Chapter 103: Another Epidemic
Qin Baobao sat in her new home, checking the gift list to see which relatives and friends had given and how much money. However, she and Zhao Xiaofei's relatives were ordinary poor people, so it was impossible for them to accept much in gifts. The maximum they could give was 10,000 yuan! She flipped through the pages and suddenly saw the words "Jiang Xiaomei" written on them.
Qin Baobao felt a little unhappy. Working with her normally wasn't a big deal, but today was her wedding, and she had given the most. What did she mean? And why was she here at her wedding? She hadn't even seen her at the wedding.
Actually, Jiang Di gave Jiang Xiaomei the money, just to make Qin Baobao feel uncomfortable. Ever since his sister and Zhao Xiaofei broke off their engagement, Jiang Di had been working hard and stopped spending money recklessly. He had painstakingly saved up his money, hoping to confess his feelings to Qin Baobao one day. Unfortunately, he discovered that Qin Baobao was going to marry Zhao Xiaofei. He gave away so much money in his sister's name today just to disgust Qin Baobao. He felt better if they didn't get along! And he wanted to say goodbye to his past.
Qin Baobao put aside his unhappiness and thought again. He must learn everything quickly and kick the siblings out of the company sooner or later. He would not have to watch them and feel unhappy.
Zhao Xiaofei stayed with Qin Baobao for a full month before returning to Beijing. However, upon his return, he discovered that this epidemic was worse than the plague. An unknown flu virus had emptied out nine out of ten houses in Gongji County. White sails hung in every house, and the sound of weeping was everywhere.
Zhao Xiaofei arrived at the county government office. The current county magistrate's surname was Li. Zhao Xiaofei asked, "Magistrate Li! Have you done what I said before about isolating the personnel?"
"This..." County Magistrate Li wiped his sweat anxiously.
Zhao Xiaofei knew at a glance that Magistrate Li did not listen to him, so he slammed the table and shouted, "Come here! Take off his black gauze hat for me!" At this time, Xiao Wen came over and took off Magistrate Li's black gauze hat. Magistrate Li did not dare to resist because Zhao Xiaofei was holding the imperial edict!
The same thing happened in other surrounding counties. Even Tongzhou, where Doctor Hu had visited, wasn't spared, though the isolation was better, resulting in fewer deaths.
Standing on the city wall, feeling the autumn wind, he felt a bleak scene all around him. So many people died just because he got married. How was this any different from history? Aside from the errors in the recorded types of epidemics, everything else remained the same. This further undermined his confidence in changing the fate of the Ming Dynasty!
Zhao Xiaofei bought several flu medicines in modern times and gave them to several patients. He kept the most effective one and hurried back to the capital.
In the Yangxin Palace, Chongzhen flipped through Zhao Xiaofei's report and asked, "The surrounding counties have suffered heavy population losses during this epidemic, and coupled with the population previously plundered by the Jianlu, the area around the capital is now empty! We can't allow any more trouble to happen in the capital!"
"Your Majesty! I've found a cure for this epidemic! I don't want any money this time. I'll give it to any sick people for free!" Zhao Xiaofei said. He hoped that not too many people in the capital would die. When Li Zicheng reached the capital, the large number of people would help him hold out for a while longer!
"Oh! How much silver do you want to pay this time?" Chongzhen said.
"Probably more than 100,000 taels of silver! All the money I saved in the past few years has been lost!" Zhao Xiaofei said nonsense.
"Oh! National affairs are difficult! In recent years, natural disasters and man-made disasters have continued, and the Ming Dynasty is in turmoil!" Chongzhen sighed.
"I cannot share the burden of my father and lord's worries. I am guilty!" Zhao Xiaofei kowtowed hastily. He thought, "You've already said that things are going to be tough. It seems your money and army are running out. Add to that those corrupt officials and landlords. It's no wonder you're finished!"
"If you are guilty, all those civil and military officials should be put to death! Even though you have only been in the Ming Dynasty for a short time, you have made great contributions to the country. I know it all in my heart! You have also been away for more than two months. Kunxing should be complaining about me!" Chongzhen's face was very bad. He felt powerless!
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration! I'll take my leave!" Zhao Xiaofei said, bowed and left.
Chongzhen looked at Zhao Xiaofei's back and said to himself: If the Ming Dynasty had ministers like Zhao Xiaofei, there would be no need to worry about the revival of the Ming Dynasty!
When Zhao Xiaofei returned to the Prince Consort's residence, Princess Kunxing waited at the door with red eyes. For nearly two months, her husband had been treating patients in the epidemic area, and she was worried he might catch the disease too. Thankfully, he returned safely today, and Princess Kunxing burst into tears.
"Don't cry, don't cry! Didn't I, your husband, return to Zhao intact?" Zhao Xiaofei said.
"Don't do this again! I will ask my father not to let you go out again if this happens again!" said Princess Kunxing.
"Let's talk about it later! If something really happens, can you and I make the decision?" Zhao Xiaofei said.
"Have you fallen behind in your riding and archery skills while I'm away?" asked Zhao Xiaofei.
"How could I? My riding and archery skills are no worse than those of the Jinyiwei cavalry! I can shoot an arrow through the target from a hundred paces away!" Princess Kunxing said stubbornly.
"Okay! Can you demonstrate it to me when we get home?" Zhao Xiaofei said.
"Good! Good luck and good fortune! Go and get my horse!" said Princess Kunxing.
"Okay, that's okay! I'm tired, let's have a good rest first. Let's look at it tomorrow!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
Patients lined up at the Renjitang in Beijing, many suffering from the flu. Of course, some were just suffering from colds, but mistakenly thought they had contracted the so-called epidemic.
An old man in the queue said, "I don't know if I can get the medicine. I've been feeling so uncomfortable these past two days. I haven't lived enough! My grandson hasn't even called me grandpa yet!" After saying that, he started coughing.
"Don't talk! Save your energy to get in line! Don't end up lying on the ground like him before you even get your medicine. Let the Beijing Camp take it away and cremate it!" another middle-aged man said, pointing at the body on the ground. In the distance, several Beijing Camp soldiers began to collect the bodies. This was the eighth person to be collected today!
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