women were stunned with fright. Once they realized what was happening, they stopped gossiping and rushed home, clutching the half-braided hemp ropes in their hands, telling their family members to put down their work and hurry to the Ancestral Hall to fetch water.

If they went too late, the water would be snatched up!

Jiang Xiaoxiao watched as the people under the big locust tree vanished in an instant, and she couldn't help but frown slightly.

The drought was becoming increasingly severe. First, it stopped raining, then the river dried up and cracked, and finally, even the water in the wells was gradually drying up...

When that time came, the entire village would have no water to drink.

Even though she knew these were all plot points about to happen in the original book, Jiang Xiaoxiao still couldn't stop herself from worrying.

Seeing the wives and old women in the distance running toward the Ancestral Hall with water buckets, she decided to follow and take a look.

However, upon reaching the Ancestral Hall, Jiang Xiaoxiao saw from afar a circle of people gathered there, with two water buckets overturned on the ground and water spilled everywhere.

Getting closer, Jiang Xiaoxiao finally saw clearly that it was two people fighting fiercely over water.

"Damn you, Li Shoucai! You actually dared to kick over my water bucket!!"

"I kicked it, so what! Who told you to cut in front of me!"

The two men tangled together again.

"Damn you, Zhao Wulai, have you no shame! Cutting in line is one thing, but you actually dared to kick my bucket!"

As they wrestled, Zhao Wulai, unable to swallow his anger, simply kicked over Li Shoucai's water bucket as well.

The villagers watched from the sidelines, none daring to step in, until the Li Zheng hurried over.

"Stop! What are you two doing!!" Seeing them rolling around covered in wet mud, the Li Zheng scolded them furiously, "The village is almost out of water, and you still dare to waste it like this! Do you not want to live anymore!"

Once these words were spoken, the villagers who had been watching the fight for entertainment revealed looks of condemnation.

"Exactly! It's one thing for Zhao Wulai to be a scoundrel, but how can Li Shoucai be so unreasonable too! Every household is waiting for the water from this well, and you go and kick the buckets over!"

The Li Zheng called two young men to pull the fighting Li Shoucai and Zhao Wulai apart and sternly ordered, "Get out! From now on, neither of you is allowed near this well at the Ancestral Hall!"

Li Shoucai, who had been shouting at Zhao Wulai, was stunned upon hearing this: "What? If I can't come near this well, how am I supposed to fetch water for my family?! Li Zheng, are you trying to let my whole family die of thirst!"

The Li Zheng glared at him fiercely: "If you need water, have your family come fetch it! You are not allowed near this well again; this is your punishment for wasting water!"

"Fine, you just wait!" Li Shoucai seemed to have worked up some anger as well; he spat fiercely, picked up his wooden bucket, and turned to leave.

Not until he returned to the Lao Li family house did he slam the bucket into the courtyard, "Damn it, I'm done!"

"Are you looking to die, slamming the bucket like that!" Li Family Old Woman was startled and began cursing loudly in the courtyard, "I told you to fetch water—where is the water? Did you drink it all?!"

Li Shoucai didn't speak; he just sat down on the steps and sulked by himself.

Seeing this, Li Family Old Woman could only go up and pick up the bucket. She checked the bottom, and seeing it wasn't broken, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She picked up the shoulder pole and threw it in front of Li Shoucai, ordering as usual, "Stop sitting there like a lump, hurry and fetch water. The old and young in this family are counting on this water to cook!"

"I'm not going!"

Li Shoucai refused outright. He didn't mention being chased away by the Li Zheng, only saying sullenly, "Why does it have to be me? The heavy and tiring work in the fields falls on me every day, while all the benefits of studying for official titles go to Big Brother. Why?!"

Ever since Li Shoude left, the heavy and tiring work in the fields had all fallen on him. His dissatisfaction had been growing, and today's incident was like the final straw that broke the camel's back; he exploded completely.

"Damn it! Whoever wants to drink water can go fetch it themselves; I'm not serving you anymore!"

After saying this, Li Shoucai simply dropped the pole and walked back to the West Room.

"You dead brat, stop right there! What are you doing going back to the room in broad daylight! Are you not going to do the family chores!"

Seeing she couldn't stop him, Li Family Old Woman began cursing loudly in the courtyard.

Her voice was sharp and shrill. The Li Family Old Man, unable to stand the noise, came out of the Main Room with an impatient look: "All you know how to do is bicker all day long. Can't you be quiet for a moment!"

"Me be quiet? Then who's going to fetch the water!" Li Family Old Woman cursed back without showing any weakness, "I'm only bickering for the sake of this family! Now you, you old geezer, are actually finding me annoying! I've never had a good day since I married you, and now you even want to control me when I'm disciplining my son. Is there any justice left in this world!"

"Enough, enough. If the son won't fetch water, then just find someone else to do it!" The Li Family Old Man seemed unable to stand Li Family Old Woman's shrewish behavior, dropped the subject, and turned back into the room.

The weather was hot, and no one wanted to stay outside.

Li Family Old Woman cursed a few more times in the courtyard before hurrying back into the room, picking up a water ladle to gulp down several mouthfuls of water, only then did her anger subside.

However, as soon as she turned around, she saw Li Xiufen running over, crying, with her face covered in red rashes.

"Mother, my face is so itchy! My whole body is itchy. Hurry and boil some water for me to bathe!"

"Xiufen, th-this, what is going on?" Seeing the dense red spots on Li Xiufen's face, Li Family Old Woman couldn't help but be stunned.

"I don't know either, Mother!" Li Xiufen kept scratching with her hands. The red rashes had started appearing on her face yesterday.

At first, she thought it was just from the heat and didn't pay much attention to it, but she didn't expect it to become severe today, with the rashes spreading across her entire face, causing unbearable itching.

Moreover, as time went on, her body started to itch as well.

This was also the reason she hadn't worn that red dress to show off today.

"Mother, stop talking nonsense, hurry and get some water for me to bathe!"

"Alright, alright, Mother will call someone to fetch water for you to bathe right now!"

Li Family Old Woman didn't dare delay and ran to the West Room to call someone, but no one answered.

Li Shoucai had just had an outburst, so he probably wouldn't be in a good mood for a while. Li Family Old Woman then ran to the East Room to call Sun Shi.

However, just as she opened her mouth, the doors and windows of the East Room, which had been open for ventilation, slammed shut with a bang.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 50 =====