Chapter 295 The Crisis Brought by Refugees

With Grandma Zhao busy at work, the first batch of work clothes for the soap workshop officially began production.

The old lady asked the group of girls who came to learn embroidery every day to help cut and sew the fabric. She didn't help for free; she would naturally pay them.

Lately, there have been quite a few merchants coming to pick up their orders every day.

Manager Yan comes to the village every day to supervise the construction of his house, and then sits at Cheng Wanwan's house to entertain guests, which can be considered as starting his job ahead of schedule.

He used to spend his days talking to customers in his family's teahouse, but he never earned a penny and was always on edge, afraid of offending the customers.

But now, these businessmen are very humble and speak to him very politely.

He chatted with these people about whatever came to mind, and they gave him a lot of face, casually following his lead.

Manager Yan took a sip of tea with great satisfaction; this was the life he wanted.

"There are refugees everywhere along the way..." a merchant sighed. "I heard that the city gates of Hekou County will close in two days. The waterways are impassable, and the land routes are too dangerous. I'm afraid we won't be able to order or pick up goods this year..."

Shopkeeper Yan said, "This morning when I came out of Ping'an County, I also encountered three or four groups of scattered refugees. I'm afraid Ping'an County is also going to collapse."

Cheng Wanwan knew that the situation would only get worse as time went on.

She said slowly, "Soap is a consumable. People usually buy it a second or third time after using it once. It's just a matter of making more or less profit. After you take the goods back this time, wait until the refugee issue is resolved before coming back. It would be bad if something happened on the way."

The merchants all nodded in agreement.

They are all well-off; they wouldn't risk everything for such a small amount of money.

Every year, whenever there are displaced people, society becomes turbulent. When the displaced people become a disaster, they gather together and become bandits. If they kill and rob on the way, they have nowhere to seek justice.

After the merchants finished picking up their orders and leaving, Cheng Wanwan felt a little heavy-hearted.

The original plan was to open the restaurant on the 30th of the 11th lunar month, but plans can't keep up with changes. The appearance of refugees disrupted all the plans.

It's unacceptable for restaurants to serve chicken, duck, fish, and meat while the displaced people can't even get a bowl of porridge.

Behind the red gates, meat and wine go to waste; on the roads, the bones of those frozen to death lie.

This kind of thing was very common in ancient times, but she didn't want to do it herself.

At night, Zhao Ergou returned home. He was busy with the restaurant renovation in the city every day, leaving early and returning late, so he knew the situation in the city best.

"The magistrate has set up soup kitchens outside the city, serving two meals of thin porridge a day," he began. "There's a dilapidated temple outside the city, filled with homeless refugees. It's so pitiful. They're poorly dressed, and most of them are sick. I don't know if they'll make it through..."

Cheng Wanwan frowned: "Sick?"

Zhao Ergou nodded: "I saw a woman holding a child. The child was all red and must have a high fever... I knew I couldn't help openly, so I led her into an alley, gave her some money, and told her to take the child to see a doctor as soon as possible... But there are too many sick people, and I can't help everyone."

Cheng Wanwan was suddenly startled.

She seems to have overlooked something very important.

Er Gou fell ill three days ago, Li Xiu'e's son fell ill two days ago, and so many migrant workers in the city are sick...

So, she was wrong. She thought the refugees would bring chaos, never expecting that they would bring the flu virus...

It's not surprising that Zhao Ergou, who frequently goes to the city, caught the flu. But Li Xiu'e's son is a typical farmer who rarely comes into contact with people, yet he still managed to get infected... This suggests that viruses brought by migrants are highly contagious.

However, all of this is just her speculation, and we need to see if it is actually true.

"Ergou, from now on, you shouldn't go to the city anymore," Cheng Wanwan said. "The restaurant business will be put on hold for a while, and we'll reopen it after the refugee situation is resolved."

Zhao Ergou nodded in agreement.

Cheng Wanwan continued, "Chunhua, go boil some water. I'll brew some medicine for you to drink later, and also send some to your grandparents."

Isatis root can prevent the flu and viruses, and it must be drunk three times a day. She doesn't want any more of her children to get sick.

It was night, and Cheng Wanwan had just fallen asleep.

Suddenly, someone banged on the front door, causing the three wolfhounds to bark and howl in the yard.

Zhao Dashan put on his clothes and went to open the door. It was Li Xiue and her husband.

"Dashan, quickly go and ask your mother if we can borrow the carriage. My son is dying..." Li Xiue broke down in tears. "His fever won't go down, it's getting more and more frightening. He's having convulsions, and he won't eat anything. Doctor Zheng said he can't cure him and we need to find a doctor in the city..."

He was pleading.

Zhao Yougui suddenly ran over: "Auntie Dashan, Shagen has a fever and is talking nonsense. Doctor Zheng said he can't be saved. Could you lend us a carriage?"

A grown man is on the verge of a breakdown.

Cheng Wanwan put on her clothes and came out of the house. As soon as she stepped out, the cold night wind swept over her, and she couldn't help but shiver.

She said, "It's late at night, the city gates are closed, and we can't find a doctor. How about this, take the two children to the Zhao Family Ancestral Hall, bring a few extra blankets, and make do with the tables and chairs."

Li Xiu'e was also ill; her face was a sickly red, and she looked as if she would collapse at any moment if the night wind blew.

Cheng Wanwan realized that things might be more serious than she had imagined.

She said in a deep voice, "Two days ago, Er Gou also suddenly had a high fever and convulsions. He was quite seriously ill. I used a folk remedy to treat him and he survived. This disease is very serious, so people can't be too close. If you don't want your whole family to get sick, you must listen to me and take the two children to the ancestral hall to be separated. Xiu'e, you are also sick, so you will be in charge of taking care of them for one night."

Zhao Yougui wiped away the tears on his face.

He's a stupid person who doesn't understand anything. In situations like this, he should listen to the wise people.

He nodded: "I'll go back and carry Shagen to the ancestral hall right away."

Li Xiu'e's husband said in a deep voice, "I'll go too."

Cheng Wanwan went into the house, put on another thick coat, and then walked towards the village head's house.

Zhao Dashan lit a torch and led the way.

The village of Dahe was quiet at night, and the village head's house was also quiet, with only the occasional clucking of chickens and ducks coming from the backyard.

Zhao Dashan knocked on the door forcefully.

Zhao Anjiang rubbed his eyes and came out: "Dashan, what brings you here? Your sister-in-law is here too, come in quickly..."

He was still half asleep when he saw Cheng Wanwan's serious expression, and all his sleepiness vanished instantly. He quickly went into the house and woke up the village head.

The village head put on his clothes and came out, hurriedly asking, "Auntie Dashan, what happened?"

If someone comes looking for you in the middle of the night, even a fool would know that this must be a very serious matter.

"Uncle Village Head, these migrants seem to have contracted a plague that spread from the south," Cheng Wanwan said briefly. "Three or four people in our village already have high fevers and are sick, and there might be more tomorrow..."

The village head slapped his thigh: "Three people were missing from planting trees during the day. When I asked, they said they were sick and took leave... It seems that it's not just our village, other villages have been affected as well. Aunt Dashan, you came here in the middle of the night, do you already have a plan? I'll do whatever you say. This is a matter of life and death, not something to be taken lightly."

Cheng Wanwan nodded: "First of all, people from other villages are prohibited from entering Dahe Village, and all work on building houses and planting trees for the Cao family should be suspended..."