Globe Trekker

Chapter 39 Disappointment and Hope

Chapter 39 Disappointment and Hope

After four days of trekking, more than [-] people, old and young, who escaped from the dangerous situation finally came to the desolate and unfamiliar Maoliangwu. Facing the desolate scene surrounded by mountains and shrouded in mist, the exhausted Master Lu faced the Looking at the white bones clearly visible on the grassy ground, he couldn't help trembling, and the group of women who followed him, as well as the two old people who had just struggled to get down on the bamboo stretcher, couldn't help crying sadly.

Lu Zhengde, who was drenched all over his body, came to Wu Ming in a few steps, pointed at the bones everywhere, and was shocked: "Brother, is this the source of the world you said?"

Wu Ming said apologetically: "I didn't expect it to be like this. When I arrived the day before yesterday, I asked an old She nationality from Leigongling in the north. He said that there was another plague last summer. Nearly half of the thirty or so families died, and the rest fled here, and no one dared to come back after that.”

"Then what shall we do? What shall we do?"

Lu Zhengcao was terrified, and he wouldn't frown even if he put a knife on his neck, but he was afraid of the plague, and afraid that nearly a hundred members of his family would die without a place to bury him.

Wu Ming exhaled foul air and pointed to the house with thatched roof that had just been built in the depths of the pier: "Several brothers under the third brother have already cooked the anti-epidemic soup. I used a pistol as a gift and got it from the patriarch of the She nationality in Leigong Mountain. Since yesterday, I have led my brothers to set fire to the wilderness..."

"Look, the house is covered with ashes within a radius of one mile. Every room has been carefully cleaned and smoked with rice vinegar. As long as all of us don't drink raw water but only boiled water, and everything we eat is cooked, big and small Just go to the special place we built, and there will be no problems."

Li Kun, who had been busy with Wu Ming for two days, came up to explain: "Brother, don't worry, I think Brother Wu's words are reasonable, and we have obtained the herbal medicine from the native people of the She nationality. Since the She people fifteen miles to the north can survive one If they don’t die, it means that their herbal medicine is indeed useful, and the seven brothers who came first, Kui Yuan and the two of us, have been busy in this place for two days and two nights, and there is no discomfort, so I believe what Brother Wu said, just pay attention Everything will be fine once you settle down."

Lu Zhengde was still worried, and looked at the terrified master and the terrified faces around him, but no one spoke.

An old voice suddenly sounded from behind the crowd: "Lu Zhengxian, Lu Zhengde, you two trash, where did you have the guts? You are so frightened by this little shit, how can you preserve the continuation of our families in the future? Yes Don’t you want to tell me that I’ve misjudged you? Oh?! Brother Wu is not related to us, but you put so much effort into helping us, how dare you treat him like this? What were you like when you fled to Gexianweng Mountain? , I am very disappointed in you two cowardly dicks! Cough cough...cough cough..."

"father……"

"Grandpa, don't be angry, don't be angry!"

A group of wives and children surrounded the breathless old man and comforted him repeatedly. The old lady and Lu Zhengde's wife were so anxious that they shed tears and stared at Lu Zhengde and Wu Ming helplessly.

Perhaps it was the old man's rant that woke up Lu Zhengde and his master Lu Zhengxian. The two realized their gaffe, their faces turned pale, then green, then red, and they dared not look at the expressionless Wu Ming due to guilt.

Wu Ming thought for a while, and then walked up to the old man: "Old man, the plague has passed for nearly a year. You are proficient in medical science and well-informed. You must know that there is not much danger now, and there are many kinds of plague. The younger generation never Among the herbal medicines that the She people exchanged, they identified seven kinds of medicinal materials, including coptis, cang wood, cypress leaves, licorice, cinnamon, and honeysuckle. After two days of careful consideration of the illness they introduced, they thought it was probably cholera. It's scary on people, but as long as we take precautions, we don't have to worry too much."

The old man coughed a few times, grabbed Wu Ming's hand and nodded repeatedly: "I know that plagues have been common since ancient times. Even Quzhou, which is crowded with people, had plagues during the Daoguang period. Many people died back then. I heard that all the people in Quzhou have died, and they don't live in Quzhou anymore, ahem... Brother, you can do it without worry, I believe you!"

"Thank you, uncle, the junior will definitely do his best."

Wu Ming stood up and went back to the ashamed Lu Zhengde and the master: "Let's settle down first, take a good rest today and recharge your spirits. Tomorrow all the men will cut down trees and build houses. I will go to Leigongling for a walk later." Let’s go and see if we can ask our neighbors to help, it is estimated that there are at least a few hundred men living on the mountain, so it is not difficult to talk.”

Lu Zhengde lowered his head: "Brother, I'm sorry, don't take it to heart."

"It's okay, I know you're worried about the elderly and children, all right, let's rest in the hut first, if you have anything to say, wait until you finish cooking and fill your stomach."

After Wu Ming finished speaking, he patted Lu Zhengde's arm, walked out a few steps, hugged the five-year-old daughter left behind by Erdang's family, and ordered a few Chinese characters to carry the coffin of Erdang's family to the independent straw shed in front, pointing the crowd towards the head of the family. Walk to the grass shed.

Master Lu Zhengxian let out a long sigh, and came to Lu Zhengde who was standing still and said in a low voice: "It seems that we have made brother Wu sad."

"Hey! With my bad temper, why can't I control my stinky mouth? It's not that I don't believe him, I already regard him as my own brother in my heart, but today..." Lu Zhengde regretted endlessly.

Lu Zhengxian comforted: "Don't think about it, Brother Wu is not a stingy person, but we all have to remember this lesson in the future, and don't make mistakes again! Now that we take a closer look, this place is actually pretty good, just the place in front of us. If it wasn’t for the plague, it might not be our turn! Let’s relax and do what Brother Wu said. I think he’s got a better idea than anyone else. Let’s go. .”

The old and the young got a rest. Under the guidance of Wu Ming, a dozen men carefully started cooking with a dozen large clay pots. Lv Kuiyuan led a group of women to the side of the thatched shed, pointing to the newly built building 50 meters away to the right. The hut and the stream on the left exhort carefully.

Wu Ming returned to the old man's side again, discussed the epidemic prevention, asked the old man to be responsible for assigning people, then took a horse, tidied up a little, and rode northward on the horse. superior.

The gentle and cool wind blowing from the southeast came slowly, taking away the rising clouds and mist all over the mountains, and the bright sun gradually moved to the top of the head, revealing the clouds. The hot sun shines on the earth, and the surrounding mountains are more green under the sun. .

Riding his horse along the narrow path on the west bank of the creek, Wu Ming enjoyed looking around. The greenery and clear spring water in his eyes had already dispelled the unhappiness in his heart.

After turning over two small hills, the majestic Leigong Ridge with towering ancient trees is in front of you. Two She ethnicity men on the side of the mountain pass saw the three men coming on horseback from a distance, immediately dropped the tools in their hands, and rushed up. Yamaguchi reported.

Although Wu Ming didn't know the customs and habits of the She people very well, he knew a thing or two. He stopped under a big tree 50 meters away from the mountain pass, ordered two brothers to dismount together, and then led a brother to the mountain pass on foot. He bowed to the two young men with sabers standing at the crossing, and explained his purpose in Quzhou dialect, which was not fluent.

The two young and strong She people were wearing indigo cotton vests and knee-length trousers with blue borders of the same color. They met the gentle and polite Wu Ming the day before yesterday. Seeing that Wu Ming was the first to greet him and explain his intentions, they immediately smiled and invited Wu Ming in. Zhaimen.

Turning around two stone-built mud walls, turning around a few hundred-year-old camphor trees and walking up a section, the vision suddenly opens up. The tall wooden building of the patriarch's house is in front of you. The wrinkled patriarch in his fifties and a large group of men, women and children behind him Already waiting there.

After another salute to each other, the patriarch politely invited Wu Ming upstairs, and sat down with the guests and hosts in the spacious main hall, and drank half a cup of herbal tea made from wild wintersweet. After hearing Wu Ming's request, the patriarch opened his eyes wide in surprise. Eyes, asked in proficient Quzhou Mandarin: "Are you really planning to live in that ominous place?"

Wu Ming put down the white porcelain teacup, raised his head and smiled slightly: "Dear senior, I know that since the Tang Dynasty more than 1000 years ago, until the silver mines, copper mines, and zinc mines in the surrounding mountains were mined 50 years ago, Maoliangwu is a blessed place recognized by all dynasties, otherwise it would not have excavated mountains and stones in Maoliangwu to build a wharf leading directly to the Quzhou River."

The patriarch pinched his beard and nodded slightly. The eight middle-aged men sitting around him had different expressions, some admired, some were curious, and the rest were all wary.

Wu Ming continued: "Although after the silver and copper mines are mined, Maoliangwu in the deep mountains is no longer prosperous, but the wharf is not too damaged, and nearly a thousand acres of good paddy fields can be cultivated after repairing it. This place must be a piece of paradise, what a pity! But we have made up our minds, this time the three clans will not leave when they return from the coffin. We swear that we will rebuild the homeland where our ancestors thrived. With their generous help, we are not afraid of serious diseases, we have the courage and confidence to build our home well and restore the prosperity of the past again."

The old patriarch pondered for a moment, and looked at the heads of the eight surrounding mountain villages. After receiving the notice from the old patriarch yesterday, these headmen came here to discuss after learning that Maoliangwu, the plague land, had come to live again. of.

Maybe it was because we got along well with the residents of Maoliangwu before, maybe it was the fear of the ominous place in Maoliangwu, maybe it was because we knew that there was such a person as Lin Er, who came back from the coffin, and the leaders didn’t care about the Han people coming back to settle again. Contradictions, in addition to maintaining vigilance, everyone has a good impression of Wu Ming, who is calm and handsome in front of him.

Seeing that there was no objection, the old patriarch asked in She nationality dialect if he would agree to the request of the visitors and send manpower to help them rebuild their homes?The leaders seemed to have very different opinions. After discussing for more than ten minutes, most of them were unwilling to take on this risky job.

Seeing this, Wu Ming coughed, and when everyone looked over, he said unhurriedly:

"Seniors, and uncles and brothers, if everyone is in trouble, do you think this is good? If someone has air-dried wood, big iron nails and other materials for building a house, we are willing to pay for them. The price is negotiable. As much as you want, and those who are willing to help us build houses, we will pay wages by the number of days."

"In addition, I can promise everyone that our caravan is willing to buy back the best rifles for the She brothers who helped us at the lowest price in the days to come, and provide them with long-term support for those who help us rebuild their homes. Rifle cartridges for hunting."

As soon as this statement came out, the whole hall was in an uproar.

The two leaders on the left already found Wu Ming very pleasing to the eye, and had already made up their minds to establish a good relationship with Wu Ming. Hearing this, they immediately stood up and babbled to the patriarch. They were obviously moved by Wu Ming's generous offer.

The other wary chiefs fell silent, looking in surprise at Wu Ming's silence, as if they were still struggling to figure out gains and losses.

The two strong chiefs quickly obtained the consent of the patriarch, and one of them came to Wu Ming to join hands and bow to each other. Seeing Wu Ming politely stand up and respond, he immediately showed a happy smile.

(End of this chapter)

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