Chapter 316: A Family That Accumulates Good Deeds Will Have Abundant Blessings (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 316: A House of Charity Will Have Extra Blessings (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Chen Yì had grown accustomed to Liu Róng’s unfiltered remarks.

Admonishment was useless.

Only a single beating could make him remember.

Chen Yì withdrew his gaze, taking in the frail young boy before him, hands cradling a bowl, and offered a gentle smile.

“Hold it steady.”

A spoonful of millet porridge, half broth, half grain, poured into the bowl.

The boy glanced at him in a flash, lowered his head, mumbled a lowly “thank you, kind sir,” and carefully carried the bowl away.

Nearby, Xiao Wǎn’ěr did the same, her gaze low as she handed the porridge to the refugees.

She could not bear to look closely at the filthy, gaunt faces of the starving, nor could she see their hollow cheeks. But in her ears, their murmured thanks floated like a soft breeze—some deep and resonant, others high and thin, some warm, others strained with exhaustion.

Every voice was weak, threadbare.

Only after taking a sip did their sighs of relief begin to stir.

If Xiao Wǎn’ěr lifted her head, she would meet a pair of longing eyes, and her heart would twist with a tender ache.

“Brother-in-law, relying solely on us won’t last much longer.”

“If the family’s stores run out in a few days, they…”

Though her voice was faint, Chen Yì heard every word.

He turned his head toward her, understanding her unspoken worry, and smiled faintly.

“A house of charity will have extra blessings.”

“We’ve done our part.”

Chen Yì knew full well that Xiao Family’s relief efforts could not possibly sustain tens of thousands of refugees. It was simply impractical. Even if other noble families joined forces, their resources would dwindle to nothing. Only the government could act decisively—dispersing the displaced, ensuring food supplies—to truly resolve the crisis.

Xiao Wǎn’ěr lifted her head, meeting his gaze. Her pale face softened slightly, a faint smile touching her lips.

One smile could conquer a kingdom.

“Yes, we’ve done what we can.”

On the other side, Ma Liang stood with Yuan Lǒu’er and Yuan Hào, tending to the sick and wounded.

They pressed palms to pulses, discerned the flow of life energy, and taught Yuan Lǒu’er the art of diagnosis.

“This elder brother,” Ma Liang said, examining an old man, “his years have left him frail. The journey here was long and rough, his vitality drained, his body weakened…”

“Madam, rest quietly. Your leg wound is deep, pus spreading upward. I’ll need to puncture it first…”

“There’s more…”

Yuan Lǒu’er listened with sharp attention, absorbed every detail, and silently committed them to memory, growing increasingly familiar with the *Treatise on Cold Damage*.

Yuan Hào, though he’d caught fragments of the discourse, could not grasp their meaning. After a moment, boredom overtook him. He glanced toward a group of young men drinking millet porridge nearby and sauntered over.

They chattered idly—where their families lived, their ages, their names.

Yuan Hào smiled, sharing his own name, then asked how they’d reached this place.

A dark-skinned youth, sturdy of frame, watched him with envy.

“We followed the officials and scholars wherever they went—through mountains, across rivers.”

“What did you eat?”

“At first, we all had our own grain. When that ran out, we scavenged for food.”

“Had you ever caught a black bear?”

“A bear?”

“Yes, my father killed one. A massive creature—it fed many people.”

Yuan Hào noticed the boy’s pride as he chest-thumped, speaking as if the bear had been his own catch. He glanced around, admiring the feat.

“What a remarkable father of yours. Is he here?”

For ordinary folk, martial arts and learning were dreams. The strongest among them were their heroes.

The dark-skinned youth’s smile faltered, his expression sorrowful as he bowed his head.

“Gone.”

“That day, the rain fell hard. My father took men into the mountains to hunt, but he encountered the Mountain God in anger, buried by mud and stones.”

Yuan Hào opened his mouth to offer condolences, but the boy took a deep breath.

“My father said a man must stand upright in life, no matter how hard or bitter, biting his teeth and enduring it.”

“I endured it—to carry on my father’s name.”

Yuan Hào stared, at a loss for words, then managed a hesitant, “Well done.”

The boy’s sorrow eased.

“My father was indeed a good man.”

“He saved many people along the way, with a few uncles…”

As more familiar faces joined, they began playing simple games—tossing copper plates, guessing their faces. The loser walked a circle around the victor.

Soon, the gloom of the refugees was pierced by the laughter and shouts of the young.

Simple, pure joy.

Yuan Lǒu’er glanced sideways, saw Yuan Hào’s brightened face, and smiled softly, returning to her duties beside Master Ma Liang.

Chen Yì noticed this too, gave it a passing glance, and returned to ladling the porridge.

By noon, nearly fifty thousand refugees had each received a bowl.

After a brief rest, Chen Yì and Xiao Wǎn’ěr gathered Xiao Sùnghuáng, Liu Sì’er, and others to plan the next steps.

“Two thousand sheng of grain should last ten days.”

“We can’t calculate it that way.”

“What do you mean, husband?”

Chen Yì pointed east along the official road leading out of Lin Zhuang, speaking softly.

“More refugees are still arriving.”

The first day of the refugees’ arrival, and who knows how many more would follow.

Conservatively speaking, surviving five days would be a blessing.

Xiao Wanz’er glanced at him. “Brother-in-law, is there any way out?”

“There is a way. We could swap all the fine grain for coarse grain—it would stretch another five days. Plus—”

Chen Yitou paused, his voice growing resolute. “Just use coarse grain all along.”

One stone of fine grain can be exchanged for two stones of coarse grain—every day gained is another day of survival.

When…

Chen Yitou’s gaze swept past Xiao Wanz’er and settled on the figures standing outside the Lin family’s courtyard wall—Zhang Daobao, Liu Lang, and Xue Duanyun, all staring toward them.

Whether any grain merchants had been duped, he could not tell.

After a moment’s thought, Chen Yitou leaned close to Xiao Wanz’er and whispered, “I’ll go check them out.”

Though Xiao Wanz’er harbored no real concern for his safety, she still ordered Zhang Tieyun and Shen Huatang to keep a watchful eye on him.

Chen Yitou nodded and, slipping away from the crowd, approached Zhang Daobao and the others. He bowed politely.

“Earlier, I heard from those returning to the capital that you folks have grain in stock?”

“Which official might that be?”

Liu Lang raised an eyebrow, about to speak, when Zhang Daobao stepped forward, bowing deeply.

“The young ones have seen you, Master Qin.”

“You may speak freely with me.”

As he spoke, he gave Chen Yitou a sly, encouraging smile, signaling his openness.

Chen Yitou eyed him, then nodded. “Here there are too many eyes. Let’s find a quieter spot.”

Zhang Daobao made way, pushing Liu Lang aside, and led Chen Yitou into the courtyard.

As the two closed the wooden door, Liu Lang muttered under his breath, “They’re not even from the Xiao family, yet they come asking for grain?”

“Is that so?”

Xue Duanyun chuckled nervously, nodding but daring not speak, his eyes flicking toward Zhang Tieyun and Shen Huatang.

Since Chen Yitou and his group arrived, he, Zhang Sanhu, and Zhang Sihu had cowered like mice in the presence of their “masters,” saying nothing at all.

Fearful of being discovered by their senior sisters, they could offer no explanation.

Liu Lang noticed their unease and scoffed. “What’s so frightening?”

“To be honest, it’s our boss.”

“That martial arts prowess… it’s downright tyrannical. I couldn’t even block a single move. If it weren’t for his subordinates’ mercy, I’d have been dead a hundred times over.”

As he spoke, Liu Lang glanced at Xiao Wanz’er, studying her intently. Then he grinned.

“Tell me, brothers—does our boss fancy that lady?”

Xue Duanyun and the others looked at each other, their faces flushing with a knowing hue.

Needless to say.

Liu Lang patted his palm. “Well, heroes aren’t easy to win over. Our boss isn’t any different.”

“How else could he charge into that bandit-infested area alone?”

“Exactly. When we meet him later, I’ll ask him myself—”

Stop right there.

Zhang Daobao, hearing his brother’s voice, shook his head. Liu had lost all hope.

Even the weak-minded officials could let it slide, but daring to gossip about the master and the Xiao family’s mistress?

And the master himself was standing right there…

Chen Yitou had heard Liu’s words too. A smile touched his lips. One beating wouldn’t teach them much.

Then he turned to Zhang Daobao, asking his surname, and wrote a few characters in the air: [Is it going smoothly?]

Zhang Daobao nodded. [It is.]

[Master Lin Zonghong will soon gather the remaining grain from the other stores. After midnight, they’ll find a way to move it out of the city and trade it at a location two hundred li to the west.]

After midnight…

Chen Yitou noted the time, then bowed slightly. [The Lin family’s side doesn’t need your watch. Master Lin’s affairs are urgent.]

Since he’d come with Xiao Wanz’er, the grain here wouldn’t be lost.

Not to mention Xue Duanyun and the others were still present.

After clarifying everything, Chen Yitou felt assured, and chatted with Zhang Daobao briefly before stepping out.

Liu Lang saw them leave and bowed. “Master Qin, you must be leaving soon?”

Chen Yitou ignored him, heading straight for Xiao Wanz’er and the others.

Liu’s smile faltered, then he saluted sharply. “What kind of master doesn’t even greet a guest? Just another opportunist!”

“……”

Zhang Daobao sighed, glancing at his brother. “Liu, you’d better keep quiet.”

The more you talk, the more you mess up. The consequences will be dire.

Liu scoffed. “What can he do to me?”

Then he shifted tactics. “Tell me, why did he come? To ask for that grain?”

“Something like that…”

“If our boss hasn’t given the word, who dares move it? Not even Master Qin could!”

Our boss has already spoken.

Zhang Daobao shook his head, deciding to keep his distance from Liu after tonight, lest he bring disaster upon them all.

Chen Yitou pretended not to hear, rejoining Xiao Wanz’er and the others.

“I asked, and they do have grain—but I’m not sure which family in the capital it belongs to.”

“However, considering they sold it at a low price before, they must be kind-hearted folk.”

Xiao Wanz’er’s face brightened. “How much grain is there?”

“I didn’t get the exact count, but roughly ten thousand sheng.”

If it hadn’t been for Chen Yitou’s quick thinking, even that ten thousand sheng of grain might’ve been lost.

But Xiao Wanz’er felt no disappointment. Instead, she calculated. “That means we can extend our survival by another five days.”

“Probably so…”

After the discussion, they parted ways. Xiao Xuanhu led his group and supplies to the nearby noble family to exchange coarse grain. The others continued spreading congee. Only when the sky darkened did Chen Yi and others, riding carriages back, finally return. As they passed Ji Shi Pharmacy, Ma Liang, accompanied by Yuan Liu'er and Yuan Hao, bid them farewell. Chen Yi deliberately cast one last glance at Yuan Hao, finding him unchanged, and thus waited patiently to follow Xiao Wan'er and the others back to Houzhou.

Yuan Liu'er, watching the carriage disappear into the distance, pulled Yuan Hao up behind Ma Liang, still replaying the medical techniques she had learned earlier that day. Yuan Hao, meanwhile, glanced occasionally at the carriage bearing Xiao's banner, his face showing envy: "Sister, the people of Houzhou are good folk." They're all skilled in their crafts. That fair maiden isn't just beautiful—her heart is gentle too, treating the refugees from outside the walls with kindness. That second nephew, her brother's master, is likewise. Just as the books say, refined and cultured. And those guards—tall as pillars, wearing armor, belted with long blades—are fearsome to behold.

Yuan Liu'er nodded absentmindedly, "Master and his men are our benefactors; remember to greet them warmly when you meet them." "Understood, sister..."

Not long after, after finishing their evening meal at Ji Shi Pharmacy, the two siblings bid Ma Liang farewell and made their way back through Kang Le Lane. This was a narrow alley near the east city gate, home to fewer than a hundred households. The cramped lane stretched dark and dim, its uneven stone slabs forcing the pair to stumble forward step by step.

As they walked, Yuan Hao recounted his observations from the day. "Sister, they're pitiful." "From Guangmeng County, along the Chi River—they didn't dare take the official road, fearing the magistrate's men would block them, so they took mountain paths and river routes." "No food on the way; many fought beasts, others caught fish in the freezing water." "When there was nothing to eat, they gnawed on tree bark and wild grass..."

Yuan Liu'er, now more mature in mind, having recently experienced upheaval at home, could empathize deeply. "When we return, don't tell mother." "I know, sister."

From his coat, Yuan Hao withdrew a square of paper-wrapped sugar, offering it to her: "Would you like some?" She glanced at it, shook her head, "No thanks." "Where did it come from?" "A peddler passed by just now, gave us each a piece." Seeing her refusal, he licked his lips with a shy smile, "It's really sweet." She patted his head, "Keep it safe, and don't let others see it."

In Kang Le Lane, where the poor dwelt and hunger reigned, some resorted to stealing chickens and pilfering goods. Yuan Liu'er, unperturbed by such things, still didn't wish for Yuan Hao to encounter cruelty too soon. "Got it, got it..." Yuan Hao, unable to resist, licked his lips again, carefully wrapped the sugar, and tucked it close.

But not long after returning home, he began to feel dizzy and lightheaded. "Mother, I'm dizzy." "Hao'er, then you go rest first..."

As dusk settled. Chen Yi quietly rose, donned his mask and nightclothes, and slipped away from the Spring Lotus Garden. That evening, aside from Xiao Wuge, all the others in the inner chambers had already fallen asleep early. In the stillness of the night, Chen Yi moved alone, a solitary figure.

He traversed a low, wooded stretch, evading Xiao's sentries, and reached Kang Le Lane. It was deep night now, yet the streets were alive with people. Travelers mingled in inns and taverns, while common folk returned to their homes. Laughter was few; more often, heavy silence hung in the air.

Even those wanderers from afar, speaking in accents from distant lands, took note, recounting events in Shu Zhou. Among them were those well-informed, whispering secrets about certain mysteries.

"That 'Dragon-Tiger' Liu Qinding must have set his heart on Xiao's daughters; otherwise, why risk such peril to rescue them?" "A skilled artist but a coward in battle?" "Nonsense! He's a hero rescuing his beloved!"

Chen Yi smiled faintly, agreeing with the "hero rescuing his beloved" notion. Yet he, too, felt like a hero forced into desperation.

Soon enough, Chen Yi circled around and arrived at Kang Le Lane. Before he could begin questioning door to door, he heard urgent cries from within: "Help! Hurry, Hao'er, Hao'er is unwell..."

Neighbors stirred, some asking what had happened, others cursing and shouting. Chen Yi followed the sound, darted into the courtyard, and observed the scene from a shadowed corner. There, in the daylight's former vigor, Yuan Hao now lay ashen, his lips tinged black.

Yuan Liu'er was palpating his pulse. Others nearby shouted anxiously, managing the gathered neighbors. Chen Yi scanned the area, found no threats, then employed his aura-reading technique to examine Yuan Hao's condition.

A single glance, and his expression grew grave.

Without hesitation, he moved directly to Yuan Liu'er's side, "Step aside, I'll take over!"

Liu Er ignored him, feeling a pulse while speaking at length.

Chen Yi, seeing this, didn't waste words, pulled her aside, and said in a low voice, "This is a virus, keep them at a distance!"

Liu Er paused, not having time to think about who he was, and asked, "What's a virus?"

"Plague."

(End of Chapter)