Part 4/16:
Persuading the villagers was no small feat; they considered the ponds vital for their livelihood and wary of disturbing the status quo. Yet Woo's enthusiasm was contagious, and eventually, the community pooled resources to rent a water pump. Starting in June 1992, they began the slow process of draining the pond. The task proved far more daunting than expected—pumping continued non-stop for weeks, with no signs of reaching the bottom.