strictlysupreme Chapter 443 Strange Changes
Chapter 443 Strange Changes
Chapter 443 Strange Changes
Wen Luozhi also received a lot of things, but she couldn't possibly finish them all since she was leaving soon. So she had to tell her three brothers to take them back, and eat or use what they could.
Grandma Mi also brought some things over; she had also grown some Sichuan peppercorns and sold them for a good amount of money.
Songyin has been learning calligraphy and writing with Fang Da and the others, and she has already read, written, and memorized several poems. Grandma Mi was delighted when she thought of this, and waved her hand, saying, "This old woman doesn't want the rent for the next few months."
"Let's just consider this as our grandmother and grandson getting free meals and tuition fees."
Wen Luozhi smiled and gave Songyin a lot of picture books for little children.
Songyin had never seen a book before, let alone a colorful one, in her entire life. She couldn't put it down as soon as she got it.
"Xiao Yan, when I grow up, I'll take Grandma to find you outside." The little girl's eyes were smiling, and she didn't seem as timid and shy as when they first met.
Because they often praised her for having a birthmark on her face that looked as beautiful as a cloud, the little girl now walks down the street with her head held high and can no longer hide her face.
Helian Zhiyan nodded emphatically, urging them to hurry up and learn more characters.
For the next few days, Wen Luozhi was extremely busy, and after arranging everything, the day of departure finally arrived.
Before the people even got on the carriage, Fang Da and his two burly men were already wiping away tears.
"Sir, have a safe journey."
"Leave this to us. Once the mayor and I have learned the rest of the words in the book, we'll write you a letter," Fang Er said reluctantly.
Of the three brothers, he was the one who loved reading and writing the most; this method was actually devised by Wen Luozhi.
When we dropped her off outside town, a large group of people were already waiting at the intersection.
"Mr. Wen, have a safe trip!"
Miao Qian clasped his hands in a fist salute to her, a hint of envy in his eyes, envying her ability to go wherever she wanted without restraint.
Mayor Yin Enqi and Mayor Qi Shu bowed to her, and the townspeople followed suit.
Wen Luozhi returned the bow and said to everyone, "Until we meet again."
She boarded the carriage, and with a gentle flick of the whip, Big White and Little Black knew they were going home and ran off quickly.
The group only dispersed after they disappeared from their sight, and Fang Da and his friends stood there for a long time.
The three brothers touched the silver notes in their pockets; those were what Wen Luozhi had given them to use to hire people to do work in the future.
The most was placed with Fang Er, because he was the most shrewd and calculating.
"Let's go, sell the stuff and learn a few more words when we get back."
Fang Da, with one arm and one brother, invited his two brothers back.
Since the master trusts them so much and has entrusted them with so much money, we certainly can't let him down.
In Shanquan Village, spring plowing had already ended and everyone was tending to the crops in the fields. Wen Ziming came down from Jitou Mountain and saw some medicinal herbs, so he casually picked them and put them in his basket.
Recently, for some reason, the town has been buying up medicinal herbs on a large scale, even those harvested by farmers themselves.
Whenever they have time, the villagers go up the mountain; whatever amount of silver they can exchange for, they consider it a profit.
He'd already taken quite a bit from the house, so Xie He could take it all with him to sell when he went back to town tomorrow.
He was packing herbs when the village chief rushed in from outside. As soon as he saw him, he asked, "Eldest brother, where are your parents?"
"Hurry up, everyone who's at home, go to the big tree at the village entrance."
Wen Ziming wanted to ask him what was wrong, but when he looked up, the man was already gone.
After giving the announcement, the village chief waited under the tree. Once everyone had arrived, he cleared his throat and looked serious.
"As you all probably know, the pharmacies in town have been buying up medicinal herbs lately. In the past, they mostly wouldn't accept them from farmers like us who tried to find them ourselves."
Old Sun had already sold quite a lot, and upon hearing this, he said, "I found it strange at first, but it's good this way."
The others nodded in agreement, saying that this was also a source of income.
The village chief sighed and said, "I went on a long trip a couple of days ago, and when I came back I heard something."
"Do you know why the pharmacies in town buy medicinal herbs? Actually, it's not just here; it's done in other places too."
He glanced at everyone and told them about the plague outbreak he had heard on the way to the Northern Great Jing army.
Since they were far away, people weren't too panicked when they heard about it; they just felt it was terrifying.
When this epidemic comes, people will die. What will happen to all the soldiers who are protecting our country?
Unlike the reactions of others, the Wen family members felt as if they had been struck by lightning upon hearing the news.
How could an epidemic suddenly break out? Her sixth child is still on the battlefield!
Xie He nearly lost her balance, her voice trembling as she forced a smile: "This...how could this be? Village Chief, you must have misheard."
She prayed silently, but the next moment she saw the village chief shake his head, and then heard him say, "All the medicinal herbs in the capital have been collected and transported to the army. Because there isn't enough, the current emperor has ordered them to be purchased from all over the country."
Knowing that Xie He was worried about Wen Zixun, and that he knew some more, he couldn't bear to say more, afraid that Xie He would overthink and not be able to handle it.
"Whether it's far or not, please be careful when you go out, and cover your mouth and nose."
"Alright, go do what you were doing."
The crowd dispersed, and a few women who were close to Xie He stayed behind to comfort her.
"Don't overthink it, Zixun is a lucky boy, he'll be fine," said Aunt Wang.
“That’s right, there must be a way to get this medicine back. We can eat and drink as usual,” another woman said from the side.
Xie He was stunned. Jiang Shuqian said a few words to a few women and then pulled Xie He home.
"Mother, my brother is still in the capital. I'll go back and write to him immediately to ask him to inquire about the situation."
Xie He finally reacted upon hearing this, "Thank you, Qianqian, Mother."
Jiang Shuqian's eyes were red because she was worried about Wen Zixun, which made her heart ache.
Wen Muchuan didn't know how to comfort his wife either; his worries were no less than Xie He's.
……
Traveling day and night, Wen Luozhi finally left the Southern Wilderness at top speed.
For the next two days, she was stopped and inspected in every city she passed through.
I didn't see it when I went to Langhuai Kingdom before. Could something have happened?
Just then, an elderly man dressed as a doctor appeared. The soldiers beside him said that she should extend her hand, "Routine check. You can only enter the city if everything is fine."
Wen Luozhi obediently extended her hand, as did Helian Zhiyan.
After a while, the officials only let them pass after seeing the old doctor shake his head.
Finally, when Wen Luozhi entered the city, she found that everyone on the street was covering their mouths and noses.
A bad feeling welled up in her heart, and just in case, she took out a mask and put it on. The person and the wolf in the carriage, as well as the two horses outside the carriage, all had half of their faces covered.
Upon arriving in Shanquan Town, she first visited the restaurant and Meirenzhuang, and then went to the dessert shop Miaomiao House to see her two nieces whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Auntie! Auntie's back!" Daya and Erya rushed over to her in surprise.
Er Ya hugged her arm and rubbed against it, pouting as she said, "Auntie's finally back! Do you know what we would have done if she hadn't come back, Grandma..."
"Er Ya!" Da Ya quickly stopped her and said to Wen Luozhi, "Auntie, eat something and rest first. We'll go home together in a bit."
Wen Luozhi raised an eyebrow at the two sisters, asking them questions, but they wouldn't say anything.
She asked if Xie He was sick, but the two sisters just shook their heads.