Chapter 121: Relief Grain

Chapter 121: Disaster Relief Grain

There was no time to waste. After parting ways with Zheng Yiyang, Gu Chaoning immediately returned home to make preparations.

Meanwhile, Zheng Yiyang, after inspecting the disaster victims and briefly reassuring them, promptly returned to the official office to contact the wealthy households in town.

That very evening, two simple shelters were erected outside the town—one for distributing porridge and one to provide temporary shelter from the snow for the thirty-odd victims.

The watery porridge was mixed with basic medicinal herbs and vegetables, and it didn't taste great.

The young boy who had caught a chill also received aid, though his cold was quite severe—he was given a bowl of medicine, but it showed little effect.

But Ferry Town had done all it could; the rest was left in the hands of fate.

As for those who had initially shouted that they had money—they did have a bit.

However, with grain prices, medicine, firewood, and coal all rising, the silver they had scraped together from their collapsed homes wasn't even enough for a few nights at an inn.

That evening, Chen Youyan brought Zhen Xia to the magistrate's wife's embroidery banquet. No one attending this banquet was a fool—they all knew what the magistrate was really up to.

Those who understood the situation, like Chen Youyan, were better off, but most wore grim expressions.

Money didn't grow on trees. Having already donated grain and silver at noon, and now facing another embroidery banquet in the evening, many weren't eager to donate again.

Since winter began, alongside grain, colds, and medicine, the prices of firewood, charcoal, and cotton for warmth had all been creeping up.

But unexpectedly, the magistrate's wife only asked them to find spare clothes and quilts from their homes, mend them, and send them to the outskirts.

The wealthy households, who had braced themselves for another major contribution, let out a collective sigh of relief and eagerly responded. That very night, they rummaged through their belongings, stitched through the night, and sent a batch out early the next morning.

The disaster victims outside the town, clutching the slightly worn but clean cotton quilts and holding vegetable porridge laced with medicine, burst into tears.

These were no longer tears of pain and sorrow, but tears of gratitude.

What got everyone even more worked up was that after finishing their porridge, a bailiff announced loudly: "We need ten people to clear snow in town! Work one day, get a steamed bun. Work five days, get a cotton coat—coat's upfront, last four days are unpaid."

Getting into town meant they could buy supplies there!

Even if they didn't have much silver, it was still silver!

The husband clutching his drowsy young son grew excited and gave his man a hard slap! "Guzi! Go, hurry! Getting into town means we can buy medicine for our Xiaoyun!"

Zhang Dagu sprang to his feet and ran forward, shouting, "I'll go! I'll clear snow!"

The bailiff glanced at him, remembering Zhang Dagu and knowing his boy was ill.

Gu Chaoning and the magistrate had instructed that those with special circumstances could be selected, and the bailiff figured Zhang Dagu fit the bill.

As soon as Zhang Dagu ran over, others rushed forward too—in that short distance, some were so anxious they were sweating bullets.

Only ten spots were available, and everyone was afraid they'd get passed over.

New disaster victims had arrived that day; the crowd outside town was now approaching forty.

The bailiff gestured for silence: "Besides that, twenty more people are needed to cut trees and build shelters outside town. Same pay as clearing snow."

But clearing snow let you into town and was easier work, so everyone still preferred that.

After ten straight days of nonstop work, things finally settled down.

The number of disaster victims outside town had swelled to over eighty.

During that time, the snow hadn't let up for a single full day, and conditions worsened by the hour. Victims from nearby villages had even started showing up.

The largest group was from Big Stone Village.

But the good news was that today, word finally came from the court about disaster relief—in roughly ten days from now, the relief grain and supplies would arrive.

—

The capital.

Prince Xiao's residence.

Qi Jianwei set the message from his informant aside, sitting in silence, the veins on his neck bulging.

A maidservant brought tea and was about to withdraw when a sharp "crack" sounded—the freshly served teacup shattered on the floor.

Qi Jianwei's voice trembled with rage: "Those fat, useless parasites in court! Their official robes can barely contain their swollen bellies, and now they still steal from the disaster victims' grain!"

The maidservant's eyes widened in fright, and she immediately rushed forward and grabbed him around the waist. "Your Highness!"

With a "swish," Qi Jianwei drew the sword at his side, but the maidservant's hold held him back. "A pack of greedy fools—I'll send them to the disaster zone to eat snow!"

"Ah Xing, let me go." Rapid footsteps sounded from outside, and Ah Xing turned her head. "A Zheng, come in quick!"

Outside the door, A Zheng had been about to knock but paused. After a brief hesitation, he pushed the door open.

The door swung wide, and he met Qi Jianwei's bloodshot eyes, sword still in hand.

"Your Highness!"

A Zheng strode forward and, in one motion, disarmed Qi Jianwei. Qi Jianwei tried to snatch it back, but A Zheng was faster.

"A Zheng, don't stop me. I—" Qi Jianwei forced himself to calm down. "I'll go tell His Majesty, tell His Majesty—"

"Your Highness, you cannot go." A Zheng spread his arms, blocking his way.

Seeing Qi Jianwei trembling uncontrollably, A Zheng said quickly: "Does Your Highness remember that scholar named Gu Chaoning?"

"He's a student from Chuan Yang Prefecture, living in Ferry Town, Sui County—only three days away from Tong County, where the disaster is worst."

Qi Jianwei froze mid-motion. "Gu Chaoning?"

"Yes, Gu Chaoning."

"Spread word that I've caught a chill and am not receiving visitors."

Ah Xing's voice faltered. "If His Majesty inquires—"

"He won't. His Majesty won't inquire."

...

"Scholar Gu, a letter for you!"

Just like last time, the messenger shouted loudly, stuffed the letter through the crack in the door, and scurried off shivering.

These days, disaster victims came into town daily to clear snow, so the roads were passable again.

Zhimo came out to pick up the letter and went inside. Because Gu Rong had sent a letter before, Zhimo assumed this one was also from Gu Rong.

Thinking of the sore on the corner of Gu Chaoning's mouth, he felt a surge of joy. He ran inside, calling out, "Young master, there's a letter from Scholar Gu Rong!"

The court's aid was slow to arrive, and Gu Chaoning could not help but grow anxious and fretful—all of it manifesting on his lips.

Now he was even economizing on food; he could barely open his mouth to eat a steamed bun.

Yesterday, Zheng Yiyang had let it slip: the town's grain and medicine were running dry. Starting today, medicine could only be reserved for the people of Dukou Town, and grain would last at most five more days.

Five days—that was only half the time before the court's relief grain was supposed to arrive.

Hearing Zhimo's shouts, Gu Chaoning got up and looked over.

Zhimo handed him the letter, and Gu Chaoning unfolded it.

Yin Hongxue came back from outside with his medicine box on his back, also rushing toward the main hall.

"How shameless!"

"Chaoning Ge!" Despite the freezing weather, Yin Hongxue's back was drenched in sweat.

He quickly shut the door to the main hall and lowered his voice. "The Tongfu Inn owner said word from the capital is that the relief grain won't amount to much. He told us to get ready early and move back to the village first."

Moving closer to Gu Chaoning, Yin Hongxue finally saw the letter in his hands.

'The relief money and grain have been embezzled.'

Yin Hongxue stared at those words, rooted to the spot.

Gu Chaoning's mind raced as he thought back to his past life—there had been no embezzlement then!

In his past life, the relief grain had indeed arrived late, but he was sure it hadn't been stolen.

His eyes fell back on the paper.

No—maybe there had been embezzlement in his past life too, but someone had stopped it. As for the news, he'd just never received it.

As for who sent this message in this life, Gu Chaoning turned the paper over, checking it front and back.

Aside from Sixth Prince Qi Jianwei, he couldn't think of anyone else.

Gu Chaoning looked over at Yin Hongxue beside him.

"Pack up. Father and the rest of you should head back to the village first."

Even though three families in the village sold grain, the situation there was still better than in Dukou Town.

Especially since the village had the lizheng (village head) and the clan elder to keep order—as long as they could keep refugees out of the village, it would be the safest place for now.

Zhimo immediately went out to pack their things, but Yin Hongxue caught that Gu Chaoning had said "you all go first."

"Chaoning Ge, aren't you coming?"

Yin Hongxue thought of how Gu Chaoning had been running around town every day—first to gather intel, second for the refugees—and he understood what he meant.

Sure enough, Gu Chaoning shook his head. "Someone deliberately sent me this message. It sure wasn't so I could get an early heads-up and go into hiding."

He reached out and grabbed Yin Hongxue's shoulder, his eyes dead serious.

"You all head back to the village first. I'll be back in a few days. Don't worry about me."

Yin Hongxue met his gaze and saw the clear determination in Gu Chaoning's eyes.

Without another word, Yin Hongxue turned and went to find Chen Youyan and the rest.

Early the next morning, Chen Youyan and the others left Dukou Town, with Gu Wen accompanying them. The snow was so deep that carts could barely move, so everyone walked back to Xiaohe Village with only the essentials.

They set out at dawn and didn't reach Xiaohe Village until noon.

Gu Wen downed a bowl of ginger soup and immediately headed back to town.

This time, without having to worry about his husband and kids, Gu Wen walked much faster and made it to town in just two hours.

Gu Chaoning, who'd stayed in town, first went to find the messenger and probed about where the letter came from. Learning nothing, he then went to see Zheng Yiyang.

Zheng Yiyang was shocked to hear the relief grain would barely arrive, then got pretty distraught.

"Does the court truly not care whether we live or die?!"

Forget the current refugees—when Dukou Town ran out of food too, he, as town head, would be the first to be finished.

Gu Chaoning had anticipated this reaction, but Zheng Yiyang was the town head; he had to know this news.

"Let's think of a plan first."

Right now, his most urgent priority was to get in touch with the Sixth Prince.

But he could only wait for the Sixth Prince to contact him.

After leaving Zheng Yiyang's place, Gu Chaoning and Zhimo spent nearly the entire day walking around outside.

When it got too cold, they would return home to rest for a while.

On their third return, Zhimo's sharp eyes spotted another folded letter wedged in the door crack.