Chapter 32

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Chapter 32: Well Water

     

Zhang Cai remarked: “It definitely isn’t ginseng. I’ve only seen that stuff in a medical clinic when I was younger. Since I came to Guo Village, I haven’t had the chance to see it again.”

     

Everyone grew even more puzzled. What else could it be? They all ate from the same pot every day, just simple farm meals. There was nothing special.

     

Everyone was puzzled.

     

Seeing that it was getting late, they dispersed for the night. Zhang Cai and Guo Sufei had been busy all day, physically and mentally exhausted. It was time to rest.

     

As Zhang Xiaohua tiptoed back into his grandmother’s small room, she was already sound asleep. Though she occasionally coughed softly, she was deeply tired and didn’t notice Xiaohua’s entrance. Zhang Xiaohua slipped into his own blanket, listening to his grandmother’s subdued coughs and intermittent breathing. His heart felt heavy as he thought about his grandmother’s kindness towards him.

     

Memories of her care for him since he could remember flashed through his mind. Though he hadn’t realized the depth of his affection for his grandmother in ordinary times, now he found himself deeply engraved with memories of her. Each moment, each detail, couldn’t be forgotten.

     

Tears streamed down Zhang Xiaohua’s face as he pondered, eventually soaking his pillow. Gradually, he drifted off to sleep, and as expected, the twinkling dreams of Zhang Xiaohua arrived.

     

In the dream, Zhang Xiaohua existed in a twinkling world pulsating with rhythmic breaths, like a living, pulsating entity. His breath, his body, everything about him synchronized with this pulsation, involuntarily twinkling along with it, gradually merging with this world.

     

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed into his grandmother’s small room, Zhang Xiaohua promptly opened his eyes. The same twinkle in his eyes flashed momentarily before vanishing.

     

After Zhang Xiaohua woke up, the first thing he did was to listen carefully for his grandmother’s voice. However, there was neither coughing nor breathing. He quickly got up and realized that his grandmother was not in the house. As he stepped outside, he saw his grandmother sitting on a chair in the courtyard. The morning breeze was still chilly, causing his grandmother’s white hair to flutter in the sunlight. Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes became slightly blurred.

     

He hurried over to his grandmother and said: “Grandma, please go back inside quickly. The morning wind is very cold, and your health is not good. You shouldn’t come out in the morning anymore.”

     

Grandma’s hand fumbled out to find Zhang Xiaohua’s head, and she affectionately stroked it, saying: “Xiaohua, Grandma is old and doesn’t sleep much. I couldn’t sleep anymore, so I came out for some fresh air. I’ll go back now, alright?”

     

Zhang Xiaohua didn’t say anything, he just silently helped Grandma back to the warm little house.

     

Coming out of the house, Zhang Xiaohua still looked at the rising sun on the horizon. Suddenly, he remembered what happened a few days ago. So, he made the same motion of biting the sun again. As expected, he still felt a rush of heat entering his throat. Zhang Xiaohua was stunned. Could it be that it wasn’t his imagination? His eyes rolled around for a few turns.

     

Don’t tell me this is the ‘Heavenly Dog Devours the Sun’, not good, doesn’t that make me the heavenly dog? After pondering for a while, he couldn’t come up with a reason, so he shook his head and stopped thinking deeply. He just decided to take a bite like this every morning to see what would happen in the end.

     

After finishing a simple breakfast, as usual, Zhang Xiaohua went up the slope to fetch spring water.

     

Just as Zhang Xiaohua was about to leave, Liu Qian, who was tidying up the dishes, exclaimed: “I know what Grandma ate.”

     

Everyone was stunned, and Zhang Cai asked in confusion: “What did Grandma eat?”

     

Liu Qian smiled and said: “It’s from yesterday. Didn’t the doctor mention that Grandma was eating ginseng?”

     

Zhang Cai suddenly realized, and Zhang Xiaolong anxiously asked: “Say it quickly, what did grandmother eat?” Zhang Xiaohua also stopped in his tracks.

     

Liu Qian mysteriously replied: “It should be said, what grandmother drank.”

     

“Drank?” When Zhang Xiaolong heard this word, his eyes immediately glanced at Zhang Xiaohua, as if understanding something.

     

Zhang Xiaohu hadn’t finished his meal yet. He stared blankly at the watery porridge in his bowl and said in a daze: “That’s it? Is it ginseng? That’s unlikely.”

     

Liu Qian noticed everyone’s confusion and explained: “Look, last night, didn’t think for a long time trying to figure out what special thing it could be? But, the doctor said she only started consuming it recently. The well water on the slope used to be drunk only occasionally. It’s only since I came here that we’ve been using it extensively, especially Grandmother. She only recently started enjoying tea made with well water, and we’ve only started using the well water for cooking recently too! Considering the timing, only the well water fits the bill.”

     

Guo Sufei slapped her own forehead and said: “That’s right! Yesterday, we were only thinking about what she ate, not what she drank. Liu Qian’s explanation is spot on.”

     

However, Zhang Cai said: “I believe that ginseng can indeed nourish Mother’s body, but this water, no matter how good it is, is still just water. Can it really be taken as medicine?” He asked Liu Qian with a hint of doubt.

     

Liu Qian didn’t know how to respond either and said: “Uncle, I’m not sure about this. How about we take a pot of water to the medical center in town and let them have a look?”

     

Guo Sufei nodded and said: “Hmm, alright. How about we have Xiaohu take a pot later and run to town to let the doctor have a look?”

     

Excitedly, Zhang Xiaohu said: “Alright, I’ll finish my meal right away and get ready. My injury is almost healed, so I can make the trip without any problem.”

     

Zhang Xiaohua also said: “I’ll go fetch water right away. I want to go to town with Second Brother too.”

     

After speaking, they immediately prepared to run up the slope.

     

At that moment, Zhang Cai spoke up, saying: “No, absolutely don’t go!”

     

Everyone was puzzled again. Guo Sufei asked: “What do you mean by this, husband? Why won’t you let Xiaohu and the others go?”

     

Seeing everyone’s confusion, Zhang Cai smiled bitterly and said: “Have you all forgotten about Mr. Wu from the neighboring village?”

     

Suddenly, Liu Qian and Zhang Xiaohua realized, while the others remained puzzled. Zhang Xiaohu asked curiously; “Dad, of course we know about Mr. Wu. He was killed by bandits because he dug up a treasure.”

     

Zhang Cai said: “Then, could our well water be a treasure?”

     

Zhang Xiaohu replied: “We don’t know. That’s why we’re letting the doctor in town take a look, right?”

     

Zhang Cai continued: “But what if it is?”

     

Zhang Xiaohu was speechless, unsure of how to respond.

     

Seeing that everyone was still somewhat confused, Liu Qian explained: “Uncle’s point is this, if this well water is indeed a treasure and the doctor in town finds out, it would be a significant matter. Imagine a well full of ginseng. That’s much more valuable than the jewelry Mr. Wu found. If bandits were to learn about it, wouldn’t they come to kill and steal the water? Moreover, this well is not in our courtyard, it’s far up on the hillside. We can’t claim it as ours outright. If people find out about it and come to fetch water, should we allow them or not? If everyone comes and takes it, what will grandmother drink? The worst scenario is if powerful individuals claim it for themselves, leaving none for anyone else.”

     

Now everyone understood.

     

Zhang Xiaolong asked again; “But if we don’t let the doctor see it, how will we know if this well water is beneficial for Grandmother?”

     

Liu Qian smiled and said, “Let’s set aside whether we take this water to the medical clinic or if the doctor will even examine it and determine its benefits. Even if this well water proves to be of no use, it wouldn’t cause us any loss. After all, we still need to drink and cook with this water, right?”

     

Then, Liu Qian said solemnly: “And if this water does prove to be beneficial, then we might not be able to drink it anymore in the future. Grandmother might also be deprived of it, and there could even be dangers to our lives.”

     

Guo Sufei quickly added: “Liu Qian is right. We shouldn’t go to the town to see the doctor. And, everyone must keep the matter of the well water a secret. Absolutely do not let it slip out.”

     

Everyone nodded in agreement.

     

As Zhang Xiaohua went to fetch water, he shook his head in disbelief, murmuring to himself: “In this world, people’s hearts are not as pure as they used to be. It’s really hard to behave with integrity when you have to prioritize protecting yourself in everything you do.”

     

Since that day, Zhang Xiaohua fetched water from the slope every day. All the water used in the household, for drinking, cooking, washing, and so on, was replaced with well water instead of using the river water at the village edge.

     

It seemed that everyone was hoping for a miracle to happen to Grandmother.

     

However, Grandmother’s health remained fragile, and her cough did not seem to alleviate.

     

However, the injuries of Zhang Cai, Zhang Xiaolong, and Zhang Xiaohu improved rapidly day by day. Especially Zhang Xiaolong, when he went to the veterinarian, Old Chen, to change his bandages for the first time, Old Chen almost couldn’t believe his eyes. He looked and touched repeatedly until finally, faced with the undeniable truth, he had to admit that Zhang Xiaolong was indeed more than half healed. The broken bones were about to recover. Ignoring Guo Sufei’s grateful expressions, Old Chen hastily dismissed them and hurried into his pharmacy.

     

He carefully preserved the medicine he had prepared, which Zhang Xiaolong had only used once. He felt secretly proud, thinking, Who says I can only be a veterinarian? If this is the first time I made wound medicine and it had such an effect, could it be that I have the potential to be a miracle doctor? It seems that I should change my profession someday and open a miraculous medical clinic in the bustling area of Lu Town. With this magical medicine, I could make a fortune, couldn’t I?

     

Putting aside the veterinarian Old Chen’s wild thoughts, the entire Zhang family was delighted to see Zhang Xiaolong’s injuries heal so quickly. They became increasingly convinced that it was all thanks to the well water. When Grandmother learned that her grandson’s arm had healed, her mood improved significantly. Her face lit up with a smile like a blooming flower, and her cough eased. The whole family was filled with joyous laughter and celebration.

     

As for Liu Qian, she herself didn’t know what she was feeling. At first, when she saw Zhang Xiaolong return without his splint, she was overjoyed, joining in the family’s celebration. But after a while, a wave of sadness washed over her. She tried hard to push away these feelings, refusing to acknowledge them, but deep down, she knew she had developed feelings for this family and for Zhang Xiaolong. She didn’t want to leave this place and return to her own home, but wasn’t her own home good enough? She asked herself. The answer was no. She also loved her own home, but it seemed like the feeling of being at her own home and being here was different. What exactly was the difference?

     

Perhaps it was indeed because of Zhang Xiaolong.

     

But now that Zhang Xiaolong’s injuries had healed, what reason did she have to stay here?