Chapter 139: Disaster Relief
Zhou Wangshu sat up and said grumpily, “Where did you go to save the suffering again?”
Su Yaoguang placed the bought sesame seed cakes on the stove to roast them, and when they started sizzling with oil, she called him over to eat.
“I just went to the county office.” Su Yaoguang briefly explained what had happened earlier. “I’ll head back to Peach Blossom Workshop soon, then focus on handling the matters arranged by the government office.”
“You took on the hottest potato.” Zhou Wangshu took a bite of the sesame seed cake. “Contacting those patients is the most troublesome. If you don’t take proper precautions, you’re the most likely to catch the disease.”
“Did you forget we have Jing’er? Doing this is to make a name for Jiang Jing. This is a crisis, but also an opportunity. Once this crisis passes, everyone in the city will know how good Jiang Jing’s medical skill is.” Su Yaoguang reassured him. “Besides, I’ve been eating, living, and sleeping with you these past few days, and look, I’m full of vigor. This proves that Jing’er’s medicine works, and this epidemic can be prevented.”
Zhou Wangshu quietly ate the sesame seed cake.
Su Yaoguang poured him a cup of water and said, “How about I ask Mother to come take care of you? Or Second Aunt or Third Aunt?”
“No.” Zhou Wangshu instinctively refused.
He had no desire to eat, live, and sleep with them.
If it were anyone else staying under the same roof as him, wouldn’t it be extremely awkward?
“What about Maternal Uncle?”
“I don’t want anyone.” Zhou Wangshu said, “You’ve been so noisy these past few days. Once you leave, I can finally have some peace. Don’t bother me anymore.”
“So you dislike me that much!” Su Yaoguang pretended to wipe away tears. “That really hurts my feelings.”
Zhou Wangshu: “…”
Su Yaoguang instructed Zhou Wangshu a few things, packed her things, and left.
When Zhou Wangshu saw Su Yaoguang out, Xiao Yanci was being fed by two women competing for the honor. He looked out the window and saw Su Yaoguang leaving with her bundle, and scoffed.
“The owner is back.” Zhen Yuanfang came to greet her. “Owner, people from the government office came and took Miss Jiang away. The madams were worried and followed to check, and they haven’t returned yet.”
Su Yaoguang said, “No need to worry. The government office has matters to arrange, and I’ll be going there soon too. How is your younger brother?”
“Last night Miss Jiang examined him, he took two doses of medicine, no longer has a fever, and even woke up earlier.” Zhen Yuanfang said, “The owner’s kindness to us brothers, Zhen Mou will remember for life.”
“Good that he’s fine.”
Not long after Su Yaoguang returned to Peach Blossom Workshop, people from the government office came to find her. She followed them to the place where they had settled the patients.
The government office had actually settled those patients in the temple.
The monks in the temple, under Jiang Jing’s command, took the medicine and covered their mouths and noses properly. After making all preparations, they took care of the patients.
“Amitabha…” The abbot stepped forward and chanted a Buddha’s name to Su Yaoguang. “Benefactor was born with malice, yet chose not to repay with malice, but gave hope of ‘life’. Benefactor’s actions will surely bring full good fortune.”
Su Yaoguang returned the courtesy and looked seriously at the abbot: “What does Master mean by that?”
What did it mean to be born with malice? In her previous life, she was just an ordinary village girl. Although her father had left for the border years ago and there was no news since, she was raised by her mother through hardships, yet she grew into someone with a soft heart, not born with malice. Only after rebirth did she return with malice because of her unwilling death. She could have chosen revenge on Xiao Yanci, but felt he didn’t deserve her attention.
Her greatest regret was neglecting her mother and not cherishing the time with her. Before, her mind was all on Xiao Yanci, missing those times with her mother. After rebirth, her heart was filled only with love for her mother, then wanting to make up for those regrets, and pity for Zhou Wangshu who died young in her previous life, so naturally there would be no such thing as malice.
With the natural disaster descending, in her previous life she knew nothing and only struggled to survive in the countryside. Now in the city, knowing this event would happen, of course she had to help save more people.
“Benefactor already has the answer in her heart.” The abbot chanted a Buddha’s name. “Benefactor saving lives today is also accumulating merit for herself. Benefactor, just give instructions if there is anything, this poor monk will take his leave first.”
Su Yaoguang watched the abbot leave.
“Yaoguang…” Jiang Jing waved her hand in front of her. “What are you looking at?”
“How many monks are here?” Su Yaoguang asked.
“Over forty!” Jiang Jing said. “The monks said there were originally only a dozen or so, but this time many refugees came, and some refugees who couldn’t go on directly became monks.”
“All the monks and patients must have their information recorded. Hang all their details in their rooms, such as how long they’ve been ill, what symptoms, daily recovery status, and so on.”
“You’re right, this makes it convenient for us to observe. After all, there are too many people, things remembered in the brain might get confused, but black words on white paper won’t.” Jiang Jing said. “I’ll have them do this right away.”
“Is Mother and them unaffected?”
“Godmother and them are very enthusiastic.” Jiang Jing said. “She said this merit can’t be matched by donating any amount of incense money. She wants to do more merit, save more people from death, so as to accumulate good fortune for you.”
Jia Chunni walked over and said, “We just took stock, there are already over a hundred patients, and more are being sent over continuously on the road. Can this temple accommodate so many people?”
“The Buddha is merciful and won’t bear to see so many people suffer, so put them wherever there’s space, bring supplies from the city, and have them sleep on the floor.” Su Yaoguang said. “Once patients recover, observe them for three days, and if no problems, move them out. I see some with mild symptoms can recover within three days. Before, no one taught them how to take medicine, but now someone is teaching them, so they’ll recover quickly.”
“Yaoguang, is that Wangshu over there?” Jiang Jing pointed opposite and said.
Su Yaoguang turned back and saw Zhou Wangshu standing not far away with many people.
She strode over and looked him up and down: “What are you doing here?”
“My illness is better, I can help you with some work.” Zhou Wangshu pointed to the people behind him. “These are food and clothing sent by Zhong Chushan and Chen Buyu. I think you need them now.”
“Your symptoms have just eased a bit, not fully recovered.”
Jiang Jing said, “Let me take his pulse and check!”
Jiang Jing took Zhou Wangshu’s pulse and said, “Though still a bit weak, he is indeed recovered. He just needs to recuperate well next, no more of the previous medicine, now switch to warming and tonifying ones.”
