A-Heng Provides Eggs for the Guests to Eat
This fire burned for a full four hours. After it finished burning, Feng Yu Heng distributed the disinfectant that she had brought and had the soldiers spray as much of the pile as possible. The emotions of the people stabilized, and they kowtowed three times to the already cremated bodies. They then followed Xuan Tian Ming back to the shelter.
When they returned, Xuan Tian Ge had begun ordering for the soldiers to begin distributing congee. It was once again simple congee and vegetables, but there was a large amount of rice, so the congee was very thick. Everyone enjoyed the meal.
Feng Yu Heng and Xuan Tian Ming went to the rest shelter to eat. Feng Yu Heng secretly pulled out a can of luncheon meat and gave it to Xuan Tian Ming. As a result, this can was pushed back and forth. Even if Feng Yu Heng told him that there was still more in her space, he still had her eat first.
Feng Yu Heng helplessly took a bit; however, she was unable to taste anything. She sighed and put down her chopsticks, helplessly asking Xuan Tian Ming: “Could it be that you also don’t have an appetite?”
Xuan Tian Ming smiled bitterly but did not put down his chopsticks. He just told Feng Yu Heng: “Even if you don’t have an appetite, you still must eat to maintain your stamina. What’s most important is for us to still have energy. Only like this can we help more people.”
Feng Yu Heng nodded, picking up her chopsticks once more. She picked up her bowl but continued to think about some things. Not long later, she spoke up once more: “We don’t have enough people. We cannot keep Tian Ge here to make food. I was thinking of bringing some more servants out from the city to help out, but we don’t have enough shelters to house more help. It would be better to choose some women from the group of refugees to help. Ask if they want to help, and we can provide some money. They can also eat a little better.”
Xuan Tian Ming did not have any objections to this, only saying: “You can make the decision on this sort of thing. I will follow your lead.”
Feng Yu Heng continued: “Then I will go call Wang Chuan and Huang Quan to go pick some later. The priority will be given to those that can cook. Those that can sew are also fine. Even if they don’t know how to do anything, at least they can help carry plates and bowls.” When Xuan Tian Hua had come the previous night, he had brought out a large number of bowls and spoons. This had resolved one of Xuan Tian Ge’s main problems. Huang Quan had once laughed at her, saying that she was, in the end, still an imperial daughter. In the past, all of these things had been left to the servants to consider. She could bring rice, but she had managed to forget about bringing bowls.
Just as she was thinking about this, Wang Chuan entered with some people behind her. They turned around and saw that it was Xiang Rong, Fung Tian Yu and Ren Xi Feng.
Some joy appeared on Feng Yu Heng’s face. She quickly stood up and asked: “Have the clothes arrived?”
Ren Xi Feng stepped forward and saluted Xuan Tian Ming first before saying: “They’ve arrived. This time, it’s thanks to Xiang Rong. If it was not for her coming up with the idea, perhaps this matter would not have been completed.”
Feng Yu Heng looked at Xiang Rong in confusion. The girl had her head lowered, and her cheeks were red. She was unwilling to say anything. Instead, Fung Tian Yu quickly said; “In the beginning, we returned to our own homes to find our old clothes, but A-Heng, you know that even if they are our old clothes, the material is very expensive, and it is also adorned with gauze or other ornaments. They are too frilly. How could they be suitable for the citizens to wear. Even the madams and young misses that we recognize would have clothes that are similar to this. After this, Xiang Rong said that it would be better for us to go buy clothes from normal households. After all, they are living in their own homes that are not leaking, and they cannot go out in this sort of weather. Even if they don’t have any clothes to wear, they would have the time to make clothes for themselves. Thus we first went to a fabric store and bought a large amount of fabric. We then brought silver with us and knocked on each home, explaining the situation. The citizens were all very understanding of the situation, and most traded their clothes for fabric. As for some that were truly struggling, we left a bit of silver as well. We also went to get clothes from each family’s servants. Like this, we managed to fill ten carriages with clothes, and they have all been brought out.”
Ren Xi Feng said: “If this amount is not enough, just use it for now. We will go around for more later. I have already contacted all of the tailors in the capital to begin making clothes. These refugees will not just be here for one or two days. Even if the rain has stopped, they will still have no place to go. We will definitely need to prepare some more clothes.”
Feng Yu Heng heard this and finally let out a sigh of relief. Although the shelters had been built, and there was food to eat, there still were no clothes to change into. They were still wearing their dirty and ragged old clothes. A large number of people had begun to catch colds and had fevers. She could not even begin to treat it. Her arm had begun to feel sore from fetching medicine from her space at all times.
She said to Wang Chuan: “Go call some soldiers and have them begin distributing clothes. Distribute them based on the people’s builds. Don’t be wasteful.” She then said to Xiang Rong’s group: “You should also go help out with distributing the clothes! We are truly lacking in people right now. I was just thinking of picking some healthy people from the group of refugees to help out.”
Xiang Rong quickly said: “Second sister, how about I stay to help out.”
She shook her head, “No good. Your body is weak. If things do not go well, you will not have helped and ended up getting sick. This will not be helpful. Either way, we need to continue collecting clothes. You three should continue to stay in the capital. I will let you know about any needs that we have out here.”
Ren Xi Feng nodded and said: “That’s right, the capital cannot be left unattended. A-Heng, don’t worry. We will definitely do our best with the gathering of clothes. If you need anything out here, just send someone to find us. These days, Tian Yu and I have been staying at the county princess’ manor. Your home has become occupied by us.”
She laughed, “I only hope that you can occupy it every day. Like that, my county princess’ manor will become more lively. Quickly go,” She gently pushed the three, “After the clothes have been distributed, quickly go back. When rushing around outside, remember to wear a little more. Be careful not to catch a cold.”
The three did not remain for long. Going with Wang Chuan, they went to distribute clothes along with the soldiers. Feng Yu Heng and Xuan Tian Ming turned back around and continued to eat. After eating a few bites, she recalled another matter, thus she leaned forward and quietly said to Xuan Tian Ming: “There are eggs in my space, and there is an inexhaustible supply. In a while, have people stand guard outside. Nobody is allowed to enter. In this tent, I will take out the eggs, and you will take them out for the soldiers to bring to Tian Ge to be boiled. After they have been boiled, have the soldiers distribute them to the refugees. Everyone gets one, and the children and elderly will be given one extra.”
Xuan Tian Ming was a little bit stunned, “There are over ten thousand refugees outside. Can you bring out that many eggs?”
Feng Yu Heng blinked, and a cunning look appeared on her face, “I can! Of course, I can! It’s not just eggs. The water used for making congee, did you truly think that it was pulled from the well nearby? When you drank it, did you truly think that it was well water?”
Xuan Tian Ming was stunned once again. He then recalled the time when they were working on steel in Xu Tian Cave. She had pulled out bottle after bottle of what was it called again… oh, purified water, “Could it be that we have been using purified water these past few days?” He was a little nervous: “A large amount of water is needed to cook food, and there are so many people. How did you bring it out? Did you tire yourself? Were you noticed by anyone?”
Feng Yu Heng waved her hand, saying with a smile: “Not at all, I’m not tired. What I brought out was not purified water. I just had people bring in buckets, and I connected a hose from the space and filled the buckets with tap water. With it raining so heavily outside, the water in the well cannot be consumed. These days, the water that everyone has been drinking has come from my space. But since I don’t have any way of guessing how much the refugees will use in a day. There is truly no way of using the bottles for such a large number of people.”
Xuan Tian Ming did not understand what a hose was, nor could he understand what tap water was, but he understood that she had a great ability. At the very least, he was able to understand that Feng Yu Heng had used a tube to bring water out of her space, placing it in buckets. She then had the soldiers carry them out. This allowed him to feel at ease. It was fine if his wife did not tire herself.
After he finished eating, he stood up and had the servants take away the utensils. Only then did he say: “Alright, we will begin bringing eggs out.”
Thus all of the medical treatment was left to Song Kang, as she began to pull eggs out in the rest shelter. After pulling out a few, she would have them brought to Xuan Tian Ge. At the start, progress was a little slow, but the more eggs were boiled, the quicker she could pull eggs out. Xuan Tian Ming simply acted as a courier, making countless trips back and forth.
Over ten thousand eggs were taken out, and this took over an entire day. By the time they were told there was enough, Feng Yu Heng felt as though her wrist was on the verge of breaking.
Xuan Tian Ming quickly came over to gently massage her wrist, but the reality was that he was also quite exhausted from ferrying eggs for an entire day. But the two were very happy, as Feng Yu Heng said: “I still have candy. That is rather easy to bring out, and it does not need to be boiled. We will give the refugees candy tomorrow to help them regain some strength.”
Xuan Tian Ming stared at her and did not say anything for a long time. He just held her wrist and continued to massage it. Gradually, without knowing who took the lead, the two bumped their foreheads together.
Feng Yu Heng giggled and said: “Xuan Tian Ming, your legs are shaking.”
He said: “What worthless talk. Walking short distances back and forth for an entire day, you try it out. It’s definitely more tiring than leading soldiers out onto the battlefield.” Although he said it this way, he still rubbed against her head, adding: “I’m fine. I’m a man, getting a little tired is nothing. But this has caused you to get tired. Heng Heng, I will not ask too much about what is going on with your space, but I know about it, and you know about it. A third person must never find out about it; otherwise, the number of people more interested in capturing you rather than obtaining the method for producing steel will definitely increase.”
How could she not understand this reasoning, thus she quickly nodded, “Don’t worry. The heavens and earth know. You and I know, but I will not even let seventh brother know about it.”
Hearing mention of Xuan Tian Hua, the person before her was slightly stunned. He then sighed and did not say anything.
Feng Yu Heng understood his thoughts but did not explain any further, only saying to him: “Seventh brother stands for a righteous cause, and I am thankful. That’s all.”
He laughed, “I have never argued on this. If not, he would not be seventh brother. In this world, the only one that I can confide in, aside from you, is Xuan Tian Hua.” After saying this, he took the initiative to change the subject, telling Feng Yu Heng: “In regards to these eggs, I already told the people outside that they were brought by hidden guards. There is no need for you to worry.”
“Un.” She nodded then stood up, “I have not gone to the medical clinic for the entire day. I will go take a look.”
Xuan Tian Ming furrowed his brow: “You only focused on providing eggs for others to eat. You have not eaten dinner yet.”
Just as he was about to pull his wife over for food, the sound of footsteps came from outside and arrived in front of the shelter. Following this, Huang Quan’s voice rose: “Young miss, quickly come to the medical clinic to take a look!”