Chapter 14: Rescue from the Deep Waters

The surface of the Bee Pond shimmered with ripples, casting flickering reflections. Su Xiaoyun instinctively licked her cracked lips. “Finally arrived.”

The breeze carried a faintly sweet and refreshing scent, and her throat felt less dry. A group of women strode forward, each carrying a shoulder pole with wooden buckets swinging from slender iron hooks.

Wu Guifen grumbled, “Better drink your fill—this whole way, I feel like I’ve swallowed half a pound of sand!”

Ignoring everything else, she tossed down her bucket, leaned over the pond’s edge, and scooped water with her hands, drinking greedily. “This water is really sweet!”

“Come on, hurry up and fill the buckets. Don’t just stand there, all of you.”

The auntie beside her, wrapped in a gray cloth headscarf, frowned. “You giving orders now? We’re working—what are you doing?”

Wu Guifen stretched her neck, head held high, speaking with righteous indignation. “My old back aches badly, and my bone spurs are acting up. No way—I’ve got to rest over there.”

“Isn’t Su Xiaoyun here? The team leader personally called her over to fetch water.”

“Young people don’t work, and they expect this old bone to do it all!”

Spittle flew as she spoke, carrying a sharp scent of garlic chives. Wu Guifen’s face bore a harsh scowl, her thin lips waxy pale, eyes sharp, nose long and drooping close to her upper lip.

Su Xiaoyun gave a faint, ambiguous smile. “Do as you please. When there’s no work, don’t come crying.”

With that, she grabbed her bucket and approached the pond. Turning around, she didn’t notice the cunning calculation flickering across Wu Guifen’s face.

What if she couldn’t fill her bucket? Her family’s water was enough anyway.

When they got to the village entrance, Wu Guifen would surely snatch away Su Xiaoyun’s bucket. Earning work points and getting water—no loss either way!

The more she thought this, the more pleased Wu Guifen became. She turned and twisted her waist, heading into the shade to rest.

The other women exchanged glances but ignored Wu Guifen, busying themselves with drawing water.

Making a few extra trips meant a few more meals at home.

Su Xiaoyun didn’t rush forward but carefully observed the young woman among them.

Silent, reserved, yet efficient—a good worker.

She saw the woman roll up her sleeves and pant legs, stepping into the shallow water at the edge, swinging her bucket left and right into the pond. In the blink of an eye, it was full.

Su Xiaoyun’s eyes flickered with surprise. The woman looked frail but had strong arms.

A bucket of water weighed at least twenty to thirty pounds, and she lifted it with ease?

Su Xiaoyun imitated her, lifting her bucket and splashing it against the water’s surface, sending a spray several feet high.

Though the water didn’t fill the bucket, droplets splattered her face.

The nearby aunties laughed until their bellies ached.

“I say, Su Zhiqing, you really aren’t cut out for this. Who fetches water like that?”

“Go on, don’t stir up my water—it’s bad luck!”

“Exactly! No wonder no one wants you around. Clumsy and always causing trouble. Move aside, don’t hold us up!”

Their sharp tongues stabbed with every word.

Su Xiaoyun wiped her face casually, paying no mind, and continued.

Arguing now was pointless; she had to get water.

But no matter what she tried, she couldn’t find the knack. The bucket kept slipping in her hands.

Suddenly, a very hoarse voice sounded beside her.

“Don’t grip too tight. Let the bucket sink with the water’s flow, and when you lift it, scoop sideways.”

“Otherwise, all the water spills out—what’s left in the bucket?”

The voice was dry and raspy, stiff from long disuse.

Su Xiaoyun was startled. It was her.

Rarely did a woman speak with such a coarse tone.

“Thank you. I’ll try again.”

Su Xiaoyun expressed her gratitude and pondered carefully.

Following the advice, she tried several more times.

Sure enough, when she steadily lifted the buckets ashore, they were still full.

Her eyes brightened. “Got it!”

“Thank you. If you hadn’t told me...”

Splash!

Before Su Xiaoyun could share the news, a sudden explosion of water erupted before her.

White waves splashed so high they nearly blocked all sight.

She was startled—there was no sign of the woman anymore.

The next moment, sharp screams burst from the aunties’ mouths.

“Oh my god, someone fell in!”

“That cursed woman who brings misfortune—why must trouble arise at this mountain spring? A water that’s already claimed a life—who’ll dare drink it now?”

“What are you standing there for? Hurry and get a pole to fish her out!”

Someone turned back to the shore in haste.

But the shoulder pole was just over a meter long—what help could it be?

Su Xiaoyun saw the figure slowly sinking beneath the water and made up her mind instantly.

She dropped her bucket and dove into the water!

“My goodness, is Su Xiaoyun crazy? A troublemaker—she’s bad luck too!”

“Now we have to save two people—what a mess!”

“If you aren’t skilled, don’t show off. If you die, serves you right!”

“Enough! Stop talking and go back to the village for help. If someone dies, we’ll all be implicated!”

Shouts and curses rang out from the shore.

But Su Xiaoyun, already submerged, cared for none of it.

A life was at stake; she could not stand by.

Besides, if she dared to dive in, she must have confidence.

She had proper swimming lessons.

All the necessary techniques and diving experience were hers without lack.

Though the pond was small in area, it was very deep.

Diving in, she saw the water beneath was dark green, almost black.

The cold pond water quickly chilled her body.

Holding her breath, she swam swiftly toward the woman.

Fortunately, there were no undercurrents, and she grasped the woman’s arm firmly.

Flipping her over her shoulder, she turned and swam hard for shore.

At that moment, Wu Guifen, who had dozed under a tree, opened her eyes and saw two “water ghosts” clawing their way out.

Frightened, she grabbed her shoulder pole, shouting, “I’ll beat you two debt-collecting ghosts to death—get lost!”

Su Xiaoyun, bearing most of the woman’s weight, bent down and grabbed a handful of mud, tossing it.

Smack! The mud hit Wu Guifen’s old face squarely.

Su Xiaoyun gave a cold smile. “Old thing, see clearly who you’re messing with!”

Hearing the familiar voice, Wu Guifen trembled with anger. “You... you little wench...”

“Hm?”

Su Xiaoyun scooped up another handful of mud.

Fearing to soil her clothes, Wu Guifen retreated far away.

The water by the pond was stagnant; the mud was foul and fishy.

Once stained, the smell lingered for days.

With the village’s water supply tight, where would she bathe if she got dirty?

Wu Guifen clenched her molars, vowing to exact revenge on Su Xiaoyun sooner or later.

Unconcerned, Su Xiaoyun had already dragged the woman to a dry spot by the shore.

She placed her palms one over the other, pressing rhythmically on the woman’s chest.

Her clear eyes darkened with gravity.

This woman... showed no will to survive at all.

She hadn’t struggled underwater just now.

Wu Guifen stood with hands on hips, casting a disdainful glance. “This misfortune-bringing woman’s tough—she won’t die!”