, Jiayin giggled and pulled out a jade pendant from her bosom.The jade pendant wasn't large, it was carved with a dragon design. Sunlight streamed in from the window, making it clear to everyone, and...In the fields, the crops had wilted completely. Even those that had been watered previously were not much better.
The river outside the village had completely dried up, not even a trickle of water could be found.
The children, with the scorching sun overhead, waded into the river to hunt for clams. Two of them fainted from the heat.
It's just as chaotic as ever in the village.
Jia Yin was only wearing a small diaper and shorts that reached her knees. Her back and lower legs were exposed.
But she was still hot, wishing she could pant like a little dog to cool down.
This part of the house was bustling with activity, and no one paid her any attention.
She secretly practiced walking, though she fell many times. She could manage to walk for a short distance.
Ten months old and walking, she wasn't too early among infants, but definitely not late either.
At this time, she wanted to go see the well when her family was napping.
But as soon as I stepped out, the sun was so strong my skin felt like it was going to cook.
She could only go to the kitchen, using her hands and feet to climb over the threshold. Finally, she reached the water jar and began pouring water out of it.
It took a full quarter of an hour for the large water tank at home to be filled.
Before she could even catch her breath, the old woman came over.
"Oh, Fu Niuer, how did you get here!"
Grandma Li scooped up her granddaughter and quickly fetched water to wash her hands and feet, worried about her.
The icy well water gave Jia Yin much relief, and she began to yawn.
Just as Li Lao's granny was about to carry her granddaughter back into the house, Zhao Lao's cries rang out from the courtyard.
"Darn it, our well ran dry too!"
When the Li family heard the commotion, they all rushed out. Sure enough, there was only a thin layer of water left at the bottom of the well.
It's impossible to throw a bucket into the water.
Perhaps tomorrow, I'll just do it completely.
Li Lao also wanted to go and have a look, but her heart suddenly trembled, and she turned back abruptly.
Last night there was only half a tank of water left, and I used up most of it this morning. It should be empty by now, but right now it's almost overflowing.
And the well in the courtyard had run dry, could it be...
She lowered her head to look at her sleeping granddaughter, her arms unconsciously tightening, unsure whether she should be ecstatic or worried.
The Li family must have gotten a treasure of a granddaughter! She's practically invincible!
Jia Yin woke up, and it was already dusk.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the members of Li's household were ready for sleep, but she was at her most spirited.
When she remembered the well at home was dry, she decided to go and have a look. After all, it wasn't possible for the water jars at home to be magically filled.
To hide, the best way is to store water in a well.
She smoothly got off the kang and reached for the door. The next instant, she was suddenly picked up.
Li Laotai tapped her granddaughter's forehead, "Where are you trying to sneak off to again"
Jia Yin chuckled silly, pointing towards outside.
Li Lao sighed, kissed her little chubby cheek, and then quietly left the courtyard.
As expected, Jia Yin ran all the way to the well and stopped with her small hand resting on the edge.
The old woman didn't know what her granddaughter was doing, so she leaned over the well and watched closely.
Under the moonlight, a stream of water flowed down along the granddaughter's hand from the well. And at the bottom of the well... there was already quite a bit of water.
She held back a cry, and carefully picked up her granddaughter.
Let your granddaughter lie in your arms, it's safer and won't tire you out.
Jia Yin was so comfortable, she hugged her grandma's legs and continued playing with the water.
I don't know how long it had been, but Lao Li heard no more sound of water. She looked down and saw her granddaughter sleeping soundly, drool dripping from her mouth.
She was heartbroken and didn't even bother to look at the well. She hurriedly scooped up her granddaughter and rushed back home.
Early the next morning, as dawn was breaking, Li Laosan exclaimed in surprise in the courtyard.
"Oh, our well has water again!"
Tao Hongying and Zhao Yuru took advantage of the cool morning air to start cooking early. Hearing this, I also hurried over.
The well water, though not as plentiful as before, only half its usual height, brought smiles to everyone's faces.
It's bad to be hungry, but it's just as bad to be without water on a scorching day.
Now the water is back home.
Just then, a villager came to Li's house to borrow a cart to go into town. Seeing that there was water in Li's well, the villager was also delighted. He didn't need the cart anymore. He went home to get buckets and ran over to draw two buckets of water.
It's not easy to refuse the Li family, it's not like they're asking for gold or silver. Besides, they're all from the same village, how could we just stand by and watch everyone else thirst
Word spread quickly, from person to person, until the whole village knew that Li's well had water again.
Even the village head came to have a look, and people from nearby villages all came to draw water.
Li Laosi, seeing this, hurried to fill his water tank.
In this way, they scrambled and fought over it. In less than half an hour, the well ran dry again.
Everyone felt a little embarrassed and they all thanked Old Lady Li. In the end, they gathered together and were even more worried.
Li Lao Tai held her granddaughter in her arms, using a fan to shade her from the sun. Her heart was beating like a drum.
A villager suggested, "Village Head, should we hide in the mountains"
The village head pointed to the distant forest and sighed.
“Life in the mountains wouldn’t be easy either. There's nowhere to hide, and I doubt the animals could even find water there.”
Everyone sighed, "What can we do The crops are doomed, and we'll all die of thirst!"
A woman began to sob, and the men also nodded their heads and sighed.
The village head, afraid that the Li family would find him troublesome, opened his mouth to drive them away.
"Go home and cry if you want to cry! Natural disasters, no one can stop them."
Everyone walked away dejectedly, leaving the Li family to sigh in disappointment.
Tao Hongying took care of cooking and eating, while Jia Yin went to work in the fields.
Li Lao only held her granddaughter and fanned herself on the ground.
Li's family watered their crops the most, but the hot weather caused a lot of consumption.
The crops are still wilting, with leaves drooping. They're a bit greener than the neighbors', but only a little... that's all there is to it.
Still need to water it!
Jia Yin made up her mind to continue sending water down the well in the afternoon.
But after the meal, the sun was too strong, and no matter how she struggled, her family wouldn't let her go out.
Helplessly, she could only wait until dusk before leading her grandmother to the well.
Li Laotai pondered for a long time before she understood her granddaughter's meaning.
Her heart was very complicated. On one hand, she felt sorry for the crops that were withering in the drought and would yield no harvest. On the other hand, she also felt sorry for her granddaughter, who was less than a year old and had to work so hard for the family.
After all, where did this water come from What if it's from far away The granddaughter is so young, won't she be exhausted
The result hesitated, and the well was half-full again.
She could only tell her sons to quickly hitch up the cart and pull water to the fields before dark.
The moon is bright, and it's easy to see.
House members didn't understand how there was water in the well again, but at this moment, they couldn't care less.
If you give the crops an extra watering, they can last for another half a month. Maybe it will rain in half a month!
Even though the long drought reduced the harvest, half a yield would be enough to feed the whole family.
After trip after trip, by daybreak, Big Qing was exhausted. The whole family, young and old, were so tired they could fall asleep at any moment.
As for Jia Yin, she is already lying in grandma's arms, fast asleep.
She was utterly exhausted. She had been pressing water in the space all night long.
The villagers came to Li's house early in the morning to try their luck. When they saw water in the well, they were all happy.
Looking at Li's courtyard and the oxcarts, I guessed they had watered their fields again last night. How envious and admiring I am!
This work is too tiring, and it might even be pointless.
The Li family, astonishingly resilient, endure hardship for a sliver of hope.
But each family had already given up, they were simply outmatched... 。Looking back now, there seems to have been a destiny at play all along. 。If she refurbished it, the farmer's courtyard wouldn't be a courtyard anymore, and it probably wouldn't even become a space....