Older Xiao looked carefully at the man in white and felt he looked sowhat familiar.
"How may I address you, Sir?" Older Xiao asked.
The man in white looked towards him and slowly spoke, "I'm Xiao Zimo."
Older Xiao was stunned. His surna was also Xiao?
"Master Xiao, are you certain they have contracted the plague?"
"Older Xiao, wait a few days and see for yourself. Those two will not be the only ones to fall ill," Xiao Zimo replied.
Hearing those words, everyone instinctively glanced at those around them, afraid that their neighbor might be infected.
"Especially those already in poor health will show symptoms quickly. This elder had a lung condition previously. I suggest you avoid gathering together to prevent transmission," Xiao Zimo added.
After Xiao Zimo administered the needles, almost everyone now believed him. Upon hearing his warning, they imdiately dispersed back to their hos.
"Master, please save my father and grandfather!" Liu Yan knelt before Xiao Zimo pleading.
"Didn't you not believe earlier?"
"We've been in this village our whole lives without much experience. We wrongly suspected you! We had poor judgent!"
As a young lady, Liu Yan was not one to stand on ceremony. Knowing they had wrongly suspected him, she sincerely apologized.
Xiao Zimo did not hold it against her inexperience. "Take to your ho," he simply said.
"Thank you Master!" Liu Yan promptly stood up.
"Wait!" Xiao Han rushed over. "Take along too! I know a little dicine!"
Yuan Zhan scoffed disdainfully, "Little brother, I suggest you leave quickly. You look too frail. Don't risk infection!"
"Hey! Who are you looking down on? If this truly is the plague, I may know more than you all!" Xiao Han retorted, "Without proper precautions, you will all perish if this is contagious!"
Hearing Xiao Han's words, Xiao Zimo looked towards her. "May I ask for this little brother's na?"
Xiao Han smiled. "What a coincidence. I'm also surnad Xiao, I'm Xiao Han!"
"Do you know much about the plague?" Xiao Zimo politely inquired.
Xiao Han confidently replied, "I know a little more than you all! You won't regret taking along!"
Xiao Zimo paused before saying, "Very well, co along."
And so, Xiao Han went with Xiao Zimo and the others to Liu Yan's ho.
Upon arriving, they saw Liu Yan's mother carrying a basin of water outside.
"Mother, how is grandfather?"
Seeing Liu Yan helping her father walk, Liu Yan's mother promptly put down the basin and went to assist Liu Uncle. "What happened to your father?"
"I'm fine..." At this point, Liu Yan's father's symptoms were not yet severe.
"Father has the sa symptoms as grandfather had earlier!"
"What? This sickness truly spreads?" Only now did Liu Yan's mother notice the few behind them.
"They..."
"They've co to treat grandfather and father!"
Xiao Zimo's gaze fell upon the basin of water on the ground. "Did Uncle Liu cough up blood?"
"Yes, he still has a high fever and has been delirious. " Liu Yan's mother quickly replied.
"Bring Uncle Liu inside first. I will prescribe a redy for you to collect from Uncle Zhong," said Xiao Zimo.
Liu Yan's mother supported Liu Uncle inside.
After a while, Liu Yan brought pen and paper.
Xiao Zimo wrote down so dicine nas and handed the prescription to Liu Yan.
Looking at the dicine nas, Xiao Han raised her brows.
"Miss, I also need so items. Please help prepare them."
"Of course."
...
After awhile, Yuan Zhan watched curiously as Xiao Han busied herself with needle and thread.
"What is she making?"
Xiao Zimo looked at the items in Xiao Han's hands. "I do not know either."
"Does she truly know dicine? She does not look the part!"
Xiao Han coolly replied, "Yuan Zhan, do not judge by appearances. His earlier words show he understands dicine."
After so ti, Xiao Han stretched and stood up. "Finally done!"
She held up so homade masks and walked over to Xiao Zimo and Yuan Zhan. "Here, one each!"
"What are these?" Yuan Zhan asked puzzledly.
Xiao Han put on a mask. "They are called masks. Wear them like this. They can lower chances of infection, understand?"
While not as effective as modern masks, they offered so protection at least!
"Such contagious illnesses often spread through the air. I've sewn in so herbs which should have so effect!"
But Yuan Zhan still did not understand. "You an wearing this prevents infection?"
"Not exactly. Just less likely. Those with stronger immunity have lower chances of infection."
Xiao Zimo understood her intention and admired her innovation. Accepting her mask, "Brother Xiao is exceptional indeed."
"You flatter ! These are easy to make. The rest are for the Liu family!"
That night, the Liu family all wore Xiao Han's masks.
Xiao Han burned herbs to fumigate their ho, hoping to kill so airborne viruses if not all.
She sterilized their used utensils with boiling water and alcohol.
Watching all she did, Xiao Zimo gazed at her inquisitively.
"I'm suffocating! Liu Yan, is there a bath?"
"Yes, Young Master Xiao please follow ."
"Young Master Xiao? Why address like that?"
Liu Yan explained, "Both masters have the Xiao surna...so to differentiate..."
Xiao Han leaned close to Liu Yan and raised his brows. "That's easy! Call Big Brother Xiao!"
Flustered by his actions, Liu Yan lowered her head. "B-Big Brother Xiao, this way please..."
Behind them, Yuan Zhan scoffed again. "Turns out to be a lecher!"
Oblivious to Yuan Zhan's words, Xiao Han followed Liu Yan to bathe and borrowed a set of n's clothes.
Stepping out refreshed, Xiao Han deeply inhaled.
Returning to the yard, the others looked at her in surprise.
Having washed off the gri, her fair complexion was revealed. She was also slender unlike what they imagined, looking like a frail scholar.
"Why are you all staring at ??" Xiao Han asked puzzledly.
Liu Yan uncomfortably averted her gaze.
Yuan Zhan scoffed again. "You look just like a woman!"
Xiao Han: "..."
"Mind your words, Yuan Zhan," Xiao Zimo scolded.
"Yeah, you look so manly! Built like a bull! A life of hard labor indeed!" Xiao Han retorted.
Yuan Zhan: "..."
"Masters!" Liu Yan quickly interrupted sensing impending conflict. "Please pardon us, but we only have one vacant room. I hope you do not mind sharing..."
"What?! You expect to room with them?!" Xiao Han exclaid.
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