As the saying goes, good people don't live long, but evil people live for thousands of years.
Lin Yinan felt that Yu Shida was not dead, but she didn't have much time to think about it because Liu Ji had returned, bringing with him another piece of news.
The bandits caused chaos in Nanzhou Prefecture, while the refugees who had fled south were gathered by the bandits and driven to Cangwu County.
The steward of the Deng family secretly told Liu Ji, who was on his way to deliver goods to Cangwu County.
“Many refugees outside Cangwu County have been dying every day due to fever, vomiting, coughing, and diarrhea. Their master has sent a doctor to check on them, and the doctor suspects it is a plague and told us not to go there to deliver goods during this period.”
"What protective measures have the Deng family taken?" Lin Yinan asked.
Liu Ji said, "The soup kitchens they had set up outside the city were not there. They were secretly dismantled a couple of days ago without telling the other noble families. However, some shrewd noble families also dismantled their soup kitchens and stopped distributing soup.
"Okay, I understand. Have a good New Year and don't worry about anything else for now."
Lin Yinan thought that Cangwu County was quite far from their Longtan. If they didn't take a boat, there were many cities in between, and the journey was long. Even if the refugees infected with the plague were to arrive here in a short time, they wouldn't be able to reach them.
Knowing that Liu Ji had returned, Su Yunzhi brought several members of the Su family to find her.
"Anan, I'd like to discuss something with you." Su Yunzhi stood not far away, smiling gently and speaking in a warm voice.
Lin Yinan said calmly, "What is it? Tell me."
Su Yunzhi turned around and glanced at the five or six brothers of the same clan following behind him.
"I'd like to ask when Liu Ji and the others are going to Cangwu County? A few members of the clan came to deliver New Year's gifts before the New Year, and they want to hitch a ride on a boat from Longtan to go back with the wind."
Liu Ji looked at him with a troubled expression, then at Lin Yinan.
"No way." Lin Yinan glanced at them and flatly rejected his request.
Su Yunzhi frowned, not expecting her to refuse so decisively.
Is he trying to force someone to do something they can't?
"Why not?" he asked cautiously.
"I advise you to stay in Longtan for the New Year."
Lin Yinan remained expressionless throughout.
After she finished speaking, the Su family members looked at each other, not knowing what to do. They had arrived in good condition, but now they could not go back.
"But what happened in Cangwu County?"
Su Yunzhi wasn't angry; he knew Lin Yinan wasn't the kind of cold-hearted person.
Lin Yinan nodded and glanced at Liu Ji.
"Liu Ji brought back news that the Deng family discovered that the refugees outside Cangwu County may have contracted the plague, and advised us not to go there."
Several members of the Su family turned pale with fright. They had only been gone for a few days, how could they suddenly have contracted the plague?
"Are you sure?"
Lin Yinan nodded.
"Master Deng has secretly consulted a doctor, and our ships have stopped sailing. They won't depart until the epidemic there is resolved. If you insist on returning, you'll have to go by carriage."
Su Yunzhi nodded to her, cupped his hands in farewell, and took his leave.
"Thank you for telling me, Anan! I will go back and discuss it with my father."
After saying that, he hurriedly left with the Su family members.
"Sister Anan, I..."
Liu Ji felt somewhat guilty, after all, Su Yunzhi had treated him well on their journey south.
Lin Yinan patted him on the shoulder, "It's alright, the situation is urgent, they will make their own judgment. Let's go back and eat, Ayu must be getting impatient."
The two left the county government office and hurried home.
Cangwu County, Deng Family.
“Father, several families, led by the Zeng family, are still distributing porridge outside the city. I sent the steward to explain the epidemic to them, but they all drove me away.”
Deng Shifa shook the snowflakes off his cloak as he strode into the house, complaining to his father who was sitting by the fire at the head of the table.
The head of the Deng family raised his eyelids and glanced at him. "As the saying goes, kind words can persuade a damned person. Since they won't listen, let them be."
"Father, are we just going to ignore this? The epidemic is contagious! We can't abandon the people in the city!" Deng Shifa said, getting more and more agitated as he spoke.
"I have already discussed a plan with my uncle. These days, you should keep the people in the mansion in check and not let them go out unless necessary."
Deng Shifa's eyes lit up. "What countermeasure?"
You'll know when the time comes.
"You're keeping me in suspense again."
Deng Shifa muttered something under his breath, then turned and went out to do his work.
With so many refugees arriving this time, his father had hoped to select some of the better ones to strengthen his own retinue. However, after this incident, he feared that few would survive.
Outside the city of Cangwu, snow was falling heavily.
Supported by her maid, Zeng Xiaofeng stood in front of her family's soup kitchen, gazing at the long line of refugees.
A servant was holding a wooden ladle, serving porridge to the displaced people who were queuing up. Behind them, more than a dozen buckets had already been emptied, and the bucket they were currently filling was almost empty.
The maid looked at the Deng family's dismantled porridge stall and asked in confusion, "Miss, why did the Deng family and the other families suddenly stop distributing porridge?"
“Those are just hypocrites putting on a show for others,” Zeng Xiaofeng said disdainfully.
At that moment, the refugee who was serving porridge suddenly broke out in a violent coughing fit. The bowl of porridge fell to the ground, and he clutched his stomach, coughing so hard he couldn't straighten up, his face turning red.
Zeng Xiaofeng covered her nose with a handkerchief and took two steps back in disgust.
The maidservant kindly stepped forward to help him pick up the bowl, and the man bowed as he accepted it.
"Thank you! Thank you, young lady!"
"It's cold, hurry up and take it back to eat!"
The maid smiled at him and retreated to Zeng Xiaofeng's side.
"Miss, they are so pitiful, they all seem to be sick."
Upon hearing this, Zeng Xiaofeng looked closely at the queue and, sure enough, half of the people in the two queues for porridge were coughing incessantly.
Looking at the snowflakes dancing in the sky, she suddenly had an idea.
"Xiao Hong, do you still remember the Dragon Pool we visited?"
The maid, not understanding what she meant by saying that, went along with her and said, "I remember, how could I not remember?"
When Zeng Xiaofeng noticed that some refugees were looking at them, she unconsciously raised her voice.
"I heard that there is a place called Dragon Pool in the Southern Barbarian Prefecture. That place is really prosperous and rich. Children can go to school for free, and the monthly salary for doing work is high."
"That's true." The maid nodded. She had gone with her mistress before, and it was indeed the case.
The refugees getting porridge nearby all pricked up their ears to listen.
An older woman with a child, after finishing her porridge, didn't leave. She stepped forward, bowed to Zeng Xiaofeng, and, suppressing a cough, asked, "Miss, may I ask where this Dragon Pool is?"
So, Zeng Xiaofeng kindly told everyone everything she knew in Longtan.
Finally, she added, "I also heard that medical care is free in Longtan, and if you serve the city lord for ten years, she will give you a house for free."
"Really?"
Free medical care?!
"Work for ten years, and we'll give you a house!"
How could such an incredible thing happen?!
The refugees were intrigued, and the two groups began whispering and exchanging detailed conversations.
Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Zeng Xiaofeng was unwilling to stand there in the cold, so she took the help of her maid and got into the carriage to leave.
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