Bai brought Hedi’s condition to the east village assembly before the clinic opened. The grower would supply roots for the next shipment if the refuge helped repair a damaged irrigation gate before planting. He could not spare enough labor for both the gate and the harvest.
Mera spread the water map across the barn table. “Which households depend on this channel?”
Ning traced the line with a finger. “Two local families, plus Olan’s temporary plot. If the hinge fails under pressure, all three lose their lower beds.”
Hedi stood beside Bai, his cap in both hands. “I’m not asking for a favor with no end date. I’ll bring two workers. The refuge would need to pay for the new brace, and the clinic route can pay me for the roots at the agreed price.”
Bai set out the market invoice and repair terms on separate sheets. “The medicine sale stands on its own. The village covers half the brace up front and the rest after the water test. The invoice states the amount and the delivery date. If the gate fails, Hedi is still paid for the roots he delivers.”
One of the growers asked whether the repair meant Hedi would get more water than the others. Mera checked the map. The gate already served all three plots; the repair would restore the flow, not change the shares.
