Chapter 169 City Streets 69

Chapter 169: City Life in the Prefecture 69

"Oh! Sister Qi, are you alright? Did you get burned?!"

Cui Lanfang was the first to react. She only knew their new neighbor's surname was Qi but wasn’t sure of her full name. Seeing her daughter so startled that she dropped the medicine burner, she understood Qin Banban was worried about Chen Sanxi, who was away on escort duty, but the immediate situation needed handling first.

She hurried forward to steady the frightened Sister Qi, making sure she didn’t drop her own medicine burner in shock, and asked if she had been burned.

Qin Banban came to her senses, still anxious and concerned, but also worried that her carelessness might have harmed the new neighbor.

She was training to be a doctor, after all; she couldn’t afford to injure someone before even starting her practice.

"Sister Qi! Are you alright?" Qin Banban quickly asked, "I’m sorry, I’m sorry! My mind wandered! Are you hurt?"

Seeing the young woman’s panicked expression, Sister Qi figured Qin Banban must have had someone dear to her in Lan Prefecture and had been frightened by the news.

It was understandable. Sister Qi had only been startled and stepped back quickly, so the falling embers hadn't touched her.

Sister Qi shook her head and asked, "I’m fine, I’m fine, just a bit startled. It’s nothing."

"Why are you so frightened, Little Qin? Do you know someone in Lan Prefecture?"

She asked with concern.

Qin Banban bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before saying, "A good friend from back home also went to Lan Prefecture. I don’t know if he left before the flood."

Worried, she couldn’t help but ask, "Sister Qi, do you know what the situation is like in Lan Prefecture now? Are the casualties severe?"

This stumped Sister Qi. She fiddled with her hair and said awkwardly, "Well... I only overheard people talking about it a couple of days ago while buying groceries. I just caught a bit of the conversation and don’t really know the details."

Hearing this, Qin Banban sighed and didn’t press the matter further.

After clarifying how to burn the herbs and lime powder, Sister Qi thanked her and left.

Not long after, the family sat down to eat. With the imperial exams approaching this year, Qin Rongshi had been studying every day and hadn’t been helping out with the cooking chores. He only came out when it was time to eat.

For dinner there was stir-fried dried tofu with garlic shoots, a plate of stir-fried greens, a dish of stir-fried meat with spiral peppers, and soy-braised pork bones—all delicious dishes.

The garlic shoots were homegrown. They used the tender green leaves. She heated the wok, added oil, then stir-fried sliced garlic and shredded green peppers until fragrant. The dried tofu was added, stir-fried a few times, and seasoned with salt before serving.

Stir-fried greens might seem simple, but they actually test a cook's skill. The oil must be hot, and the greens shouldn’t be cooked for too long, or they’ll lose their freshness. Adding garlic and salt makes them flavorful.

Due to the recent heavy rains, the price of leafy greens had risen even faster than meat. Vegetables like bok choy, water spinach, and amaranth, which used to cost two or three coins per *jin* (about a pound), had now risen to eight coins and were still climbing. It got to the point where poorer families could no longer afford vegetables.

Qin Rongshi picked up some food with his chopsticks and looked up to see his sister looking distraught, holding an empty chopstick to her mouth as if eating.

Qin Rongshi was puzzled.

"Banban?"

Qin Rongshi called out.

Qin Banban didn’t hear him and continued moving the empty chopstick to her mouth, her lips moving as if she were actually tasting something.

Qin Rongshi frowned and exchanged a glance with Liu Guyu, silently asking: What’s wrong with her?

Liu Guyu didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he picked the meat off a pork bone and placed it in Qin Banban’s bowl, saying to her, "Don’t worry too much. The more you think about it, the more anxious you’ll get. Don't start panicking yet. Tomorrow, I’ll ask around for you. Lan Prefecture is far from here, and rumors can easily be distorted as they spread."

Cui Lanfang had also heard what Sister Qi said and was concerned. Sanxi was like a son to her, and it was only natural to worry.

But her daughter was so distressed she had lost her appetite, her brow furrowed and her lips downturned, looking listless. Her heart aching for her daughter, Cui Lanfang added, "That’s right. Brother Liu said he’ll help you ask around tomorrow. You should eat something first."

Lan Prefecture? Wasn’t that where Chen Sanxi had gone for the escort mission?

Qin Rongshi had a vague idea but didn’t ask outright, not wanting to upset Qin Banban further.

With everyone showing concern, Qin Banban forced a smile and managed to eat half a bowl of rice before putting down her chopsticks. Still worried, she went to burn herbs and lime powder again, fumigating the courtyard and the house.

The mood at dinner was subdued today, and the others also had little appetite, finishing quickly.

Cui Lanfang stood up to clean up, but Liu Guyu beat her to it.

He patted her arm and said, "Mother, go check on Banban. She’s most likely to brood when she’s alone. Erlang and I will wash the dishes."

Understanding his meaning, Cui Lanfang nodded and went out to find Qin Banban.

Liu Guyu and Qin Rongshi cleaned the kitchen, washing the dishes and placing them in the drying rack. Meanwhile, Liu Guyu told Qin Rongshi what Sister Qi had said.

Hearing this, Qin Rongshi frowned.

Pausing as he wiped the stove, he said solemnly, "I’ll also ask around tomorrow."

...

The news was indeed hard to verify, with rumors mixing truth and falsehood, making it difficult to distinguish.

In the end, Qin Rongshi invited Yang Su for a meal, fulfilling his earlier promise to treat him, and also asked him to inquire about the situation in Lan Prefecture.

Since Yang Su’s father was an education official, he had better access to such information than ordinary people.

"I’ve asked!" Yang Su said while eating.

The perilla-fried fish was particularly delicious. The aroma of garlic, chili, and the unique fragrance of perilla leaves clung to the golden-brown fish slices, with a glossy red sauce poured over them, making it very appetizing.

Yang Su loved fish, and this perilla fish suited his taste especially well.

"I’ve asked! It rained even heavier in Lan Prefecture than here in Jiangning Prefecture... Mmm, this fish is delicious!"

"The Mei River flows there too! I don’t know if the local officials neglected their duties or if their subordinates were disobedient, but the river embankment was old and collapsed in one section... Mmm, adding perilla makes it even better, along with minced garlic and chili—so flavorful!"

"Oh, and also, it seems like half a month ago, there was a heavy rainstorm, and the rising river water broke the embankment. Fortunately, not many people lived there, so although there were casualties, it wasn’t too severe. However, many boats on the river were damaged... Mmm, what kind of fish is this? The meat is tender and delicious!"

Hearing this, Qin Banban’s expression didn’t improve much.

Chen Sanxi had switched to traveling by water halfway to Lan Prefecture. She didn’t know if he had been unlucky enough to encounter the disaster.

He had been gone for almost a month now. Based on what he said before leaving, he should have returned by now, but he still hadn’t, which only added to her worry.

Cui Lanfang offered a few words of comfort, while Yang Su said he ought to get going.

He had come at noon when it wasn’t raining, but the sky was still overcast. Yang Su was still living in the academy dormitory and hadn't moved back home, hoping to get back before it rained again.

Liu Guyu packed some food for him: a container of sweet osmanthus balls and plum soup, and a portion of chilled bayberry cake.

These were originally new items Liu Guyu had developed for the food shop, but due to the bad weather this year, the shop had been forced to close, so the family ended up enjoying the treats instead.

Yang Su sheepishly rubbed the back of his head but, craving the food, didn’t refuse Liu Guyu’s kindness.

He accepted the bamboo lunchbox from Liu Guyu and added, "I'll dig deeper into the details and let you know as soon as I have any updates."

Qin Rongshi saw his classmate off at the door, clasping his hands and saying, "I appreciate it, Classmate Yang."

Yang Su nodded and replied, "No need to see me out, Classmate Qin."

After Yang Su left, several more days passed without any new updates from Lan Prefecture, leaving Qin Banban so worried that she visibly lost weight.

The rain continued intermittently, sometimes heavy, sometimes light, and the stone-paved streets were rarely dry. Every day, laborers could be seen clearing and draining water from the roads.

Fewer and fewer people were out on the streets, as no one ventured outside unless absolutely necessary.

The prices of rice, grains, meat, and vegetables skyrocketed, leaving the city's residents deeply worried, their faces etched with anxiety. Every day, they prayed to the gods and local deities, hoping for the heavy rains to end soon.

In May, the skies remained overcast with drizzling rain, and Huichun Clinic was once again crowded with people.

"Doctor Fang, how much does the medicinal fumigation pack cost here? Is it still the same price as before?" someone asked.

Fang Liuyin, wearing a face covering, nodded in response. His voice, muffled by the silk cloth and oiled paper, sounded nasal as he spoke. "The price remains the same—eighteen coins per pack. Use it twice a day, and one pack is enough to fumigate a single-courtyard house for three days."

The person quickly expressed gratitude, saying, "Oh, wonderful! You're truly a good person!"

"Ever since the government posted notices requiring everyone in the city to fumigate their homes with medicine to ward off illness, other clinics have raised their prices! The Jishi Tang clinic is now selling a pack for fifty coins! Oh dear, with daily fumigation, how can anyone afford it?"

"Doctor Fang is truly kind! The price of your medicine hasn’t increased at all! You’re a good person, a wonderful doctor!"

Hearing this, the other patients gathered around chimed in enthusiastically.

"Yes, yes! Doctor Fang, you’re truly a good person! I’ll take three packs!"

"I’ll take three packs too! Three packs for me as well!"

"Doctor Fang, you won’t raise the price later, will you? If you do, then... then I’ll have to buy more today!"

Fang Liuyin quickly instructed Banban to fetch the medicine and addressed the patients one by one:

"The price won’t increase, not now or in the future. Feel free to buy with peace of mind!"

"If your family truly cannot afford it, you can use lime powder alone. Although it’s not as effective as the medicinal blend, it’s much cheaper—eight coins per pound. Buying two or three pounds will last a long time!"

"Besides that, maintaining hygiene is crucial. Wash your hands frequently, bathe often, and change clothes regularly. If any livestock or poultry die from illness or drowning, do not hesitate to dispose of them properly!"

Even in the city, there were impoverished families who struggled to afford daily necessities, let alone medicine for fumigation. Fang Liuyin knew this. He had practiced medicine for years and had seen patients who couldn’t afford treatment and had to return home to await death. Thus, he offered a more affordable, though less effective, alternative.

Upon hearing this, several people immediately raised their hands and called out urgently:

"Then I’ll just buy lime powder! I’ll take two pounds for now!"

"I’ll buy two pounds of lime powder too!"

"Me too! I want some as well!"

...

Banban packaged the medicine and lime powder for them, carefully explaining the proper dosage for each fumigation. She spoke meticulously and earnestly.

Though her mind was preoccupied with other worries, she forced herself to stay focused in the clinic, prioritizing the care of the patients before her.

This time, few people came for medical consultations or prescriptions; most were there to buy fumigation herbs or lime powder.

After seeing off this wave of visitors, Banban and Fang Liuyin finally breathed a sigh of relief. But as soon as they had a moment to rest, their minds began to wander again. Fang Liuyin noticed Banban’s deflated demeanor—she looked like a flower wilted by the sun, her shoulders drooping.

He felt sorry for his apprentice and knew what was weighing on her mind. Just as he was about to ask, a young, robust man rushed into the clinic in a hurry.

"Banban!"