Stopping and stopping along the way, we walked for almost fifty days before we finally arrived in Xuancheng. Chengchun's health was not good, and he also contracted wind-chill and fever from being caught in the rain on the way.
It took several days for the fever to go away.
Due to this disease, the bones of the already weak body became even thinner, and even the eye sockets were somewhat sunken. Hong Dou felt very distressed, but there was nothing she could do.
They were going to have a good rest in Xuancheng. After all, they had to walk to Huizhou in a day and a half. They were in a bad mood, especially after traveling for days. Every one of them was very tired. They were as strong as Mrs. Zhang, and there was weariness in their brows and eyes.
When they went to the inn, the shopkeeper saw that they were busy with work, so he asked one more question: "Where are you going, girl?"
"Go to Huizhou!" Hongdou replied softly.
The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment: "What are you going to do in Huizhou? Are you going home or for fun?"
"go home!"
"There is a flood in Huizhou, don't you know?" The shopkeeper looked at them and said with regret, "I heard that the flood was very serious this time, many people died, and many people's houses and fields were flooded.
, there are refugees everywhere, I’m afraid it won’t be a good idea for the girl to go to Huizhou at this time!”
Madam Zhang on the side frowned: "When did it happen?"
"Just half a month ago, there were many refugees coming here, not to mention Huizhou. The springs in the countryside were flooded, and they all came to the city. Those who had relatives outside had gone to seek refuge, and those who had no relatives had gone there.
We can only wait for the court to send disaster relief food!" The shopkeeper said, shaking his head unbearably, "I heard that the city over there has been closed, and even if it passes, you are only allowed in but not allowed out!"
Cheng Chun looked at Mrs. Zhang in a panic: "Why do you suddenly become so flooded when you are so good?"
"It has been raining for a month, and the dike has burst!" The shopkeeper shook his head and sighed, then handed the key to the door to Cheng Chun, "Go to the innermost room on the right on the second floor!"
Chengchun took the key, and then the three of them went upstairs together.
The inn was very clean, but probably because of the continuous rain, there was still a damp smell in the room. Hongdou opened the window, and outside the window was the street. The vendors were selling. It was obviously only a hundred miles away from Huizhou, but it was...
There was no sign of disaster at all, and the market was still bustling with activity.
"I have to go and find out. If Huizhou is really only allowed in and out, then it would not be a good thing to go at this time!" Mrs. Zhang was a little anxious, "You guys rest first, I will be back soon!"
Although Chengchun was a little uneasy, he still nodded: "Okay, don't be anxious, take your time with everything!"
Madam Zhang responded and hurried out.
Chengchun originally wanted to pack it up and go out to inquire later, but she really had a severe headache. After bathing, she lay on the bed and didn't want to move anymore. Hongdou felt sorry for her body and refused to let her get up again.
When Chengchun woke up, it was completely dark outside. The room was dimly lit with oil lamps. Not far away, Hongdou was talking to Mrs. Zhang. Probably because he was afraid of disturbing her, he spoke very softly.
I can only hear some vaguely.
Perhaps because there was some movement when Cheng Chun got up, Madam Zhang looked back and said, "Are you awake?"
Hongdou also came over quickly: "Is the girl feeling better?"
Chengchun looked at the two people in front of him and smiled helplessly: "I'm fine. I'm much better after a good sleep."
Hongdou touched her head to make sure she had no fever, and then breathed a long sigh of relief: "It's okay. Are you hungry? If so, I'll ask the waiter to make some food now!"
"I don't have much appetite." Cheng Chun shook his head, and then looked at Madam Zhang aside, "Madam went outside to inquire around, but what news is there?"
"I was just talking to Hongdou about this matter. I went to the government to inquire about this matter. The disaster in Huizhou was relatively serious. Many of the names left behind were used in other places. As a result, many places were crowded with victims, so
Now it is true that people are only allowed to enter Huizhou City, but not allowed to leave." Madam Zhang sat down on the side with a sad look on her face.
"Then Madam, what are you going to do?" Cheng Chun walked to Madam Zhang and sat down, looked at her and asked softly.
Madam Zhang was silent for a long time, and then continued: "Our goods must be delivered, but there is something wrong with this Huizhou city. Although it is said that after a major disaster, there will indeed be a large wave of victims going out to seek refuge with relatives and friends, but they rarely appear.
A situation where you are only allowed in but not allowed out, unless..."
"Unless there is an epidemic in the city!" Chengchun took up what Mrs. Zhang said.
Hongdou on the side was startled, and the cup in her hand almost fell to the ground.
"After a flood, we often face a very big epidemic. We want to get it, and the court must also want to get it. In the previous dynasty, there was an epidemic that burned down the entire city. If there were no accidents, there must have been an epidemic in Huizhou City.
There is an epidemic. If we go now, we are really seeking death!" Cheng Chun lowered his eyes and looked at the cup in front of him.
Madam Zhang let out a long sigh: "Yes, we are absolutely not allowed to enter the city now. My plan is to use the relationship with the court outside Huizhou City to find out what is going on with our employer first. If he doesn't
If there is any problem, then we will hand it over at the city gate. If something happens, we can only keep this batch of goods for you first!"
Chengchun nodded and said nothing.
"What about you?" Madam Zhang looked at Cheng Chun.
"Since Huizhou can no longer be entered, then I won't go!" Cheng Chun picked up the tea cup and took a sip, "Originally, when I went to Huizhou, I wanted to transfer to Hangzhou from there. Since I can't enter now, then
I will transfer directly to Hangzhou from here."
Madam Zhang did not speak, but her expression was not very good.
Hongdou felt a little strange and said, "Madam, do you have something to say?"
"Nowadays, there are refugees everywhere. Hangzhou is prosperous, so naturally many people will go to Hangzhou to seek life. I'm afraid it won't be peaceful if you go there!" Madam Zhang looked at Cheng Chun, worried, "The court will never let such a situation go.
Yes, why don't you stay here for a while and wait until this disaster is over?"
"There is no way to avoid natural and man-made disasters, not to mention that it may not be safer for us two women to stay in a place we have never been to than on the road!" Cheng Chun lowered his eyes, "Tomorrow we will go to the city to ask.
, let’s see if anyone is willing to send us there, it won’t hurt if we spend a little more money!”
Madam Zhang looked at Cheng Chun for a long time, but she couldn't say anything. After all, what she said was right. As two single women, they would inevitably have some troubles in a foreign land.
"I'll go with you tomorrow. I don't know if there is a escort agency here!" Madam Zhang sighed slightly, "It's so good that such a thing happened!"
Chengchun looked at the cup in front of her and suddenly felt a little dazed. She was thinking that if she had not obeyed and had to take the waterway, then she and Hongdou would have been killed on the road.
Waves of fear swept over him, and Chengchun's hands became cold.
Seeing Chengchun's face turn blue, Hongdou became a little worried: "Girl..."
"It doesn't matter, let's go take a look tomorrow." Chengchun comforted Hongdou, "We have no way to avoid natural disasters."
Anko nodded.
That night, Chengchun didn't sleep well. There was a wandering mother and daughter outside the inn. The mother was probably sick and had been coughing. Chengchun couldn't fall asleep for a long time listening to her coughing.
Anko, who had always fallen asleep as soon as she touched the pillow, actually tossed and turned a bit that night. After a long time, Anko suddenly said: "Girl, can we go back?"
"It's possible!" Cheng Chun took a deep breath, "If this road is impassable, then why can Master Huide tell me to take the land route instead of the water route?"
Hongdou sighed: "It's a flood, I don't know how many people will die!"
Chengchun said nothing.
Any natural disaster is unlikely to have any good results, and floods are even more so. The moment the dam is washed away, many people will be swept away. At that time, many people will be displaced or even lose their lives. Then there will be a plague.
Plague often occurs when floods occur, and many people will die of the disease at that time. In the end, many people survived the plague, but they could not survive the famine that winter.
Yes, I don’t know how many people will die.
In the early morning of the next day, when it was just dawn, hawking had already started outside. When Chengchun got up, he heard the coughing sound again. Maybe he couldn't bear it. When he went out, Chengchun took two more
A bun was given to the mother and daughter.
The girl was pretty and pretty. I heard that someone from the brothel had already come to inquire about it and said that she was willing to buy the child for ten silver coins. However, the mother was unwilling to push her child into a pit of fire. She would rather live in the open air than live in the open air.
Send your children into despair.
The little girl was ecstatic when she received the buns. She gave both buns to her mother, and the two of them ate them carefully, not wanting to waste a bite.
"I thought you would give them money!" Madam Zhang looked at Cheng Chun, a little strange.
"There are too many refugees here. They, orphans and widowers, can't hold on!" Cheng Chun shook his head, "I don't know how long they can resist?"
Madam Zhang took a deep look at Cheng Chun, and then said: "I always think you are a very kind-hearted person, but you are always on guard against your human heart!"
Chengchun laughed: "The human heart is the most untestable thing. If you don't take precautions, you will be the one who will be eaten in the end without even leaving any scraps!"
Along the way, you can see homeless people living on the streets from time to time, knocking on doors everywhere looking for work, and some kneeling there begging for a bite of food. Just looking at it makes you feel a little bit unbearable.