At this moment, the gratitude these people felt toward Jiang Li was impossible to hide.
Even as they spoke, they kept glancing at Xiao Ya, their looks clearly tinged with displeasure.
Sensing those gazes, Xiao Ya clenched her fists, trembling with anger.
She had never expected that just a few words from Jiang Li would completely turn the situation around.
Everyone had been won over to her side, while she herself had become a joke.
Coupled with the five yuan she had just lost, she felt like her chest was about to explode.
She stomped her foot fiercely and turned to run off.
Coincidentally, this entire scene was witnessed by Si Nanchén, who had just returned from work.
He saw Jiang Li surrounded by people, her face carrying a warm and friendly smile.
Then he saw Xiao Ya storm off in anger and roughly guessed what had happened.
So this girl had resolved the conflict and won people over?
As the fading sunlight cast a soft glow on Jiang Li’s profile, she seemed to radiate light.
Si Nanchén’s throat moved slightly, and his heart began to beat faster without control.
Strangely enough, he even felt a hint of pride…
Only after the crowd dispersed did Si Nanchén return to the yard.
His gaze fell on Jiang Li’s face, his expression much softer than usual, with clear admiration.
“You handled that situation very well. You did great.”
Seeing Jiang Li still tending to the radish leaves, Si Nanchén hesitated slightly.
Though he didn’t know much about planting, he could tell that their radishes were far better than those of ordinary households.
And combined with Jiang Li’s suggestions back in Li Family Village,
He couldn’t help but feel a trace of curiosity and doubt.
Everything seemed too coincidental, as if everything was within Jiang Li’s grasp.
And this person had only been here for a few days…
He took off his military cap and sat on the stone stool nearby.
Leaning forward slightly, he lowered his voice.
“But I am a bit curious—how do you know so much about these things? Even if you worked at a seed station before, it wouldn’t be to this level of mastery.”
He didn’t want to speculate maliciously about Jiang Li.
He just wanted to resolve the doubts in his heart.
But Jiang Li clearly didn’t pick up on the probing tone. She slowly stood up and sat beside him.
Her eyes were still fixed on the radishes, sparkling brightly.
“I just like these things. My previous work was related to them, and I enjoy reading about them too.”
“Actually, if you observe carefully, you’ll find that seeds and plants are much easier to understand than people. They all have their own patterns.”
“Whether it’s the soil or the water source, as long as you’re attentive, you can find clues.”
“Just like this time finding water—it was simply that all the clues in my mind connected together, and the idea came naturally.”
Whenever she talked about this, Jiang Li spoke more freely, confidently explaining her thoughts.
Si Nanchén listened seriously. Watching her calm and self-assured demeanor, the doubts in his heart gradually faded, replaced by admiration and a trace of shame.
He had to admit that he had underestimated his wife.
He had once thought Jiang Li was a delicate girl who needed protection.
But now he realized she was a woman of true knowledge, insight, and inner strength.
That sense of guilt turned into a quiet sense of gratitude.
He was grateful that the person by his side was someone like her…
“I see.”
After a few minutes, when Jiang Li finished speaking, Si Nanchén finally responded.
His voice carried a slight huskiness, filled with sincerity.
“Comrade Jiang Li, you are… remarkable.”
That night, after dinner, Si Nanchén once again used work as an excuse to return to the unit to sleep. Jiang Li didn’t say anything.
After all, until they came up with a proper arrangement, this was the only way they could continue.
The next morning, as soon as Jiang Li arrived at Li Family Village, she saw many engineering soldiers and troops gathered at the village entrance.
This was no small project, so the army had sent people to help resolve it as quickly as possible.
Si Nanchén had volunteered to come and assist.
Dressed in a neat training uniform, he walked over naturally when he saw Jiang Li and Liu Defa.
He first nodded in greeting to Liu Defa, then leaned close to Jiang Li and spoke softly.
“Today we’re starting the excavation. The army has sent people over—just let us know if anything is needed.”
Jiang Li understood clearly that with Si Nanchén’s position and current workload, he wouldn’t normally be assigned to something like this.
He must have volunteered for her.
Realizing this, warmth filled her heart, and she nodded.
Following the location Liu Defa had chosen the day before, they wasted no time and began the survey work.
Si Nanchén led the soldiers in turns, while Jiang Li and Liu Defa crouched nearby, nervously observing whether the soil layers showed any change.
As the morning passed, the pit grew deeper and deeper, yet there was still no sign of water.
The villagers gathered nearby gradually began to show disappointment and doubt, whispering among themselves.
“They’ve dug this much and still no water. Could it be there’s none at all?”
“I told you, how can you trust a young girl like her?”
“Wouldn’t this all be wasted effort then?”
At some point, Xiao Ya had blended into the crowd. Hearing these conversations, a mocking smile curled at her lips.
Jiang Li naturally heard the remarks. She was nervous too.
With one hand braced on the ground, she bit her lip, her eyes fixed on the bottom of the pit.
Even so, she still believed the plants—and her own judgment.
Si Nanchén stood beside her, subtly shielding her from the stares.
After a while longer, even Liu Defa began to doubt.
He slowly stood up and let out a long sigh.
Just as he was about to suggest giving up, a soldier working at the bottom of the pit suddenly shouted—
“Damp soil! The soil down here is damp!”
The shout struck like thunder, silencing all the whispers.
Everyone perked up, and Jiang Li’s heart leapt into her throat.
If not for Si Nanchén holding her back, she might have jumped into the pit herself.
The digging speed immediately increased. Before long, water began seeping up from underground.
Soon after, more and more water gushed out from the cracks beside the pit.
“There’s really water! It’s flowing!”
“Heavens! Our village is saved! Our crops are saved!”
“Miss Jiang, you’re a living bodhisattva!”