Chapter 6: She wanted to see how far she could go…

Chapter 6: She wanted to see how far she could go...

With ample funds and grain at its disposal, the county office gained sufficient confidence to act boldly.

In just a short time, disaster relief efforts in Yong'an County were well underway.

Huo Ling had also fulfilled her commitments.

In addition to delivering grain to the county office, she personally visited Huichun Hall (a local clinic) to invite Doctor Chen to treat the displaced people.

Doctor Chen came from a generational family of physicians and, despite his youth, was already the most skilled doctor in Yong'an County.

When Fang Shi fell ill, he had been summoned for treatment. Having interacted with him several times, Huo Ling immediately thought of him when seeking a physician.

Upon hearing Huo Ling's request, Doctor Chen readily agreed but firmly refused any consultation fee.

"Miss Huo’s kindness is admirable, and I am no miser either. While Huichun Hall must charge for medicine as part of its business, my fees need not apply."

Once the broad terms were settled, Huo Ling and Doctor Chen worked out the finer details.

She set up consultation tents to prevent infectious diseases in the disaster-stricken areas. Thus, while she left the specifics of treatment to Doctor Chen, she would only cover the costs of medicines for colds, fevers, and preventive measures against contagion.

Doctor Chen was both amiable and forthright.

He suggested that Huo family members and Huichun Hall staff work together to fill prescriptions based on the formulas, making it easier to track expenses for both sides.

This wasn’t about distrust, but about avoiding misunderstandings.

After their discussion, Doctor Chen formed an excellent impression of Huo Ling, and she, in turn, held great respect for the young physician.

The snow that had lasted for days finally stopped. Sitting by the window, Huo Ling went over the previous day's medicine expenses.

Once the accounts were verified, she tucked the banknotes and some loose change into a pouch.

Wu Mo entered, carrying a sprig of red plum blossoms: "Miss, are you heading to the city gates again today?"

Huo Ling walked over behind the folding screen to change into outdoor attire: "There’s no point sitting around at home. Going to the city gates lets me be part of the effort while keeping track of relief progress."

As Wu Mo arranged the plum blossoms in a vase by the window and added water, she remarked, "True, there’s little entertainment here. But the weather grows colder—I worry you’ll get cold."

"Then I’ll bring an extra hot water bottle."

Once dressed, Huo Ling walked over to the bronze mirror and opened a hair ribbon box filled with ribbons, selecting ones that matched her outfit.

One was braided into her hair, the other wrapped several times around her wrist.

"Is A Ze home today since the school is on break?"

The Huo home wasn’t large, making it impossible to conceal any activity.

While pouring hot water into the hand warmer, Wu Mo replied, "The servants said the young master has been spending much time with the county magistrate’s son. Early this morning, the magistrate’s son picked him up, and the two went off somewhere."

Since Huo Ze was absent, Huo Ling said nothing further and first visited Huo Shiming’s study.

Huo Shiming’s study held an extensive collection of books. Though many Huo ancestors were military officers, any old family made sure to collect books.

Even after the family’s decline, most of these books had been preserved and hadn’t been thrown out.

After exchanging greetings with the servant at the door, Huo Ling shouldered open the heavy wooden door and headed straight for the corner bookshelf.

The shelf was filled with medical books. She selected ten of them and packed them into a wooden box.

The carriage made its way to the city gate, where Huo Ling lifted the curtain and saw a sea of tents.

These tents, stained with scattered spots of dirt, had been pulled out from who-knows-where and were piled together in a disorderly, crowded manner. From time to time, haggard refugees moved in and out between them.

Not far away, a group of refugees was lining up, waiting to be registered for entry into the tent area.

Wu Mo also looked outside. "Looks like way more tents today than yesterday."

Huo Ling replied, "Yesterday, a whole village's worth of refugees showed up in Yong'an County. The extra tents must be for them."

"How many people are currently sheltered in the refugee area?"

"As of yesterday evening, a thousand three hundred and counting."

After getting off the carriage, Huo Ling and Wu Mo picked their way through the maze of tents and found the soup kitchen and medical tent at the center.

Between meal times, there were few people in front of the soup kitchen. Beside it, the medical tent had the usual long line snaking out front.

Each person held a county-issued wooden token—a measure implemented to manage the refugees. Both receiving porridge and seeking medical treatment required presenting the token.

However, they weren't strict about enforcing this. If local townsfolk came for porridge or treatment, folks would look the other way.

Huo Ling was well aware of this but chose not to intervene.

After all, her donation was a set amount—when it was gone, it was gone.

Whether the money was spent on refugees or local townsfolk made no difference to her.

Inside the medical tent, Doctor Chen sported a well-worn sky-blue cotton jacket, his expression gentle, radiating that special healer's calm. Surrounded by so many patients, he never lost that patient tone.

He was taking the pulse of an elderly man with a weathered face, while his apprentice was helping out.

After taking the pulse, Doctor Chen asked a few more questions, which the old man answered between coughs.

Doctor Chen quickly wrote a prescription, recorded the old man’s information, and noted the number on his wooden token. "Come to the shed next door tomorrow morning to collect your medicine."

The old man kept bowing his thanks before leaving.

The next patient settled in, and without resting, Doctor Chen repeated the same process.

Only when he heard a buzz of recognition from the crowd did he notice Huo Ling standing nearby.

After prescribing for the current patient and apologizing to the next one, asking them to wait a moment, Doctor Chen approached Huo Ling, his voice raspy from overuse. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Huo."

Huo Ling handed him the payment for yesterday’s medicine and said politely, "I'm the one interrupting, Doctor Chen."

Without counting the money, Doctor Chen put it away directly.

Huo Ling continued, "I won’t take up much more of your time. This is a gift I prepared for you."

With that, she handed him the wooden box.

Doctor Chen looked puzzled. "We'd agreed that..."

Huo Ling knew what he wanted to say and replied sincerely, "Doctor Chen, your compassion as a healer is admirable. If I insisted on paying you, it would be an insult."

She opened the lid of the wooden box, allowing Doctor Chen to see its contents. "This box contains medical books from my family's collection. Some of them date back to the previous dynasty and are nearly impossible to find."

As the medical books came into view, Doctor Chen's eyes lit up.

As a physician, he could firmly refuse payment, but he could hardly refuse the medical books.

Noticing his reaction, Huo Ling spoke gently, "Like a fine sword for a hero, no matter how precious a treasure is, it only shines when placed in the right hands."

"These medical books have been collecting dust on our shelves. But if given to you, Doctor Chen, they could potentially save hundreds or even thousands of lives. I hope you won't refuse them again."

At this point, Doctor Chen indeed stopped declining. "These books are truly what I need. I won't be polite with you, Miss Huo."

Huo Ling replied, "Please take them. My family has other medical books as well. Once you've finished these, you can send word to my home, and I'll have more delivered to you."

With that, she turned slightly and took the pastries from Wu Mo, offering them to Doctor Chen. "These two boxes of pastries were bought on the way here. They're nothing special, but you might like to try them."

Had Huo Ling offered the pastries before the medical books, Doctor Chen would have put up a fight. But having just said he wouldn't be polite, it would be unreasonable to decline the pastries now.

Accepting them, Doctor Chen thanked her again, thinking what a thoughtful woman Miss Huo was.

After some casual conversation, Huo Ling inquired about the medical supplies at Huichun Hall.

Doctor Chen replied, "We're doing okay with most, but the herbs for treating colds are being used up quickly."

"For now, we can manage, but if more refugees come and this drags out, it'll become difficult."

Huo Ling made a mental note and didn't delay him further.

After walking a few steps with Huo Ling, Wu Mo couldn't help but glance back. "Doctor Chen is really committed."

In that short time, Doctor Chen had already returned to his seat and was seeing another patient.

"No wonder you're willing to befriend him and lend him books, miss."

Huo Ling smiled faintly. "In this world, no one would have reason to antagonize a young, skilled doctor with strong principles."

As she spoke, Huo Ling glanced toward the porridge station and happened to see the plump figure of Magistrate Qiu.

Magistrate Qiu had been riding high lately.

Having stayed in Yong'an County for over a year, this was the first time he could cut loose like this. Every morning after handling official duties, he would stroll around the city gate with his clerk.

Observing the thriving scene before him, Magistrate Qiu stroked his mustache smugly.

His clerk could barely watch. His Excellency really ought to look in a mirror and see himself like a peasant who struck gold.

"Fancy meeting you here."

As Huo Ling approached the porridge station, the sharp sting of ginger hit her.

It turned out Magistrate Qiu and his clerk were standing by the stove, brewing ginger soup.

"What brings you here?"

Magistrate Qiu grinned eagerly, handing the ladle to Advisor Zhang and wiping his hands on his robe.

"Just now, two groups were causing trouble, and I feared things might escalate, so I sent the constables handling the soup to intervene. Advisor Zhang and I stayed behind to stoke the fire and add wood."

The ginger soup was Doctor Chen's idea.

For illnesses like colds, prevention matters most.

After each mealtime, the constables would set up cauldrons to brew two pots of ginger soup for the refugees, keeping them from getting sick again.

Huo Ling praised, "Magistrate Qiu really cares for the people."

Magistrate Qiu grinned brightly, though he tried to appear modest. "You flatter me, Miss Huo."

The two had often run into each other in the refugee camp these past days. Magistrate Qiu had always been grateful for Huo Ling’s assistance and never acted high-and-mighty in front of her, or used stuffy titles like "this official."

Magistrate Qiu looked around and dropped his voice. "There’s something I’ve been pondering, and I thought it best to inform Miss Huo in advance."

"I submitted a report a few days ago. The Huo family’s contributions to the relief efforts were spelled out plainly in it."

Huo Ling thought to herself that Magistrate Qiu was a decent guy.

"Since you’re being straight with me, I’ll cut to the chase."

Magistrate Qiu gestured for her to continue.

Huo Ling: "Counting the county’s grain reserves, the silver and grain donated by the Huo family, and the funds raised at the banquet, I estimate that Yong’an County can accommodate a maximum of five thousand refugees."

Magistrate Qiu stiffened briefly, shot a glance at Advisor Zhang, and asked with his eyes: Is that so?

Advisor Zhang was just as lost.

He only knew that Yong’an County’s relief funds and grain were ample but had never calculated exactly how many refugees they could support.

Huo Ling caught their look but pretended not to notice.

Magistrate Qiu coughed and snapped out of it. "Y-yes, that’s correct."

Huo Ling pushed ahead calmly. "In recent days, have the number of refugees coming to Yong’an County decreased?"

Yong’an County was out in the sticks, with a small population and underdeveloped economy. Among the fourteen cities of Yanxi, it was one of the poorer ones.

Yet it was close to several larger counties.

Folks fleeing usually headed for those more prosperous counties rather than Yong’an.

This was a question Magistrate Qiu could answer confidently. "Indeed. I estimate that in another two days, the refugee numbers will stabilize completely."

By then, he would have done what Prince Duan asked.

Just as a sense of relief began to rise in his heart, Huo Ling kept going. "Have you considered the next steps?"

Magistrate Qiu was stumped by that.

After frowning in thought, he replied, "I hope Miss Huo will enlighten me."

Huo Ling’s tone remained unhurried. "From what I know, the larger towns surrounding our county are swamped with war efforts and can hardly spare sufficient manpower or grain to resettle refugees in time. Not only those arriving later, but even the first wave of refugees haven’t been fully accommodated."

"Our county is completely different."

"We have sufficient manpower, food, and silver, but strangely, no more refugees are arriving."

Miss Huo had spotted this problem as soon as she heard about the amount of silver and grain the county office had raised.

But back then, relief operations weren't fully underway yet. Speaking up then might've seemed presumptuous.

It wasn’t until today, when the timing was right, that she approached Magistrate Qiu.

His jumbled thoughts suddenly clicked into place, and Magistrate Qiu felt like a lightbulb going off in his head.

He finally understood Miss Huo’s meaning.

After settling the 1,300 or so refugees, they'd still have plenty left over.

Should he call it good, or aim higher and find a way to take in refugees from nearby towns as well?

After all, being the first to complete disaster relief work was commendable, but it was merely fulfilling one’s duty.

But if he actively took in refugees, he would be easing the burden on other towns and advancing the disaster relief efforts across Yanxi. Who'd be more deserving of a promotion?

Who’d catch Prince Duan’s eye more than him?!

My god, in this cold and indifferent world, how could there be a woman as kind and beautiful as Miss Huo?

Seeing Magistrate Qiu’s barely-controlled excitement—as if he were about to grab her hands and shake them vigorously—Miss Huo instinctively took half a step back, debating whether to go on. "Given more time, Your Honor and Advisor Zhang would have thought of this as well."

Magistrate Qiu shook his head. He was self-aware enough.

Besides, Miss Huo’s modesty was her own business. If he didn’t acknowledge her kindness, he’d be downright ungrateful.

"Perhaps it is as Miss Huo says. But implementing this sooner means those poor refugees would suffer less, even if just a little earlier."

Miss Huo: "Just hearing you say that, I must remind you further—the Hui Chun Pharmacy is running low on medicine."

"If we are to accommodate more refugees, we must also prepare tents, quilts, and other warm supplies as soon as possible."

Magistrate Qiu nodded.

With silver in hand, these things should be easy enough to get.

Miss Huo smiled and continued, "Once the weather warms and the war ends, the refugees might head back to their hometowns."

"Yong'an County has plenty of land and not enough people. Among these refugees, there are many able-bodied young adults. If we can persuade them to stay and settle in Yong'an, the boost in registered residents will also count as Your Honor’s political achievement."

Magistrate Qiu's pulse quickened.

If Miss Huo’s estimates were correct, Yong'an County could accommodate 5,000 refugees.

Even if only one or two thousand of them were able-bodied, they'd be a real asset.

"I understand."

From start to finish, Miss Huo never provided any specific methods. Instead, she pointed out a clear direction for Magistrate Qiu to strive toward.

This kind of foresight—seeing several moves ahead—was something Magistrate Qiu lacked, and it touched him deeply.

All those years of wasted potential still felt vivid in his memory. Now, someone had handed him a ticket to the top.

If there's a ladder to climb up, who would willingly remain trapped at the bottom of the valley?

In extreme excitement, Magistrate Qiu managed to keep his composure.

Suppressing the lump in his throat, he bowed deeply and solemnly to Huo Ling.

"Miss Huo, your great kindness is something Qiu Hongzhen will never forget."

Huo Ling did not shy away but accepted his gesture with composure.

Qiu Hongzhen was, in truth, a magistrate with average abilities.

This was evident from his lack of outstanding accomplishments in the year since his appointment.

Yet, he was diligent—faithfully implementing the court's directives and caring for the people.

None of these, however, were the reasons Huo Ling had chosen to guide him.

She guided him mainly because she wanted to see how far her influence could reach.

Beyond aiding the Huo family's return to the capital and securing a higher position for her father, how far could a magistrate go with her subtle guidance?

With a new goal in sight, Qiu Hongzhen was energized. But the two pots of ginger soup were still brewing, and the officers dealing with the trouble had yet to return, leaving him unable to depart immediately.

Huo Ling saw his predicament and suggested they handle more important business, offering to help.

With a light cough and some polite words, Qiu Hongzhen hurried off with Advisor Zhang.

The work was easy—just keeping the fire going.

Huo Ling stirred the ginger soup with a ladle.

Soon, the soup began to boil, its steamy mist rising and warming her face, prompting her to turn slightly away.

Suddenly, shadows fell before her. Raising her eyes damp from the steam, she saw the man in fine clothes she had glimpsed from horseback days ago now standing before her.

Jet-black hair crowned with jade, his dark robes dusted with snow.

Behind him, Fang Jianbai, dressed as a guard, looked like he wanted to speak but held back.

Huo Ling lifted the ladle slightly, with what might have been a smile.

With the motion, the hair ribbon coiled around her wrist swayed gently, making her skin look even fairer.

"The weather's freezing, honored guest. Having journeyed so far, would you like a bowl of ginger soup to warm yourself?"