He took off the water bag on his body, filled it with water from the pool, took a few big gulps, and handed it to Qin Nian.
"It's so cool, it quenches my thirst."
After they drank their fill, they refilled their water bags. Qin Nian thought for a moment and shouted, "We found the spring water, we found it..."
The spring water was shaken by the sound and receded very quickly, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
"She really looks like a shy woman."
Qin Nian was no longer shocked and began to look around.
Below the spring is a sloping land, which is very large and quite flat, probably about three mu in size.
Qin Nian was so excited that he almost jumped up:
"Geng Feng, what if we remove the weeds on this slope and plant crops on it?
There are mountain springs here. Even if it doesn't rain, we can carry water to irrigate the fields.
Do you think it's okay?"
Geng Feng's eyes sparkled: "That's great. Although it's already the middle of May, it's still in time to plant the crops."
He looked around and said, "This is a valley surrounded by mountains. Especially from the direction we came, we have to climb over the mountain that is tilted at almost 90 degrees.
Although it is close to the mountain, few people in the village can come up, and there is no need to go up.
I never thought there was a piece of land here, and no matter what crops we planted, it would not be lost. "
Qin Nian said: "Let's go back today and come back tomorrow with the farm tools.
In a few days, we can clear the weeds from this piece of land, make ridges, plant half with corn, and the rest with potatoes and sweet potatoes.
Both crops are drought-resistant and high-yielding, and can be used as staple food. Our two families will not go hungry this year."
Geng Feng nodded, "Xiao Nian, you have the final say, I will listen to you."
“Also, my original plan was to go up the mountain and find a spring, so that if the well dried up, the villagers wouldn’t have to flee for their lives because of lack of water.
You just said that the wells in the village are dug above the water line and generally never dry up.
This mountain spring is too far away from the village. No one would come here to fetch water unless there was no other choice.
We are planning to cultivate this land, so there is no need to tell others about the spring water here for the time being."
Geng Feng agreed very much: "Except my father, mother and your grandmother, you can't tell anyone else.
I also can’t let my aunt and cousin know about it, especially my cousin, she’s too talkative and has no brains.
Once she knew about it, everyone in Dawa Village and Dahe Village where they lived would know everything.
All the crops we worked so hard to grow will be lost."
After the two of them had discussed it, Qin Nian said, "Let's go back, prepare the farm tools, and come early tomorrow."
Geng Feng shook his head: "It's not easy to climb over the mountain behind, and few people come up. There should be wild vegetables in the grass.
Come on, let’s go look for it.”
Qin Nian heard it and thought, yes, I didn’t find any wild vegetables yesterday, so it’s impossible that I won’t find any today either, right?
When they arrived at the hillside where they wanted to plant crops, they saw that the grass elsewhere had died of drought.
The grass here is green and lush because it can absorb moisture from the mountain springs and has not died of drought.
There are many dandelions in the grass, but no one is picking them. Many of them are in bloom. There are also shepherd's purse and fern.
In a short while, the two of them dug a whole basket.
Qin Nian was thinking, there are so many wild vegetables here, she would have to put some into the space later, but in order to prevent the space from being discovered, she had to do it quietly.
“Whoosh!”
The sound of an arrow breaking through the air.
When Qin Nian looked up, he saw a raccoon being shot by Geng Feng and falling in the grass in front of him.
Geng Feng was a hunter. Even when he was digging wild vegetables, he was very alert. As soon as the raccoon appeared, he stood up quietly and shot an arrow decisively.
Geng Feng ran over quickly, picked up the raccoon on the ground, and said with a smile, "It's a big, fat one.
When I get home, I'll peel off the skin, tan it, and save it to make a scarf for you."
He spoke very naturally, as if Qin Nian was his family.
After digging some more wild vegetables, the basket was full. Qin Nian couldn't find a chance to put them in the space, so he suggested going back.
Geng Feng said, "Tomorrow, don't carry the basket. Bring the basket on your back so you can hold more."
The two of them walked back and climbed over the mountain. Qin Nian expended a lot of effort and was sweating again.
When I got home, it was already 3 p.m.
Ye Meizi made lunch for Mrs. Li and left a large bowl for Qin Nian, which was kept warm in the pot.
After Qin Nian finished his meal, he took out half of the wild vegetables in the basket and gave them to Ye Meizi.
Geng Feng dug more than her, she couldn't keep it all.
Ye Meizi said loudly: "Xiao Nian, I will stew mountain catfish meat tonight and bring you some. Don't cook dinner."
Qin Nian agreed generously: "Okay, I won't cook dinner."
The relationship between the two families is so good, there is no need to be polite.
Tang Xiaomei was squatting in the yard, watching Geng Feng skinning a raccoon. She was so angry that her face looked as ugly as the dead raccoon's. She glared at Qin Nian several times.
Qin Nian didn't want to pay attention to her and pretended not to see it.
After returning home, Qin Nian told Mrs. Li about how she and Geng Feng had discovered the mountain spring water and a large piece of land.
Granny Li was overjoyed: "Xiao Nian, when grandma's leg injury heals, I'll go up the mountain with you to farm.
Including this year, I haven’t farmed for three years. My grandmother’s hands are itching and her whole body is full of energy but she has nowhere to use it.”
Qin Nian was amused: "Grandma, you are as thin as a fishbone and can't farm."
"Who said that?"
Mrs. Li raised her eyebrows and said, "Those old men and women in the village were all young and frivolous, but now they are old, they all lean against the wall.
None of them have any ideals, they are all basking in the sun.
As your grandmother, I can’t be like them. I’m still young and strong, and I need to go to the fields to work.
Even though you are young, you can’t work as well as me.”
"Okay, okay, okay. My grandmother is the most capable person in Dawa Village. Is that okay?"
Only then did Mrs. Li nod with satisfaction.
The grandfather and grandson were talking and laughing when a man ran in hurriedly.
Qin Nian took a look and recognized Lin Cuizhi.
After not seeing each other for a few days, Lin Cuizhi became thinner and cried when she saw Qin Nian:
"Sister Xiao Nian, I heard that you have seen Dr. Zhou in the village.
My child has had a fever for several days. Please go and help take a look at him."
"Okay, I'll go right away."
After saying that, Qin Nian stood up and followed Lin Cuizhi.
Lin Cuizhi's house was a one-and-a-half-square-foot house with a north-south kang. When Qin Nian entered, Cuizhi's husband, Sun Dalei, was standing on the floor.
On the south kang, there were three skinny children, two of them were sitting side by side at the end of the kang, and the other was lying at the head of the kang.
The two children sitting there have huge eyes and pointed chins, looking very much like aliens in science fiction movies.
The child was lying there, motionless.
Seeing Lin Cuizhi coming with Qin Nian, Sun Dalei stammered, "Xiao Sanzi seems to be out of breath."
Lin Cuizhi shuddered and her voice became sharp: "Don't talk nonsense, how could there be no breath?
Xiao Nian, please show me quickly."
As she spoke, she got on the kang, brought the third child over and showed him to Qin Nian.
As soon as Qin Nian saw the child, she knew that it was dead. But she still looked into the child's eyes and repeatedly tried to smell his breath.
After touching the carotid artery, he shook his head sadly.
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