Chapter 64: We Must Save Ourselves

Gu Xixi stood with her eyes closed behind the door; suddenly she raised both hands and slapped her cheeks……

Smack!

A crisp crack sounded, which startled Mrs. Zhao.

"Miss, what are you doing……"

When Gu Xixi opened her eyes again, the earlier fear had been swept away, leaving only resolve.

She took a deep breath, hurried to the bedroom, and said, "We haven't reached the point of panic and despair yet; we still have a chance."

Gu Xixi aroused great courage in Mrs. Zhao.

She calmed down and asked, "What can I do?"

Gu Xixi braided her long hair into a single plait before the mirror and tightly wound it with a cloth strip.

This hairstyle is simple and not burdensome; even with running and jumping, the hair stays in place.

Gu Xixi glanced at Mrs. Zhao in the mirror and mused, "I'm not familiar with the village's terrain and local conditions; we'd better split up."

"Go find Village Chief Zhao: first, gather any medicinal herbs you can find, no matter where; second, be sure to steady everyone's emotions, absolutely do not force a breakthrough, and do not clash with government officials. Moreover,"

She thought and said, "It would be best to find out who is sealing off the village—whether they are from the Qing Tian County Office or the nearby garrison."

Mrs. Zhao replied solemnly, "Okay, I've noted it down."

Gu Xixi then said, "I'll go find my great-uncle; only by swiftly containing the plague can we have a chance to save ourselves."

The noisy crowd outside had dispersed, not knowing where they had gone.

The two women left together.

Mrs. Zhao gave Gu Xixi the household's sole oil lamp with a raised base, and she herself took a torch to light the way.

The two locked eyes and each gave a firm nod.

Mrs. Zhao said, "No matter what, we'll meet again at my house tomorrow morning."

It was already past two in the night.

Lao Langzhong, wearing a face cloth, held a large ladle emitting a faint medicinal aroma, walking back and forth in the courtyard.

Tonight there was no moon, the courtyard was pitch black, but Lao Langzhong never needed a lamp anyway.

Hearing the door push, he turned and asked, "Is that Xixi?"

Gu Xixi stepped over the threshold, smiling, and said, "I haven't spoken yet—how do you know it's me?"

Lao Langzhong sighed, "Upon hearing of the plague, everyone else has already fled."

"Only you, this headstrong girl, insist on going inward—nothing can stop you."

Gu Xixi wanted to laugh a little, but couldn't manage it.

No wonder, as she walked along, faint noises came from other parts of the village, but this area was especially quiet.

Gu Xixi walked over to Lao Langzhong with the lamp, glanced around, and asked, "I haven't heard any coughing—has that patient improved?"

Lao Langzhong shook his head, "Although he's been needled and taken the medicine,"

"For now, all I can say is that I'm helping to ease his cough so he can rest properly."

"As for the medicine's effect, we'll have to wait until he takes two doses tomorrow to see any results."

Gu Xixi also glanced at the other rooms and asked, "What about the others? Have you checked them too?"

Lao Langzhong said softly, "For now, I haven't found anything wrong."

"I brewed preventive herbal tea, and I and they have all drunk it."

"I knew you were coming; there's some left in the kitchen—hurry and drink it."

Moreover, several other members of this household were notified by Lao Qian to return home and isolate.

Lao Langzhong then directed them to conduct a thorough cleaning of the entire household.

All utensils and water containers in the house, as well as any items in the kitchen and grain store that might have contacted rats, were gathered—either burned or boiled for disinfection.

Not long before Gu Xixi arrived, the whole family had just finished their chores and gone to sleep.

After Lao Langzhong finished fumigating the medicine, he splashed the remaining medicinal liquid around the base of the exterior walls.

The master and apprentice squatted in the most ventilated spot at the center of the courtyard to talk.

Gu Xixi held a full bowl of herbal tea; taking a sip made her frown slightly.

"I didn't expect the village entrance to be sealed off so quickly; the medicinal supplies we brought won't even last until tomorrow."

"I've already urged Village Chief Zhao to scour the village for medicinal herbs as much as possible, hoping to find more useful ones."

Lao Langzhong had lived in Shitou Village for many years, so he naturally understood the difficulties involved.

Shitou Village, though built against the hills, lacks the expansive mountain backdrop of Flower Pool Ford Village, making it hard to source materials locally.

Lao Langzhong said, "Medicinal herbs will certainly be in short supply; we must prepare early."

Gu Xixi asked, "Have you figured out what to do?"

Lao Langzhong faced the sky, as if sensing the distant unseen.

"Tomorrow morning I'll go see those officials at the village gate; since the epidemic hasn't broken out in Shitou Village, they ought to provide some medicinal herbs to keep the plague contained here."

"However, they need to go through layers of approval and allocation, which takes time, so this should be done sooner rather than later."

Gu Xixi hesitated, "But you don't like dealing with government officials—should I go in your place?"

Lao Langzhong said solemnly, "Human life comes first; we can't worry about those things."

Elsewhere, the people of Shitou Village found they couldn't leave and had to steady themselves to listen to Village Chief Zhao's arrangements.

In addition to continuing to catch and exterminate rats, new duties were added: guarding, spraying medicine, and brewing decoctions……

Everyone in the village who could move was divided into groups, taking turns in shifts, working day and night without rest.

At the household where Gu Xixi stays, two strong men have been posted outside to guard.

By Village Chief Zhao's order, aside from Gu Xixi and Lao Langzhong—or unless they personally grant permission—no one else may enter or leave.

Lao Langzhong and Gu Xixi were also naturally extremely cautious.

They fumigated their whole body with medicine; after stepping over the threshold, they immediately removed the face cloth and washed their hands and face.

To minimize contact with others, they decided to return to Lao Langzhong's residence on the mountainside.

Gu Xixi said to the guard, "Please help me pass a message to the Village Chief's wife: just say I'm not going to her house for now; if there's an emergency, shout near the big elm tree."

"If it's not an emergency, just meet and speak outside during the day."

The two guards, frightened, covered their noses and dared not speak, just nodding vigorously.

Lao Langzhong's home is too remote; they only arrived after the lamp oil was almost burned out.

Looking again, the eastern sky already showed a faint glow.

With no time to delay, Lao Langzhong told Xixi to go inside to rest, while he himself casually collapsed onto the outer room's table.

The village's situation could change again at any time; taking advantage of the temporary calm, they hurried to get some sleep.

Otherwise, even an iron-clad person couldn't endure it.

Because she had things on her mind, Gu Xixi only slept about an hour before waking up.

However, that hour was quite effective; she felt her spirit and strength had recovered, only her stomach was a little hungry.

Lao Langzhong was still snoring; Gu Xixi tiptoed out, wanting to see if there was anything to eat.

A tricolor cat jumped down from the tree, rubbing against Gu Xixi's skirt and meowing.

Gu Xixi also recognized it, bending down to pet it, "Little Flower? Long time no see, you're still so plump."

The last time Lao Langzhong left, after Xiao Huang and Xiao Hui were tested with medicine they lost their reproductive ability, and Rabbit Xiao Bai's injury also healed, so Lao Langzhong released them all, leaving only Xiao Hua.

Xiao Hua rubbed its head against Gu Xixi's hand, then turned around and meowed twice.

Gu Xixi followed Xiao Hua to a wooden shed, where a pot sat on the earthen stove; this should be Lao Langzhong's simple kitchen.