Chapter 44: Visiting the Ancient Spring

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The one who revealed that Zhao Zhao could drive a race car was none other than Zhao Xin, who had stayed at Star Entertainment for three consecutive days without returning home.

She was brushing her teeth in the company restroom while watching a live broadcast of a romance reality show.

Seeing Zhao Zhao’s driving style, she immediately recalled the scene from three days ago when the car broke down halfway; Zhao Zhao swiftly fixed it and then sped off like a race car.

The speed was so fast that she could hardly believe it was her old second-hand car capable of such performance.

Of course, the moment she got off the car, she vomited.

Later, while doing Zhao Zhao’s makeup, she learned that Zhao Zhao had picked up racing skills from the stunt team while filming a drama during her leisure time.

Racing?

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xin’s eyes widened.

But thinking about how Zhao Zhao already knew how to repair cars, it wasn’t surprising that she’d be interested in racing.

So, when she saw curious comments about Zhao Zhao’s driving skills in the chat, she naturally spilled the beans.

Zhao Zhao had no family, few friends, and at Star Entertainment, only Zhao Xin was her friend.

Such a revelation that enhanced Zhao Zhao’s image was something Zhao Xin felt obligated to share.

After the disclosure, seeing the flood of admiration for Zhao Zhao, Zhao Xin bit down on the toothpaste foam in her mouth and felt happy for her.

“Zhao Xin, why are you dawdling?”

A female colleague poked her head into the restroom. “Sister Liu is calling; hurry to the meeting room.”

“Okay, coming!”

Zhao Xin spat out the toothpaste foam, roughly washed her face, and hurriedly turned off her phone to head back to the meeting room.

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Compared to the time when she sped with Zhao Xin, Zhao Zhao was more restrained this time behind the wheel.

At just over ten years old, unable to find a better way to earn money for her mother’s medical bills, she happened to see an auto repair shop recruiting apprentices and went there.

At the time, her body hadn’t developed yet; with short hair and dressed in boys’ work pants, she looked like a tomboy.

After working at the garage for three years, when her body started to develop, people realized she was a girl.

They felt sorry for her having to earn money for her mother’s medical expenses at such a young age, not only helping her raise some funds but also sending her back to school.

Thus, Zhao Zhao began to balance school with a part-time job at the garage.

Later, when she joined a film crew and saw the stunt master filming racing scenes, she immediately became interested.

Not only did she bring water and food to the racing stunt team in her spare time, but she also helped repair and inspect the vehicles.

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This is how the racing stunt master taught her many things, and Zhao Zhao gained a lot.

Back on camera, she drove fast yet smoothly, but instead of heading straight for the marketplace, she turned onto a more rugged side road.

“That’s... not the way to the market. Are you lost?” asked Shen Mu, the passenger.

“Before going to the market, I need to do something else first.”

Zhao Zhao didn’t explain further, focusing on driving.

After driving along the bumpy dirt road for four or five miles, she finally stopped at a clearing in front of jagged stone cliffs.

[This looks like a wild mountain area. What is Zhao Zhao up to?]

[Hmm... not sure whether to imagine something spooky or something romantic...]

[Stop imagining nonsense! Didn’t you see the sign ahead that says ‘Ancient Spring’?!]

[Ancient Spring?]

[Yes, there’s a wooden sign that says ‘Ancient Spring.’ What does it mean?]

[As the name suggests, it means ‘old spring water.’]

Zhao Zhao got out of the car and opened the trunk.

Shen Mu stepped down from the passenger seat and saw Zhao Zhao pulling out four empty drinking water containers from the car.

“What’s this for?” Shen Mu approached and helped carry two of them.

“Here,” Zhao Zhao pointed with her chin toward a nearby stone cave. “We’re going to draw spring water from inside.”

These four water containers belonged to the village chief’s son, who ran a water shop in the city.

The village chief had brought them back to help carry water conveniently when working in the fields.

Each container could hold about eighteen liters of water, enough for five or six people to drink and work in the fields all day.

Since his minivan broke down, the village chief hadn’t used these containers; they had quietly remained in the trunk.

The last time Zhao Zhao rode in the car, she noticed these containers.

When the film crew’s lead actor was driving halfway to their destination, she also noticed the sign pointing to the “Ancient Spring” and learned from Aunt Fu that there was a natural spring there.

Now, Zhao Zhao carried the water containers and slowly walked into the cave.

She had expected the cave to be stuffy and cramped, but upon entering, she found it surprisingly spacious.

Several villagers were already lined up waiting to collect water.

Some carried buckets by hand, others balanced them on shoulder poles, and some pushed carts with huge iron water barrels tied to them.

Seeing Zhao Zhao, Shen Mu, and the cameraman following them, everyone looked at them with curiosity.

“Miss, what brings you here...” a middle-aged man couldn’t help but ask, “Are you filming a show?”

“Yes, we’re filming a show,” Zhao Zhao nodded.

“Oh,” someone suddenly remembered, “You’re filming in Ancient Tree Village, right? I met the village chief a month ago, and he mentioned you.”

“But I thought you only filmed in Ancient Tree Village. Why come to Ancient Spring?”

Zhao Zhao replied, “I heard there’s an ancient spring here, the water is pure, sweet, and very tasty. That’s why I came.”

“That’s right, this spring is a treasured place for villages within ten miles around.”

An elder kindly began to introduce the Ancient Spring to Zhao Zhao and the others.

“My great-great-great grandfather said this ancient spring has existed since ancient times. It seems to have a spirit; even in the driest years, it never dries up. It has saved countless people...”

The cameraman timely focused on the elder’s weathered face, which was a strong testament to his story.

[Is this ancient spring really that miraculous? It’s never dried up since ancient times?]

[Such water makes me want to try a sip!]

[In Zhao Zhao and Shen Mu’s separate live streams, you find all sorts of interesting and fun things, but no trace of romance.]

[Haha, those who crave romantic sweetness won’t stay here. It’s good the show is diverse; after all, these days, many people don’t want to talk about love.]

[Can they develop a tourism route for Ancient Tree Village? I want to vacation there—quaint courtyards, lakes full of fat fish, photogenic ancient trees, bustling markets, and ancient springs. It sounds so lively.]

[+1, I want to go too.]

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“This is great! Sending my uncle was the right call!”

Seeing these comments, Su Chengyu, who was recovering, forgot the pain in his abdomen and jumped up with a shout of joy.

“Yes! Promote Ancient Tree Village and its surrounding culture well!”

After jumping, he belatedly clutched his abdominal wound.

“Ah, it hurts!”

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