Chapter 20

As the weather forecast had reported, the following month saw a severe drought throughout Huagui County, affecting a vast area. In response, Huagui County launched a drought-resistant irrigation campaign.

Sanmiaocun Village was no exception. The autumn crops required more water than winter wheat, and this was especially true during the flowering period when water was crucial. Fortunately, Sanmiaocun Village was close to the Shiba Li River, which made it convenient to draw water for irrigation.

However, as the villagers along the river began to irrigate their fields, they noticed a strange phenomenon: the water in the Shiba Li River was not as abundant as in previous years.

However, everyone knew that this had nothing to do with the drought. During the major drought three years ago, the Shiba Li River had still been full. This year's drought was much less severe compared to three years ago, yet the water level in the Shiba Li River was gradually decreasing due to the irrigation efforts of the surrounding villagers.

While the villagers of Sanmiaocun were busy fighting the drought, Wang Xiaoqiang remained relaxed. The fifty acres of land he had contracted showed no signs of drought due to the nourishment of the water element spirit. Not only did the crops not show any signs of drought, but they also grew exceptionally well and seemed to mature faster than in previous years.

"Xiaoqiang, when did you water your fields?"

One day, while Wang Xiaoqiang was inspecting the growth of his crops, he encountered Huang Chunsheng, who was irrigating his fields. Huang Chunsheng noticed that his crops, which had been watered twice, were not growing as well as Wang Xiaoqiang's, and he suspected that Wang Xiaoqiang had secretly irrigated his fields.

"From planting to now, I haven't watered them once!" Wang Xiaoqiang said casually, folding his arms behind his back.

Although it was the truth, Huang Chunsheng couldn't believe it. "Ha, you're trying to fool me. If you didn't water them, the crops would have withered. Your crops are growing so well; you must have watered them at least three times!"

Huang Chunsheng's crops were being irrigated for the second time. Seeing that Wang Xiaoqiang's cornfield was greener and more vigorous than his own, he concluded that Wang Xiaoqiang must have watered more.

"Whatever you say!" Wang Xiaoqiang didn't want to argue with Huang Chunsheng. He could see that Huang Chunsheng's corn was far inferior to his own. If he insisted that he hadn't irrigated, it might raise suspicions.

"Keep a low profile!"

"You must have watered them!" Huang Chunsheng refused to believe Wang Xiaoqiang. Taking Wang Xiaoqiang's vague response as the truth, he felt a bit more balanced, but he still couldn't help feeling frustrated and muttered, "That's strange. I haven't seen him spray pesticides or weed, so how can his crops grow so well?"

Wang Xiaoqiang didn't hear Huang Chunsheng's muttering and didn't want to deal with the gambler. He walked toward the Shiba Li River.

On his way to the fields, he had heard villagers discussing the rapid decline in the water level of the Shiba Li River. He wondered if it was related to the transfer of the Five Elements Spirit Spring within him.

To verify the villagers' claims, Wang Xiaoqiang decided to go to the Shiba Li River himself.

As he approached the river, he heard the roar of water pumps, and the Shiba Li River was filled with suction pipes.

Indeed, the water level of the Shiba Li River had dropped significantly, about half a foot.

The Shiba Li River was a magical river, always full throughout the year, nurturing the villagers along its banks. It was known as the "mother river" by the locals. The sudden drop in water level was unprecedented and caused panic among the people.

Those who were unfamiliar with the Shiba Li River might think the drop in water level was normal, but the villagers, including Wang Xiaoqiang, found it unusual.

Seeing this, Wang Xiaoqiang felt a pang of worry. If the drop in water level was indeed due to the departure of the Five Elements Spirit Spring, he would feel deeply guilty. Although Wang Xiaoqiang was not a selfless person, he did not want to harm the public interest by monopolizing the Five Elements Spirit Spring.

The problem at hand needed to be addressed.

Looking at the severely depleted river, Wang Xiaoqiang fell into deep thought. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he had an idea. He walked to the river's edge, extended his right hand, and submerged it in the water. With a mental command, the Five Elements Spirit Spring in his heart quickly moved to his right palm and released a cool aura.

Then, five streams of black energy emerged from his fingertips and shot into the depths of the river.

The black energy was much thicker and more intense than when he had "irrigated" his crops. The wood element spirit continuously infused the river water, causing the water to ripple gently, as if a chemical reaction were taking place. Bubbles began to form, and the water churned.

While infusing the water element spirit, Wang Xiaoqiang closely watched the water level. He noticed that the water was slowly rising.

Well, the water element spirit can increase water elements and raise the water level of a river. This was expected, but...

Staring at the scene before him, Wang Xiaoqiang was stunned. The river was eighteen miles long, and at its widest point, it was thirty meters wide. The entire water surface was vast. To raise the water level, it would normally require a heavy rainstorm. However, after only about half a minute of infusing the water element spirit, the water level of the entire river had risen. This was truly astonishing!

But then he thought about it and felt relieved.

Spirit energy was not ordinary water. They were incomparable.

Since the water element spirit could raise the water level, Wang Xiaoqiang, delighted, did not hesitate to use his spirit energy. He continued infusing for five minutes until the water level returned to its original position before withdrawing his hand.

Wang Xiaoqiang noticed that since absorbing the essence of the wild ginseng, his spirit energy output had increased, and the energy had become more concentrated. The extreme hunger and fatigue he had experienced before no longer occurred.

Could the wild ginseng be replenishing the spirit energy of the Five Elements Spirit Spring? If so, he would have to look for wild ginseng in the future!

Wang Xiaoqiang's fifty acres of land matured about ten days earlier than usual, and the harvest was excellent, with the yield almost doubling compared to previous years. The corn cobs were long and thick, with full kernels and no signs of insect damage. The soybeans and sesame also had excellent yields. This left the villagers in awe. Normally, during a severe drought, the crop yield would sharply decrease, and just maintaining a harvest would be considered good. However, Wang Xiaoqiang's crops not only survived but also achieved a bountiful harvest, with the yield almost doubling. This not only surprised the villagers but also frustrated those who had never believed in Wang Xiaoqiang.

When Wang Xiaoqiang first contracted the land, some people had shown disdain and contempt, believing that he was inexperienced in farming and lacked the physical strength to manage even a small plot of land, let alone fifty acres. They thought he was overambitious and that the saying "greed is the enemy of success" perfectly described him. Some even looked down on his attitude of not irrigating during the drought, hoping to see him fail. However, Wang Xiaoqiang's crops not only survived the drought but also achieved a bountiful harvest, turning the tables on his critics.