Chapter 226: The Plague Demon is Approaching

On the morning of the second day of the seventh month, the weather was gloomy, thick dark clouds piled up, as if to press on the top of people's heads, but the temperature was not cool at all, there was no trace of wind in the sultry heat, and the humid air seemed to be solidified, sticky and greasy, making people feel extremely difficult and suffocating every breath.

Qiu Chen got up early with the children, walked out of the door and looked up at the sky, and sighed: "I'm afraid it's going to rain this day!" ”

Yufeng walked out of the western room and bowed her knees to say hello.

Qiu Chen asked in a low voice, "How did the old man and the old lady sleep last night?" ”

Yufeng is now ordered to live in the outer room of the Yang family and his wife, so that it is convenient for the second elder to order at night.

Hearing Qiu Chen ask about the old couple's daily life, Yufeng hurriedly said respectfully: "Mrs. Hui, the old lady and the old lady are sleeping well, but they got up early, just now, the old man and the old lady have gone out." ”

Qiu Chen smiled, people become less awake when they reach old age, and the old couple get up very early every day. She consciously got up early today, but she didn't expect to be behind the old couple.

Waving away the jade phoenix, Qiu Chen also walked out of the house. The old man and the old lady walked by the lotus pond every morning, and she used to walk around twice to talk, and she also exercised herself, killing two birds with one stone.

found the second elder of the Yang family by the lotus pond, and was talking to Liu Dachuan, the father of the hoard.

Before he got closer, Qiu Chen heard Old Man Yang sigh repeatedly: "It's stuffy like this day, it's going to be another heavy rain...... The water in the depression has not completely receded, and the rain has been heavy again, but there is nowhere to go. ”

Liu Dachuan carried a shovel and sighed again and again: "Our area is fine, the terrain next to the hillside is high, and the water drains quickly." To the south, there are large areas of flat fields, and there is really nowhere for the water...... There was a heavy rain in front of me, which had delayed the autumn planting, and now some miscellaneous grains and vegetables were planted in the field, so that they could grow up and be flooded again, and I am afraid that some families will run out of food before the winter......"

said, shook his head and said, "Brother Yang, I'm going to the field to pick up a ditch, so I won't talk to you!" ”

Before he could finish speaking, he hurried towards the field to the east.

Liu Manchu took over the errand of the Yang family to take care of Zhuangzi, and the family's several acres of land were handed over to Liu Dachuan alone. Fortunately, Liu Man didn't have much work in the Zhuangzi, and he could find time to help him in the two busy seasons of sowing and harvesting.

But in half a month, the earliest mung beans and adzuki beans will be harvested, but this weather is seeing heavy rain. When it rains heavily, the ripe pods will crack, and the beans will pop out and fall into the ground, but they will all be bad.

Although there is now a full hoarding of two people's monthly money, and life is much more comfortable, the old farmer still values the land and crops the most, and the biggest thing is that the crops are trampled up.

Hearing the two old men sigh like this, Qiu Chen couldn't help but worry. It's just that what she worries about is not the fields or crops, but how well the flood control and waterproofing of Nanmara Lake are doing; In addition, if there is another heavy rain, the ravines and canals will overflow, and the water pollution will increase, even if there is no further flooding, the plague prevention and control in the south will become more difficult.

Thinking like this, Qiu Chen couldn't stay any longer, went over to say hello to the old couple of the Yang family, and went straight back to the east to find Qin Li to inquire about the situation.

Since, after the plague that day, Qin Li and Qin Yong will report to Qiu Chen when they get the news, plus the news sent by Zhishu, it is not an exaggeration for Qiu Chen to say that Anyang Mansion is the most well-informed. It's just that the action of the yamen is very poor at this time, and the news that came a few days ago only knows that government soldiers have been dispatched everywhere to set up checkpoints at major intersections to prevent the flow of displaced people in the epidemic area. At this time, the weather is just gloomy and it has not rained yet, and I don't know if there is a new operation in various places...... There is also Master Guo Jingquan after all, his personal identity has passed, and the news from the two places does not mention Master Guo, and I don't know if the prevention, control and treatment measures taken by Master Guo have been effective after he went to the epidemic area, and whether Master Guo is safe and sound now.

When Qin Li and Qin Yong were found, several people were divided into two groups, one group took the children to practice boxing, and the other group took the children that the Lin family had just bought back to run and exercise. Because of the hot weather, although the children deliberately wore short-sleeved shorts, their clothes were also soaked with sweat and stuck to their bodies.

Qin Li was instructing the children to practice boxing, when he caught a glimpse of Qiu Chen hurriedly walking over, sighed secretly, beckoned Shen Hu to look at the children, and then walked out of the playground.

After all, Qinghe County is about Mrs.'s eldest brother and sister-in-law, and the distance is already very close, and the matter of Qinghe County being besieged can't be concealed at all, rather than waiting for Mrs. to know about it from elsewhere and rushed, it is better for him to tell the news, and there is a chance to comfort and comfort, no matter how bad it is, they can keep up, so as not to let Mrs. be in danger alone.

Sure enough, as soon as he heard that Qinghe County was besieged, Qiu Chen immediately couldn't stay.

Qin Yong, Qin Li and the others could think of the hidden meaning behind the word 'besieged', and Qiu Chen could also think of it. Historically, there is an undocumented method of epidemic prevention, which is...... Slaughter!

Slaughter all the villages in the plague area, and then set them on fire!

This bloody method is certainly chilling, but even Qiu Chen has to admit that this method is indeed useful for the prevention and control of the plague. Many violent plagues were caused by such thunderous measures in time to stop the spread of the plague and avoid the death of more people.

Although it is an effective means, Qiu Chen has absolutely no way to agree. It's not because there is a big brother and sister-in-law in it.

Things got to the worst, but Qiu Chen forced himself to calm down and calm down. I tried to calm my emotions and keep my expression from being unusual, and then I turned home. didn't pack up any courtesy, only packed up the account books and cash at home and handed them over to Lin Xu to collect, under the pretext that Fucheng had some urgent matters to deal with, and when it was time to settle the accounts for half a year, let Lin Xu take care of the account books for her, and when the time came, the Liao family of Huichun Hall would come to reconcile the delivery dividends, and it would not be delayed.

Lin Xu felt a little surprised, but he also knew that his sister-in-law had a lot of things in several workshops, and he was glad that he could share his sister-in-law's worries.

At breakfast, Qiu Chen said hello to the old couple of the Yang family, the second brother and sister-in-law and the children, and only said that there was something to deal with in Fucheng. Everyone is used to Qiu Chen's outing, and Liu and Old Man Yang have a few words, but no one is surprised.

When the children reluctantly went to the school, Qiu Chen secretly said to the old couple of the Yang family: "Dad, mother, I may have to go to the capital this time, and the time to go back and forth may be delayed for a long time." You two elders look at the house for me, and I am also relieved. Just don't tell the children, they always think about it and delay their studies. ”

Liu shook his head with a smile and said, "I think Afu Aman is very sensible, but not like you said." ”

These days, the Liu family guards their grandchildren, and the children are all in front of them, which makes the old lady very relaxed and very pleased. Moreover, because Afu Aman is the youngest, and the most sensible and polite, he is not inferior to a few cousins in learning, so he is very loved by the old couple, and he always praises him when he talks about it.

Qiu Chen smiled and said, "Mother, how can you boast so much...... Besides, mother, don't always praise the two little ones in front of the second sister-in-law, not to mention that Junwen and Junshu are older, and the two little brothers of Junzhang Junli are also very good. ”

Liu Shi nodded unceremoniously: "Well, I didn't say that those are bad...... Our children are sensible, how can there be no haode. ”

As soon as these words came out, even Qiu Chen, who was pretending to be in his heart, couldn't help laughing.

For fear that the second elder of the Yang family would see the clue and worry about it, Qiu Chen did not ride a horse, but still took the carriage and hurriedly set off for Anyang.

This time, Qin Li and another guard named Zeng Da Niu followed, leaving Qin Yong and Shen Hu at home to take care of and teach the children.

When she arrived in Qingshui Town, Qiu Chen sent the carriage to the Rejuvenation Hall, and she got another news from the Rejuvenation Hall that the furniture of the big families in Anyang City had migrated north. Including the Yun family, but also the Liao family. Originally, Liao Wenqing and Yun Jichen were going to return, but the family sent someone to send a letter to the past, and the family members settled in Beijing, and they could only stay in the capital to take care of the house and prepare for the family to take refuge in Beijing, and they could not come back for the time being.

Qiu Chen was not surprised, in the face of the approaching plague, she understood very well that she had the ability to travel far away to avoid it. Yes, he didn't say much, only said a few words to Shopkeeper Chen and Mr. Zhao, unloaded the horses, changed into neat short men's clothes, and rode towards Anyang.

galloped all the way, but in just over two hours, Qiu Chen, Qin Li, and Zeng Daniu arrived at Anyang Mansion. That day became more and more gloomy, but it was still brewing, as if they were holding back their strength, Qiu Chen and his party, who were ready to take a shower, arrived at Anyang City smoothly and properly.

Although she has only been away for ten days, Anyang Mansion has changed a lot from when she left. The big cars and small cars that go out of the city at the north city gate, and those who ride horses and sit in sedan chairs abound, thinking that they are big families who go out to avoid accidents. After all, these people are fewer in number, more ordinary people, pushing carts to carry burdens, dragging children and daughters, supporting the elderly, and they are also out of the city in a hurry in this sultry weather, reflecting the background of heavy rain in the sky and dark clouds destroying the city, which makes people more and more panicked and depressed.

Looking at the number of soldiers guarding outside the city gate, there are several times more, and the people who want to enter and leave the city must have identity documents, and those who are indeed not sick will be allowed to go. Fortunately, Qiu Chen had the deed of the official hat alley on his body, took the deed and showed it to the soldiers, confirmed it, and let it go, Qiu Chen and the three of them went against the flow of people, dragging the horses and finally squeezed into the city gate.

Not far from the city gate, I walked around a street entrance, and there was no flow of people out of the city, and it was suddenly clear. In the past, the bustling street market was empty and deserted, and there were all kinds of things scattered on the ground, but there were almost no people, and most of the shops on both sides of the street were closed with their doors closed.

A gust of wind whistled and swept over, blowing away the sand and dust in the sky, carrying messy debris, blowing people unable to open their eyes, and it was difficult to move.

Qin Li held the reins of the horse for Qiu Chen, carefully controlled the horse, and hurriedly entered the Guanmaoer Alley, the raindrops of beans crackled, and they fell on the head.

Just a few steps away, Qiu Chen and they almost drenched a soup chicken, Shunzi and his family hurriedly took the three of them into the door, and for a while, they boiled hot water to freshen up and change their clothes, and Shunzi's family brought the meal again, and the big guys were not divided into masters and servants, men and women, gathered in the front yard hall, while eating, while talking to Qiu Chen about the situation these days.

From the words of Shunzi and the others, Qiu Chen learned about the situation in Anyang Mansion.

The reason why the city was rushing out of the city in the heavy rain this morning was also because the city was still very stable before, but there were more large families traveling two days ago, so that the ordinary people in the city were faintly aware of something, and as a result, the news came out yesterday afternoon that only a few dozen miles of Qinghe County was sealed, and all the intersections to the west of Qinghe County were also closed, and only allowed to enter but not leave. The whole process was in an uproar, because since yesterday evening, a large number of people in Anyang City began to travel to avoid trouble. Large families have all the cars and horses, manpower and material resources are abundant, the first to go out of the city to the north, starting this morning, many shops are closed, ordinary people have also fled out of the city, this is the scene that Qiu Chen saw when he entered the city.

Everyone in the Lin family was quite calm, and they didn't leave the house here to run for their lives, but Qiu Chen could also see that everyone's faces were not good, their eyes were confused, and after talking about the situation in Anyang Mansion with three eyes and two mouths, they all looked at Qiu Chen, waiting for the arrangement of the wife in charge.

Because the whole people fled, there were no grocery buyers on the street, and the rice served to Qiu Chen and the three of them was white rice, but the dishes were only two plates of pickles and a plate of salted duck eggs.

Qiu Chen didn't have much appetite, but he also knew that the next thing was complicated and heavy, so he couldn't help but be willful, so he couldn't swallow most of the bowl of rice with pickles, so he simply put aside the dishes and chopsticks.

The Shunzi family hurriedly brought the haode tea, Qiu Chen took it in his hand, took a sip, and then looked up at the people with panic in their eyes: "Everyone knows the current situation, so I don't need to say more." You go down and pack up, Junko, you go out ......"

I wanted to say that I would let Junzi go to the carriage and horse shop to hire a car, but when the words came to my mouth, I thought that in this season when the whole people fled, I am afraid that the hottest business is the car and horse shop, and those carriages are estimated to be insufficient for the people who escaped, and it is impossible to have a car for them to use at this time.

After a slight pause, Qiu Chen continued: "Shunzi went to set up the car, and Shunzi's family took the others to pack their luggage." Well, except for the soft clothes you carry, you don't need to bring coarse benzene. Half an hour later, assemble and leave the city. ”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, agreed to retreat, and hurried back to their rooms to pack their clothes. Shunzi took Erkui and Jialiang to set up a car. However, Chen was still calm, and silently stepped forward to clean up the dishes and chopsticks.

Qiu Chen looked at Chen, who had always been silent and silent, and said, "Sister-in-law Chen has cleaned up the dishes and chopsticks, and hurry up and go back to the old house with the car later." ”

Chen was holding the bowl and chopsticks in his hand, but instead of answering, he asked rhetorically, "Can Madame go along?" ”

Qiu Chen smiled: "I just came here for this matter...... I can't go back yet! ”

Chen's face remained unchanged, and he bent his knees and said, "The slave maid will stay and serve the lady." Madame doesn't need to persuade again, the slave and maid are alone and have no worries, and it is just right to stay. ”

This one stayed to serve, but he didn't say his duty, nor did he take the opportunity to belittle others, he only said that he had no concerns, and faintly had the intention of opening up explanations for Junzi and others...... This is really commendable. Qiu Chen nodded secretly, smiled and nodded.

Chen's expression calmly curtsied and bowed again, and then calmly retreated.

For a while, everyone in the house retreated, leaving only Qiu Chen, Qin Li, and Zeng Daniu.

Qin Li and the others both paid attention to Qiu Chen, waiting for her further arrangements.

The heavy rain that had been held back for two or three days started this time, as if the Tianhe River had torn open, and there was a rain curtain outside the house, and the sky and the earth seemed to be connected by water, and there was water everywhere as far as the eye could see. As far as the ears could see, the rain quickly smashed on the rooftop treetops and the ground, and the noise was mixed up.

Qiu Chen slowly walked to the door, looking at the pouring rain, his mood was extremely heavy.

In such weather, people can be affected whether they are fleeing or other things, but germs can spread along the rain that flows everywhere.

However, the dazed hesitation was very short, Qiu Chen turned back and said to Qin Li: "When they leave, let's go to Nannuma Lake!" ”

Nannuma Lake is only more than 20 miles away from Anyang City, and more than 30 miles east of Qinghe County, which is relatively remote and secluded...... Qiu Chen hoped that that that there had not been affected yet, and that it was still too late for her to rush over.

When Shunzi and the others packed up, I heard that Qiu Chen did not turn around together, and both the Shunzi family and the Erkui family said that they wanted to stay. Jia Liang also said that he wanted to stay.

There are also three children in Erkui's family, and the children of Shunzi's family are also in Liujiaao, Qiu Chen did not leave them, and drove them into the car with a tarpaulin, leaving the forest house and going back to Liujiaao. Qiu Chen also wrote two letters, one for Shunzi to hand over to Qin Yong, and the other for Lin Xu. However, he also asked Shunzi to hand it over to Qin Yong, and let Qin Yong hand over the letter to Lin Xu when he saw that the situation was not right, and then took the Lin family to Zhengding Mansion to avoid trouble.

Seeing that the old and the young took three cars and gradually disappeared into the rain, Qiu Chen told the Jialiang and Chen who stayed behind to guard the gate, and she took Qin Li and Zeng Da Niu to put on a coat and hat, and rode straight to the West City Gate.

The three of Qiu Chen were soon soaked by the rain, their bodies were wet and cold, and the rain kept coming down, hitting the body cold and cold, hitting the body cold and stinging, hitting the face, making people unable to open their eyes and almost unable to breathe. When they reached the left side of Nanmarsh Lake, the heavy rain and the white rain on the ground made it difficult to see the road clearly, so they had to slow down and slowly find the path to move forward. The distance here is a little bit of exploration and paved with bluestone, in case of deviation, it is very easy to get lost in the reeds and barren meadows or a trivial matter, if you encounter a swamp quagmire, maybe there will be a danger of sinking and losing your life.

Under such circumstances, it would have taken only half an hour to reach Nanmar Lake on horseback, but when Qiu Chen and the three of them arrived at Nanmarsh Lake and saw the house looming in the rain, Qiu Chen couldn't help but burst into tears instantly.

Luckily, the premises are still there, and fortunately, it's not locked down...... Fortunately, the eldest brother and sister-in-law are safe!

Seeing Qiu Chen coming in the rain, Yang Shuyong and Zhou were actually taken aback.

While ordering someone to boil hot water, Zhou welcomed Qiu Chen into the house.

Qiu Chen was wet and cold, and he didn't need to look at it to know that his image was good at this time. Trembling and stiff all over her body, she couldn't use her strength, so she simply let Zhou do it, and Zhou took off her wet clothes, wiped the rain on her head, and stuffed it into the quilt.

Listening to Zhou's nagging that iron is not steel, and feeling the warmth of Zhou's hand on his body, Qiu Chen just looked at Zhou's and smiled.

Zhou was a little scared, reached out and stroked Qiu Chen's head, and said in his mouth: "What's the matter, is it cold...... I don't have a fever either......"

Qiu Chen held Zhou's hand with a smile on his face and covered his cheek, "Sister-in-law, I'm fine, don't worry about my ......"

"You said you don't have to worry about me, you can also worry about it, it's raining so hard and there's nothing urgent, why can't you wait for the rain to stop and come over......" Zhou couldn't understand Qiu Chen's strange appearance, and nodded Qiu Chen's head fiercely.

Qiu Chen was stunned, and suddenly got up, so frightened that Zhou hurriedly pulled up the quilt and surrounded her.

"Sister-in-law, you said there was no urgency...... You don't know that Qinghe is surrounded? Qiu Chen grabbed the busy Zhou and asked urgently.

"Huh? What's going on? Zhou asked with a look of surprise.

Qiu Chen let out a long breath, but his hand held Zhou's hand tightly and refused to let go: "Sister-in-law, there is an epidemic in Qinghe, and it is surrounded from Qinghe to the west. I got a letter and rushed over...... I thought you were ...... too."

Zhou's face turned pale, and he sat on the kang in a daze, his eyes turned red all of a sudden, and he muttered in despair: "Qinghe has an epidemic, Junwen and his grandmother...... Zhoujiazhuang is at the root of the west wall of the county seat...... What can be done, how can this be done...... Woohoo......"

Qiu Chen has been here for more than a year, and he is only familiar with people close to him, but he has never seen his sister-in-law's family, and he doesn't know that his sister-in-law's house turned out to be his mother's house near Qinghe County, and it is the root of the West Wall...... This is probably the place where the plague is raging!

Before, she had heard that Qinghe County was besieged and worried, and now she understands Zhou's mood and feelings. But she couldn't say anything comforting at this time, only sighed softly, reached out and hugged Zhou in her arms, letting her lean on.

Zhou cried, and his mood eased slightly. took the handkerchief handed by Qiu Chen and wiped his face, only to find that Qiu Chen was half naked and hugging himself, and hurriedly pressed Qiu Chen into the quilt, and hurriedly went to the kitchen to call for hot water......

Qiu Chen stretched out his hand and grabbed her: "Sister-in-law, don't tell others about Qinghe being surrounded first, you take a look at where the eldest brother is, call him over, and let's discuss." ”

Zhou had already calmed down, nodded in response, tucked the corner of Qiu Chen's quilt again, and hurriedly walked out.

Qiu Chen's body was still cold, but his brain was running rapidly, thinking about what he had been thinking about since he got the news. When she first received the news that her eldest brother and sister-in-law were threatened by the plague, she resolutely planned to go deep into the epidemic area. Since she has entered the epidemic area, she naturally cannot only protect her relatives, but also do her best to help the people in the epidemic area save themselves and survive in death...... At this time, after seeing her eldest brother and sister-in-law, knowing that her relatives are safe and safe, what should she do next? Do you want to selfishly flee danger with your loved ones?