Chapter 51: Searching for Water Sources on the Mountain

Jiang Wei tidied up the river deer slightly after getting home, stuffed it into her space, and then led Jiang Xiaoxiao up the mountain.

"Mother, what are we going up the mountain for?" Jiang Xiaoxiao was very puzzled. Didn't they just come back from the mountain? Why go up again?

Jiang Wei carried a hoe on her shoulder, holding her hand as they walked into the mountain, saying: "Xiaoxiao, even if we shared all the water in our well with the villagers, it wouldn't last more than a few days. We need to solve the water source problem from the root."

Jiang Xiaoxiao understood her mother's meaning. The entire Yuhe Village, old and young combined, had at least seven hundred people. The well at their house wouldn't last seven days before running dry.

Even if she had the water-attribute ability, the water she released every day was only enough for their own family; it couldn't save so many people in the village. After all, her ability had barely reached the second tier.

"So, we need to find a water source in this mountain."

Jiang Wei looked toward the deep forest not far ahead and said slowly: "I've observed the mountain these past few days. These mountains have lush trees. The rain and melted snow from previous years have seeped into the ground, and the mountains contain rich water resources. As long as we find a way to lead the water to the surface, it can be used for the villagers' daily needs."

Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoxiao's gaze also turned toward the mountain in the distance. These mountains had existed for a long time. Even though the weather had become increasingly dry over the past few years, the wild animals in the mountains hadn't decreased, the trees were lush, and they had even found ginseng in the mountain a few days ago, which was enough to show that these mountains contained very rich spring water.

As long as these waters were found, not only could the villagers' drinking problem be solved, but the crops in the fields could also be irrigated.

Otherwise, if the drought continued like this, the grain in the fields this year would be a total loss. By then, every household would have no grain, and they definitely wouldn't survive the winter; a large number of people would starve to death.

"Then Mother, how are we going to find a water source on the mountain?" Jiang Xiaoxiao looked at the surrounding environment and frowned slightly.

In ancient times, finding a water source was an extremely difficult problem.

Without modern scientific instruments to detect groundwater, even those experienced feng shui masters couldn't accurately predict the location of water veins.

Although her mother's space stored extremely rich supplies, it couldn't possibly have those modern scientific detectors, right?

"So, the problem of finding a water source will have to rely on you, Xiaoxiao." Jiang Wei said softly.

"Ah? Me?" Jiang Xiaoxiao was stunned and pointed at herself in disbelief. She was only a five-year-old child; how could she find a water source?

"Mother had a friend before who, like you, possessed a water-attribute ability. She could use her water-attribute ability to communicate with the water energy factors between heaven and earth and sense where large amounts of water resources were buried." Jiang Wei explained, "Xiaoxiao, although your ability is still very low-tier, you can barely give it a try."

Jiang Xiaoxiao: "..."

That friend couldn't be someone her mother knew in her previous life, right?

But since her mother said this method could find a water source, she would give it a try.

Thus, Jiang Xiaoxiao followed the method Jiang Wei taught her, closed her eyes, and used her heart to feel the surrounding water energy factors.

But it was likely because her ability was too low-tier; she didn't sense anything.

"It's okay, let's go deeper and see. The ground here is too dry; I reckon there isn't much water underground." Jiang Wei comforted her and led her further into the mountain.

Under drought conditions, the root systems of many plants would grow toward the direction of water sources. Even if the specific location of the water vein couldn't be found, the general range could be determined based on where the vegetation grew lushly.

Or one could pay attention to the activity tracks of insects among the grass. Generally, where there were insects, flies, and wild animals, there was water nearby.

The mother and daughter walked all the way until they reached a larger mountain ravine. Here, two mountains sandwiched a gully; the terrain was damp, the water grass was lush, and the humidity in the air was also relatively high.

Jiang Wei stopped and let Jiang Xiaoxiao try sensing again, "There should be water nearby."

Jiang Xiaoxiao closed her eyes and once again calmed her mind to carefully sense the situation around her.

At this moment, her mind was clear, her thoughts were unprecedentedly calm, as if she had entered a very ethereal state.

She seemed to be able to hear the chirping of birds throughout the mountain, as well as the rustling sounds of insects burrowing into the grass... mixed in these sounds, she could vaguely distinguish the gurgling sound of spring water flowing in the mountain...

A moment later, Jiang Xiaoxiao suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze fixed on a spot five meters away, and she pointed there: "Mother, I feel there is water underneath!"

"Good." Jiang Wei nodded and immediately picked up the hoe to dig at that spot.

The soil here was moist, and it didn't take much effort to dig.

After a while, Jiang Wei dug a deep pit, but no water came out.

Jiang Xiaoxiao said worriedly: "Could it be that I sensed wrong..."

Jiang Wei shook her head, reached out to grab a handful of mud and sand from the pit, and said: "These mud and sand are wet; this is a sign of water accumulation in the mountain. There is indeed water below; your sensing wasn't wrong, it's just buried relatively deep."

After speaking, Jiang Wei raised the hoe again and continued digging.

Not until they had dug nearly three meters deep did water finally gradually seep into the pit.

Jiang Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up: "Water is coming out!"

A slight joy also appeared on Jiang Wei's face. She struck with the hoe again, and the moment the soil block was removed, a large amount of spring water gushed out!

"It seems the amount of water stored below is not small." Jiang Wei narrowed her eyes, washed her hands clean, cupped the spring water with her hands, and took a sip. It was cool and thirst-quenching; this was top-quality mountain spring water!

"Mother, let's hurry back to the village and tell the Li Zheng, so everyone can come here to fetch water to drink!" Jiang Xiaoxiao said joyfully. With the water here, everyone could survive this drought!

"Good." Jiang Wei found a few stones to press the spring water back to the bottom of the pit, made a mark on the side, and then took Jiang Xiaoxiao down the mountain.

When they reached the village, they heard the sound of gongs and drums, and many villagers were rushing toward the Ancestral Hall.

"What happened again?" The mother and daughter were puzzled and followed the crowd to the Ancestral Hall.

Only upon arriving did they discover that the Li Zheng was leading a group of villagers in praying to the Heaven God for rain.

Beside the village Ancestral Hall, an incense table had been set up, filled with incense burners, clear wine, eggs, as well as offered tea, fruits, and rice cakes.

The summoned villagers took turns coming forward to burn incense and kneel in worship. Each person had a serious expression, coming forward to burn three sticks of incense, kowtow three times, and offer three cups of wine.

The weather was dry, and everyone had no water to bathe. These people were all covered in dust, and some villagers even had cracked lips that were bleeding.

"Oh Heavens, please have mercy on us farmers, send us some rain..."

Some elderly people in the village couldn't stop kowtowing and praying in front of the incense table, their foreheads bruised and bleeding.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 52 =====