“Too many hands make a mess. What if something goes wrong?”
Lin Sisi frowned and argued back, “The terrain in this ravine is complicated, and we’re not familiar with the surroundings. If we spread out, it’ll be dangerous. Besides, there’s only so much spring water. If too many people go at once, it’ll just be wasted. It’s better to do it in an orderly way.”
“And all our grain is here. We need to leave most of the people behind to guard it.”
“What danger could there be? In this barren wilderness, who else would be around besides us?”
A burly villager snorted. “Sisi girl, you’re just too cautious! Right now, the most important thing is storing more water. Nothing else matters!”
The villagers chimed in one after another, most of them leaning toward fetching as much water as possible in one go. The feeling of thirst was unbearable—no one wanted to endure it any longer.
Village Chief Li looked at the arguing crowd, then at the limited spring water by the pool, his expression troubled. “Enough arguing! Sisi has a point—safety comes first. But…”
He paused and glanced at the eager villagers. “I understand everyone’s desire to store more water. How about this—we go in batches. Ten people per group, taking turns to fetch water. That way we maintain efficiency and relative safety.”
“If everyone trusts me, all the water collected will be distributed by Chief Wang and me, divided per person, to avoid disputes.”
Lin Sisi wanted to say more, but seeing the longing in the villagers’ eyes, she swallowed her words.
She knew that in the face of absolute survival crisis, it was hard for people to remain calm. The chief’s decision was already a compromise between both sides.
“Brother Wang, what do you think?”
Chief Wang wiped his face. “I’ll follow your lead. I trust you to handle things.”
“Then everyone must be careful,” Lin Sisi reminded. “Don’t split up once you get there. Come back immediately after filling the water.”
“Ten strong young men per batch. No breaks in manpower,” Chief Li tapped the ground with a branch. “Let Little River Village go first. Lin Zheng will wait there and bring them back after they finish. Make sure to store more, in case the water decreases later.”
Chief Wang nodded and turned to shout, “Zhang Zhuang, you lead ten men from Big River Village as the second batch. After you’re done, switch with Li Gen’s third batch. Make the handover quick—don’t leave that side unattended.”
“Got it, Chief Wang!” Zhang Zhuang’s booming voice rang out loudly.
The men responded in unison, relieved that they wouldn’t have to worry about running out of water.
Gu Qinglin was in the first batch. He glanced back toward the campsite.
“Little Stone, stay here and don’t run around. I’ll fetch water and be right back,” Gu Qinglin called out.
A Shi was squatting on the ground, obediently sorting firewood. He had heard every word of the villagers’ argument and the chief’s decision.
“Brother Gu, I want to help fetch water too.” A Shi tugged at Gu Qinglin’s sleeve, his voice soft and slightly pleading. “I may be young, but I can at least carry some water and lighten everyone’s load.”
Gu Qinglin looked at his obedient little face, feeling a pang of tenderness. “Good boy, you’re still too young. The ravine is hard to walk through—what if you fall? Stay here and wait. I’ll bring you back a big jug.”
“But…” A Shi pretended to look wronged, his eyes reddening slightly. “I also want to do something for everyone. Otherwise, I’ll feel like a burden.”
Gu Qinglin waved his hand. “No need. Just stay here and don’t move around. I’ll be back soon.”
When the first batch returned with full water containers, Zhang Zhuang arrived with the second batch from the camp. The two teams met halfway and paused to hand over.
“Is there still enough water seeping through the rock crevice?” Zhang Zhuang asked Lin Zheng, his wooden bucket clanking.
“Yes. It keeps seeping. It’s right to store more,” Lin Zheng handed him his water pouch. “There are many elderly, women, and children in the village. Tell the third batch to come earlier—don’t leave any gap during the handover.”
Zhang Zhuang grinned and thumped his chest. “Don’t worry. With us around, nothing will go wrong.”
The two teams passed each other. Lin Zheng led the first batch back to camp, while Zhang Zhuang took the second batch toward the pool.
In a corner of the camp, A Shi kept his eyes fixed on the exchanging teams, his fingers unconsciously digging into the dirt.
When both batches had gone far and only the elderly, women, and children remained in camp, he quietly stood up. From his clothes, he pulled out a sharp little stone he had hidden and ran to an old locust tree outside the camp, carving a small cross mark into its trunk.
Then he hurried back and resumed squatting by the firewood pile, pretending to stay busy.
Before long, three dark figures slipped out of the woods, crouching low as they crept toward the camp.
The leader was a one-eyed man with a scar across his face, looking especially vicious.
“Where’s the grain cart?” the one-eyed man asked A Shi in a low voice, his breath reeking of sweat.
A Shi tilted his chin toward the rear of the convoy and whispered, “No one’s guarding it right now. Move quickly.”
Taking advantage of the fact that the camp’s people were either drinking water or resting in the shade, the four men quietly slipped toward the back of the line.
Gu Qinglin’s family was no longer allowed to stay in the middle of the convoy and could only follow at the rear. Lin Second’s family, due to previous trouble they had caused, was also unwelcome among the villagers and forced to stay at the back.
The grain sacks of Gu’s family and Lin Second’s family were piled high on a handcart, bulging and conspicuous.
The other families’ sacks at the rear were shriveled and less noticeable.
“Quick, carry off these two sacks!” the one-eyed man said, reaching out to grab Gu Qinglin’s family’s grain sack. The coarse cloth rubbed together with a harsh rustling sound that seemed especially loud in the quiet camp.
“Who’s there?” Gu Qinglin’s mother had been sitting not far from the cart, mending clothes. Hearing the noise, she looked up sharply and shouted. The needle and thread in her hand fell to the ground.
A Shi reacted quickly and raised his voice, shouting, “Thieves! Help! Thieves stealing grain!”
The camp instantly descended into chaos.
The elderly grabbed wooden sticks and shoulder poles. Women screamed while pulling children toward the center of the camp. Cries and shouts mixed together.
“Don’t let them steal the grain!” Li Shi, hot-tempered by nature, immediately rushed forward, trying to snatch back her family’s sack.
One of the refugees shoved her hard. She staggered backward and fell with a thud, her knee striking a rock. She bared her teeth in pain.
“You damn woman, stop getting in the way!” the refugee cursed viciously.
“Stop! You bandits!” Gu Qinglin’s mother rushed forward with a wooden stick, trying to block them.
Another refugee pushed her aside. The stick fell to the ground, and she stumbled.
A Shi crouched nearby, pretending to be terrified with his head in his arms. Amid the chaos, he quietly moved behind the grain cart and used his stone to cut through the rope of Gu Qinglin’s grain sack. With a heavy thud, the sack fell to the ground, spilling some dried rations.
“Retreat!” Seeing that even though the camp was filled with the elderly and weak, they had begun to surround them, the one-eyed man feared complications. He shouted hurriedly, hoisted a sack onto his shoulder, and ran toward the forest.