The people on Red Tree Slope, except for Lu Ye, all believed Bai Sheng’s words.
Du Min asked worriedly, “Young Madam, what if they really find Wuyun? Are you truly going to give that bunch of scoundrels the horse?”
“Yes, sister-in-law, they won’t kill Wuyun, will they?” Lu Yun was so worried he was about to cry.
Bai Sheng rubbed his head and smiled, “No, don’t worry. Wuyun is very clever. It will definitely return home tomorrow morning!”
Seeing Bai Sheng speak so confidently, everyone finally felt a little reassured.
The scattered people had been standing for too long, and many felt their strength failing. Just as they were preparing to return to their makeshift shelters, Bai Sheng suddenly called out loudly, “Everyone, please wait a moment!”
Everyone stopped in their tracks and slowly turned around, their vacant gazes fixed on the dark-skinned young girl they referred to.
Bai Sheng’s gaze swept slowly over each person. She knew that if she didn’t offer help, the dozen or so people here might not survive for more than a few days. Perhaps tomorrow, perhaps the day after… They were all waiting in helplessness for the last flicker of their lives to be extinguished.
If they had been as selfish, indifferent, venomous, and twisted as the people of Huangsha Village, she might have been happy to watch them starve and thirst one by one, relishing the satisfaction of revenge.
However, at the precipice of their lives fading away, these people had extended friendliness and goodwill towards her family. Even a little bit of it, even if unintentional, made Bai Sheng unable to stand by and watch them perish any longer.
“Dear uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, and younger siblings, today, when those ruffians and bullies from Huangsha Village came to bully us, you were completely unrelated to our family, yet you bravely stood up to testify for us. Our entire family is very grateful to all of you! We are also very fortunate to be neighbors with all of you!”
Everyone stood there blankly, their expressions numb, looking at Bai Sheng’s impassioned speech with no desires or expectations.
In reality, they had stepped forward to speak the truth simply because the new family was also among the scattered people of Red Tree Slope, the same as them. When others of a different sort bullied their own kind, they would naturally defend their own kind.
Moreover, they were all people on the verge of death. Speaking a few truthful words before dying could earn them some good karma, meaning they hadn’t lived in vain.
Until… until they saw Lu Ye carrying a large wooden bucket, their minds jolted, and their faces registered immense surprise.
There was water in the bucket!
They heard the sloshing sound of water and felt its scent!
These refugees, who hadn't drunk water in large mouthfuls for a long time, all unconsciously moistened their dry, cracked lips, and a most earnest craving suddenly ignited in their eyes.
“This bucket of water was bought from town yesterday. Today, I will distribute it to everyone! To thank you for your selfless help, please each go home and get your containers for water!”
As soon as Bai Sheng finished speaking, everyone exerted their utmost strength, staggering towards their own thatched huts, fearing they would miss out on drinking the water if they were a moment too slow.
Lu Yun also quietly pulled Tian Dou and another boy, Tie Zhu, to the side. Then, he took out half a flatbread from his chest.
He had originally intended to save this half-flatbread for Lu Yu, but these two children needed it more at the moment; they were on the verge of starving to death.
Tian Dou and Tie Zhu began to tremble slightly with excitement. A flatbread made of fine flour! They had never eaten such a thing.
Lu Yun divided the half-flatbread into two again, handing one piece to each of them. He thoughtfully reminded them, “When my sister-in-law gives you water later, eat this then, so you don’t choke.”
Tian Dou tremblingly placed a quarter of the flatbread in his chest. “Brother Yun, can I take it home to share with my mother?”
Lu Yun nodded, “Of course!”
Tie Zhu also stammered, “Brother… Yun, I want to take the flatbread… home to share with my father… and grandmother too.”
“Okay!” Lu Yun replied.
“Thank you, Brother Yun… Yun,” Tie Zhu’s eyes reddened.
Lu Yun patted his shoulder and said to his two new friends, “Don’t worry. From now on, I’ll save food and secretly give it to you too.”
“Thank you, Brother Yun,” the two children said again. They looked at Lu Yun gratefully, the hollows of their eyes gradually igniting with specks of starlight.
Lu Yun waved his hand dismissively, “You’re welcome. From today onwards, you are my good friends. As long as I have something to eat, you will have it too!” httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
“Brother Yun!” Tian Dou hugged him, moved. Tie Zhu also hugged them.
Lu Hua and Lu Yu saw this scene and said nothing. They decided to keep Lu Yun’s secret.
Besides Lu Ye’s family, there were five other families on Red Tree Slope, totaling twelve people. Each person received a ladle of water, and there was still more than half a bucket left.
Lu Hua and the others knew that their sister-in-law always had an inexhaustible supply of water, so they weren’t worried about how much water was left in the bucket. Furthermore, they felt that these scattered people of Red Tree Slope were very pitiful.
Normally, they could only forage for cactus and aloe roots in the desert to fill their stomachs, and even these things were difficult to find. It was truly arduous to survive.
Du Min and Feng Pingyuan were shocked once more.
This dark and thin little girl in front of them, just because these strangers had spoken a word of justice for her family, she had taken out more than half of their water to share with them!
In all these years, they truly had never encountered someone who would repay a drop of kindness with a gushing spring!
Bai Sheng looked at Lu Ye.
Lu Ye’s gaze was incredibly clear, drawing her attention. Then, with a smile in his eyes, he nodded at her.
Bai Sheng felt a warmth in her heart. Lu Ye actually knew what she intended to do, even though she hadn’t had a chance to say anything to him!
Those who received water stood quietly to the side, holding their bowls of water with both hands as if they were holding precious treasures, their eyes showing frantic excitement.
Tian Dou eagerly brought the bowl to his dry, bloodless lips and began to drink in gulps.
Tie Zhu’s hands trembled slightly, and he couldn’t hold the bowl steady. His grandmother, seeing that water was about to spill, almost had a heart attack, “Be careful, you prodigal brat!”
She had no choice but to put her own bowl aside and help Tie Zhu steady his.
Only after Tie Zhu drank all the water did she lift her own bowl, her trembling lips approaching the gently swaying water surface. When she tasted the first mouthful of water, she slowly closed her wrinkled eyes, falling into deep enjoyment, unable to extricate herself.
Immediately after, Bai Sheng heard a chorus of “gulping” sounds, each one so eager, so full of the desire to live.
After drinking the water, everyone had the same feeling: this was simply the most delicious water in the world!
The clear, sweet water seemed to instantly activate every corner of their bodies. The organs that had been gradually nearing depletion seemed to regain their vitality, instantly filling their bodies with strength.
“Little girl, this ladle of water has saved all our lives! Old woman I… I will kowtow to you!” Tie Zhu’s grandmother said, preparing to kneel.
“Hey, Grandma, please don’t! Don’t!” Lu Ye and Bai Sheng quickly stepped forward and helped her up together.
“Bai Girl, Brother Lu, we have no way to repay you, other than to kowtow a few times!” others said, kneeling down one after another.
Bai Sheng and Lu Ye couldn’t stop them and could only helplessly allow them.
They didn’t want to take advantage of others, and having no money or anything to repay, perhaps kowtowing was the only valuable thing they could offer.