Chapter 184: Fighting For Water
Editor: Atlas Studios
Bowen looked at his sister anxiously. Mu Yangling stroked his head and said, “This has nothing to do with you. You just have to study hard. Come back early to take care of your younger siblings after school.”
Shu Wanniang said, “Aunt, let Xiulan stay at home to look after the children. I’ll go.” Seeing that she was about to object, she said with a smile, “I’m also uneasy staying at home. I don’t know if there will be a fight for water. Since I’m an adult after all, I’d be more useful than Xiulan.”
Great-aunt immediately stopped talking and nodded. “That works too.” She looked at them sternly and said, “If someone fights for the water, don’t argue with them. Don’t get into a physical altercation with them, understand?”
Great-aunt’s gaze was mainly on Ah Ling as she said, “Ah Ling, I know you’re strong, but it’s difficult to fight back when you’re outnumbered. Since you still have to protect us, you will be no match for them. In short, I won’t allow you to get into a physical altercation with others for water. I’d rather you go home first. It’s no big deal even if we don’t water the wheat.”
Madam Ma-Liu’s son had quarreled with the son of the landlord because of Ma Youcai’s fight for water. When he returned home, he gathered his cousins and went to seek justice together. When they fought, Ma Youcai hid behind and pushed Ma Fugui out. Attacked by the landlord’s son with a hoe, Ma Fugui collapsed. When her daughter-in-law, who had gone to take a look, saw this, she quickly went forward to stop those people from beating him up. However, she was beaten up indiscriminately and died after giving birth to a baby boy.
That baby only lived for half a day before dying prematurely. This was the most painful memory for Madam Ma-Liu, and it also made her wary and afraid of snatching water. However, no matter how wary and afraid they were, they had to irrigate water to their fields. Otherwise, their crops would bear no harvest.
It was precisely because Shu Wanniang knew the danger that she wanted to follow. After all, she was an adult. Even if she was not strong, she could at least say a few words during a conflict.
The next morning, the four of them went to the east with buckets. Madam Ma-Liu said, “Ah Ling, go and dig an opening leading to the rice field, and let the water flow into the rice field. Don’t make too wide an opening lest it damages the rice.”
After Mu Yangling responded, Madam Ma-Liu brought Shu Wanniang and Xiuhong to fetch water to water the wheat.
As the 13 acres of high-grade land was facing the river, Mu Yangling did not have to spend much effort to let the water flow into the rice field. Then, she went to fetch water to water the wheat field with her great-aunt and the others.
Not to mention Shu Wanniang and Xiuhong, even Great-aunt and Mu Yangling couldn’t stand carrying water non-stop.
It was inevitable that their shoulders would ache. Even if Mu Yangling was strong and did not feel tired, her shoulder would definitely hurt from being squeezed for such a long time.
That was just the wheat field here. They had an even larger field over in the south side, and there was only a canal dug there but no river.
Mu Yangling looked up at the large wheat field and her eyes couldn’t help but darken. “Great-aunt, you guys rest for a while. I’ll do it.”
Great-aunt rubbed her shoulders and gestured for her to look up. “Look, all the families are starting to fetch water. The water level is bound to go down in a few days.” Since Chenggu Garrison had started, the other villages on the river must have also started to fetch water to water their fields. This river split out from Jialing Lake and had never been used.
Mu Yangling thought for a moment and said, “Great-aunt, why don’t I bring the water over for you guys to water? That way, you can rest and our progress will also be faster.”
“No.” Panting, Shu Wanniang said, “Your shoulders are still tender. Fetching water is different from carrying things. You and Xiuhong should stop for a while. Otherwise, you won’t be able to grow tall in the future.”
“Mother, don’t worry.” Mu Yangling said with a smile, “I’ve already thought about it just now. Instead of carrying the buckets on my shoulder, I’ll bring it over using my arms. This way, it won’t press down on my shoulder. Considering my strength, it’s fine even if I do this for an entire day.”
Mu Yangling did not feel tired carrying water, only that her shoulders hurt from the pressure. Once this problem was resolved, it would be much easier.
Mu Yangling carried two buckets of water over for them to water the fields. Surprisingly, she could keep up the pace, and they could even rest for a while from time to time. This way, their speed would be faster.
Mu Yangling looked at the distance between the riverbank and their wheat field and couldn’t help but think that it would be great if there was a water pipe. They could then directly pump the water up and water a large area with the water pipe.
But this was just a thought. Where could Mu Yangling find a water pipe at the moment?
Every family had to start watering their wheat fields. Since the river was only so long, it was inevitable that there would be some friction when they came and went. Some people despised those in front for fetching water too slowly, and some would trespass through other people’s wheat fields in order to save time. Everyone was already in a fiery temper to begin with, so conflicts quickly arose.
Fortunately, this was only the first day. Although there were some disputes, it was not to the point of getting into fights.
Great-aunt was used to this, for this kind of thing happened every year when people fought for seeds or water. Mu Yangling and the others would look up at first, but in the end, even if an argument happened not far from them, they could still walk past those people without looking sideways.
The water level of the river began to decrease. Mu Yangling and the others had already watered the wheat in the east, leaving only the fields in the south. At this moment, snatching water also happened from time to time. Just in the village alone, there had already been two fights, and that wasn’t even counting the neighboring villages.
When Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin rushed over after hearing the news, they saw the situation on the edge of the field in full swing.
Frowning, Qi Haoran asked, “Is the drought that serious?”
The platoon commander following behind Qi Haoran who understood the situation said, “Little General, wheat and rice are about to be harvested. During this period of time, the fields require a certain amount of moisture, which is why everyone is in such a hurry. It’s fine if it rains next, but if it doesn’t, they’ll definitely have to water it again when grain filling begins. It’s just that we don’t know if there’ll be enough river water by then. If there’s not enough, the conflict will probably escalate.”
“That’s right. There’s still enough river water now, but they’re fighting because of the order and convenience. If there’s not enough river water next time, won’t they fight even more fiercely? These honest-looking farmers will be willing to risk their lives for their crops. I heard that in the past, many people have been killed in the fight for water.”
Qi Haoran went down to the field with a dark expression to take a look at the situation. After walking around and not finding Mu Yangling, he turned around and headed south.
Shocked as well, Fan Zijin whispered to Qi Haoran, “Fortunately, we dug the reservoir and canal before spring. Haoran, if it doesn’t rain in half a month, send troops to guard those three reservoirs. They can save lives at critical moments.”
Qi Haoran nodded. “I know.”
Mu Yangling walked quickly in the wheat field with buckets in both hands and brought them to Shu Wanniang. She picked up another pair of wooden buckets before turning around to fetch water from the canal.
At this moment, Mu Yangling could not help but rejoice that she had asked Qi Haoran to dig the canal in her family’s land. Although it occupied a lot of land, the convenience was apparent now.
There was no need to mention the wheat fields in the east. As they were close to the river, the canal was dug through the middle of the low-grade land, so she did not use that canal. However, on the south side, her family could water their fields so quickly because of this canal.
Since the canal flowed through their family’s land, it took her the shortest time to fetch water there. Hence although their family was small, their progress was not slow. In addition, their land occupied a relatively small area compared to other families, so they were almost done watering it now.
Mu Yangling wanted to water the cornfield as well, but Madam Ma-Liu felt that there was no need to be in such a hurry. She said, “Let everyone rest for two days and recover first. I think the corn is still very energetic. There’s no hurry.”