Shen Qiqi followed Lu Qing's gaze and saw that the originally clear water had become turbid again at some point, mixed with mud and sand, flowing slowly like a sickly yellow dragon.

Some of the canal walls that had been repaired previously had cracks appearing, and the seeping water was gradually washing away the surrounding soil.

"How could this happen?" Shen Qiqi murmured to herself in disbelief, quickly walked to the edge of the canal, squatted down and took a closer look.

The crack is tiny, but it spreads like a spider web, making people feel uneasy.

"Qiqi, what's going on?" Lu Qing also came over, his brows full of worry.

Shen Qiqi's fingers gently slid along the crack, and her fingertips were stained with moist soil.

She frowned and scanned the entire canal wall with sharp eyes, as if looking for the culprit.

"There's something wrong with the soil. It's even softer than we expected, and it leaks a lot of water. If it's not dealt with in time, I'm afraid..." She didn't continue, but the worry in her tone was self-evident.

A tense atmosphere spread around the two of them like a tide.

"I'll go find Officer Zhao!" Shen Qiqi made a prompt decision, stood up and ran towards the town.

At the town's Water Conservancy Bureau, Officer Zhao was leisurely drinking tea. When he heard what Shen Qiqi was talking about, he put down his teacup and showed an embarrassment on his face.

"Qiqi, I know the situation in your village, but the funding from above is tight right now, and I can't do anything to help you." He spread his hands helplessly, with a hint of apology in his tone.

Shen Qiqi's heart sank, and a feeling of disappointment surged in her heart.

But she did not give up. She tried hard to suppress her anxiety and tried to persuade Officer Zhao.

"Officer Zhao, this situation is quite special. If we don't handle it promptly, I'm afraid it will cause even greater losses. Then..."

"Qiqi, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that..." Officer Zhao hesitated and finally shook his head, "A good cook can't cook without rice."

Shen Qiqi took a deep breath, turned around and left.

When she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and turned around and said, "Officer Zhao, please think of another solution. Our village really can't wait any longer."

Officer Zhao looked at Shen Qiqi's departing back and sighed helplessly.

When Shen Qiqi returned to the village, Lu Qing immediately came up to greet her, "How is it?"

Shen Qiqi shook her head, "No, there's no money up there."

Lu Qing grabbed Shen Qiqi's hand, "Qiqi..."

Shen Qiqi held Lu Qing's hand in return, her eyes firm, "Don't worry, there will always be a way."

Shen Qiqi and Lu Qing returned to the village, and the oppressive atmosphere enveloped them like a dark cloud.

Shen Qiqi's brows were furrowed the entire time. She walked into the main room of her house and looked at the budget sheet on the table with a worried look on her face.

The numbers gradually became blurred in her eyes, and the sound of water washing over the soil seemed to echo in her ears, making her feel uneasy.

Lu Qing stood beside her, looking at her frown, a feeling of determination rising in his heart.

He held Shen Qiqi's hand tightly, trying to give her strength: "Qiqi, don't worry, there will always be a way."

Shen Qiqi took a deep breath, and her eyes became firm.

Rather than rushing to find new funding sources like she had last time, she decided to re-evaluate the existing materials first.

She stood up and took Lu Qing to the village warehouse.

The warehouse was filled with old materials, the air was filled with the smell of wood and earth, and the dull atmosphere made people feel depressed.

Shen Qiqi carefully counted each pile of materials, her hands sticky from a mixture of dirt and sweat.

Her eyes were calm and focused, as if she was searching for something.

The sounds of equipment colliding and wood rubbing against each other made the entire warehouse seem particularly quiet.

"These woods are okay, they should be able to be used." Shen Qiqi picked up a piece of wood that seemed solid, examined it carefully, and knocked it lightly. There was a crisp sound, and it was obviously of good quality.

Her

"Look at these stones. Although they are irregular in shape, they may be useful." She walked to a pile of stones again, lifted one up with force, and felt the weight and texture of the stone.

Lu Qing stood beside her, watching silently, with a feeling of admiration rising in his heart.

He held Shen Qiqi's hand tightly and said softly, "Qiqi, you are really good."

Shen Qiqi smiled slightly, her eyes full of determination: "There will always be a way, let's start from here."

Shen Qiqi was carefully selecting materials in a warehouse piled high with materials, as if searching for some key clue.

Her fingers tapped lightly on the different materials, and each sound seemed to tell her that hope was not far away.

Shen Qiqi narrowed her eyes and scanned the warehouse like a treasure hunter. In her eyes, the wood and stones eroded by time became treasures.

She picked up a weathered-looking wooden beam and ran her fingers over its surface, feeling the rough texture.

"Although this wood is old, it is hard enough to replace part of the reinforcement material!" She exclaimed in surprise, her eyes shining like stars in the night sky.

"And these stones, although irregular in shape, can be used to fill the gaps in the channel wall and enhance stability!" She picked up another angular stone, weighed it, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

The waste materials piled up in the warehouse seemed to have turned into glittering gold in her eyes.

Lu Qing looked at her with admiration in his eyes. This little girl has a very quick mind!

"Qiqi, you are so amazing!" He couldn't help but sigh. This woman can always bring surprises to people.

Shen Qiqi held up the wood in her hand, excited like a child, "Hehe, God won't let the blind sparrow starve to death, we have many ways to deal with it!" The haze in her heart was swept away, replaced by full of hope and enthusiasm.

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!