Abandoning literature for martial arts, starting by unleashing the beauty's bow.

When Lu Fengnian spoke his last sentence, he deliberately raised his voice.

His voice was strong and loud, making the ears of many villagers in Mao'er Village ring.

Silence fell beneath the old willow tree.

Many people blushed and lowered their heads in shame.

Lu Fengnian looked around and said, "I've gathered everyone here today to make things clear: you should never come to the Lu family again."

Having said that, he turned around and prepared to leave.

Zhao Dagui hesitated for a moment, then said with a guilty look, "Fengnian, please wait a moment."

Lu Fengnian stopped and slowly turned around.

Zhao Dagui swallowed hard. "Fengnian, I bear a great deal of responsibility for what happened before. I am sorry to the Lu family."

But now, if there's only half a river of water, our Mao'er Village won't last until next year, and many people in the village will have to eat tree bark and dirt.

If you don't intervene, our village is doomed.

Lu Fengnian slightly raised his eyelids. "If I weren't exceptionally talented in archery, our Lu family would be eating tree bark and dirt right now."

My meaning is very clear; I have done what I was supposed to do.

After saying that, he turned to leave again.

At this moment, Zhao Dagui bowed deeply and said, "Fengnian, I was wrong about what happened before. I apologize to your Lu family."

Please forgive me, please help our Lu Mao'er Village.

As he cupped his hands in greeting, Zhao Tianming and the others from Mao'er Village also cupped their hands in greeting and bowed, pleading with him.

Lu Fengnian frowned, paused for a moment, and said softly, "I have no resentment towards you for inviting you here today."

Why aren't they taking action?

This year is different from previous years. There's a drought this year. If we divert all the water from the river, the old wells in Shangjie Village probably won't be able to hold up. They'll definitely fight us to the death.

Seeing that Lu Fengnian seemed to be relenting, Zhao Dagui quickly said, "Our village can't hold on any longer. There's too little water, and some villagers' crops have already turned yellow and withered. If we don't get water soon, we'll have no harvest at all."

No sooner had he finished speaking than an old man with a wrinkled face said in a sorrowful voice, "Fengnian, you have to help me. Our fields are far from the river, and there is too little water in the river to reach our home."

If no water comes, the crops in the fields will die of thirst, and our family of six will have no chance of survival.

As soon as he spoke, the other villagers chimed in:

"Our family is in the same situation; this little bit of water is not enough to keep these crops alive."

"Even though it's a bumper year, there's still not enough water in our fields. If this continues, the harvest will probably be less than half of what it was in previous years. What are we going to do with a family of over ten people?"

…………

When she got emotional and sad, an old lady sat down on the ground, wailing and begging Lu Fengnian for help.

Lu Fengnian looked around at everyone, but in the end, he still chose to turn around and leave, his steps firm.

The villagers of Mao'er Village all wore expressions of despair, their faces ashen, and they repeatedly called out Lu Fengnian's name.

However, Lu Fengnian ignored him and didn't even turn his head.

At that moment, a figure jogged over from a distance; it was Liu Yunjuan.

She was worried about Lu Fengnian, so she secretly followed him.

"Juan, please persuade Fengnian. We're all waiting for the river to save our lives."

"Sister Juan, I apologize for what I did wrong before, but now, if Feng Nian doesn't help, we'll all be left without a way to survive. Please persuade him to save us."

…………

When some villagers from Mao'er Village saw Liu Yunjuan coming, they rushed to greet her and began to plead with her.

Some young people, urged by their elders, ran up to Liu Yunjuan and knelt down to kowtow.

Liu Yunjuan helped the younger generation up and said, "Fellow villagers, please don't rush. Let me and Fengnian say a few words first."

After saying that, she quickly went to Lu Fengnian's side, pulled him away a little, and whispered, "Fengnian, I heard everything you just said."

Your father kept these words in his heart for a long time, but he didn't say them, because he didn't dare to.

Your father is indeed honest and kind, but that doesn't mean he's weak.

The reason he dared not speak was because he had a family to support.

Today, you spoke up for him. If he could know this in the afterlife, he would surely be happy for you.

Lu Fengnian saw that Liu Yunjuan's eyes were filled with tears. "Mother, I didn't..."

Liu Yunjuan shook her head. "You don't need to explain. I know you're different from before. You've grown up and are no longer someone who doesn't care about their family."

I can see that you're hesitant right now. You're worried about Mom and Xiaoyu, aren't you?

Fengnian, don't worry. Whatever decision you make, Xiaoyu and I will support you.

If you want to refuse them, just refuse them directly.

Our Lu family no longer owes Mao'er Village anything.

We were outsiders to begin with. Since your father's gone anyway, we can just move away.

Lu Fengnian hummed in agreement but did not speak.

Liu Yunjuan continued, "However, your decision concerns the lives of many people, so you need to think it through carefully. Once you've made the decision, don't go back on your word."

At this point, she reached out her thin hand, touched Lu Fengnian's head, and smiled slightly, "Don't be held back, just make your own decisions."

If you choose not to help Mao'er Village, then we'll go home and pack our things.

Lu Fengnian paused for a moment, then said, "Mother, I know what to do."

After saying that, he turned around and strode towards the old willow tree at the entrance of the village.

The villagers who had gathered around the old tree immediately dispersed, making way for him.

Lu Fengnian walked straight to the tree without looking to the side, patted the trunk, and said, "If you take away the water from Shangjie Village, our Mao'er Village can survive, but Shangjie Village cannot."

If we don't rob them, our Mao'er Village won't get through this ordeal.

I'm from Mao'er Village, so I should side with Mao'er Village. However, Shangjie Village has hundreds of people.

"To cut off their livelihood would be a grave sin, and I would be the culprit."

At this point, he turned around and slowly swept his gaze over the surrounding villagers one by one.

The villagers all lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.

Lu Fengnian then turned his attention to the old willow tree. "It's a saying in our village that this old willow tree has a spirit."

"So, whether or not I should help Mao'er Village through this crisis, I'll leave the decision to the old willow tree."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room looked surprised.

How can an old willow tree make a decision?

Lu Fengnian picked up a flat stone from under the tree and said in a deep voice, "The old willow tree is my witness. I am right here under the tree now, and I will use this stone to skip stones on the river."

If the number of stones floating on the water is even, no matter how much you plead, I won't help you with this.

If the number of stones floating on the water is odd, I will grant your request and solve the water problem for Mao'er Village.