My domineering ex-husband is living off his wife in ancient times.

Chapter 70 Epidemic Control in Xishan County

However, in the Xia Dynasty, which ruled the world with filial piety, the two of them found a very good reason.

The postmaster is considered the lowest rank in the Great Xia official system, similar to a contract worker in a public institution.

They have a responsibility to report individuals with suspicious travel itineraries, but they can also turn a blind eye.

The horses at the post stations all belonged to the government, but they weren't prohibited from being bought and sold.

Officials traveling on their way or candidates taking the imperial examinations could buy horses at post stations.

Although Si Shaoheng was only a student who had passed the preliminary examination, he was still a registered scholar.

With enough money offered, the horse could certainly be bought.

After receiving the silver notes, the postmaster gave Cheng Ruoan the red deeds for the horses.

"The contract has been collected. Let's hurry on our way; the patient can't wait."

Cheng Ruoan and Si Shaoheng bid farewell with smiles, and without a moment's rest, the four carriages set off immediately.

The original mule?

Of course, it was sold to the post station at a discount to the market price.

Inside the carriage, Cheng Ruotong's face was beaming with joy.

"Oh dear, who said the journey of fleeing is bitter? We've not even been on the road for a month, and we've already switched from donkey carts to horse-drawn carts."

Cheng Ruotong took her mother's hand and teased her, "Mother, aren't you happy inside? We're finally enjoying our little sister's good fortune."

Cheng's mother smiled, her dimples becoming even more pronounced. "Yes and no. She was just lucky to find money in the mountain stronghold. She won't have that kind of luck again."

“Even if there were, you wouldn’t let your third daughter-in-law have her again, it’s too dangerous… cough cough…” Zhao Shi lay listlessly on one side, clearly having difficulty speaking, but she still couldn’t stop talking and chatted with the people in the car the whole way.

Da Hua quickly handed over a handkerchief and warm water, saying, "Grandma, drink some water and talk less."

"Hmm..." Zhao raised her head cooperatively, letting Da Hua help her drink water.

In their car were Cheng and her daughter, Zhao, Dahua, and some small belongings.

The person driving the carriage outside is from Shaoyang.

With neither of Zhao's sons nor daughters-in-law around, and only her granddaughter Da Hua by her side, she seemed much kinder and more benevolent.

She wasn't usually this kind and gentle with Da Hua.

But in the dilapidated temple, Big Flower was truly pitiful.

Later, Xia said something that hit Zhao's sore spot—"If you feel sorry for your granddaughter, then take out the money to compensate her."

Zhao knew very well that she couldn't do that.

So the grandmother who didn't love her granddaughter is now being waited on by her granddaughter every day for eating, drinking, and toileting... People have hearts, and even Zhao would feel ashamed.

If the Zhao family's carriage, which was most likely to cause trouble, was so peaceful, then the other three carriages would certainly not cause any more problems.

The carriage that Si Erlang was driving carried Li Shi, along with Daya, Ershuan, Erzhu, and some pots and pans.

The cart driven by Si Silang carried Lin Shi, Si Niu, Da Niu and Da Hu, as well as some grain and water bags.

Originally, Cheng Ruo'an was in Zhao's carriage with her two children, but Doctor Hu said it was inconvenient for Zhao to recuperate there, so he asked her to take the two children to the carriage driven by Si Shaoheng, which was his carriage for one person.

Besides discussing medical books and theories with Cheng Ruoan, Dr. Hu spent his days playing with the two little ones.

The atmosphere in the entire carriage was cheerful and harmonious, and he never caused any more of that "my old bones are about to fall apart" nonsense.

The carriage continued running along the country roads from dawn till dusk, just in time to rest.

But as darkness fell, they only let the horses stop to rest for two hours before slowly continuing their journey.

Each day, the only time people can get off the bus and move around is during the two hours in the evening and the two hours when the sun is strongest at noon.

Finally, three days later, a group of four carriages left Bachuan Prefecture.

We stepped into the territory of Taiyuan Prefecture.

"There's no curfew in the cities around Taiyuan Prefecture anymore. Can we reach the nearest county town tonight and rest?" Cheng Ruoan asked Si Shaoheng, who was driving the carriage, through the curtain as she sat by the carriage door.

Si Shaoheng thought for a moment about the map. "The map of Taiyuan Prefecture is from decades ago. If it hasn't changed, the place we can reach tonight is not the county seat, but Xishan Town."

The county seat is still a long way off.

Cheng Ruoan choked up, "Decades ago, when the Si family went to Qingshan County to reclaim wasteland, what was that map issued by the government?"

"Ah."

The Xia Dynasty also controlled maps.

Not everyone can get their hands on a map with detailed information about the city and its routes.

Cheng Ruoan sighed: "It's been decades, and that Xishan Town might not even exist anymore."

"Let's hurry over there and see. If there are any changes, we'll still have to spend the night in the carriage. The horses need to rest tonight."

After several days of traveling, Si Shaoheng felt sorry for the horses.

Basically, these horses spend eighteen out of every twenty-four hours on the road.

Even if you're not running all the time, you're still walking.

Fortunately, the journey was smooth, and they avoided the official roads and were not stopped by the wandering refugees.

One quarter past midnight.

The carriage finally arrived at Xishan Town... no, Xishan County.

Cheng Ruoan is right. Decades have passed, and Xishan Town is no longer there because it has been developed into a county.

Their four horse-drawn carriages were blocked outside the city gate of Xishan County.

"All vehicles and people coming from Bachuan Prefecture must be examined by doctors to confirm that they are not infected with the epidemic before they can enter the city!"

The officers and soldiers guarding the city rode on tall horses and repeatedly addressed the crowds, carriages, mule carts, and oxcarts gathered outside the city gates in a loud and clear voice.

"Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, there's a line up ahead, four rows in total, with four doctors checking people who want to enter the city." Si Silang, who had gone to the front to check the situation, ran back, pulled down his mask, and said breathlessly:

"Those found to have abnormalities during the examination would be taken away by the soldiers, supposedly to be taken to the leprosy mountain for centralized treatment."

Cheng Ruoan leaned out of the car: "Leprosy Mountain?"

"Yes. Xishan County used to have a leprosy outbreak. In order to prevent the spread of the disease, the government put all the sick people on a low mountain to the east and locked them up. After that, that low mountain was called Leprosy Mountain."

Cheng Ruoan's eyes widened: "So this time, they're just throwing sick people over there to fend for themselves?"

"That's what I mean."

Si Shaoheng pressed Cheng Ruoan's head back into the car, then helped Si Silang pull his mask up.

"Put your clothes on, get in the car, let's drive a little further away and then we can discuss this."

"Okay, brother."

The four carriages quietly retreated about four or five miles away from the gate of Xishan County, found a sheltered slope, tied the carriages to tree trunks, and Si Shaoheng led the men to set up tents.

Cheng's mother led the women in starting a fire and cooking some hot food.

This is the first hot meal they will have after leaving Yunlan City.

Cheng Ruoan held the sleeping Si Nian in her arms and sat by the fire with Doctor Hu, chatting about the leprosy mountains in Xishan County.

“I actually know about this leprosy mountain.” Dr. Hu stroked his beard calmly. “There can’t be any doctors there, and the environment there is no way to accommodate patients to recuperate.”

Cheng Ruoan: "Why?"

"There's miasma in those mountains. Even if someone isn't sick, they'll die within ten days or half a month!"

Cheng Ruoan's pupils dilated in shock: "What's the difference between this and sealing off a plague-stricken village and letting it die?"

"Yes. The difference is that people who have contracted the plague cannot leave the plague village, while those who are suspected of being infected are sent to the leprosy mountain."