The entire Huangsha Village had only Zhou Donggua contributing 500 copper coins. As for the others, not only were they unwilling to pool funds, but the Lu Ye family wouldn't have accepted them even if they were willing.
Therefore, Zhou Donggua was the only one in the entire village qualified to take advantage of this obvious benefit.
At this moment, she stood by the well, watching the people of Huangsha Village gaze at her enviously from outside. She couldn't have felt more triumphant.
Hmph, serves you all right for being blind and bullying the Lu Ye family to curry favor with the Zhang family! No wonder they look down on you!
And didn't you all mock them for not being able to dig up water? Haven't they dug it up now?
It's important to have good intentions and foresight in life!
Zhou Donggua's contribution of 500 copper coins should have entitled her to only half a bucket of water. However, when she received the bucket, she found it was full.
She divided the bucket of water into two portions and carried them out on a shoulder pole.
The gazes of the Huangsha Village residents followed her like a spotlight, fixed on the water sloshing in her buckets. Oh, she felt so utterly pleased.
Alas, she needed to hurry home and put that old man in his place!
Li Qiang and Lu Fengshou each carried a wooden bucket. They provided free labor and in return, each received a bucket of water daily.
Carrying their full buckets of water and basking in the envious eyes of the villagers, their souls were once again elevated.
The Lu Ye family had water. From now on, they would continue to uphold their shameless spirit and thick-skinned tradition, sticking closely to the Lu Ye family.
As for Zhang Jiawang and the like, they could just get lost.
They were only given a bowl of muddy water daily and expected to work for him? Bah, they were even more shameless than them!
Wang Dafa, a wealthy man from Hongliu Village, invested two taels of silver and was the largest investor in the well at Hongshu Slope.
This time, their entire family came out, pushing a wooden cart loaded with two large wooden barrels.
He remembered that when he came to participate in the fundraising, many people in the village had advised him, saying that no well could be dug in the desert and that the family at Hongshu Slope was definitely trying to scam him, urging him not to fall for it.
Look at them now; they must be filled with regret.
Fortunately, he had foresight and sharp judgment, and resolutely invested two taels of silver, which was half of his family's fortune.
However, looking at it now, it was a sure profit with no loss. From now on, his family would not have to worry about water for drinking.
Wang Dafa and his family, pulling two full barrels of water, held their heads high and proudly pushed the cart away.
The children from Hongliu Village and Caomiao Village who provided free labor each received a bucket of water for their families.
The parents of those children were overjoyed, their hands trembling as they held the wooden buckets.
They had only sent their children to make up the numbers, never expecting to actually receive a bucket of water every day. The children, on the other hand, stood tall and straight. See, they too could earn a living for their families through their labor!
Especially Xiao Chibao, who was only eight years old. His nostrils were so flared they formed a right angle with the sky. He was only eight, yet he had earned water for his entire family! He was so amazing!
Everyone who participated in the fundraising for the well received water beyond their wildest expectations. Every face was beaming with joy, and their steps were light as they walked home under the envious gazes of their fellow villagers.
Most of the onlookers regretted it deeply.
If they had known that Hongshu Slope could really dig a well, they should have participated in the fundraising. Even if they had no money, they still had their strength. If those children could do the work, why couldn't they?
However, there was no medicine for regret in this world. They had to think of a way to get close to this benefactor family.
Furthermore, many people were consumed by jealousy of Hongshu Slope. Why were they so lucky? Why were they living such good lives? However, they shouldn't celebrate too early, hum...
After everyone had taken their water, Feng Pingyuan covered the wooden well with its lid.
Seeing that their hopes of getting free water were dashed, most of the onlookers left reluctantly with complex emotions.
Only a few people lingered.
They intended to kneel and beg the family for some water.
When most people had left, they threw their pride aside, prostrated themselves before Bai Sheng and Lu Ye, and then, with snot and tears, pleaded with them for some water.
Bai Sheng told them to put away their fake tears. If they wanted water, they had to pay for it!
Before the well was dug, the announcement was very clear, yet out of several villages, only a few households were willing to believe them. As for these people before them, they were unwilling to contribute anything and expected to receive from others. Was there such a good thing in the world?
Bai Sheng wouldn't pay them any mind!
She instructed everyone from Hongshu Slope to ignore them! Don't talk about noble principles. Relationships between people are reciprocal. You give me a sliver of trust, I repay you with a sliver of promise. You treat me well, and I treat you well!
Everything else was nonsense!
The people of Hongshu Slope had weathered life's great storms and experienced the most profound human warmth and coldness. They understood this principle better than anyone.
However, for a long time to come, life at Hongshu Slope might not be so peaceful.
Some people with ulterior motives would surely not give up. They might come to steal water, damage the well, or force them to share the well...
Therefore, Bai Sheng and Lu Ye decided to establish a well guard.
The members of the guard could be selected from Hongshu Slope and all those who contributed to the well digging, as well as their families. All team members would receive a monthly salary of 200 copper coins.
Feng Pingyuan was put in charge of this matter.
Within a day, the guard team was fully recruited.
The children from Hongliu Village and Caomiao Village all joined, and each of their families also contributed one adult. Thus, each family had at least 400 copper coins in income per month. They wouldn't worry about water, and with the purchase of some coarse grains from town, their lives would be much better than before.
In Zhang Jiawang's house in Huangsha Village.
When Zhang Jiawang heard that the Lu Ye family's well had water, he was so shocked that he fell off his chair.
This was it. Their Zhang family's status in Huangsha Village was definitely unstable. Who knew how the Lu Ye family would retaliate against them.
Clan Leader Zhang glanced at his son, who was losing his composure, and stroked his long beard, saying, "What's the hurry? Look at your unpromising self! Lu Ye dug a well, which shows his capability, but whether he can hold onto that well is another matter."
Zhang Jiawang's eyes lit up, "Father, you mean?"
Clan Leader Zhang narrowed his eyes and said slowly, "Send someone to Hongliu Village and Caomiao Village to find their village elders and ask them to come to Huangsha Village. Say we have important matters to discuss."
Zhang Jiawang seemed to understand something and said with a sinister smile, "Yes, son will go and do it immediately."
"Also, this matter requires the help of your maternal uncle, Xue Zhubu. You should inform your wife and have Xue Zhubu make preparations as well."
"Understood. You are still the most brilliant, Father," Zhang Jiawang gave Clan Leader Zhang a thumbs-up.