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

When the two arrived at Governor Sun's residence in Hubei and Hunan, Lord Xia was confiscating the property.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, the Governor-General's residence has been searched and found to contain 200,000 taels of gold and silver, as well as grain..."

The gold and silver jewelry were used to resettle the disaster victims, while the method of distributing food was questioned by local officials.

"Sir, instead of distributing grain to each household based on the number of people per household and each day, it would be better to just give out porridge."

"Yes, many disaster victims are displaced, their families are broken up, and they have lost their homes. How can they still have household registration books?"

“What are you doing? If the people have needs, deal with them on the spot. Open the government office immediately and establish a household registration for them. One person is one household.”

This……

"Special cases require special handling. We must be fully alert, expedite our work, and prioritize the needs of the people."

While re-verifying household registrations, disaster relief grain was distributed.

They also need to resettle the people and let them settle down in the local area.

Displaced disaster victims are most easily exploited, so we must guard against them rebelling.

"In addition, gather all the doctors and requisition several medicinal herbs from the pharmacies for a fee..."

Xiao Chun-ning and Zhao Ming-lang had a clear division of labor: one was responsible for resettling the people, and the other was responsible for epidemic prevention. They also coordinated post-disaster reconstruction.

"Work-for-relief programs were implemented, with able-bodied men participating in disaster relief tasks organized by the government, and each person could receive one liter of coarse grain per day."

"Participation is voluntary; it is not mandatory."

This is not a forced conscription.

Conscripting men would provoke public resentment and could even incite public anger.

But with work relief, who would turn down food that could sustain life?

As soon as the announcement was issued, the entire street leading to the government office was packed with people.

"Don't panic, everyone. Sign up first and come to work tomorrow."

The yamen runner had been working in this area for twenty years and had never seen officials or measures like these before.

They also had times when they repaired dikes and built dams, and those laborers not only slacked off, but might not have wanted to do it at all.

Anyone could run away.

But this time, the people were all very excited and eager to try.

"Ten people per group. The group leader should manage his people well. He can receive an extra two liters of coarse grains each month. You can form your own teams or volunteer." The yamen runners managed the group according to the policy set by the imperial envoy: "If you do a good job and there are no lazy groups, each person will receive an extra liter of coarse grains each month."

……

The policies were posted directly on the wall.

Of course, there are both rewards and punishments.

If you slack off or disobey orders, the entire team will be dismissed and you will never be hired again.

This move completely put them in their grasp.

"We have to work hard. If we work a day, we can earn a liter of coarse grains, which will be enough to keep our family alive."

To be able to survive without having to flee is truly a blessing from a benevolent and just official!
What surprised them even more was that they not only had to build dikes and dams, but also bridges and roads, and build houses for disaster victims free of charge; they even had to reclaim wasteland for farming.

“There are species that can be planted in every season. Planting radishes, cabbages and greens now can improve people’s lives. These vegetables are better than wild vegetables.”

The reclaimed wasteland was distributed to each household according to the number of people, so that every household had land to cultivate.

Those who were so poor in the past that they couldn't afford to rent land have now been allocated one or two acres.

Therefore, this flood was less of a disaster and more of a rescue effort.

“The land must be taxed every year, which is paid to the imperial court, not to the landlord.”

"His Majesty is compassionate towards the people. Because the Hubei and Hunan regions have suffered from disasters, they are exempt from taxes for three years. After three years, they will pay taxes to the court again." This policy made the people shout "Long live the Emperor!"

The emperor, who was in the capital, received news from Hubei and Hunan and smiled with satisfaction as he read the memorial.

"Since its founding, our dynasty has suffered countless disasters, but none have been resolved as perfectly as this one."

"Yes, Your Majesty is wise. Lord Zhao and Lord Xiao cooperated perfectly and handled the situation flawlessly, leaving us with no worries whatsoever."

"These two are indeed pillars of the nation. Having them is a blessing for the people of our dynasty."

"His Majesty is truly wise and discerning, recognizing the talents of both of you and finding you to be useful."

The Emperor was delighted by Eunuch Fu's words!

Chollima often has it, but Bole doesn't often have it.

The emperor also thought he had a discerning eye.

However, the emperor's joy lasted only three days before another bad news arrived: an epidemic had broken out in the Hubei and Hunan regions.

"emperor……"

Eunuch Fu, fearing the Emperor would be anxious, said, "Please don't worry. It's always been like this. After an epidemic, there will always be problems of one kind or another. We are lucky people, and Heaven will protect us..."

As he spoke, even Grandpa Fu himself couldn't keep up the lie.

"I'm not in a hurry."

The Emperor put down the memorial and sighed.

"I am just once again impressed by how well I have made use of people. Ah Fu, you don't know, before Xiao Chun Ning set off, he asked me for medicine, imperial physicians, and cloth, all for epidemic prevention."

Therefore, he wasn't too worried, because everything was under Xiao Chun-ning's control.

He also believes that this outbreak will not cause too much loss or fear.

At the Governor's Mansion, when Xiao Chun-ning heard that both imperial physicians had fallen ill, he immediately put on a white cloth.

“Chun Ning, let me go. I’m a few years older than you, and as your elder brother, it’s my duty to take care of you while we’re away.”

Everyone knows that contracting the plague is not a good thing; it could be a one-way trip.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't afraid, but Zhao Minglang was a man of honor, and naturally he couldn't entrust such a dangerous task to Xiao Chunming: "I am an imperial envoy, and I should personally go to see the situation in the epidemic area and then write a report to submit."

You have no right to speak without investigation.

After the outbreak was discovered, Xiao Chun-ning quickly designated an area and relocated the sick people there.

Every single case counts; the resettlement area provides food, drink, and medicine, all free of charge.

This reassured the sick disaster victims, and they cooperated well.

The two imperial physicians were treating patients in the epidemic area, and everything was arranged in an orderly manner.

Unexpectedly, both imperial physicians fell ill one after another, and some even became bedridden.

Xiao Chun-ning and Zhao Ming-lang each had to go in and take a look, while the other stayed outside to oversee the situation.

“Brother Zhao, you don’t need to argue with me this time.” Xiao Chun Ning said, “You are the imperial envoy, and you will be in charge of more important matters. Many things cannot be done without you. Secondly, I come from a family of doctors. My grandfather and elder sister are both highly skilled in medicine, and I am relatively familiar with the handling of the epidemic.”

"There's another one. My sister gave me two prescriptions. I need to go and see the contents of each one in person to understand their condition and then choose which prescription is more suitable."

“Chun Ning…”

"Brother Zhao, don't worry, I know how to prevent the epidemic, I'm sure I won't have any problems."

He also took pills that his older sister specially made for him to strengthen his body and make him less prone to illness.

Therefore, he is more suitable to enter the epidemic area than Zhao Minglang.

Zhao Minglang listened to his logical analysis, realizing he had put him in danger, and felt both touched and guilty. (End of Chapter)