Chapter 63
"Today, Father is truly happy. He usually doesn't drink much, but with Brother Fang here, he couldn't resist indulging in a few extra cups."
"Ah, it's also because the appetizers in your residence are excellent."
Ji Yunlu saw Fang Yu to the gate, both of them laughing.
"Brother Fang, rest assured about the matter you asked for. Father just now took me aside and told me that later, in his study, he will personally arrange the registration of your fulang into the scholar class. The official certificate should be ready and issued within a few days."
Seeing the matter settled, Fang Yu was genuinely happy from the bottom of his heart and gave Ji Yunlu a deep bow. "Then I must trouble Brother Ji."
"Hey, from now on, Brother Fang will be Father's student. We'll be in frequent contact, so don't be so formal."
In three to five days, once the scholar registration seal is engraved, it will be in hand. By then, Qiao Hezhi will officially be registered into the scholar class.
Thinking of this, Fang Yu felt elated. He rubbed his hands and stepped down from the gate of the Assistant Prefect's residence. Over the next few days, he intended to find and purchase another thirty mu of land to register under Qiao Hezhi's name. He would present both the land deed and the scholar registration seal together. Calculating the time, it would be around the tenth lunar month—perfect as a one-year wedding anniversary gift.
"To the east city. Buy some candied peaches for Zhengfu."
"Yes."
This afternoon, the sky had finally cleared a bit, and the streets were more crowded. The carriage moved slowly through the market. He lifted the carriage curtain; the roads were packed with pedestrians, all abuzz with discussion.
"This year is truly good. Many philanthropists in the city have set up alms stalls. I went myself and received meat, grain, and cloth. Even though the autumn harvest was meager, these gifts offer real comfort."
"Exactly. These days, an alms stall opens in the east city, and the next day one opens in the west. Many shopkeepers who haven't distributed grain have lowered the prices of oil, lamps, and candles. Some have even reduced rice prices. If it were like this every year, even encountering famine wouldn't be so frightening."
Hearing this, Fang Yu couldn't help but smile.
Only when the common people can make ends meet can the world be peaceful and harmonious.
Qiao Hezhi had mentioned that after the almsgiving, many Qiao family shops suddenly saw business boom. Upon learning of the Qiao family's charitable deeds, the people in the city were naturally willing to patronize the Qiao family businesses.
It was precisely because they saw the Qiao family's reputation rise and business improve that other merchants in the city also began opening their granaries and performing charitable acts. With such an auspicious beginning, if it continued, Yuncheng was sure to remain peaceful and stable.
"Master, we have arrived."
Fang Yu acknowledged and stepped out of the carriage, lifting the curtain as he went. Before he could fully step down, someone hurrying from behind ran straight into him.
"Watch where you're going! Running into people without looking. You could have hurt our Master!"
Fang Yu waved a hand to stop the coachman. "It's not a big deal."
"I am truly sorry, sir. I am rushing to get medicine, which is why I ran into you in my haste."
Fang Yu saw the man before him had a sheen of cold sweat on his forehead, and his lips were unnaturally pale. "Young man, you don't look well. Don't panic. Are you fetching medicine for your mother or for yourself?"
The man's eyes reddened as he spoke. "I don't know what illness it is exactly. Since yesterday, my mother has been vomiting and having diarrhea, suddenly bedridden. I have the same symptoms, but my body is stronger than hers, so I was able to hurry here now to find a physician now. But I don't know what's happening. I couldn't find physicians in the west or south city, so I rushed to the east city to see.".
Fang Yu's brow furrowed tightly upon hearing this. "The west and south cities have the most pharmacies and medical halls. How could there be no physicians available for no reason?"
The man wiped his eyes. "I heard many people in the city and outskirts have fallen ill. The medical halls and pharmacies are very busy, many of the resident physicians have been called out."
"Sir, I mustn't say more. I must hurry to find a physician. If I can't find one, buying some medicine would be good too."
Watching the man hurry away, Fang Yu felt uneasy. Physicians being called out meant not just one or two families were sick, but a large-scale illness... He hoped it wasn't an epidemic.
"Quickly, go to the pharmacy and inquire what exactly is happening."
Before Fang Yu could reach a pharmacy to see the situation, he first saw county government soldiers appearing on the streets. His brow furrowed tightly; the matter had already reached the government offices...
He hurriedly found a nearby medical hall. At the entrance, he saw many people gathered inside, either standing or sitting.
"Physician, save us!"
"Please, look at my grandmother, kind physician!"
"Everyone, don't panic. The medical hall has limited staff. The more you panic and make noise, the slower the diagnosis will be!"
Fang Yu caught the arm of a young attendant who was trying to keep the crowd calm. "What’s happening here? Has the physician given any diagnosis yet?"
"From the current diagnoses, several patients have vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, pale and weak complexions, and some have diarrhea and abdominal pain. The physician said it somewhat resembles poisoning symptoms. But... with so many patients, the physician dare not diagnose lightly. He must consult with nearby physicians to confirm."
Fang Yu murmured a repetition. "Poisoning... these symptoms do resemble poisoning."
He looked at the commoners in the medical hall. In this medical hall alone there were patients from three or five families.
There are many medical halls in the west and south cities. Calculating this way, if it's large-scale poisoning, where is the source? With the surrounding people panicked, no wonder the government officials came out to suppress unrest.
With the city in such turmoil, Fang Yu hurried back to the carriage and ordered the coachman home. He feared Qiao Hezhi, alone at home, would be frightened by the outside commotion. Moreover, he didn't know the source of the illness, fearing the household might unknowingly harbor the root of the trouble.
Rushing back to the residence, he entered and asked Xuezhu: "Has anyone in the residence experienced dizziness, fatigue, vomiting, or cold sweats? If so, report it immediately. Absolutely no hiding. Go and handle this now!"
Seeing Fang Yu's cold, stern tone, Xuezhu was secretly alarmed and cautiously asked, "Has something happened?"
"It's not yet clear exactly what's happening. But in short, many patients with such symptoms have appeared in the city. We must quickly investigate thoroughly at home."
Hearing this, Xuezhu promptly agreed. "This servant will go handle it immediately."
Yuncheng was prosperous. Even the poorest commoners wouldn't starve to death, and naturally hadn't experienced epidemics like those in poor, remote areas.
Xuezhu had never lived through a plague himself, but he had heard the elders tell tales of such calamities. The thought alone was enough to fill him with deep unease.
After instructing Xuezhu, Fang Yu immediately said to another capable servant: "Keep an eye outside and inquire about the situation. Once the medical halls determine what illness it is, or if there's any other unrest, report back immediately."
"Yes!"
"Where is Zhengfu? He's not at the residence?"
Fang Yu headed inside. Not seeing Qiao Hezhi come out even in the garden, he couldn't help but ask a servant.
"Zhengfu went out earlier and hasn't returned yet."
"Did he say where he was going?"
The servant said: "He went to the salt shop. The land deed for the salt shop the Master was rewarded with was delivered by the government the day before yesterday. Zhengfu said this is a business controlled by the court and needs careful supervision and management. He's been gone for over two shichen now."
Fang Yu felt he had become muddle-headed from drinking, letting Qiao Hezhi manage the family business day after day while he went out visiting and drinking. Being outside, one would naturally hear news more easily. He turned to go after him, but before he could take a step, he first heard a rapid patter of running footsteps.
The person running in had red eyes and was still sobbing. Upon seeing Fang Yu, the tears in his eyes became even more torrential, and he suddenly threw himself into Fang Yu's arms. Fang Yu quickly held him. "What's wrong?"
"Father... Father has been arrested by government officials!" Qiao Hezhi buried his face in Fang Yu's chest, weeping uncontrollably. "After inspecting the salt shop, I thought I'd stop by to see him, and I saw soldiers entering the residence, roughly dragging Father away. Wh-what should we do?!"
"But how could this happen out of the blue…" Hearing this, Fang Yu’s eyes widened in shock. The person in his arms was weeping as if his heart would break, and Fang Yu’s own chest ached in sympathy. Yet he forced himself to stay calm and think clearly. "Hezhi, don't cry. I'm here. I will definitely find a way to rescue Father-in-law. Before you returned, did you find out clearly why Father-in-law was arrested by the officials?"
Recently, the government was investigating land matters, also wanting to squeeze the wealthy merchants for money, as after the autumn harvest came the New Year, and local finances still relied on these major families. County officials naturally wanted to gain some benefits. Using the land investigation, they could both fulfill the court's assigned tasks and privately collect some bribes. For this reason, every land investigation was exceptionally strict and diligent.
Precisely because Fang Yu knew this logic, he had informed Qiao Xinnian early on, fearing he might be caught and extorted. But Qiao Xinnian had already assured him he hadn't privately acquired land. How could he be arrested?
Qiao Hezhi, brows furrowed, sniffled. "N-no. I wanted to inquire and gather information, but the soldiers simply ignored us merchants. They took Father away quickly. Mother has already taken silver notes everywhere to inquire. I had to hurry back to discuss countermeasures with you."
"Those soldiers were very fierce, treating merchants as less than human. The young master politely begged for information and was almost pushed to the ground," Siyu also cried hard. "Master, you must help the young master gather information. Merchants have much difficulty entering and leaving government offices."
Fang Yu wiped the tears from the face of the person in his arms, comforting him. "When something happens, you should come straight back to me. Those snobbish people have never regarded merchants highly, though their faces are pleasant enough when collecting bribes. Don't worry. I will go to the government office to inquire immediately."
"Perhaps there's some misunderstanding in the land investigation, so they took him away, expecting the family to prepare money for ransom. Father-in-law has always been upright and honest; it definitely isn't something violating the law."
"If money can solve it, that's manageable. I'm just afraid he'll suffer hardship in the prison," Qiao Hezhi grabbed Fang Yu's hand. "When you ask around, use silver. Make sure the guards don’t lay a hand on Father. He may seem strong, but he’s not young anymore. He can’t endure the kind of treatment a younger man might."
Fang Yu stroked Qiao Hezhi's back. "Rest assured. I know what to do. Someone, prepare the carriage immediately. Never mind, the carriage is too slow. I'll ride a horse directly."
Qiao Hezhi felt as if his heart were being fried in oil and roasted over fire. "I'll go with you."
"You must stay home. There are matters that need handling here. I'll go quickly and return soon. I will definitely bring news back."
"What... what's happened at home?"
Fang Yu said: "Let Xuezhu explain in detail. I must go to the county office first."
Worried, Qiao Hezhi saw Fang Yu to the gate, watching him ride off against the wind on horseback, then hurriedly went to find Xuezhu.
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