Chapter 14: Found the Mountain Spring

He took down the water pouch from his body, filled it in the pool, took a few big gulps, and then handed it to Qin Nian.

“So refreshing, it really quenches the thirst.”

After both of them drank their fill, they refilled the water pouch. Qin Nian thought for a moment, then called out loudly, “We’ve found a mountain spring! We found it…!”

The spring water reacted to the sound, retreating quickly—gone in the blink of an eye.

“It really is like a shy girl.”

Qin Nian was no longer startled. She began surveying the surrounding environment.

Below the mountain spring was a sloped area of land, quite large and fairly level—it could be about three mu of land (around half an acre).

Qin Nian was so excited she nearly jumped up.

“Geng Feng, what if we clear the weeds on this slope and plant crops here?

There’s a mountain spring here, so even if it doesn’t rain, we can carry water to irrigate the land.

What do you think?”

Geng Feng’s eyes sparkled. “That would be great. Even though it’s already mid-May, it’s still not too late to plant.”

He glanced around. “This is a valley surrounded by mountains. The way we came in requires climbing a nearly vertical cliff face.

Even though it’s close to the village, few people come up here—and they don’t really need to.

No one would think there’s farmland here. No matter what we plant, there’s no way it would get stolen.”

Qin Nian said, “Let’s head back today and come back with tools tomorrow.

The two of us can clear the weeds in just a few days, raise planting ridges, and plant half the area with corn. The rest we can use for potatoes and sweet potatoes.

Those two crops are drought-resistant and high-yield—they can serve as staple food. This way, our two families won’t go hungry this year.”

Geng Feng nodded. “Xiao Nian, we’ll do whatever you say. I’ll follow your lead.”

“And another thing—I originally came up the mountain to find a spring, so that if the village well runs dry, people wouldn’t be forced to flee for lack of water.

But you said earlier that the village well taps into the water line and usually doesn’t dry up.

This spring is far from the village, and unless there’s no other option, no one would come here to fetch water.

Since we plan to farm here, there’s no need to tell anyone else about this spring for now.”

Geng Feng agreed completely. “Besides my parents and your grandma, no one else can know.

We can’t let my aunt or cousin know—especially my cousin. She’s a blabbermouth and doesn’t think before she talks.

If she finds out, then the whole Dawa Village and their Dahe Village will know.

All the hard work we put into growing these crops will be for nothing.”

After finalizing their plan, Qin Nian said, “Let’s go back and get the tools ready so we can come early tomorrow.”

Geng Feng shook his head. “It’s not easy to climb the mountain from the other side. Very few people come up here. There should be wild vegetables growing in the grass.

Come on, let’s look around.”

Qin Nian immediately agreed. Right, they didn’t manage to dig up any wild vegetables yesterday—they couldn’t possibly go home empty-handed again today.

When they arrived at the slope where they planned to farm, the grass elsewhere had all withered in the drought.

But here, thanks to the nearby mountain spring, the vegetation could absorb moisture and hadn’t withered at all—it was lush and green.

In the grass, there were many dandelions. Since no one harvested them, many had already bloomed. There were also shepherd’s purse and fiddlehead ferns.

In no time, the two of them had filled a basket.

Qin Nian thought to herself, There are so many wild vegetables here—I should store some in the space later. But I need to do it quietly so no one finds out about the space.

“Whoosh!”

The sound of an arrow slicing through the air.

When Qin Nian looked up, she saw a mountain marmot shot down by Geng Feng, lying in the grass ahead.

Geng Feng was a hunter. Even while foraging for wild vegetables, he remained alert. The moment the marmot appeared, he had quietly stood up and shot it with precision.

He quickly walked over, picked up the marmot from the ground, and smiled. “It’s a pretty fat one.

When we get home, I’ll skin it and tan the hide for you. I’ll make you a fur collar.”

He said it so naturally, as if Qin Nian was already part of his family.

They continued picking wild vegetables until the basket could hold no more. Qin Nian still hadn’t found a chance to store any in her space, so she suggested heading back.

Geng Feng said, “Tomorrow, let’s not bring a basket. We’ll carry a backframe instead. That way we can bring more.”

The two of them began their journey back. Climbing back over the mountain ridge, Qin Nian struggled quite a bit and was soon drenched in sweat again.

By the time they returned home, it was already Shenshi (around 3–5 p.m.).

Ye Meizi had prepared lunch for Granny Li and had left a large bowl for Qin Nian, keeping it warm in the pot.

After eating, Qin Nian took out half of the wild vegetables from the basket and brought them over to Ye Meizi.

Geng Feng had dug up more than she did—she couldn’t keep them all for herself.

Ye Meizi said cheerfully, “Xiao Nian, I’ll stew mountain marmot meat tonight and save a portion for you two. Don’t bother cooking dinner.”

Qin Nian readily agreed, “Alright, I won’t make dinner then.”

With such a good relationship between the families, there was no need to be overly polite.

In the courtyard, Tang Xiaomei sat squatting, watching Geng Feng skin the mountain marmot. Her face was twisted with anger—looking just as awful as the dead marmot—as she shot multiple glares at Qin Nian.

Qin Nian didn’t want to deal with her and pretended not to notice.

Back at home, Qin Nian told Granny Li about her and Geng Feng discovering the mountain spring and the large patch of land.

Granny Li was overjoyed. “Xiao Nian, once my leg heals, I’ll go up the mountain with you to farm.

It’s been three years since I last worked the land. My hands are itching, and I’ve got all this energy with nowhere to use it.”

Qin Nian burst out laughing. “Grandma, you’re so skinny you’re like a fishbone—how can you work the land?”

“Who says I can’t?”

Granny Li raised her eyebrows. “Those old geezers and grannies in the village—they were all wild in their youth, and now they just lean against walls in their old age.

Not a single one of them has ambition. They just sit there sunbathing.

But your grandma? I’m not going to be like them. I’m still strong and full of life—I want to get back to work in the fields.

Don’t be fooled by your youth—you still can’t work harder than me!”

“Okay, okay, I get it. My grandma is the most hardworking person in Dawa Village. Happy now?”

Only then did Granny Li nod in satisfaction.

As the grandmother and granddaughter were joking and laughing, someone came rushing in.

Qin Nian looked up—it was Lin Cuizhi, whom she knew.

They hadn’t seen each other in a few days, and Lin Cuizhi looked even thinner. The moment she saw Qin Nian, she burst into tears.

“Xiao Nian, I heard people say you saw Doctor Zhou in the village for some medical stuff.

My child has had a fever for several days now—please, come take a look.”

“Of course, I’ll go right now.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Nian got up and followed Lin Cuizhi.

Lin Cuizhi’s home was a one-and-a-half-room mud house, with kang beds on both the north and south sides. When Qin Nian entered, Cuizhi’s husband, Sun Dalei, was standing on the earthen floor.

On the south kang, there were three extremely skinny children. Two of them were sitting at the end of the kang side by side, while the third was lying motionless at the head.

The two sitting children had enormous eyes and sharp chins—they looked eerily like aliens from a sci-fi movie.

The child lying down didn’t move at all.

When Lin Cuizhi brought Qin Nian in, Sun Dalei stammered, “I… I think Little Third has no breath left…”

Lin Cuizhi trembled, her voice turning sharp. “Don’t talk nonsense—how could he not be breathing?!

Xiao Nian, please, take a look!”

As she spoke, she climbed onto the kang and cradled Little Third in her arms, holding him out for Qin Nian to examine.

The moment Qin Nian saw the child, she knew—he was already gone. But she still checked his eyes and repeatedly tested for breath at his nose.

After feeling for a pulse on the carotid artery, she solemnly shook her head.