"Qi Ge, I don't mind the heat, I can go with you," Fu Xinci had already followed Qi He out, so she wouldn't give up halfway.
"En, let's hurry, we're almost there." The sensible and brave little sister Fu was certainly the most pleasing. Even though the sun made his scalp ache, Qi He still led the way with a beaming smile.
They walked along the small path beside the village, heading towards the small hill behind. Perhaps because the weather was too hot, there weren't many people moving about in the village. The big yellow dog, panting with its tongue out under the shade of the doorway, didn't bark when it saw them pass.
When Fu Xinci first saw the big yellow dog, she regretted not picking up a stone to hold in her hand.
But she hadn't expected they would be ignored by the dog. My goodness! To be treated like this, it was quite exciting.
With a trace of joy in her heart, looking at the wilting grass and plants by the roadside, the two of them tacitly stayed close to the edge of the road, trying their best to stay in the shade as they walked.
However, there weren't many shaded spots along the way.
Finally, they saw the location of the spring and saw the dark-faced man and the millstone still scooping water into buckets, one ladleful at a time.
Seeing the two of them approach, the dark-faced man waved to them, "Qi kid, come over, I'll fill your buckets first."
"Thank you, Uncle Wang, we're not in a hurry, you go ahead!" Qi He didn't agree this time. Instead, he pulled Fu Xinci and squatted in the shade not far away, waiting.
Knowing the two children were sensible, the dark-faced man didn't refuse any longer. Fortunately, the four water buckets were almost full.
Fu Xinci saw Qi He chatting happily with the dark-faced man, so she kept secretly observing her surroundings. Finally, before she could be disappointed, she spotted a Solanum nigrum (Black Nightshade) growing behind the large rock where they were sheltering from the shade.
Perhaps due to infertile soil or some other reason, the Solanum nigrum plant was small and yellow, showing signs of wilting.
However, Fu Xinci didn't care about any of that.
Now that she had the wood-element ability in her hands, as long as she had room to exert it, what did it matter if a plant was on the verge of death?
Perhaps in an instant, she could make it grow into a towering small tree. Of course, one that covered the ground.
Hehe, an idea sparked, and she moved slowly towards the Solanum nigrum.
When she reached the Solanum nigrum, she secretly scanned her surroundings again. Fortunately, this was a blind spot, and unless someone deliberately walked over, they wouldn't see it.
After observing, Fu Xinci was still a little uneasy, as what she was about to do was somewhat astonishing. She very carefully scanned the surroundings again. Finding no trace of anyone else, she then placed her right hand on the Solanum nigrum vine as if it were natural.
Concentrating and calming her mind, the wood-element ability flowed slowly from her fingertips into the Solanum nigrum vine. Visibly, the leaves of the Solanum nigrum turned from yellow to green, then to deep green.
Only when Fu Xinci saw the continuously growing Solanum nigrum bloom with clusters of small white flowers did she temporarily stop.
Looking at her own masterpiece before her, not only was the Solanum nigrum plant robust and lush, but the few inconspicuous small grasses beside it had also turned a pleasing emerald green.
This was Fu Xinci's second time using her wood-element ability, and she needed to rest for a while. She couldn't risk collapsing like the first time.
Over there, the dark-faced man and the millstone finally filled the four water buckets. After giving Qi He a few more instructions, they picked up the buckets and left.
When Qi He saw them leave, he looked back at Fu Xinci's retreating figure and said with a smile, "Little sister Fu, just wait there, don't come over. This scorching sun is going to bake us alive."
"En," Fu Xinci replied obediently. After Qi He went to the spring to fetch water, she focused again and continued to infuse the Solanum nigrum plant, which was now covered in dense branches and leaves, with her wood-element ability.
She watched as the small white flowers withered and bloomed into clusters of small green fruits, which grew larger, turning from green to purple. Each one looked like a small black-purple lantern, very tempting.
The smile on Fu Xinci's lips deepened, and for a moment, she was captivated.
Qi He fetched some water and was about to call Fu Xinci over to drink some more. The weather was too hot, and even though they had drunk water earlier, they would get thirsty again soon under the scorching sun.
He turned to look at where Fu Xinci was hiding in the shade. Fu Xinci's small body was hidden behind the big rock, and he could only see a small foot.
Thinking of Fu Xinci's shoes, which exposed her two big toes, Qi He couldn't help but ponder that when they reached the next town, he would definitely buy Fu Xinci a pair of shoes that fit her.
However, he suddenly remembered the dark green leaves covering Fu Xinci's feet. How did they look so familiar?
At this moment, Fu Xinci was looking at her masterpiece with sparkling eyes, feeling smug. She deliberately ignored the slight fatigue in her body.
My goodness, not to mention the things in her space, just this masterful wood-element ability alone was enough to ensure her family wouldn't go hungry as long as she had seeds.
In this ancient era where having food meant having security, she had solved the most basic survival conditions.
Fu Xinci was deep in thought when suddenly Qi He ran over, holding the water pouch, with a happy expression.
As soon as Qi He saw the branches and leaves Fu Xinci was holding in her hands, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed loudly, "Solanum nigrum! Haha, I've never seen such a big Solanum nigrum plant before!"
After speaking, Qi He squeezed next to Fu Xinci, put the water pouch in her hands, and said joyfully, "Little sister Fu, you hold the water pouch, and I'll dig up this Solanum nigrum plant. We'll take it back to eat with Grandpa Meng and the others."
"En," Fu Xinci had been waiting for Qi He to say this.
"Watch me," Qi He puffed out his chest proudly and shouted with great confidence, "Heave! Huh, the roots are quite deep." Qi He hadn't expected it to take so much effort to pull out a Solanum nigrum plant.
But it didn't matter, as long as he could eat Solanum nigrum, a little effort was nothing!
Besides, he was a growing boy with strength, and he didn't believe he couldn't pull it out.
Seeing his posture, Fu Xinci immediately stood aside, afraid he would fall and land on her.
Qi He mustered all his strength and grunted "Heave!" twice more, finally pulling out the large Solanum nigrum vine. He also fell on his backside.
Sitting on the ground, Qi He looked at the plump purple-black fruits on the Solanum nigrum vine, swallowed his saliva, and called out to Fu Xinci, "Little sister Fu, let's go back."
"Okay."
"In this weather, to be able to find such a big Solanum nigrum plant is truly heaven helping us, and also little sister Fu's good fortune."
Qi He said happily as they walked.