After learning about the situation from the disaster victims in the capital, Nan Wusi and his group visited the local gentry and wealthy merchants. However, these people were all selfish and self-serving, and it was more difficult than taking their lives to get them to give money or grain for no reason.
They then visited rice shops and grain shops in the county town. However, all the shops gave the same answer: they didn't have enough grain stored up, only enough for their own consumption, and they couldn't possibly give any to the disaster victims. They all refused their request.
They were the last people Liu Daren visited, and they were referring to the Ding family rice shop.
The shopkeeper of this Ding family shop was actually a young man who had just reached adulthood.
After learning the purpose of Nan Wusi and his group's visit, Manager Ding also shook his head.
"Gentlemen and ladies, to be honest, we sold all our rice to the government at the normal price. Now, we really only have enough left for my own consumption, and we are truly unable to help you. If it weren't for wanting to protect our shop, I probably wouldn't be here in Fanghong County right now," Manager Ding said to Nan Wusi and his group.
"Do you know where else I can buy rice?" Nan Wusi looked into the boy's sincere eyes and believed he was telling the truth.
“The other rice shops in the county should all have surplus grain,” Manager Ding said. “However, they certainly wouldn’t be willing to give it up. At the time, they inflated the price tenfold, but Lord Liu was unwilling to waste that money, so the stalemate has continued.”
Manager Ding truthfully told Nan Wusi and the others the inside story.
"Thank you for informing me," Nan Wusi said to Manager Ding.
After returning to the county government office, Nan Wusi asked Nan Wuyu if he had any good solutions.
"Tomorrow, take some of your supplies to help the disaster victims, and then tell them that if they go to work according to the government's instructions, they will be provided with the same amount of food every day," Nan Wuyu said after thinking for a moment.
Fortunately, Namo Si still has enough supplies for the time being, which is sufficient for emergency use. However, this is not a long-term solution, so it is still necessary to find a stable source of rice and grain.
"But what about those refugees?"
What are refugees? They are people who have lost their support and have nowhere to live, just like this female refugee who escaped from the flooded village.
"Right now, all we can do is build more temporary sheds to give them a place to stay," Xiao Yi said.
“But this can only solve the housing problem temporarily. It would be better to gather another group of refugees and allocate rooms for them during the house repair process.” Namo thought of those low earthen houses lined up in a row, which could solve the housing problem for a large part of the refugees.
"However, the fact that the farmland cannot be cultivated is a big problem. Only when the farmland is reclaimed and planted with food will these disaster victims have hope," Nan Wuyu continued.
Indeed, the most urgent task now is to reuse the farmland; otherwise, even the government will not be able to continue to provide relief to so many people.
So the next day, following the agreement reached that day, they first prepared a good meal for the disaster victims, and then announced the recruitment of workers.
Many strong disaster victims, upon hearing that they could eat their fill every day as long as they worked for the government, eagerly signed up.
However, some people were uncooperative and even fanned the flames, saying that the government was unwilling to care about the lives of the elderly, weak, sick and disabled, and even instigated the refugees to seize the entire soup kitchen.
Nan Wusi coldly observed these instigators and found that although their faces were blackened, their mental state did not resemble that of real refugees.
This operation was likely orchestrated by someone. Nan Wusi felt a chill run down his spine. It seemed that his second brother's death in the original story was not an accident, but clearly a deliberate act.
They had only been in Fanghong County for two days when some people couldn't contain themselves anymore.
Nan Wusi spotted the most troublemaker, leaped over him, and crippled him on the spot, an act that shocked everyone present.
"Murder!" someone screamed.
However, Nan Wusi's sharp gaze silenced the scream.
"Anyone who spreads rumors and stirs up trouble will suffer the same fate as this person," Nan Wusi shouted sternly.
"If anyone wants to avoid working, the government will continue to support you, but you'll be eating the same rice gruel as yesterday. But if anyone tries to take advantage of the situation, don't blame me for being impolite."
Nan Wusi's words naturally intimidated some people with ill intentions, while ordinary disaster victims wished they could eat their fill every day; what did working matter?
The farmland was flooded after the flood and the water did not drain itself, so it was necessary to carry out artificial drainage and reclamation.
Many young and middle-aged men signed up, so they were divided into several groups to take turns operating the waterwheel to drain the water. Each group was given a roughly equal area, and the group that finished first received extra food. This further motivated them.
Others were sent to build mud houses. Most of these people were refugees, and they were very motivated when they learned that the mud houses would be built so that they could live in them.
Those who were old, weak, sick, or disabled were also assigned simple tasks such as washing clothes and cooking, as long as they were willing to help, although they received less food.
After learning about Nan Wuyu and his group's work, Liu Lin was filled with admiration for them. He never expected that what he hadn't been able to accomplish in a month, the newly arrived imperial envoy had done in just one day.
"Little sister, let's go and visit the surrounding villages again in the next few days." Nan Wuyu knew clearly that Fanghong County simply didn't have the capacity to keep so many refugees, so it was best to let these refugees return to their own villages.
"No, Second Brother, I don't want to be separated from you." After what happened today, how could Nan Wusi possibly be separated from Nan Wuyu again? She was afraid that if she wasn't careful, Nan Wuyu would lose his life.
"Little sister, don't be willful. You've seen the situation now. You need to understand the surrounding circumstances as soon as possible," Nan Wuyu advised.
"No, Second Brother, you don't understand. I just won't leave you. Wherever you go, I'll follow." Nan Wusi didn't care about all that. She wasn't that saintly, ignoring Nan Wuyu's life or death for the sake of these disaster victims.
Xiao Yi seemed thoughtful upon hearing Nan Wusi's words, as he had a feeling that Nan Wusi's purpose for this trip was not disaster relief.
"Little sister!" Nan Wuyu was annoyed that Nan Wusi was still throwing a tantrum.
“I’m putting my words here, Second Brother, you can try.” Nan Wusi glared at Nan Wuyu defiantly.
"Fine, I'm scared of you." Nan Wuyu knew his little sister's temper; once she got stubborn, not even ten oxen could pull her back. A head-on confrontation wouldn't do her any good.
However, he also became somewhat puzzled as to why Nan Wusi insisted on not separating from him after they arrived in Fanghong County.
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