The daily struggles of divorced women in ancient times

It's almost the end of the year and Pei Yanxu should be back for the time being. Xia Mianwan is in charge of all the matters concerning the end of the year in the Pei Mansion every day, and every single one of them must be handled properly.

However, Mrs. Pei, after having a capable daughter-in-law, played mahjong at home with a few old sisters every day.

No matter you win or lose, it's just fun.

Pei Ying and Pei Xia had come to Xia Mianwan's yard to make trouble twice, and also went to Madam Pei's place to make trouble once. Madam Pei only told Pei Ying and Pei Xia to listen to her sister-in-law, and did not agree to Pei Ying's unreasonable demands. When she got anxious, she would just ask Pei Ying to go back home.

Pei Ying made trouble several times but failed to gain any advantage, so she finally became sensible.

Xia Mianwan had just finished hearing the report from the steward of the manor when she saw the secret guard that Pei Yanxu had left for her hurriedly enter the mansion.

Xia Mianwan dismissed everyone and asked Qian Da, "Why are you so anxious?"

Qian Dadao: "Originally, you had planned to return to Beijing, but Yubei was hit by a disaster, a landslide that rarely occurs in decades. The situation in Yubei is very bad now. You were slightly injured, but I don't think you can come back. The emperor issued two secret orders, asking you to stay for a few more days to appease the people."

Xia Mianwan didn't expect to encounter an earthquake at this point. After pondering for a while, Xia Mianwan asked, "Tell me the details of the situation in Yubei."

"I don't know much at the moment. The roads to Yubei are not open yet, and the information I have is brought out by my guards who risked their lives. I don't know your specific situation now. All the official roads in Yubei have been destroyed. Large pieces of rocks have fallen and blocked the roads. Houses have collapsed, farmland has been destroyed, and countless civilians have been killed or injured." Although Qian Da did not see the tragic situation in Yubei with his own eyes, he had indeed experienced an earthquake, and he could imagine that the situation was not good, especially in a place like Yubei.

Xia Mianwan looked serious and asked, "When did the earth dragon turn over?"

"Six days ago."

Xia Mianwan nodded, "The emperor asked my husband to provide disaster relief. Did you give me the money for disaster relief?"

Qian Da shook his head: "I don't know, but the emperor has sent the prince of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion to support you."

The war in the Great Chen Kingdom had just ended, and the treasury was certainly empty. If Pei Yanxu wanted to provide disaster relief, he had to come up with real money. But even a good cook cannot cook without rice, and now the people's livelihood has not recovered, so the treasury certainly can't come up with much silver.

Without silver, there will be no food and no medicine. Without these two things, how can we calm the people's hearts?

In fact, the emperor was also very distressed in the palace. The Great Chen Kingdom was really poor and really unlucky. Just as the war was settled, it encountered an earthquake that had not been seen in decades. What should the emperor do?

There were countless casualties in Yubei this time, so there probably wouldn't be many useful people around Pei Yanxu.

How to provide disaster relief without people, food and medicine?

Pei Yanxu was afraid that he would become the target.

"Do you have any contact points in Yanzhou?" Xia Mianwan asked after hesitating for a while.

Qian Da nodded: "Yes."

"How many days will it take to deliver the letter?" Xia Mianwan asked.

"Three days."

Hearing this, Xia Mianwan quickly picked up her pen and wrote a letter. After she finished, she handed the letter to Qian Da, "Qian Da, I want you to deliver this letter to Xiao Wu in Yanzhou as quickly as possible. The letter contains what I want. Ask Xiao Wu to prepare everything and then rush directly to Yubei. Find a team of secret guards to escort Xiao Wu to Yubei."

"Yes!"

"How many people do you have available?" Xia Mianwan asked.

Qian Da thought for a while and said, "There are probably about fifty people available."

"After a disaster, there will be a plague. You adults are very clear about this. The treasury is empty, and even if the emperor wants to give money and food, he can't give too much. Without any materials, no matter how smart your husband is, he can't solve this dilemma. I will prepare food, medicine, and cotton clothes in the next few days, and you can find some capable people to escort them. Make sure the things can reach your husband without any mistakes. If you really don't have enough manpower, tell me. I still have some manpower, but it must not be exposed unless it is absolutely necessary."

After Xia Mianwan gave the order, Qian Da took it and went out to do his job.

Xia Mianwan pondered for a moment and then went to Huayangyuan.

Mrs. Pei was just finishing playing mahjong and asking her maid to give her another massage. When she saw Xia Mianwan coming, she hurriedly greeted her, "Mianwan, you're here. Come and sit down."

Xia Mianwan smiled and said, "Mother, you know I have a hot spring resort in the suburbs of Beijing, which I have prepared recently. Soaking in the hot spring water really makes me feel much younger. Mother, tomorrow you can invite your good sisters to stay at my hot spring resort for a few days, okay?"

Mrs. Pei was surprised when she heard this: "Are you serious?"

"Of course it's true. Can you help your daughter-in-law to take a look tomorrow morning? I plan to entertain special guests from Manyue Tower in this hot spring resort in the future. Please go and help me feel it first!" Xia Mianwan coaxed Mrs. Pei with a smile.

Mrs. Pei's smile remained unchanged. "Of course it is good."

"Then I'll ask someone to prepare the carriage now." Xia Mianwan said as she stood up to arrange for Mrs. Pei to go to the hot spring resort.

Xia Mianwan might make some big moves in the future, and news from Yubei is really difficult to transmit. If some bad news comes, she is afraid that Mrs. Pei will worry, and she is also afraid that Mrs. Pei will make a wrong reaction due to information asymmetry.

The earth dragon turning over is indeed a natural disaster, but if used well, it can become a man-made disaster under the natural disaster.

If someone really wants to do something bad, then Pei Yanxu and the Pei Mansion in the capital will definitely be the first to bear the brunt.

Just in case, you still need to be fully prepared for summer hibernation.

Just when Xia Mianwan was preparing relief supplies in an orderly manner, Zhou Chengze suddenly came to Pei Mansion.

Xia Mianwan hurriedly welcomed Zhou Chengze into the flower hall, "Chengze, what brings you here at this time?"

Zhou Chengze took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Xia Mianwan, "This is a letter from the teacher."

Xia Mianwan opened the letter and looked more solemn. The situation in Yubei was more serious than she had imagined. People from all walks of life were ready to take advantage of this natural disaster to develop their own power. There was a granary buried in Yubei now. The government hired people to dig it overnight, but they didn't expect that the earth dragon would turn over again. After the earthquake, there were aftershocks. This time, more people from the government were killed and injured, and many people were buried together.

No one outside knows what Pei Yanxu's situation is, and Mr. Yang can't find out either.

The worst thing was that Zheng Xiaoyun also sent people to quietly leave Beijing and go to Yubei.

Xia Mianwan took a deep breath. Zheng Xiaoyun was everywhere. Why did Zheng Xiaoyun like to get involved so much?