Chapter 69: Chapter 69: The Epidemic Appears
Soon, a yawning, middle-aged man erged, clad in a thin robe with a sleepy look on his face.
"Hurry up and tell us what’s going on," Mrs. Wang of the Li Family urged.
"Ah, Mrs. Chen of the Cheng Family," Li Lu mumbled, ignoring his wife’s prodding. After another yawn, he asked flatly, "What brings you here so late?"
"Brother Li! I’m so sorry to disturb your rest. Tonight..."
Mrs. Chen of the Cheng Family explained what had happened. Then she asked nervously, "So, I need to know, is my husband in any trouble?"
Li Lu thought for a mont, then said to his wife beside him:
"Go close the gate."
Mrs. Wang of the Li Family didn’t question it and went to quietly close the courtyard gate.
Seeing this, Li Lu lowered his voice and said:
"The higher-ups have rules. We’re not to speak carelessly about anything happening in the city. If you’re caught, the light punishnt is dismissal from your post; the severe one is being thrown in jail.
But Doctor Cheng is a good man, so I’ll tell you one thing. This is just between you and ."
"Thank you, thank you," Mrs. Chen of the Cheng Family said gratefully. "Don’t worry, Brother Li. I understand. I won’t repeat it."
Li Lu nodded and slowly explained, "Over the past two days, many people outside the city have been vomiting, having diarrhea, and running high fevers. It’s caused quite a bit of chaos.
Many of the refugees couldn’t take it anymore and tried to storm the County Town. It took killing quite a few of them to bring the situation under control.
Then, the sa symptoms started appearing inside the city, though not in large numbers. The official word from above is that it’s from overexertion, poor food and rest, and heatstroke. I imagine that’s why they took Doctor Cheng."
Hearing this, however, the color drained from the face of Mrs. Chen of the Cheng Family. The lantern slipped from her hand and fell to the ground, its fla extinguished, plunging the courtyard into darkness.
Noticing her reaction, Li Lu frowned. He didn’t know dicine, but he could tell from her response that sothing was terribly wrong. He asked:
"Mrs. Chen, do you know what this disease is?"
Li Lu stared at Chen Qin with a serious expression.
At his side, Li Lu’s wife, Mrs. Wang of the Li Family, also noticed sothing was wrong and hurriedly said:
"My dear, at a ti like this, just tell us what you know!"
Chen Qin thought for a mont and shook her head slightly. "I’m not sure yet, it’s just a guess. But it’s likely related to an epidemic.
My husband had already ntioned the situation outside the city; he was worried an epidemic would occur.
Now, hearing what you’ve said, Brother Li, I fear our worries have co true."
Hearing the word "epidemic," Mrs. Wang of the Li Family at his side didn’t react at first. "Epidemic? What’s that? You an like... hysteria?"
But Li Lu’s eyes trembled, and his face turned grim.
Li Lu looked at Chen Qin and asked again, his expression grave, "Mrs. Chen, are you certain it’s really that disease?"
Chen Qin said, "I haven’t seen it myself, so I can’t be absolutely sure. For now, there’s a favor I must ask you."
As she spoke, Chen Qin took out a money bag and offered it to Li Lu, her voice pleading.
"I’m begging for your help, Brother Li, to look into my husband’s situation at the County Magistrate’s Office.
If it’s possible, and within your ans, please look out for him a little, or put in a good word for him. This is twenty taels of silver for you to smooth things over. Please see if there’s any way to bring my husband ho. When he returns, we will repay you properly."
Li Lu neither took the money nor spoke, instead sinking into thought.
After a long mont, he shook his head and said:
"I won’t take the money for now. I’ll go to the County Magistrate’s Office tomorrow to take a look. But I’m just a minor governnt official. To be blunt, I can act all high and mighty with the commoners, but I have no real power in the Governnt Office to make my superiors do anything.
Of course, if there is sothing and I am able to help, I will. But I also hope you can do
a favor."
"Please, tell ," Chen Qin said quickly.
"If it really is an epidemic, and my family or I should fall ill, I hope you will help treat us."
Li Lu was well aware that if it was truly an epidemic and it broke out in the County Town, low-level governnt officials like him would be forgotten. Even the constables might not get treatnt.
’Besides relying on fate to survive it, the only other outco is death!’
’So, in a way, I’m helping myself right now.’
"Deal!" Chen Qin said. "As long as we’re still in the County Town and not detained by the Governnt Office, we will find a way."
"Alright, you should head back for now," Li Lu said. "If there’s any news tomorrow, I’ll have my wife co find you."
"Thank you, Brother Li! Thank you!" Feeling a little of the tension leave her, Chen Qin picked her lantern back up and quickly departed.
After Chen Qin left, Li Lu said to his wife, who was closing the door:
"Starting tomorrow, don’t leave the house unless it’s necessary. I’ll buy extra food and supplies tomorrow. And... if our children visit, tell them not to leave the County Town, and not to go out."
Mrs. Wang of the Li Family frowned. "What in the world is happening? I’ve never heard of hysteria being contagious... Wait, an epidemic?"
And then, it clicked. Mrs. Wang of the Li Family finally realized what kind of epidemic they ant. Shuddering, she stamred, "The... the plague?"
Li Lu’s face was grim; he didn’t speak.
At that, Mrs. Wang of the Li Family went limp and crumpled to the floor. Her face was ashen as she stamred, "The p-plague... a plague... Wh-what are we going to do! Husband, you have to think of sothing! We can’t stay here!"
"Shut up!" Li Lu snapped, glaring at her. "Why don’t you shout a little louder? Are you trying to get us all killed? That’s enough. You stay right here at ho. I’m going out for a bit."
He hastily threw on his clothes. As he headed for the door, his expression was grim.
’It finally clicked. This must be why the higher-ups ordered us to conscript laborers from the villages, and not from among the refugees outside the city!’
...
「Golden Bridge Village. The Cheng Family.」
After the al, while everyone was eating waterlon, Zhou Hansong and the other two elders announced their decision.
Then, to everyone’s confusion, they were told to pack their valuables, along with lightweight necessities like bedding, clothes, and straw mats, and to prepare to head into the mountains that very night.
"Didn’t you say we would go into the mountains tomorrow? In their condition, how can the elders handle leaving tonight?" Mrs. Xu of the Zhou Family asked, worried.
"It’s fine. We’ll carry them," Zhou Hanchang said.
Since the n had made their decision, the won had no choice but to quickly get moving.
The whole family sprang into action.
For this trip into the mountains, they brought simple clothes and blankets, just enough for everyone to spend a temporary night there.
Things would be much better tomorrow.
As for the rest of their belongings, Cheng Zongyang would co back for them alone later.
However, Cheng Zongyang was feeling rather uncomfortable at the mont.
After drinking a large bowl of Ginseng Deer Horn Nourishing Soup and then eating the Deer Antler, his entire body felt feverishly hot.
’The dicinal soup was certainly potent! In that mont, he felt a desperate urge for a woman!’
With no other choice, he went to the Wilderness World and began practicing his Basic Saber Technique to burn off the excess energy coursing through his body.
Gradually, he grew more familiar with the Basic Saber Technique, and his movents beca practiced and precise.
Finally, once the inner heat and restless urges had subsided, Cheng Zongyang left to return ho.
This session of training to vent his energy had been quite effective. At the sa ti, his Attribute Interface had changed.
——
Na: Cheng Zongyang
Age: 15 years old
Realm: Ninth Grade (Skin Grinding)
Points: 191
Skill: Archery (11403/20000, Specialization)
Martial Arts:
Body Refining Skill (2/1000, Beginner’s Practice)
Basic Saber Technique (26/100, Uninitiated)
——
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