Restart the Disaster of Another World

Xuanyuan Ting looked at the letter calmly, and said without raising his head: "General Quan, take the people to watch over it, and don't let anyone get killed."

Quan Bolei didn't know what he wanted to do. He wanted to speak, but found that the prince was still reading a letter and didn't even look at him. He had no choice but to retreat and tell his men to follow the prince's orders.

Things got bigger and bigger, and when all the citizens in the city got involved, the merchants in the city also came out. Everyone was looking at the prince, wanting to know how he would end it.

Just when the situation seemed to be going nowhere, a team of carriages came in from outside the city and swaggered along the road. Seeing the carriages loaded with goods, everyone's eyes sparkled.

A tall man stood on the carriage, looking down at everyone and said, "Everyone in Changping Prefecture, I know your homes have been destroyed, you have no money, and you can't buy food. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince specially brought relief grain from the south. These are all new rice from last year."

Hearing this, the people immediately became agitated and crowded towards the carriage, all wanting to see the food.

"Everyone, please don't push. I keep my word. If there is not enough food, I will transport it from the south. No citizen will starve." Xuanyuan Ting stood in front of the mansion gate and said in a sonorous and powerful voice.

"Thank you, Your Highness. May Your Highness be blessed with good health."

Looking at the people kneeling on the ground, Xuanyuan Ting was filled with emotion. He knew that at least he had done what Li Guoan wanted. He ordered General Qin to take over the supplies and cook porridge for the people.

The appearance of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince calmed the restless hearts of the people. They lighted the fire and cooked porridge on the spot. Soon, a fragrant smell came from the pot. It was not just white porridge, but also had the taste of meat. When the people ate it, they couldn't believe that there was meat in it.

"Daddy, what is this? It's delicious."

"Mother, please eat. There is meat in this porridge."

"It's meat. It's really meat. I haven't eaten meat in a long time."

Most people eat without even raising their heads, as if they want to bury their faces in the bowl.

"We will have the same meals every day from now on. Those who participate in the reconstruction work will be able to eat extra meat." Looking at the satisfied people, Xuanyuan Ting announced.

As soon as these words were spoken, the place where people registered for the construction project was packed with people, and many of them were jumping up and down in the queue for fear that they would not be selected.

A butler-like man at the side brought a bowl of porridge and handed it to the middle-aged man in gorgeous clothes in front of him, "Master, this rice is really better than the rice in the north. There is also meat in it, and the meat is also different."

The man took the bowl and took a bite. He found that it was just as the housekeeper said, and his face darkened. Originally, when the city ran out of food, he could sell his grain store and make a lot of money. But now, he couldn't make a penny.

After that day, the price of grain dropped day by day, but no one in the city went to buy food. Now they all knew that the rice in the south was delicious. The soldiers of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince brought them a lot of rice. Before they finished eating, more rice was brought in. The county granary could not hold it all. The workers who dug the river had extra meals before they finished eating. They were so happy. Although the work was hard, they ate well. The river was dug and there was water, so they could grow crops.

The temporary tax issued by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince meant that the more goods the merchants had, the higher the price. In order to sell their goods, grain merchants in the county lowered their prices one after another, and finally no one bought them even when the prices were lowered below the normal price. In the end, it was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who showed sympathy to the merchants and bought all the rice. But when they got here, everyone realized that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was playing such a big game, and they had already become players in the game without knowing it.

He took out the letter Jing Yao wrote to him, in which he learned that there would be a great epidemic after the flood, and in order to prevent such a situation from happening, he specifically listed the following protective measures.

After Xuanyuan Ting finished reading the letter which he had already memorized, he slowly brought in a candle. The flame ignited the letter and soon it was completely consumed.

His eyes were filled with darkness and coldness, and no one could know what he was thinking.

Fortunately, these days several young masters who had been jumping around on the road and causing a lot of trouble for Xuanyuan Ting stayed in the city obediently. Many of them didn't even have food to eat, which saved him a lot of trouble. However, in order to prevent them from contracting the epidemic, he still asked the doctor to check the pulse of several people every day. After learning the situation outside from the doctor, several people actually trusted the prince more and were very grateful to Xuanyuan Ting. This was an unexpected surprise.

The flood has receded, revealing the washed yellow earth. Much of the vegetation has been swept away by the flood, exposing rocks.

Xuanyuan Ting brought a group of young masters from noble families who had been locked up for several days and were bored to death to a temporary shelter outside the city to visit the people who had recovered. When they arrived, they found General Quan talking to the people, and they were standing there listening silently.

"It's getting drier every year. Many families don't dare to have children. It's a sin. Some can't even find a wife, so they have to live with their brothers."

"You said it wouldn't rain, but why is the snow getting heavier every winter?"

"My grandfather said he hadn't seen a heavier snowfall than last year in decades. He was so cold that he couldn't sleep at night. He heard the trees and houses collapsing outside and was afraid his own house would be crushed too."

"Later, there was really no other way, so the village chief took us to hide in a cave in the mountains, and we barely survived. But in the north, there are many flat lands and there are not many caves in the mountains, so they started digging caves underground and hid underground. That day, the ground was frozen as hard as stone, and every time we dug with a hoe, our skin was broken."

"It's so dark living down there. Every day I want to go up to get some fresh air and see if the snow has melted. Although it's warmer underground than in the house, how can people live underground forever? It's no different from being buried."

"But the weather is getting worse and worse. It doesn't stop even in spring. Many people are starving to death in the caves without a ray of sunshine. Even in the summer, when the sun is shining brightly, it doesn't rain."

"I hid in the cave for a whole winter, and finally waited for the snow to melt. I dug up the land, planted the crops, and took good care of them. But it didn't rain that summer, and the crops dried up. After all the hard work, I got nothing."

"Taxes are increasing every year. How can we survive like this?"

"Haven't taxes increased at all?" a young man couldn't help but speak up. His father was an official in the Ministry of Revenue, so he naturally knew something about it.

"It has been rising. Our taxes are much higher than those in the south. They only pay 20%, but we have to pay 30%. Some places even pay 40%."

"The taxes have been increased. You said that the crops in the fields have not been harvested. The government has forcibly collected taxes. This is like stabbing the people with a knife. Doesn't this make the people feel disappointed?"

"I haven't heard that the imperial court is going to come to the north to provide disaster relief. I only heard that they are going to increase taxes."

Listening to these people who had escaped death tearfully recounting their experiences, everyone was silent, not knowing how to comfort them. In the face of their experiences, all words of comfort seemed so pale.

"Your Highness, the people here are living in dire straits. Why haven't we heard any news in Shangjing?" a pale-faced young man asked.

His name is Fu Changqing, he is the son of the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, he is not a dandy boy, but a young talent studying in the Imperial College. Because of his father, he knows more about the situation in the north and south than some people, and in his previous conversations with his father, his father never mentioned the disaster in the north.

"Yes, I don't know either. My father never said anything, the teachers in school never said anything, and even the people in Beijing haven't heard of it. Who stopped people from talking about it?" Ou Wenjun asked in confusion.

Prince Xuanyuan Ting was silent for a long time before he slowly spoke: "You need to find the answer yourself after you enter the officialdom."

The emotions of the people were lifted again. They learned the arts of literature and martial arts and sold them to the emperor. This was their ideal and wish. After that, they would not only sell them to the emperor, but also work for the people of the world, so that they would have enough food and clothing and no longer be in dire straits.

In order to celebrate Wen Qun's birthday, Jing Yao gave the factory half a day off. Those who did not enjoy the holiday would be rewarded with triple wages. He also regarded this day as a holiday and named it Recreation Holiday. Every year thereafter, there will be a half-day off on this day. He hopes that Wen Qun will be safe, healthy and happy in the days to come.

The Wen family had started to prepare and decorate the day before. Jing Yao specially selected many beautiful flowers and sent them back to place them in various places in the Wen family. He also invited a band and invited the chef from Cao's Restaurant. He tempted him with a few new recipes to come and cook the meal in person.

Jing Yao also invited several special guests to attend, preparing to give Wen Qun a surprise.

Wen Qun sat in front of the dressing table, being dressed up by several older uncles. He looked at himself in the mirror. He looked a little different from usual, but better-looking.

He just drew his eyebrows and put on lip balm. They were going to put powder on him, but he refused when he remembered Jing Yao said he didn't like it. Looking at himself dressed up except for the red dress, he thought the day he and A Yao got married should be like today, witnessed and blessed by everyone.

When the time came, Wen Qun, dressed like a young master of an aristocratic family, appeared in front of everyone. His hair was tied up with a jade crown with a hairpin decorated with green gems on it. He wore a silver brocade robe, the light from which shone like stars as he moved, and the jade pendant on his waist swayed from side to side with his steps.

His appearance immediately attracted everyone's attention, and there was envy, blessings, surprise, and deep love in their eyes.

Wen Qun walked to Wen Xing's mother, and the two adults' eyes were a little moist. Wen Xing patted Wen Qun's shoulder, then turned around and smiled at everyone: "Thank you all for coming to my children's hair-binding ceremony today..."

Jing Yao could no longer hear the sounds outside. All he could see was the young man standing on the stage, looking at him. Their gazes passed through the crowd, through time, and collided in space. They saw themselves, and only themselves, in each other's eyes. At this moment, their hearts were tightly connected, and they were no longer alone.

"Qun Qun, congratulations, you've become an adult." A thin little boy in green clothes came up to Wen Qun and gave his sincere blessing.

"Brother Yue, why are you back?" Wen Qun asked in surprise.

"Not only Brother Yue, I'm back too." Shuang'er, who was standing next to her with a bright smile, also spoke up.

"And me." Wen Yan poked his head out from behind and said with a funny smile. "I'm sorry, Qun Qun, I was playing at my uncle's house and almost missed your hair."

"I'm so happy that you all are back." Wen Qun felt like he was about to fly with happiness. He felt like he was in the sky, dizzy.

"Qun Qun, take them inside to talk." Mother Wen reminded.

Wen Qun glanced at Jing Yao, and saw him nod and wave at him. He waved back and then took his good friend to the flower hall to talk.

"Why are you all back? I haven't seen you for a long time." Wen Qun looked at his old friends, Wen Yue and Wen Yun who were already married, and Wen Yan who was visiting her uncle's family.

All three of them covered their mouths and laughed.

Wen Qun looked at them in confusion, not understanding what they meant.

It was Wen Yue who took the initiative to speak: "It was your boss Jing Yao who personally invited us here. He said that you must want us, your good friends, to be present at your hair-binding ceremony to watch you grow up."

"Yes, when he came to my house, my husband thought it was my brother from my mother's side who came to visit for some urgent matter. After he finished speaking, I packed my luggage and came back. In order to give you a surprise, I even hid in my mother's house for a few days." Wen Yun said with a smile.

"Me too. I clearly said I would come to help with the preparations, but Brother Jing wouldn't let me. He just told me to rest at home. My house only has a small yard, and I've watched it since I was a child. What's so good about it?" Wen Yan pouted and said depressedly.

"That's right. I almost had a fight with my little brother. That guy has always deserved a beating since he was a child." Wen Yun felt a little depressed when he said this.