Her Cultivation Diary
Chapter 544 - Chapter 544 544. There are too many water caltrops_1

Chapter 544: 544. There are too many water caltrops_1 Chapter 544: 544. There are too many water caltrops_1 9:00, we had to head back, it wasn’t that Song Tan couldn’t handle the hardship, but the summer sun was just too scorching.

Moreover, considering Professor Song’s level of dedication, there was no chance they would simply head back in such a carefree manner.

For instance, at this moment, although Professor Song had closed his tablet, he pointed towards the high ground of the small mound ahead, “Just perfect, let’s check that place on our way back.”

“Yan Ran, I remember you put your hoe there, right? Go dig it up and see if the soil underneath is moist.”

They definitely didn’t carry their tools everywhere they went, but instead made a mark on the chosen spot to dig and take a look on the way back.

This statement… Song Tan thought: If it weren’t for your thorough sun protection gear, I would have thought you really weren’t afraid of heatstroke!

In this weather, her dad wouldn’t dare to exert himself under the sun!

Yan Ran, however, didn’t decline, pocketed his things, and when they arrived at the spot, he grabbed the hoe and prepared to start digging.

After heaving a couple of times with the hoe, the soil below indeed turned out to be reddish with a hint of moisture.

“Not bad, not bad.”

Professor Song squatted down and pinched it with his hands, “Let’s make a mark here, and dig a little deeper.”

Song Tan: …

Forget it, forget it, she extended her hand, “Let me do it.”

The skin of her arms and wrists were exposed under the sunlight, couldn’t be more delicate.

“Don’t!” Yan Ran, who had a wheatish complexion with a tinge of black, felt pity for her, “You’re just wearing a straw hat, the sun will burn you. I’ll do it, I’m used to it, and I have the strength.”

That much was true, his hands already had calluses!

Truly, the making of a farmer!

Song Tan snatched the hoe from him, “I’ll do it.”

As she said it, she plunged the hoe down, and lo and behold, even the handle of the hoe sank into the soil!

Then, with a forceful lever and lift, the well-developed root system of the weeds was turned over, leaving everyone standing nearby speechless.

There was no need to test it; the soil below was clearly moist and sticky.

Professor Song looked at the pit and then at Song Tan, at a loss whether he should first praise her for her strength and depth of digging or express his amazement at the high probability of an underlying water source…

After a long silence, Song Tan knocked the mud off the hoe and slung it over her shoulder, “Next we’re going to that spot halfway up the hillside, right?”

She remembered that Qi Lin’s shovel might have been left there.

So–

Before arrival, Professor Song would walk ahead, inspecting all around.

On the way back, Song Tan carried the hoe in front leading the way; her stance, like Sun Wukong with his golden cudgel, made her followers somewhat restrained.

When they reached the next spot–

“Which way do we dig? Toward the cliff or below?”

“Toward the cliff. Be careful, there might be stones underneath.”

Qi Lin, who was supposed to start digging, courteously stepped back.

Song Tan appreciated his tactfulness. She picked up the shovel, then replaced it with her own pickaxe head, and started chiseling away at the cliff face.

Her sense for water was not the slightest bit inferior to the experience of veteran farmers years in the making; after several strikes with the pickaxe, mixing layers of rock and clumps of earth, a strange sound emerged.

Then, unexpectedly, a thin stream of water started to trickle out.

Professor Song was genuinely surprised, “How are you so strong?”

The sound does indicate that we’ve hit a layer of rock!

Song Tan looked at the water that was flowing out:

“Logically, since there are many rock layers underneath, the water that comes out should be clean. Could it be considered spring water?”

Professor Song shook his head, “That I wouldn’t know, but look at the dirt on your pickaxe, there’s a lot of soil too, and the land here isn’t very high. Even if the water inside is clean, it can easily become contaminated after it comes out…”

“To judge the water quality, we’d have to drill this place out and then test it.”

Alright then.

Song Tan had asked the question casually; in fact, water wasn’t scarce from any direction. They marked the spot and decided to head back.

They huffed and puffed up another slope, and at the top, Professor Song pointed to the area mixed with stone and soil, saying, “Come, here.”

“I can’t be precise about the location, but look at this grass–it’s the most lush we’ve seen. It’s thriving even out of the rock crevices, so there’s a high possibility that there’s water.”

Tai Xiaodong rubbed his hands together in eagerness, “Shall I do it?”

Song Tan wasn’t exactly keen on working, but looking at the others, with sweat pouring down beneath the brims of their sun hats, soaking through and then drying…

Ah, she couldn’t bear it.

She pretended not to hear Tai Xiaodong speak, grabbed a hoe and began to dig. She overturned five or six rocks in one breath, and then–crack!

Song Tan paused in her movements.

Then, she withdrew her hand, “Underneath are just rocks, let’s leave it for now. We’ll wait for the professionals to come with a drill.”

She could have dug through with force, but there was no need.

Moreover…

“If we don’t go back now, I’m afraid you’ll really get heatstroke.”

This time, no one refused.

Professor Song had accomplished his goal for the day and felt thoroughly satisfied. Besides, everyone was tired and hot, and now, carrying their hoes, they ran faster than anyone else.

It wasn’t until they descended the mountain and crossed another small hill that they reached one side with rows of freshly pruned tea fields, a blend of brown and green, and on the other, the lush Chestnut Woods and the enchanting Golden Sakura swaying in the breeze on the tall fences.

In an instant, even the mountain wind seemed to carry the coolness of the forest, visibly relaxing everyone’s demeanor.

Then, Yan Ran, already curious, came closer, “The Golden Sakura at your place is blooming so beautifully!”

“Of course!”

Song Tan couldn’t help but be proud, “The fruit of this Golden Sakura can sell for a sky-high price.”

“But if you really want to see it, come back in the evening after the sun sets. You’ve finished all your water, aren’t you thirsty now? Hurry up, I’ll cut some branches from the Chestnut Woods, and we’ll go eat watermelon.”

This time, without needing her say so, everyone worked together, hooking branches with their hoes and picks, while Song Tan, holding scissors and carrying a basket, swiftly filled it up.

Back in the yard, it wasn’t just Professor Song, who disregarded his image and twisted the water hose to wash his face; even Yan Ran scooped water in her hands to splash it on her face.

Wu Lan, seeing this, hurriedly shooed them, “Oh Yan Ran! A girl shouldn’t splash her head with cold water like that; it can easily cause a headache… Hurry up, if you’re hot, go inside and take a shower with warm water first, and then go to the living room. The air conditioning has been on the whole time!”

At this, even Professor Song didn’t refuse. His clothes were drenched in layers of sweat, marked with white salt stains.

So, Yan Ran rushed upstairs, while the rest, carrying simple change of clothes, made for the bathroom downstairs.

When they reentered the living room, the cool air conditioning mixed with the sweet scent of watermelon hit them, and everyone collapsed onto the sofa, thoroughly liberated.

Then, seeing a large basin of water caltrops and a plate of neatly sliced watermelon in front of them, they perked up and sat up straight once again.

Meanwhile, Song Sancheng was sitting in the cool veranda, pulling off the vines and picking the water caltrops one by one.

Ay, these water caltrops sure are abundant! If I had known, I wouldn’t have harvested so many; now there’s too many to pick!