Xu Jinxin feigned surprise, Ah? What? Duoduo, you heard wrong!
Duoduo tilted her head in confusion.
She was certain she had heard clearly; it was artificial rainfall.
Seeing Xu Jinxin's guilty look, Duoduo guessed that she just didn't want to explain it.
Duoduo rolled her eyes thoughtfully; she decided to secretly seek out Li Jin.
Li Jin was very knowledgeable and would definitely know what artificial rainfall meant.
With this in mind, Duoduo went back to playing with Yingniang.
Seeing that Duoduo didn't press the matter, Xu Jinxin breathed an inexplicable sigh of relief.
Su Xian was a bit surprised and asked in a low voice, Why didn't you tell Duoduo what that rainfall thing is?
Xu Jinxin wore a bitter smile. How could she possibly explain that?
Of course she couldn't; she could only play dumb.
I just misspoke earlier. I meant to say something else but it came out like that. I don't know how to explain it.
Su Xian believed her close friend's explanation and changed the subject to other matters.
After the meal, Duoduo quietly pulled Li Jin behind the carriage.
Teacher, do you know what artificial rainfall is?
Hearing this, Li Jin immediately knew that this term had definitely come from his wife, Xu Jinxin.
He pondered for a moment.
It means exactly what it sounds like: artificially helping the rain to fall.
Duoduo realized it was that simple.
She looked up at the sky, which was very blue and high.
Teacher, how can people help clouds turn into rain?
The sky is so high. Even if we built a ladder, we couldn't reach up there, right?
Could it be that we need to climb the highest mountain, wait for the clouds to float by, and pull them down to turn them into raindrops?
Duoduo looked completely baffled.
Li Jin found Duoduo's idea quite amusing.
He smiled and patted Duoduo's shoulder.
The sky is very high. Even if you stood on the highest mountain and built a ladder, you still wouldn't be able to reach it.
Duoduo reached her hand toward the sky, but it felt as though the sky was just beyond her fingertips, forever out of reach.
Then why is there a saying about people helping clouds turn into rain? Duoduo didn't understand.
Li Jin couldn't explain it clearly to her, so he thought for a moment.
Of course there is. The ancients always had rituals to pray for rain, and the imperial palace even has ministers specifically dedicated to this task.
Duoduo opened her mouth wide. Really?
Li Jin nodded.
If they pray for rain, will it actually rain? Duoduo couldn't believe it.
I don't know, I've never seen it happen. Li Jin shook his head.
However, rain-praying rituals have existed since ancient times. Even His Majesty personally goes to pray, Li Jin explained to Duoduo.
Not only do they pray for rain, but also for abundant harvests, national peace, and prosperity. Many poems have recorded this.
Li Jin casually recited a few poems about sacrifices and then explained their historical backgrounds.
Xiao Yi did not let the convoy stop; instead, he ordered them to keep moving forward.
Moreover, he had the group speed up, hoping to leave this stretch of road as soon as possible.
The convoy traveled non-stop for several days. Along the way, the drought conditions became increasingly severe.
In some villages, all the leaves had fallen off the trees, and even the paddy fields had dried up into cracked, turtle-shell patterns.
One day, halfway through their journey, the convoy suddenly stopped.
Master, a horse has collapsed, Yun Xiao said with a heavy tone.
Because of the drought, these horses had no fresh grass to eat and not enough water to drink.
Every time they stayed at an inn, they would find a way to buy some water at a high price.
However, this water was prioritized for the people to drink first.
The weather was hot, and without enough water, the horses were the first to give out.
Xiao Yi pinched the bridge of his nose and handed a nearby waterskin to Yun Xiao.
Take this and feed it to the horse.
Yun Xiao hesitated.
Your Highness, we spent dozens of taels of silver to buy this water.
Go quickly! We rely on the horses to carry all our supplies!
Xiao Yi ordered coldly.
Yes.
Yun Xiao took the waterskin and left. Duoduo licked her dry, peeling lips.
Over the past few days, due to the drought, many places were short of water.
Even when staying at inns, there was no water for washing up.
Worried that the food might not be clean, Xiao Yi simply had Yun Xiao take men to buy water, and then they continued their journey.
They ate and slept in the carriages.
In the mornings, they only used a tiny bit of water to wipe their faces and hands.
Their meals were cooked in a single pot just to save water.
Li Jin also stopped giving lessons, because talking wasted saliva.
For the past two days, Duoduo had been learning to play chess with Li Jin.
Inside the carriage, it was often terrifyingly quiet, with only the sounds of the wheels and horse hooves to be heard.
The initial cheerful laughter and chatter were completely gone.
Duoduo rested her chin on her hands, having lost the mood to play chess.
If only it could rain!
If it rained, there would be water in the rivers, the common people would have water to drink and use, and they could survive.
Along the way, Duoduo had already seen people who had died from a lack of water.
Duoduo felt very sad in her heart.
If only there was water to drink!
Thinking this, Duoduo unconsciously bit her finger.
Suddenly, she felt a damp sensation.
Eh?
Duoduo snapped back to reality and licked her lips. There was actually water on her lips!
Where did the water come from?
Duoduo looked up at the carriage roof.
The roof was perfectly fine; it wasn't leaking.
Duoduo licked her lips again. They were dry, with no water.
Curious, Duoduo sat up straight. Xiao Yi looked over.
Seeing Duoduo constantly licking her lips, Xiao Yi handed another waterskin to her.
Don't lick your lips, they will crack.
Duoduo didn't take it. Father, I'm not thirsty.
Xiao Yi looked at Duoduo's dry, peeling lips. Drink. Things will work out when the time comes; Father will figure out a way.
Unable to resist, Duoduo opened the waterskin and took a tiny sip.
She returned the waterskin to Xiao Yi and reached out to place a chess piece on the board.
Suddenly, she noticed that the chess piece in her hand was actually wet!
But just now, when she drank the water, her hand clearly hadn't touched the mouth of the waterskin.
Curious, Duoduo picked up the chess piece to look at it.
She was certain that there was indeed water on the chess piece.
Duoduo opened her hand and saw that the fish-shaped birthmark on her palm had turned somewhat pale.
She touched it, and it felt cool.
Duoduo, what's wrong? Li Jin had been observing her for a while.
Teacher, there's water on the chess piece. Duoduo handed the piece to Li Jin to see.
That's normal. You've been holding this chess piece in your palm for too long, so naturally, there is sweat.
The weather is too hot. Even if you don't move, you'll sweat.
Master, there's a river ahead, but I don't know if there's any water left in it, Yun Xiao came over to report.
Go and take a look, Xiao Yi ordered without hesitation.
Before long, the carriage came to a halt.
Xiao Yi stepped out of the carriage, and Duoduo ran down after him to see what was going on.
The riverbed was completely dry, exposing the stones inside, along with some dead fish and shrimp.
Xiao Yi's brows furrowed tightly into a knot.
If the river water had dried up to this extent, would they still be able to travel south by water?
