Heavenly Blessed Baby: Fleeing Famine, Busy to Prosper!-Chapter 146: You Just Write the List, I’ll Go Buy It
Qi Ercai was the first to run over with people, followed by Qi Quanli driving a carriage.
"Quick, get them onto the carriage!"
Yi Meng was initially wondering whether they should carry these people back themselves, but upon seeing the carriage follow along — the only carriage with a compartment belonging to the family — she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Everyone hurriedly lifted these seven or eight people into the carriage.
They didn’t care about the crowded conditions now; huddling together was actually beneficial for warming up.
Yi Meng now had no choice but to skip buying food. A stinking mess like her going to buy groceries would provoke disinterest from the sellers.
The group rode the ox cart back to the Qi Family courtyard.
Qu Laodi was at the courtyard, instructing them to move the people to the room she just cleaned.
"That room is warm, quickly move them inside!"
Though Qu Laodi spoke thus, her heart was wrenching.
She had just cleaned the kang in that room, heating it thoroughly, truly reluctant to let these people occupy it!
But she had no choice; besides her room, only the old man and old lady’s room could be considered warm.
Qi Zheng was also in the courtyard directing the situation, only for Yi Meng to shout as she came into the yard: "Wait!"
Everyone turned to Yi Meng, uncertain why she would stop them at this time.
Could it be she disliked how dirty these people were and didn’t want them inside?
But then everyone thought, it couldn’t be.
Yi Meng wasn’t petty or impractical.
Qi Zheng asked, "Meng Niang, what’s wrong?"
"They’ve all suffered frostbite; if we put them straight onto a hot kang, it might cause problems. Let’s see if the kang in that room is less heated, and put them there first."
Yi Meng knew from her past that frostbitten individuals suddenly moved to warmth can suffer greater harm.
Upon hearing this, no one could ignore her and quickly moved them to Yin Cheng and Qin Minglang’s room.
The doctors’ room should be warm, but both men were in the front yard, with Dalang chopping wood, Sanlang also in the front yard, and Erlang out buying groceries, meaning that room’s kang was the least heated.
One kang couldn’t fit everyone, so Yi Meng had wooden board carts rolled inside, making them makeshift beds.
"Meng Niang, what next?"
Qu Laodi quickly inquired.
Not needing to place them in the room she prepared, her mood improved significantly.
Yi Meng instructed Qi Erlang, "Erlang, take some people to scoop some snow from outside. Everyone help rub these people’s hands and feet with the snow."
Rubbing snow on frostbitten individuals can provide relief.
This was something Yi Meng knew from before, unused until now.
"Second sister-in-law, ask the two doctors if one can come to check on these people."
Yi Meng told Qu Laodi.
Among those present, only her clothes were still clean.
With neighbors around, stepping out in disorderly attire wasn’t preferable.
Besides, these people’s clothes were already dirty; better they continue working instead of letting Qu Laodi change.
Qu Laodi acknowledged, running immediately to the main gate.
Qi Ercai, Qi Silang, and Zhou Tao brought in three basins of snow, and everyone began working busily.
Two women were placed on the wooden carts.
Mrs. Lai Sr. lay alone on another wooden cart.
The carts and kang were shielded by a makeshift curtain, afterwards divided tasks with men handling men, women taking care of women, removing ragged coats, and rubbing limbs with snow.
Yin Cheng arrived and saw this scene, nodded after initial shock, "Alright, good arrangement. You keep rubbing, I’ll check their pulses."
Yin Cheng no longer wore the usual critical demeanor, moving efficiently to check pulses, abandoning the leisurely manner of an elder.
Yi Meng rubbed warmth into Mrs. Lai Sr.’s limbs then covered her with a sheet before leaving the room.
Mrs. Qi stayed inside watching the children, fearing they might be frightened by the sight and didn’t come out.
But she kept watch at the window, seeing Yi Meng outside, and quickly called her over to inquire.
Yi Meng said, "Mother, rest assured. They’re still breathing, and Mr. Yin is checking their pulses."
Mrs. Qi sighed with relief, "As long as they’re breathing, as long as they’re breathing."
Though earlier there was much discord in the woods, having lived in the same village for years, claiming no concern would be false.
Mrs. Qi continued, "Why only them? Where are the others? Didn’t they say where everyone is?"
Yi Meng shook her head at this, "Ji Hu found us before fainting, still hasn’t awakened. Mother, don’t worry. Once they wake, we’ll know what happened."
"Ah, we can only do that."
Mrs. Qi sighed, "Change clothes quickly, then see which medicinal herbs Mr. Yin needs, buy them promptly. Their condition will surely require herbal decoctions."
"Alright!"
Yi Meng thought likewise. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
Herbal decoctions are indispensable, but the existing herbs may be insufficient, buying is inevitable.
Moreover, it’s not just herbs; there’s other provisions to consider.
Coal basins are basic, along with essential blankets and such.
The clothes on these people are unfit to wear, even if they don’t buy new ones, they’ll need to procure fabric at least.
Having rescued them, they wouldn’t leave them uncared for.
Thinking about these expenses caused Yi Meng headache.
What a mess!
Despite separating, these people supposedly headed to the Capital City, why encounter them here?
Encounter they did, yet in such dire straits, two residences were needed to house so many, likely unable to accommodate.
As Yi Meng worried, she changed clothes.
Afterward, she went to find Yin Cheng.
Yin Cheng had already assessed their pulses.
Their uniform issue was severe frostbite, compounded by duration without meals.
"Mr. Yin, what herbs do we need? I’ll go buy them now."
Yi Meng asked.
Yin Cheng pondered, "I’ll list them. Cold and calming herbs buy plenty, not only for them, but for us too."
Yi Meng paused, not understanding why they’d need them.
But recalling Ling Shuo, the first to fall ill in the front yard, she understood.
Everyone endured hardship, after today’s settling down, many might fall sick suddenly from relaxation.
Therefore, preparation is necessary.
Yi Meng promised, "Just write, I’ll buy."
Yin Cheng nodded and went to the neighboring room, returning with two sheets of paper.
Yi Meng glanced at them, gasping instinctively.
Good heavens, such dense lists of herb names and quantities on two sheets.
It seemed prepared for them, an outsider might think she was on wholesale purchase duty!
