Simultaneous travel: City, infinite evolution

Chapter 227 First Meeting with Lü Su; Lü Zhi's Great Plague Arrives
Ordinary men mostly wore coarse linen "short blouses" and open-crotch "trousers," with a linen "skirt" over them, mainly in gray-brown or natural colors.

Women wore waist-cinching ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with the poor wearing no adornments, while the wealthy adorned themselves with linen or simple embroidery.

Occasionally, one might see a few minor nobles dressed in black long robes (one-piece robes), with jade belts and gold crowns, walking by with their heads held high and chests puffed out.

She even cast a disdainful glance at Chen Hong, who didn't even have long hair.

Chen Hong had already changed into clothes of this era, wearing a black robe with the right front closure, the most ordinary attire of a minor nobleman, clothes given to him by Lord Lü.

People come and go on the street, hurrying along, rarely exchanging words unless necessary, appearing rather taciturn.

Everyone was afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing, violating Qin law, and being punished.

As you walk along the simple streets to the market in the city center, the atmosphere suddenly becomes lively, with vendors hawking their wares everywhere.

Street vendors and rows of small shops.

"Pottery jar, a specialty pottery jar from Shanfu County, the best pottery jar!"

"An iron plow, a fine iron plow, plows the land effortlessly, faster and easier to use."

"Linen is cheap and durable. Clothing makers, come and take a look."

"A bowl of hot mutton soup will give you energy all day long."

"Selling hemp shoes and straw mats, sturdy and durable good stuff."

Chen Hong found the simple yet lively scene at the market quite novel.

He never saw such a primitive (low-class) market in his later years.

It resembles a remote rural market from the 1980s or 90s.

There's a kind of reassuring, rustic charm about it.

But this is already the most bustling market in the county.

Chen Hong arrived at a mutton soup stall with a canopy.

"Boss, a bowl of mutton soup, please."

Chen Hong spoke in broken, newly learned language.

Fortunately, the boss saw one of Chen Hong's fingers and understood what he was saying without even hearing it.

"Please wait a moment, sir, the mutton soup will be ready soon."

Chen Hong looked around at the crowd of people coming and going. Most of them were dressed simply, walking in hemp shoes or straw sandals.

Everyone tied their hair up.

Occasionally, one might see caravans hauling goods in oxcarts, dressed simply, as Qin law forbade wealthy merchants from wearing fine clothes.

Those who can wear beautiful clothes are undoubtedly nobles.

On the street, you can tell a person's background and social status just by looking at their clothes. The hierarchy is strict and obvious at a glance.

"Sir, your mutton soup is here."

The owner placed a bowl of mutton soup on Chen Hong's table.

Chen Hongmei took a delicious sip of the mutton soup.

"Hehe, sir, isn't it delicious?"

"The mutton soup in our Shanfu County is famous, and the mutton soup in my family is the only one of its kind in the whole county."

Chen Hong nodded. "It's really good."

While drinking mutton soup, Chen Hong chatted with the owner, practicing his language skills.

Ask about prices and everyday matters of ordinary people, and try to understand their lives from their perspective.

After returning to the Lü residence, Chen Hong found Lü Gong, who then opened the Lü residence's library to Chen Hong.

Chen Hong began reading the books accumulated by the Lü family over generations, learning the language and knowledge of this era.

This place contains many pre-Qin classics that have long been lost to later generations, and even some ancient books from the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

As Chen Hong read, he discussed scholarship with Lü Gong.

As the days went by, Chen Hong gradually learned Qin Small Seal Script, Clerical Script, and the scripts of the Six Kingdoms.

He has even done some research on the Stone Drum Inscriptions and Great Seal Script from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, as well as the bronze inscriptions from the Western Zhou Dynasty.

Days passed by, and soon a year was over.

Chen Hong has thoroughly mastered the language and writing of this era, and is also a truly learned and versatile scholar.

Daily communication is no longer a problem.

Because he often discussed scholarship with Master Lü, Master Lü also discovered that Chen Hong possessed some knowledge that was ahead of his time.

They often have unique insights on certain issues.

This made Lu Gong admire Chen Hong even more, believing that he must be an unparalleled genius and that his physiognomy skills had not been wrong.

That day, Master Lü summoned Chen Hong and his daughter to formally introduce them.

"Young Master Chen, this is my eldest daughter—Lü Zhi." Lü Gong introduced his daughter, who was dignified, elegant, and had a beautiful smile.

"This is my youngest daughter, Lü Su."

Lu Gong then pointed to a quiet, elegant, and somewhat shy young woman and introduced her.

"Greetings, Young Master Chen."

The two women bowed gracefully.

Chen Hong bowed in return, saying, "Greetings to both young ladies."

"Haha, you young people should have more in common. We should keep in touch more often in the future."

Lu Gong laughed heartily: "Zhi'er, Susu, this young master Chen is very learned. You should learn more from him."

"Yes, I will heed Father's teachings."

The two women bowed to Lord Lü again.

Chen Hong understood the implied meaning in Lü Gong's words and humbly replied, "I dare not accept such praise. The sea of ​​knowledge is boundless, and I, Chen, have only picked up a few sands and shells. It is impossible for me to fathom the mysteries of the deep sea."

“Eh…” Master Lü waved his hand, “Nephew, you are too modest.”

"There are so many people in the world who don't even have the right to see the sea of ​​knowledge."

"However, it is not wrong to be tireless in seeking the Great Way."

"But life isn't just about academics, is it?"

Lu Gong, holding Chen Hong's hand, raised an eyebrow and said, "Hahaha..."

"You young people chat, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll have to take my leave." Lü Gong casually made up an excuse and left.

Chen Hong knew that Master Lü intended for him to cultivate a relationship with his two daughters so that he could choose a suitable marriage partner.

He bound this unparalleled genius to the Lü family's war chariot.

Chen Hong didn't care. Did he really want me to choose? I want them all.

Lü Zhi stared wide-eyed as she boldly sized up Chen Hong.

Lu Su secretly observed Chen Hong out of the corner of her eye.

They had actually heard of Chen Hong's existence long ago.

Having lived in the Lü family mansion for a year, both Lü Zhi and Lü Su knew about this young man whom their father had found astoundingly talented.

However, since Lord Lü advocated Legalism, the Lü family was strict and disciplined. Without their father's permission, they could not leave the inner courtyard to see men like Chen Hong.

The two sisters then sought knowledge from Chen Hong, and the deeper they explored the issues, the more they discovered Chen Hong's extraordinary abilities.

He was proficient in all fields, including the Hundred Schools of Thought, classics, history, philosophy, literature, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, tea, wine, poetry, medicine, martial arts, astronomy, geography, mathematics, agriculture, government, and architecture.

He's simply a prodigy.

This shocked the two sisters so much that they covered their mouths and looked at Chen Hong with new respect.

Unbelievable! There is such a genius in the world.

The more I know, the more I admire Chen Hong.

A few days later, a piece of news came that caused a sensation throughout the city.

"Oh no!"

"Something terrible has happened! Lord Lü!"

"A major epidemic has broken out in Dang County!"

"Our Shanfu County is also within the jurisdiction of Dang County."

"I heard that some people have already gotten sick."

"The magistrate ordered the city gates to be closed immediately, causing widespread panic in the city, fearing a major upheaval!"

"What!" Upon hearing his loyal servant's words, Lord Lü immediately stood up in alarm.

The plague! It doesn't care whether you're a nobleman or a commoner; once you get it, you're all going to die!

Lu Gong was genuinely frightened.

The Lü family's entire fortune was in Shanfu County, and once the plague spread there...

The Lü family, if not completely wiped out, was at least severely weakened.

Chen Hong was also somewhat surprised, as he knew that plagues were common in ancient times.

This place is not far from Pei County. Originally, Yi Xiaochuan and Lü Su encountered the plague on their way to Xianyang.

If it weren't for Lü Su's unwavering support, abandoning her pampered life as a young lady from a wealthy family to drag Yi Xiaochuan, who was suffering from the plague, out of a pile of corpses.

Yi Xiaochuan would have died eight hundred times over.

Although Lü Su appeared weak, she was strong-willed and used a rope to drag Yi Xiaochuan away from the plague-infested house of the living dead.

She took meticulous care of him and eventually saved Yi Xiaochuan's life, but she herself contracted the plague and died.

It can be said that the best woman in the mythological world is not Lü Zhi, nor Yu Shu, but Lü Su.

She is a good woman who is fundamentally strong, loyal, and brave from the inside out.

As for Yi Xiaochuan, that bastard, he doesn't like to flirt, and he's irresponsible. He just wants to freeload and then run away.

Lü Su's death became the biggest regret of the myth.

This time, Chen Hong will absolutely not let any plague take Lü Su's life.

What plague? Screw you!
A major epidemic has swept across the world, and it's unknown how many people will die.

In ancient times, humanity was powerless in the face of plagues.

The only solution is to isolate them and let the villages and towns infected with the plague fend for themselves.

Lock them firmly in the plague zone, and bury them all after they have all died.

Once the plague has subsided on its own, new people can be moved in and start a new life.

Because of the low population density and underdeveloped transportation in ancient times, there were strict restrictions on the movement of people across regions.

Therefore, even the most powerful plague cannot infect the entire country.

They can only be locked in the area and perish on their own.

As for those infected with the plague, they could only accept their bad luck and were almost certain to die.

"It seems that we will have to fight a tough battle to stop the spread of the plague in Shanfu County."

Chen Hong sighed and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Lü Gong.

"Lord Lü, I wish to control the plague and quell this great calamity. I beg Lord Lü for your assistance."

Lu Gong was instantly shocked, his eyes widening. "Nephew, this is no joke."

"If you come into contact with the plague and get infected, you will definitely die."

"My dear nephew, you are young and learned, with a bright future ahead of you. Please don't act rashly."

"Lord Lü, my mind is made up. I will not turn back until the plague is eradicated!"

Lu Gong's spirits lifted. "It seems my nephew has made up his mind. Fine, fine."

"I then recommended you to the county magistrate to take charge of the epidemic control efforts and appoint you as the chief physician in charge of epidemic control in Shanfu County."

They would probably be happy to have someone take over this hot potato.

At this moment, Lü Zhi and Lü Su came out of the room and bowed solemnly to Lü Gong.

“Father, my sisters and I are willing to lend a helping hand to Young Master Chen.”

"Nonsense!"

Lu Gong was somewhat angry, "You young women shouldn't come here to cause trouble, it could kill people."

"Father, we are not afraid."

Lu Su mustered her courage and said somewhat stubbornly, "Under such a great epidemic, how can anyone escape unscathed?"

We are willing to do our part for our fellow villagers.

(End of this chapter)