CHAPTER 191: CHAPTER 187: MAINTENANCE (4000 WORDS)

In just one day, the pond was completely empty, emptied so abruptly that it caught everyone off guard.

Jiang Hu put on his clothes and prepared to go up the mountain with the village head, and upon hearing the commotion, Little Lucky Star hurriedly followed, insisting on going along.

Jiang Hu couldn’t spare the energy to coax her, so he could only pick her up.

The previous ’disappearance’ of Little Black and Little Mimi had made Little Lucky Star ’sad’ for a long time, thus she was especially indulged recently.

It was just barely dawn outside, with a chilly wind blowing. Jiang Hu wrapped Little Lucky Star in his cotton coat, leaving only her eyes and nose exposed.

The village head, with a serious expression, spoke to Jiang Hu about the current situation: "Yesterday afternoon, I went up the mountain for a look, and the water level hadn’t changed from the day before."

"But early this morning, people from the town went to fetch water and found not a single drop left. They didn’t dare to come to you, so they found me."

Little Lucky Star, snug in her father’s cotton coat, felt no cold as she listened to the village head’s explanation, while keeping an eye on the surroundings.

Despite it being the first day of the New Year, there were already quite a few people on the road, driving horse carts or ox carts, carrying large water barrels.

The news that the pond was dry had spread, and all faces showed bewilderment and tension.

Seeing Jiang Hu, they also saw Little Lucky Star in Jiang Hu’s arms.

Suddenly, an old woman rushed out, fell to her knees with a thud in front of Jiang Hu.

"Little Lucky Star, you must save us."

Little Lucky Star was completely puzzled, and even Jiang Hu didn’t react, but the village head had already blocked the view, shielding Little Lucky Star completely.

"Where did this ignorant woman come from, thinking that gods from heaven are worthless and everywhere? Little Lucky Star is just a child, it’s sheer rumormongering that makes you think she possesses some divine powers?"

The village head spoke with a stern shout, face darkened, authority undiminished.

After all, he was the village head, listed in the government records. The old woman wasn’t from Fu’an Village, yet she was intimidated.

Muttering for ages, she finally asked defiantly, "But isn’t she a lucky star descended, here to bless everyone? Your villagers said so themselves."

The village head sneered coldly: "I might as well say you’re the lucky star descended, so why don’t you have the heavens grant us rain?"

Then, he coldly glanced at the onlookers around.

"It’s all just idle banter spread around. We’ve all escaped from the enemy’s blade’s edge, year after year, have you seen anyone wielding divine powers to save us?"

The crowd began to whisper among themselves, indeed it was so.

The village head pressed on relentlessly.

"The sorghum seeds were discovered by the head man of the Jiang family. The high-yield corn was found by us in the fields, selected one by one. The pond was also discovered by the father and daughter together while hunting up the mountain."

"Little Lucky Star just happened to be born during that time when everything was in ruins. Why aren’t all children born on the same day described as lucky stars descended?"

"We’ve generously shared our high-yield crops, allowed you to come fetch water from the village. Now, have all the good intentions of Fu’an Village’s people been completely erased?"

"You keep calling her a lucky star, if she were truly a lucky star, would she let the heavens suffer drought for so long!"

The more the village head said, the more imposing he became, and the final shout made everyone flinch.

And the village head was so enraged, he was gasping heavily, seemingly truly infuriated.

After he finished speaking, no one dared to respond for ages, and he snorted coldly again, striding forward without turning back.

"Jiang Hu, keep up, let’s go check that pond."

He didn’t forget to call Jiang Hu along.

Originally, they were coming from the direction of the Jiang family, while the crowd automatically parted to let them pass.

With the village head no longer blocking, Little Lucky Star saw the people, most of whom were not from Fu’an Village.

And rightfully so, as Fu’an Village’s inhabitants have stored quite a bit of water, and have always been protective of Little Lucky Star, naturally not losing composure like this.

Because there’s no water in the mountains, people seeking water had come down, gathering not far from the Jiang family. After being scolded by the village head, they didn’t dare to follow.

The village head continued to march angrily up the mountain; Jiang Hu followed with big strides, and Little Lucky Star felt a bit uneasy, sensing the village head seemed genuinely mad.

But why?

Before Little Lucky Star could figure it out, the village head had already slowed his pace.