After three consecutive days of heavy snowstorms, Ningguta had completely transformed into a massive snow-covered grave.
The small river bend behind the relay station, usually used for fetching water, had frozen so solid that horses could gallop across its icy surface.
Shen Dashan swung a heavy hammer, clanging and banging for what felt like ages, only managing to chip open a bowl-sized hole in the ice.
Shen Fu, his hands trembling, reached down to scoop the bone-chilling icy water. The water he managed to gather was mixed with ice shards and pitifully scarce.
Watching the numb figures swinging hammers on the ice, Shen Taotao’s inner “civil engineering dog” radar went haywire: This won’t do. If this continues, we’ll turn into ice sculptures before we even get a proper drink.
Then, a long-forgotten piece of knowledge suddenly surfaced in her mind—Suction Well!
“Big brother! Second brother! Grab your tools and follow me!” Shen Taotao’s eyes lit up instantly. She picked up a sharpened wooden stick and began sketching on the frozen snow.
Soon, a simple diagram of a deep trench appeared on the ground.
“See this?” Shen Taotao’s voice was hoarse but brimming with excitement. “Doesn’t this look like a tube? It’s called a Well Tube! Dig deeper below to reach the aquifer…”
Her voice trailed off as she remembered—there were no pipes here.
But He Shi spoke up, “Taotao, are you talking about that thing over there?”
Shen Taotao followed He Shi’s pointing finger and saw an old, discarded carriage shaft from the relay station. She smacked her forehead, “This will work! Second brother, carve a pointed cone and hollow it out.”
Shen Xiaochuan was quick-witted and skillful with his hands.
He immediately teamed up with Shen Houpu, and together they hollowed out the carriage shaft, turning it into the “Well Tube” Shen Taotao had described.
Meanwhile, Shen Taotao busied herself with crafting a valve from scrap iron and a sealing mechanism for the press lever, while Shen Dashan focused on digging a deep pit.
She remembered the principle, but without rubber in ancient times, she resorted to the crudest method—stuffing multiple layers of thick hemp cloth mixed with animal fat into the joints, hoping it would suffice.
Other exiled prisoners swung their hammers mechanically, occasionally casting “look at these fools” glances their way. Under Shen Taotao’s direction, the Shen family toiled tirelessly all morning.
Finally, as dusk approached, Shen Taotao inserted the hollowed carriage shaft diagonally into the deep pit Shen Dashan had dug.
Above the pit stood a thick wooden pole, its top connected to a crude press-handle assembly made from scrap iron and a thick wooden wheel. Below it was a small iron valve sealed with oilcloth and hemp fibers.
“It’s done! Let’s test it!” Shen Taotao’s face was smeared with mud, but her eyes shone brilliantly.
Her hands were stiff with cold, but she was the first to step forward, gripping the rag-wrapped press handle and pushing down with all her might.
The handle descended with a heavy, resistant force.
Shen Xiaochuan watched nervously from below, his eyes fixed on the joint between the Well Tube and the valve.
Once.
Twice.
Three times…
No response.
Only the clumsy creaking of the press handle echoed in the silence.
A few exiled prisoners who had gathered to watch were already preparing to sneer and mock.
Just as Shen Taotao’s face flushed red with effort and her arms grew sore and numb…
Gurgle… Splurt!
A stream of murky, muddy water suddenly gushed out from the diagonally inserted carriage shaft!
“Water! Water’s coming out!” Shen Ersao was the first to shriek, overcome with excitement.
Everyone was stunned, including those who had been ready to laugh.
The water was turbid, the color of yellow mud soup, but… it was water.
Without needing to break ice, it had sprung forth from this crude earthen pit.
After a brief, dead silence, the area erupted into a clamor.
“Mother of heavens! It actually worked!”
“The gods have descended!”
“How did they do it? You can really dig water out of the ground!”
The entire relay station instantly burst into chaos, with countless people drawn to witness this “miracle.”
Zhang Xun shoved through the crowd and rushed over, his eyes widening like bronze bells at the sight of the continuously gushing murky water. “Miss Shen! Goddess! You truly are the reincarnation of a merciful Bodhisattva sent to save us from suffering!”
Shen Taotao’s face was pale from exhaustion, but she broke into a hearty grin and waved at Shen Xiaochuan. “Second Brother, pour the pre-made ‘Filter Layer’ of crushed stones into the prepared wooden trough beside it. Once the water flows through and settles, it’ll be safe to drink.”
She pointed at the pump handle and explained, “This is called a Suction Well. A few presses will engage the valve below, drawing up groundwater from deeper levels. It’s much faster than breaking ice—even women with less strength can pump water.”
Her declaration made the women and children in the crowd light up with startling intensity.
They no longer had to wait for men to risk chiseling ice—they could now obtain life-saving water themselves.
This tremendous news instantly ignited hope throughout the despairing winter of the relay station.