“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Having delivered the message, Yuan Jing didn’t linger. He nodded to Lu Zheng and turned to leave.
“Senior Brother, why not stay for lunch before you go?”
“No need, I’m just passing through.” Yuan Jing waved his hand and hurriedly departed.
Lu Zheng glanced at the sky, then at the people in the hall. Before he could speak, Liu Qingquan and Liu San entered with a food box.
“Sister! Brother-in-law! Time to eat!”
…
“Where are we going?” Liu Qingyan took a small bite of rice and asked Lu Zheng.
“Since we’re going, we should head to the worst-affected areas. After all, I have the gourd.” Lu Zheng patted the gourd at his waist. “We’ll buy more food and medicine to take to the disaster zone.”
Liu Qingyan nodded repeatedly. “Benevolent Heart Hall has some medicine in stock. We can bring that too.”
“I’ll go to the county this afternoon to buy supplies. We’ll set off tomorrow morning.”
“Good!”
…
After lunch, Lu Zheng returned home first. The situation had come up so suddenly that he hadn’t fully processed it.
There had been a few refugees in the past days, but not many, so he hadn’t paid much attention. Having kept to himself recently, he hadn’t noticed the increase.
Now, he was about to set out again.
“Uncle Li!”
“Young Master!”
“Go buy as much food and medicine as you can,” Lu Zheng said.
Uncle Li asked, “Is the Young Master also helping the refugees outside the city? The county office has opened its granaries, and wealthy families have donated, setting up porridge stalls. I was going to ask you about it.
But with spring planting damaged in many areas, grain prices have risen by twenty to thirty percent. The rich families doing charity are using their own stockpiles.”
“I see!” Lu Zheng nodded. “No matter, go buy what you can. I need to take it with me.”
“You’re leaving, Young Master?” Uncle Li was startled.
“Yes.” Lu Zheng nodded. “The sect has ordered me to go to the northwest disaster zone. We leave tomorrow morning, so hurry. Buy as much as possible. If you’re short on money, let me know.”
“Yes! I’ll do it quickly!”
…
Half an hour later, Uncle Li returned with Zhao Wenrong and Zhou Mingsheng.
“Why are you here?”
“Greetings, Young Master Lu!” Zhao Wenrong bowed. “Hearing you’re about to travel, I’ve come to donate a batch of grain.”
“Hm? Grain?”
“My Zhao family does substantial business. A batch of grain was recently sent to Tonglin County, meant for sale in Yaozhou. But with the floods across several prefectures, I’ve decided to donate it all.”
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow. “Donating it all, so generous?”
Zhao Wenrong looked embarrassed, knowing his earlier attempt to forcibly buy Sweet Food Studio’s shopfront was indefensible. He skipped the topic, emphasizing, “In such major matters, the Zhao family doesn’t lag behind.”
“Alright, go on.”
Zhao Wenrong said, “Tonglin County has few refugees, but the roads to the disaster zone are tough, and I hear they’re dangerous, so I…”
He hesitated, a bit embarrassed. “Hearing Young Master Lu is tirelessly heading to the disaster zone, I thought to give you all this grain. Please take it with your convoy, as a token of the Zhao family’s goodwill.”
Lu Zheng looked at Zhao Wenrong. “Giving it to me to take means the Zhao family gets no credit. You donate the goods, but no fame.”
“No matter, no matter. I only seek peace of mind,” Zhao Wenrong said quickly.
Lu Zheng nodded.
First treating patients at Benevolent Heart Hall, then supplying Sweet Food Studio, and now delivering a batch of grain…
These weren’t forced gifts but thoughtful acts, achieving mutual benefit. Especially this time, it was mainly for aiding the refugees.
Lu Zheng couldn’t help asking, “The Zhao family doesn’t mind you doing this?”
Zhao Wenrong grinned proudly. “Rest assured, Young Master. My grandmother dotes on me. It’s just one convoy of grain, a small matter!”
Zhou Mingsheng, “…”
“Fine, thank you. Take me to your convoy.” Lu Zheng stood up.
Zhao Wenrong had saved Lu Zheng some trouble. He’d been wondering whether to buy grain in the modern world, but with no channels and tight timing, if too much vanished…
Though it might go unnoticed, it was better to be cautious.
With this grain, Lu Zheng had enough time to prepare in the modern world.
…
Zhao Wenrong led Lu Zheng to a courtyard not far from Anfang, where dozens of large carts were parked, each piled with sacks filled with millet and rice.
However, compared to modern selectively bred millet and rice, the grains here in the Great Jing Dynasty looked slightly different.
Zhao Wenrong said, “The cart drivers are Zhao family laborers, and there are some guards. You don’t need to worry about anything on the road…”
Lu Zheng waved his hand. “They don’t need to come with me.”
“Huh?”
Lu Zheng looked at Zhao Wenrong. “You’re giving me these dozens of carts of grain to take for disaster relief?”
“Yes!” Zhao Wenrong nodded immediately.
“That’s enough.” Lu Zheng nodded, patting the gourd at his waist. “Collect!”
The next moment, the sacks of grain on the carts shrank and were absorbed into Lu Zheng’s gourd.
Everyone in the courtyard was stunned. Someone gasped, prompting the guards inside to come out, only to freeze in place.
“Swish, swish, swish!”
Fortunately, he’d used up the high-explosive bombs at Taomu God Mountain, or he’d have nowhere to store this grain and might’ve needed to rent a warehouse in the modern world.
Though Zhao Wenrong’s grain was substantial, it was a drop in the bucket for countless refugees. Still, the court handled the bulk of relief. Lu Zheng’s supply was for emergencies, to prevent starvation, and should suffice.
It took dozens of breaths to collect all the grain. Lu Zheng then turned to Zhao Wenrong.
“Thank you, Brother Zhao,” Lu Zheng said, bowing.
Doing good deeds, judged by actions not motives, they had donated dozens of carts of millet for the refugees.
“No, no!” Zhao Wenrong was almost scared witless, never expecting Lu Zheng to wield such a divine technique as storing vast quantities in a tiny space, a feat from legends attributed to top-tier masters!
…
Leaving the Zhao family, Lu Zheng crossed back to the modern world. Seeing it was still early, he went to an industrial zone in the distant suburbs and rented a large warehouse.
Though unsure if it would be needed, it was better to be prepared. Lu Zheng wasn’t short on money and paid a year’s rent upfront, covering utilities as well.
The next morning, Lu Zheng set out, intending to call at the neighboring house, only to see Liu Qingyan emerge with the five women of Wuxiu Manor.
Lu Zheng: ???
“Yesterday afternoon, Cai Niang came to me. After I told her about this, she discussed it with Hua Guniang and the others, and they all came to help us,” Liu Qingyan said helplessly.
