Chapter 7, A Sudden Calamity
Li Su turned around, only to find his father, Li Daozheng, glaring at him fiercely
Turning his head again to glance at the Wang family mansion, listening to the faint sounds of weeping coming from within, Li Daozheng's gaze, cold yet tinged with a hint of compassion, resembled that of one looking at a solitary grave
Li Su pointed to Wang Zhuang and Wang Zhi, who were being carried away, and said, "The Wang brothers..."
The village entrance was firmly guarded by the soldiers of the Jinwu Guard, making it impossible for the villagers to leave. The general leading the troops, with tears in his eyes, ordered the use of clubs to drive the villagers away. The county magistrate knelt behind the soldiers, crying as he bowed to the villagers in apology, urging them to stay in their homes and prevent the spread of the plague from worsening
Running all the way, Li Su arrived at the Wang family's house, panting heavily, only to find that the courtyard was surrounded by a crowd. Many villagers had come, each displaying a look of fear, cautiously pointing and whispering towards the Wang family's courtyard
Get lost! Three good-for-nothings
A choked voice came from inside the room: "Thank you, Uncle Zhao and the villagers, for your kindness. The Wang family has received it. I entrust my two sons to the care of all the villagers. The younger one is quite mischievous; if he causes trouble next year, I hope the villagers will be understanding. In the next life, I will repay you by working as a cow or a horse."
Wang Zhuang and Wang Zhi did not resist, allowing the old man to enjoy himself thoroughly. Only then did he stomp his feet vigorously, disregarding the need to greet Li Su, and ran off.
Disperse, everyone disperse! What is there to see? Be careful not to catch a disease; do you want the entire village to perish?
The disaster arrived without any warning
Wang Zhuang's bloodshot eyes stared at the old man, with a sobbing tone he asked, "What has happened to my parents? What has happened to my younger brother?"
In this day and age, the field of medicine is lagging behind; for minor ailments, recovery relies half on herbal remedies and half on fate, which leaves the Wang brothers in a state of urgency
... ...
Li Daozheng wore a sullen expression, glanced up, and sighed, saying: "The Wang brothers will stay at your grandfather Zhao's house for now. We will discuss it again once the plague has passed. The Wang family... is essentially ruined"
"Are you looking to get yourself killed, you little rascal? Stay outside obediently and leave a legacy for the Wang family."
In less than five days, smallpox rapidly spread to five villages in Jingyang County, and there is a trend of continued transmission.
The old man is a respected elder in the village, known for his high moral standing and authority. It is unclear how he addresses Li Su, but a single remark from the old man caused the Wang brothers to change their expressions.
... ...
Send someone quick to the county office to inform the officials that Niutou Village and Taiping Village have been struck by an epidemic. Please urge the officials to dispatch personnel promptly. Also, go to Chang'an City to invite two doctors, and be polite when asking. Speak the truth and do not deceive. If the doctors are willing to come, let them; if they are unwilling, do not force them. Furthermore, all heads of households should bring their wives and children back home, and no one is allowed to wander around visiting others. Anyone who dares to roam will face severe consequences! Each household should take turns assigning a few people to guard outside Wang's courtyard, and anyone who dares to approach will be dealt with harshly.
The county magistrate was so anxious that he was jumping up and down, simultaneously requesting a physician and reporting to the court. Jingyang County is only a little over 60 li from Chang'an City, and news of the plague spread widely, causing all the citizens in the 108 wards of Chang'an to fall into panic. The court acted swiftly; a chief physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau, accompanied by two deputy physicians and over forty doctors, set out from the city with a cart full of medicinal materials to the countryside. At the same time, the Jinwu Guard dispatched a general to lead troops out of the city to isolate the villages in Jingyang County, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving. The court acted swiftly; a chief physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau, accompanied by two deputy physicians and over forty doctors, set out from the city with a cart full of medicinal materials to the countryside. At the same time, the Jinwu Guard dispatched a general to lead troops out of the city to isolate the villages in Jingyang County, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving.
Old Zhao wore a sullen expression, let out a heavy sigh, turned around, and began to issue orders
You foolish rascal, what are you still doing here? Hurry up and roll back home, or I'll break your legs for running around!
Wang Zhuang and Wang Zhi were quickly bound tightly, their cries echoing continuously. Old Zhao turned around and shouted towards the Wang family's main house: "The head of the Wang family, you are noble and do not harm your fellow villagers. The villagers will remember your great kindness. In the future, your house and land will be passed on to the two brothers. Even in difficult years, each villager will contribute a handful of grain to help raise the two brothers to adulthood. In the future, when they marry and have children, the villagers will support them."
So many people have come, and they all show such expressions; it seems that Wang's third son is likely not simply suffering from a cold or fever
The villagers of Jingyang County are filled with fear, fleeing their homes with their families to escape to the outside of the village. They do not care where they end up; what matters is leaving their hellish hometown and preserving the lives of their loved ones, even if it means living as refugees or beggars.
The onlooking villagers grew increasingly terrified, and the crowd stepped back several paces.
Wow
"Old Third, the fever is quite severe, and there are red spots all over his body. He fell ill in the afternoon, yet those two cowards still haven't gone back to check on him." The old man, angered by their lack of concern, gave the Wang brothers two hard slaps.
Several strong men from the village stood in a row outside the courtyard, separating the Wang family's yard from the crowd of onlookers. An elderly man, leaning on a cane, was waving his hand at the crowd with great authority.
In the crowd that dispersed like birds and beasts, Li Su stood motionless, quietly observing the profound experiences of the most humble people in the world as they had just gone through the separation of life and death, sighing, feeling pity, fear, and sorrow... Among the various expressions, the family's farewell had already become a foregone conclusion
What happened? What happened to my younger brother? Is it the third or the fourth? Wang Zhuang's face quickly flushed with anxiety
The onlooking villagers suddenly retreated several zhang, and a few timid women immediately opened their mouths to scream. After a couple of cries, they were silenced by a slap from their husbands.
Painful, touching, sorrowful, and helpless scenes unfold outside the city of Chang'an. Disasters, like mirrors under the sunlight, illuminate the human heart with stark clarity.
The old man looked grimly at Wang Zhuang, unsure whether to explain to the two brothers or to the entire village. He then said: "This morning, your mother took your youngest brother to visit the neighboring Niutou Village. When they returned in the afternoon, your brother was not well, having a fever all over his body, with red spots on his face and body. Just now, news came from Niutou Village that more than twenty people in their village have contracted smallpox. Your brother is likely infected as well..." He continued: "This morning, your mother took your youngest brother to visit the neighboring Niutou Village. When they returned in the afternoon, your brother was not well, having a fever all over his body, with red spots on his face and body. Just now, news came from Niutou Village that more than twenty people in their village have contracted smallpox. Your brother is likely infected as well..."
The old man hesitated for a moment, then scanned the crowd of onlookers before slowly saying: "Your brother has contracted smallpox..."
Li Suxin felt a heaviness in her heart
The two brothers, Wang Zhuang and Wang Zhi, were taken away by others, and they cried out in despair. Even at this moment, they still cannot believe that a poor yet warm home has been so suddenly destroyed.
The old man glared at Li Su with an unfriendly gaze. Li Su forced a smile at him and hurriedly bowed, saying, "This... grandfather, I will also go and take a look. Farewell, farewell."
Wang Zhuang and Wang Zhi's tears immediately streamed down their faces, and their struggles became increasingly intense. Wang Zhuang shouted with a hoarse voice: "Where is my father? Where is my mother? Where is the fourth one? Father, mother—"
In the Wang family's large house, a despondent male voice was heard: "Eldest brother, second brother, do not wail, stay far away from home, the disease is deadly. Your mother has been with the third brother, I have been with your mother, and after the third brother returned home, he teased the fourth brother. All four of us may have contracted the illness, and we cannot go out and endanger the villagers. You are fine; fortunately, you were playing outside in the afternoon. Listen to Grandpa Zhao, do not return to this home, you cannot come back. Leave a legacy for our Wang family, and today, leave the village to seek refuge with your aunt. In the future, live well..."
The ear was forcefully tugged by someone, followed by a kick to the buttocks that was neither too light nor too heavy
Wang Zhuang and Wang Zhi arrived home earlier than Li Su, but at this moment they were being firmly held back by someone. The two brothers struggled incessantly, trying to rush into the house, but were stopped by an old man who struck each of them with his cane.
"Father, Mother!" The Wang brothers cried out, using all their strength to break free and rush into the house. The elderly man with the surname Zhao was furious and swept his cane across, causing the two brothers to stagger. He angrily shouted, "Bind these two cowardly boys!"
More terrifying than the plague are panic and rumors, which are more devastating than disease
The old man held considerable prestige in the village. After he finished speaking, the villagers hurriedly took their wives and children back home, beating and kicking them as they went. Additionally, a few individuals ran towards the village outskirts, heading for the Jingyang County Office and Chang'an City.