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Secretary Qi's words make a lot of sense.

Niu Peng was a smart man and understood perfectly well. He nodded and agreed, saying, "What you said makes a lot of sense, and the commune has fully considered your difficulties. This time is indeed different from the last time, but the commune isn't asking Qijia Village to give up its water source. Instead, they want to organize manpower to dig another spring in Qijia Village. That way, people from other villages can get water from those springs, and your village can still draw water from your own pond for irrigation!"

Last year, the commune already owed Secretary Qi a favor, and Qijia Village owed him one as well.

This time, they couldn't afford to sacrifice the interests of Qijia Village again. When it comes to food and lives, the people of Qijia Village wouldn't back down. If that happened, it would escalate into even greater conflict, which would be troublesome.

Hearing Niu Peng's words, Secretary Qi was slightly relieved and nodded, saying, "That's a good idea! I'd like to do that too. I also know a place with a spring, but the water flows over the mountain, so it would be a lot of work to get it working."

“We’re not afraid of the effort; the most important thing is to have water,” Niu Peng said. “We’ll be back in Youhuai City the day after tomorrow. The well-digging experts sent by the province will search extensively. If we can find an underground river, that would be even better.”

“Alright then,” Secretary Qi agreed. “Tomorrow, after Dajun sends Xiaoyan away, we’ll hold a mobilization meeting in the village.”

"Okay, after the meeting, I'll go to the other villages and discuss with the people there so they can contribute manpower and resources," Niu Peng said. In order to get water as soon as possible, people from other villages would also come to help.

The next morning, Qi Xiaoyan took a small package and said goodbye to her parents.

He Tiantian prepared a gift for Qi Xiaoyan: a small package containing two new-style vests, very form-fitting, with straps on the sides that could be adjusted to fit larger or smaller. Since Qi Xiaoyan had already started puberty, these two little vests would be useful for her.

As everyone watched her go, Qi Xiaoyan got on Niu Dajun's bicycle and headed to the county town.

As she left, Qi Xiaoyan's eyes were red, but she knew that she was now her parents' pride, and that she would become a glorious soldier in the future.

After a quick breakfast, Secretary Qi and Niu Peng began to mobilize everyone for a meeting.

The people of Qijia Village have been quite worried about water lately. Now that the high-ranking officials from the commune have arrived, they all look grim, thinking they've come to take away their water.

What they're fighting for isn't water, it's food, it's lives!

During famines, many people starved to death. Those who have memories of it are so frightened by the thought that they can't sleep.

However, when they heard Niu Peng say that he was looking for water or springs in the village or the back mountain, everyone felt a little relieved.

This is better; at least their water was saved.

Actually, they are all from the same village. Many daughters from Qijia Village have married out of the village, and they have also brought wives back from other villages. They don't want to ruin things and make it impossible to remain relatives in the future.

After praising Qijia Village's awareness, Niu Peng, along with his secretary, quickly went to other villages to persuade them not to steal Qijia Village's water.

After returning from the mobilization meeting, He Tiantian went to the cave in the back mountain that night.

He Tiantian, Snake King, Xuan Turtle, three... one person and two beasts held a symposium.

He Tiantian sat on a large rock, the Snake King stood in the air, and the Whirlwind Turtle lay in the pool. The army was complete, encompassing land, sea, and air.

“Xuan Gui, you said that most of the water here flows into the underground river, is that right?” He Tiantian asked excitedly. “If we can get the water out of the underground river, the drought in Taoyuan County can be solved.”

“Yes, but the underground river is very deep below the surface,” the Whirlwind Turtle nodded. “Digging it out would be very difficult.”

"Don't be afraid, there's strength in numbers!" He Tiantian said with a smile. As long as we find a suitable position, everything else is a small matter.

Hearing He Tiantian say this, Xuan Gui shuddered and said, "Yes, you humans are the smartest. There is strength in numbers. Even if there are no conditions, we will create them."

He Tiantian smiled awkwardly, a little embarrassed. Humans sometimes act too hastily.

"Could you help me find the closest place to the underground river?" He Tiantian asked. "The sooner we get the water out, the sooner we can alleviate the drought..."

The spinning tortoise didn't speak, but instead looked at the majestic Snake King.

The Snake King turned his head and said, "This is your forte. Why are you looking at me like that!"

"My abilities are limited, and I need the Snake King's help." The Whirlwind Turtle smiled憨厚ly. With Sweetie around, it had to do this, but how could it let a stone turtle do such tiring work by itself!

He Tiantian looked at the Snake King and said with a smile, "Snake King... without affecting your cultivation, please help the people of Taoyuan County!"

The Snake King remained silent, absolutely refusing to admit that it enjoyed seeing He Tiantian begging him.

"Snake King, please..." He Tiantian's sweet voice rang out.

The two eyes of the spinning tortoise darted around He Tiantian and the Snake King, slyly chuckling to itself.

"Your Majesty, you decide what to do," the Snake King agreed, considering it a meritorious deed.

"When do we start?" He Tiantian asked hurriedly, "What do you need me to do?"

The Snake King said lazily, "You don't need to do anything, just wait here for us."

He Tiantian nodded repeatedly and said, "Okay, thank you, King Snake!"

The tortoise was displeased, raising its little claws and saying, "I'm the one who mainly does the work..."

The tortoise was starting to regret its actions. It had shot itself in the foot; it had tried to drag the snake king into the work. But it forgot that when working with the snake king, the snake king was the leader and it was just a foot soldier. If there was any credit, it would mostly go to the snake king.

So heartbreaking!

"You talk too much nonsense, get to work!" The Snake King jumped onto the back of the Whirlwind Turtle and poked it with the tip of its tail.

He Tiantian patted the back of the spinning tortoise and said, "The spinning tortoise is amazing! You've worked hard!"

The tortoise wanted to say a few more words, but the snake king grew impatient and said, "If you keep babbling, I'll shut your mouth..."

The tortoise quickly covered its mouth with one of its large front claws and walked on three legs, staggering behind the snake king, which was quite funny.

A snake and a turtle went down into the pool through the outlet.

He Tiantian waited anxiously by the water, hoping they would return soon.

Looking back, He Tiantian's life underwent a dramatic change since the appearance of the Snake King. Not only did she have a new life, but she also rose again in a remote mountain village, the very place where she had fallen in her previous life.

With the Snake King around, Qi Jianguo's schemes and deceptions can't fool her!

With the Snake King by her side, she changed her friend's life!

Her parents are healthy and well, her friends are happy, and she herself is living a fulfilling life.

Now there are baby tortoises, which is even more fun than before.

He Tiantian was so willing to recruit the Little Whirlwind Turtle for two reasons: firstly, she hoped to use its abilities to alleviate the disaster in Taoyuan County; secondly, she wanted to find a partner for the Snake King. (To be continued.)