A few days later, a wave of frantic cheers suddenly erupted by the well.
Elder Ye threw down the well-digging tools he was holding and ran, shouting, "Master, Mistress, the well has water! The well has water!"
"Water? Our well has water?"
Everyone at Red Tree Slope immediately dropped their work and ran towards the well.
Several people stumbled and fell, but they picked themselves up and continued running.
The well had water! They had hope of survival!
Before long, everyone had gathered around the well, their faces beaming with ecstatic smiles. Many were so moved they shed tears.
Elder Ye welcomed Bai Sheng and Lu Ye to the well, pointed to the bottom, and said proudly, "Look, water is gushing from the bottom."
Bai Sheng looked down into the well. Although it was pitch black inside, the roaring sound of the groundwater bursting forth was very clear.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the well water had risen to about five or six meters from the ground.
Everyone present cheered with excitement.
Even the usually composed Lu Ye picked up Bai Sheng and spun her around in small circles.
A few enthusiastic strong men directly kissed Elder Ye's wrinkled face, making Elder Ye act disgusted but also smile so weakly that he couldn't lift his hand to wipe his face.
This was undoubtedly the highlight of his life – the first time he had dug such a deep well! The first time he had found water in the heart of the desert!
Most importantly, he had finally fulfilled his duty to his kind employers.
Despite the excitement, it was crucial to remain calm when necessary.
The well at Red Tree Slope was an absolute miracle in the desert, and an invaluable treasure at that. It was bound to attract covetous eyes.
Fearing that people might come to snatch the well water or damage the well, Bai Sheng and Lu Ye asked everyone to keep it a secret for now and not to spread the word about the well having water.
Once they had finished building the protective railing for the well, they would notify families from all the villages who were eligible to draw water.
Everyone present, whether they were children from Hongliu Village or Caomiao Village, and even Li Qiang and Lu Fengshou, were eligible to draw water. They were not foolish enough to openly invite others to steal their water.
Keeping it secret was paramount!
Although they desperately wanted to brag about this explosive news, they managed to restrain themselves by pinching their thighs hard.
That day, Lu Ye went to the market to "buy" five chickens and five rabbits, as well as a large basket of fresh fruits and vegetables. Red Tree Slope held a celebration.
Elder Ye once again felt the warmth of the people of Red Tree Slope. With good wine and good food, he was so full he could only walk leaning against the wall.
The next day, the well-digging team departed.
The men of Red Tree Slope immediately sprang into action, paving the ground around the well mouth with smooth stone slabs, building high stone walls as railings, and then erecting a canopy like a four-cornered pavilion with bamboo.
To prevent children from falling in, a wooden well cover was added to the well mouth, which would be closed when the water was not in use.
After completing all this, Bai Sheng sent Ma San and Yang Ming to the various villages to inform those who had participated in the well-digging fundraising that they could come to Red Tree Slope to draw water according to the agreed-upon volume the next day.
Within a day, the news of the well at Red Tree Slope having water exploded in the surrounding villages.
Villagers flocked to see it, some even carrying buckets and bowls, as if the water belonged to them and could be used freely.
Before long, Red Tree Slope was crowded with villagers.
However, because the well was surrounded by high stone walls and guarded closely by the people of Red Tree Slope,
the crowd of villagers could not see the well. They had rushed over eagerly only to see nothing, and quite a few began to express their dissatisfaction.
"Red Tree Slope is common land for our several villages. Why aren't we allowed to see the well?"
"We are all people of Tianshui Town. Now that the climate is so dry, the well should be made available for everyone to share!"
"This family is simply too selfish! Watching so many people die of thirst!"
"If they don't let us use it, we'll fill in the well!"
"If they don't let us use it, we'll report them to the authorities!"
"Let's join forces, all of us villages, and drive them away! Won't this well then be ours?"
...
The people of Red Tree Slope, upon hearing these shameless words, were furious and wanted to fight.
Tian Guihua spat and shouted, "This is a private well dug with money by my master and mistress. Why should we let you use it?"
Du Min stood beside Tian Guihua, hands on her hips, and also raised her voice, "When our family was digging the well, my master and mistress wrote an announcement for fundraising. The purpose was to help you after the well was dug. However, you all disdained it and mocked my master and mistress. Only these people—"
Du Min turned and pointed to those standing at the well entrance who had participated in the fundraising, "believed us and contributed their own efforts as required, so only they are eligible to draw water! You people, go back where you came from! Don't disturb our family's normal life!"
Madam Liu immediately quoted a famous saying from her mistress, "There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world! To demand something without any contribution, only shameless people would do that!"
A trace of guilt flashed across the faces of many villagers, but some who were not bothered by their reputation continued to cause trouble.
Bai Sheng released Lightning and Downpour from her space. Downpour had grown much larger and looked somewhat intimidating. As for Lightning, it was even more so; just by lying there obediently, it could scare away quite a few people.
Therefore, Bai Sheng was not afraid of these people. If they continued to cause trouble and angered her, she would release snakes, wolves, her husband, her master, and her senior disciples!
While the villagers were still chattering and clamoring, they were startled and took several steps back when they saw Bai Sheng and Lu Ye followed by a large silver snake and a half-grown white wolf.
Bai Sheng looked at everyone and said sternly, "This is a private well dug by my family. Who the well water is given to is decided by my family. None of you have the right to interfere! Whoever is not satisfied, feel free to report us to the authorities! If anyone continues to cause trouble and disrupt our home, my large silver snake and little white wolf, who are specifically responsible for guarding the well, will definitely not let them off!"
The villagers, seeing the large silver snake flicking its red tongue, got goosebumps all over their skin and dared not approach.
Lu Ye scanned everyone with a sharp gaze and sternly said, "Whoever mentions sharing my private well, I will take out their private money to share!
If you wanted to use our well, we gave you a chance, but you didn't cherish it, so you can't blame others!
From now on, if you want water, you can also buy it at the price the town sells water!
I have practiced martial arts for many years and am quite skilled. Whoever deliberately incites trouble and comes to my well to cause a disturbance, I will make them regret being born!"
"And us!" Granny Wu and Qing Feng stepped forward. With a wave of their hands, the ground was instantly covered with poisonous scorpions and centipedes.
"And me! Whoever dares to tamper with my well, I, Zhao Dazhuang, will fight them to the death!"
"And me!"
...
Everyone at Red Tree Slope, including the youngest Lu Yu, puffed out their chests and stood forward, facing the dense crowd without any fear.
The villagers dared not act rashly, but they were secretly calculating how they could use this family's well water for free in the future.
Feng Pingyuan shouted loudly by the well, "Those who participated in the well-digging fundraising, come and queue up to draw water!"
A line of people immediately formed at the well entrance.