Upon receiving the news, Wangyuelou immediately put up a sign to close down, gave the staff a holiday, and told those who lived in the prefectural city or the countryside below to hurry home and make preparations.
Manager Han firmly believed that the Zhao family would not speak without reason, so he attached great importance to news about the Zhao family.
Upon hearing the message relayed by Zhang Rong, Lord Duan immediately ordered his men to confirm it.
When Zhao Minggeng returned, he found his gate surrounded by a crowd of people.
Some people are actually demanding an explanation from the Zhao family, and others are saying they want to send the Zhao family to the authorities—these are all lies and misleading the public.
Zhao Yonggeng wanted to go home, but there were too many people blocking his way, and it was no longer realistic to try to push through them.
He would have to open the door to get into his house, and these people who were blocking the way were clearly trying to cause trouble.
This was truly infuriating. In the end, Zhao Minggeng was left to guard the place, while Zhao Yonggeng went to the prefectural government office again.
Just then, the person that Lord Duan had sent out to confirm the situation returned, and then emergency measures were arranged one by one.
For example, yamen runners would bang gongs on the street to notify people to leave their houses and stay in open spaces.
Once the earthquake has occurred, do not immediately return to the house to avoid being killed or injured by aftershocks or a collapsed building.
In addition, the yamen runners had to quickly notify the counties, towns, and villages under their jurisdiction, naturally following the principle of proximity before radiating outwards.
Furthermore, all the owners of grain shops in the city were gathered at the government office to tally the grain reserves so that they could be used in emergencies. The same was done for pharmacies.
Hearing that the Zhao family's good intentions had been met with hostility, Zhang Rong took a few brothers, carrying a gong, and followed Zhao Yonggeng away.
As he walked, he banged a gong. Upon hearing the news, some people on the street went straight home to prepare, while others ran to the prefectural government office to read the announcement.
When Zhang Rong and his group arrived at the Zhao family's house, Zhao Minggeng was already fighting with the people who had surrounded them.
He kicked or threw people out of the way, one after another. Fortunately, he was holding back.
The reason was simple: someone was inciting the people to force their way into the Zhao family's house. The logs for ramming the door were already prepared.
Zhao Minggeng couldn't give in, and when he tried to reason with them, they wouldn't listen.
Seeing that he was alone, the other party decided to bully him.
He thought he was very skilled, but he was taught a lesson.
Zhang Rong and the others quickly banged the gong. When the constables arrived, those who had just been kicked down or thrown away began to file their complaints.
"Sir, you must do us justice! The Zhao family harbors ulterior motives and spreads rumors to mislead the public."
When we went to his door to reason with him, he attacked us without even asking what happened.
So many of us are injured and need medical treatment. They absolutely must compensate us, otherwise we will not stand for this."
Zhang Rong could tell from the sight of these fallen men that there were few good people among them, so there was no need to ask any questions.
"If you're not happy, then keep it to yourself. I haven't even asked you why you're blocking someone else's door and trying to force your way in."
I reasonably suspect that some of you are remnants of bandits who want to take this opportunity to break into the Zhao family and rob them.
Lock it up and take it with you.
Furthermore, the Prefect has decreed that, based on observations, the earth may be turning upside down in the coming days, and the people will need to set up tents in open areas.
If death, injury, or property loss is caused by personal reasons, the government will not be responsible for resettlement.
The Zhao family meant well, yet you bunch of heartless idiots are still here nitpicking.
Aren't you ashamed? You repay kindness with enmity, why don't you disperse?
As soon as Zhang Rong finished speaking, a cacophony of howls and wailing erupted. Those who had been so indignant just moments before were now completely flustered.
Some even sat down on the ground, not knowing what to do.
They were either dragged away by acquaintances, or they sat on the ground and cried until they calmed down, then quickly scrambled away.
The area in front of the Zhao family's house was finally quiet. Zhang Rong declined the Zhao brothers' invitation to come in for tea. He quickly led his brothers to bang the gong.
When the Zhao brothers entered the courtyard, the rest of the family had already returned.
And everything inside the house was moved to the yard.
Not even a single earthenware pot was left in the kitchen.
A huge tent was set up in the yard.
Bamboo was used as a support, a huge tarpaulin was laid on it, and it was surrounded on all sides.
The wooden planks on the ground were also fixed together. Because the area below was suspended in the air, there was no need to worry about getting shoes and clothes wet inside the tent even if it rained.
Beds and other bedding were also placed inside the tent.
The other furniture was placed together and covered with tarpaulin.
The Zhao family handled any potential unexpected events in an orderly manner.
At this moment, the porridge pot in the small clay stove was bubbling away, and the aroma of rice quickly filled everyone's nostrils, clamoring for their hungry stomachs, which began to secrete acid.
Hurry up, the Zhao family started eating breakfast.
The soft, sticky white rice porridge instantly dispelled the tension and fatigue of the morning.
The Zhao family's home is very warm and cozy.
The neighbor's house was in complete chaos.
"You spendthrift! Where are you going to put all this stuff? Hurry up and set up the tent."
What are you using to pitch the tent? Can't you see all that wood in the yard? Are you blind?
If all else fails, there's bamboo in the backyard; hurry up and cut some to pitch the tent.
What? You're reluctant to part with the purple bamboo you planted? Well, once you get crushed to death, I'll cut down all the bamboo you planted and burn it for firewood…
The mother-in-law in the west courtyard of the Zhao family is angrily scolding her daughter-in-law.
The daughter-in-law's father was a scholar who always considered himself from a scholarly family and liked to appear cultured. He always looked down on his mother-in-law's family, who came from the countryside.
The Zhao family had already notified them.
The mother-in-law was in the room unaware that the daughter-in-law didn't take it seriously at all and turned away, forgetting about it completely.
Upon receiving the official's notification, one naturally had to act quickly.
At this point, the daughter-in-law, who had always considered herself superior, panicked and could only cry.
The mother-in-law got a headache seeing her daughter-in-law who couldn't handle anything, and couldn't help but start scolding her.
She could tolerate her daughter-in-law's laziness, after all, her son was a businessman with some assets, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to afford this house in Zhegui Lane.
There are two servants in the house, and the daughter-in-law doesn't need to do all the housework every day, but her inability to take on any responsibility is really giving the old lady a headache.
In the end, it was the old lady who directed the servants, sons, and grandsons to cut down all the bamboo planted by her daughter-in-law.
The tents are up and running. As for not having enough tarpaulins, we'd better go buy some quickly.
The price of tarpaulin instantly jumped from 200 wen per meter to 800 wen per meter, and there's still no stock.
After all, oilcloth is not as easy to sell as firewood, rice, oil, and salt, and no shop will stock up on too much at once.
If you don't have enough oilcloth, then find a way to use substitutes. You can always find raincoats, you can always find mats, and if you really have nothing, you can always buy hemp rope.
An hour later, the old lady in the west courtyard lost her voice completely.
The daughter-in-law, who used to be as proud as a peacock, now serves tea to her like a quail, and the old woman glares at her with a disapproving look.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com