CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 54: LET’S NOT REST EITHER!

"Sir, this is all for us. He’s gone days and nights without sleep, distributing grain house to house, gathering grain from various places, and leading inspections everywhere. He is a good official; he cannot be let into trouble because of this!"

As he spoke, he kowtowed, thinking of the Magistrate Chu Deyun of Changping City, and contrasting him with this considerate little county magistrate, it was truly lamentable.

"He’ll awake soon; don’t be too worried."

The red-faced messenger’s heart settled as he stood tremulously, and Ruan Mian only then noticed that his legs seemed somewhat impaired.

Noticing her gaze, the messenger said, "I... my legs have been like this since childhood, but Lord County Magistrate doesn’t disdain me at all, even gave me a job! I’m very grateful to him! Now, our county has run out of grain, desperately awaiting disaster relief food."

Ruan Mian asked him to stay inside with the county magistrate. However, when she returned to the line, she heard people from Qi Mansion and Uncle’s Mansion talking to the government officer.

"We must leave quickly! If the villagers see that we have food, won’t they snatch it all?"

"Exactly, they are on the verge of running out of food. If we don’t leave, we’ll surely end up as miserable as they are."

Especially a middle-aged man from Uncle’s Mansion shouted the loudest, becoming furious when he heard the officer mention asking Ruan Mian, "You’re the Lord! What is Ruan Mian, anyway? Just an exile like us!"

"She wants to meddle in affairs and can’t drag us all down. Lord, let’s hurry away! We don’t need to rest!"

If memory serves, this man was placed in the group alongside Li Ming, a relative from Uncle’s Mansion, and Li Ming’s actual uncle, Li Mao.

In the original book, Li Mao had little stage time, and Ruan Mian didn’t remember if he was significant.

But now it seems he’s not a good person.

She was just about to speak when a messenger rushing over interrupted her.

"Lord County Magistrate! Lord County Magistrate! It’s bad! The cliffs on both sides of the northern highway have collapsed, blocking the road! And the canal has frozen, preventing supply ships from entering."

Everyone was slightly shocked, even Qi Nanfeng in the crowd couldn’t hold his calm!

"What did he say?! Isn’t that trapping us in this dreadful place?"

Can’t go to Jixian County, nor can people come in, so how can he proceed??

Meanwhile, in the Capital City’s Xie Mansion.

Horses and carriages were ready, Vice Minister Dong urged his horse to the front of the mansion, handing a letter to the man in the carriage.

"Sir, the scouts have reported that the court’s relief grain has arrived at Changping City, but the situation in Jixian County is unfavorable. We might consider resting in Changping City until the road clears before heading north."

Xie Huai’an glanced at the letter: "No need to rest, head north without delay."

It’s no surprise, Ruan Family should have already entered the boundaries of Jixian County.

Vice Minister Dong couldn’t ascertain what the man intended, so he followed his suggestion.

On the other side, the messenger had arrived in the small room.

The newly awakened County Magistrate Lin nearly fainted upon hearing about the landslides and frozen rivers.

The red-faced messenger supported him gently: "Sir, sir! You must hold on."

The county magistrate’s eyes reddened and his voice trembled.

"How can I hold on? The eastern highway is our county’s only main road out, and the canal is the largest trading route. With such collapses and blockages, even if the court sends grain, it can’t be brought in!"

"Now, the warehouses in town are already depleted, and what food the townspeople have stored won’t last long."

The surroundings are mountains and forests, even other outbound routes are challenging to traverse, leaving the thousands of citizens in the city at my mercy!"

He was relying on waiting for grain, but now there’s no road.

A sense of despair overwhelmed him, and County Magistrate Lin was in deep agony.

Ruan Mian was puzzled: "A frozen canal makes shipments difficult, but the blockade due to landslide could be cleared by everyone working together. With united efforts, the road can surely be dug out someday."

County Magistrate Lin sighed deeply, tears in his eyes.

"Miss doesn’t understand, the landslide on the eastern highway is severe; even with everyone clearing it, it won’t be solved in a day or two. Moreover, the city is already out of food; folks have barely any strength for such labor."

"But... at a dead end, even if not feasible, we must try."

He called for the messenger, but Ruan Mian spoke first: "Lord County Magistrate, I have a solution, but I need to speak with you alone."

County Magistrate Lin was slightly surprised, glanced at those around, and signaled them all to leave.

Once only the two remained in the room, Ruan Mian began.

"If you’re worried about food, I have some that can support you. At least prevent the townspeople from starving in the coming days, give them strength to clear the landslide, and once the highway is excavated, relief grain can naturally be delivered."

County Magistrate Lin was slightly stunned: "Miss Ruan, there are thousands of townsfolk, and you are just a group of exiles, how can your resources be enough?"

"No need for details on how much grain or where it’s stored. The urgent matter is to mobilize the entire city to clear the landslide, excavate the vital grain transport route, isn’t it?"

County Magistrate Lin nodded repeatedly, though perplexed, there was no other way.

If there’s even a shred of hope, he must grasp it tightly.

"You’re right; perhaps Miss Ruan should accompany me on the next steps? Where is your grain?"

Ruan Mian said, "Sir, you can first take me to the city granary. Soon it will be dusk, and later I will have my people transfer the grain to the granary; tomorrow morning, grain can be distributed, yet..."

"Yet what?"

"Add a condition for distributing grain: issue it by household, solely for women and children to collect. If there are no women or children in the household, then let the elderly collect."

County Magistrate Lin, hearing this, was puzzled: "It’s inconvenient for women and children to go out."

"Why inconvenient? If not done this way, do you have any idea how many people might die? Only by ensuring vulnerable groups have value will some act to give them food amid extreme difficulties. Otherwise, the grain might end up in some men’s stomachs, gone without a drop left."

In times of famine and life-threatening peril, never underestimate human nature.

"Sir, you should have noticed in recent days that the most fatalities in the city are women and children."

This statement was true, and upon hearing it, County Magistrate Lin was revitalized, his emotions stirring.

"Yes! That’s correct! I didn’t even think of this aspect. Miss Ruan, I represent the citizens of Taoqiu County in accepting your kindness!!"

He spoke, about to kneel, but Ruan Mian quickly helped him up: "Sir, no need for formality. As humans, we must be true to our conscience. You are a good official, and since I have the ability to help, I shall not turn a blind eye."