Chapter 134: Destroying the Morality of the Song People!
Two days later, on the bustling streets of Luoyang.
“Hey, that old man who was extorting people here the other day was terrible.”
“Yes, shaless! If soone hadn’t intervened, and if our Great Zhou officials hadn’t stepped in, that young man would have been in real trouble.”
“I didn’t expect the people of Song to be so despicable.”
“You can’t generalize. One bad apple doesn’t spoil the whole bunch.”
“That’s true, I suppose.”
Passersby continued discussing the recent “‘If you didn’t knock him down, why did you help him?” incident. The scandal had stirred public opinion, and stories like this were a rarity, drawing widespread attention.
While the murmurs persisted, a commotion broke out nearby. Curious onlookers hurried toward the source, eager to uncover what was happening.
At the corner of the street, a crowd had already ford, encircling a kneeling couple.
The man and woman wore simple, patched clothes, their appearance revealing dire poverty.
“What’s going on? Why are you kneeling?” soone in the crowd asked.
The man raised his head, his expression forlorn. “Let tell you, my wife and I had a son late in life, but he’s gravely ill with tuberculosis. He’s only six years old. We’ve traveled far and wide seeking treatnt, but curing tuberculosis isn’t easy. Even the best doctors can only keep his life hanging by a thread.
“But the treatnt is too expensive. We’re just farrs, relying on the land to survive. How could we afford it?” His voice broke as he continued, “If we don’t find the money soon, our poor child will die…
“We wouldn’t dare kneel on the street like this unless we were truly at our wits’ end. Please, kind-hearted people, help us. Our child is only six years old…”
He lowered his head, his voice trembling. “We’re even willing to work as servants to repay your kindness!”
His desperate plea drew a heavy silence from the crowd, and sympathetic murmurs rippled through the gathering.
“Tuberculosis? That’s a serious illness,” soone muttered, their tone filled with sorrow.
Suddenly, the woman coughed violently, covering her mouth. When she pulled her hand away, it was stained with bright red blood.
Gasps filled the air.
“Your wife is sick too!” a concerned bystander exclaid. “You should take her to a doctor imdiately!”
The man offered a bitter smile. “We’ve been working day and night to save money for our child’s treatnt. Our health has deteriorated, but we can’t spare even a single coin for ourselves.
“Whatever money we manage to save must go toward keeping our son alive…”
His words cast a somber pall over the crowd.
“That’s heartbreaking…” soone whispered.
Moved by the scene, a young man stepped forward.
“This won’t do. If sothing happens to you and your wife, what will beco of your child?”
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small pouch of silver coins. “I’m not rich, but I can spare twenty taels. Take it and get your wife to a doctor.”
The man froze, his eyes reddening. “Thank you, brother. Thank you so much!” He accepted the money with trembling hands, then turned to his wife. “Xiuer, we’re going to the doctor right now. You’ve been coughing blood for days!”
But the woman shook her head stubbornly. “No! That money is for our child’s treatnt. I’ll endure it as long as he survives!”
Her resolute words stirred a wave of pity among the onlookers.
“This is too tragic…” soone murmured.
A burly man pushed his way through the crowd. “How can you give up like this?” he said, his voice full of determination. “I’ve got so silver too. It’s not much, but I can’t just stand by and watch this.
“Today, I’ll help you, and I’ll see if I can borrow more later!”
The crowd cheered in agreent.
Encouraged, another bystander stepped forward. “You’re in Luoyang now. We can’t let you suffer here. This city is known for its generosity and heroes!”
“I have twenty taels as well. Take it!”
The man and woman kowtowed, their foreheads nearly bruising the ground. “Thank you, thank you!” they cried.
At that mont, a booming voice cut through the commotion. “Where are you from? If you’re from Zhou, I’ll take you to the Yan to seek help from the officials. They’ll raise funds for you!”
The man quickly answered, “My wife and I… we’re from Song.”
The crowd fell silent.
Song people?
Uneasy whispers spread. The recent scandal involving a Song man’s extortion was still fresh in everyone’s minds.
“If I’d known they were from Song…” one person muttered, hesitating.
“I wouldn’t have given them money,” another admitted.
The couple bowed their heads, their postures humble and pitiful.
“So what if they’re from Song?” the booming voice interrupted. “Song people are still human! Are you really going to judge them by one bad man’s actions?
“Is this all the generosity Luoyang’s n have?”
Sha washed over the crowd, and a few people hung their heads.
At that mont, a refined man in scholarly robes stepped forward. “I work for The Great Zhou Bao. If you allow us to publish your story, it could attract more attention. We could raise funds more effectively.”
The crowd murmured in agreent.
“Yes! If The Great Zhou Bao takes this up, it’ll be much easier to gather support.”
“Quick, agree to it!” soone urged.
The couple hesitated before bowing deeply. “Thank you, sir! Thank you for your kindness!”
As hope ignited among the bystanders, they smiled, their spirits lifted. They felt they had done a good deed.
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