The summer sun is scorching hot; even wearing shoes feels like they're burning your feet when you walk on the street.

Every household in the village has harvested their grain. After threshing and drying the rice, they put the grain into cloth bags and stored it away.

This is the family's food supply for the next six months. If anyone dares to try and take it, the whole family will fight them to the death.

He Tiantian's family had already harvested more than half of their eight mu of beans. Early in the morning, Zhao Denglong and Zhao Wanzi ran home after finishing school.

The two closed the courtyard gate, ran to the well, each drew a ladle of water, and gulped down the entire ladleful.

Sister-in-law Yulan handed a handkerchief to the two children, saying, "You two should wipe your faces clean; they're covered in sweat."

"Thank you, Auntie."

"Thank you, Auntie."

Zhao Denglong and Zhao Wanzi expressed their gratitude in unison.

Sister-in-law Yulan smiled and said, "Don't mention thank you. Your mother was really farsighted; she dug a well at home a long time ago."

"I heard from the villagers this morning that the only well at the end of the village that has water has also stopped producing any. Everyone has to go to Langshan to fetch water..."

Sister-in-law Yulan was a little worried, as her husband was also among those carrying water.

I've heard that place is extremely dangerous, teeming with wolves and tigers, and that people who go there never return.

But there was no other way; we couldn't give up, even if there was only a sliver of hope to survive.

"What? The village has no water?" Zhao Denglong blinked and quickly went to check the water in her well.

Thankfully, we can still see water.

Their well can't run dry! The old lady on the mountain is very delicate, and Brother Mozhu has to come to her house every day to fetch water for her.

"Don't worry, sister. Didn't our mother say last time that there's lots and lots of water in Langshan?" Zhao Wanzi said calmly.

Sister-in-law Yulan was very surprised, "So your mother knew about this too?"

“Yes, my mother was with us when we went to find water last time,” Zhao Wanzi said proudly.

Yulan felt a sense of awe; they were both women, so how could He Shi be so outstanding?

You're so capable! You're so capable!

The children gathered together to smash the bean pods, and everyone moved their work into the main room so they wouldn't have to suffer under the scorching sun in the yard.

Even so, after working for a short while, everyone was soaked in sweat.

The sound of knocking came from the gate of the courtyard again. At first it was just a light knock, but it got louder and louder until it became a direct banging on the door.

"Sister, someone's here!" Zhao Wanzi glanced outside the courtyard.

Why is someone knocking on their door every day? When did their house become so lively?

"Don't move, I'll go open it." Sister Yulan put down her work and patted her apron at her waist.

She walked quickly to the door and unlocked it from the inside.

"Excuse me, is this the He family's residence?" Tao Tingzhang stood at the front, followed by three other people.

When Sister-in-law Yulan saw that it was a stranger, she became wary.

She asked unfriendly, "Who are you? I've never seen you before!"

Tao Tingzhang wasn't embarrassed; instead, he stepped aside and pushed He Chun and his wife Suan Li forward.

“These are He’s parents, and this is He’s younger brother,” explained Tao Tingzhang.

Sister-in-law Yulan looked at the three people. She knew nothing about He's family background. She only knew that He's family was far away, somewhere in something called... Peach Blossom Village?

"Are you from Peach Blossom Village?"

"Yes, yes, I am the head of Peach Blossom Village. I also know your village's head of the Zhao Pavilion; we attended a meeting together at the government office," Head of the Tao Pavilion quickly explained.

"Auntie, who's here?"

Zhao Denglong looked inside for a long time but didn't see anyone, so he followed along.

"This is...?" Zhao Denglong tried hard to search his memory, but he didn't recognize it.

They don't have any relatives.

"Oh my granddaughter, let grandma see her." The moment Stone's mother saw Zhao Denglong, tears of excitement streamed down her face.

Her body was thin and frail, and her hands were so withered that not a single bit of flesh could be seen.

Zhao Denglong felt that the rough hands holding her were hurting her a little.

“Lantern, you’ve grown so much. The last time I saw you, you were still a baby.” Stone Mother said, and couldn’t help but shed a few more tears.

"Lantern, where's my older sister?" He Shitou, who looked simple and honest, said this with a bit of embarrassment.

To be honest, he hadn't seen his older sister for almost six or seven years, and he barely remembered what she looked like.

He Shitou is only thirteen years old this year, but he is already taller than his peers.

He Shitou was also very thin, perhaps due to the drought and famine.

He was a young man, but Zhao Denglong, a girl, had more flesh on her body than him.

Zhao Denglong was a little confused because she had no recollection of what these people were talking about.

"Sister He hasn't come back from the city yet, so, so..." Sister Yulan didn't know what to do either.

Tao Tingzhang patted his collar and said, "Right! I already told you that your daughter works in the government office now, doing things for the county magistrate. She's very prestigious!"

Finally, a hint of emotion appeared on He Chun's face as the elderly father.

A few days ago, when the village head returned to the village, he made a special trip to tell us about this matter.

He simply couldn't believe that he had been dragged here by the village headman again today. Even now that he was standing at his daughter's door, he still felt like he was dreaming.

"Alright, I won't waste any more time arguing with you. Madam He asked me to bring you here, so my task is complete." After saying this, Tao Tingzhang called to several men from the same village behind him.

"You must be careful when leading the carriage. These carriages were issued by the county magistrate. We can't afford to pay for them if we damage them! Come on, let's go fetch water."

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