Chapter 120: The Great Disaster
The torrential rain poured continuously for half a month. In the first few days, the people just complained a little, thinking the rain lasted too long and made it inconvenient to go out. By the tenth day, grain prices rose, and anxiety began to appear on people’s faces. During the half-month-long heavy rain, they could no longer stay calm. With such terrible weather, there were no customers at all, and all the shops had to close.
With the shops closed, the workers had no choice but to return to their homes. The once-bustling streets became desolate, and every household shut their doors tightly.
As things went on like this, grain prices grew increasingly higher, accompanied by a rise in other daily necessities. Apart from grain, the most exaggerated price increases were for charcoal and firewood.
Inside Taoyao Square. Zhang Zhaodi ate osmanthus cake made by Jia Chunni, her face full of worry: "Although we’re not worried about food or clothing, staying in this room for a year or two is no problem, but it’s really affecting business. We bought this shop and stocked up on so much grain, but we don’t have much money left. If there’s no business like this, won’t we end up depleting our funds?"
"This is a natural disaster, and there’s nothing we can do about it," Zhang Pandi said. "Luckily, we have the smart girl Yaoguang who prepared everything in advance, so we don’t have to worry like those outside."
Jiang Jing returned from outside, took off her raincoat, removed her hat, and patted the water from her clothes, saying, "I just passed by the grain store, and there were too many people lined up. A dou of rice has already risen to two hundred cents."
"That’s too expensive, more expensive than meat," Zhang Yingdi said, shocked.
"No, no, no, not more expensive than meat. Meat has risen to fifty cents a jin," Zhang Pandi said. "Grain can be stored, but fresh meat cannot, and we have to buy it fresh. When I went to queue today, the butcher said it was fifty cents a jin. I really wanted to throw the basket in my hand at his face and just leave. But that’s not possible; we still need to eat meat, or we won’t have energy."
"How’s Sister Chun’e?" Su Yaoguang asked.
"Her husband came back. I didn’t see her, but her husband said she went back to her parents’ house and hasn’t returned because of the rain," Jiang Jing said. "Her parents’ home is in the countryside, far from the city!"
Standing at the door, Su Yaoguang happened to see Jiang Yihuan sending a man out. That man was none other than Qian Yongqiang, who had recently come to propose marriage here.
Qian Yongqiang stood at the door, looking distressedly at the much slimmer Jiang Yihuan, and said, "Huan’er, I’ll find a way to get some grain for you and bring it over. Don’t skimp; look how much weight you’ve lost."
Jiang Yihuan, her eyes brimming with tears, said emotionally, "Brother Qian, you’re so good to me, I don’t even know how to thank you. Right now, food is as important as life, and you’ve saved my life."
"I don’t expect anything in return for being kind to you, so don’t overthink it," Qian Yongqiang said, scratching his head. "Of course, if you could fall in love with me and agree to marry me, that would be the best."
Zhang Pandi’s voice came from behind: "That Jiang family girl really has some ability. Look at how these men are devoted to her; they bring her everything she wants without her having to worry."
"And without spending money," Jia Chunni chimed in.
"Accepting favors means being obligated. The more she benefits now, the more she’ll have to pay back later. These men all have one goal, and that’s to win her over. If she can’t give them what they want, who knows what trouble might arise later?" Su Yaoguang said. "Chunni, don’t learn from her; it’s not a good example."
A person dressed as an attendant student ran to Taoyao Square under an umbrella and asked Su Yaoguang, "Excuse me, which one is Su Yaoguang?"
Su Yaoguang said, "I am."
"Many students in the academy are sick now, including Zhou Wangshu. They want family members to send some silver over for medical expenses and medication."
"Zhou Wangshu is sick?" Su Yaoguang asked worriedly. "We want to bring him back to take care of him; is that possible?"
"No, it’s not possible. Many students have similar symptoms, and the Mountain Master is worried the illness might be contagious, so students are not allowed to leave the academy. The Mountain Master has already isolated all the sick people."
"Before, everything in the academy was fine; no one was sick," Su Yaoguang murmured to herself. "How did things change so much?"
The trajectory of this world and the previous life is different; naturally, many things won’t be the same as before. For instance, the academy was very safe in the past life, and there was no shortage of grain or food. But it’s not that smooth in this life.
"What are their symptoms?" Su Yaoguang continued to ask. "Have they consulted a doctor? What did the doctor say?"
"At first, it was just a slight fever, and then it progressed to vomiting and diarrhea. Oh, it’s all because of that Student Xiao. The Mountain Master said this rain was strange and advised the students to stay at the academy and not go out. But he accepted a painting and calligraphy commission from a wealthy gentleman and insisted on going out to paint a mural for him. After he returned, he fell seriously ill. Students who went to visit him got sick too, one after another, spreading to seven or eight people now."
After hearing the attendant student’s words, Su Yaoguang understands why this world’s events differ from those in her previous life. In the past life, Xiao Yanci had no financial pressure and never thought about going out to find work, naturally reducing risk. But in this life, he wanted to earn more for Jiang Yihuan, inadvertently harming others.
"Can’t I go and be with him? I’ll go alone, and once inside, I won’t come out until he’s better, then can I leave together with him?"
This illness isn’t minor; it resembles a cold, but it’s life-threatening. How many people died in the previous life, and that young man’s luck isn’t too good. Who knows if it will end like this?
Nonetheless, she has decided to visit him, ensuring she takes all preventive measures. After all, she has experienced this once in a past life and knows how to handle it.
"Isn’t this illness peculiar? Aren’t you afraid of catching it?"
"We have a doctor at home, and I’ll bring the medicine she prescribes, and then stay with him until he’s well. That’s settled; I’ll go home to pack some things, and once ready, I’ll head to the academy."
"Alright, I’ll go to Fenghua Pavilion opposite to inform Student Xiao’s family."
Upon hearing they were informing Jiang Yihuan across the street, Su Yaoguang, eager to be everywhere, turned back to instruct Jiang Jing and the others, then followed the attendant student to Fenghua Pavilion’s door.
The attendant student, seeing her follow, felt strange but said nothing.
He knocked on the door, and the person who opened it was a worker. After explaining his purpose, the worker quickly went to find Jiang Yihuan and brought her out.
Zhong Lanhua was feisty, while Jiang Yihuan had a gentle and kind image outside. Whenever workers got scolded, she was the one who spoke up on their behalf, so they were all loyal to her.
"How much silver is needed; will ten taels suffice?" Jiang Yihuan said with difficulty. "We haven’t had any business in ages, and all the previous silver was spent on restocking, so we’re struggling now."