The weak scholar in the end of ancient times

Chapter 37 There is hope
The door of the house where Cheng Zhi's family lived was not locked, but ajar, so that he could enter the house as soon as he came back.

"Mom, brother and sister-in-law, I'm back!"

Cheng Zhi pushed the door open and said hurriedly.

"How are you guys? I brought rice back!"

Wen Gu and the others made sure that there was no other danger here, so they followed him inside.

It was soon discovered that there were three people lying against the wall inside, namely Cheng Zhi's mother and brother and sister-in-law.

But at this time, the three of them looked very weak and confused.

Cheng Zhi tried to talk to them, but received no response. His brother half-opened his eyes and tried to say something, but no sound came out, and his hands were shaking weakly.

Wen Gu said to his cousin next to him, "Tietou, take out your kettle."

He then asked County Magistrate Zhou for two pieces of hard malt candy, threw them into the kettle, and asked Tietou to tighten the kettle and shake it.

"Brother Cheng, do you have a clean bowl or teacup? Bring me a spoon if you have one."

"Yes, yes!"

Cheng Zhi, who was at a loss, followed Wen Gu's instructions and found a porcelain bowl and a soup spoon.

Pour out the sweet water from the bamboo tube.

"Feed them some." Wen Gu said.

Cheng Zhi carried the bowl over.

Tietou, standing next to him, looked at the two remaining malt candies in the bamboo tube, both of which were half unmelted.

"Brother, there's some candy."

"Eat it yourself."

"Hey!" Tietou happily poured it into his mouth.

Wen Gu turned to look at Cheng Zhi's family and said to Cheng Zhi, "You look hungry. Drink some sweet water to calm down first."

He glanced around and added, "They left all the food for you."

Cheng Zhi silently fed his family water, his hands trembling as he held the porcelain bowl and the soup spoon.

Wen Gu didn't stare at him anymore, but looked inside the house: "Light up the stove, and boil some hot water."

He Da immediately jumped forward: "I'll do it, I'll do it!"

Seeing this, Yu Er was unwilling to be left behind and went over to help.

They need to take the initiative now. The team found a lot of supplies today, and they are distributed according to work. Can something as simple as boiling water be counted as part of that?

Even if it is not counted, it will be fine to leave a good impression when reviewing it.

As He Da lit the stove, he felt somewhat proud and fortunate: We are just different from the right people!
How long has it been since we entered the town?

Two large bags of salt, various rice grains, dried fruits, sugar, not to mention other supplies, he valued salt grains the most.

Wen Shusheng said that he wanted Taoist Qingyi to refine the coarse salt into fine salt so that it would not harm the body when eaten.

When the world was peaceful, they couldn't afford fine salt. He didn't even know what fine salt tasted like.

Now that I am fleeing, I can actually enjoy a good meal.

Oh, and sugar!
We'll get that jar of malt sugar when we get back later!
suck-

What is the purpose of living?
There is hope!

Finally, I don’t have to compete with my own cows for food!

He Da glanced around and saw the large vinegar jars placed on the side.

He still remembered that Wen Gu had mentioned in his previous conversation with Cheng Zhi that vinegar might also be able to ward off evil spirits.

If you don’t have wine, a few jars of vinegar will do!
He Da was envious of the jealous people placed around him.

Yu Er had the same idea. He had gained a lot today and was in a good mood. He was even in the mood to joke: "With all the wine and vinegar, I feel like I've been marinated."

"Isn't it good if it's marinated well?" He Da asked back.

"pretty good!"

When an evil spirit is with someone who has pure blood, it will definitely choose someone else first.

What’s the big deal about having a body odor? I’ll have it ten times stronger!

After the water was boiled and some was set aside, Wen Gu took out a large paper bag and poured the powdered grains into the pot. He said to Cheng Zhi, "Cook some rice porridge for them."

Cheng Zhihong's eyes turned red as he said gratefully, "Thank you very much!"

Taoist Qing, who was sitting at the door, looked at the big paper bag, then glanced at Wen Gu, and then glanced at Cheng Zhi and his family.

"Tsk tsk tsk tsk."

After a while, Cheng Zhi's mother and brother and sister-in-law regained consciousness one after another. Although they still had no strength, they were more awake.

Cheng Zhi's mother said weakly, "I knew nothing would happen to you. You kowtowed to the gods before leaving today!"

Xiao Liu and County Captain Zhou couldn't help but look into the house.

What kind of deity did you invite into your home?
Cheng Zhi introduced the identities of Wen Gu and others to his family and briefly recounted the dangerous situation today.

Cheng Zhi's mother stood up and thanked Wen Gu and the others for saving her life.

Although I feel sad about the wasted glutinous rice, the most important thing is to be alive.

Their attitude towards Wen Gu, a scholar, is obviously different from that of others.

Worried that Wen Gu might misunderstand Cheng Zhi, Cheng Zhi's mother and brother and sister-in-law all said that they did it voluntarily and it was all due to their obsession.

Cheng Zhi's father had an argument with someone in the past. The other party was obviously wrong, but someone in the other family passed the imperial examination, and it was his own family that was blamed by everyone.

Those people seem to judge right from wrong based on their identities.

His father's injuries might heal if he had a good rest for a while, but he was constantly being accused and ridiculed, mocked, and smeared, and there was a lot of verbal violence and gossip from the people around him.

His father died of depression in his hospital bed.

Wen Gu sighed: "People's words are terrible, and accumulated criticism can destroy one's character!"

Tears glistened in Cheng Zhi's eyes.

The Cheng family fled to the town a few years ago. They had no special abilities and no relatives to help them.

Before his death, his father was still thinking: When Cheng Zhi passes the imperial examination, he must go to his grave to tell him!

Cheng Zhi memorized things very quickly, and his family thought that such a person must have an extremely high talent for studying, so they gritted their teeth and supported him all the way.

As long as Cheng Zhi passed the imperial examination, their whole family would be able to get through this difficult time.

The family is willing to give.

If he had been an official back then, his father would not have died with hatred in his heart.

Reviewing the past can help you understand their thoughts.

What happened back then made Cheng Zhi and his family more obsessed with crossing class barriers.

For ordinary people, the only way to climb up is to study. Wen Gu has a general understanding of Cheng Zhi's memory level.

He only had a good memory but not enough talent, so he could not gain the favor of those academic figures.

But even if they are both nerds, they may have different experiences due to their different backgrounds.

In this era, if Cheng Zhi had a higher social status and his family helped him, he could have a good reputation.

Reputation is of great use.

Look at the present. As a commoner, born in an ordinary family, he might even be oppressed in the academy. His family's vision is limited and they can't provide more help. Providing money is already the most the family can offer, and it is the greatest contribution.

Cheng Zhi thought about his experiences over the years and then considered the current state of the world, and couldn't help but burst into tears.

The current state of the world is beyond their comprehension and is about to break down their last psychological defenses.

His family is considered mentally strong for having made it this far. Many others who couldn't handle it would have gone insane at best, or even committed suicide at worst, having given up on life long ago and wouldn't be here today.

Taking the clean cloth next to him and wiping his tears and nose, Cheng Zhi said:

"Mother, brother, sister-in-law, you really don't need to save food for me anymore! The plague has wiped out thousands of families. The imperial examinations have been suspended long ago! In a world like this, what's the point of reading more books!"

Wen Gu was shocked.

Wait a minute! Why are you saying that?
Are you mentally losing your mind?
How can this work!
The smart secretary must constantly upgrade its information database and cannot stop!
Wen Gu observed the expressions and subtle reactions of Cheng Zhi and his three family members.

He took a step toward that side, and his whole body exuded a scholarly air very naturally, and there seemed to be a kind of awe-inspiring elegance.

Over there, Taoist Priest Qingyi, who was sitting at the door, raised his hand to stroke his twitching forehead, turned his eyes away, and stood up to leave.

I can't see it!

inside the house.

Wen Gu and Cheng Zhi talked about the evil epidemic.

The Cheng family had experienced plague before, but they had only seen ordinary plagues in the past, and the court had quickly sent people to deal with them.

This time, I heard that the imperial city was plagued by evil spirits and the imperial examination was suspended. I don’t know when it will be restored. I don’t know whether I can see it in my lifetime... Alas!

After more than a decade of hard work, I suddenly lost my goal and had to constantly be on guard against life-threatening situations. Now I just have to get through each day, relying solely on the instinct to survive.

Regarding this evil epidemic, the rumors circulating among the people are more about gods, demons, monsters and ghosts.

When talking about this, the Cheng family members felt fear and their voices trembled.

I'm almost scared to death. My psychological defenses are already in a very dangerous position and are on the verge of collapse.

Cheng Zhi looked at Wen Gu with admiration: "You are not afraid."

Wen Gu's face was calm, his back was straight, his eyes were clear and his aura was profound:
"Although it appears extremely strange and evil, as the sages said, all things in heaven and earth are born from existence, and existence is born from non-existence. This sage's words can also refer to this evil epidemic.

"Silent, formless, and colorless, it is a formless form, confusing and confusing, but it is not 'nothing'. It is just difficult for ordinary people to perceive it, and it cannot be detected by the naked eye. It is definitely not a demon or ghost!
"This trip north is to escape disaster, seek refuge with relatives, and also to find a way to save the world!"

Everyone in the room: "..."

These were the words of a saint and the way to save the world. Although no one understood what they heard, it felt like Wen Gu's stature had become taller and his halo was superimposed. The eyes of everyone in the room seemed to brighten and they felt respect.

Cheng Zhi was about to express his admiration.

Wen Gu looked ashamed and continued, "Of course, there are also some worldly selfish motives."

Wen Gu raised his chin slightly, tilting it to one side. The afterglow of the sunset shone on him from the window.

"The imperial capital has fallen, the imperial court has collapsed. Now, a vile epidemic is raging, devastating the land, and the situation in each state is becoming increasingly critical.

"However, there must have been high-ranking officials from aristocratic families who stabilized the local situation and implemented local policies... In layman's terms, they temporarily established a small local court."

The Cheng family didn’t understand anything else, but they accurately grasped the term “small court”.

As if still worried that everyone might not understand, Wen Gu asked Cheng Zhi: "You have read history books, so you should know about 'feudal separatism'?"

Cheng Zhi nodded.

Wen Gu said, "Though the situation is different now, I don't know exactly what's happening in the North. However, I suspect the current situation in the North might be a little similar... well, as long as you understand."

Cheng Zhi continued to nod: "I understand! I understand!"

He then briefly explained it to his mother, brother, and sister-in-law in a low voice. Yes, it was indeed what they understood.

"There are not many survivors now. The noble families in the south are constantly migrating north. The powerful people in the north are also in need of people. Therefore, this trip north is also..."

Wen Gu bowed towards the north.

"I'm ashamed, but I also want to pursue a better future."

future!

What had the family worked so hard for all these years? What was his father thinking about as he lay on his sickbed?
If they wanted to transcend class and change their status, the only way was to take the imperial examination! The whole family relied on Cheng Zhi alone, and would rather starve to death or work themselves to death than betray this only scholar!

When I first learned that the imperial examinations were being discontinued, I immediately lost my spirit, became listless, and became exhausted and sickly...

Now, now!
The lost spirit has been injected again!

The four pairs of eyes in the Cheng family brightened ten degrees. Needless to say, their expressions almost expressed the same meaning - please take us with you!
The Cheng Zhi family member who was originally lying weakly against the wall actually stood up by holding the wall.

outside the house.

The Taoist priest listened to the noise inside.

Ugh!
How long has it been?

It turns out that Wen Gu is really good at misleading people!
Fortunately, we are not in the same industry!

Wu Licheng's family expressed their positive attitude and hoped to travel north with Wen Gu and his friends.

However, Wen Gu did not immediately accept the new team members, but sincerely advised them to think carefully.

"If you carefully search the many houses in town, you might still find some supplies. Leaving home and fleeing north is a very difficult process. No one knows if they can make it alive. Be cautious!"

The more he did this, the more the Cheng family felt that Wen Gu was sincere in his treatment of others.

It was getting late, so Wen Gu took the others away.

Even He Da and Yu Er, who had been jealous before, became surprisingly silent, as if they were thinking about some important issue, and followed Wen Gu out obediently.

After Wen Gu left, Cheng Zhi told his family in detail about his experience today, as well as everything that had just happened in the rich man's house, including what Wen Gu said about strength in numbers.

"Mom, let's just follow them north! If we don't plan ahead, we won't survive if only the four of us stay here!"

Cheng Zhi discussed it with his family.

After drinking the sweet rice porridge and water, they gained strength and hope, and their minds became clear again.

This evening, they will make a decision after careful consideration.

On the other side, Wen Gu took his men back to the peddler's house.

I thought to myself: Give them one night to think it over seriously, but make sure they think it through!

There might still be survivors in town. The Cheng family, think carefully, who else could it be! Hurry and dig out those living people hiding in their homes!

Wen Gu smelled the complex and mellow sour aroma of vinegar in the air.

Well, go back and give the dog Taoist some words of encouragement, and quickly refine the coarse salt, and then go make vinegar!
(End of this chapter)