The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

“Look at us, we’re definitely birds of a feather. I’m worried about my brother, and you’re worried about your brother.”

Zhao Minghua was so angry she laughed. What a worrying couple!

"We are all in this together, whether we prosper or suffer together." Chunnuan said, "This is a matter of great importance, and we cannot afford to be petty."

"Yes, yes, yes, we'll do as you say, madam." Zhao Minghua said, "Those who need to contribute their labor should contribute their labor, and those who need to contribute their goods should contribute their goods. We'll prepare everything for them."

Zhao Minghua summoned the people he had been raising.

"Xuanmo, you will take a team of men and secretly protect Lord Zhao and Lord Xiao's safety."

"Yes, master."

Xuanmo accepted the order and left.

Xiao Chunnuan nodded. Xuan Mo was Zhao Minghua's most capable person, and the fact that he had sent out such a powerful person this time showed that he also knew that this disaster relief effort was fraught with danger.

Beset by internal and external troubles, we must take precautions.

"First, I'm afraid of being ambushed by dark forces; second, I'm afraid of being hurt by irrational refugees," Zhao Minghua said. "My second brother is a bookworm; he has no other talents besides studying and working."

He can't even see where the danger is; he's completely inflexible.

"No, that's not right. He was very good to Qiuyan and very patient with the child."

Chunnuan couldn't help but add a sentence.

Zhao Minghua couldn't refute this statement.

This is also true.

"In short, my second brother was the best protected in our family." Zhao Minghua sighed, "Back then, we didn't let him participate in anything so that he could study."

Whether it was the operation of Baicaotang or the several crises, the whole family kept it from him.

In my grandfather's words: "Studying hard is your responsibility; you don't need to worry about anything else."

The whole family was united in their desire to support a publisher and change their social standing.

As the saying goes, with one heart, even barren land can turn into gold.

As expected, the Zhao family worked together to support a top scholar, which changed the Zhao family's fortunes and truly met the grandfather's expectations.

However, Zhao Minglang, who was overprotected, had a serious problem surviving.

If it were in the capital, with Zhao Minghua looking after him, no troublemakers could possibly cause any trouble.

However, this time it's a long journey to provide disaster relief in the two lakes, and no one knows what they might encounter along the way.

Those who need to be prevented should be visited, and those who need to be prepared should be prepared.

"This is also Chun Ning's first time on duty, and she is shouldering such a heavy responsibility."

Xiao Chunnuan was very curious about what the emperor was thinking when he sent two frail scholars to provide disaster relief.

Does he think these two people have lived too long?
The disaster-stricken areas are filled with countless refugees, and the people are displaced, making them easy targets for manipulation to do something extreme to the officials sent by the imperial court.

"My biggest concern is their safety."

It's not just about external security, but also internal security.

"I heard that the two of them worked together to ask the Emperor for the medicinal herbs. The court also sent two young imperial physicians to accompany them."

"That's good, we've made thorough preparations," Chunnuan said. "Historical records indicate that a plague will inevitably follow a flood. I need to go find Chunning."

Upon learning that her elder sister had returned to the mansion, Chun Ning immediately went to pay her respects after court.

"I heard you're going to the Hubei and Hunan regions for disaster relief?"

"Yes, we will set off tomorrow."

"Is your luggage ready?"

"Everything is ready."

"What medicinal herbs did you request from the Emperor? Can you prepare them all?"

“Atractylodes lancea, Pogostemon cablin, Dryopteris crassirhizoma, Lonicera japonica, Isatis tinctoria, Isatis tinctoria, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Mentha haplocalyx, Arctium lappa…” Chun Ning said one by one: “Some of these medicinal herbs are not available at the Imperial Hospital. His Majesty has ordered that they be purchased immediately and sent to the Hubei and Hunan regions without delay.”

"Have you ever requested white cloth from the Emperor?" White cloth?

What is it for?

“Back then, my father and his family encountered a plague in Mobai. Among the supplies I sent them were white cloths to cover their noses and mouths to prevent them from getting sick,” Chunnuan said. “My father once said that none of our family members contracted the disease at that time, but we all used clean white cloths to cover our mouths and noses when we went out.”

"Is there still this matter?"

Chun Ning decided to ask her father.

After receiving a definite answer, Chun Ning decided to rush to the palace to meet the emperor.

"Since it was Mr. Xiao who suggested this, it's better to be prepared. Someone, come here..."

This disaster relief effort truly provided everything needed.

However, many court officials did not understand it.

If you're going to provide disaster relief, why bring medicine and cloth?

Some people think they are making a mountain out of a molehill, that two inexperienced young people can properly resettle tens of millions of refugees.

Meanwhile, Zhao Minghua was explaining the key points to Zhao Minglang.

"You must guard against the supply of provisions."

"Is there anyone who would dare to touch the relief grain being transported by government troops?"

"Better safe than sorry. When people are starving, they don't care about anything else. The worst thing is when someone tries to sabotage them."

What should I do?
"Do you think this arrangement is feasible?"

Zhao Minglang was taken aback by the third brother's arrangement.

"If someone with ulterior motives finds out, wouldn't they accuse us of embezzling funds? We'd be in deep trouble then."

The third son's plan was terrifying: he was to take one-third of the disaster relief grain with him, while he would send two-thirds by himself.

In other words, it's a case of feigning one way while secretly advancing another.

“So you have to explain the reasons for this arrangement to the Emperor first,” Zhao Minghua said. “There is another reason. Actually, you can open the granaries in the two lakes region to distribute grain for disaster relief. After all, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. By the time the disaster relief grain arrives here, the other side will already be a wasteland.”

People need food to survive; you'll get hungry if you skip a meal.

After the flood, the area was desolate, with nothing to eat, and everyone was counting on disaster relief supplies.

"Very well, I will submit a memorial to His Majesty for instructions immediately."

The Emperor handed over a memorial and looked at Zhao Minglang.

"Is the person you entrusted to me your younger brother, Zhao Minghua, the one who assisted General Xia in capturing the city when the King of Shu rebelled?"

"He is indeed my younger brother."

"Very well, very well, your Zhao family is truly full of loyal ministers. I have made a mistake in entrusting this disaster relief task to you and Minister Xiao. I await your good news."

"We will certainly not fail in our mission."

Zhao Minglang was about to leave for a long trip to provide disaster relief. Qiu Yan held her child and saw him off. It was truly a heartbreaking parting, and she cried her eyes out.

"My husband, please promise me you will return safely. My child and I are waiting for you."

"Don't worry, I will definitely return safely."

Who knows how long it will be before I return?

The road ahead is also very dangerous.

Zhou handed her son a bundle.

"These are a few sets of clothes that I had the embroiderers rush to make. When you get there, the water quality will be poor and you won't be able to wash much, but you can change your clothes frequently."

"Okay, thank you, Mother." Looking at Qiu Yan and her child, Zhao Minglang said, "Mother, Yan'er and the child are still young, please take good care of them and help them."

"Don't worry, I will take good care of your wife and children. You must also be careful while you are away." Zhou said, "You must remember the prescriptions that your father and Nuannuan gave you. When you arrive in the Lianghu region, you should take some herbal decoctions in advance as a precaution."

"Yes, son understands." (End of Chapter)