After hearing Tong’s explanation, Lin Fang suspected that Old Master Sima might have suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. However, with no CT scans or MRIs available here, there was no way to confirm her guess. Poor Chen Dong, who had already given up hope for her father-daughter relationship, had her hopes rekindled by Old Master Sima’s arrival. Lin Fang could only silently pray that Old Master Sima would recover quickly and not let this hope turn into another blow so soon.
The most urgent task now was to prevent the displaced people from freezing. The county magistrate had only given Dalang the appointment letter but provided no funds or provisions, leaving everything for him to figure out on his own.
Over the past few months, the Lin family had already contributed a significant amount of money and supplies to help the government resettle the displaced. However, due to frequent thefts and robberies, the three workshops that were supposed to double production to provide winter clothing for the displaced had to shut down. The sheep farm had lost more than half of its livestock, and the fish in the ponds had been nearly depleted by starving refugees. Many trees on the mountains had been cut down for firewood. Whether in this town or neighboring ones, all of the Lin family’s shops had been forced to close. As a result, the Lin family not only had no income but also faced increasing expenses. If they were to contribute more funds now, they would find themselves in dire straits.
Dalang first inspected the government-built shelters before finally checking the lodging area his family had set up. Before he was halfway through the inspection, his expression had already darkened. As he neared the end, he encountered something that disgusted him.
The government shelters were flimsy, mostly made of hastily dug earth and mud bricks. Due to the high demand and tight deadlines, the gaps between the bricks were large. Once the walls were built and thatched roofs were added, the shelters were considered complete. Constructed in a rush, the walls were not plastered, allowing wind to seep through the gaps. While this was tolerable in early autumn, now in the depths of winter, the shortcomings of these mud-brick houses became apparent—they were poorly insulated. At this point, digging earth to plaster the walls was impossible because the ground was frozen solid. The displaced could only stuff dried grass into the cracks, but how much could that do against strong winds?
When the displaced first arrived, all the guests in the lodging area had left. Whether owned by the Lin family or others, all vacant houses had been requisitioned by the government to accommodate the displaced. These houses were built with brick walls and sturdy beams with tiled roofs, far more solid than the mud-brick shelters. As a result, the displaced living in these houses suffered fewer illnesses or deaths from the cold compared to those in the mud-brick shelters.
Before Dalang even reached the lodging area, he could hear loud commotion from afar. The captain of the guards sent someone to investigate, and the man quickly returned to report, “My lord, someone is distributing porridge at the theater, and the displaced are crowding around. The noise is coming from there.”
Porridge distribution should take place in open areas. The theater was enclosed by walls, making it highly prone to danger. Dalang ordered, “Captain, organize the guards to maintain order and find out who is behind this.”
The captain acknowledged and led his men swiftly ahead. Dalang and Tan Liu followed the noise. The entrance to the theater was already jammed, with more people arriving continuously, making it impossible to squeeze inside. Dalang and Tan Liu had to climb onto the wall to see. Inside, the theater was packed with displaced people. The Lin family guards were weaving through the crowd, trying to organize them into lines, but with so many people, their efforts were barely effective.
Dalang found it suspicious. Porridge distribution should be held in open spaces. The Lin family theater, though spacious, was enclosed by walls. In case of a stampede, evacuation would be difficult—this was common sense. How could the organizers not realize this?
Moreover, apart from Lin Village, the area was now a resettlement zone for the displaced. The wealthy families who had lived nearby had all moved away when the refugees arrived. Even at a gallop, Lin Village was half a day’s journey from the nearest town, Baishui. Choosing such a remote location for porridge distribution was unwise. Besides, while there had been porridge distributions earlier in the disaster, they had dwindled over time as people grew weary. Resuming it now seemed abrupt and odd.
Furthermore, when receiving porridge, the displaced, eager and anxious, would inevitably push and shove. The organizers should have arranged personnel to maintain order. Yet, in the entire theater, only the Lin family guards were busy—where were the organizers? Several large pots sat on newly built stoves on the stage, still steaming. Porridge easily sticks to the pot and needs constant stirring, but the ones doing the stirring were the Lin family guards. Where were the organizers?
Tan Liu whispered to Dalang, “My lord, this won’t do. There are too many people. It’s fine now since the distribution hasn’t started yet, but once it does, those in front won’t be able to retreat after getting their porridge, and those behind won’t be able to push forward. Stampedes and injuries will be inevitable.”
Dalang was well aware of the consequences and frowned as he pondered a solution. A guard leaped onto the wall from inside the theater and reported, “My lord, the people guarding the porridge pots claim they were sent by the mayor of Lin Town and plan to distribute porridge for ten consecutive days. We found rice in the backstage, most of it moldy and spoiled, but the rice currently cooking in the pots is good quality.”
Tan Liu asked angrily under his breath, “What? The announcement of Dalang’s appointment as mayor won’t be made public for another five days. How could anyone know Lin Town already has a mayor? Did you find out who’s spreading these rumors to frame our lord?”
The guard shook his head. “The men are being held backstage, but they’re tight-lipped. No matter how we threaten them, they refuse to reveal who’s behind this. Given the current situation, we can’t make a scene for fear of inciting unrest among the displaced. They seem to be waiting for their leader, and the rumors haven’t spread yet.”
Dalang ordered, “Go fetch the captain. I have instructions for him.”
“Yes, sir.”
The guard leaped down and soon returned with the captain. Dalang gave him quiet instructions, and the captain nodded before heading back inside. Dalang and Tan Liu withdrew.
After the two left the theater, the captain jumped onto the stage and shouted loudly, his voice booming, “Everyone, this porridge is provided by Zixing Temple. We are the Lin family guards, entrusted by the temple’s masters to distribute the porridge on their behalf. The masters couldn’t come because they are currently chanting sutras and praying for your blessings. Please stay where you are and do not push forward. Once the porridge is ready, we will collect your bowls, fill them, and return them to you. If you fight and shove, you will squander the masters’ kindness and risk losing their blessings. You might even anger the Buddha and bring misfortune upon yourselves. Please think carefully.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the clamor below ceased, replaced by silence. Then someone faced the direction of Zixing Temple, clasped their hands in prayer, and thanked them aloud. Others followed suit, and soon the theater was filled with voices of gratitude.
When the porridge was ready, the guards did as promised, starting from the entrance and collecting bowls from the displaced in order. They filled the bowls and returned them to their owners. Those who had received porridge left on their own, gradually reducing the crowd and easing the congestion.
Dalang and Tan Liu returned to the Lin residence, where they retrieved rice from their own stores and sent it to the theater with the remaining guards to ensure the porridge distribution could continue once the current batch ran out. To prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation, Tan Liu also assigned martial-skilled servants to replace the guards who had been dispatched.
The operation continued until all the displaced had received porridge and the theater was empty. The exhausted guards took a short break before packing up the leftover rice and the moldy grains from backstage. They then escorted the men who had claimed to be sent by the mayor back to the Lin residence.
The men guarding the porridge pots looked pale and malnourished, no different from the displaced. They were likely either refugees themselves or impoverished individuals who had been coerced into this scheme. The captain asked Dalang how to deal with them. After personally questioning the men, Dalang found that despite their fear, they refused to change their story, insisting they had been sent by the mayor. One even dared to hurl insults.
With the mayor’s appointment not yet public, this framing attempt was alarming. Seeing that the men wouldn’t break easily under pressure, Dalang thought for a moment before instructing Tan Liu, “Go to Caixing Courtyard and find Sixth Miss. Report the situation to her—she’ll know what to do.”
When Tan Liu hesitated, seeming to want to say something, Dalang smiled and said, “Don’t doubt her. Sixth Miss loves playing with the abbot of Zixing Temple and Master Shen. She’s collected quite a few interesting things. Just go to her.”
Understanding, Tan Liu acknowledged and headed to Caixing Courtyard.
Upon arrival, he found the courtyard gate closed, which struck him as odd. Sixth Miss, though frail, adored lively company. Whether with her siblings or the servants, she was always cheerful, and her courtyard was usually bustling with activity. Even during nap time, the gate was never closed. What was going on today?
After knocking, a young maid opened the door. Recognizing Tan Liu as Dalang’s attendant, she didn’t dare delay and softly informed him that Sixth Miss was still asleep. Tan Liu asked her to inform Nurse Liu of the urgent matter and see if she could make a decision. The maid asked him to wait and returned to the young mistress’s room.
It was common knowledge in the Lin household that Nurse Liu always stayed by Sixth Miss’s side when she slept.
Hearing the maid’s report, Nurse Liu was also puzzled. Sixth Miss, being frail, was usually not disturbed during her naps. Even if something urgent came up, people would wait until she woke. Tan Liu, as Dalang’s attendant, knew the rules—why was he in such a hurry today? Could there be another emergency in the household that couldn’t wait? She instructed the maid to watch over Sixth Miss and went out to see Tan Liu.
Tan Liu, waiting at the gate, saw Nurse Liu approaching with a reproachful expression and quickly bowed in apology. “Don’t be angry, Nurse Liu. We encountered a strange incident today, and the master sent me to seek Sixth Miss’s help.” He briefly recounted the porridge distribution incident.
Nurse Liu understood that Dalang urgently needed the men’s confessions but was also conflicted. Today, Old Master Sima’s critical condition had kept Sixth Miss on edge as she comforted Miss Sima. Her emotions had fluctuated greatly, and the Second Dowager, fearing a relapse of her heart condition, had forced her to take medicine and rest. She had only just fallen asleep—waking her now might harm her health. While Nurse Liu had access to Sixth Miss’s belongings, the item Tan Liu was requesting was something she dared not handle carelessly.
Tan Liu, having been busy coordinating the household guards and servants since returning with Dalang, had only heard reports of Old Master Sima’s sudden illness and hadn’t considered Sixth Miss’s condition. Hearing Nurse Liu’s explanation, he regretted his haste. Sixth Miss was Young Master Qi’s most cherished person—if his disturbance worsened her health, his guilt would be unforgivable.
Bowing apologetically to Nurse Liu, Tan Liu turned to leave but was stopped by the young maid who had opened the gate earlier. Standing at the door of the young mistress’s room, she called out clearly, “Uncle Tan, Sixth Miss is awake and asks you to come in.”
“How could she wake up so quickly?” Nurse Liu muttered, no longer paying Tan Liu any mind as she hurried back to Sixth Miss’s room.
Lin Fang was already up, wrapped in a thick blanket and sitting in an armchair by a brazier. Her face was flushed, her expression weary, and her curly hair, though tidied, still looked disheveled. Nurse Liu scolded her the moment she entered for getting up, but Lin Fang only shook her head and said it was fine.
Tan Liu entered with an apology and was taken aback by Sixth Miss’s appearance.
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