bestfiction Chapter 174 Taking in Xiaoya and her brother
Chapter 174 Taking in Xiaoya and her brother
While searching for the injured amidst the ruins, Wen Yuxia and others distributed relief food and tinder to the disaster-stricken people they encountered along the way. She gave out only a small amount of food: one jin (500g) for adults and half a jin (250g) for children.
No signatures or fingerprints were required from the disaster victims, and no registration was necessary. She secretly took photos with her phone throughout the entire process, making it virtually impossible to receive relief food twice from her.
She didn't prepare many tinderboxes, so that more people could use them. The tinderboxes were distributed mainly by village, one tinderbox per village.
After distributing relief food to pedestrians on the road, they were told that the Crown Prince was escorting a large amount of supplies and would be arriving soon, and were advised to go home and wait patiently.
That afternoon, Wen Yuxia and her group arrived at a small town less than ten miles from Xinchuan County, where they found a girl holding a baby hiding in the corner of a dilapidated house.
Without hesitation, Nan Yi and Nan Er rushed over, cleared away the debris, and picked up the little girl and the baby. The little girl clung tightly to Nan Yi's arm, crying that she was hungry. The baby in Nan Er's arms had its eyes closed, and there were traces of tears at the corners of its eyes.
Bei Yi gently comforted the little girl, took out some dry food and water, and carefully fed her. Wen Yuxia took out a bowl of warm milk from her space and carefully fed it to the baby in Nan Er's arms.
The baby, eyes closed, instinctively swallowed the milk offered to its mouth. After drinking about half a bowl, the baby slowly opened its eyes, looking curiously at Wen Yuxia, making "ooh ooh ah ah" sounds.
Wen Yuxia was overjoyed; it seemed the child was alright. She said gently, "Little one, you're safe now. Eat your fill and get a good night's sleep."
When the little girl saw the baby wake up, she immediately stopped eating, reached out her hands to hug the baby, and choked out, "Little brother, little brother."
Bei Yi said softly, "Your little brother needs to sleep. Don't wake him. Be good, have a little more to eat."
“Master, the people inside are all beyond saving.” Nan San and the others carried several corpses out of the house. When the little girl saw them, she started crying again: “Grandpa, Grandma, Daddy, Mommy, please get up!”
Bei Yi coaxed the little girl for a long time before she calmed down. From the little girl's intermittent cries, Wen Yuxia understood that of the six family members, four adults had died, leaving only the little girl and her brother.
Before leaving, Wen Yuxia asked Nan Yi to ask the townspeople if anyone was willing to adopt the two children. All the neighbors said they were willing but unable to.
"Master, let's take them with us!" Bei Yi said, looking at the two children with sympathy.
"Master, we've been learning martial arts from you and our master since we were little. They can learn from us from now on!" Bei Si was thrilled to finally have the chance to be a master.
"Let's keep them for now. We'll decide what to do with the children once the Crown Prince arrives," Wen Yuxia said slowly.
The city gates of Xinchuan County were tightly shut, and many dying disaster victims lay scattered outside the city. In the surrounding woods, figures could be vaguely seen searching for food.
Seeing this, Wen Yuxia was extremely disappointed. Along the way, she hadn't seen any officials helping the people, nor had she seen Prefect Mu of Nanzhou providing disaster relief.
Upon arriving at the gates of Xinchuan County, the city gates remained tightly shut, and the people inside paid no heed to the plight of the disaster victims outside. Instead, it was the Emperor, far away in the capital, who dispatched a relief team.
Hehe, if an official doesn't serve the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes. She'll definitely report what she's seen along the way to Xia Yichen. Whether Lord Mu and Magistrate Yang will go home to sell sweet potatoes after the disaster depends on their fate.
"South One, announce that this county magistrate is entering the city. North One, start a fire and cook porridge. South Two, tell the people to prepare bowls and chopsticks; if they don't have bowls, help them cut some bamboo to make bamboo bowls," Wen Yuxia's clear, cold voice, amplified by her inner strength, carried far and wide.
When the famine victims searching for food heard that the county magistrate was going to cook porridge for them, those who had found wild vegetables brought them over, while those who hadn't brought firewood. Everyone sat quietly, their eyes fixed on the three large pots of porridge.
"Princess Muhua has arrived! Open the city gates immediately to welcome her! Princess Muhua has arrived! Open the city gates immediately to welcome her!" Nan Yi shouted, looking up.
On the city wall, someone shouted, "The magistrate has ordered that anyone who opens the city gates without authorization shall be put to death. Please wait a moment, Princess, while I go and report to the magistrate."
A quarter of an hour later, Magistrate Yang finally appeared on the city wall. He peered out and saw Wen Yuxia, as well as three large pots steaming hot.
"Princess Muhua, that's right, Princess Muhua. Open the city gates and welcome the princess into the city," Magistrate Yang stammered.
"Bei Si, come into the city with me. The rest of you stay outside the city. Make do with your lodgings tonight. I'll have Bei Si send you food and tents tomorrow morning," Wen Yuxia said as she climbed onto the carriage. Under the cover of the carriage, she took out several quilts and placed them on top of the food sacks.
The city gate slowly opened, wide enough for one person to pass through. Magistrate Yang stood there peering in, calling out loudly, "Princess Muhua, Princess Muhua!"
Worried about Steward Li and the others in the city, Wen Yuxia saw the city gate open and leaped forward. After three jumps, she arrived at the city gate, with Bei Si following closely behind.
Magistrate Yang smiled obsequiously, "This humble official greets the Princess!" Wen Yuxia said coldly, "Magistrate Yang, tomorrow the Princess will have supplies transported out of the city. Their safety is your responsibility."
"Yes, I understand. I will certainly protect them," Magistrate Yang stammered.
He dispatched all the county officials to the south gate to search for and rescue the people. Since there weren't many people living outside the north gate, he didn't send any officials out there to search for them.
The soup kitchen outside the south gate has already started distributing soup. The county government doesn't have much surplus grain, and he's been trying to raise more these past few days. Once he gets enough grain, he'll set up a soup kitchen outside the north gate.
To everyone's surprise, the imperial court sent Princess Muhua, who began helping the people even before entering Xinchuan City. Magistrate Yang, looking at the infant in Bei Si's arms and the little girl being held tightly in Bei Si's arms, felt somewhat ashamed.
"The flood occurred at night, and the closed city gates blocked most of the floodwaters, so the people in the city were largely unaffected by the flood."
As they walked, Magistrate Yang explained the situation in the city to Wen Yuxia and also told her about his difficulties.
Wen Yuxia said calmly, "The Crown Prince is on his way to Xinchuan County with a large amount of supplies. Do your best to persuade the people not to flee. I will go back and procure more grain."
Wen Yuxia helped procure food, and Xia Yichen was on his way with supplies. The people of Xinchuan County were saved. Magistrate Yang said with a serious expression, "This humble official will go back and organize manpower immediately."