Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 6 - 006: The Source of Water

Having resided in the city with Luo Tiezhu previously, Ms. Chu had witnessed much of the world.

Aunt Tian nodded vigorously in agreement while plucking leaves, remarking: "Sister-in-law Luo is correct. With leaves still available, we should consume more of them and ration our grain for future use. Though bitter, these leaves can sustain life."

Gu Jinli plucked some leaves as well, but disaster victims crowded everywhere, gaunt figures of starvation visible in all directions. The instant they spotted even faintly green leaves, hordes descended, stripping an entire tree bare—leaves vanished and branches snapped—in less time than brewing a cup of tea.

Third Grandma gazed at the denuded branches and sighed: "Let's press on, venture further ahead a bit, and we can fill our baskets."

"Okay," Ms. Chu answered, assisting Third Grandma forward while Aunt Tian trailed behind with Erhua and Xiao Hua. Gu Jinli, however, remained still, her eyes drawn to a withered river on the right.

She hurried to the barren riverbank, dropped into a squat, and discovered over a dozen snail shells scattered on the cracked soil.

During her past life, Gu Jinli frequently undertook field tasks, so these snail shells sparked an instant realization—shallow groundwater.

The uppermost aquifer just below the surface defines shallow groundwater. In such spots, the earth stays damp, supporting snails, dandelion greens, and yellow chrysanthemums.

Water shortages plagued them now; it could exchange for grain. Locating a water supply might rescue the whole family.

Noticing Gu Jinli hadn't kept up and was crouched peering at the ground, Ms. Chu called out sharply: "Xiao Yu, what's that you're staring at? Hurry along!"

Gu Jinli replied affirmatively, dashed back to Ms. Chu and Third Grandma, gestured at the endless flow of disaster victims charging into the deep mountains, and proposed: "Third Grandma, countless victims clog this route; following them means no food. We'd do better veering right along the dry river."

She gestured with her hand toward the dry river on the right: "Nobody's heading that way, so let's give it a shot; we might uncover some wild vegetables."

And perhaps a water source too.

Third Grandma peered where Gu Jinli indicated—no beaten path, yet free of disaster victims. Glancing back at the forward route jammed with throngs, she agreed at once: "Very well, we'll take Xiao Yu's idea and proceed along the dry river to the right."

Ms. Chu and Aunt Tian raised no qualms, deferring to Third Grandma's call; the six forged rightward, parting thorny brambles and crossing parched wild grass to blaze a trail through the mountains.

Gu Jinli kept her gaze downward, hunting snail shells en route. After a quarter-hour's march, more shells appeared; as they advanced, finds grew frequent, one every few meters.

Ms. Chu watched her closely and at last asked: "Xiao Yu, what exactly are you seeking? Why keep staring at the ground?"

"Aunt Luo, I'm searching for wild vegetables," Gu Jinli responded.

Ms. Chu chuckled and shook her head: "You sweet child, hunger must be gnawing at you. Auntie Luo has beans remaining; I'll share some with your family this evening. You've only just awakened—you need strengthening."

Beans preserve nicely; fleeing disaster victims often rely on them for nourishment. In hunger, a handful boiled with leaves and roots makes a meal.

"Thank you, Aunt Luo," Gu Jinli said, then resumed scanning the ground for discoveries surpassing snail shells.

Her instincts proved spot-on; a bit past half an hour later, amid the thorns, a cluster of wilted yellow chrysanthemums emerged: "Third Grandma, river grass lies over there—let's make haste!"

In the Great Chu Dynasty, yellow chrysanthemums go by the name river grass. Upon hearing "river grass," Third Grandma and the rest turned to her pointing spot and spotted several wilted river grass plants.

Third Grandma's smile broadened endlessly: "Xiao Yu truly brings luck; she's found us wild vegetables."

Aunt Tian, clearing thorns with her two daughters, eyed the scant river grass and said regretfully: "Only these few plants remain, and nearly all the flowers have withered."

Third Grandma's grin held firm: "Count your blessings—this thorny patch saw no prior refugees, so our luck alone revealed the river grass."

Excitement surged in Gu Jinli's heart as she assisted Aunt Tian and her two daughters in removing the thorns, declaring, "Third Grandma is correct; we're fortunate today, and I believe we'll discover even superior finds."

Those superior finds she mentioned were sources of water.

Animal behaviors and plant growth revealed the existence of shallow groundwater nearby. While the previous snail shells might have been mere chance, the current cluster of yellow-flowered vegetables confirmed shallow groundwater in this vicinity.

Sharp thorns pierced their skin, causing blood to seep from their hands after clearing the blocking thorns, and their already mended hemp garments gained several tiny tears. Yet they paid no heed. They stepped forward swiftly to reach the river grass plants, delicately harvesting the half-withered River Flowers and gathering the drooped ones from the soil below.

Rather than争抢 the plants among themselves, the six women passed the River Flowers to Third Grandma for fair division.

Third Grandma tallied the River Flowers—forty-five altogether: "We six ventured out together to forage; regardless of age, anyone who contributed deserves an equal portion. Seven flowers apiece, and with Xiao Yu spotting the river grass first, she gets the extra three."

Gu Jinli accepted her portion without protest, beaming with delight. Rising to her feet, she surveyed the thorn-choked, withered-grass landscape and suggested, "Third Grandma, more river grass hides hereabouts; let's hunt for additional patches."

Brimming with enthusiasm, the group chorused their assent upon hearing her words: "Alright!"

As they spoke, the six scattered cautiously, probing the surrounding terrain for more river grass.

Gu Jinli pressed onward, probing the earth with her stick every five meters to gauge soil dampness. After excavating over a dozen shallow pits and progressing dozens of meters, she noticed the ground here felt damper than earlier—not arid, but moist with a humid sheen.

Thrilled, she centered her search on the latest pit, scanning about, and sure enough, spotted a cluster of river grass concealed amid thorns and dead weeds to her left front.

She cried out: "Third Grandma, Aunt Luo, Aunt Tian, Erhua, Xiao Hua, come here—plenty of river grass!"

At her call, Third Grandma and the rest glanced over, tracing her pointing finger, and beheld a substantial expanse of half-wilted river grass, rushing toward it promptly.

"Xiao Yu possesses incredibly keen eyes; she's uncovered an entire swath of river grass," Aunt Tian exclaimed in delight, nearly dashing there with her daughters. This river grass patch spanned half an acre, sufficient—even split six ways—for a hearty family meal.

Ms. Chu and Third Grandma hastened after, joy lighting their faces as they began harvesting the river grass.

Aware that Third Grandma would allocate the river grass equally among the six, Gu Jinli refrained from picking. Instead, wielding a pointed stick, she excavated where the river grass thrived most lushly, and at about a foot's depth, the earth shifted from damp to sludgy mud.

Gu Jinli's heart raced with joy—water lay underground.

Ms. Chu had long sensed Gu Jinli's odd actions that day; witnessing her dig rather than harvest river grass, she remarked, "Xiao Yu, what's this now? Quick, gather the river grass—we must return soon, as dusk approaches."

Fearing hidden nearby refugees might overhear, Gu Jinli refrained from yelling and hurried to Ms. Chu and Third Grandma, whispering urgently: "Aunt Luo, Third Grandma, I've located a water source; we're rescued!"

To access shallow groundwater, they needed to excavate at least five meters deep, a task too vast for their six alone—they required allies. The Luo Family, Third Grandma's kin, and the Tian Family made ideal partners.