EBE Chapter 286 Returning Home to Ruins
Chapter 286 Returning Home to Ruins
Wang Qinian looked puzzled: "Strange, King Ling sent two people, why didn't he send a letter or send someone to inform this prefecture?"
Xiaoman explained, "We were worried about the people's illness, so we set off a day earlier than the others, and therefore did not bring any written instructions."
Wang Qinian quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "Imperial Physician Su truly cares deeply about the safety of the people."
He changed the subject and sighed, "To be honest, three months ago, some unruly people in the city caused trouble, and it took me more than two months to quell the situation."
There aren't many patients in the city right now. If Imperial Physician Su wants to treat people, he'll probably have to go to the border of the Western Regions.
Shi Zi pressed further: "Fengyuan County?"
Wang Qinian waved his hand and nodded, saying, "You two may not know this, but four years ago, Nanyang City was attacked by the Qin army, and Fengyuan County was also affected."
Fengyuan County today is no longer what it was four years ago.
Although this area is still under the jurisdiction of this prefecture, it has actually become so desolate that it's beyond recognition.
Shi Zi's heart tightened, and he hurriedly asked, "What about Fengdang Town? How is Fengdang Town?"
“Although Fengdang Town is better than Fengyuan County, it is still severely dilapidated.” Wang Qinian shook his head.
Upon hearing this, Shi Zi felt a chill run down his spine. Sujia Village was not far from Fengdang Town.
I wonder what it looks like now. I just hope I can go and see it soon.
He and Xiaoman exchanged a glance, both seeing urgency in each other's eyes.
The two chatted briefly with Wang Qinian about the city's recent situation before taking their leave.
“In that case, we will not trouble the Prefect any further and will set off for the border to take a look,” Xiaoman said, cupping his hands in greeting.
Wang Qinian offered a few polite words of persuasion to keep them, but seeing that the two were determined to leave, he did not try to persuade them any further.
Wang Qinian didn't insist on keeping them, and personally escorted them to the door. Only after watching them ride away on horseback did the smile on his face slowly fade.
He turned back to his residence and immediately told his trusted aide, "Go and bring that boy to my residence."
The trusted confidant accepted the order and left.
Meanwhile, Shi Zi and Xiao Man had already ridden away from Fengming City.
"Do you trust this Prefect Wang?" Shi Zi asked.
Xiaoman pondered for a moment and said, "It's hard to say. But it's true that Boss Li raised the price on his own. He dealt with the people, which can be considered an explanation."
Our purpose in coming here is not to investigate him. We'll go back to Fengdang Town first and see what's going on. As for treating the epidemic, we'll see how things go later.
Shi Zi nodded: "Alright, let's hurry, we should be able to reach Fengdang Town by tomorrow evening."
The two rode forward, the setting sun casting its slanting rays upon them. The sound of hooves shattered the silence of the mountains as they galloped toward Fengdang Town ahead.
The two rode at breakneck speed, and even with their horses running at full speed, they did not arrive in Fengdang Town until evening.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the town entrance, and the two rode on horseback, gazing at the once bustling town before them.
Today, some places are just ruins, so dilapidated that they are almost unrecognizable.
Shi Zi looked at everything before him, his Adam's apple bobbing, his voice filled with disbelief and a hoarseness.
"How...how did it become like this?"
Xiaoman looked at the collapsed walls and overgrown weeds and sighed deeply.
"Life is unpredictable. Seven years have passed, and a once vibrant town has been transformed into this state..."
"Let's go in and take a look." Shi Zi tightened the reins.
"Ah."
The two rode their horses slowly into the town. The once bustling streets were now overgrown with weeds, and even the wind blowing through the alleys carried a desolate echo.
Xiaoman looked at the somewhat dilapidated houses on both sides and said in a low voice, "I really didn't expect that in just seven years, it would become like this."
“Yes,” Shi Zi said with a deep look in his eyes, “the Qin army is indeed not to be underestimated.”
"Let's go back to the village first." Xiaoman had barely finished speaking when she suddenly shouted, "Giddy up!"
The horse seemed to understand its master's urgency, and galloped off out of town.
Shi Zi followed closely behind and chased after it.
The hooves of two fast horses echoed rapidly through the empty town, and soon they galloped out of the town.
The mount was incredibly fast, and in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the entrance to Sujia Village was already in sight.
"Whoa—" "Whoa—"
The two men pulled hard on the reins at the same time, and the horse neighed twice, its front hooves off the ground, and it came to a steady stop at the entrance of the village.
Shi Zi looked at the scene at the entrance of the village. Although the familiar banyan tree was still there, it was not as lush as before.
The original archway at the village entrance has also disappeared, leaving only a few pieces of broken wood scattered in the grass.
"Dad, Mom, Shizi and I have come back to see you!"
Xiaoman shouted towards the village, her voice trembling uncontrollably.
The echo reverberated across the empty village road, but no response was heard.
The stone beside him already had red eyes, and tears rolled down his cheeks.
He choked out two words: "Go in."
Two horses carried them slowly into the village.
Perhaps due to the earth's upheaval, many houses have collapsed, and wild grass grows among the broken walls, creating a desolate scene.
Most of the people in the village are related or connected.
For example, Shanzi and Shizi are cousins, and Shanzi's father is the elder brother of Shizi's father.
Xiaoya's mother is Shanzi and Shizi's aunt.
Therefore, Xiao Ya had to call Shan Zi "cousin" and Shi Zi "cousin".
As for why Shizi was so afraid of Daya, it was because Daya was the eldest sister of their group of about ten people.
Furthermore, because Shizi's aunt married Daya's uncle, Daya was his cousin in terms of seniority.
Even without this relationship, as people from the same village, these few little kids, who had been bullied and manipulated by Daya since childhood, would still be afraid and timid.
The two rode their horses slowly through the area, their eyes gazing at the familiar houses, but their hearts sank lower and lower.
The village originally had twenty or thirty households, but now only seven or eight houses remain that can still be discerned.
Even those that didn't collapse had most of their roof tiles fall off, exposing the crisscrossing beams.
Most of Shizi's house collapsed, leaving only a corner of the wall standing there.
Xiaoman's home is slightly better than Shizi's.
The only well-preserved house in the entire village is the one where Yun Dan once lived.
Although some tiles had fallen off, the walls were still relatively intact, making them stand out in the large courtyard.
Shi Zi stood at his own door, gazing at the overgrown yard, motionless for a long time.
Those memories of laughter, playfulness, and rising smoke from chimneys flood my mind like a tide, so vivid as if they happened just yesterday.
But the desolation before him reminded him that everything had changed.
Xiaoman walked into her family's courtyard and went heavily to her parents' room.
The bed that was once covered with a coarse cloth mattress is now covered with broken bricks and tiles, and the dust is so thick that it can bury footprints.
He slowly removed the red string from his neck, the end of which was tied with half a piece of red jade, the warm touch coming from his fingertips.
This is something he has worn on his body since he can remember.
As my fingertips caressed the jade surface, childhood memories suddenly flooded back.
He still remembers the first time he saw this jade.
He was so excited that he asked his mother, "Mom, is this for me?"