Chapter 123
123 Hu Village
Er Ya looked at Old Hu. “My family suffered a drought, so Grandpa brought me to Tongzhou. Along the way, we used up all our money and food. People complained that I ate too much. Grandpa’s legs are not good, so no one is willing to use us.”
Er Ya said dejectedly, “I was hungry for a few days. I was so hungry that I couldn’t take it anymore. Grandpa took me to the broker’s house to sell myself. No one wanted us even after we lived at the broker’s house for a few months. Later, my Miss bought me and Grandpa home and fed us. She even treated my grandpa’s feet. My grandpa said that people should remember the kindness they received and not lose their conscience. You did something wrong and my Miss didn’t send you to the government office. She even went to help you. If you’re not successful after this, you can’t blame my Miss.”
When Old Hu heard this, he was extremely ashamed. He blushed and said, “If we blame her, would we still be human? We just want to ask your Miss to help us take a look. If not, we plan to go to other places to make a living.”
“Hard for you, too,” Er Ya said and looked silently at the river and the hills ahead.
The mule cart turned down the river and into a mountain road that was just wide enough for a mule cart to pass. They came down the road to a level place.
Old Hu pointed at the puddle in front of him with a nostalgic look. “Miss Li, look, this is our village’s field. It has become like this.”
When Li Yu heard that, she stopped the car and got out of the car. She realized that it was a flat piece of land in a col. It was about two to three hundred acres big and was filled with stones and bushes. Li Yu turned around and saw low straw huts built on a mountain beam behind her.
Li Yu glanced at Old Hu. “Let’s go! Let’s take a look at your hillside first.”
The few of them walked up the mountain beam. Li Yu saw that the roadside was filled with tall beams, hoes, and soybeans. When they reached the mountain beam, children and villagers surrounded them and looked at Li Yu and Er Ya curiously.
Li Yu saw that those people were wearing patched clothes. Li Yu glanced at Old Hu and thought to herself, It seems that stealing didn’t allow the villagers of Hu Village to live a good life. Instead, it ruined their reputation.
Old Hu said politely to Li Yu, “Miss Li, you must be tired! Please go in and rest for a while.”
Li Yu shook her head. “I’m not tired. Let’s look at the ground first!”
“Hu Gui, feed the mule some grass,” Old Hu said to Hu Gui as he led Li Yu and Er Ya through the village and up the mountain beam.
Li Yu saw that there were only 30 families in the village. After walking for a while, a long string of villagers followed.
Old Hu brought Li Yu up a hill and pointed at the sorghum planted on the hill. “There are more than a hundred acres in this mountain area. It’s a good harvest. There’s another piece over there that’s much worse.”
Li Yu stood on it and looked around. She estimated that the flat land on the hill was at most 30 to 40 acres. Looking down, she saw some sorghum planted sparsely on the slope.
Li Yu bent down and picked up a piece of soil. She rubbed it and felt that it was still considered soft. Standing on the hill and looking down, the entire hill was about five to six stories tall. Li Yu thought that if there was a water source, it could be used to develop terraces. However, she had only seen terraces and had never developed them. She was not 100% confident that she could successfully transform them. She would see if the others could.
Li Yu looked up at her surroundings and saw that most of the hills in front of her were like this. Some were planted with sorghum, while others were abandoned there. After more than ten hills, there were endless mountains.
Seeing that Li Yu was silent as she looked at the slope, Old Hu’s heart seemed to be hanging in midair. The villagers behind also looked at Li Yu eagerly, hoping that she would say something.
Li Yu looked around and turned to ask Old Hu, “Old man, where does the water you watered the ground with come from?”
Old Hu smiled bitterly and pointed to a large mountain to the east. “There’s a dark ravine halfway up that mountain. We’ll carry water from there to water the ground.”
Li Yu’s eyes lit up when she heard that. It was much easier with a water source. “Bring me over to take a look.”
Seeing that Li Yu wanted to see the water source, Old Hu felt a trace of hope. He looked at Li Yu excitedly. “Alright, follow me.”
Old Man Hu brought Li Yu to the east of the hill and went down to a man-made step path.
“That cave was still filled with yellow mud water after the flash flood that year. Everyone couldn’t find any water to drink and looked around for water. A child saw water flowing down from above and found the source,” Old Hu said to Li Yu.
It took an hour to walk up and down the nearby mountain path.
Halfway up the mountain opposite, Old Hu pointed at the cave in front of him. “Miss Li, there’s a dark ditch inside. The water in the ditch moves very slowly. As long as it rains for a few days, the water will flood out of the cave. Even if it’s dry, there’s still a lot of water in it. I don’t know where it comes from.”
Li Yu nodded and climbed to the entrance of the cave to see a cave as big as the mouth of the cave. Old Hu led the way into the cave and lit the torch stuck in the entrance. The cave became bright. Old Hu smiled and said, “We often come to fetch water, so we placed a torch and flint here for everyone to use more conveniently.”
“Oh!” Li Yu smiled and looked into the cave. She realized that the cave was more than ten square meters wide. After entering the cave and taking more than ten steps, she saw the dark ravine that Old Hu had mentioned. The dark ravine lay against the cliff in the cave. It was as wide as a wooden table and there was no hole at both ends. The water looked very deep and it was dark. There was no sign of water flowing.
Li Yu looked at the entrance of the cave and looked at the hill opposite. She thought to herself, “Leading the water over will solve the problem of irrigation.” After Li Yu took a look, she felt that the distance between them was at most 100 meters.
Li Yu remained silent. Old Hu looked at Li Yu uneasily.
Li Yu looked back at Old Hu. “I’ve thought of a way. Let’s go back first and I’ll tell you guys.”
When Old Hu heard this, his hands trembled in excitement. He could only nod and agree.
The three of them walked out of the cave and saw dozens of villagers following outside. After bowing to Li Yu, they looked at Old Hu eagerly. Old Hu waved at them. “Go back first. Miss Li said that she has a way and will tell us when we head back.”
The group returned to the hill excitedly and was about to walk down when Li Yu stopped Old Hu. “Have you heard of terraces?”
“Terraces? I’ve never heard of it. What kind?” Old Hu shook his head and asked.
Li Yu organized her words and explained, “Terraces are built according to the terrain of the hill. Just like the mountain path you built, they go down layer by layer. After they are repaired, they will be called terraces like stairs.”
Old Hu and the other villagers widened their eyes and looked at Li Yu in surprise.
Old Hu asked hesitantly, “Have you seen them before?”
Li Yu looked at Old Hu and said sincerely, “I’ve only seen them in books and know the general method. However, I’ve never actually developed them, so I’m not 100% sure that I can succeed. If you’re not afraid of failure, I’ll tell you the general situation.”