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Chapter 458: The First Winter (V)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

On the first snow during the start of winter, it snowed continually for three days and nights.

Xiangyang district took it rather well, and up to date, there were no tragic reports of any who froze at home or houses collapsing due to snow accumulation.

Those wearing thick woollen sweaters and trousers, who then put two thick coats on and walked out in the snow, their flesh and bones slowly became warm.

Which of them had not started working young?

Their bodies and bones were healthy, and they had strong innate abilities to withstand the cold. Moreover, they have their divine weapons against the cold —— woollen sweaters and trousers. The winter would be a breeze to get by.

Except, though Jiang Pengji invested so much effort, some incidents of disharmony occurred occasionally.

“Ai——this is the fourth child this month...”

Troops on patrol heard a baby’s wailing in an alley, and when they went up to investigate, they discovered a baby in swaddling clothes lying amidst the snow.

“A baby girl? These ridiculous old people!”

The soldiers opened the swaddle to look, and indeed, it was a baby girl.

Their hearts were moved with pity; they opened their collars and kept the child within to give her warmth.

This child was born imbued with survival abilities. It was unknown how long she had been crying in the snow, but her face was pale white.

The soldiers observed the surroundings, and they discovered a door in the courtyard briefly open, a pair of blurry eyes focused towards their direction.

“Old bastard!”

The soldiers spat in that direction, then they raised their hands to grasp their spears tightly. Immediately, the door shut.

“The district magistrate has forbidden kinsman from harming newborns! Moreover, no one should cause a pregnant woman to miscarry; that which wouldill be considered murder. Those people can only think to throw the child out, leaving her to die from the cold or hunger.” Another patrolling guard lifted his hands and nudged him saying, “Send the child to the children’s home, it’s really cold here.”

If they didn’t want the child, it would surely be better to send her to the children’s home. It was completely incomprehensible why those old people would create such trouble.

After experiencing such a tumultuous earthquake, the soldiers had a different perspective onf life. They saw such disaster falling on the innocent as an act of injustice.

How merciful the district magistrate is, if each household isn’t lazy, they will have the means to raise a family.

Only, even the best policy cannot overcome a person’s desire to laze around and wait for food to drop from the skies.

“Forgetting all else, collecting woollen sweaters and trousers during winter this year, if each household works diligently, they can easily earn 200 coins within two to three days. When spring comes next year, lands will be allocated, and their lives will only get better., hHow can they not have the resources to raise the baby?”

Such a tiny child, how much could she eat?

Some people are having a difficult time, yet they refuse to reflect how lazy they are and rather blame the many mouths they have to feed.

The soldiers glanced coldly at that door and spat in disgust, then continued their patrol.

That very evening, Jiang Pengji received this news. Her initial joyful expression became sombre immediately.

“A pile of unredeemable rubbish.” Jiang Pengji laughed coldly, her eyes full of uncontrollable disgust and disdain. “Investigate this thoroughly. Which households are these babies from? Whoever abandoned the babies, arrest them, and send them directly to the prison in the district manor to reflect on their actions. Did they think would beare absolved of murder if they threw the child into the snow to die of cold and hunger?”

Qiguan Rang and Feng Jin both fathered daughters. They reacted to this episode with deep hatred and excruciating pain.

“My lord, such a solution doesn’t solve the root of the problem.”

Qiguan Rang was still attached to his feathered fan despite it being winter. Sighing deeply, he said, “Even if there’s a new order, if they refuse to bring up the child, they will find other ways. Such is the saying, ‘Aabove, there are political laws. yYet on the ground, there’s an opposing force.’ More children are doomed.”

It was considered good at the time, as at least only some were lost. The scene that Qiguan Rang witnessed when he was young was truly devastating.

Liyun stroked his chin, and he suggested, “Why not reason with the households who cannot afford to raise their children to send them to the children’s home?”

Meng Hun hurriedly opposed. He shook his head saying, “This cannot be done. Those who are slothful, concerned only with delivering the child but not taking responsibility to raise them, what if they keep giving birth? Our lord will bear such a huge grievance, why should the district headquarters must raise them? These foolish people are not the minority.”

A hundred grains of rice could raise hundreds of people. Some people were simple and pure in heart while others were evil and caustic.

Liyun’s pupils shone brightly. Had his suggestion been accepted?

Jiang Pengji honestly remarked, “Those children who are sent to the children home, their parents must sign a contract to break off all ties. Henceforth, parent and child will not see each other for this lifetime. Regardless of how their lives unfold, they cannot disturb each other. If discovered that they meet one another secretly, both will be punished. When the child grows up, they will be told plainly, that there’s no need to speak of blood ties. These people naively think that satiating their lust, giving birth to their child gives them the right to be parents? If the district manor learns of people purposefully abusing their children, they will be punished severely once the evidence is concrete.

Her words were hard to bear.

She had already given her orders. Elders and kinsman were not allowed to harm a child’s life at their own will, yet some blatantly rebelled.

If there were no consequences, where then would her authority as the district magistrate lie?

Jiang Pengji kept silent momentarily, then said, “I will raise these kids as prodigies so they will be slaves in this chaotic world.”

The children home consisted of newborns and young ones of all ages who had been trafficked or abandoned. Most of them were girls.

Jiang Pengji had seen them, and each of them looked like a small injured animal. They could only quietly nurse their wounds. They looked at a loss.

Xiangyang district was progressively developing, and it was hard to imagine what it must have been like in other places.

She could not protect them all their lives, but she could teach them how to protect themselves and become stronger.

“Cough, cough, cough——”

Consecutive coughs sounded from the run-down wooden house; a thick scent of medicine filled the air.

“Master Zixiao, your medicine is ready.”

A skinny youth carried a bowl of black medication, then softly spoke. A hoarse consent was heard from inside the room.

Entering, his eyes took a moment to adjust to the darkness. On the bed lay a youth, sickly in both body and fate.

This was indeed Wei Ci, who had journeyed for more than half a year yet hadn’t stepped into the borders of Xiangyang district.

Truthfully, his luck had reached its lowest state.

“Master Zixiao’s features are deathly white! Are you still cold?” tThe youth asked. “Do you want me to carry a cotton mattress over?”

“No need...” Wei Xi bore his nausea and drank the bowl of medicine, his tightly knitted his brows, overcoming his frailty, he said, “It’s the age-old illness of having a cold body constitution. The winter this year is freezing cold, and it’s normal for my sickness to surface... No worries, after falling sick for some time, I will be on the road to recovery. How is the setup outside going? Are there any other problems?”

“Master need not worry. Li has brought the others to set up the area. The snow has sealed the mountains so the beasts cannot enter.” The youth noticed Wei Ci’s exhaustion from between his brows, and he lowered his voice and discreetly kept the bowl of medicine and left. He closed the door to prevent the cold wind from entering.

Zhang Ping held a wild herb in his mouth, then asked the youth, “How is Zixiao feeling?”

“The fever has subsided, but the cough isn’t getting better. His entire being is as cold as chunks of ice, just looking at him makes one anxious.” The youth sighed; this village only had a rather unreliable physician without any license. He plucked his medical herbs from his house, and who knew the efficacy of his medicines. “How is Master Xiheng’s arm?”

Zhang Ping laughed, his eyes narrow. “No worries, at least I can walk and jump, I am not as frail as the sickly beauty inside.”