The weak scholar in the end of ancient times

Chapter 11 Searching for Supplies
It has been more than three months, almost four months since the two Wen brothers came to the village.

When I first came here, the grass was not this tall, but now it has grown so fast that it is taller than the house.

Fortunately, they have entered a period of decline.

The autumn wind is bleak and everything is withering.

It looks very desolate, but for now, the autumn wind brings more of a sense of security.

The speed at which those evil creatures move is different from that in spring and summer, and the colder the weather gets, the more obvious the contrast will be.

The team ahead had cleared a path, and everyone followed it into the town.

Of course, you can't burn down the town all at once when burning the wasteland.

It only burned nearby, so you could see a lot of grass and trees in the front and back yards of the houses in the town.

Hunter Liu, his face covered with a mask, leaving only his eyes exposed, came over, carrying a large bow on his back and a hatchet with an extended handle in his hand.

The knife was stained with brown blood.

Although the bloodstains are not bright red, they are fresh and come from evil creatures.

Taoist Qingyi once said that fire can remove evil and poison. The group of people who entered the town first chose a place to light a fire and burned all the blood-stained knives and sticks with the flames.

They'd previously burned the wasteland outside the town, using the smoke to fumigate the evil spirits, but they certainly hadn't driven away all the evil spirits in the town; they might still be hiding in the dark. Hunter Liu reminded everyone to be vigilant when entering the town and not to act alone.

"We've cleared a yard. Everyone, put your things here first."

The wooden carts for loading and unloading goods, spare farm tools and weapons, and supplies that are inconvenient to carry are all placed in the yard first.

There was smoke from burning herbs in the yard. With so many living people gathered together, the bloody atmosphere was thick, and herbs or smoke were needed to cover up the smell.

Two fires were lit in the yard, one for cooking food and the other for "exorcising evil spirits" and disinfection.

The Taoist priest's warnings and the storybook written by Wen Gu both mentioned using fire to expel evil, which is high-temperature disinfection.

The villagers with hunting experience were full of fighting spirit after entering the town.

The village chief said that killing an evil creature can earn a lot of work points, and killing a few more can support the whole family, which is much more profitable than moving things.

Three or four people form a group and they will discuss among themselves how to divide the profits.

Use smoke to drive away the hidden evil creature and wait for it to jump out.

The villagers who were prepared for this caught him with a long-handled wooden fork. Although this did not cause any actual harm, it provided a brief obstruction, and another person took the opportunity to swing a hatchet and behead him.

Cooperate tacitly.

After the evil creatures are killed, there will be villagers who are responsible for cleaning them up. They will use tools to drag them to one place and burn them when the time comes.

Review and observe the wounds of those evil creatures.

"Possessed by evil spirits" means that after a person is parasitized by an evil insect, the body will be alienated. The muscles and fat will appear to be severely atrophied, but in fact they become stronger and have higher defense than ordinary people.

The blood becomes less abundant, thicker, and browner in color.

Puncture wounds can cause damage to them, but the damage is limited and can affect their overall movement but will not kill them.

The villagers came to the conclusion that beheading was still necessary.

Let's review the previous analysis. So, after the Gu worm parasitizes the human body, it is most likely to stay in the head.

If this is the case, if the poisonous insects infect other parts of the body, can we intercept them before they enter the head?
It’s a pity that I don’t have the conditions, otherwise I would really like to dissect it again.

Look at the other villagers.

The timid and honest people have now changed and become more ruthless.

In today's world, everyone is concerned about three things:

Survive! Survive! Survive!
After a short rest, the next people who arrived started to work.

"I think the slab can be pried back to pave the road!"

"Pry it up and put it over there first. Clear the dirt off it, burn it, and then move it to the truck."

The dirt roads in the village become muddy when it rains, which makes it easy for insects to breed. Although they are now paved with wooden boards and gravel, who doesn’t like a smoother surface?

The road is smoother, so things can be transported faster.

Since the village is going to carry out construction this winter, it’s time to repair the village roads as well!
"These clothes, the fabric is so good!"

"The village chief said, don't throw clothes outside, as they will be contaminated with evil spirits. The clothes in the trunks inside the house are fine."

The villagers could only admire the expensive clothes from afar, and even touching them was a luxury. Now they were right before their eyes.

Unfortunately, many of them were unacceptable, and taking them back would require the painstaking effort of "exorcising" them. Since they had a choice, they might as well go for the clean clothes and fabrics. Anything in town that they could take back was theirs.

Those who feel sorry for the clothes are just talking about it.

They had all heard the storytelling and knew that those clothes were "dirty".

"The beams in that room over there can be removed."

"I found an ox cart! The ox is gone, but the cart is still there. It's clean and usable!"

"There are several shops over there whose door panels are easy to dismantle. Take them back first."

Place the disassembled items in a designated place to dry in the sun and let any moisture remain dry.

The drier the object, the harder it is for the evil poison to survive.

Amidst the clamor, a solemn-faced villager stood guard in the courtyard, holding a few pieces of paper. He could read a few words and compared them with the writing on them, reminding the others. It was a guidebook written after Wen Gu and the leaders had discussed it.

"Forget the big stone slabs, and don't use the blue bricks on the ground! We have enough on the ground, so don't go after dangerous things!"

Someone will dismantle it, someone else will load it, and when it's full, it'll be hauled back. Get back and forth as quickly as possible.

The Taoist priest said that they only had three days at most, and if they saw any evil creatures appear outside again, they would have to retreat. This meant that the burning of the wilderness had lost its deterrent effect, and the blood of living people would attract them again.

The herbs used for burning are limited, and we can't keep consuming them here.

Someone wanted to tear down all the houses in the town, but Hunter Liu stopped them.

"We can't tear it all down in one go. Pick a few intact houses nearby and seal them up before you leave. Then, when the snow falls in the winter, we'll come back and have a place to stay."

An older villager looked longingly at a large house in the town and said, "Can't we just move into the town? Leave more houses so that those who are fleeing can stay."

Before Hunter Liu could explain, his son started yelling, "Oh my dear father! Don't just think positively. If the people coming to town are thieves, and they settle down here, they'll be a threat to us!"

"Our village is different. As the story says, it's easy to defend but hard to attack! If the pressure gets real, we can just flee to the mountains!"

There is also a risk of being possessed by evil spirits in the mountains, but in today's world, it is not safe to hide anywhere. If the time comes to escape, how can you still worry about those things?

In comparison, the village is better. Unlike the town, it is connected in all directions and has no walls, which makes it unsafe.

Hunter Liu didn't say any more. He asked people to go to the town and look carefully for any usable weapons.

In the past, civilians were prohibited from making and practicing some weapons privately.

The strong bow he carried on his back was one he had been unable to use before.

The clothes and armor he was wearing were not usable by him given his status.

"The clothing, residence, and sedan chairs are used to distinguish the noble from the humble."

In the past, when Liu the hunter went to work for a noble family in the county, he heard what the teacher there said.

Use what you want according to your class and status.

There is no distinction now.

At least, here, whoever finds it owns it. Villagers can take it home and use it, stocking up on it as a backup, as survival is the top priority.

I also need to search for some references to see if there is anything useful that can be used on the road.

Hunter Liu asked his son to stay with Wen Gu because they, as locals, were more familiar with the town's layout and could help out.

Hunter Xiao Liu was also very happy and immediately came over: "Where do you want to go, Brother Wen? Don't worry, my archery skills are no worse than my father's!"

He was very curious about what he had seen and heard during his study tour and asked a few questions.

Wen Gu also talked to him patiently.

Taoist Qingyi had no intention of following, but when he heard the word "study tour", he started to move.

I'd like to see what other nonsense you, a dog scholar, can come up with.

Although he always felt bad when he recalled his experiences during his study abroad, when he thought about it later, he thought, well, it's worth learning from it.

Moreover……

The Taoist priest's gaze swept over Old Hunter Liu and Little Hunter Liu.

The Liu family father and son have a plan.

There were all kinds of smells in the town now, and smoke could be heard from time to time. Taoist Qingyi took a pill to clear his mind.

Wen Gu took Xiao Liu and his cousin for a walk in the town, with a Taoist priest following behind them.

They didn't talk much though, as they still had to be on guard against their surroundings.

Wen Gu made sure that there was no danger nearby and that villagers were active around before he turned his attention to things in the town.

The density of houses in the town is higher than that in the village. Most of them are built with wood, and only a few are built with bricks and tiles.

He also saw the public well.

Whether it was the private wells in small courtyards or the public wells outside, the water was contaminated. In the words of a Taoist priest, it was tainted with evil spirits. Villagers brought their own boiled water to drink when entering town.

Along the way you can see tea stalls and wine shops, which are now in ruins.

The spread of the evil plague dealt a heavy and tragic blow to the dynasty, and a dark age began.

Those who survived are still trapped in the fear of the unknown.

No one knows how long this dark age will last, or whether it will eventually come to an end?

"That's the largest shop in town." Hunter Xiao Liu pointed to a shop in front.

There were villagers coming in and out, and they obviously knew that the largest shop had the most things. Someone was carrying a large roll of cloth out.

Wen Gu raised his head slightly and looked at the plaque outside.

The world has changed, the times have shifted, and the entire town has become a dead place. The plaque that bears the local symbol still remains here, gradually dimming and covered with a layer of haze.

Hopefully, one day in the future, they will be able to shine again.

The Taoist priest following behind had an attitude of "I'm just here to stroll around" and was not interested in the items in the shops.

The last time, which was half a year ago when he first came to the village, he brought the villagers to the town for a rough search, with the main targets being food and medicinal materials.

The town’s medical clinics and drugstores were almost emptied out.

He wasn't particularly interested this time, as what he wanted wasn't available in this small place.

Most of what's left in the town are daily necessities, and the villagers may pick out the usable ones to take back this time.

The villagers can take away clothes, shoes, pots, pans, mattresses, bed curtains, boxes and containers that can be found in each household.

If there was still time, all the beds, tables, and chairs would be moved. Those that were usable would continue to be used, and those that were unusable would be chopped up for firewood. They would just sit there in the town, unused, and gradually fall apart.

A house needs "popularity" to maintain it. If no one lives in it, it will of course become dilapidated quickly.

At this time, a villager came out excitedly holding a basket and shouted:

"Come on! Look what I found!"

The others who were busy moving things took a look and gathered around in surprise and excitement.

In the big basket were peach charms and rolls of door god paintings.

Maybe it was the leftovers from the shop that was not sold that year.

Wen Gu walked closer to take a look.

There are mainly two types of door god paintings in the big basket. One is the dull donkey at the door of wealth and the turning back deer and horse.

A fat donkey carrying firewood symbolizes wealth and fortune.

The deer and horse looking back symbolize blessings of fortune and success in one's official career.

Getting promoted and getting rich was probably quite fashionable in the past, and merchants had a lot of stock.

If it were the peaceful times of the past, everyone would have liked it.
But now...

The villagers who gathered around first grabbed another kind, which was used to exorcise evil spirits and catch ghosts!
If you can't get it, try to get the general door god. If it's really sold out, then... look for it again! Maybe someone else has it?
Someone in the town must have bought it at the time, so maybe we can find it.

Wen Gu looked at them.

He disdains promotion and wealth, but everyone scrambles for exorcism and ghost hunting.

You want to grab the peach charms with carved patterns? How can you not grab them?
Look again!
Can't find it?
Go pry from someone else's house!

The Taoist priest who was watching this scene with great interest glanced at Wen Gu: The villagers are stupid and rough in nature, I wonder what the scholar thinks?
Wen Gu’s eyes were strange—surprised, understanding, and thoughtful.

Taoist priest:???
What is the dog scholar thinking about?
Wen Gu was just curious about the local customs, and was thinking that if he settled down in the north in the future and had no other means of making a living, perhaps he could try painting New Year pictures and making peach charms?

Without looking any further, Wen Gu went to search for something he could use. He found what he wanted in a house.

In the inconspicuous suitcase, he found more than a dozen wide-brimmed hats, which looked a bit like the Fan Yang hats he remembered.

Hunter Xiao Liu took a look and said, "This family must have taken on the job of making hats."

Of the dozen or so straw hats he found, Wen Gu kept half for himself and gave the other half to the villagers.

This is the rule in the village nowadays.

Wen Gu kept two for himself and gave two to his cousin. The Taoist priest had a special bamboo hat and didn't need it. Well, I gave Xiao Liu two more.

It’s enough, and the extra can be exchanged for other things in the village.

What surprised Wen Gu even more was that he found a small copper stove in another house.

It is a bit like the dyeing furnace in Wen Gu's memory, but it is smaller and more exquisite than that one, making it convenient to carry with you when you go out, and you can cook food on the road.

This family seemed to be quite wealthy. The door was tightly shut and there was no obvious bloodstain inside. Perhaps they had left at the beginning of the chaos.

Afterwards, Wen Gu pushed open the door of the family's study and saw the pen holder on the desk, the hanging brushes, as well as the high-quality calligraphy and painting paper and inkstone.

His eyes suddenly lit up and looked longingly.

"Yang You cannot shoot with an empty bow, and only Meng Ben can strike with a sharp sword. If a craftsman wants to do his work well, he must first sharpen his tools! The brush and ink are the swords of the writer, so how can they not be carefully selected?"

The Taoist priest spat out the pill residue in his mouth with a "Pooh".

Who was that idiot who said to me the other day, "Able to write, no matter the pen"?!

　Happy Chinese New Year everyone!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)