"Is he... is he even human? How can he be so strong?"
"He's dug almost a zhang deep, hasn't he? And he's not even breathing heavily?"
The sneer on Xu Laosan's face had long vanished.
He rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing.
In the pit, Xu Fan's forehead was covered in sweat, but his eyes were bright, and his spirit was high.
[Excavation has reached entry level, promoted to: Excavation (Proficient 0 / 500)]
Boom!
He felt his strength and stamina surge again!
Instantly, countless techniques for Excavation flooded his mind: how to judge soil structure, how to leverage force, how to break rocks with the least effort... He looked at the pit wall, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate the soil.
"Father, second brother, move aside!"
Xu Fan shouted, gripping the shovel tightly with both hands, aiming at the bottom of the pit, and thrusting it down fiercely!
Clang—!
This time, it was the sound of metal striking stone!
"It's Bluestone!" An experienced old man by the pit cried out, "It's over, we've hit the end. This stuff is incredibly hard, no chance."
A gloating smile reappeared on Xu Laosan's face: "I told you so, a waste of effort. This is fate!"
However, there was no trace of discouragement on Xu Fan's face.
He pulled out the shovel, aimed at the same spot, and thrust down again!
Clang! Clang!
He attacked the same spot repeatedly with astonishing frequency.
Xu Chang and Yan Aini by the pit held their breath.
Just as everyone thought he was about to give up from exhaustion, a crisp 'crack' sound was heard!
That incredibly hard Bluestone was actually pried open, creating a crack!
Immediately after, a cool, damp sensation, carrying the smell of damp earth, slowly seeped out from the crack.
"Water... water vapor!"
Someone shouted, and the entire scene instantly fell silent.
Everyone stared intently at the crack, watching a damp, dark patch rapidly spread across the dry pit bottom.
There was water!
There really was water underground!
"Water's coming out! Water's really coming out!"
Xu Chang was the first to react. He was so excited he almost jumped, and disregarding the slippery pit wall, he slid down to the bottom of the pit, tumbling and scrambling.
He touched the damp earth with trembling hands, feeling the icy coolness. This weathered man could no longer hold back, squatting on the ground and wailing like a child.
"Wuwuwu... Heaven has opened its eyes... Our Xu Family... has water!"
Yan Aini also covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
The children cheered and danced around the wellhead.
Outside the courtyard wall, the onlookers were completely dumbfounded.
They all craned their necks and widened their eyes, as if they had witnessed an Immortal descending to the mortal world.
"Is it... is it really water?"
"Heavens, how is this possible? The Wang Family dug fifteen zhang deep over a decade ago and didn't find a single drop of water. How deep has he dug?"
"Xu Family's Eldest Son, he's truly... truly uncanny!" Several old farmers looked at Xu Fan with strange eyes.
Xu Laosan's face instantly turned darker than the bottom of a pot.
That oath about writing his name backward was like an invisible slap, hitting his face hard, stinging with pain.
He felt as if everyone's gazes around him were like needles pricking his body. Unable to stay any longer, he squeezed out of the crowd in embarrassment and fled in a sorry state.
In the pit, Xu Fan looked at his family, who were crying with joy, and a genuine smile appeared on his face.
Water meant the vegetable garden could thrive.
A thriving vegetable garden meant this family had a real foundation to resist the famine.
The subsequent work became simple.
With signs of water, the whole family was even more motivated.
Xu Fan directed his father and second brother to continue digging deeper.
As his Excavation skill reached proficient level, he became adept at dealing with the rock layers below.
He could always find the weakest points in the rock, breaking and clearing it in the most effortless way.
After another day, a well, five zhang deep, with its opening neatly lined with the Bluestone sand shattered from the earlier mountain Excavation, appeared in the Xu Family courtyard.
When the first bucket of clear, sweet well water was shakily drawn up, the entire Xu Family erupted in excitement.
Xu Wenwen and Xu Ruize, the twins, seeing so much clean water for the first time, curiously reached out their little hands to touch it, shivered from the cold, and then giggled non-stop.
Xu Huining, being sensible, took the water bucket, poured a scoop, respectfully offered it to her grandparents' room first, and then to her parents and brothers.
Xu Fan took a sip. The well water was clear and had a hint of sweetness, instantly dispelling his thirst.
With the well, everything was back on track.
The newly cultivated vegetable patch in the Xu Family's backyard became the most beautiful sight in the entire village.
With the boost from his skills, he bought excellent seeds from the town.
He sowed the seeds, categorized by their different habits.
After watering them with the sweet well water, it only took five days for dense, lush green sprouts to emerge from the previously barren land.
Another thirty-five days passed. While the crops in other villagers' fields withered and yellowed from lack of water, the Xu Fan Family's vegetable garden was vibrant and full of life.
Lush cucumber vines climbed the newly built trellises, adorned with tender yellow flowers; fist-sized cabbages grew firm and plump; rows of green vegetables were so green they seemed to drip with water.
This scene, against the backdrop of the severe drought, seemed so unreal, almost magical.
Every morning and evening, some villagers would always stand outside the Xu Family's courtyard wall.
They dared not approach, only gazing from afar at that green miracle, their eyes filled with envy and jealousy.
"These... these vegetables are growing too fast, aren't they?"
"Yes, it hasn't been long, and they're already ready to be picked and eaten!"
"It must be the well's doing. I heard their well water is clear and sweet, and quite uncanny."
"What well water? I think it's Xu Family's Eldest Son himself who's uncanny! Have you forgotten how he moved that big rock? His methods were like an Immortal's."
Rumors spread through the village, and Xu Fan's image in the villagers' minds gradually changed from a lucky hunter to a capable person with real skills.
Xu Fan didn't care about these changes.
He was busy planning the next steps for his family's development.
The first batch of green vegetables in the garden was thriving, their lush green leaves glistening with dew in the morning light, so tender they seemed to burst with water.
News that the Xu Family was going to sell vegetables quickly spread through the village.
"Have you heard? The Xu Family is going to take the vegetables from their patch to Qingyang Town to sell!"
"Sell vegetables? Are a few rows of green vegetables worth the trouble?"
"Exactly. Who in our village doesn't grow some vegetables in their yard? Are their vegetables made of gold or something?"
Most villagers were not optimistic, thinking Xu Fan was making a fuss over nothing.
It was fine for their own consumption, but selling them was making a mountain out of a molehill.
Upon hearing this, Xu Laosan found new gossip under the big locust tree at the village entrance.
He spat out the grass root from his mouth, spewing saliva as he told a group of idlers gathered around him: "I told you long ago, that kid just made a small fortune and has forgotten who he is."
"Does he think growing a few spring onions means he can be a master? There are plenty of vegetable sellers in Qingyang Town. What kind of reputation can an outsider kid like him make?"
"Third Brother is right. Those vegetable vendors in town are as shrewd as monkeys. Will they let him get a bargain?" an idler echoed.
Xu Laosan snorted smugly: "Just wait and see. I bet he won't even break even on this trip! When he comes back crying, let's see what face he has left to swagger around the village!"
The Xu Family had grown accustomed to the village gossip.