Chapter 31: Chaotic Accounts

Chapter 31: Disorderly Accounts

The sound of crying tugged at everyone's heart.

But experienced people knew that crying was a good sign; the real fear was not being able to cry at all.

After letting them vent for a while, some gradually stopped crying.

"Such opportunities are rare. Since we've been given this chance, we must live well and not waste it!" an old man suddenly spoke up.

He had a point.

One by one, they wiped their tears and went back to eating.

People who have been starving shouldn't eat too much.

Though the staff had prepared easily digestible food, the portions were small. The egg custard, though called a bowl, was only about the size of a large jello cup. The rice porridge, cooked until soft, was slightly larger but not by much—just the size of a regular bowl.

The vegetables were just a small plate, pitifully tiny. In a restaurant, such a portion would be too small even as a free side dish. It was barely more than a serving of pickles.

This amount wouldn't fill an adult, let alone a child. For adults, it was just enough to ease hunger pangs, but it didn't even reach half-full.

Yet, the disaster victims were deeply grateful.

Gratefully, they scraped the egg custard clean and mixed the vegetable broth into the porridge, drinking it all up. If the staff hadn't taken the dishes away quickly, the victims might have licked the plates clean.

Only out of fear of offending the "immortals" did the victims reluctantly watch as the staff took the bowls and plates to the meal cart.

The look in their eyes was more longing than that of passionate lovers.

It was heartbreaking to see.

"It's not that we don't want you to eat your fill," a staff member explained, "but eating too much after starving is bad for your health."

"Once you've recovered, you'll be able to eat more."

"Later, teachers will come to teach you. If you study well, you'll get extra meals."

At the mention of extra meals, everyone's eyes brightened.

"Immortals, don't worry, we'll study hard!" someone eagerly promised.

Most of the disaster victims were well-behaved, eating and attending classes as told, cherishing everything they had. They also felt hopeful and positive about the new regime.

They were determined to study hard and establish themselves here, striving for a better life.

For a moment, everyone was eager to learn, but first, they had to shave their heads and bathe.

Their hair was full of lice eggs, and occasionally, one or two lice could be seen crawling in and out of their strands.

While eating was manageable, after the meal, some couldn't help but scratch their bodies. Either lice were crawling down, or fleas were biting.

Compared to these, the dirt on their bodies was nothing.

If it weren't for the fear that these people might faint from hunger halfway through bathing, they should have been bathed before eating, for the sake of hygiene.

When the staff brought up this requirement, they had expected some resistance, given the ancient people's attachment to their hair, and thought it might take some effort to persuade them.

Unexpectedly, the survivors agreed without hesitation as soon as he mentioned it.

Even the women didn't resist shaving their heads.

As if sensing the staff's surprise, the woman who had previously introduced herself as Liu Niang reached out to touch her messy, greasy hair, then glanced at the once snow-white sheets. The stains stood out starkly.

"We've already dirtied these beds; we can't soil the clean rooms too."

"Back in the day, when wealthy families purchased young maids, the girls would have their hair cut off and be scrubbed clean from head to toe in the bathhouse upon entering the household, to avoid bringing in filth."

"Although you're not buying servants but are here to aid disaster survivors on behalf of the court, the principle remains the same."

"Besides, shaving it off will allow new hair to grow back more beautifully."

The survivors obediently lined up to have their heads shaved, then followed the staff to the bathhouse, where they washed themselves thoroughly in medicated water treated with insect repellent.

Afterward, they followed the staff's instructions to line up for physical examinations.

The first to wake up were the healthier ones, mostly free from serious injuries or illnesses.

So, the check-ups ended quickly. Wounds were cleaned and medicated as needed, and medications were administered where necessary.

In addition to medicines for treating illnesses and injuries, there was also antiparasitic medication.

Once they took their meds, they each got vaccinated with all the available and necessary vaccines.

When the sharp, gleaming needles came out, people flinched.

"Is this the smallpox vaccine? Will it keep us from getting smallpox?"

"Smallpox is a killer!"

"And pertussis—can this prevent that too? Just lowering the infection risk is incredible; something we never dared to dream of before, and now it's real?"

"Can leprosy really be prevented? Back then, if you caught leprosy, you were on your own. But now it can be prevented and treated?"

...

The physician overseeing the vaccinations briefly explained each one, and everyone rushed to line up.

A tiny needle prick is nothing compared to stopping these deadly diseases. Even if they were pricked all over like porcupines, it'd be worth it!

Since the catastrophe, epidemics have been everywhere.

Many perished from hunger, but just as many died from various diseases.

These diseases have struck even in peace, taking countless lives.

Many nobles and royals have succumbed to these diseases; the last dynasty's royal family collapsed due to it. The heir was stricken with smallpox, and despite spending vast sums of money and using precious medicinal herbs without stint, nothing could be done. Once the heir died, those below began to fight, leading to the collapse of the state.

They're lucky to get these vaccines for free now; how could they possibly miss out due to fear?

As for whether they might be deceived, many survivors are illiterate, but they know right from wrong and can discern. Even children, few of whom survive in such chaotic times, are more adept at reading people's intentions than adults.

Everything went smoothly.

But not all survivors were so compliant.

There are always some who try to cut corners and slack off, and others who, once they realize they're back in a structured society, can't help but nitpick.

Food that the disaster victims find excellent.

To them, it's just some country grub, not fit for their table.

"I am the son of the current patriarch of the Song Sheng Lin family. Our Lin family has been nobility for generations. Even though we've hit hard times, we should not be underestimated." Facing the kind attitude of the staff, a middle-aged man, starving and swollen all over, still managed to put on an air of superiority.

He frowned at the staff: "Since you're from the government of this world, how can you be so disrespectful?"

"You should serve me food befitting my status," the middle-aged man said, ordering without hesitation, "It doesn't have to be fancy, just bring out four cold and four hot dishes, plus one meat and one vegetable soup. The rice should be red glutinous rice, and after the meal, a bowl of bird's nest soup."

The disaster victims around, already eating, looked at him like he was crazy.

Many of the staff couldn't help but laugh.

"Song Sheng Lin family, right?" one staff member pushed away the food cart with the last portion of food, "What a coincidence, we're in Song Sheng Province, and I also have the surname Lin. My ancestors were part of the Song Sheng Lin family. Unfortunately, not only are we not from the same world, but even if we were, it wouldn't matter."

"Eat it or don't, but don't expect special treatment!"

"Go dream about your fancy four cold and four hot dishes, meat and vegetable soups, red glutinous rice, and bird's nest soup!"

"When you realize you're in the wrong and can talk respectfully, then you can have your meal," the staff said, clearly not planning to free the middle-aged man from his restraints, leaving him lying in bed, hungry, and smelling the food others were eating.

He had never thought that plain porridge with just a sprinkle of minced meat could smell so good.

And the steamed egg custard, he'd had it before, but now, thinking about its smooth texture, the middle-aged man couldn't help but swallow. Unfortunately, he hadn't drunk water for too long, and after speaking so much, his mouth was bone-dry. The more he swallowed, the more uncomfortable he felt.

And the green vegetables, the crisp sound. It sounded so fresh and tender.

How long had it been since he'd seen any greens?

Truth be told, he didn't need to put on the Song Sheng Lin family airs. After all, he wasn't the one in line to inherit.

The Lin family was either dead or scattered, and he, a playboy, why bother?

If he had known the Lin family's reputation wasn't useful, he shouldn't have tried to push his luck. Now it was too late to regret.

Especially when others finished their meals and were arranged to wash, the middle-aged man regretted even more.

People who have lived a good life actually find it harder to endure fleas, lice, and dirt than the poor.

He tried to plead with the staff member, using their shared Lin surname, but no one was willing to pay attention to him.

Realizing that in the eyes of the court here, he could not receive any special treatment, and even because of his earlier behavior, he was less favored than other disaster victims, the middle-aged man finally understood his situation.

Strangers, yet they were willing to help, which was already kind.

One must know contentment and understand limits. The teachings of his old man echoed in his ears.

Forget it, those without ability must obey. The middle-aged man sincerely apologized and finally got to eat.

Even though the food was cold now, knowing it was his own fault, he dared not complain.

This was not the worst. More woke up and put on official airs, demanding that Tianlan Star treat former officials with courtesy.

Even if they weren't reinstated or given power, they should be honored.

And there were those who firmly refused to believe in the fusion of the two worlds, denouncing Tianlan Star as traitors.

There were also those who thought they were lying low without drawing attention, doing whatever the other disaster victims did, trying to wait for the future.

Unfortunately, these people, with their plump, well-fed appearances, were too conspicuous.

The obesity caused by eating too well and the edema caused by hunger and lack of food were too different. Even amateurs could tell at a glance. Moreover, there were many professional doctors present.

Unsurprisingly, such people were all singled out.

The ancient world was known to be suffering from famine. The earliest affected areas had been in crisis for three years. The latest areas had been affected for over a year.

Setting aside the food shortage, even if their food sources were normal—whether from salaries or stored grain from their own farms in previous years—what kind of good official, given the situation in the ancient world, could eat so well and still get so fat?

They would have been too worried to eat.

Even those who paid attention to their appearance, who weren't fat, had well-proportioned figures, fleshy cheeks, bright eyes, clean skin, and neat teeth. Calling them disaster victims would be laughable. After three years of severe disaster, even ordinary wealthy households wouldn't look so healthy.

Such people, standing next to real disaster victims, created a stark contrast. It was obvious at a glance that they were not ordinary people.

Of course, real investigations couldn't rely solely on this. It was too arbitrary.

So they just singled out these people first, recorded their origins and backgrounds, and then investigated them one by one.

After all, although the ancient world was chaotic, most government offices had been ransacked by disaster victims. What was taken was mainly food and cloth. At most, some gold, silver, and valuables were taken.

No one bothered with household registration documents, account books, or case files. Even though many were destroyed by natural disasters, many still remained.

How cases were decided, whether they favored the powerful or wealthy, was clear to those who knew. In this way, whether someone was good or bad couldn't be hidden.

As for the residences of officials behind the government offices, a flip through the account books would reveal whether there was corruption, how much was embezzled, and who had given them what benefits—all clearly documented.

Many households hadn't even bothered to hide confidential documents.

Evidence of corruption and bribery, loan certificates, and IOUs were left out in the open in their studies. Even if they were hidden, they were easy to find.

It was just a hassle to sort through.

Before long, some corrupt officials, evil gentry, and wealthy merchants were sent to prison.

They were sentenced or sent for labor reform, as the case warranted.

This sudden crackdown scared not only the corrupt officials and the unscrupulous wealthy.

The staff noticed a clear shift in the atmosphere in the wards.

The disaster victims grew uneasy.

In these years, which disaster victim hadn't compromised their morals to survive?

Stealing was the mildest of their actions.

Selling their bodies, eating corpses, and even exchanging children to eat were common occurrences.

Not to mention storming government offices, attacking the imperial palace, and seizing grain.

It was nothing short of rebellion.

Now those corrupt officials and evil wealthy people had been thrown into prison.

What would happen to them?

The disaster victims were on edge.

Just as they were about to start anew.

One victim, overwhelmed by the thought, fell to her knees and cried: "After learning to read, I took a law class and realized that selling my body for profit is a crime, but I had no other option. It’s not that I had no choice, but what woman would choose this willingly? Even though I did it, my child still starved to death."

"Cannibalism—I should have seen this coming," someone said, pale as if reliving the memory.

Someone couldn’t help but defend themselves: "I was part of the group that stormed the county magistrate’s house. I was the one who stabbed him to death. But he’s the one who drove us to desperation. Not only did he withhold relief grain, but even as the fields dried up, he kept demanding taxes. Where were we supposed to get grain to pay taxes? My family of six starved and died of thirst—only I made it out alive."

...

When the staff didn’t react, some victims seemed resigned, while others eyed the door, plotting their escape.

But no one tried to take the staff hostage or resort to violence.

"Those people weren’t sentenced for these actions."

"Before the famine, they were already criminals. After the disaster, they either hoarded relief grain or exploited the locals, making things worse."

The staff suddenly spoke up.

He looked seriously at all the disaster victims: "During the famine, as long as you didn’t harm the innocent, we won’t hold your actions against you."

In fact, it was impossible to pursue.

It was a vicious cycle—you wanted to eat me, I wanted to eat you—a complete mess. If we really pursued it, no one here was innocent. Even the children might have resorted to cannibalism.

It might have been the corpse of a stranger, or a relative. Or perhaps someone who tried to kill them but underestimated the child and was killed instead.

The staff would never forget the moment the children woke up from anesthesia, their eyes filled with ferocity and murderous intent.

"But now that you’ve taken the law class, you must never break the law again. If you do, you’ll face the consequences. You’ll be jailed or executed, depending on the crime."

The staff spoke gravely, and through the recent learning and education, they all understood what execution meant.

It was the same as a death sentence.

But the more ruthlessly the staff spoke, the more the disaster victims' hearts, which had been tense, slowly relaxed.

From now on, they’d carry the weight of guilt and remorse every day.

But this time, they were truly starting a new life.