Early the next morning, Luo Xi divided everyone in the manor into several water-finding teams. In particular, the soldiers under Xiao Yi's command suspended their training and focused on finding water on the mountain.

When the people learned about it, they joined the group or organized their own teams to go. Soon, the mountains of Tongning County were bustling with people and were very lively.

Do you think we can really find water on the mountain?

"If the boss says it's possible, then it's definitely possible."

Rosie: "..."

Did she say that?

Rong Bai laughed so hard he almost fell over: "Boss, are you really that amazing? Why don't you say Rong Bai will live to be a hundred?"

“Alright.” Luo Xi smiled maliciously: “Rong Bai will live to be a hundred, but all his teeth and hair will fall out, his eyesight will be failing, he'll be bedridden, and he'll have trouble with urination and defecation…”

"Stop!" Rong Bai's face darkened. "Boss, it was just a joke. Why are you cursing me like that?"

If that really happens, he might as well die sooner.

Luo Xi kicked him: "Is this the time for jokes? Look at you, even the Prefect Si can walk faster than you."

If they keep taking this long, when will they finally find water?

Well, the son of the Right Chancellor is indeed more valuable than him, and Rong Bai had nothing to say about that.

“Master Luo, you didn’t know this, did you?” Si Mo said with some pride, “Although our Si family are all scholars, we have very strict family rules.”

"Everyone must not only study literature, but also practice martial arts. However, they don't need to have unparalleled martial arts skills like the leader. They just need to improve their physical fitness."

"In addition, our husband likes to go to the countryside to see the local customs and opinions, so walking and climbing mountains are really nothing to us?"

Rong Bai wailed, "God, how tiring it must be to live like that!"

Cockfighting, bird walking, polo – aren't these fun? Why torture yourself like that?

Luo Xi just smiled and didn't join their conversation, walking quickly forward while carefully searching for a water source.

She strained her senses to the maximum, not missing a single change in the moisture, and by the end of the day, she was feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

Add to that the sweltering, oven-like climate, and it's really tough.

"I can't go on, Boss, let's rest for a bit." Rong Bai threw himself to the ground, his face flushed red.

The others were also covered in sweat.

Loshi nodded, wondering if the other teams had found anything.

In reality, there was nothing. By the time the groups gathered in the evening, none of them had found anything significant. At most, they found a small puddle or a nearly dried-up stream, which was of little use.

Everyone fell silent instantly.

The disaster was more severe than they had imagined!

"Go back, we'll look again tomorrow." Luo Xi pursed her dry, chapped lips.

However, several days later, they still hadn't found anything, and suddenly, they all wilted like cabbages, losing all motivation.

Worst of all, although it's already early September, the temperature shows no sign of dropping, let alone rain.

As far as the eye can see, the entire mountain is covered with dry, brittle vegetation and weathered soil. A gust of hot wind blows, sending grass clippings and dust flying everywhere, covering everyone's heads and faces.

The group, already covered in sweat, looked even more disheveled.

"Boss, let's go back and think of another way. I'm really drying out like a dried-up human." Rong Bai licked his chapped lips.

His handsome face, in just a few days, became unbearable to look at.

Although the others didn't say anything, they all raised their sun-tanned, yellowish faces and stared longingly at Luo Xi.

Si Jia had lost the refined elegance he had when they first met; he was much more down-to-earth. He didn't speak at this moment, but just looked at Luo Xi with a smile.

Luo Xi had given up on finding water on the mountain: "Send the word down, call back the team."

"Great!" Everyone smiled, but then their faces fell again when they thought about the nearly dried-up water tank at home.

What can we do if there's no water?

Unfortunately, someone else came to cause trouble at this crucial moment.

Luo Xi and his group had just come down from the mountain and were preparing to go back to rest when they were blocked by a group of people at the entrance of the villa.

They were all dressed in fine clothes, with rosy and clean complexions, a stark contrast to the disheveled appearance of Luo Xi and his companions.

“The head of the family is the patriarch of several prominent families in the city.” After glancing at them briefly, Rong Bai whispered to Luo Xi, “The fat man at the front is Jin Xin, the current patriarch of the Jin family, which is the second richest family after mine.”

“I understand,” Rose nodded.

“They’re up to no good, be careful.” She then instructed, “Xiao Yi, take some men and protect them.”

"Don't worry, Chief." Xiao Yi's face was cold and stern as he deftly protected Yin Li, Wei Qing, Rong Bai, Si Jia, and the others on the innermost side.

All the soldiers from the manor are here, and Xiao Yi is somewhat worried, unsure whether this is a good or bad thing.

Si Mo, along with the Si family guards, automatically stood in front of Si Jia, adopting a protective stance.

The group over there also saw Luo Xi and his group. Jin Xin, the fat man Rong Bai had mentioned, immediately questioned, "Boss Luo, now that you're in charge of Tongning County, shouldn't you be responsible for the county's water shortage?"

“That’s right, we were doing just fine as citizens of Tianqi, but you’ve turned us into…” another headman chimed in, his tone full of dissatisfaction with Luo Xi: “Now we have no water, so what are you going to do?”

After those two started, the others began to chime in.

"Yes, if it were the imperial court, the matter would probably have been resolved long ago, instead of waiting until now."

"Yeah, I haven't showered for three days, I'm practically stinking, really."

The soldiers glared at them angrily.

They've almost run out of drinking water, and these people still want to take a bath?

Rong Bai was never one to suffer a loss, so he snorted coldly, "Are you blind? Didn't you see we just came back from finding a water source?"

"As for you gentlemen, not only did you not come to help yourselves, but you didn't even send a servant. How dare you say that?"

"How can you blame us? It's your fault for not sending someone to inform us." It was Jin Xin who spoke again, his fat face jiggling with the opening and closing of his mouth.

Rong Bai clicked his tongue twice: "Who am I talking about? It turns out to be Fatty Sijin from the west of the city."

"What, have you gotten so fat that your ears and eyes are blocked by fat, making you blind and deaf? Otherwise, why are you the only one who doesn't know about something that the whole county knows?"

If you want to pretend you don't know something, you need to come up with a better excuse.

"Rong Bai, you're talking nonsense!" Jin Xin hates it when someone calls him fat, especially his nemesis Rong Bai, who always gets ahead of him.

"So what if I know? With such a stupid method, you've wasted so many days of effort."

"Of course, if you have already found a water source, then disregard what I said."

His expression was contemptuous, clearly indicating that he already knew they would return empty-handed.

“Brother Jin, isn’t it obvious that we haven’t found it?” The Chen family head echoed him, “Otherwise, why would everyone be so dejected?”

"Can't find it? What do we do then?" Jin Xin looked at Luo Xi: "Boss Luo, you've left us without water to drink. Just tell me, what are we going to do now?"