Everyone was startled by the shiny long knife in Luo Xunlong's hand. They exchanged glances with each other, looking rather at a loss.
Some people took two steps backward. However, the man who had just fallen to the ground got up regardless of his safety. He grabbed Cuihuan's sleeve and shouted, "If you don't leave the food and medicinal materials behind, none of you can leave today! Ah—"
Before he could finish his words, he was kicked far away by Luo Xunlong and rolled several times in the muddy field. When he got up, he looked like a clay figure with only two eyes showing.
Seeing this, everyone was so frightened that they shrank back.
Luo Xunlong glanced at them and sneered, "Robbery, huh? Come on, all of you! It'll save me the trouble of dealing with you one by one."
His words made everyone extremely panicked. Looking at the shiny long knife in his hand, they scattered in all directions like frightened birds.
Seeing that everyone had run away, Luo Xunlong grabbed Cuihuan's hand, lowered his eyes to check her sleeve, and asked softly, "Are you okay?"
Cuihuan lowered her head shyly, blushing as she whispered, "I'm fine." Looking up, she saw dots of scarlet on Luo Xunlong's chest.
His wound had reopened!
Cuihuan's face turned deathly pale with fright. She cried out anxiously, "Your wound!"
Luo Xunlong shook his head and said, "Don't worry. I'm fine."
Cuihuan quickly rummaged through the medicine bottle to stop the bleeding and apply medicine to Luo Xunlong.
Wei Dongling watched the two of them being affectionate. She pursed her lips and said dejectedly, "Other people's partners are so manly, while mine is like a thief, only climbing in through the window at night. Why is there such a big gap?"
Old Master Lin beside her waved his hand and said, "We've all taken a look at your Yu boy. He's quite good and worthy of your lifelong trust."
Wei Dongling:......
An hour later, the carriage finally arrived at the north of Xingshan City.
However, the sight in front of them made their hearts ache even more.
Along the way, they could see patients lying crookedly and twitching all over. Some of them were still running high fevers. Occasionally, they could also see the corpses of those who had died of diarrhea and hadn't been buried yet.
In the chaotic market, Wei Dongling finally found Ruan Niang and the others.
Ruan Niang was examining the symptoms of twenty or thirty disaster victims lying on the ground. Seeing Wei Dongling and the others coming, she quickly got up and asked, "Dongling, how much food and medicinal materials did you bring?"
Wei Dongling pulled Ruan Niang into the carriage to check.
Ruan Niang's eyes were bloodshot from staying up late. She looked up at the medicinal materials and food and shook her head, saying, "This is far from enough!"
Wei Dongling nodded and said, "Yu Zixi should be on his way here with more food and medicine. Let's save as many people as we can for now!"
Everyone nodded repeatedly.
Wei Dongling scanned the refugees lying on the ground and asked, "Where's Lord Shen?"
Ruan Niang waved her hand and said, "Lord Shen hasn't rested for several days. He's still inspecting the disaster situation everywhere. Several villages in the north are still flooded. Lang Ge and the others have gone to rescue the people."
Wei Dongling said anxiously, "What about the local officials in Xingshan? Didn't they say that the Crown Prince has also come to relieve the disaster?"
Ruan Niang sighed and said, "We haven't seen them."
Ruan Niang gave a few hasty instructions and then went to take care of the refugees.
Helpless, Wei Dongling had to help everyone carry the things on the carriage to an inn at the entrance of the market.
The owner of this inn was saved by Ruan Niang and the others. He was very enthusiastic and provided them with a place to stay.
A Cheng was helping Ruan Niang by delivering medicinal soup. Lin Baiwan and Yu Haiming borrowed the kitchen of the inn to boil medicine, cook porridge, and steam buns to distribute to the nearby disaster victims.
Wei Dongling limped into the kitchen with a bunch of medicine in her arms. Looking up, she saw Old Master Su bending down to grope for and tidy up the firewood on the ground. Her nose turned sour, and she rushed over, calling out repeatedly, "Grandpa, Grandpa, you should rest. I'll do it!"
Hearing her voice, Old Master Su quickly stood up and groped his way towards her. He grabbed her delicate hand and exclaimed excitedly, "Good child..."
Wei Dongling responded softly. She helped Old Master Su sit down on a chair, comforted him a few words, and then got up to add firewood and cook porridge.
When the two large pots of porridge were ready, Uncle Li and Old Brother Qin brought over a lot of villagers with fevers. Ruan Niang quickly took over and arranged for their treatment.
Everyone set out the porridge and buns at the entrance of the inn and distributed them to the nearby refugees.
Wei Dongling looked at the refugees queuing up for porridge. She sighed worriedly. She told Uncle Li what she had seen along the way and discussed sending someone back to the capital to transport more food.
Uncle Li nodded and arranged for Lin Baiwan and Yu Haiming to quickly return to the capital to purchase supplies.
Wei Dongling took Cuihuan and instructed the disaster victims one by one not to drink cold water. If they were thirsty, they could come and get hot water. Before long, the buns and porridge were all snatched up.
Two large pots of antipyretic medicine were boiled. The disaster victims lined up with bowls to get the medicine. For those who were too weak to move on the ground, everyone had to feed them with bowls one by one.
Seeing everyone in close contact with the refugees, Wei Dongling was very anxious. She gritted her teeth and cut up a piece of clothing, cutting it into several pieces of face towels. Everyone covered their mouths and noses with one as a mask.
More and more people died of vomiting and diarrhea due to the epidemic. Uncle Li led everyone to transport the corpses and dig pits for burial.
During the break when Ruan Niang washed her hands and drank water, she comforted Wei Dongling instead, saying, "The Crown Prince has brought a team of imperial guards to distribute medicine and rescue the people in the city. Lord Shen is also treating the patients everywhere. Don't worry. Things will get better gradually."
Just as she was speaking, a lot of refugees suddenly surrounded the entrance of the market and squeezed over to ask for medicine. Wei Dongling quickly stood up to appease them, saying that the medicine was still being boiled and asking them to wait a while.
Everyone was very worried. Someone asked, "You're not going to be like those in the county seat, are you? Only giving out a little free medicine and making us buy the rest with silver?"
Wei Dongling and Ruan Niang looked at each other in astonishment. She quickly shook her head and said, "No, our medicine will always be provided for free. We've already sent someone back and forth to the capital to prepare medicine."
Someone in the crowd sobbed softly and said, "I heard that the food and medicinal materials transported in for disaster relief were all seized by corrupt officials. We can only buy the medicine at a high price. We have no other choice but to come here for help!"
Wei Dongling felt a pang in her heart. She quickly assured them, "We'll always be here to distribute porridge and medicine for free. Please don't panic. We won't take your silver!"
Everyone clasped their hands in salute and thanked her. They leaned against the entrance of the inn and waited.
When the second batch of medicine was boiled, it was already getting dark. Old Brother Qin distributed the medicine to everyone. Wei Dongling went to help while earnestly advising everyone not to drink raw water.
As it got darker, everyone dispersed. Only then did the few of them gather together and gnaw on buns to fill their stomachs.
Ruan Niang sighed dejectedly and said, "There's a shortage of grain. There won't be enough for porridge tomorrow. The stored grain in the inn has also been distributed in the past few days."
Wei Dongling looked around at everyone, biting the bun and saying, "Some people have taken the grain and medicinal herbs for disaster relief with a conscience. They're selling them to the refugees at a high price."
Everyone looked at her. Their expressions showed that they were deep in thought.
Uncle Li glanced at her and asked, "What do you mean, girl?"
Wei Dongling pursed her lips and said, "How about we rob the robbers? Otherwise, how can we be worthy of the so many people who have died?"