Chapter 5 - Four: The Mystery of Clean Water

Chapter 5: Chapter Four: The Mystery of Clean Water

The next morning, the eastern courtyard received its first unexpected visitor.

A bucket.

Not a person.

A bucket.

Lin Yue was standing in the garden when she heard the sound of wooden wheels approaching.

Creak.

Creak.

Creak.

She turned.

A young servant pushed a small cart through the courtyard gate.

On it were two large wooden barrels.

Qiao’er hurried over.

"What is this?"

The servant bowed.

"Eldest Young Master ordered these delivered."

Lin Yue raised an eyebrow.

"Shen Rui?"

"Yes, Fourth Miss."

"What are they?"

"Water barrels."

Lin Yue looked at the barrels.

Then at the servant.

"Why?"

The servant hesitated.

"Eldest Young Master said..."

He glanced at Qiao’er.

Then lowered his voice.

"He said the eastern courtyard appears to have a water problem."

Lin Yue’s eyes narrowed.

Appears?

She had spent half of yesterday cleaning the spring.

Someone had been paying attention.

She looked toward the gate.

"Anything else?"

The servant shook his head.

"No, Miss."

He pushed the cart away.

Lin Yue watched him disappear.

Qiao’er immediately turned toward her.

"Miss."

"Yes?"

"Your cousin brother is strange."

Lin Yue nodded.

"I noticed."

"He bought your radishes yesterday."

"Yes."

"And now he’s sending water barrels."

"Yes."

Qiao’er looked suspicious.

"Do you think he wants something?"

Lin Yue thought about it.

"Probably."

"What?"

Lin Yue shrugged.

"Maybe more radishes."

The Water Problem

The barrels were useful.

But they didn’t solve the real problem.

Lin Yue walked to the spring.

The water looked clear.

That meant very little.

Clear water could still contain things that could make people sick.

She examined the surroundings.

The spring emerged from a rocky slope.

That was good.

But the drainage channel was shallow.

Rainwater could flow into it.

Leaves accumulated around the edges.

Animals could reach it.

And there was no cover.

Lin Yue crouched.

She picked up a handful of damp soil.

Not ideal.

She looked uphill.

Then downhill.

Her eyes followed the land’s natural slope.

She began mentally designing the system.

Spring

↓

covered collection point

↓

settling container

↓

filter

↓

clean storage

↓

household use

Wastewater would then be directed away from the spring.

Simple.

Low technology.

But effective.

She stood.

"Qiao’er."

"Yes?"

"We’re rebuilding the water system."

Qiao’er looked toward the spring.

"Today?"

"Today."

Qiao’er sighed.

"I knew it."

The First Engineering Project

Lin Yue spent the morning collecting materials.

Stones.

Wood.

Clay.

Clean sand.

Gravel.

Charcoal.

The last item required a trip to the kitchen.

Qiao’er looked horrified when Lin Yue asked for charcoal.

"We need that for cooking."

"We’ll make more."

"With what?"

"Wood."

Qiao’er looked toward the tiny pile of firewood.

"Miss, we’re already running out."

Lin Yue paused.

That was true.

Fuel had not been included in yesterday’s accounting.

She mentally slapped herself.

She had been so excited about farming that she’d forgotten something fundamental.

Energy.

A household needed fuel.

Fuel meant:

wood,

charcoal,

animal waste,

and eventually perhaps more efficient systems.

She added another line to her mental list.

Acquire fuel source.

Then she turned back to Qiao’er.

"Fine. We’ll use only a little charcoal."

They worked until noon.

Lin Yue first cleared the area around the spring.

Then she built a small stone basin.

She lined the bottom with carefully washed gravel.

Above it, she placed sand.

Then charcoal.

Then another layer of sand.

It wasn’t a magical filter.

It wasn’t a perfect modern purification system.

It was simply one stage in a larger process.

The water would still be boiled before drinking.

But it was cleaner than what they had before.

Qiao’er watched with growing amazement.

"Miss."

"Yes?"

"How did you know how to do this?"

Lin Yue froze.

A very dangerous question.

She turned around.

"I read a lot."

Qiao’er accepted this immediately.

"Of course."

Lin Yue sighed with relief.

Fortunately, her servant had no idea how strange her answer was.

The Latrine

After the water system came the second problem.

The latrine.

Lin Yue stood before it.

She crossed her arms.

The structure was barely holding together.

It was located downhill from the spring.

Too close.

The waste pit was shallow.

And flies had clearly declared the place their ancestral kingdom.

Lin Yue took one step backward.

"No."

Qiao’er covered her nose.

"Miss?"

"We’re rebuilding it."

"Today?"

"Yes."

Qiao’er groaned.

"Why is everything today?"

"Because tomorrow we have to plant."

They dug the new pit farther away.

It took hours.

By the time they finished, Lin Yue’s hands were aching.

Her back hurt.

Her clothes were filthy.

And she had never been happier.

She looked at the new structure.

It wasn’t beautiful.

But it was functional.

There was drainage.

The waste area was separated from the water source.

The ground around it was kept dry.

And the structure had ventilation.

Lin Yue nodded.

"Much better."

Qiao’er stared.

"Miss."

"Yes?"

"You seem very happy."

Lin Yue smiled.

"Clean toilets are underrated."

Qiao’er decided she didn’t want to understand.

The Main Residence

Meanwhile, in the main residence, Shen Rui sat at the dining table.

His mother stared at him.

"You sent water barrels to your sister?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"She needed them."

His mother frowned.

"The eastern courtyard has a spring."

"A spring isn’t necessarily safe drinking water."

His mother stared at him.

"How do you know?"

Shen Rui paused.

Because yesterday, he had quietly asked one of the old servants about it.

The servant had told him that the spring was used by animals during the rainy season.

Shen Rui had remembered Lin Yue’s words.

Water first.

She had said it casually.

But she’d also refused to drink the spring water.

She understood the danger.

Interesting.

His mother watched him.

"You seem unusually interested in the Fourth Miss."

Shen Rui calmly lifted his tea.

"She is my sister."

His mother raised an eyebrow.

"Of course."

There was a long silence.

Then she asked:

"And the radishes?"

Shen Rui looked at her.

"What about them?"

"You bought four."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"They were fresh."

His mother stared at him.

She had raised this son for twenty-four years.

She knew when he was lying.

Not well.

But enough.

"Four radishes?"

Shen Rui took another sip of tea.

"They were very good radishes."

His mother sighed.

Back at the Courtyard

Lin Yue was sitting under the tree when a shadow appeared in front of her.

She looked up.

Shen Rui.

He stood at the gate.

He was wearing a simple dark robe.

His expression was calm.

Lin Yue glanced toward the water barrels.

Then back at him.

"You sent those?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"You needed them."

"I have a spring."

"Which you don’t trust."

Lin Yue narrowed her eyes.

He smiled faintly.

"So you noticed."

"You’ve been watching."

"Observing."

"That’s a polite word for watching."

"I prefer polite words."

She laughed.

That surprised him.

She had a nice laugh.

Not loud.

Not delicate.

Just genuine.

Shen Rui’s eyes softened.

Then he noticed her hands.

They were covered in scratches.

"You did this yourself?"

Lin Yue looked at her hands.

"Oh."

She shrugged.

"It’s nothing."

"Your hands disagree."

She glanced at him.

"You sound like Qiao’er."

"Then perhaps Qiao’er is sensible."

Lin Yue smiled.

"You’re surprisingly good at teasing."

"I’m learning."

She looked at him suspiciously.

"From whom?"

"You."

She blinked.

For some reason, her ears felt warm.

She immediately stood.

"Would you like tea?"

Shen Rui smiled.

"I would."

The Worst Tea in the Kingdom

Qiao’er brought them tea.

It was terrible.

The water had been boiled too long.

The tea leaves were old.

And someone had accidentally dropped a piece of dried ginger into the pot.

Lin Yue took one sip.

Her face remained expressionless.

Shen Rui took one sip.

His expression remained expressionless.

They looked at each other.

Qiao’er stood behind them.

"Is it good?"

"Yes," Shen Rui said.

"No," Lin Yue said at the same time.

Silence.

Qiao’er looked betrayed.

Lin Yue burst out laughing.

Shen Rui lowered his cup.

"I agree with Fourth Sister."

Qiao’er huffed.

"Then drink water."

She stomped away.

Lin Yue laughed harder.

Shen Rui watched her.

There was something different about her.

The rumors had described the Fourth Miss as weak, withdrawn, and difficult to approach.

That girl didn’t seem to exist anymore.

Instead, there was this strange young woman who could discuss drainage one moment and insult a rooster the next.

He found himself wanting to know what else was hidden behind that quiet face.

A Strange Question

Shen Rui looked toward the garden.

"You’ve planted quite a lot."

"Not enough."

"For what?"

"A proper farm."

He looked at her.

"You intend to expand?"

"Of course."

"Why?"

Lin Yue looked genuinely surprised.

"Because we need food."

"There are markets."

"Markets require money."

"You can ask the household."

"No."

Her answer was immediate.

Shen Rui raised an eyebrow.

"Why not?"

Lin Yue looked at the courtyard.

"Because if I can build something myself, I’d rather do that."

He was quiet.

She continued.

"Besides, I like this place."

"You like an abandoned courtyard?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Lin Yue thought about it.

Because nobody bothered her.

Because she could make decisions.

Because she could wake up before dawn and work in the soil.

Because she could build something from nothing.

Because this place, for the first time in either life, felt like it belonged to her.

She smiled.

"Because it’s mine."

Shen Rui looked at her.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then he said quietly:

"Then I’ll make sure nobody takes it from you."

Lin Yue’s heart skipped.

She looked away.

"Thank you."

The First Real Gift

Before leaving, Shen Rui placed a small package on the table.

Lin Yue looked at it.

"What is that?"

"Open it."

Inside were several tools.

A new hoe.

A small shovel.

A pruning knife.

A pair of sturdy gardening shears.

And a set of measuring tools.

Lin Yue’s eyes widened.

"These are good."

"I thought you might use them."

She picked up the hoe.

Balanced.

Good wood.

Properly fitted.

The blade was sharp.

She looked at him.

"How much?"

He smiled.

"A gift."

"I don’t accept expensive gifts."

"Then pay me later."

"With what?"

"Vegetables."

Lin Yue stared.

Shen Rui looked perfectly serious.

She finally laughed.

"Fine."

"It’s a deal."

The Golden Space Changes

That night, Lin Yue entered the golden space.

Something was different.

The tiny spring had grown.

Not much.

But enough.

The water now flowed in a narrow stream.

The soil around it looked darker.

The first plant had produced a tiny flower.

Lin Yue crouched.

A golden message appeared.

[Development progress: 8%.]

[External cultivation system detected.]

[Water management improved.]

[Soil management initiated.]

[Sanitation improvement detected.]

Lin Yue smiled.

"So that’s what you want."

She looked around.

The space wasn’t rewarding her for simply owning things.

It was rewarding her for building sustainable systems.

She touched the golden soil.

"What happens at ten percent?"

A new message appeared.

[Expansion available at 10%.]

Lin Yue’s eyes widened.

"Really?"

She looked toward the empty darkness beyond the boundary.

Only two percent remained.

She clenched her fist.

"Tomorrow."

The First Seedlings

The next morning, Lin Yue planted beans.

Then cabbage.

Then mustard greens.

She carefully marked each row.

Qiao’er watched.

"Why are you putting sticks everywhere?"

"Labels."

"What are they for?"

"So we know what we planted."

Qiao’er looked at the rows.

"They look different."

"Now."

"And later?"

Lin Yue smiled.

"Later everything becomes green."

Qiao’er thought about that.

"Then how will we know?"

"Records."

She handed Qiao’er the notebook.

"Write this down."

Qiao’er sighed.

"Yes, Miss."

The two women worked side by side.

One planting.

One recording.

And slowly, almost invisibly, the neglected eastern courtyard began to change.

By sunset, Lin Yue stood at the edge of the garden.

There were only a few rows.

Nothing impressive.

No magnificent harvest.

No overflowing granary.

No servants lining up to admire her.

Just fresh soil.

Small seedlings.

Clean water.

A repaired kitchen.

A new latrine.

Three chickens.

One extremely arrogant rooster.

And one loyal maid.

Lin Yue smiled.

It wasn’t much.

But it was growing.

Then the golden space appeared before her.

[Development progress: 9%.]

Lin Yue stared.

"One more percent."

Qiao’er looked at her.

"Miss?"

Lin Yue smiled mysteriously.

"Nothing."

She looked toward the garden.

Tomorrow, she decided, would be a very productive day.

Neither of them noticed the figure standing beyond the courtyard wall.

Shen Rui had returned.

He had intended to check whether the water barrels had been delivered.

Instead, he saw Lin Yue kneeling in the dirt, laughing as General chased Qiao’er around the garden.

He watched for a moment.

Then smiled.

Perhaps his forgotten sister wasn’t merely trying to survive.

Perhaps—

she was building something.

And for some reason, he found himself wanting to see what it became.