Traveling through the busy farmland of a peasant girl

The weather was getting hotter, and the scorching heat seemed to drag everything in the world into a passionate carnival. After breakfast, the head of the family, Shen Shaodong, suddenly announced that he would hold a meeting.

At this time, Zhang Xiu Niang had just finished her busy work in the kitchen. She tidied up everything neatly and brought Shen Li and Shen Xuan to the peach tree in the backyard.

The peach tree has already produced peaches, each one as big as an egg, round and cute, hanging on the branches.

As soon as Shen Li's gaze fell on the peach tree, it was as if she was attracted by a magnet. Her eyes were full of desire, and her little mouth unconsciously opened slightly, with saliva secretly flowing in her mouth.

Finally, she couldn't help but picked one and took a bite impatiently.

"Pooh! Pooh!" Shen Li's little face instantly wrinkled into the shape of a bitter melon. The bitter taste spread wildly in her mouth, making her facial features seem to have lost control.

Seeing this, Shen Shaodong couldn't help but burst into a hearty laugh, which echoed in the yard like a gust of cheerful wind.

As for Shen Xuan, although he tried hard to hold it back, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise slightly, like a ripple on the calm lake.

When Shen Li heard the laughter, she turned around and saw her father, who looked like a beauty in a painting, laughing at her. She felt embarrassed and annoyed, so she pretended to be angry and turned her head away, pretending not to see the joke.

Then, she turned back to look at her mother, with a hint of worry and expectation in her eyes, and asked softly, "You won't laugh at me too, will you?"

Zhang smiled gently, like the warmest spring breeze, and said softly, "Ah Li, do you want to eat peaches? You can just wait for ten more days."

As she spoke, she pointed to some peaches on the top of the tree and said, "Look, these peaches are already slightly red."

After a pause, she continued, "But our peaches aren't very tasty even when they're ripe. Have you forgotten? You didn't really like those ripe peaches before."

Shen Li's heart skipped a beat, but she pretended to be calm and said calmly, "I thought the tree would grow taller and produce delicious peaches, and become more promising."

Shen Shaodong clapped his hands lightly and said in a vigorous voice, "Come and sit down."

After everyone was seated, he cleared his throat, his expression becoming serious and earnest. He slowly said, "Yesterday, your mother and I discussed this. We now have some money at home, so I don't plan to do odd jobs anytime soon." His eyes swept over everyone's faces, and he continued, "Everyone, think carefully about what kind of work our family can do. Everyone is welcome to offer their suggestions."

When Shen Li heard this, he immediately raised his hand and asked with sparkling eyes like an active primary school student: "Then should I still go up the mountain?"

Father Shen smiled and replied, "Go ahead. The pigs and rabbits at home still need to eat. But I want to go with you next time."

Shen Li raised her hand again and said in a clear voice, "I have an idea! How about we pick some pigweed seeds and plant them in the open space outside the yard?"

Zhang's face showed a trace of worry when she heard this. She said, "Many children in the village will go to pick pig grass. If we plant it outside, I'm afraid it won't last. After all, it's pig grass and can be picked easily."

Shen Xuan watched everyone expressing their opinions one after another, and he also had some ideas in his mind.

So he timidly held out his hand and whispered, "Now that we have money at home, shouldn't we buy some land first?"

Shen Shaodong looked at his son with a smile, his eyes full of satisfaction, and said, "Son, this is a very good idea.

But now, with years of drought and little rain, crops are growing very poorly, and after paying all the heavy taxes every year, there is very little food left."

After hearing this, Shen Li tilted her little head, and there seemed to be stars twinkling in her eyes.

Then, she raised her hand again, and with a hint of excitement in her voice, she said, "Dad, I found a pool of water in a very secluded place on the mountain. The water storage capacity of that pool is very large!"

Shen Shaodong's eyes suddenly widened, and he said in surprise: "Really? The water level of the river in the village has dropped so much that it is about to leak out of the riverbed!" There was uncontrollable surprise and worry in his tone, as if the scene of the cracked riverbed had already appeared before his eyes.

"If it's true, Li'er, you have saved the whole village! If things go as expected, the river in the village will dry up in a few days!" His words were full of praise for Shen Li and gratitude for the future of the village.

He stood up suddenly, his expression serious and solemn, and said to everyone: "Water resources are of paramount importance right now. It is the most important issue concerning the survival of our entire village. Let's end this meeting here for now."

"Ari, let's go to the village head's house and take us to see the pond."

Perhaps it was the soldier's instinct from his previous life that was at work. As long as the people encountered any difficulties, the people's soldiers would help them without hesitation and unconditionally. At this moment, Shen Shaodong seemed like a person with such a sense of mission.

Shen Li, carrying a bamboo basket, walked briskly with Shen Shaodong to the home of the village head Zhao Dashan. When they arrived, Zhao Dashan was talking with his father in the house.

Zhao Dashan, now in his thirties, is a native of this village. His father was once the village head, but he retired from the position due to age and diminished energy. The villagers, impressed by Zhao Dashan's honesty and insight, nominated him to succeed them. The government, in turn, approved the nomination and issued a written order. Under Zhao Dashan's leadership, Qingshan Village resembled a harmonious family, with few disputes among the villagers, and everyone lived a peaceful and orderly life.

When Zhao Dashan saw Shen Shaodong coming to visit with his daughter Shen Daya, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he still opened the door enthusiastically and welcomed the two in.

After the two of them settled down in the courtyard, Zhao Dashan, filled with doubt, asked, "Brother Shen, what brings you here?" He wondered to himself: Why would this honest man, who usually only works hard, suddenly come to my house today? What could be the matter?

Shen Shaodong said seriously, "Zhao Lizheng, the water level in the village river has been getting lower and lower recently. I estimate that within half a month, the river water will overflow the riverbed!"

At this moment, the village head, Old Man Zhao, walked out of the house slowly, smoking his pipe.

Shen Shaodong quickly stood up and bowed respectfully, saying, "Uncle Zhao."

Old man Zhao took a deep puff of his cigarette and said slowly: "I was just talking about this problem with Dashan! Alas! God really doesn't want us to live! The harvest from this field today will definitely be halved, even lower than in previous years!" His voice was full of helplessness and sorrow, as if the impending poor harvest was right in front of him.

Shen Shaodong said, "Uncle Zhao, I came to see Brother Zhao today for this matter." As he spoke, he gently pulled Shen Li to his side and said proudly, "This is my daughter Shen Li. She found a pool of water with a very large storage capacity in the mountains."

"So I want Li'er to take Brother Zhao to have a look!"

Zhao Dashan and Old Man Zhao said almost at the same time, "Really?" There was a hint of doubt in their voices, but more of anticipation.

Shen Li nodded vigorously, her eyes clear and firm as she said, "Really? I tried it, the water there is especially sweet!"

Zhao Dashan was so excited that he stood up all of a sudden. His movements were as fast as a lit firecracker. He said excitedly: "I'll go find some brothers and we'll go up the mountain now!"

So, Zhao Dashan hurriedly called his three cousins, Zhao Dahe, Zhao Dajiang, and Zhao Dashui, and the six of them went up the mountain in a mighty procession.