CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57: MAJOR EVENTS IN THE DREAM

Not just cold and indifferent words.

She saw the citizens of the city fall one by one.

She saw the County Magistrate dispatch people to slaughter livestock to prevent the epidemic from spreading.

She saw some people struggling to breathe and eventually suffocating to death.

She also saw many people die from high fever.

She saw uninfected citizens surrounding the Medical Clinic and pharmacies, hoping to get medicine to save their family.

She saw someone, infuriated by the slaughter of their own livestock and heavy losses, go to smash the doors of the government office.

But ultimately, the County Magistrate and all the citizens of the city perished within the city.

She saw soldiers sent with cloth wrapped around their faces to avoid infection, holding torches and oil, setting various parts of the city ablaze.

Watched as the small city, once bustling yet peaceful, was consumed by flames.

Fu Shinian sat up abruptly, her face pale.

"Miss." Chunmian and Chunyu came over together; one patted her back while the other poured hot tea for Fu Shinian to drink, "Did Miss have another nightmare?"

Fu Shinian was in a daze for a moment before she remembered.

Ganning, epidemic.

Xiao Chengyu is going.

The original book didn’t specify exactly when.

It only mentioned it was a month after Mid-Autumn Festival.

By the current time, it just happens to be when Xiao Chengyu would be in the city.

No way!

Xiao Chengyu is going to Ganning under the emperor’s order, so he certainly can’t return.

She couldn’t mention that there would be an epidemic in Ganning, she couldn’t explain it at all.

Fu Shinian got up.

Medicine!

Yes, buy medicine!

By then, Ganning would be short of medicine everywhere, she needed to buy a lot of medicine.

But she couldn’t buy medicine in the capital.

That would draw too much attention.

Lest she be suspected of being involved with the epidemic in Ganning, that would be a grave injustice for her.

She needed to buy along the way.

Buy from pharmacies along the route.

But she also needed a plausible reason.

Why would she bring so much medicine to Ganning?

Fortunately, there was still some time before the epidemic, she had time to think about how to prepare properly.

The Cheng Family!

Just as well, Aunt Cheng mentioned that Cheng Yuanshan was personally in charge of transporting military supplies.

He would be setting out soon, so she came today to visit Aunt Cheng and Fu Mingzhu.

Fu Shinian quickly told Chunmian and Chunyu to tidy up for her.

Then she went to Aunt Cheng’s place.

"Aunt, is Uncle Cheng not here yet?" Fu Shinian asked.

Aunt Cheng thought Fu Shinian was concerned about the trinkets Cheng Yuanshan brought from the Western Regions, so she smiled and said, "Soon. Would you like to wait here?"

"Sure!" Fu Shinian sat down, and Aunt Cheng had Hua Yu slice some fruit for her to eat.

After a while, Fu Mingzhu arrived too.

It wasn’t long before Cheng Yuanshan showed up.

Cheng Yuanshan did not shy away from discussing business matters with Fu Shinian.

He admired this young lady very much, for her ideas and foresight.

If it weren’t for her reminder, the Cheng Family wouldn’t have been able to handle the task of transporting supplies to the military.

"This is the Cheng Family’s first official delivery of supplies to the military." Cheng Yuanshan wanted to hear Fu Shinian’s opinion, "I’m personally leading the team, does the young lady have any other suggestions?"

Fu Shinian quickly came up with an idea, "I heard there’s war at the border now."

Cheng Yuanshan nodded, "So we must be extremely cautious."

Fu Shinian said, "Then I’ll donate some cotton clothes and medicine."

"By now, the Northwest must be very cold, the soldiers need to keep warm. But I heard there’s a shortage of supplies at the frontline, and they may not have enough warm clothing. I’ll do my bit and donate some. They are fighting every day, and their clothes wear out fast, so at least they’ll have replacements ready."

"You’re right." Cheng Yuanshan nodded, "That reminds me, the Cheng Family naturally can’t sit this out, especially since we’re handling supplies. We must be informed about military supplies."

"Along the way, I can collect some cotton clothes from the Cheng Family’s shops." Collecting from each shop and accumulating them could add up to a considerable amount, "Consider this the Cheng Family’s donation to the Northwest army. While it’s an opportunity, it also bears risk, as we’re under scrutiny."

"The Cheng Family must show the court through action that the Cheng Family is not just a royal merchant, but also a righteous merchant, available for the court’s use." Cheng Yuanshan said solemnly.

As the Cheng Family grows, they are bound to draw attention.

They don’t need the court to find fault; the Cheng Family volunteers some goodwill, letting the court know that keeping the Cheng Family is beneficial and not harmful, no need for drastic measures.

Fu Shinian thought for a moment and said, "Why don’t sister also donate some in your own name?"

"No problem, that’s a small matter." Fu Mingzhu was unconcerned.

She and Fu Shinian had just opened a spice shop. Though the income wasn’t much yet, it was enough to offset what she spent on the orphanage.

This way, Fu Mingzhu had quite a bit of pocket money.

But she no longer had to spend on Master Xiao, so her funds were more ample, and she didn’t quite know where to spend it.

Having heard there’s another good cause to spend her money on, Fu Mingzhu immediately agreed without hesitation and handed all her money to Cheng Yuanshan, "Uncle, take all this and buy as many cotton clothes as you can for the military."

Fu Shinian seized the opportunity to say, "Uncle Cheng, I also have some savings. I won’t convert them to cotton clothes, but to medicine instead."

"The soldiers often get injured and develop high fevers, so we should buy various kinds of medicine from the pharmacies along the route and send them together, shall we?"

Fu Shinian had read many books in the past, including the Great Xi Atlas.

If she remembered correctly, Ganning was a necessary pass to get to the Northwest army.

She wouldn’t drag Cheng Yuanshan and those delivering supplies into this.

When she got there, she would take the medicine in by herself.

Moreover, Cheng Yuanshan was delivering supplies and couldn’t be delayed; even if he wanted to accompany her, he couldn’t.

Fu Shinian had already planned it all out.

"You and sister both donated cotton clothes, it should be enough." Fu Shinian said, "I’ll use my money to buy medicine along the way."

"I remember the Cheng Family also runs medical clinics and pharmacies, so if there are any owned by the Cheng Family along the route, naturally, I’ll buy from Cheng Family’s clinics and pharmacies. If not, I’ll buy from other medical clinics and pharmacies." Fu Shinian said, "Uncle Cheng, do you agree?"

"Not bad!" Cheng Yuanshan nodded, "That’s a good idea."

Fu Shinian took the opportunity to say, "Uncle Cheng, every time you come back talking about the sights outside, the vast sky and the solitary smoke in the desert, I long to see them."

Fu Shinian, blinking her bright eyes, attempted to pass with sweet talk, "I wonder if I could join you this time?"

Cheng Yuanshan was so startled he leapt from his chair, "No, no! This won’t do, absolutely not!"

Cheng Yuanshan feared that Fu Shinian would insist on going with him immediately, so he hastily said, "I’m leaving first! I absolutely cannot agree to this."

After speaking, he left as if his seat was on fire.

What a joke.

Fu Shinian, a pampered young lady, hadn’t even been out of the capital, and now she wanted to join his convoy to transport supplies?

This was unthinkable!

Besides, transporting supplies wasn’t a leisure trip; it was very arduous.

To ensure timely delivery of the supplies, they would probably have to travel day and night.

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