The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 2082 - 2057: Reunion

Since there’s still a wait ahead, Manbao and the others started chatting with the guards, asking about the current situation in the city.

However, the guards were very cautious and did not say much, so the three had to step aside and began to observe the city.

Xiazhou City is a must-pass route for the Turks moving south. Half of its jurisdiction is prairie, and about three hundred miles north lies the Protectorate. In between is vast prairie and mountainous forest.

Therefore, the city walls of Xiazhou are tall, and the gates are heavy, serving as a major garrison. Clearly, it’s not a frontier, but there are many stationed troops.

Upon closer inspection, they realized that many soldiers were patrolling the city walls, but they weren’t facing outward, rather inward.

It seems the situation within the city is not good.

Just as they were thinking this, a small gate under the city wall opened, and three horses galloped out, catching their attention.

Seeing the newcomer, Manbao immediately stood up straight next to the horse. That person dismounted quickly and rushed forward, "Miss Man, you’ve arrived—"

Manbao reached out to support Wantian, who wanted to kneel, and asked, "How is Scholarly Senior Brother Yang?"

Wantian wiped his tears and said, "Master is still doing alright, but Madam..."

He didn’t finish and turned aside, "Miss Man, please enter the city quickly. Master and the other lords are waiting at the County Governmental Office."

Manbao exchanged a glance with Bai Shan and didn’t ask further, turning to mount her horse.

With Wantian leading the way, they entered the city smoothly. They soon noticed that the streets were empty, but there were several checkpoints guarded by soldiers.

While verifying identities, Wantian took the time to tell Manbao and Bai Shan, "Master has vacated several mansions in the city specifically for sheltering those who are sick. Those who cannot be accommodated temporarily stay in wooden huts. Anyone infected with smallpox is not allowed to move outside."

"If any household within the city has someone fall ill, they must be isolated individually in their home, with doctors visiting regularly. But there are only thirteen doctors in total within the city. There are far too few; it’s impossible to tend to so many people." Wantian almost shed tears, "So most of the ill must be sent to the unified mansions. Madame, Madame was sent over this morning too."

Manbao was shocked and asked, "Did the scholarly sister-in-law get infected?"

Wantian nodded, grinding his teeth, "Those people are too wicked. We defended countless times, but someone still managed to slip through."

The group passed three intersections to reach the County Governmental Office, perhaps because they had Wantian with them. The guards only glanced at them before allowing them through, making the process quick.

Inside the County Governmental Office, there were many people. Quite a few officials were coming and going. As they approached the main hall, they heard Yang Heshu’s voice, somewhat hoarse, yet methodically issuing commands one after another.

As soon as Manbao and the others appeared at the doorway, Yang Heshu looked up at them, unable to suppress a smile. He put aside the documents in his hand and stood up, but perhaps because he’d been sitting too long, his vision blurred for a moment. The smile on his face remained unchanged as he continued to lean on the table, pausing for quite a while.

In just that moment, Bai Shan and the other two had already rushed forward to support him, "Scholarly Senior Brother Yang?"

The people before him gradually came into focus, and their voices were clear. He smiled and said, "You’re here?"

The officials still in the hall watched them curiously.

Yang Heshu pressed down Zhou Man’s hand that was touching his pulse, and introduced to everyone, "This is Imperial Doctor Zhou from the Imperial Hospital,"

Pointing at Bai Shan and Bai Erlang, "These two are scholars from the Chongwen Pavilion, they will work alongside us from now on, everyone please meet them."

The officials in the hall were startled and then pleased, eagerly stepping forward to greet, especially enthusiastic towards Zhou Man.

During this period, they had heard plenty about Zhou Man’s reputation, rumored to be a miraculous doctor well-known in the capital. Though they already knew she was young, seeing her now in person, they realized she was incredibly young.

Manbao noticed Yang Heshu was overworked and most likely hungry, so she withdrew her hand, courteously responding to the greetings.

Yang Heshu watched them exchange greetings with a smile, afterward instructing everyone to step back and have their meal. He then led Manbao and the others to the backyard.

Upon reaching the backyard, the smile on Yang Heshu’s face disappeared. He told Wantian, "Help Daji and the others settle in."

Wantian replied, leading Daji and the others away.

Bai Shan nodded to Daji, who then left with their two guards, inviting a medical assistant along.

The medical assistant thought it over and followed along.

Clearly, they shared a close relationship, likely needing privacy for intimate conversations, so it felt inappropriate to linger.

Yang Heshu sat on a chair, ordered the servant to prepare lunch, and Bai Shan and the other two handed over their cloaks to be taken away.

Yang Heshu said, "You will temporarily reside in the County Governmental Office, alright? You’ve arrived early? When will the Imperial Hospital’s convoy arrive?"

Manbao replied, "If there are no incidents, they should arrive in three days."

Yang Heshu breathed a sigh of relief, telling them, "There’s a shortage of medicinal supplies in the city. I’ve tried pulling resources from elsewhere, but even outside Xiazhou City has cases of smallpox, so what I can gather is limited."

Manbao asked, "How many people in the city are sick now?"

Yang Heshu sighed deeply, "Recorded cases total one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine."

Which means there are unrecorded cases.

He continued, "There are quite a few unrecorded ones, especially in the villages outside the city. Ever since the city was completely sealed off, my control over the villages outside has weakened. Some villages have entire communities infected with smallpox. All I can do is seal off the village and deliver some medicine, but..."

He paused and said with difficulty, "We have too few doctors..."

There truly are too few. He can’t force doctors to come to an epidemic area, and half of the thirteen doctors willing to remain in the city have come from other places.

Previously, the city’s doctors fled in large numbers, not to mention the difficulty in recruiting from elsewhere.

Manbao said, "With so many patients, how can so few doctors be responsible for all?"

"That’s why many people have died in recent days," Yang Heshu wearily rubbed his forehead and said, "It’s been fifteen days since the city was sealed, and considering the earliest cases I know of, it’s been thirty-eight days now. Today, many patients have reached their critical stage."

"I’ve instructed them to categorize cases into mild, moderate, and severe, prioritizing the treatment of mild and moderate patients..." Yang Heshu detailed the current situation in the county town to them.

Once the food was delivered, they went to wash up and have their meal together. He then brought up Ms. Cui, "Your sister-in-law also contracted smallpox and has been moved to a mansion. Will you accompany me to visit her after lunch, or do you need to rest first?"

Noticing his slightly red eyes, Manbao replied, "We’ll go once we’ve finished eating."

Yang Heshu nodded.

For the first time in five days, they were able to eat a delicious and satisfying meal. Manbao managed two full bowls before asking, "What about Brother Qi?"

Yang Heshu ordered for Brother Qi to be brought out.

He’s already two years old, possibly missing his mother, so his eyes were red from crying, and he was still sniffling when the nurse brought him out.

Manbao reached out to hold him, but he reached towards his father.

Yang Heshu took him into his arms, allowing Manbao to check him.

All Manbao did was check his pulse and touch his forehead. Finding nothing wrong, she took out a medicine bottle, poured out a pill and put it in his mouth, asking with a smile, "Is it sweet?"

Brother Qi chuckled, immediately forgetting his mother, and responded brightly, "Sweet!"