The Lucky Farmgirl

Chapter 2314 - 2289: The Last Meal Continues

The Protectorate officials soon found a piece of land for Zhou Man, right outside the city.

Knowing Zhou Man wanted to deal with smallpox, naturally, no one dared to keep it inside the city. If anything went wrong, it could be life-threatening.

So the Protectorate selected a fairly remote location, and the houses were newly built. If she hadn’t insisted on having water, they could have found an even farther place.

Though there’s a small river there, it’s not very close to the riverside.

This was Manbao’s request to avoid water contamination from being too close to the river.

According to Zhou Man’s requirements, two courtyards were built: one for the patients to stay in, and another for the caretakers.

Cattle were prepared for her as well, not many, just three, tied in the yard.

Once everything was prepared, General Guo and his troops also set off on their expedition. On the day they left, they sent the selected convicts to them.

A total of six people, all injured.

Manbao noticed one of them even had a broken arm. Fortunately, it was an old injury, otherwise, she would have had to treat the injury first.

Manbao took paper and pen to record their names, household registration, etc., and casually asked, "What did you do to end up here?"

The six were bewildered and said, "We didn’t commit any crimes."

Manbao looked up at them, her eyes focused, and asked, "Aren’t you convicts exiled to Xizhou?"

The six people’s faces changed and immediately said, "Sir, do not insult us. We are conscripted recruits, not convicts."

Manbao frowned slightly and couldn’t help but look back at Bai Shan.

Bai Shan pursed his lips and turned to say, "I’ll ask around."

To find out the status of the people sent, ask the Protectorate, and you’ll know.

They were indeed not convicts, but soldiers serving in the Anxi army.

Bai Shan was somewhat annoyed and asked, holding their roster, "Wasn’t it promised to be convicts?"

The Protectorate officials were slightly embarrassed and explained, "They agreed on their own accord. Young Master Bai, if you don’t believe, you can just ask them."

Bai Shan pursed his lips and asked, "Then what about the convicts?"

"None," The Protectorate official probably felt that a strong tone wasn’t right, so after pausing, they said, "Young Master Bai, able-bodied people are needed on the battlefield."

Bai Shan immediately understood. They didn’t want to use intact convicts, as they were all to be used on the battlefield.

He frowned and asked, "So are there any injured ones?"

"Injured ones who can’t go to the battlefield, none," the official said, "because they’ve all died."

Medicines in the army are given to soldiers first, and the remaining are given to convicts. Basically, those with large wounds can’t survive, and those who do can still go to the battlefield.

Seeing Bai Shan’s face wasn’t looking good, the official smiled and said, "Young Master Bai, rest assured, these people are all willing. Our Junior General promised them regardless of life or death, they will receive settlement payment and reward money, and they can also keep the silk provided by Young Master Bai."

Bai Shan: "After they die..."

"The military will deliver the items to their families."

Seeing Bai Shan’s disbelief, the official’s expression froze for a moment before saying, "This matter is personally ordered by our Junior General, so no one below dare to be negligent."

General Guo naturally wouldn’t deny his son this favor.

Bai Shan’s expression finally improved a bit.

The official smiled and said, "Young Master Bai and Lord Zhou are kind-hearted, unwilling to use these soldiers. However, this matter is good for them. As you can see, they have bodily defects, and Anxi is too far from the Central Plains. Not to mention, it’s difficult for them to cross the desert back to the Central Plains. Even if they can return, with nothing but tattered clothes and a broken sword, what would they live on afterward? Wouldn’t they just be a burden to their families?"

Bai Shan’s face was cold, "Disabled veterans returning home should receive settlement fees."

"Oh, the court mandates that, but the army needs funds," he said, "Do we look like the Anxi army has money?"

He quickly added, "You shouldn’t look at our General, but at the people below."

Bai Shan opened his mouth but closed it again.

"The Junior General decided that all recruited personnel can receive settlement fees to return home, and he personally took out a hundred taels as reward money. It will be divided equally regardless of life or death, plus the silk you provided, which is not a small amount. Back home, spend it carefully, and they can rely on brothers for support till old age. Those slightly less injured might even marry."

The official said, "They’re all vying to be Zhou Man’s medicine subjects. Unfortunately, Zhou Man initially only wanted six, so only the six in best health were selected. Now the army waits for more than twenty people who are hoping for the next batch."

Bai Shan was pained and yet didn’t know who to be angry at. Though he didn’t understand much about the military, he knew that not only the Anxi army but many armies can’t properly settle veterans and disabled soldiers due to the enormous cost of silver, grain, and rice.

Ultimately, it’s because of poverty.

Bai Shan turned and left, returned to tell Manbao the truth, and said, "Just use them. Junior General Guo must have arranged it, or the ones sent would be even worse."

Manbao could only nod, "Then let’s start nourishing them first."

Bai Shan nodded.

Manbao then went back to find some medicine to replenish energy and blood and asked people to buy chickens to raise in the yard, occasionally stewing meat and killing chickens, with two meals a day containing meat.

The soldiers ate dazedly, and after two days, suddenly burst into tears. Manbao, who was vaccinating cattle in the yard, shivered and almost jabbed the cotton ball holding the scab into the cow’s eye.

She steadily pressed the cotton ball onto the cow’s nasal cavity and confirmed it contacted the lightly cut wound before pressing it in.

The cow moved uncomfortably.

Manbao confirmed the cotton ball wouldn’t fall out for a moment before pushing aside to let Zhou Liru watch the cow from a distance, then went to wash hands and change clothes to check on them.

The six were seated at the table, holding their heads while crying, and Bai Shan and others who ate with them were stunned, staying still while holding their bowls. Seeing her come in, Bai Shan immediately said, "We haven’t done anything."

Bai Erlang immediately nodded, "Yes, we didn’t bully them."

Yin Huo was also confused. Today was his first day coming, just to watch the spectacle. Who knew they’d cry during lunch?

Yin Huo put down his bowl, hesitantly said, "Is it because we took their food?"

Bai Shan handed handkerchiefs to the six, "No way, although we ate with them, two chickens were killed today."

The six wiped their tears and sobbed, "We just feel like it’s a last meal, both liking it and not wanting to eat it. But thinking, being able to eat so many days of last meals, we’re also satisfied."

Manbao: "...Who said it’s a last meal? This is to nourish you, to make sure you don’t have a last meal."

She shouted, "This is continuation meal!"