Taking seven women to the flood-stricken area for disaster relief…
Seven fairies?
However, with the women from Wuxiu Manor, safety was indeed more assured. After all, Lu Zheng might occasionally travel to the modern world and couldn’t always stay by Liu Qingyan and Du Yueyao’s side.
In that case…
Let’s go!
They first picked up Du Yueyao, then collected all the medicine stock from the Liu family. The group then set off together.
Indeed, besides Du Yueyao, there was her maid Yulan and two guards.
Lu Zheng’s party of eleven headed northwest. Not long after leaving the county, they saw many commoners, young and old, fleeing toward them.
Traveling against the flow, they ignored most ordinary folk. But when they encountered those who were ill or weak, the group stepped forward to help.
Lu Zheng, Liu Qingyan, and Du Yueyao treated patients, administered acupuncture, and prescribed medicine. Yulan and the five women from Wuxiu Manor helped brew medicine, while the two guards lent their strength, either chopping firewood or organizing luggage.
For several days, as they approached the disaster zone, the number of affected people grew.
…
Lingbei Circuit, Yuzhou.
The hardest-hit prefecture of this flood, where the Yi River had breached in several places, submerging nearly all counties in the prefecture, turning it into a vast lake. Only a few southern highlands were spared.
When Lu Zheng and his group arrived in Yuzhou, they had truly entered the heart of the disaster zone.
Lu Zheng had thought the fleeing refugees he saw along the way were suffering enough. Now, entering Yuzhou, he realized he was naive.
The court was doing its utmost to provide relief, and cultivators had come to assist. But with so many ordinary people affected, the situation remained grave.
The critical issue was…
Malaria had appeared among the refugees, with many already infected.
“Quick, quick, quick!”
“The porridge stall is ready, line up!”
“Daoist Duan is here! Daoist, please check on my mother, she says she’s suffering!”
Arriving in Yuzhou, the group didn’t rest for a moment. Yuzhou Prefecture had the strongest court presence and ample supplies, so they ventured deep into the counties and villages.
They set up porridge stalls, distributed food, treated the sick, performed acupuncture, and prescribed medicine.
…
Huanshui County, Kaoshan Town, Yutou Village.
The second day after the group arrived in the mountain village.
“Doctor, doctor! My mother has a stomachache, can you check on her?”
A dusty little girl rushed to Liu Qingyan, immediately kneeling and kowtowing.
Liu Qingyan stood at once, grabbed her medical kit, and followed. Du Yueyao hurriedly joined her.
After a while, Liu Qingyan returned. Lu Zheng looked over, and she nodded, saying, “It’s malaria. I’ve given the lady acupuncture and prescribed medicine, but her condition is severe. I’m not sure when she’ll recover.”
She paused, then mused, “I’ve noticed that the medical texts’ prescriptions for malaria are similar but lack star fennel and tongqi. Is it because the authors didn’t discover these herbs?”
Lu Zheng blinked. “Maybe.”
After all, this was the medicine of another parallel world. Even if the two worlds were similar, differences in species were only natural.
Liu Qingyan pondered, “I want to try a few new prescriptions. They might work faster and save more people.”
At that moment, a man entered, supporting an elderly woman.
“Doctor Liu! Doctor Liu! My mother says she’s dying!”
“Quick, help the lady sit down!”
Liu Qingyan hurriedly seated the elderly woman and checked her pulse.
“How is she?” Lu Zheng asked.
“Star fennel one qian, artemisia one qian, bupleurum seven fen, scutellaria seven fen, tongqi five fen, anemarrhena three fen…”
Liu Qingyan recited a new prescription.
Lu Zheng, having invested some luck in medical skills, was less practiced than Liu Qingyan and thus slightly less skilled. Hearing her prescription, he mentally verified it and realized it was worth trying.
“I’ll do it!”
Lu Zheng personally brewed the medicine, infusing it with true qi for a moment. Soon, the decoction was ready, and he gave it to the elderly woman.
After one bowl, her complexion visibly improved.
“Take two more doses home. If she’s not fully recovered after three days, come back for a follow-up. If she’s cured, let me know.”
“Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, Doctor Liu!” The man thanked her profusely and supported his mother as they left.
Afterward, Liu Qingyan began trying the new prescription on malaria patients.
Though the prescription was certainly effective, its strength needed verification. With the flood just past and the epidemic just emerging, it was the perfect time to test it.
Seeing Liu Qingyan get into her work, with Du Yueyao assisting, Lu Zheng left the makeshift shelter and looked around.
At the eastern village clearing, Yulan and the Wuxiu Manor women were distributing porridge. Nearby, on higher ground, the two guards were helping build simple shelters for wind and rain protection.
In the village center, houses were submerged, with knee-deep water, completely uninhabitable.
Hundreds of villagers from Yutou Village were gathered on a nearby highland, exposed to the elements without cover.
Lu Zheng stood in silence.
He thought of many things, yet seemed to think of nothing. Images and videos from the modern internet mingled with the scenes before him in his mind.
“Lu Lang~”
Liu Qingyan appeared beside him, taking his hand. “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing.” Lu Zheng shook his head.
Liu Qingyan tightened her grip on his hand. “We need to stay nearby for three days, at least to treat those with the epidemic and see how my prescriptions work before moving on.”
“Mm.” Lu Zheng nodded, then went to the highland to help build temporary shelters.
…
After half a day’s work, the group finally secured basic shelter. Treating patients and distributing porridge had also concluded for the day.
The villagers settled down, and some carefree children began playing with the women, gradually showing smiles.
Lu Zheng took out milk candies, crispy sweets, peanuts, and melon seeds from his gourd to share.
The villagers, having seen Lu Zheng produce grain from his gourd, weren’t overly shocked. Knowing he was like a divine figure, they held him in awe and didn’t dare get too close.
But the children were different, their curiosity outweighing their awe. They had only tasted simple malt sugar at town markets, rarely even rock sugar. Now, with Big White Rabbit milk candies and Xu Fuji crispy sweets, they nearly swallowed their tongues in delight.
Seeing smiles on the villagers’ faces, Lu Zheng’s mood lifted.
But this good mood lasted only a moment, interrupted by two voices.
“Haha! So much food, we’ll feast today!”
“Pick the tenderest ones, then move on to other villages!”
“Save the trouble! Just pick a few kids!”
“Virgins will do too!”
“Hahaha!”
In sight, two figures approached, riding the waves. One was stout with a round head and big eyes, the other robust with a long face and wide mouth.
