kvmb Chapter 146 Food Shortage
Chapter 146 Food Shortage
The next morning, after Xiao Siyue got up, she learned that Xiao Qinian and the others had been busy all night.
Xiao Qinian sent a few more people to check on the dike. It was safe at the moment, so Xiao Qinian focused all his attention on the disaster victims.
It's not a solution for the disaster victims to stay here.
Xiao Siyue suddenly remembered that after a flood, an epidemic is very likely to break out.
Xiao Siyue broke out in a cold sweat upon realizing this; how could she have forgotten this?
Xiao Siyue hurriedly went to find Xiao Qinian.
"father,"
"What's wrong with Yue'er?" Xiao Qinian was looking at the disaster relief and death statistics compiled by his subordinates when he was startled by Xiao Siyue's anxious voice. He thought something had happened to Xiao Siyue.
"Father, isn't it easy for plagues to break out after a disaster?"
After a flood, human and animal corpses are blown around by the floodwaters. Over time, they begin to decompose, and together with various kinds of garbage, viruses can be generated, leading to rampant epidemics.
Unlike modern society, ancient times did not have timely disaster relief or various disinfection methods, so the spread of viruses was not too serious.
However, this wasn't possible in ancient times. There weren't many good ways to handle the situation, especially since people placed great importance on human remains and many were unwilling to cremate their bodies, increasing the likelihood of epidemics.
Xiao Qinian's expression also turned serious upon hearing this; this was indeed a problem.
But the rain hasn't stopped yet, the floodwaters haven't receded, and they don't have enough manpower to handle the situation.
"Dad, didn't we make some alcohol before? We can use it to disinfect first, and then give it to the disaster victims after the relief medicine arrives." This was the idea that Fourth Master Xiao came up with, but he didn't know if there were any other places affected by the disaster, or if there would be enough.
“That’s true,” Xiao Qinian also remembered this.
"Father, I wonder if the messenger sent to the prefectural city has arrived yet, and when will they be able to send someone down to help?" Xiao Siyue was anxious; they were now like a skilled cook without rice to cook, lacking sufficient medicine.
"They should have arrived by now, but it will take at least another day or two for them to get here," Xiao Qinian calculated.
"Father, why don't we gather all the doctors in the city and have them prescribe some medicine to treat the colds and give it to the disaster victims?" The rain hadn't stopped, and the disaster victims were in a hurry to escape, so many of their clothes were soaked. Although they had burned fires to dry them, many of them still caught colds.
“Yue’er is right, Father will have someone arrange it right away.” Xiao Qinian nodded in response.
Two days passed like this, and the rain finally subsided. There were signs that it was about to stop.
Unfortunately, there wasn't much food left; at most, it would only be enough for one more meal for the disaster victims.
But no one has come to the prefectural city yet.
Xiao Qinian paced anxiously in the room.
Without food supplies, these disaster victims will go hungry.
"Father, do the grain shops in the city not have any food?" Xiao Siyue asked. If they did, she could buy some in case of emergency.
"No more, the grain store is empty."
Several days ago, many people in the city bought large quantities of grain. In addition, due to the heavy rain, the grain shops were unable to restock, so now the grain shops have no grain at all.
Xiao Siyue was equally anxious. After returning to her room, she activated the system.
"System, can you get some food?"
"Sorry, host, the system is also unable to obtain food."
Xiao Siyue was disappointed. Another day passed, and they had run out of food.
Many disaster victims have started to riot, and the yamen runners are unable to stop them. Xiao Qinian has been trying his best to appease them, but it is of no use at all.
Just as the situation outside the government office was becoming increasingly tense.
Xiao Siyue then saw a horse-drawn carriage heading this way.
Upon closer inspection, Xiao Siyue discovered that the person alighting from the carriage was someone she recognized.
It was Old Master Mu, followed by Mu Xuan, Mu Li, and Ma Wanying, who had recently married Mu Xuan.
Mu Li ran over as soon as she saw Xiao Siyue.
"Yue'er,"
"Lili, what brings you here?" Xiao Siyue asked, still somewhat puzzled.
"Yue'er, what's wrong? You look so haggard." Mu Li was startled when she saw Xiao Siyue's appearance. She had been confined to the house for the past few days due to the heavy rain and had not been able to go out.
"It's nothing, I just haven't eaten much all day, that's why I'm like this," Xiao Siyue said softly.
Because the granary had run out of food in the past few days, all the food in the house had been taken to help the disaster victims, so Xiao Siyue had only eaten a little bit of rice porridge these past two days.
However, her condition was much better than that of the disaster victims; she only looked a little haggard, but she was still very energetic.
"Yue'er, is there no grain left in the granary?" Mu Li guessed.
"Yes, our granary in Qianyuan County is not large and there is not much grain. Several days have passed and the grain has long been used up, but the prefectural city still has not sent any grain."
Xiao Siyue didn't know the reason, only guessing that something might have happened, and it was highly likely that the disaster affected more than just Qianyuan County. But this was exactly what Xiao Siyue least wanted to happen. If this was the reason, then the disaster in other places was even more severe.
Seeing Xiao Siyue's worried face, Mu Li quickly said, "Yue'er, don't worry, I came here with Father and the others to deliver grain."
"What?" Xiao Siyue looked at the back of the carriage where Mu Li was sitting, and sure enough, there were many carriages, all full of bags.
“These past few days, Dad and Uncle Ma have taken out most of their family’s stored grain to donate to the disaster victims.”
"But we don't have much. Uncle Ma's family is in the grain business, and they have a lot of grain stored up. This time, they took out 70% of it directly," Mu Li said, still a little regretful.
"However, Yue'er, although we don't have that much food, we have collected a lot of medicinal herbs." Mu Li suddenly became cheerful again.
Xiao Siyue was deeply moved upon hearing this. These were the very things they needed most right now. With these, they could at least resolve the most critical crisis at hand.
"Lili, thank you so much, you've been a huge help this time," Xiao Siyue said, taking Mu Li's hand.
"It's alright, we're also from Qianyuan County, so we should help each other. Besides, these refugees are really pitiful." Mu Li was still a little embarrassed.
"No, this is a great favor. If it weren't for the timely delivery of the food, who knows what might have happened." Xiao Siyue was grateful and planned to tell Xiao Qinian the good news as soon as possible.
Seeing Xiao Qinian talking to Master Mu, Xiao Siyue knew she wasn't needed anymore.
Sure enough, Xiao Siyue saw a surprised smile on Xiao Qinian's face.