A Jiu’s gaze unconsciously fell to where her father had placed the water bucket.
The water within emitted a faint, spectral glow, and that image flashed in A Jiu’s mind.
Could it be that the water had this effect?
A Jiu tried to recall the pool of clear spring water in the lush green grass. In a daze, she felt so drowsy, as if she hadn’t slept for three days and had just touched her pillow.
Cai Lihua also noticed her daughter’s limp form. With tearful eyes, she kissed her forehead.
Poor child, she must be exhausted and hungry. She quickly called for her younger siblings to hand over their bundle for A Jiu to prop her head on, allowing her to rest.
A Jiu’s vision suddenly brightened.
An endless expanse of verdant grass stretched out, as if the earth were covered by a green carpet.
In the middle of this boundless greenery, the mouth-sized pool of water was full again.
How long had it been since she last saw such a vibrant world?
A Jiu ran forward, the green grass rustling beneath her feet. She reached the pool and carefully cupped her hands, as if afraid of shattering the mouth-sized puddle.
It seemed it wasn’t a dream. She scooped up some water, and could clearly feel the coolness on her fingertips. Cherishing it like a treasure, she brought it to her lips.
Instantly, an icy coolness spread from her throat to her lower abdomen, then transformed into a warm current that flowed throughout her body.
A sense of fullness surged through her, and her body was filled with an ineffable strength, causing her to moan comfortably.
She knelt before the small pool, lost in thought.
In this arid season, this was life itself, not to be wasted.
A Jiu took down her water skin and carefully cupped the water from the bottom into it with her hands.
Watching the water slowly drip from her middle finger into the mouth of the water skin, it seemed as if not a single drop was wasted.
If only there were more, A Jiu shook the water skin. It wasn’t even a tenth full.
“Yuehua, eat quickly, there’s meat.”
The voice was low, and a tickling warmth brushed against her ear.
Yuehua suddenly smelled the aroma of meat in her nostrils.
Her vision returned to the darkness of the cave. Her mother, holding her, placed a coarse grain biscuit in her hand, her voice barely audible:
“Hush, that piece of cured meat, I secretly cut a slice for you. Eat it quickly.”
A Jiu then realized she had left the world of the spiritual spring.
She looked down at the coarse grain biscuit in her hand, which had a large slice of smoked meat tucked inside. But this time she was certain the spring water was truly nourishing, as she felt no hunger whatsoever.
Outside the cave, her uncles and aunts ate and sighed, “After this meal, who knows where the next one will come from.”
A Jiu looked at her mother beside her. Her coarse grain biscuit had no meat: “Mom, I’m not hungry, you eat it.”
“Eh, how can you not be hungry? Eat quickly, eat quickly.” Cai Lihua dared not speak loudly. It had been too rushed lately, and the old lady was still asleep. If she discovered her husband had secretly taken her meat, it would surely cause another scene.
Hearing this, A Jiu took a cautious bite. If she didn’t eat, her parents would surely worry.
Luo Xiuying, who was breaking her biscuit and distributing pieces to her sons, cast an envious glance and sighed,
“If my Shitou and Goudan were this filial, I could die with no regrets.”
“Not at all, my daughter has been sensible since childhood.” Cai Lihua was not modest at all, and she couldn’t help but stroke her daughter’s head, her eyes now full of this precious gem.
A Jiu looked up. Her two younger brothers, one eight and the other six, had finished eating and were still reaching out for more.
Fortunately, her uncle’s stern voice cut through: “After eating today, what will we eat tomorrow?”
This finally stopped the two children’s clamoring. In fact, after the incident just now, a thought was planted in everyone’s mind: who knew if they would even be alive tomorrow.
Meng Shaode sidled over in the dark and sat down in front of the mother and daughter, breaking off a piece of his coarse grain biscuit.
“If you two haven’t eaten enough, have a few more bites to fill yourselves. Later, my elder brother and I will go out to see if we can hunt some game, and also check the situation outside. We’ll only start a fire if there’s no movement.”