Time Travel: The Noble Family-Chapter 1095 - 462: Flood Disaster (Part 2)

Yueyao’s heart sank. For the past half a year, she’s been so worried about the child that she even forgot such a significant event. Yueyao was frustrated, but upon deeper thought, she became at ease. Even if she hadn’t forgotten, what could she do? Could she really tell others that places like Shandong and Hebei are going to have floods? By then, she would either be seen as a madwoman or thought of as a demon.

An Zhichen saw Yueyao’s face doesn’t look good, assuming she was upset that they couldn’t hold a large full-month celebration for the child, and he comforted her: "Don’t be sad, when the child turns one, we will have a grand celebration."

Yueyao quickly gathered her emotions: "It’s okay, I’m just sad for the common people. At this time, we certainly can’t have a big celebration. We can just invite some relatives to come by for a meal, that’s enough. The child is still small, no need to be so particular." An Zhichen felt sorry for the three sons. Originally, he wanted to celebrate grandly, but who could have predicted such circumstances.

Yueyao shook her head indicating she was fine. But she quickly remembered Ma Peng was still in Shandong, and said worriedly: "I wonder how big cousin is doing, will he be affected?" Yueyao was a bit upset, if big cousin could return sooner, he could avoid this disaster altogether. Even if he escapes the flood, it’s difficult for him to escape the Imperial Court’s accountability.

An Zhichen said: "Big cousin is still an official in the area, he won’t have any issues. Even if the Imperial Court holds him accountable later, his father-in-law is there, he won’t encounter problems. Do your postpartum care well, don’t worry about those things."

Yueyao still wasn’t at ease: "If there’s any news, you must tell me, don’t hide anything from me."

An Zhichen naturally wouldn’t hide it from Yueyao. The worst situation in this matter would be Ma Peng getting dismissed, and that wouldn’t claim his life. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Yueyao was somewhat better, but Ma Chengteng fell ill immediately upon hearing this news. Zhuang Ruolan had to take care of the sick father-in-law and care for the children, manage the household, and constantly worry about her husband’s safety. If Zhuang Ruolan weren’t mentally strong, she might have fallen ill too.

Three provinces were hit by disaster, nobody knows who called upon the people of the Capital City to aid the affected citizens. People were urging officials, commoners, and merchants to contribute money if they have it, and manpower if they can.

The Empress Dowager was the first to respond to this call, donating some money and a set of jewelry. Following this, the Empress and concubines in the palace also donated money and jewelry, and this wind quickly blew down, causing Madams and grandmothers of the officials’ families in Capital City to start donating money and goods.

Mingzhu came to visit Yueyao and said: "Yueyao, I’m planning to donate one thousand taels of silver, how much do you plan to donate?"

Yueyao wanted to donate more money, but she also realized that donating too much would offend others and would be too conspicuous: "Everyone knows you came with a rich dowry, one thousand taels is too little, donate three thousand taels!" Yueyao worried about stealing people’s thunder, but Mingzhu didn’t have this concern.

Mingzhu is not someone who particularly values money, and she nodded in agreement immediately: "Alright, then I’ll donate three thousand taels. Yueyao, how much do you plan to donate?"

Yueyao said: "The amount I donate publicly must be the same as my colleagues in Heyue. However, I plan to privately send food and medicine to the disaster area." If she remembered correctly, this flood triggered a serious epidemic, and Doctor Li became famous for resolving the epidemic. There wasn’t much Yueyao could do, but she could purchase more medicine.

Mingzhu thought Yueyao’s idea was excellent: "Yueyao, I don’t plan to donate money, we should focus on purchasing food and medicine for the disaster area together, so we can truly help those people. If we donate money now, who knows how much of it will reach the citizens in need." The relief funds trickle down layer by layer, very little actually reaches the common people.

Yueyao thought for a moment and then said: "Alright." Yueyao owned several thousand acres of fertile land, and she had saved the rent the tenant farmers paid without selling it.

Although Yueyao didn’t realize this year would be a disaster year due to pregnancy, she subconsciously knew there would be a disaster, so she instinctively stored grain. Because of this, Yueyao’s Tian Zhuang stored over two hundred thousand pounds of grain. At this time, over two hundred thousand pounds of grain is no small amount.

Mingzhu was very surprised: "I didn’t expect you to have stored so much grain. My Tian Zhuang only has a few thousand pounds of grain stored. Yueyao, are you really willing to donate so much?" After floods in three provinces, the price of grain will surely double or more. Donating all this grain is no longer a matter of two or three thousand taels, it must be at least twenty to thirty thousand taels.

Yueyao laughed and said: "Just doing what little I can to ease my conscience." Disaster relief mainly depends on the Imperial Court, relying on a single person is like a drop in the bucket. But if everyone gathers their efforts, it becomes a big force.

Mingzhu grumbled: "Compared to you, I have no heart at all." She thought three thousand taels was already a lot, and Yueyao suddenly donated so much grain, when they compared, didn’t it make her look stingy?

Yueyao was always annoyed with Mingzhu’s habit of comparing: "Live your own life and do your own thing, why do you always like to compare with me? What’s there to compare?"

Mingzhu was a bit upset: "It’s not just because you did too well. Fine, I’ll donate more too, just donate ten thousand taels of silver, half for food, half for medicine." Next year, I can make less jewelry, and that money will be saved.

Yueyao planned to add several more tens of thousands of taels of silver to purchase food and medicine to send to areas like Jiangnan, but after hearing Mingzhu’s words, she didn’t mention that.

Yueyao had to use such a large sum of money and although it’s her dowry, she still had to discuss it with An Zhichen: "Heyue, I want to help them more. Money can be earned again, but those common people have no clothes or food. If we can do something for them, it’s a good deed."

An Zhichen thought for a moment and said: "This matter isn’t small, you need someone reliable to handle it." An Zhichen had no objection to Yueyao donating so much money. This wealth is Yueyao’s dowry, how she uses it is not his concern. But things must be handled properly, or kind intentions could cause trouble.

Yueyao already had a reliable candidate in mind, it couldn’t be anyone but Xiang Wei. Xiang Wei is knowledgeable and well-connected, entrusting it to her leaves Yueyao without worry.

Mingzhu quickly dispatched Bai Yi to accompany Xiang Wei as soon as she learned the news. Mingzhu knew Bai Yi’s abilities are absolutely suitable to this task.