For the next few days, I took my father and Wang Jun and wandered around the village. I intentionally chose an abandoned well not far from home, planning to dig deeper. To prevent Qiao Xin from causing any trouble, whenever I went down into the well, my dad had to be the one on guard up top.
We dug for a day or two straight. The bottom of the well was still bone dry. Many of the villagers started making sarcastic remarks, saying that if digging the well was going to work, we would have struck water long ago. I paid them no mind.
When it was my turn to go down the well, I dug downwards with all my might. Suddenly, I dug up a few red stones. I was very familiar with this color. I had seen this type of soil layer when digging for the underground river.
"Dad, hurry down and switch with me. There are red stones down here," I shouted excitedly.
After Luo Wenxin heard this, his spirits soared. The two of us, father and son, took turns digging for the entire day. As evening approached, Luo Wenxin's joyful shout suddenly came from the bottom of the well.
"There's water. We've hit water."
That one shout sent the crowd of villagers into an uproar. Everyone rushed towards the well like they were crazy. Luo Wenxin was surrounded by the crowd and was helped up like a hero. Some offered him water, others fanned him. He had never been so celebrated before.
I stood to the side, watching with a smile. This time, Qiao Xin's plan had completely failed.
The entire village held torches and stood guard until midnight. Water had already risen to over a meter deep. This was life-saving water.
Wang Jun was ecstatic. He insisted on treating my father and me to drinks. For the occasion, I brought over eggs and homemade liquor. The Wang family had slaughtered a rooster. They also stir-fried a plate of cured meat. We had a little drink and ate the firm chicken meat. Ah, that was the good life.
Wang Jun couldn't stop praising how capable I was and quietly asked me what we should do next. He was now in complete awe of me. His mind was focused on how to get Qiao Xin out of the village chief's position.
"Brother Wang Jun, this is nothing. You listen to me. We'll just add a little more fuel to the fire, and the village chief position will be yours," I said to Wang Jun with a smile.
Luo Wenxin, who was eating nearby, was stunned. He could sense that my nerve was getting bolder and bolder. Qiao Xin had been the village chief for many years. In the area around Qiao village, his word was practically an imperial edict. Who would have thought he'd be pushed into such a corner by a junior?
Now that the village well had water, my dad, Luo Wenxin, and Wang Jun had become heroes, while Qiao Xin's prestige hit rock bottom.
In the Wang family's courtyard, Wang Jun was drinking with my dad. On the table was a plate of salted duck eggs and a bowl of fried peanuts. Old Man Wang was also nearby, chiming in that with this well, life in Qiao village would be much better from now on.
"I hear they have those water pipes in the city. You just turn a switch and the water comes right out. I wonder if I'll ever live to see such a sight," Old Man Wang remarked with emotion.
Luo Wenxin chimed in as well. "Going to the county town is great. They sell everything there, though many things I've never seen in my life."
In reality, what he was thinking about was that he could sell fish in the county town to make money. That business was much better than toiling in the village fields.
We kept drinking until after seven in the evening. When we left, Wang Jun personally walked us a long way.
On the way back, Luo Wenxin kept muttering to himself uneasily. "Zhenshan, what are you and Wang Jun scheming about? The look in his eyes seems a bit off."
"We're discussing how to take down Qiao Xin," I said, lowering my voice. "That guy is no good. If he stays the village chief, the villagers are bound to suffer sooner or later. I think Wang Jun would be a good fit. It's the perfect time to support him for the position."
Luo Wenxin jumped in fright. "You can't just say things like that. Besides, do you really think you can do it?"
"Whether I can or not, Dad, you'll just have to wait and see."
Seeing his disbelief, I just laughed it off. Anyway, our courtyard wall is built now. It's safe to talk and do things in the yard.
Meanwhile, at Qiao Xin's house, the lights were still on. Qiao Cheng was at his older brother's house drinking, but the atmosphere was dreadfully tense.
"Big brother, we can forget about that four hundred yuan. But if Yuanzhong really gets sentenced, our Qiao family will be ruined for life," Qiao Cheng sighed.
Qiao Cheng was filled with regret. His son, Qiao Yuanzhong, had been too reckless. He'd been caught red-handed. He urged Qiao Xin, "You have to take care of our family. Use money, use power, whatever it takes, as long as you can get the Luo family to back down and drop the charges with the county. If we want to deal with the Luo family later, there will be plenty of chances."