Chapter 364 - Chapter 364: Chapter 364: Dong Shi Imitating the (1/2)
Chapter 364: Chapter 364: Dong Shi Imitating the
Frown_l
After dinner, Wei Ruo and Xiumei were tidying up things in the room at the inn. “Miss, although Lin’an Prefecture is more prosperous than Taizhou Prefecture, there are noticeably more displaced people on this route, and the number of homeless outside the city gates is almost catching up to those in Taizhou Prefecture’s reclaimed land,” remarked Xiumei with a hint of lamentation over what they had seen in the last few days. Within the city of Lin’an Prefecture, displaced people were sparse as they were blocked off from entering. Many of them were starving, with some dying of hunger.
As the provincial capital of Zhejiang under the rule of the imperial envoy, Lin’an Prefecture used to be the busiest city in Zhejiang. However, it was now home to many displaced people who appeared disheveled and malnourished.
“There’s been a poor harvest for two years straight. Naturally, there are many victims,” Wei Ruo reasoned.
“But didn’t the imperial court dispatch the sixth Prince to relieve the disaster? Why hasn’t there been any improvement? At the very least, shouldn’t they be providing some form of help to the displaced, instead of just keeping them outside the city watching them starve to death?”
Xiumei thought simplistically, believing that people’s lives were most important and should be saved first.
Therefore, she began to harbor a slight dissatisfaction towards the sixth Prince who was assigned to relieve the disaster after experiencing the plight of so many displaced people.
“I’m not sure about that. I just mind my own business,” Wei Ruo stated, having no interest in discussing the disaster relief plans of the sixth Prince.
Wei Ruo was examining the map of Lin’an Prefecture while talking to Xiumei.
“We’ll go here to investigate the situation tomorrow,” she said, pointing to the northern suburbs of Lin’an Prefecture.
“Wherever you say we go, Miss, I’ll go.” Xiumei agreed without a second glance, determined to follow Wei Ruo wherever she went.
“Then I might as well sell you off,” Wei Ruo joked.
“By all means, if the price is right, you can. Once you’ve received the money, I’ll escape and you can sell me again,” Xiumei replied with a laugh.
“You certainly know how to do business,” Wei Ruo chuckled, finding Xiumei’s quip amusing.
“Of course, having been with you for so long, I’ve picked up a business sense,” Xiumei said.
“My Meimei is smarter than me now. At least I’m trading something, while you’re making a fortune out of nothing!” jested Wei Ruo.
“It’s only natural to surpass the master,” quipped Xiumei playfully.
###
Early the next morning, the four of them set off from the inn to the north of Lin’an Prefecture.
To facilitate their movements, Wei Ruo and Xiumei disguised themselves as males. With three out of the four now in disguise, only Xiaobei was left without a disguise, his face making it hard for him to be spotted in the crowd.
Since she was dressed as a man, Wei Ruo did not ride in a carriage but rode a horse instead, which was more convenient.
After a few experiences of horse riding, Wei Ruo no longer experienced the same pain in her buttocks and thighs as she did before.
Thanks to the specially made stirrups that Wei Jinyi had gotten for her, which had a thick layer of padding, her ride was much more comfortable.
As they rode out of the city gates, the scenery became barren. There were many villages and farmlands along the way, but none of them seemed as thriving as those in Taizhou Prefecture.
Upon closer inspection, they noticed that the rice plants in the paddy fields were not growing well. The leaves were yellow, and the yield was not promising.