Spring water seeped from the stone wall, dripping onto the ground before merging back into the underground water.

Four boys gathered around, eyes filled with wonder.

Zhao Ergou was in disbelief. “Mother, how are you so smart? Why can mugwort find water? How did you know?”

She certainly wouldn’t say she had read about it in a book.

Instead, she put on an all-knowing expression and said, “When I was as young as Sidaan, I lived with my grandmother. Once, a doctor came to fumigate the house with mugwort, and I remember him saying that mugwort can dispel dampness. Dampness is related to water, isn’t it? So I thought of trying it out, and who would have guessed—we actually found a water source!”

Zhao Sidaan’s eyes lit up. “Mother, you’re amazing!”

Zhao Dashan was thrilled. “We don’t have to worry about running out of water anymore. Mountain spring water is so sweet!”

Zhao Sanniu patted his chest. “From now on, fetching water is my job! I’ll carry water four times a day!”

“It takes half an hour to go up the mountain, so a round trip takes an hour. Four trips a day means you’re spending most of the day fetching water. Do you have nothing better to do?” Cheng Wanwan scoffed. “Finding a water source isn’t the hard part. If you can figure out a way to bring the water to our doorstep, that would be impressive.”

The four boys fell into deep thought.

Besides carrying water, they couldn’t think of another way…

Zhao Sidaan racked his brain but still couldn’t figure it out.

His bright, round eyes wandered around, and suddenly, he let out a gasp. “Second Brother, look! Isn’t that Sister Shuiqin over there?”

Cheng Wanwan followed his gaze and indeed saw Sun Shuiqin.

This girl had come to Dahe Village early in the morning—why was she still here at this hour?

Moreover, she was standing beside a boy.

The boy seemed to be from Dahe Village as well—his name was Zhao Shagen.

Right now, Zhao Shagen’s face was flushed red.

Strangely enough, he looked oddly similar to Ergou when he got all flustered.

Zhao Ergou’s face was full of joy as he eagerly stepped forward.

“What are you doing?” Cheng Wanwan grabbed him. “Can’t you see that Miss Sun is with Zhao Shagen? You’ll be interrupting them.”

Not that she cared about disturbing them—she was just curious about the relationship between Sun Shuiqin and the boy.

Before Zhao Ergou could make a move, Sun Shuiqin and Zhao Shagen started walking toward them.

Cheng Wanwan and her four sons were at the lowest point between two mountain peaks, where the rich water supply made the vegetation lush.

The dense forest concealed them from view.

“Shagen, you don’t need to walk me any further…” Sun Shuiqin’s voice was soft and gentle. “If I take this small path, I’ll reach Guihua Village in no time. I can go back by myself.”

Zhao Shagen smiled shyly and handed her a bag of grain. “If you run out of food, come find me again.”

“Thank you, Brother Shagen.”

Sun Shuiqin’s face flushed with shyness, her eyes sparkling like water—she looked breathtakingly beautiful.

Zhao Ergou was completely mesmerized.

Cheng Wanwan was at a loss for words.

Even a fool could see that Sun Shuiqin was keeping her options open in Dahe Village.

She didn’t know how many “fish” she had in her pond, but her naive second son was definitely one of them.

And despite witnessing this intimate scene between Sun Shuiqin and Zhao Shagen with his own eyes, the fool was still lovestruck!

Being a mother was so exhausting.

“Sister Shuiqin borrowed food from Second Brother, so why is she borrowing from Brother Shagen too?” Zhao Sidaan asked in confusion. “She smiles so sweetly—I thought she only smiled like that at Second Brother.”

Cheng Wanwan secretly gave her youngest son a thumbs-up.

If Zhao Ergou still didn’t get the message, he was beyond saving.

Zhao Ergou finally pulled himself out of Sun Shuiqin’s enchanting smile.

His gaze shifted to Zhao Shagen, then to the things in her hands.

Two jade bamboo shoots—he had personally handed those to her this morning.

A basket of wild vegetables—unclear whether she picked them herself or received them from someone else.

And a bag of grain—about five or six pounds—which Zhao Shagen had just given her.

“Shuiqin is kind and gentle; she’s friendly with everyone…” Zhao Ergou struggled to come up with an excuse. “Her family must be really struggling. That’s why Brother Shagen helped her out…”

“Oh really?” Cheng Wanwan mercilessly shattered his illusion. “Do friends hold hands?”

Just then, Zhao Shagen boldly took Sun Shuiqin’s fingers in his own.

Sun Shuiqin blushed deeply but did not pull away.

Zhao Ergou’s eyes widened.

Last night, Sun Shuiqin had hooked her little finger around his. He had thought… he had thought…

He was instantly furious and stepped forward.

“Stop.” Cheng Wanwan’s voice was cold. “The Zhao family hasn’t proposed marriage. You two aren’t engaged. You have no relationship with her. If you rush over now, what are you going to do? Yell at Zhao Shagen for seducing her? Accuse Sun Shuiqin of being unfaithful?”

Zhao Ergou’s clenched fists dropped powerlessly to his sides.

He gritted his teeth. “Shuiqin isn’t that kind of person… She’s not…”

Cheng Wanwan sighed helplessly.

This boy still refused to give up.

But she wasn’t willing to let this slide either—she had lent out twenty pounds of jade bamboo shoots. Lent, but it might as well have been a gift.

Her four sons had worked hard digging them up!

Zhao Sidaan provided live commentary. “Brother Shagen left.”

Now only Sun Shuiqin remained in the forest. She carried her belongings and quickly headed toward Guihua Village.

“Shuiqin!”

Zhao Ergou suddenly called out behind her.

Sun Shuiqin turned around, saw him, and instinctively glanced around for Zhao Shagen.

Realizing that he had already disappeared down the mountain path, she let out a quiet sigh of relief and smiled sweetly. “Brother Ergou, what are you doing here?”

Before, Zhao Ergou would have been utterly dazed by that smile.

But now, he simply asked calmly, “Where did you get that bag of grain?”

Sun Shuiqin’s expression remained unchanged. She replied gently, “My second uncle works in Dahe Village. He asked me to bring it home for him.”

Zhao Ergou’s heart sank bit by bit.

He had come up with countless excuses for her. He had even convinced himself that as long as she could explain, he would believe her.

But she… lied.

Forcing himself to suppress his anger, he asked slowly, “Then why did I just see Zhao Shagen give it to you?”

Sun Shuiqin’s smile stiffened. “D-Did you? Maybe you saw wrong…”

Zhao Ergou clenched his fists. “It’s broad daylight—how could I see wrong? Zhao Shagen is from my village. Even if I only saw the back of his head, I’d recognize him!”

Sun Shuiqin’s eyes instantly welled up with tears. Her voice trembled. “Zhao Shagen has been pestering me… He insisted on giving me food. I really didn’t want to take it, but my family has run out of food… I couldn’t refuse…”

The moment she started crying, Zhao Ergou panicked.

Just a second ago, he was furious. Now, he only wanted to wipe her tears away.

Cheng Wanwan sighed for the umpteenth time.

This girl was too skilled—her foolish son was no match.

It seemed she had to step in.

She cleared her throat and walked over. “Miss Sun, if you’re feeling wronged, just tell me. I’ll help you sort things out.”

Sun Shuiqin froze.

She hadn’t expected anyone else to be here.