Chapter 255: Saving People

 Chapter 255: Saving People

By the end of August, the city gates of Xingyun Prefecture were finally opened.

They had no choice but to open them; the gates had been closed for nearly three months, and the supplies in the city were completely depleted. Now, many people had no food left.

Now that the plague had been cured, people could go out and seek a living.

Daohua had thought that they could leave, but unexpectedly, Xiao Yeyang needed to stay behind to assist with disaster relief.

Prefect Magistrate Guo was in charge of military affairs in three provinces: Zhongzhou, Fenxi, and Jiguan. This time, Jiguan had experienced both floods and a plague, and it was up to him to oversee the relief efforts.

Although the plague had been controlled, there were still large numbers of refugees who had not been settled.

Prefect Magistrate Guo was busy, and when Xiao Yeyang visited, he noticed that his uncle had lost a lot of weight after two to three months without seeing him. He immediately decided to stay and help, also thinking it would be a good opportunity to train himself.

Dong Yuanxuan and Yan Wenxiu thought about it all night and decided to stay as well.

"We came to Jiguan to help with disaster relief in the first place. We didn't expect to catch the plague before we could do anything. Now that we're well again, we should start doing something worthwhile. Otherwise, our trip here would have been for nothing."

Upon hearing this, Daohua and Dong Yuanyao exchanged glances.

Daohua looked at Yan Wenxiu and his brothers. "I came to take you home, so whenever you go back, I'll go back too."

Dong Yuanyao also quickly spoke to Dong Yuanxuan. "Brother, I’m the same. I’m going back to Zhongzhou with you."

Yan Wenxiu and Dong Yuanxuan both looked helpless.

Finally, Dong Yuanxuan spoke up. "Then you both stay inside the city and don’t run around. There are refugees everywhere outside, and it’s very dangerous for young girls like you to go out."

Daohua quickly nodded in agreement. "Don’t worry, we promise not to wander around if we're not with you."

Dong Yuanyao also nodded in agreement.

In the days that followed, Xiao Yeyang and his group were sent by Prefect Magistrate Guo to help. Daohua and Dong Yuanyao stayed busy as well.

Daohua had Qin Xiao Liu sent back and brought several boats of grain, while Dong Yuanyao sent a letter home, and the Dong family also gathered a batch of grain to send over.

The two of them set up a porridge stall at the city gates to distribute porridge.

"That riverbank collapse really did a lot of damage!"

"Indeed, I heard that countless fertile fields in Jiguan were flooded, and many houses were destroyed."

Daohua and Dong Yuanyao, dressed as men, stood in front of the porridge stall, scooping porridge for people while whispering to each other.

"Isn't it all because of the corruption and bribery of the officials? If it weren’t for that, how would we have suffered these disasters?"

A voice filled with dissatisfaction and resentment reached Daohua and Dong Yuanyao's ears. They looked up and saw a young man of about fifteen or sixteen, dark and sturdy, dressed in short clothes.

Seeing the approving expressions on the people around them, Daohua thought for a moment and said, "You can't just blame all officials. Not all officials are bad. There are many honest and upright ones."

The young man sneered. "You’re still too young, little brother. There’s no such thing as a truly good official in this world. Even if there are, they’re just seeking fame and prestige."

Dong Yuanyao, unable to tolerate it, put down her ladle and looked at the young man angrily. "What nonsense are you talking about? If there are no good officials in this world, then who collected the medicinal herbs when the plague broke out?"

"Who made the porridge you’re drinking now? And who’s going to various places for disaster relief and transporting grain? You can’t be without a conscience. How can you drink the porridge that officials gathered and then speak ill of them?"

The young man was left speechless. After a long silence, he finally muttered, "This porridge was collected by officials?"

Dong Yuanyao nodded. "Of course. Listen carefully. One of these porridge stalls was set up by the Prefect Magistrate of Zhongzhou, and the other by the Prefect Magistrate of Xingzhou. If you don’t believe me, you can go and ask."

Seeing the people around nodding in agreement, the young man glanced at the angry Dong Yuanyao, didn’t scoop any porridge, and left angrily.

Daohua tugged at Dong Yuanyao. "Why get so angry? That person’s probably just venting because his family was affected by the disaster."

Dong Yuanyao picked up the ladle and continued serving porridge to the people behind them. "I just can’t stand it. I won’t even talk about your father, but my own father—I've seen how he has served as an official since I was little. Maybe he has some of the habits of officials, but he’s truly been working for the people."

Daohua said, "Alright, don’t be angry!" She then called Wang Man’er over to send a bowl of porridge to the young man.

She noticed that he was with an elderly man.

Dong Yuanyao glanced over, curled her lip, and said nothing.

Daohua smiled but didn’t explain. She wasn’t as personally invested as Dong Yuanyao. She knew the young man was probably venting his anger at the officials responsible for the riverbank collapse, and her father had nothing to do with it, so she didn’t mind.

Before long, it was September.

On the day of the Chongyang Festival, Xiao Yeyang, following Prefect Magistrate Guo’s orders, was transporting a batch of grain to the neighboring city. Passing by the city gate, he saw Daohua and Dong Yuanyao and asked.

"Would you like to come with me to the neighboring city for a walk?"

Daohua and Dong Yuanyao both brightened up at once. "Is that okay?"

Xiao Yeyang smiled. "What’s the problem? It’s just bringing you two along."

Daohua quickly said, "Then let's go. Wait a moment, I need to make a quick announcement."

In no time, the three arrived at the dock and boarded the ship.

Daohua stood on the deck, looking at the flooded fields on both sides, sighed, and then asked, "Will we be able to return today?"

Xiao Yeyang nodded. "Of course, if things go smoothly, we should be back before evening."

An hour later, the three of them arrived at the dock in the neighboring city.

After this flood disaster, the emperor had issued a great fire and harshly dealt with a group of officials. Now, the officials in Jiguang were all extremely cautious, fearing that any mistake would lead to accountability.

So, Xiao Yeyang’s handover went smoothly.

"Your Highness, please rest assured. These grains will be immediately used for disaster relief."

Xiao Yeyang’s expression didn’t change. He calmly said, "I’ve sent all the grain over without missing a single grain. If the disaster is not under control, then it will be your problem, Magistrate. You can explain it to the emperor yourself later."

The magistrate's body shook slightly.

On the bow, watching the stern-faced, serious Xiao Yeyang, Dong Yuanyao tugged at Daohua’s sleeve. "The young prince looks quite intimidating when he doesn't smile."

Daohua carefully looked at him and pursed her lips without replying.

It might be because she was too familiar with Xiao Yeyang, or perhaps because she had seen him begging as a beggar; in any case, she wasn’t particularly afraid of him.

Soon, Xiao Yeyang returned and smiled at Daohua and Dong Yuanyao. "Alright, my business is done. On the way back, we can take it slow and enjoy the scenery."

"Sure!"

Daohua and Dong Yuanyao had no objections. They had come out for a leisurely trip, after all.

During the trip, the three of them were chatting and laughing on the deck when they suddenly heard a cry from the shore. Looking over, they saw that a section of the riverbank had suddenly collapsed, and several people walking by fell into the water.

Xiao Yeyang immediately ordered the ship to stop, called for a servant who could swim to rescue the people, and then prepared to personally watch from the back of the boat.

Daohua and Dong Yuanyao wanted to follow, but were stopped by Xiao Yeyang.

"The back of the boat is narrow and chaotic. Don’t go over there, you might fall into the river."

Daohua quickly said, "Then you be careful too."

Xiao Yeyang nodded, then turned and left.

While Daohua and Dong Yuanyao were waiting for news, another shout came from the front.

Daohua immediately looked over and saw that the riverbank in front had collapsed as well, and two elderly people fell into the water.

"Quick, save them!"

The people on the deck panicked and looked around before saying, "Miss Yan, all the ones who can swim went to the back to save people. We don’t know how to swim."

Daohua froze for a moment and quickly looked at the two elderly people in the river who were now rushing towards them.

(End of Chapter)