Chapter 12

Just as Aunt Big Mouth was proposing a match for Wang Xiaoqiang at the Wang family home, Wang Xiaoqiang had already arrived at the field.

Wang Xiaoqiang paced by his family's field, observing the growth of the crops. He noticed that the cornfield he had "irrigated" with water elemental spirit energy the day before was lush and green, with each corn leaf spreading out fully, looking vibrant and full of life. It appeared to be growing better than the corn seedlings at Huang Chunsheng's place, which had been watered just the day before.

One wouldn't know the difference unless they compared, but when they did, it was quite a surprise. Wang Xiaoqiang found that his corn seedlings were generally taller than those in the Huang family's field. It was important to note that Wang Xiaoqiang had planted his corn two days later than the Huang family. Logically, the Huang family's corn should have been taller. Before Wang Xiaoqiang "irrigated" his corn seedlings the day before, they were indeed shorter than the Huang family's, but unexpectedly, they had surpassed them overnight.

Seeing the heartening scene before him, Wang Xiaoqiang felt a surge of joy.

After checking the growth of the corn, Wang Xiaoqiang went to inspect the soybeans and sesame. The results were the same; the other two autumn crops were also growing well.

While inspecting his crops, Wang Xiaoqiang noticed that people from the village were gradually coming to the fields to irrigate. This was not surprising, as the crops in the fields were showing signs of drought, and the weather forecast the night before had predicted no rain in the area for the next few days, with the possibility of a severe drought. Since a drought was imminent, irrigation was inevitable, and it was better to irrigate early rather than late.

Seeing others busily irrigating their fields while he strolled leisurely, Wang Xiaoqiang felt a sense of superiority.

On his way, he encountered many people who greeted him and asked why he wasn't irrigating. Wang Xiaoqiang casually replied that he would wait for a couple more days, causing the others to shake their heads and smile bitterly. "Wait for a couple more days... If you wait for a couple more days, the crops will wither. Intellectuals are intellectuals; they know nothing about farming. He even contracted over fifty acres. He'll be ruined for sure!"

The more people showed their disdain, the more Wang Xiaoqiang held his head high, straightened his back, and walked slowly with his hands behind his back, like a leisurely tourist.

Wang Xiaoqiang's relaxed attitude made people look at him with even more contempt and amusement, as if they were watching someone who was not serious about his work. They also hoped to see his crops wither in the field.

As he walked further, Wang Xiaoqiang heard the rumbling of a water pump. Looking over, he saw that the Xia family was irrigating their field. However, at that moment, only Xia Guifang and her mother were seen in the field.

Seeing this, Wang Xiaoqiang shook his head and muttered indignantly, "It looks like Xia Sanwa is gambling again."

Xia Sanwa, Xia Guifang's father, was a notorious gambler, lazy, and did not care about the crops in the field. He spent his days at the gambling tables and would ask his wife for money when he ran out.

Not only did Xia Sanwa love gambling, but he also loved drinking, to the point of being addicted to it. He carried a bottle of liquor with him every day and only drank white liquor. Even in such hot weather, he drank white liquor as if it were water.

With a gambler and a drunkard in the family, it was no wonder they were poor.

Xia Guifang, who had always excelled academically, had dropped out of school because of her father, a gambler. This had made Wang Xiaoqiang feel very sorry for her, even though he had also dropped out later.

Irrigating the field was a labor-intensive task, usually done by men. Seeing the mother and daughter in the field, wearing rubber boots and sweating profusely under the scorching sun, especially the delicate Xia Guifang, who had to hold the heavy water hose, Wang Xiaoqiang felt a pang of sympathy. He wanted to use his water elemental spirit energy to help them irrigate the field, but then he thought that they didn't know about his ability, and he couldn't tell them. Even if he offered to help, they wouldn't believe him, and he was afraid of exhausting himself like he did the day before.

Feeling helpless, Wang Xiaoqiang decided to help the Xia family irrigate the field himself. Since there was no work to be done in his own field, he might as well help. Xia Guifang was his old classmate, and he should help her if he could.

With this thought, Wang Xiaoqiang walked to the Xia family's field and approached Xia Guifang from behind. At that moment, he noticed that her head and face were wet from the water from the hose. Her fine bangs clung to her smooth forehead, and the strands of hair around her ears stuck to her cheeks, making her look delicate and charming. A long braid hung down to her waist.

In today's society, braids were no longer fashionable, and they were considered very old-fashioned. However, the seemingly old-fashioned braid, paired with Xia Guifang's clear and charming face, made her look even more fresh and elegant. Looking at Xia Guifang's braid, Wang Xiaoqiang thought of an old song, "There's a Girl in the Village Named Xiaofang."

A large part of Xia Guifang's body was also wet, and her thin cotton shirt clung to her body, revealing her curvaceous figure. The wet shirt made her skin visible, and one could see the red bra she was wearing. The two full mounds on her chest looked large, like two big white buns, and Wang Xiaoqiang felt his breathing quicken as he looked at them.

Xia Guifang, busy irrigating, didn't notice Wang Xiaoqiang. Her mother, who was adjusting the hose, saw him and said in surprise, "Oh, Xiaoqiang, you're here. Have you irrigated your field yet?"

Wang Xiaoqiang replied casually, "My field isn't that dry. I'll wait a bit longer."

Hearing their conversation, Xia Guifang turned around in surprise and smiled at him.

Wang Xiaoqiang smiled and nodded at Xia Guifang, about to offer to help her irrigate, but then he heard Xia Guifang's mother say with a smile, "Oh, is that so? Then come help us irrigate the field. I'll find you a wife. How about it?"

Wang Xiaoqiang blushed and smiled, walking behind Xia Guifang and taking the hose from her hand. "Take a break. I'll help you."

Xia Guifang gave him an annoyed look and whispered, "Are you stupid? My mom is just teasing you. Do you really think she'll find you a wife?"

Wang Xiaoqiang laughed and asked, "Do I look like I want a wife that much?"

Xia Guifang giggled, staring at Wang Xiaoqiang with a gentle look in her eyes. Although she understood a bit, she couldn't help but ask, "Then why are you here?"

"Nothing special!" Wang Xiaoqiang smiled. "Old classmate, it's only right to help out."

Wang Xiaoqiang spoke as if it was nothing, but his thoughts were not entirely pure, mixed with other feelings.

Xia Guifang was the village beauty, and Wang Xiaoqiang had always had a crush on her. Helping her irrigate the field was partly out of sympathy and partly because he wanted to talk to her.

He had a bit of a crush on her, but Wang Xiaoqiang never thought of marrying Xia Guifang, as it was too unrealistic. There were many young men in the village who were more outstanding than him, and none of them dared to pursue Xia Guifang because of her father, a gambler, and her mother, who was materialistic. They had only one daughter and were counting on her for their future. In fact, Xia Sanwa had already found a suitable son-in-law for his daughter, the son of a wealthy businessman surnamed Guo from the county town. The Guo family owned several shops in the county town and did a big business, and they were extremely wealthy. Moreover, someone from the Guo family was the chief of the county police station, making them both rich and powerful. It was said that they had already given a dowry of 100,000 yuan, but the marriage was on hold because Xia Guifang had refused.

Wang Xiaoqiang held the hose and irrigated for a while. When his hands started to feel sore and tired, the Five Elements Spirit Spring in his heart moved to his arms, first to his right arm and then to his left, like a diligent helper. It continuously emitted a cool sensation, which not only relieved the soreness in his arms but also eliminated his fatigue.

Xia Guifang, of course, couldn't see the changes in Wang Xiaoqiang's body. In her mind, Wang Xiaoqiang was just a weak young man, and holding the hose for so long would be too much for him, so she came over to take over.

Wang Xiaoqiang, however, refused to give her the hose and smiled at her, saying, "I'm not tired."

"Don't overdo it. I can't afford to pay for your medical bills if you get hurt," Xia Guifang said with a laugh, trying to take the hose from him. Wang Xiaoqiang wouldn't let go, and in the struggle, their bodies inevitably bumped into each other. Xia Guifang's wet shirt clung to her body, and when he accidentally touched her soft skin, especially the elastic "big buns," Wang Xiaoqiang's heart raced, and his face turned slightly red.