o the forest to hunt returned empty-handed. Instead, as the sun began to set, they brought back Liu Biaotou and Liu Yang's family members.The three of them carried three large bags, their faces pale w...The villagers were all surprised, some rejoiced while others felt uneasy. They all looked towards Li's family and the village head and Zhao Shushu.
As expected, the village head immediately refused.
"Mrs. Cui, we know you are a kind person and remembering the friendship we shared as we climbed out of the mountains together, you want to take good care of us all. But people, most importantly, need their own dignity. Needless to say, everyone would have a better life in your village than now. However, over time, without rules and discipline, things can easily go wrong. We might become lazy and dependent. If there are those with greedy and insatiable desires who cause trouble, it might even ruin our friendship."
"Indeed," said several of Zhao's relatives, "though it looks desolate here, it was allocated to us by the imperial court. As long as we are willing to work hard, in two years' time it will surely be a good place, enough to support our families."
"Yes, Mrs. Cui, thank you for your kindness. We will definitely make this place a good one."
"We'll be breaking ground tomorrow, planting crops on both hillsides. Come visit us in the fall to taste the food and vegetables we grow."
The villagers also spoke up one after another. Hearing Mrs. Cui sigh, they liked these self-reliant "travel companions" even more.
Mr. Wen, seeing this, also said, "Alright, everyone, get busy first. If there's anything you need our help with, be sure to tell us. And the farm won't run away with its legs, so if anyone feels that this place doesn't work out later, they can always go back to the farm."
This joke was humorous and pleasant to listen to. Everyone laughed and responded in kind.
"Sir, rest assured, we don't know anyone else here. If anything happens, we will definitely ask Sir and Mrs. Cui for help."
For a time, everyone ate their fill and received new farming tools. They were all overjoyed.
He didn't even wait until tomorrow, and immediately went up the mountain to clear land.
The two mountain peaks face each other, with the west mountain being relatively poorer in terms of resources. There are fewer pine and cedar trees, and more wild grasses.
Therefore, everyone decided to attack from here first.
The new axe and saw were both very sharp, cutting down the trunks of trees and chopping at their roots. Everyone was working hard and with great intensity.
Li Lao Si, relying on his great strength, when he encountered the small tree, simply threw his pickaxe head and directly reached out to pull it up.
The ground near the mountain valley cliff was a bit steep, with a few small pines growing there. He tied a rope around his waist and went over to handle it.
When villagers came to help, he drove them away too.
Although the cliff isn't very high, you could still get hurt falling off it. The fewer people there are, the safer it is.
One, two, three... In less than half an hour, Lao Si Li had almost finished.
But when it came to the last tree, this pine remained exceptionally strong, refusing to leave its mother mountain's embrace.
Li Lao Si also got angry at one time, glaring at a rock on the edge of the cliff with his back foot, and shaking the loose tree with force.
The result, the pine tree remained standing, while Li Laosi and Shi Tou fell together with a deafening crash.
The villagers were startled and cried out as they ran to the side of the cliff.
"Lao Si, Lao Si!"
"Hurry, pull the rope!"
Li Lao Si suddenly burst into laughter under the cliff, "Hahaha, come and see, we've struck it lucky!"
Everyone quickly crouched down and strained their necks to look. To their astonishment, Li Lao Si was drenched from head to toe. A spring of water was pouring down from his head, and... it was steaming with hot vapor.
Hot springs! This is hot springs!
"Oh, a hot spring, there's a hot spring!" Everyone went crazy with joy, throwing down their farming tools and wanting to dance.
And the people in the valley were just as astonished.
A loud boom just now, everyone was worried about Li Lao Si's safety, fortunately he tied a rope.
The next instant, the water cascaded down like spring rain falling from the heavens, but it was extraordinarily warm.
The little kids went wild, screaming and rushing up, not afraid of getting their clothes wet.
The elderly and women dropped their work, herded the children away, and retreated a long distance, fearing that more rocks might fall.
Jia Yin was originally sitting in Cui's arms, listening to Cui and her grandmother discuss how to transfer a farm under their family name, using the excuse that it would be dowry for this little girl in the future.
But she was married for at least fifteen or sixteen years. That's just changing the way she sends estates to her family.
Of course the old woman couldn't take it, and her reason was very domineering.
Our Funiu is blessed. When she grows up and marries, our family life will surely improve. We'll prepare a generous dowry for her at that time.
Before the words even landed, the bare cliff face sprouted a spring of hot water!
Li Laotai snatched the granddaughter, gave her two kisses, and was so happy she almost jumped up.
"Didn't I tell you, our little Fortunate is truly blessed. She brought fortune to our family again!"
Mrs. Cui was also surprised. She didn't believe in ghosts and spirits, but this coincidence was too much.
Good sounds also clap with joy, even the most barren gravel beach, because of this hot spring, it will truly become a real gold-gravel beach!
Li Lao Si wailed for the villagers, who handed him an iron pickaxe and a big hammer. He dashed around the spring, hammering wildly once again.
Gravel cascaded down, and the spring water flowed with increasing force, eventually becoming a waterfall.
The scalding hot spring water cascaded down from a high point, the mist dispersing to reveal a valley that seemed like a fairyland on Earth.
The spring water gushed out from beneath the cliff, forming a small pool that quickly overflowed. It flowed along the path worn smooth by summer rains over the years, steadily moving forward until it finally joined the stream beside the official road...
Li Laosi's arms were numb from exhaustion. He was dragged up the mountain by everyone and Liu Biaotou took over, continuing to excavate.
Not until the sun was about to set did they stop.
And the entire mountain wall became a sheet of small waterfalls.
People gathered in the valley, looking at the waterfall bestowed by heaven. They were all speechless for a long time.
The village head led the way, kneeling down with sobs and kowtowing.
"Thank goodness, for giving us the fairy spring, transforming barren land into treasure. We and our descendants, generation after generation, will always remember heaven's kindness!"
The villagers did not know, in fact, how much they would benefit from this hot spring waterfall in the future.
But they knew that outside the original Kyoto, there were also hot spring villas, each costing more than ten times a regular villa.
Their share of this barren mountainside was bound to become valuable because of this hot spring.
Their situation changed completely from this moment on.
"Thank heavens, thank heavens! Waaah, we're finally not going to starve to death."
"We're saved, we'll have good days ahead!"
Mr. Wen was as happy as the rest of his villagers, and he even immediately began planning for the village.
"This hot spring must be protected and kept clean. The pool at the foot of the mountain should be expanded, at least two or three mu in size, so people can boat on it or just splash around. We should also build channels and construct more small courtyards or wooden houses for bathing..."
He suddenly stopped in the middle of his sentence and walked away, "I'm going back to the city now. I have a friend who works at the Ministry of Labor. Tomorrow morning, I'll ask him to come over and help tidy things up properly."
Mrs. Cui didn't stop him, only instructing, "Hurry on your way, it's probably going to be closing time for the city gates."
"Well then, just wait for good news from me." Mr. Wen, usually so steady and composed, was almost giddy as he climbed into the carriage and quickly disappeared down the road.
The villagers ate their dinner in haste, listening to the sound of rushing water. That night, everyone was so excited they couldn't sleep well.
Jia Yin was so excited, she went crazy! This is a hot spring after all. turning it a light green. She filled it into triangular oiled paper bags, snipping off a small point at the tip.Thus, the triangular paper bag became a brush, the light green cream became ink, and on...