Inky twilight slowly spread over every inch of Qingyan Town. In his study, Li Yi frowned tightly, clutching a confidential report in his hand. The report came from Zhou Yiyun, the local magistrate of Qingyan Town, whose words dripped with blood as he described the townspeople's suffering: during the rainy season, floods raged like beasts, destroying houses and displacing families; in the dry season, the scorching sun parched the land, leaving crops withered and people starving.
Li Yi's heart ached deeply. He knew that if action wasn't taken soon, Qingyan Town would be plunged into irreversible disaster. "We must build water conservancy projects—*now*," he said, rising abruptly with steely determination. He understood this was a battle against natural disasters and a fight for the town's very future.
The next morning, Li Yi began preparations in full swing. First, he dispatched messengers on fast horses to seek hydraulic engineers. In an era of limited information, finding specialists was no easy task, but Li Yi did not flinch. He crossed mountains and valleys, visiting countless villages and consulting scholar after scholar.
Finally, in a remote mountain village, he found Master Chen, a reclusive hydraulic master. Though over seventy, Master Chen was vigorous, his eyes blazing with dedication to water conservancy. Li Yi greeted him earnestly: "Master Chen, the people of Qingyan Town are suffering terribly. I beg you to come out of seclusion and guide our project. This is not just for the townspeople, but for future generations to live in peace." Moved by Li Yi's sincerity, Master Chen sighed: "Very well. I shall assist you."
With Master Chen on board, Li Yi gained greater confidence. He allocated special funds from the treasury for the project and appointed an honest accountant to meticulously record every expense, personally reviewing each receipt to ensure no detail was overlooked. He knew these funds were the people's hard-earned money, to be spent wisely.
But challenges arose as soon as preparations began. First came labor management. After recruitment notices were posted, workers from far and wide flocked to Qingyan Town. With diverse backgrounds and personalities, they were difficult to control. One day, while inspecting the site, Li Yi heard furious shouting. Rushing over, he saw two workers grappling, with bystanders too afraid to intervene. "Stop this instant!" he thundered. The workers froze, cowed by his authority.
Upon investigation, the conflict stemmed from a dispute over workloads: one worker felt his tasks were heavier than the other's. Li Yi pondered and addressed the crowd: "We are all here to rebuild Qingyan Town—we must unite. Work will be assigned based on strength and skill. From today, daily tasks will be announced in advance; voice any concerns to foremen or myself." He promptly readjusted the assignments, satisfying both workers. To prevent future conflicts, he established strict labor regulations with clear rewards and punishments.
Procuring materials was another hurdle. The project required vast quantities of stone, timber, and grain. Li Yi led the procurement team himself, traveling far and wide. For stone, they chose a mountain behind the town with sturdy rock ideal for dikes, but mining was dangerous due to steep terrain and primitive tools. Li Yi and Master Chen climbed the mountain to survey the site, eventually designing a safe extraction plan with sturdy scaffolding and protective gear for workers.
Timber procurement faced extortion: local forest owners inflated prices upon learning of the urgent need. Li Yi instead sought a villager dozens of miles away who had stockpiled timber. After
explaining Qingyan Town's plight, the villager agreed to sell at a fair price. Grain was equally scarce due to drought, so Li Yi negotiated with distant merchants while urging townspeople to plant quick-growing crops like sweet potatoes and potatoes.
Li Yi worked around the clock, managing technical issues, labor disputes, and supply shortages. He rose before dawn and returned late at night, never complaining—his only goal was to start the project and improve lives.
Meanwhile, Lin Yue focused on health and medical support, aware that disease could devastate the project. She set up medical tents near the site, stocked with supplies from her pharmacy and additional purchases, and organized sanitation teams to clean the site daily. She also distributed hygiene manuals to workers, teaching them to prevent illness. When a laborer was severely injured by a falling rock, Lin Yue rushed to stitch his wound, comforting him gently as she worked, earning deep respect.
As preparations neared completion, the project finally began. The site buzzed with activity: workers split into teams to quarry stone on steep slopes, haul heavy timber along rugged paths, and dig irrigation canals under the blazing sun. Li Yi oversaw daily operations, sharing simple meals and resting alongside laborers, his warm smile inspiring their morale and speeding progress.
But challenges persisted. During dike construction, a key type of clay for reinforcement was nowhere to be found locally. After inquiries, Li Yi learned of a valley dozens of miles away with the clay and organized a transport team. The journey was perilous—narrow, rough roads and frequent wild animal attacks. Once, a wolf pack ambushed the convoy; a young laborer was gravely injured, but Lin Yue raced to the scene to save his life with emergency treatment.
After months of arduous labor, the project was completed. A wide irrigation canal wound through farmland, clear water nourishing the parched soil, while a towering dike stood like a dragon, shielding the town from floods. On the celebration day, the entire town gathered, flags waving and drums roaring.
Standing on a platform, Li Yi tearfully declared: "Folks, today our water conservancy project is complete! This is the fruit of our collective sweat and toil. From now on, we need fear no floods or droughts—better days are ahead!" Thunderous cheers erupted, joy lighting every face.
Lin Yue watched, overjoyed that her efforts to prevent disease had safeguarded the people's health. Thereafter, Qingyan Town enjoyed favorable weather and successive harvests, with Li Yi and Lin Yue remembered as heroes for generations. The water conservancy project stood as an enduring monument, witnessing their legacy and the town's rise to prosperity.