Willow Alley.
Under the large willow tree, where light and shadow dappled the ground, a crowd of people had gathered. There were even more than the gossipmongers of the past two days, making the place seem as lively as it once was.
But in truth, every face in the crowd was etched with worry. This was because of the plague—the Taiping Bandits had not suppressed news of the outbreak. On the contrary, they had deliberately fanned the flames, hoping to draw the public’s attention to it. By now, word of the plague had spread completely throughout the city.
When it concerned their own lives, it naturally drew a larger crowd than any bit of gossip.
"A plague!"
A look of recollection appeared in an old man’s cloudy eyes, his wrinkled face grave. "I heard from my grandfather... it was about a hundred years ago, I reckon. A plague broke out in the neighboring prefecture... In the end, the whole city was in mourning, every household wearing sackcloth..."
"That’s an exaggeration, isn’t it?! Elder Liu, you’re not just trying to scare us, are you?" a young man asked, unconvinced.
"Heh, you young folks don’t know a thing. Brother Liu is actually downplaying it! I also heard from my grandfather’s generation about that great plague. Eight or nine out of every ten people died... What was that phrase again? Right, ’nine out of ten homes were empty’!"
"That’s terrifying! The Lin Family is so vicious! They want to wipe out the entire city!"
"That’s right. I heard the Lin Family created this plague. They’re fighting the Xia Family and the Rebel Army, so why drag us into it? We’ve only had a few days of peace!"
"I must have been blind. I was just saying the Lin Family had a good reputation a couple of days ago. Now I see they’re worse, more venomous, than any of the other great families!" The man who had spoken up for the Lin Family just two days prior was now gnashing his teeth, his face twisted with hatred. At the mention of the Lin Family, he looked like he wanted to devour their flesh and suck their blood.
"Isn’t that the truth? At least the other great families aren’t trying to bring disaster upon the entire city!"
"I heard the Lin Family was wiped out—over a hundred people, with only a few escaping... Serves them right!"
"It’s retribution!"
...
A wave of condemnation against the Lin Family swept through the crowd.
"We have that hero who killed Chong Jihu, the Gang Leader of the Tiger Gang, and Duan Lang, the Gang Leader of the Wild Wolf Gang, to thank. Otherwise, if this had been delayed, the Lin Family would have had time to prepare everything. Who knows how much worse it would be!" someone sighed.
"That’s right! Speaking of Martial Artists, it got me thinking... Isn’t it said that the plague isn’t as deadly to them? That even if they get infected, they’ll be fine?"
"Isn’t Brother Rui of the Fang Family a Martial Artist? But Sister-in-law Fang and the Fang Family’s maid aren’t. And then there’s Third Lady and Nannan. I heard they’ve moved into the Fang Family’s home. Seems she and Brother Rui have gotten together..." There are no secrets in a small community, and this speaker was sharp-eyed and quick-tongued.
"Brother Rui is a lucky man. With Third Lady’s figure, you can tell she’ll bear healthy children. Plus she has a bit of money... In the past, so many men tried to court her, but Third Lady never said yes!"
"Hmph!"
This came from a jealous man, his tone sour. "So what? Now the plague is here, and sickness doesn’t play favorites. Besides Brother Rui, the rest of the Fang Family won’t be so lucky. Maybe Sister-in-law Fang, the Fang Family’s maid, and Third Lady will just..."
But before he could finish, a woman cut him off. "Pah! Da Muzi, what’s wrong with you? How could you say something like that?"
"Exactly! The Fang Family’s never done you wrong. Didn’t your family leave the city early a few days ago on Brother Rui of the Fang Family’s advice? Otherwise, you might have been captured by the bandits... I mean, the Rebel Army! Would your family have escaped that disaster?"
"You ungrateful brat!"
"Don’t mind him. This Da Muzi is just green with envy..."
...
Amidst a chorus of condemnation, Da Muzi fled in disgrace, followed by the crowd’s victorious laughter.
So many people spoke up for the Fang Family. Besides the many who were genuinely grateful, there was another reason: the Fang Family’s reputation for clearly distinguishing between kindness and malice was deeply ingrained in people’s minds. From Uncle Zao Hua’s house to Uncle Changlin’s house, which of the families on good terms with the Fang Family had ever suffered for it?
It was for this reason that so many people voiced their support, willing to curry favor with the Fang Family.
"I was just thinking, this plague is still a sickness. I wonder if Brother Rui of the Fang Family can treat it?" someone suddenly asked.
"What are you thinking? Minor aches and pains, maybe. But a plague like this? How could anyone treat it? If Old Fang were here, maybe it’d be possible." The second half of the sentence was spoken in a low whisper, clearly filled with distrust for Fang Rui.
"True! Forget about treating us, what if someone in the Fang Family actually gets..." The person trailed off, not daring to finish. The recent example of Da Muzi was a clear warning.
"But the Fang Family at least has medicine! Their chances of survival are much greater than ours!" The tone was full of envy.
"We’re from the same alley, maybe we can benefit too. Perhaps we can buy some medicine from the Fang Family..."
"Even if you could, do you have any large coins? How many? If you really get sick, it’s a bottomless pit... Might as well just wait to die!"
"I’m an old man, seventy years old. I’ve lived a full life, so it wouldn’t be a loss if I died tomorrow. But... what about my children and grandchildren?"
"Brother Liu is right. First the drought, then the war, and now a plague... Heavens above, when will these bitter days ever end?!" an old man cried out to the sky, his eyes filled with tears of grief.
...
Fang Rui stood by the window, listening to the discussions outside. He couldn’t help but let out a sigh of his own. ’That’s right... "When empires rise and fall, it is the people who suffer." When will these days ever end?!’
He paid no mind to the sour, jealous words of a few. ’Under the plague, everyone is equal. The person talking trash today might be dead tomorrow, who’s to say?’
’Getting worked up over it would just make me seem petty.’
"Brother Rui, didn’t you want to spray the Insect Repellent Liquid? It’s ready," Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family called out from the kitchen.
"Yes, Brother Rui. We mixed it according to the ratio you gave us. Could you come and see if it’s right?" Third Lady added.