The county officials weren't lying; the steaming hot porridge was ready in no time. Although it was only half a bowl, it was soft, sticky, and sweet, and the disaster victims were reluctant to swallow it after just one bite.
However, the aroma of the food was so tempting that few people could resist the temptation. After finishing half a bowl of porridge, having something to eat in the warm room felt like a dream.
These people were too stressed the whole way, and they started getting fevers as soon as they relaxed.
Late at night, half the doctors in the county came over. They brewed medicine and forced it down their throats, and relatives and friends were there to take care of them.
The yamen runners also helped to carry the medicine.
The county magistrate stayed with them all night.
He Zifeng was a capable man. He told the county magistrate, "There are 560 people here this time!" That included adults and children. More than 80 of them were seriously ill, and the doctors were treating them using various methods.
These people had not eaten or drunk anything for many days, and their bodies were already very weak.
The county magistrate had just entered some rooms and felt a pang of sadness seeing the disaster victims.
The county magistrate said, "Their clothes are too tattered; they not only fail to keep us warm, but some don't even cover our bodies properly. The county can't afford to spend any more money. Can't we think of another way?" All the local cloth in the county had been taken away to make cotton-padded jackets.
After the snowstorm, fabric prices skyrocketed. Buying was clearly not a good deal.
He Zifeng said, "Let's see if we can go to those rich people's homes to beg for alms." In this day and age, the rich still live a life of singing and dancing, while the poor starve to death. This is the unfair world!
Officer Zhu said, "I'll take care of this." He had deep roots in the county and knew these people well. As long as he asked, he could get some old clothes that he no longer wore.
He Zifeng said, "I'll talk to the person in charge later!" Those officials in charge have many subordinates, so they can ask everyone if they have any clothes they don't wear anymore and send them out to do some good deeds.
There will be people who are willing.
Upon hearing this, the county magistrate said to the two men, "It's fortunate that the county has you two." With capable people at his disposal, his workload has been greatly reduced.
Officer Zhu said, "Sir, you haven't slept all night either. You should go and get some rest. Your health is the most important thing."
Hearing this, the county magistrate said, "Alright." He was indeed a little sleepy. He said, "You two can rest too. Send half of the men back to sleep. The other half will keep watch at night, and then rotate shifts during the day."
He Zifeng agreed, and the county magistrate, having stayed up all night, was a little exhausted.
The next morning, when He Zifeng went to check on them, all five of the seriously ill patients had died, while the rest had improved.
Those five people were far too ill; their condition was terminal and beyond the reach of any medicine.
The families of the five who died, perhaps having witnessed too much separation and death along the way, accepted it easily. To be able to go to a warm place before death is already a blessing.
The constables wrapped these people in mats and took them out to bury them.
The next morning, the fever from yesterday subsided and the symptoms improved.
What woke them up wasn't their loved ones, but the fragrant aroma of multigrain porridge. Each person also received a small multigrain steamed bun.
Most people ate the porridge, but couldn't bear to eat the steamed buns; they couldn't help but hide them away.
Yesterday, everyone was so tired and hungry that they were delirious, willing to do anything as long as they could get a bite to eat. Now that they've sobered up, they're uneasy: "Sir, what are we going to do from now on?" They've witnessed the coldness of the world during their journey of fleeing famine, and they know that there's no such thing as a free lunch.
With so many people burning coal every day, how much would that cost in grain? Who knows when they might stop providing it?
The constables reported the condition of the disaster victims to He Zifeng.
He Zifeng went straight into the first room, and as soon as he entered, everyone's eyes turned to him. Some of those eyes were filled with trepidation, while others were filled with unease.
He Zifeng said to them, “I am He Zifeng, the deputy head constable of the county. The county magistrate knows that your county has suffered a severe disaster, and many people have been forced to leave their homes. It is truly pitiful. Our magistrates often worry so much that they cannot sleep at night. Before you came, we prepared food and charcoal. You can rest here. Although the conditions are not good, we will make other arrangements later!”
After hearing what she said, the others exclaimed, "The county magistrate is truly a great man."
"We kowtowed to him."
Some also cried for the loved ones they lost along the way, wishing they could have held on until now.
He Zifeng said that the conditions here were poor, which the disaster victims could not agree with. This was the warmest and most reassuring place they had stayed in all the way.
He Zifeng continued, “Of course, our county was also affected by the snow disaster, and we don’t have enough food. Once you’re here, you’ll have to work to earn your own food. There’s a government-run tile factory and brick factory in the county. You can exchange your labor for copper coins, which you can use to buy clothes, food, and even houses. If you perform well, you can even buy land here!”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present held their breath. When they arrived, they had clearly sensed that this county was different from other counties; the snow on the roads had been cleared. There wasn't even a beggar in winter; it was definitely more prosperous than their own county. They all had the same thought: how wonderful it would be to survive here.
But before anyone could refuse, they themselves felt it was impossible.
Who would want these disaster victims? But they never expected to receive such wonderful news on their very first day here.
When they fled the famine, all that was left of their homes was a dilapidated house. They took everything with them, including their people and money; there was nothing left to cherish. It would actually be a good thing if they could have stayed.
The yamen runners around were also somewhat surprised to hear He Zifeng say this.
This was what the county magistrate told him. The brick kiln area is quite desolate, far from any village or shop. It wouldn't be appropriate to mix these disaster victims into any village; it would be better to let them form their own village. As for the housing problem, that would be much easier to solve.
They'll make do in the communal dormitories for now, and they'll set up the brick kiln. Building houses won't be a problem for them. As for the land the people have been longing for, that's even easier. There's plenty of wasteland here; let them cultivate it first, let them use local manure to compost it properly, and at worst, we won't collect their agricultural taxes for the first three years.
There are always more solutions than problems.
When He Zifeng shared these words with the disaster victims, their previously numb faces suddenly lit up.
"So when do we start working?" Some people are already dreaming about their big houses.
He Zifeng said, “No rush, rest for another ten days. Your bodies are too weak. The doctor will bring frostbite ointment this afternoon. If you feel unwell anywhere, tell the doctor. Eat two meals a day, and don’t cause any trouble, or you’ll be kicked out. There will be five constables here day and night. If you have any problems, just tell the constables.”
"Yes, sir," several people said in unison.
He Zifeng went to other rooms to discuss these points of attention. As soon as he left, there was a slight commotion in the rooms. However, everyone was talking about their dreams for the future.
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