Zheng Haizhu's boat docked in the Fanjiabang tributary waterway in Shanghai County that she was familiar with back then.
It's March, and Songjiang Mansion is shrouded in the shadow of the epidemic. The bustling city seems to have been blown away by the rain and wind. The royal gates in the mansion's courtyard are closed tightly, and the business in the market shops is stagnant.
In the silence, several cries broke out from time to time. It was the gangsters who came to the shop where the male shopkeeper had just died and grabbed things. The old, weak, women and children were unable to resist at all.
Countless people suffering from illness lay beside the Moon River.
They are not all refugees from the north this spring, or beggars wandering around Songjiang. Most of them are young people from surrounding villages who come to Songjiang in search of food.
When their essence and blood were strong, they exported considerable manpower to Songjiang Prefecture. Their families who worked hard in the countryside contributed rice, grain, silk and cotton to the Jiangnan Prefecture, which had already taken the shape of a city in later generations.
But when the disaster of the plague strikes, it is the bottom layer where bridges and roads are being built that are most susceptible to house collapse and even no bones left.
Zheng Haizhu put on the veil that Fan Polu had sewn for her overnight and was wider than the mask. She took Xu Yilong's two servants and found Huang Zunsu by the Yue River, who was directing the errands to distribute decoctions.
Zheng Haizhu ordered his two followers to carry the sacks filled with medicinal materials to the stove, while he walked quickly to Huang Zunsu: "Great, Mr. Huang, you are in good health. Where is Mr. Yao? Where are Zong Xi and his brother? They how?"
Huang Zunsu looked gloomy and looked tired. He turned around and saw Zheng Haizhu, his eyes even dull.
When he recognized the person from the voice and the eyes on the veil, he smiled wryly and waved his hands: "We and my wife have had acne before, so it doesn't matter. Zong Xi and the others are hiding at home with their nanny, and my wife is guarding the school. Cao The steward and some older children who have had acne help take care of the dolls that cannot go home."
He paused and then said: "Besides, the school is spacious and has several classrooms set aside to accommodate patients. After all, there are some inside. If we don't lie like this and let the wind and rain beat, there is a room to keep warm and stutter, maybe. I can get through it. This matter requires space in the school. I don’t have time to write to Chongming to ask you, so I will let my wife handle it first. Miss Zheng, please forgive me."
Zheng Haizhu said hurriedly: "How can I deserve what the master said! It is our duty to save the people in danger. It's just that when I returned to Songjiang this time, there was something urgent that needed to be verified, so I couldn't go to the school to help Mr. Yao. But I still asked the master to help me. While you're busy, send someone to help me."
Zheng Haizhu asked Huang Zunsu to move under the tree and mentioned in a few words that there might be suspicions among the Liao people. Huang Zunsu thought for a while and said: "Liu Captou is still alive and well, and you are familiar with him, but when Captou comes out, his movements will be conspicuous." If you don't know enough, I might alert the snake. I'd better send an unqualified inspector for you to use. It's up to you how to use it."
Then he called an official and said, "Take Mrs. Zheng to the Yamen and ask Qin for inspection."
The position of inspector is not a high-level official in the government office, but Qin inspector is already a scholar and a disciple of Donglin. After Huang Zunsu was promoted to general judge, he often took him with him to handle matters. State affairs, in particular, rely heavily on port maritime trade and business offices in all directions.
Due to the epidemic, the yamen this time have experienced non-combat attrition, and the remaining people are as busy as mules.
However, Qin Jianxiao was a well-mannered person. Although he met Zheng Haizhu for the first time, because he knew the background of the person in front of him, he immediately put down his official duties, wrote down Zheng Haizhu's explanation, and hurried out.
This time it took two hours.
When the sun turned to the west, Inspector Qin came back to report: "According to Madam's instructions, in the name of checking the caravans involved in the epidemic, I asked the Shandong merchants who came and went in the hall in the past few days and asked Madam to take a look."
Zheng Haizhu took the paper and read the information recorded by Qin Inspector.
Most of them came from Shandong via the canal, transporting cotton and buying silk and satin back. Land annexation in Shandong has been severe in recent years. After annexing the land, the gentry did not use water for irrigation to grow grain. Instead, they planted cotton, and then transported it to the south of the Yangtze River where weaving and dyeing capabilities were strong and large-scale workshops had been formed to supplement the cotton shortage in Susong. gap.
Zheng Haizhu's eyes fell on the last word "sea".
"What's going on here?"
Inspector Qin seized the opportunity to show off: "I was about to elaborate with my wife. This family came by sea from Dengzhou and sells mink ginseng from Liaodong."
Zheng Haizhu Yangzuo couldn't hold back his anger and said with a sigh: "I think this is the company that competes with our trading company for the business of buyers of Liao goods."
Although Qin Jianxiao was Huang Zunsu's subordinate, when Zheng Haizhu sent him to do something, he still made a pretense. He only said that because his shopkeeper and clerk complained that the business was being pried, he wanted to find out this colleague who dared to compete with him for profit. .
Inspector Qin accompanied him with a smile and said, "That's right. Madam was very considerate in her explanation, and the subordinate didn't dare to slack off. He looked for a reason and asked carefully. The head of the merchant house said that according to the rules of Songjiang Customs, this family lived in the merchant house. After one night, I wrote down all the information about the ship's name, cargo owner, and route guide from the hotel, and then went to stay at the Jiangbian carriage and horse shop. I think I was afraid of Madam's sharpness in Songjiang, so I didn't dare to discuss business in the city hall. "
Seeing that there was no sign of the frost on Zheng Haizhu's face, he hurriedly added: "Madam, I just went to the Jiangbian Carriage and Horse Shop to check. There is indeed a group of Shandong merchants, because Madam said no big battles are allowed. , the subordinate did not go in for questioning."
Zheng Haizhu withdrew his gaze from the lintel of the public house, finally showed a warm look, and said to Qin Jianxiao: "Thank you for your hard work, your steps are so capable, no wonder Mr. Huang appreciates it so much."
As she stood up, she took out a lacquer-sealed envelope from her bag: "A little thanks. Later, our trading company will have new mountain goods, and I will ask the clerk to deliver them to Mr. Qin's house."
Qin Jianxiao was elated. Since the Songjiang Switch, he often ran errands for Huang Zunsu and dealt with businessmen. He increasingly felt that the seats of scholars, farmers, industrialists and merchants were not trustworthy - these businessmen were comparable to those in Wuxi who talked about national evils all day long. There are really too many.
This little official who had betrayed his master in his heart took the envelope generously, put it in his arms, and said even more earnestly: "If you want to beat that house, madam, just tell the subordinates."
Zheng Haizhu looked tired: "I'm tired of traveling today, let's talk about it later. We won't delay Mr. Qin's assignment."
The dusk is dim, and everyone wears a veil to prevent the epidemic. These living creatures walking between heaven and earth all look the same. They don’t know where they come from or where they are going. They appear to be in a hurry, but in reality they are confused.
Zheng Haizhu was lucky to be covered by a veil.
She took two of the Xu family's servants to the riverside carriage and horse shop directed by Qin Jianxiao.
Several mule carts were parked sparsely, the chimneys were still burning, lanterns were lit at the door, and there were figures of waiters, looking busy inside and outside.
A servant of the Xu family stepped forward and asked, "Do you still have a room?"
The waiter turned around, but he was mute. He pointed to his lips, shook his hand, pointed to his ears, made a thumbs-up gesture, and then changed it to a sign of "please come in."
Zheng Haizhu said to the servant: "Go and take a look. If it's dirty, we won't live there."
The servant nodded and followed the waiter into the hospital.
After a moment, there were several loud bangs and firecrackers exploded in the sky.
After arriving in Songjiang today, Zheng Haizhu had already listened to firecrackers several times.
When ancient people encountered plague, they would set off firecrackers every day to drive away the plague god.
Several mules not far from her and the servants neighed uneasily.
Zheng Haizhu turned his head and saw two men who were feeding fodder a moment ago suddenly pulling their mules and rushing towards him.
Her heart suddenly jumped into her throat.
The thought of regretting his carelessness had just crossed his mind, and as soon as the servant next to him shouted "Madam, run away" in a low voice, someone strangled Zheng Haizhu's neck from behind.
The brute force forced her to raise her eyes, and she saw several more firecrackers bursting into the night sky, exploding with fire.
The sound of a sharp knife piercing flesh was heard in his ears, and the servant groaned in pain, which made Zheng Haizhu realize that he was not killed immediately.
She was dragged into the yard of the carriage shop.
After a piece of cloth was stuffed into her mouth and her arms were tied, the captors threw her next to the body of another servant of the Xu family.
Losing her ability to support herself, she could only lie on her side on the cold soil.
Big feet wearing embroidered shoes appeared in her sight.
An unfamiliar female voice with a Jiao Liao accent said coldly: "It's her. She went into the room to watch. We'll go out after the night is late."
Another male voice asked: "Master, are the two in-laws and the store clerk going to be killed?"
The woman thought for a while: "Keep it for now. After all, there are still three or four hours. Didn't Ah Ying say that this bitch has a good relationship with the government? If she comes to see what's going on today, let the lady in the shop go out and deal with it." .”
The male voice said: "It's easier for a civil servant to cook."
The woman said: "Idiot, if you can trick him into leaving, what are you going to do to kill him? We are not here to rebel. If there is a big commotion, it will be troublesome to run away."
As soon as she finished speaking, the subordinate who was watching the movement at the door said anxiously: "Master, a sedan is really coming to us."
