Chapter 14
I Cannot Obey Your Orders
Xie Heng was stunned.
Just then, Zhao Chuchu realized that she had made an inappropriate suggestion.
During olden times, such a proposition was unheard of. Zhao Chuchu had meant to say that the bed was big enough for both of them.
She hastily tried to explain herself. “Uh, I mean, you should sleep on the bed.” She then added, “You are not in good health.”
“I can handle this. Go and sleep.” Xie Heng recovered from his shock.
Zhao Chuchu raised her eyebrows. “You should know that we are now on a very vital mission. I won’t be able to take care of you if you fall sick.”
Xie Heng was silent for a moment. He took the two bowls on the table and filled them with water before placing them in the middle of the bed.
“You can sleep on the outside. These two bowls will separate us,” Xie Heng said.
“All right.” Zhao Chuchu nodded.
Xie Heng then took one side of the blanket to cover himself. He huddled to the side, leaving most of the bed for Zhao Chuchu.
He thought that he would not be able to get any sleep.
However, shortly after he laid down, he dozed off.
Zhao Chuchu smiled. Blowing out the candle, she took some sedatives before falling asleep.
A guard was knocking on the door as soon as dawn broke.
“Ms. Chuchu, General Gan sent me to ask if you’re awake.”
“I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Can I bring the water to you?”
Zhao Chuchu got up and opened the door for the guard.
The guard smiled as he said, “Breakfast will be served in a moment. General Gan said we have to set off early this morning.”
“Okay.” Zhao Chuchu nodded.
The guard then left the room.
Xie Heng was also awake.
Both of them had slept well on the bed. The water in the bowls had not spilled.
“Go and wash your face first,” Zhao Chuchu said as she combed her hair.
Fortunately for her, the real Zhao Chuchu normally just wrapped a scarf around her head. She figured she would go crazy if she had to wear her hair in some intricate style.
Shortly after, the guard came into the room with hot buns and porridge.
After breakfast, Zhao Chuchu helped a “blind” Xie Heng downstairs.
Gan Maosheng and Lin Xiang were already waiting for them.
Gan Maosheng had ordered his men to buy the herbs listed in Zhao Chuchu’s prescription the night before. The herbs were loaded into the carriages so they could be delivered to the towns Zhao Chuchu was traveling to.
Gan Maosheng was glad that Yuanjiang County was not the largest county in Guangqing Province. Otherwise, it would take them much longer to get to all the villages and towns.
The first place Zhao Chuchu traveled to was Zhang Village, where the situation was almost as bad as it had been in Lengshui Village.
Guards were standing at all the gates leading to Zhang Village.
“Stop right there. Who are you? What are you doing here?” Before they could get closer to the village entrance, Zhao Chuchu and her group were stopped by a guard. “We are acting on the court’s order. No one is allowed to enter the village.”
As the guard was not from Yuanjiang Thousand Battalion, he did not know who Gan Maosheng was.
Gan Maosheng got down from the carriage and showed him proof of his identity.
The guard hurriedly clasped his hand respectfully. “Greetings, General Gan.”
“Dispense with the formalities. Where is your platoon chief?”
“The platoon chief is in the village.”
“Please ask him to come here. I have something important to tell him.”
“Yes, General Gan.”
The guard asked his comrade to send for their chief.
Shortly after, the platoon chief appeared.
“May I know what instructions General Gan has for me?”
Zhao Chuchu had also gotten off the carriage by that time.
Gan Maosheng pointed to Zhao Chuchu and said, “This girl has the prescription to treat the virus. The infected people at Lengshui Village are now almost recovered.”
The platoon chief stared at Zhao Chuchu in disbelief.
He looked doubtful as he turned to Gan Maosheng. “General Gan, she looks like she’s only 15 years old. I have been ordered to cordon off the village. I cannot risk having anything go wrong. I won’t be able to bear that responsibility.”
“I will take all the accountability. You only need to let us in and bring us to where the infected people are being held.”
“General Gan, I’m sorry. I can’t do that.”
“Do you want the people of Zhang Village to die?”