After a male student transmigrated into the body of a widow,

Chapter 112 Applying Medicine, Disaster Victims Uprising

Gu Lin responded a few times from inside, and Zheng Hao reached out and pushed open the door to go in.

Looking at the scene before him, unlike his usual habit of hiding in bed for warmth, Uncle Gu was unusually not huddled in the quilt reading a storybook, but instead sitting neatly dressed on a cold stool. Several candles were lit on the table, and the other man was looking down at the account book on the table.

Looking up and seeing Zheng Hao arrive, Gu Lin put down the account book in his hand and asked, "Is there anything I can help you with, Xiao Hao?"

Zheng Hao walked over to Gu Lin, leaned down slightly and sat down next to him, saying, "I was afraid Uncle Gu would forget to apply the medicine, so I brought some ointment to reduce swelling."

Under the bright yellow candlelight, Gu Lin was visibly startled when he heard Zheng Hao's words. His gaze involuntarily shifted slightly downwards, landing on the ointment in the other's hand.

Then, Gu Lin sighed slightly, feeling somewhat helpless. The wound on his wrist was just a minor injury, and he didn't care about it. But he didn't expect that the other party would not only remind him during the meal, but also worry that he hadn't applied the medicine, so he specially brought some ointment to check on him.

Gu Lin sighed slightly, but understood the other's stubbornness and said, "I didn't have any medicine to reduce swelling in my room, so you kindly brought me some ointment."

Gu Lin's words were not perfunctory but sincere. Although he often suffered from colds and fevers and took medicine constantly, the medicines he kept in his house were all for treating colds and fevers, as well as peppermint oil and burn ointment. However, there was no ointment for reducing swelling.

Faced with Gu Lin's praise, Zheng Hao lowered his eyes and said, "Uncle Gu, let me apply the medicine for you."

Gu Lin didn't want to trouble the other party, so he shook his head slightly and said, "I'll do it myself."

Zheng Hao slightly raised his eyes, his gaze falling on the ledger on the table.

Zheng Hao reminded him, "Uncle Gu will need to review the accounts later. If you apply the medicine yourself, you'll have to wash your hands, which will take a lot of time. Let me do it."

Zheng Hao's words struck a chord with Gu Lin. If he were looking at the accounts of Haoyunlou, it wouldn't matter if it took a little longer, but these were accounts related to the soup kitchen.

After thinking for a moment, Gu Lin said to Zheng Hao, "Then I'll trouble you."

Zheng Hao opened the round porcelain medicine box in his hand, and after lifting the lid, the snow-white ointment inside was revealed.

Gu Lin smelled the faint jasmine scent emanating from the medicine box and exclaimed in surprise, "This ointment actually smells like jasmine; it doesn't have any medicinal smell at all!"

Zheng Hao explained, "Doctor Li said that this ointment came from Jiangnan. Jasmine flowers were specially added to it to mask the smell of the medicinal herbs. In this way, the ointment is fragrant and its efficacy is not affected."

He knew Uncle Gu disliked the smell of medicine, so he specially bought this ointment. If he had bought other ointments to apply the medicine, the strong smell would probably have bothered Uncle Gu constantly.

Hearing Zheng Hao's explanation, Gu Lin nodded in understanding: "I see."

Zheng Hao reminded Gu Lin, "Uncle Gu, roll up your sleeves."

Without hesitation, Gu Lin rolled up his sleeves, revealing a smooth, jade-like, and snow-white arm.

Zheng Hao's gaze lingered on the white jade before him for a long time. After a moment, he said to the young man in front of him, "Just show the wound. Uncle Gu, lower your sleeves a little to avoid getting cold."

Gu Lin waved his hand and said, "I'm not that weak. Just focus on applying the medicine."

Zheng Hao didn't continue to remind him. He lowered his eyes, scooped out a considerable amount of ointment from the medicine box, and instead of applying it directly to Gu Lin's wound, he put the ointment into his palm.

Gu Lin looked at him, and under the other's questioning gaze, Zheng Hao explained, "Dr. Li said that it's best to rub this ointment until it dissolves before applying it to the wound, so that it can be absorbed better."

Gu Lin suddenly realized.

Zheng Hao put his palms together, rotated his wrists and rubbed his palms together. After a while, he opened his palms and saw that the original snow-white ointment had melted on Zheng Hao's palms. Without being reminded by the other party, Gu Lin took the initiative to offer his arm to the other party.

Zheng Hao lowered his eyes slightly. For the first time since he was a child, he openly placed his palm on Uncle Gu's wrist. The hot and warm contact was enough to scald the hearts of some people. Zheng Hao did not pause for long and applied the dissolved ointment to Gu Lin's red and swollen wound.

Gu Lin, who had initially paid no attention to the wound that was only broken but not bleeding, began to feel a slight stinging sensation when the ointment, warmed by his body heat, touched it.

The warm ointment was slowly seeping into the wound.

Zheng Hao's force was very gentle. After the stinging pain on the wound slowly subsided, Gu Lin felt an itch on his wrist, as if a feather was gently tickling his arm.

He and Zheng Hao sat very close, about half an arm's length apart. He could clearly see Zheng Hao's face by slightly raising his eyes.

Under the candlelight, Zheng Hao's face was half in shadow and half in light because he was turned to the side. But no matter which half he was facing, his usually indifferent expression was filled with caution at this moment.

Gu Lin's eyelashes trembled slightly, and he couldn't help but look away. Just as he was about to tell the other party not to be so careful and to apply the ointment directly, Zheng Hao's hand left his wrist, and he stepped back slightly, increasing the distance between them.

Gu Lin pulled his arm back, then took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to Zheng Hao so that he could wipe the ointment off his hands.

Zheng Hao took the document but did not wipe his hands immediately. He looked down at Gu Lin and instructed, "There might be some noise outside in the middle of the night. Uncle Gu, do not leave the house. I will come over when the time comes."

Putting aside the slight unease from earlier, Gu Lin was not one to be easily fooled. He frowned and asked, "What exactly happened? Tell me clearly, otherwise I'll be thinking about this all night and won't be able to sleep."

Zheng Hao said calmly, "In the past two days, the refugees outside the city have become increasingly riotous. The people Niu Er sent out to infiltrate the refugee camps have learned that they are planning to take action tonight. They are likely to take advantage of the night when the soldiers guarding the city are exhausted to break through the city gates and enter the city."

Upon hearing this, Gu Lin hesitated slightly: "The city walls are tall and thick, and the city gates are incredibly sturdy. How can the unarmed refugees breach the city gates?"

Zheng Hao didn't want to frighten Uncle Gu, but this matter involved life and death, so he couldn't be careless.

Zheng Hao: "This is the best outcome. I'm afraid they were prepared all along, and quite a few disaster victims have infiltrated the city."

Should the inside and the outside fit together?

The thought immediately popped into Gu Lin's mind. If that were the case, a cold sweat broke out on Gu Lin's dry back in the already chilly night.

"If the disaster victims enter the city, we..."

Gu Lin looked at Zheng Hao, a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

The others had not been outside the city to see the refugee camps, but Gu Lin had been there in person and even had contact with them.

When there is plenty of porridge in each soup kitchen, the disaster victims have something to eat. Most people would certainly not do something that could get them killed. But if they have nothing to eat or drink, they might as well risk going into the city, burning, killing, and looting to make sure they have a good meal.

Seeing the growing panic on Uncle Gu's face, Zheng Hao calmly reassured him, "Uncle Gu, don't be afraid. This is just my guess. Even if it's true, I'm prepared."

Gu Lin's gaze swept over and met the other's light brown, clear eyes. Zheng Hao said softly, "Besides, our family has a tunnel. I won't let Uncle Gu get hurt."

typical?

Gu Lin knew that there was a cellar at home. It was dug by Zheng Hao, Zhao Dagen, and Zhao Dage during the Spring Festival last year. However, as they were digging, Zhao Dagen wanted to take Mu Qinglian back to her parents' home, and Zhao Dage couldn't overwork himself. But by then, the cellar was almost finished, so the last ten days or so were handed over to Zheng Hao to continue digging.

However, Zheng Hao never told them that he had also dug a tunnel.

Looking at the composed and unchanging young man in front of him, Gu Lin's heart stirred, and a guess emerged. He asked incredulously, "You knew all along that the disaster victims would riot, so you dug the tunnels in advance?"

Otherwise, he really couldn't understand why the other party would dig a tunnel for no reason.

Under Gu Lin's gaze, Zheng Hao shook his head slightly and then said, "Although I had guessed and knew that the disaster victims would riot, I never thought they would attack the prefectural city."

“However,” Zheng Hao said, his expression turning somber, “ever since I learned of the rebellion of the southern refugees who established the Red-Clad Army and seized the prefectural city, I have known that we cannot entrust our lives entirely to others.”

So from then on, Zheng Hao ordered Niu Qiang and others to take turns digging tunnels in the cellar.

Coincidentally, during that period, Uncle Gu, Sister-in-law Zhao, and others were frequently out and rarely stayed at home during the day, so they had no idea that Niu Qiang and his men were digging a tunnel.

“It was inevitable that the disaster victims outside the city would riot. Prefect Zhen was hesitant between the refugees and the wealthy families in the city. He wanted to help the disaster victims but did not have enough money and food. Although he called on the wealthy families to donate money and food to open porridge sheds, he did not object after they closed the porridge sheds.”

Zheng Hao paused for a moment, then said to Gu Lin, "If this continues, we will inevitably suffer a backlash sooner or later. At that time, we will see if the city guards and the strong servants in the mansions of wealthy merchants can resist the disaster victims."

Hearing Zheng Hao's words, Gu Lin's brows furrowed with worry.

Seeing this, Zheng Hao comforted him, "It's still uncertain whether there will be any disturbances tonight. Uncle Gu, please rest assured. I'm right next door to you, so I can get there in time if anything happens."

Gu Lin nodded. Although Niu Qiang had found out some information in the refugee camp and Zheng Hao's guess was reasonable, it was hard to say whether it was just the refugees venting their resentment verbally.

Gu Lin calmed himself down, not wanting to frighten himself into illness before anything even happened. He said to Zheng Hao, "I'm fine now, you can go back and rest."

Zheng Hao left Uncle Gu's bedroom as instructed and returned to his own room.

In the dim candlelight, Zheng Hao sat at the table, his eyelids slightly lowered, his long, dark eyelashes casting shadows on his fair eyes.

A moment later, Zheng Hao took out a clean white handkerchief from his sleeve. His expression remained unchanged, but he gradually raised his arm and held the thin, white handkerchief to his nose. He closed his eyes and a fragrance of peach blossoms mixed with jasmine wafted into his nose from the handkerchief. Zheng Hao's brows slowly relaxed.

.

With a loud crash, Gu Lin was jolted awake from his dream.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he immediately picked up the long stick by the bed, lifted the covers, and dressed in his full clothes. He quickly sat up, put on his shoes, and then stared at the tightly closed door.

Last night, before falling asleep, Gu Lin didn't sleep soundly because Zheng Hao had told him about the possibility of a riot among the disaster victims outside the city. He was always on edge.

He sat on the bed, remembering Zheng Hao's instructions from the previous night, so even though he heard the sounds of fighting outside, he did not rush out.

Suddenly, a series of rapid footsteps came from outside the door. Gu Lin tensed up and gripped the long stick.

"Uncle Gu, open the door!"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Gu Lin immediately got up, walked over, and opened the door. What hit him was the stench of blood mixed with the cold wind. Gu Lin looked at the young man in front of him, who was holding a long sword with blood dripping from it, and his lips moved.

Zheng Hao said, "Uncle Gu, don't worry, I'm not injured."

Then he said to Gu Lin, "Uncle Gu, you and your aunt should stay inside and not move around. If things go wrong, you and your aunt should quickly hide in the tunnel. The entrance to the tunnel is under the bed."

Gu Lin was unaware that the tunnel had been built inside his house, but there was no time to ask about such things at this moment.

Gu Lin asked anxiously, "What about you and Brother Zhao? Come over quickly and come into the tunnel with us."

Even in the darkness, Gu Lin couldn't see the other person's condition, but the strong smell of blood, the sound of blood dripping from the longsword, and the clash of weapons outside told him how dangerous it was outside.

Unarmed refugees are not scary, but angry, completely insane refugees with weapons are a different story, even for Zheng Hao and his group.

Seeing the anxious and worried young man, Zheng Hao remained calm and said in a composed tone, "Most of the disaster victims have gone to the East and West cities, so there aren't many here. Niu Qiang and I, along with a dozen others, are skilled in martial arts. Brother Zhao will help us bandage our wounds. Uncle Gu and Sister-in-law Zhao, please stay inside. We'll be fine."

Knowing that the disaster victims might make a move tonight, Zheng Hao summoned all the staff of the escort agency, except for the镖师 (bodyguards/escorts).

Gu Lin parted his lips slightly. Brother Zhao didn't know martial arts and was too old. Why didn't he go to the front and replace Brother Zhao?

Zheng Hao saw through his thoughts and said, "Uncle Gu, don't distract me."

Even knowing Gu Lin's thoughts, Zheng Hao's tone was neither impatient nor angry. He looked at Gu Lin with understanding, and Gu Lin could no longer express his own thoughts.

He said to Zheng Hao, "You must be careful. My sister-in-law and I will hide in the tunnel. Don't fight them to the death. If you can't beat them, run away, understand?"

Zheng Hao nodded in agreement, and Gu Lin felt slightly relieved. Then he led Zhao's wife into the house.

Zheng Hao turned around, his face immediately turning cold, and he walked towards the door.

The refugees' attack on the city seemed to stem from long-standing hatred towards the wealthy and powerful families within the city. However, the weapons they carried—half wooden and half iron—were beyond their means, suggesting that others had infiltrated the refugee camp and incited them to revolt.

Zheng Hao raised his hand and slashed at the onrushing disaster victims. Blood spurted from the victims' necks and splattered onto Zheng Hao's fair and white face. The blood stained his snow-white skin, but Zheng Hao remained unmoved and continued to walk forward, taking care of the disaster victims who rushed towards him one after another.

Zheng Hao's eyes were dark and unfathomable.

No one, no matter who it is, should try to destroy his and Uncle Gu's home.