Cui Yulu's prescription has been proven effective in suppressing the disease on a small number of people.
So Cui Yulu dictated the prescription to Han Yu'an, who then wrote it down.
However, because the other villagers believed Cao Jinfang and Granny Han, no one was willing to take the medicine prescribed, and the number of deaths continued to rise.
They even elected a new village head, none other than Han An.
At this moment, he was no longer the dejected man he had been before; he had regained his spirits, and the opportunity to avenge his brother and himself had finally arrived.
Now everyone in the village listens to him; wouldn't it be easy for him to take down their whole family?
Thinking of this, Han An felt much more relaxed. This time, anyone who dared to oppose him would be kicked out of Linshui Village.
"How can you people be so ignorant? Do you all want to die if you don't take your medicine?"
Looking at those people, Liu Xiuying felt both heartache and anger. After all, the village was small, and hundreds of people had already died. Those people were all old neighbors and acquaintances, and there was still some affection between them.
But these widows are so confused, how can they not feel sorry for them?
"Liu Xiuying, what nonsense are you spouting? We're not sick at all. This is divine wrath. As long as the sinners are punished, we'll be fine. Do you understand?"
Cao Jinfang said, panting heavily.
"You're really willing to go all out, even at the cost of your own health, to make your grandson the village head. But can you really keep this up for long?"
Cui Yulu looked at Cao Jinfang with a cold expression. She could feel Cao Jinfang's life slipping away. If she continued to be so stubborn, she would surely die.
"It's none of your business. As long as it's good for the village, what does it matter if I sacrifice myself? I don't care."
“Guards, seize that demoness and burn her as a sacrifice to the heavens tomorrow. You will surely receive the forgiveness of Heaven.”
Granny Han also shouted, panting heavily. Those people now completely believed what the two of them said, so they swarmed forward and surrounded Cui Yulu.
"What are you trying to do? My Yulu has done nothing wrong. We came here to treat your illness. How can you repay kindness with enmity?"
Liu Xiuying stood protectively in front of her granddaughter-in-law, preventing them from getting close.
"Liu Xiuying, get out of the way quickly. We only want to capture this witch. If you don't want to get hurt, leave now."
Han Sanniu was the first to yell at Liu Xiuying.
"If you want to touch my Yulu, you'd better step over my dead body first, or you won't be able to touch a single hair on her head."
"Hmph, that's not up to you. Do you think we can't do anything to an old woman like you?"
So those people swarmed forward, ready to grab Cui Yulu.
"Stop! Don't touch my wife!"
"You bunch of scoundrels, how can you not understand who's good and who's bad? When has my family ever harmed you?"
Han Yu'an, Han Daping, and the other two came over together and protected the grandfather and grandson behind them.
When Han An saw that Han Yu'an had also arrived, a surge of even greater anger rose in his heart. He wanted to kill this man; he was the true prodigy of Linshui Village.
"You've come at the right time. You were also healed by this demoness, so you must have been influenced by her as well. You two are in cahoots. Let's capture them both and sacrifice them to the heavens."
"Village head, this won't work, will it? The divination only says the woman is unlucky, so it's best not to touch the others, okay?"
After all, Han Yu'an's reputation as a child prodigy was once the pride of their Linshui Village. They didn't want to touch him, in case he really became the top scholar in the imperial examination, the village could also benefit from it.
“I am the village head, and all decisions must be made by me. What I say goes. You should arrest them quickly. They have plenty of food at home. As long as we control them, we will have food.”
More than twenty days have passed, and the government's relief grain is still nowhere to be seen. The snow has not melted, the roads are impassable, and transportation to other villages has been cut off. Most of the grain has been consumed, and it is estimated that they will not last much longer. To survive, they must find food, and the only family in the village with the most grain is the Han family.
Upon hearing this, those who initially did not want to arrest them began to waver; they wanted to live more than the honor of the village.
Seeing this situation, Cui Yulu knew she couldn't let herself implicate the Han family.
"Arrest me, but don't touch Han Yu'an. I have nothing to do with him. I'm the one who's been staying at the Han family's house. If you think I'm unlucky, burn me alive. Don't implicate innocent people."
Upon hearing this, Han An's lips curled into a smug, wicked smile.
Thinking of Cui Yulu's previous smugness and seeing her current dejected state, Han An felt an unusual sense of relief.
"Since you've said so, young lady, how can I refuse? But I have one condition: kneel down and beg me, just like my brother begged you back then."
"Han An, you bastard! I won't beg Yu Lu for anything, but I'm willing to join you in the sacrificial ceremony."
Han Yu'an stopped Cui Yulu from pleading for them, saying he would rather be with Cui Yulu than live.
"Shut up. I have nothing to do with you. Tie me up and release the Han family."
Seeing that Cui Yulu still refused to kneel, Han An waved his hand and the villagers quickly tied up Han An and his family.
"Han An, you've even studied the classics, how could you do such a despicable thing? We're family, after all, and we've helped you so much in the past, how could you repay kindness with enmity?"
"Haha, you're helping us? But you've ruined my brother's and my reputation with your own hands. How dare you say you're helping us? We're family, how can you say that?"
Han An waved again, and Liu Xiuying was also arrested.
"Cui Yulu, when exactly do you intend to kneel down and beg me? My patience is limited, and I might do something to these people."
As he spoke, he picked up a wooden stick and struck Han Yu'an on the back.
Han Yu'an endured the pain without making a sound, but Cui Yulu could feel his pain.
“Don’t beg him, he’s a bastard. Even if you beg him, he won’t let us go.”
"Is that so? Let's see how long you can keep up your stubbornness."
Then Han An started hitting him with the stick again and again, and blood seeped from the corner of Han Yu'an's mouth.
Cui Yulu couldn't bear to watch any longer.
"Stop! I'll kneel down, please let them go!"
He then knelt down on the ground with a thud, begging Han An.
"Haha, did you see that? This vixen actually knelt down before me for Han Yu'an. But do you think I can let them off?"
The villagers had no other choice at this point. Although they knew that Han An's actions were wrong, they dared not resist him any longer.
"Cui Yulu, you're so amazing, you can make Han Quan pull down his pants with just a wave of your hand, right? Now show me how you can make Han Yu'an pull down his pants, how about that?"
Han An grinned maliciously at her, his large hands gripping her chin tightly.
"Don't push your luck. I can beg you, or I can kill you."
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