In the global desert, I have a spring of spiritual water.

"Handsome, wanna do some pile driving? Just a bowl of water!"

"Handsome, half a bowl is enough for me!"

"Just give me a sip of water..."

As soon as Chen Chuan rounded the sand-blocking wall made of adobe bricks, several women in tattered clothes with sallow skin surrounded him. The one in front even reached out and grabbed his sleeve, her chapped lips trembling slightly, her eyes filled with a desperate thirst for water.

"Get out of my way!"

"Where did this slut come from!"

Before Chen Chuan could speak, the bodyguard beside him immediately stepped forward and shouted at him. The bodyguard was over two meters tall, with a broad back and a fierce look. The women were so frightened that they all backed away.

Seeing this, Chen Chuan clicked his tongue in annoyance: "Uncle Tiger, they're all pitiful women, don't be so rude!"

"that......"

Chen Chuan's gaze swept over the women, and he beckoned to the one who seemed the most filial: "Come here."

The chosen woman's face immediately lit up with a bright smile. She pursed her chapped lips, letting saliva soak into them, hoping to ease the cracks and improve the customer experience during her work.

In the Great Desert Era, a bowl of water could sustain a family for a few more days, so she dared not be negligent.

"Young Master, Madam instructed us before the trip..."

"Use your official title when speaking to others!"

Chen Chuan knew what Geng Hu was about to say and interrupted him directly.

The other party was not only his bodyguard, but also his mother's spy, who would monitor his every move and report to his mother who was far away in Shanghe City.

"Master, you've just arrived in this territory. You should report to the government office and then learn more about the situation in the manor."

Geng Hu offered his advice.

"What can you possibly learn from government offices!"

Chen Chuan curled his lip in disdain. How could he possibly learn the true situation in the village from the officials?

Chen Chuan turned to the woman he had chosen: "Do you have a place to run a business?"

"That's it."

The woman pointed to a low, mud-brick house next to her.

"Take me inside."

"Uncle Tiger, you stay outside and wait for Old Kong and the others."

Chen Chuan gave an instruction and then followed the woman into the mud-brick house.

Geng Hu opened his mouth, about to dissuade him, when a gust of sandstorm suddenly swept in, making it impossible for him to open his eyes, so he had to swallow his words.

As the sandstorm subsided, the women who hadn't been chosen mustered their courage and surrounded them again.

"Brother, need some water for driving the pile? Just half a bowl."

"Sir, please come in and rest for a while."

Although Geng Hu had a fierce look on his face and looked frightening, the women still gritted their teeth and started soliciting customers just to get a drink of water.

Swah——

Geng Hu, too lazy to waste words, suddenly drew the curved sword hanging at his waist. Under the blazing sun, the blade gleamed coldly, chilling the soul, and the women quickly shut their mouths.

Geng Hu swung his sword down, leaving a clear, deep gash in the ground.

"Anyone who crosses this line shall be beheaded."

He sheathed his scimitar, crossed his arms, and stood like an iron tower at the entrance of the mud-brick house, his face so gloomy it seemed to drip water.

This young master of ours is absurd and was a notorious playboy in Shanghe City. He eventually caused a great disaster, and even his wife could not be saved. That's why he was "exiled" to this godforsaken Taiping Village!

This place is a full two thousand miles away from Shanghe City, the capital of Shanghe County. It is the most remote town in the jurisdiction of Shanghe County. Due to its remote location, there are a large number of sand monsters and water bandits. The average tenure of the town lord is less than two years!

Chen Chuan, who was appointed as the new head of the manor, was obviously abandoned by the family and left to fend for himself here!

Geng Hu sighed silently in his heart.

The adobe house was simply furnished, with its walls mottled and worn.

The woman asked with a fawning smile, "Handsome, is this angle okay?"

"no!"

"Wait a minute!"

As Chen Chuan was surveying the room, he turned around to find the woman's large buttocks facing him. He quickly reached out to pull down her skirt and said helplessly, "I don't need to do anything. You just need to answer my questions."

"what?"

The woman stood up straight, looking suspicious.

"Have a sip of water first, then speak slowly."

Chen Chuan took out a water pouch from his pocket and handed it to the woman. She was taken aback at first, then overjoyed. She snatched the water pouch, tilted her head back, and drank it down. The clear water slid down her parched throat, and a trace of life gradually appeared on her originally sallow and withered face.

The water pouch was quickly emptied. She shook it a few more times until not a single drop of water could be poured out. Reluctantly, she stopped, holding the empty pouch back in both hands: "Handsome, feel free to ask me anything!"

The woman's mental state was completely different from before, and her eyes were now brighter.

This wasn't the first time Chen Chuan had seen a similar situation. In this era, the poor were often in a state of semi-dehydration, which manifested as a sallow complexion, chapped lips, dull eyes, and slow movements.

Once the body gets enough water, it's as if the whole person is "activated".

The woman is currently in this activated state.

"What's your name?" Chen Chuan asked.

"My surname is Du, and I am the fourth child in my family. Everyone calls me Fourth Sister."

Obviously, this Du Siniang was not famous, which was not unusual in this era because women had a relatively low social status.

In the era of the Great Desert, there were three most important things for humankind to survive: finding water, fighting off sand monsters, and cultivating crops.

Men are the main force in these three tasks, while women can only do logistical work, which is very similar to agrarian societies on Earth.

"How many people live in the village?" Chen Chuan asked, getting down to business.

"There should be over 10,000 people, but no more than 15,000."

"Who's in charge in town right now?"

"That must be Boss Hu!" Du Siniang blurted out.

"Boss Hu?"

Tell me in detail.

Chen Chuan lightly touched his chin with his fingertips, signaling her to continue.

"Boss Hu is the head of the Demon Suppression Division. The demon suppression teams in the village are all under his command. Anyone who dares to disobey him will be arrested and sent to fight the demons. And how many of them can come back alive after fighting the sand demons?"

"Furthermore, his younger brother, Hu Lao Er, is the director of the Water Resources Department, controlling the village's only water source. The lives of over ten thousand people in the village are in his hands. Even the Agricultural Affairs Department has to be mindful of his feelings. Who would dare to oppose him?"

At this point, Du Si Niang suddenly lowered her voice: "I heard that the previous two heads of the manor were killed by the Hu family. Hu Lao Er even said in public that Taiping Manor belonged to the Hu family and was not under the jurisdiction of Shanghe County. It was surnamed Hu, not Chen!"

After listening to Du Siniang's story, Chen Chuan understood that the Hu family was the local tyrant of Taiping Village. They controlled the three most important things in the desert era: water sources, demon suppression, and agriculture.

It can be said that the Hu family completely controlled the lifeline of Taipingzhuang, and were no different from local tyrants. This explains why the lords sent from Shanghe County served for an average of less than two years.

On the surface, it appears to be the result of sand demons and water bandits running rampant, but in reality, it was mostly the Hu family secretly killing people to eliminate dissidents. After all, it was still very uncomfortable to have a manor lord over their heads.

If nothing unexpected happens, Chen Chuan, the new head of the manor, has already been put on their elimination list.