Xu Bai had no choice but to go back.

Chen's cousins ​​were still there. Seeing Xu Bai return dejectedly, they quickly asked what happened. After Xu Bai explained, before they could even come up with a plan, Chen Zhaozhi came over and said to Chen Yuqiao, "You all stay at home for the next few days and don't go anywhere. Just now, Uncle Wu asked Abai to copy the Analects. You all copy it together, one copy each. When your aunt returns, I will check it carefully."

Chen Yukang was stunned for a moment, then let out a wail and said, "Third Uncle, I won't run around, why do you have to torture me like this?"

Chen Zhaozhi said apologetically, "I had no other choice but to resort to this. You guys encountered some bad guys a few days ago, and things are in chaos right now. I couldn't bear to let you guys just sit around doing nothing, so it's only right that I find you something to do. Alright, let's be understanding of each other. You should go and do what you need to do."

After everyone had gathered their brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and started writing, Chen Yuyuan couldn't calm down. After thinking for a moment, he put down his brush, got up, and quietly left the room.

When Wu Muyue saw Chen Yuyuan enter the room, he nodded and said, "Yuan, is there something you want to ask me?"

Chen Yuyuan sat in the chair opposite Wu Muyue and asked respectfully, "Sir, is the epidemic really that terrible?"

Wu Muyue nodded. Historical records of some epidemics often only describe the land as barren or that only a few survived. However, reading about them or hearing about them is a completely different experience from actually facing them.

Wu Muyue had never experienced this before. The last time an epidemic occurred was before the founding of the Great Liang Dynasty. At that time, heroes rose up everywhere, and the people suffered greatly. After a flood, a severe epidemic broke out.

Even with the combined efforts of several forces, the area within a hundred miles was deserted. It is said that in the end, the area where the epidemic occurred was surrounded and burned down, which finally ended the epidemic.

Wu Muyue stood by the window, looking at the bright sunlight outside, feeling a pang of sadness. He turned to Chen Yuyuan and said, "After a major disaster comes a major epidemic, especially a flood. The epidemic prevention measures that Xu Di sent over are very good, but unfortunately, not everyone can follow them. The epidemic that occurred in Yun'an County this time is because the county magistrate did not take it seriously, and the village heads did not treat it as an important matter because there was no supervision from the county. This is dereliction of duty. It's a pity that we can't do anything to those people because of this."

Chen Yuyuan nodded and said, "Then, sir, could you tell me how to deal with such a situation if I encounter it again in the future?"

Wu Muyue nodded, walked to his desk, picked up his pen, and said, "Through this epidemic, I discovered some problems. The most important one is why there was not a single case of the epidemic in Miaozhou, which is the place most severely affected by floods. That's because Zheng Boyuan and Feng Shaoli did a lot of work for epidemic prevention. You can summarize these things from these aspects."

Inside the study, one was speaking intently, and the other was listening attentively. Xu Zhi, who had originally intended to come in, stood at the door, listened for a while, and finally turned around and walked towards the front yard.

Bai Ying glanced at the door, and when she reached the courtyard gate, she asked, "Miss, why aren't you going in?"

Xu Zhi shook her head and said, "Uncle is teaching Ayuan right now, it's not appropriate for me to go in. Mother is still in Zhoujia Village, so let's not go there. Going there will only cause trouble for Mother. They're only allowed to enter but not leave right now, and we don't know if they have enough food and quilts. Sister Baiying, let's send someone to send some food and quilts over there, as well as protective clothing. Mother told me to make more when she left. You need to get some manpower, so hurry up and start making protective clothing. That's what Mother and the others wear to protect their lives."

Bai Ying agreed and quickly went to prepare food and quilts.

Xu Zhi was distracted at the moment. She was worried that her mother might be in danger over there, and she wanted to go and see her to put her mind at ease. However, she was also afraid that she would not know anything and would cause trouble for her mother. She was caught in a dilemma, and her mind was in turmoil. She was restless and decided not to stay idle in her room. She went to watch Bai Ying have people move the grain. The busy and chaotic atmosphere made Xu Zhi feel less tormented.

Chen Zhaoci was accompanied by twenty guards on this trip. The guards were on guard around the village, along with the county yamen runners. When it was time for dinner, one of the stewards that Chen Zhaoci had brought with him cooked a meal with the food he had brought and also sent some to the runners.

As Ma Guang was in the village, the constables looked at each other, holding their portions of food. An older man stepped forward and asked, "Brother, thank you for the rations, but we don't have any money on us right now."

The manager waved his hand and said, "Brothers, please eat. We've been through thick and thin together. We don't know how many more days we'll have to stay here. As long as we have something to eat, we can't forget you all."

The officers were surprised by this and quickly came over to express their gratitude.

The steward was specially brought along by Chen Zhaoci to help manage relationships with the people around them. He took care of the food, clothing, and lodging of the seventy or eighty people along the way, which shows his competence.

The steward had no appetite. Standing at the village entrance, looking at the quiet village in the distance, he felt anxious. It was cooking time, but only a few houses in the village had smoke rising from their chimneys. He didn't know if it was because of a lack of food or firewood. The steward had already sent someone back to Miaozhou to report the situation. He hoped that Miaozhou would send some food as soon as possible, not just for the people to eat, but to share with the villagers. This would put their minds at ease and allow them to focus on their mistress's treatment. Otherwise, if someone caused trouble, their mistress might be in danger in the village.

Around midnight, Zheng Boyuan personally escorted a large cartload of grain, which had been delivered from Tongzhou Wharf. The person in charge called Ma Guang over and placed the sacks of grain near the village entrance. Ma Guang led the villagers to carry the grain inside, and then the village head distributed it to the villagers.

Zheng Boyuan saw Ma Guang and asked from afar, "Brother Ma, how is the situation in the village now?"

Ma Guang naturally knew that Zheng Boyuan was actually asking about Madam Xu's condition. Ma Guang now held Chen Zhaoci in the highest esteem. He had never imagined that the wife of a third-rank official, a lady of high birth with an imperial decree, would be able to personally treat the people suffering from the plague in this small village.

Ma Guang bowed to Zheng Boyuan and said, "Lord Zheng, Madam Xu just had a meal with several young ladies and has been taking care of the sick people. Madam just instructed me to find some people who are willing to come out and help, and to find an opportunity to come and talk to the person in charge here to prepare more protective clothing."

Zheng Boyuan nodded, made a note of it, and asked, "Is there anything else I need to prepare?"

Ma Guang hesitated for a moment, wanting to ask Zheng Boyuan if he had already been to the county government office, but then he thought again, even if he wanted to ask, could he ask Zheng Boyuan so directly? So he didn't say anything more and just shook his head.