You are unlucky and I am tough

Chapter 116 Is there something strange in the mountains?

Yesterday, Cheng Shuang was at Wei Changgui's house and said in front of many people that she would report him to the government and have his family put in jail. Unexpectedly, at noon the next day, County Magistrate Zheng really came to the village.

There was quite a commotion when they entered the village. A team of yamen runners accompanied them stayed at the village entrance, while the county magistrate, accompanied by his legal advisor and two constables for personal protection, went directly to the bamboo house. Wei Changgui's family was so frightened that they hid at home and dared not go out.

In the Wei family yard, there were several open boxes on the table. Inside were the Gastrodia elata that they had found in the mountains over the past month. There were a total of thirteen pieces, some large and some small.

They were all dug out very completely as Cheng Shuang said, and they still had some uncleaned soil on them.

County Magistrate Zheng was not wearing his official uniform today and looked thinner. Even Master Lin looked darker and thinner. He came here today with all the medicinal herbs he had found and asked Cheng Shuang how much was still missing, after all, she was the only one who knew the dosage of the prescription.

The brothers and sisters were all staying in their respective rooms. Only Cheng Shuang and Wei Qinglang were in the yard to receive County Magistrate Zheng. Cheng Shuang took the Gastrodia elata and looked at them one by one, estimating their weight.

After a while, she put down the last pill and said, "Your Excellency, the pills need to be ground into powder before being used as medicine. This should only be enough for half a person. If you want to cure the people in several nearby villages, you need to find at least ten large pills to ensure sufficient supply. Besides, don't we have people in town?"

Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Zheng put down his tea bowl and sighed softly, "Madam Wei, you don't know. We have almost explored all the deep mountains nearby, and the doctor leading the team also said that it would be difficult to find it again.

The team that went into the mountains for half a month has not found anything, and the deeper part is too dangerous. I dare not let the people who are looking for medicine take the risk.

Master Lin also said with a worried look on his face, "In the past month, three teams have already encountered wild wolves while entering the mountains, and some people have been bitten by wolves. If it weren't for the large number of people and the armed yamen runners, the consequences would have been disastrous.

Another team encountered a blind bear, and a yamen runner was bitten and almost lost his leg. My master loves the people like his own children, but he can't ignore the lives of his men just to treat a few people. "

Cheng Shuang nodded in understanding and asked, "What does the County Magistrate plan to do next?"

County Magistrate Zheng said, "Searching one by one is too slow. I don't know when we'll find them. Besides, it's dangerous in the deep mountains. I think we should go out and buy them."

Wei Qinglang, who had been silent the whole time, opened his mouth upon hearing this, "That would cost several thousand taels of silver. The villagers wouldn't be able to come up with that much even if they were buying houses and land."

Master Lin said, "Of course we won't let the villagers sell their houses and land. Mr. Wei, you may not know that my master has already written back home, asking the family to sell their land and shops to raise money."

Cheng Shuang and Wei Qinglang looked at each other in surprise.

They only knew that County Magistrate Zheng, who had just taken office a few years ago, was a good official. They didn't expect him to be so selfless that he even sold his own land and shop to raise money to buy medicine for the people.

County Magistrate Zheng frowned and looked at Master Lin. "Why are you saying all this? Although my property isn't huge, I can still survive by selling some of it."

Master Lin lowered his head and sighed.

Cheng Shuang thought for a moment and said, "Sir County Magistrate, if you want to help the villagers raise money to buy medicine, you don't necessarily have to sell your own fields and shops."

County Magistrate Zheng looked at her and asked, "Madam Wei, what do you mean?"

Cheng Shuang smiled and said, "Sir, there are many wealthy families in Qushan County. A few thousand taels is nothing to them. Why do you have to carry it yourself?

All you need to do is hold a banquet and invite those wealthy merchants over. Everyone in Qushan County knows that you've been sending a large number of people into the mountains to search for herbs. When the time comes, bring up the issue of the shortage of medicinal materials. I believe they'll be happy to help you, and the problem will be solved, won't it? "

Master Lin was delighted. "Mrs. Wei is indeed very clever. I was thinking the same thing."

He had previously mentioned begging for alms from merchants in the county, but was rejected by the county magistrate. The county magistrate was good in every way except that he was too upright.

County Magistrate Zheng frowned and glanced at Mr. Lin, a look of displeasure on his face.

Cheng Shuang saw that the official was unwilling to use this method, but she pretended not to notice and said with a smile, "Then Master Lin and I really have the same idea. The county magistrate is honest and upright, and loves the people like his own children. The people of Qushan County all praise him.

Many villagers are now hoping that you can save them from this dire situation. It is truly a blessing for the people that you are willing to put aside your status and raise money to buy medicine without fear of misunderstanding."

Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Zheng was stunned for a moment, but he put aside his status and was not afraid of misunderstanding!

Is he really like that?

Why didn't he use the ready-made solution in front of him, and would rather sell his property to raise money? Firstly, he couldn't let go of his status, and secondly, he was afraid of being misunderstood as collecting money from merchants.

But he is upright and righteous, so what is there to fear?

What's more, as long as it is for the people, it doesn't matter if it is misunderstood.

County Magistrate Zheng smiled and said, "I understand what Madam Wei said. I will discuss this matter with my advisor after we return."

Master Lin was overjoyed, and at the same time, he looked at Cheng Shuang with a little more admiration. This little peasant girl actually said what he didn't dare to say.

County Magistrate Zheng also showed some appreciation for Cheng Shuang. He paused and said, "Actually, I came here today to ask Madam Wei something."

Cheng Shuang nodded, "Please speak, sir."

"Recently, there have been rumors in the county town about a miracle doctor. It's said that the villagers in the surrounding area are suffering from headaches due to bad feng shui. There are even rumors that there are mineral veins in the mountains. So, I would like to meet the old miracle doctor who taught Madam Wei medicine and ask him what exactly is causing the villagers' headaches."

Cheng Shuang was a little excited when she heard this. It was finally here. All the money she and Wei Qinglang had spent hanging out on the streets and begging for money was not wasted. But she still looked calm.

She shook her head. "Please forgive me, sir. My master said he would not see anyone except me. Even my husband finds it difficult to get close to him."

Wei Qinglang immediately chimed in, "Your Excellency, you may not know this, but that old man has a very strange personality and is highly skilled in martial arts. I once secretly followed my wife there, and as soon as I stepped into his territory, I was discovered. In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of me, holding a knife to my neck, and said he would kill me if I came again. It was very scary."

Cheng Shuang looked at him, her eyes seemed to say, well done, you scared them this way, so that the county magistrate wouldn't turn around and find someone to secretly follow her.

"What should we do then?" County Magistrate Zheng was troubled. He looked at Cheng Shuang and asked, "I wonder if Madam Wei could pass on the message for me?"

Cheng Shuang nodded readily. "My master may be a bit crazy, but he's a real talent. Not only is he a skilled doctor, he's also proficient in feng shui. He did say that the mountains in Qushan County are like a natural barrier, rugged yet spiritual, able to gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. However, this energy repels humans, making it unsuitable for long-term human habitation."

County Magistrate Zheng's expression suddenly changed, and he was shocked. "Master, are you saying that something is indeed fishy in the mountains? Then, are all those rumors coming from Master?"

Cheng Shuang put on an awkward look, "Sir, this question has stumped me. My master has a strange personality. Apart from teaching me medicine, he never lets me ask him about other matters.

He usually liked to go out and hang out with some beggars. Maybe he said something and someone overheard it, which led to the spread of those words.

But don't worry, sir. I'll ask him next time I go, and maybe I can find out something else."

"Okay, okay. Thank you very much, Madam Wei." County Magistrate Zheng nodded repeatedly.

After asking all the necessary questions, County Magistrate Zheng left the thirteen Gastrodia elata seeds and asked Cheng Shuang to prepare them for him. He also told him that if he found out anything, he could come to the county government office anytime, and then he took his leave.

It was almost lunchtime, and he couldn't stay and eat the villagers' food.

Cheng Shuang and Wei Qinglang had just stood up to see the guests off when there was a hurried knock on the door and the voice of the yamen runner came over, "Sir, something has happened."

Everyone in the yard was startled. Wei Qinglang ran over to open the door, and two yamen runners who were supposed to be waiting at the village entrance ran in. "Sir, there's a family at the village entrance. Someone has died."