Chapter 24: Ascending the Mountain, Making Do with What Is at Hand

Hearing him say this, Su Xiaoyun breathed a sigh of relief. "That works. How many days will it take to build?"

"With the current severe drought, the villagers cannot wait that long."

When she arrived, she had seen village children lying in muddy ditches trying to drink water. The water was murky, filled with insect eggs and silt; drinking it would surely lead to diarrhea, and gastrointestinal illnesses would soon follow. If this continued, the entire Shigang Village would be profoundly affected, facing far more than just the drought itself.

Huo Congjing pondered this. "To make the cart sturdy, durable, lightweight, and efficient, we cannot afford any mistakes at any step. Based on your blueprint, we must first select wood that is strong and resistant to warping. We will also need axles and a frame; stability is the key."

Hearing this, Su Xiaoyun became animated, her eyes brightening. "We will need some sheet metal, too. I’ll check if the blacksmith has any."

Shigang Village had its share of blacksmiths, carpenters, and masons. Despite the area’s small size, there were quite a few skilled craftsmen who could make a living.

Huo Congjing nodded and neatly folded the paper. When he looked up, his dark eyes were tinged with a smile. "Since the farm work is finished, would you do me the honor, Comrade Su, of heading up the mountain with me to find some timber?"

Under the gaze of those deep, eagle-like eyes, Su Xiaoyun felt a sudden, strange heat. Her cheeks flushed slightly. She coughed softly and tucked a stray lock of hair blown by the wind behind her ear. "Besides these materials, we might need water purification tablets. They should be available at the supply and marketing cooperative."

However, in this day and age, water purification tablets were distributed uniformly by the commune’s health clinic and were mostly just bleaching powder. Even if the water at Fengtan was clear and a rare source of fresh water, it was impossible to guarantee it was free of bacteria or animal waste.

Huo Congjing grabbed his military canteen. "Purification tablets are in high demand right now. It will be easier for me to buy them; leave that to me."

As they spoke, they walked toward the hillside. The hills around Shigang Village were incredibly dry. There was not a hint of moisture in the clods of earth, as if the drought had drained every bit of humidity. The air they breathed was scorching hot. When the wind blew, it sent clouds of yellow sand and grit swirling.

Su Xiaoyun covered her face with her sleeve. She should have sewn herself a gauze scarf. This dry wind was harsh; if it blew on her face for too long, her skin would crack like an old woman’s heels.

Su Xiaoyun sighed helplessly and grabbed a dry branch, swishing it back and forth. "All the edible wild vegetables have been dug up. In this midsummer heat, the locust trees should be covered in blossoms, but now they are bare and dry; at a glance, it looks like a locust plague has passed through."

A rustling sound erupted from the bushes. Occasionally, a few grasshoppers jumped by. Seeing her walking briskly ahead with no sign of fatigue, Huo Congjing filled her empty canteen with water.

"With the village this dry and the streams at the foot of the mountain parched, water for the troops is indeed becoming a problem." His magnetic voice rippled through the woods like a clear spring.

Su Xiaoyun shrugged helplessly. "There’s no other way. Life has always been difficult in this region. With the impact of the drought and a village leader who lacks initiative, we are indeed constrained at every turn."

Yang Hongfu, that old man, had no intention of managing the drought at all. Otherwise, he would have long since found a way to dig canals and divert the mountain springs.

Huo Congjing narrowed his eyes. The troops had been stationed in Shigang Village for a few days, and he had gained some understanding of Yang Hongfu. The man not only shirked responsibility and turned a blind eye to the drought, but he even forced heavy tasks like water hauling onto Su Xiaoyun and the other female comrades. It was a clear case of settling personal grudges and targeting them. As a village official, he failed to perform his duties and instead focused all his malice on the female educated youth.

Because of this, a flash of pity crossed Huo Congjing’s eyes as he looked at Su Xiaoyun—though it vanished as quickly as it appeared, so fast that he didn't even notice it himself.

With a dark gaze, he took a long stride to catch up, his voice slightly hesitant. "You work quite efficiently, and you know a thing or two about medicinal herbs. Did you... use this knowledge to save anyone when you were younger?"

Hearing this, Su Xiaoyun looked at him, puzzled. This was the second time Huo Congjing had asked her about her childhood. She looked at him strangely. "No. If I had saved someone, how could I possibly have no memory of it?" She shrugged and continued walking.

Since she had such a guardian following her up the mountain, she might as well try to find some food. Seeing that she remained unmoved and still could not recall anything, Huo Congjing was not discouraged, though his eyes darkened a fraction more.

They walked side by side; he was a full head taller than her. Su Xiaoyun considered herself of decent height, but against Huo Congjing’s broad, sturdy frame, she seemed incredibly petite.

Huo Congjing’s dark eyes reflected her dust-covered face. "In the future, if there is heavy work, I will help you share the load."

Even now, he could still remember how Su Xiaoyun had stood helpless and isolated in the crowd, subjected to everyone’s accusations. Her pale face had looked so lonely and helpless. He clenched his fists inside his sleeves; he would never let such a thing happen again. Cold light gathered in his falcon-like eyes.

Just then, a crisp voice rang in his ears. "Who asked you to meddle? Women can hold up half the sky, too; I don’t need your help."

She shot him a look of disdain and hurried ahead. Yet, her slender, graceful back seemed a bit overwhelmed. While she lowered her head to dig for tender grass roots, Su Xiaoyun stole a quick glance at the man. His tall, heroic figure stood against the light, and his softened expression was not as cold and rigid as it was when he was with his unit. This man was quite thoughtful; she would be lying if she said she wasn't touched.

The two continued deep into the forest, occasionally finding a few puddles. But they were covered in mosquitoes and moss, and the foul stench made one want to retch. Suddenly, Huo Congjing stopped and fixed his sharp gaze on an ancient, towering tree. His calloused palm brushed against the trunk; it was very hard.

"This is old elm. Using elm for the cart frame prevents warping and is very durable."

*Swish!*

As he spoke, he suddenly pulled a military dagger from his waist! With a swift, decisive motion, he chopped into the trunk! After some effort, he cut it into shorter logs. "These will be used for the support legs and the frame to secure the water buckets. According to your blueprint, there should also be small compartments to hold the water scoops."

The tree was not thick, only a few inches in diameter, yet every piece of wood was perfectly planned by Huo Congjing. Even Su Xiaoyun, with her modern common sense, could not help but look at him with new eyes. This man’s practical skills were truly impressive; in less than half an hour, he had even found the materials for the wooden wheels.

However, since their trip up the mountain was a spontaneous decision, they hadn't brought saws or axes. They decided to roll the logs down the slope for now and ask the carpenter to carve them into discs later.

"Oh, right!" Su Xiaoyun suddenly thought of something.