novelraw Chapter 37: There is Hope
Chapter 37: There is Hope
Chapter 37 There is Hope
The house where Cheng Zhi's family lived had its door unlocked and was only slightly ajar, so he could enter immediately upon his return.
"Mother, Brother, Sister-in-law, I'm back!"
Cheng Zhi pushed the door open and said hurriedly, "How are you all? I brought rice back!"
Wengu and the others confirmed there was no other danger here and followed him inside.
Soon, they discovered three people lying against the wall: Cheng Zhi's mother and brother's family.
However, the three of them appeared very weak and disoriented.
Cheng Zhi tried to speak to them, but received no response. His brother's eyes were half-open, wanting to say something, but he had no voice and his hand trembled powerlessly.
Wengu said to his cousin next to him, "Tietou, get your water flask."
He then asked County Lieutenant Zhou for two hard maltose candies, threw them into the water flask, and had Tietou tighten the lid and shake it. "Brother Cheng, do you have any clean bowls or teacups? Also, bring a soup spoon."
"Yes, yes!"
Cheng Zhi, at a loss, found a porcelain bowl and a soup spoon as Wengu instructed.
The sweet water from the bamboo tube was poured out.
"Feed them some," Wengu said.
Cheng Zhi carried the bowl over.
Tietou next to him looked at the two remaining maltose candies in the bamboo tube, half-dissolved.
"Brother, there's still candy here."
"Eat it yourself."
"Alright!" Tietou happily poured it into his mouth.
Wengu turned to look at Cheng Zhi's family and said to Cheng Zhi, "They seem to be starving. Let them drink some sweet water to recover first."
His gaze swept around the room, and he added, "They left all their food for you."
Cheng Zhi silently fed his family water, his hands trembling as he held the porcelain bowl and soup spoon.
Wengu didn't stare at him the whole time and looked inside the room, "Light the stove and boil some more hot water."
He Da immediately jumped up, "I'll do it, I'll do it!"
Seeing this, Yu Er also followed to help.
They wanted to show initiative now. The team had found a lot of supplies today, distributed according to labor. Boiling water was a small task that could be counted towards their contribution, right?
Even if it wasn't counted, it would be good to leave a good impression on Wengu.
As He Da lit the stove, he felt a little smug and very fortunate: It really makes a difference to follow the right person!
How long had it been since they entered the town?
Two large bags of salt, various kinds of rice, dried fruits, sugar, not to mention other supplies. He valued salt and grain the most.
Scholar Weng said that Daoist Master Qingyi would refine the coarse salt into fine salt, which would not harm the body.
Back when the world was peaceful, they couldn't afford fine salt. He didn't even know what fine salt tasted like.
Now, fleeing for their lives, they were actually getting to enjoy good food.
Oh, and sugar!
Later, that jar of maltose candy would be distributed!
Slurp—
What were people living for?
For hope!
Finally, they didn't have to fight their own cattle for food!
He Da's gaze swept around, and he saw several large vinegar jars placed nearby.
He remembered Wengu mentioning when he was talking to Cheng Zhi that vinegar might also ward off evil spirits.
If there's no wine, a few jars of vinegar would do!
He Da's eyes were drawn to the vinegar jars placed around.
Yu Er had the same idea. Today's harvest was plentiful, and he was in a good mood, even joking, "Wine and vinegar, I feel like I'm being pickled."
"Isn't being pickled a good thing?" He Da retorted.
"It's quite good!"
Evil creatures would choose people with pure blood first if they were with people who had pure yang energy.
What if they had a smell, even ten times stronger!
When the hot water was ready, Wengu took out a large paper packet, poured the grain powder inside into the pot, and said to Cheng Zhi, "Boil some rice gruel for them to eat."
Cheng Zhi, with red eyes, said gratefully, "Thank you!"
Daoist Master Qingyi, sitting by the door, looked at the large paper packet, then at Wengu, and then glanced at Cheng Zhi and his family.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
After a while, Cheng Zhi's mother and brother's family regained consciousness. Although still weak, they were clearer.
Cheng Zhi's mother said weakly, "Mother knew you wouldn't be in trouble. You bowed to the immortal before you left today!"
Little Liu and County Lieutenant Zhou couldn't help but peek into the room.
Which immortal did your family invite?
Cheng Zhi introduced Wengu and the others to his family and briefly recounted the dangerous situation of today.
Cheng Zhi's mother pushed herself up and thanked Wengu and the others for saving their lives.
Although she felt heartbroken about the wasted glutinous rice, staying alive was the most important thing.
Their attitude towards Wengu, a scholar, was clearly different from that of others.
Worried that Wengu might misunderstand Cheng Zhi, Cheng Zhi's mother and sister-in-law both stated that they had done so willingly, all stemming from their obsessions.
Cheng Zhi's father had argued with someone years ago. Although the other party was in the wrong, their family had produced a scholar, and their own family was accused by everyone.
Those people seemed to judge right and wrong based on their status.
The injuries on his father's body could have healed with proper rest, but the continuous accusations and mockery, the sarcastic remarks, the dirty water thrown at the door, the prolonged group verbal abuse, and much gossip led to his father dying depressed in bed.
Wengu sighed, "Human speech is terrifying, and accumulated slander can destroy bones!"
Tears welled up in Cheng Zhi's eyes.
The Cheng family had fled to this town years ago. They had no great abilities themselves, nor any help from relatives.
His father, before he died, still worried: When Cheng Zhi achieves success in his studies, you must tell him at my grave!
Cheng Zhi remembered things quickly. His family believed that such a person must have extremely high talent for reading and determination, and they gritted their teeth to support him all the way.
As long as Cheng Zhi passed the imperial examinations, their whole family would have a better life.
The family was willing to sacrifice.
If his father had held an official position back then, he would not have died with such resentment.
Wengu could understand their thoughts.
The experience of those years made Cheng Zhi and his family hold even deeper obsessions with bridging the class gap.
For ordinary commoners, the only way to climb up was through scholarly pursuits.
Wengu had a general understanding of Cheng Zhi's memory level.
However, having only memory without sufficient talent would not gain the favor of those academic figures.
But it was the same for bookworms, different backgrounds could lead to different encounters.
In this era, if Cheng Zhi had a higher background and his family could pull some strings for him, he could have a good reputation.
Reputation was very useful.
Looking at the situation now. Commoners, of humble birth, might even be suppressed in the academy. His family's vision was limited, and they could not provide more help. Providing financial support was already the greatest contribution their whole family could make.
Cheng Zhi thought about the experiences of recent years and the current state of the world, and couldn't help but shed tears.
The current state of the world, beyond their comprehension, was about to break down their last psychological defenses.
His family had endured until now, which already showed strong mental fortitude. Many people who couldn't bear it suffered from madness or even suicide, having given up on life and not surviving to this day.
He picked up a clean cloth towel from the side, wiped his tears and snot, and said,
"Mother, Brother, Sister-in-law, you really don't need to save food for me anymore! The plague and pestilence wiped out ten thousand households. The imperial examinations have long been suspended! What's the use of reading even more in such a world!"
Wengu was startled.
Wait a minute! Why would he say that?
Is his mentality collapsing?
How could this be!
The smart assistant must constantly upgrade its information database, and it cannot stop!
Wengu observed the expressions and subtle reactions of Cheng Zhi and his three family members.
He took a step towards them, exuding a natural and abundant scholarly aura, as if possessing a solemn elegance.
Over there, Daoist Master Qingyi, sitting by the door, raised his hand to rub his twitching forehead, cast his eyes aside, and got up to go out.
Can't bear to watch!
Inside the room.
Wengu discussed the evil plague with Cheng Zhi and the others.
Cheng Zhi's family had experienced plagues before, but they had only seen ordinary plagues, and the imperial court had quickly sent people to deal with them.
This time, they heard that the Imperial City itself was ravaged by evil creatures, and the imperial examinations were suspended. They didn't know when they would resume, or if they would ever see them in their lifetime... Alas!
After striving for more than a decade, their goal suddenly disappeared, and they had to constantly guard against threats to their lives. Now, they just lived day by day, driven by the instinct for survival.
Regarding this evil plague, the common people spread more tales of gods, demons, ghosts, and monsters.
When these things were mentioned, the Cheng family felt fear, and their voices trembled.
They were almost scared out of their wits, their psychological defenses were already at a very dangerous point, close to collapse.
Cheng Zhi looked at Wengu with admiration, "You're not afraid."
Wengu's face was indifferent, his back straight, his gaze clear, and his aura profound:
"Although it appears extremely strange and evil, the Sage once said, 'All things in heaven and earth are born of existence, and existence is born of non-existence.' The Sage's words can also point to this evil plague.
"'It is formless, shapeless, and colorless, like a form without form, elusive and bewildering, but not 'non-existent'. It is just that ordinary people cannot perceive it, and the naked eye cannot detect it. It is by no means a tale of demons and ghosts!
"'This journey north is to flee, to visit relatives, and also to seek the way to save the world!'"
Everyone in the room: "..."
Again, words of the Sage, and the way to save the world. Although they didn't understand, they felt that Wengu's stature had grown, his halo had intensified, and their eyes seemed to have brightened by a degree, giving rise to reverence.
Cheng Zhi was about to praise him.
Wengu showed a look of shame and continued, "Of course, there are also some worldly selfish desires."
Wengu slightly raised his chin, inclining towards a certain direction. The afterglow of the sunset shone on him through the window.
"The Imperial Capital has fallen, and the Imperial Court has collapsed. Now, with the evil plague rampant and devastating the land, the situation in various prefectures is becoming increasingly critical.
"However, there must be noble families and high officials who have stabilized the local situation and implemented local policies... In simpler terms, they have temporarily formed local 'little courts'."
The Cheng family didn't understand much else, but the term "little court" precisely caught their attention.
As if worried that everyone couldn't understand, Wengu asked Cheng Zhi, "You've read history books, you should know about 'Fanzhen Hegemony', right?"
Cheng Zhi nodded.
Wengu said, "Although the situation is different now, and I don't know what the situation is in the northern lands. It's just that I guess the situation in the northern lands now might be a little similar to it... Uh, you can understand it."
Cheng Zhi continued to nod, "I understand! I understand!"
He then quietly explained briefly to his mother and brother's family. Yes, it was indeed what they understood.
"Now, there are not many survivors, and the noble families and influential families of the southern lands are constantly migrating north. The various powerful figures in the northern lands are also in need of personnel, so this journey north is also..."
Wengu made a gesture of respect towards the north.
"I am ashamed to say, I also want to seek a future."
A future!
What had their family worked so hard for all these years? What had his father been thinking about on his sickbed?
They wanted to cross classes and change their status. The only way was through the imperial examinations! The whole family was counting on Cheng Zhi alone, willing to starve and work themselves to death to support this only scholar!
When they first learned that the imperial examinations were suspended, they immediately lost their spirit and energy, becoming listless, weak, and sickly...
Now, now!
The lost spirit and energy were reignited!
The four pairs of eyes in the Cheng family shone ten times brighter. No words were needed; their gazes almost expressed the same meaning: Please take us with you!
Cheng Zhi's family, who were originally lying weakly against the wall, actually got up by holding onto the wall.
Outside the house.
The Daoist priest listened to the commotion inside.
Sigh!
It had only been a short while.
Wengu, this person, is truly skilled at manipulating people's hearts!
Fortunately, they were not in the same profession!
Inside the room, Cheng Zhi's family actively expressed their desire to travel north with Wengu's group.
However, Wengu did not immediately accept the new team members and instead sincerely advised them to consider it carefully.
"There are still some supplies that can be found by carefully searching many residential houses in the town. Fleeing from home to the north is a very difficult process, and no one knows if they will survive to arrive. You must be cautious!"
The more he acted this way, the more the Cheng family felt that Wengu was sincere in his treatment of others.
As it was getting late, Wengu led the others away.
Even He Da and Yu Er, who had been thinking about the vinegar jars, were unusually silent, as if pondering an important issue, and obediently followed Wengu out.
After Wengu left, Cheng Zhi explained in detail to his family about today's experiences, as well as everything that had happened in the rich household, including Wengu's words about strength in numbers.
"Mother, let's go north with them! Regardless of our future prospects, the four of us alone here won't survive!"
Cheng Zhi discussed with his family.
After drinking the sweet rice gruel, they regained their strength and hope, and their minds became clear.
They would carefully consider it tonight before making a decision.
On the other side, Wengu led his people back to the peddler's residence.
He secretly pondered: Give them one night to think carefully, but they must think it through clearly!
There might still be survivors in the town. Cheng Zhi's family should think carefully about who else there is! Quickly dig out all these living people hiding in their homes!!
Wengu smelled the complex and mellow, sour fragrance of vinegar in the air.
Well, when he got back, he would give that dog Taoist priest some words of encouragement, hurry up and refine the coarse salt, and then refine vinegar!
(End of this chapter)