The village chief leading the group, Gu Sanbu, tapped his wooden walking stick against a nearby rock. Waiting until everyone had quieted down, he delivered even worse news.
"This puddle is the last water source within a ten-mile radius. If we miss it, our only other option is the Prefecture City up ahead. I've heard they bring out a certain amount of water from the city every day, but not everyone who lines up will be able to get some.
"I'll let you all make your own decisions now. Whether or not you buy water is entirely up to you."
"Village Chief Gu, how are they selling the water?" Liu Datian asked. None of his children were married yet, so he still had some savings on hand. In these difficult times, he had already weighed his options.
