Chapter 231

Xu Dawang recounted what had happened in details. He said during the time they carried people from home to the mountain, they encountered no one else, except for Xu Ran, which was owing to their bad luck.

The people lying on the ground indeed could not be saved back, and they couldn’t be allowed to appear in the village again. The dead people were estimated to be more infectious, so it was best to be careful. In fact, it was also easy to handle the dead ones–burn the bodies, and dig a hole to bury them.

It was Xu Dawang’s family that was not easy to deal with. After all, they had lived with the infected people for a few days, and then carried the dead bodies for so long today. The possibility of being infected was very high.

Xu Ran looked at the village chief and saw him frowning. He was probably thinking about how to deal with Xu Dawang’s family.

There were eight vigorous young men here, let alone the brothers, children, and old people at home. There were really a lot of people in this family.

Xu Dawang was also staring at the village chief. He knew that the village chief was thinking about how to deal with this family.

After a while, the village chief said, “Xu An, send some people to fetch some firewood and burn the bodies of these outlanders. Then bury the ashes. As for Xu Dawong, your family will definitely not be able to live in the village anymore. No matter you have infected with plague or not, it’s not safe for villagers. How about you go outside the village and get a shed to live temporarily. If you are clean, then you can move back to the village, and I will ask Doctor Liu to check you.”

This arrangement was already very good for Xu Dawang’s family. After all, the village chief did not chase them out. They could still come back, if they were not infected by the plague. Xu Dawang was very happy about the arrangement.

However, the only thing he didn’t think about was what would happen if their family were infected by the plague.

Xu Dawang’s family probably knew that they were wrong, so no matter what the village chief said, he did not refute.

The village chief called someone out from the patrol and asked him to take Xu Dawang’s family back and move their stuff out of the village.

As for the others, they stayed to incinerate the bodies. Xu Ran also stayed to help with the inspection. Besides, he needed an opportunity to ask Xu An some questions.

Because when the village chief asked them earlier, they didn’t tell the truth. Xu Ran felt that they might have hidden something.

It turned out that Xu Ran was right about it.

Xu An said, “When we came, other than the child, everyone else was still alive. The two brothers were strangled to death by Xu Dawang and the others. When we arrived, it was too late. As to the other two men, they were also pinched on the necks, and were released by Xu Dawang family only when we came. Although they survived, they weren’t too far away from death.”

Xu Ran sneered, “The family looked quite well-behaved, but actually were so ruthless. It was all for 50 taels of silver. When I first saw them carrying people, I thought that these people were all dead. Now, I’m afraid that they were knocked unconscious.”

Xu An said, “Who said not? It has been long said that the outlanders can’t be taken in. They did such a thing just for fifty taels of silver. Xu Ran, if it weren’t for you, they would have brought disaster to the whole village. By the way, do you think their family have infected with plague?”

Xu Ran said while adding the firewood, “It’s about 90% possibility! It would be fine if they just stayed in their house for a few days, but they carried people up the mountain like this. Even if they didn’t have it, they could be infected during this period, but don’t worry, as long as we don’t have too close contact with them, it will be fine.”

Xu An said, “No, we don’t. The several people on the ground were also put there by them from the beginning. They probably wanted to kill them and then destroy the evidence, but we came too quickly. They haven’t got the time.”

Xu Ran said, “Fortunately, they haven’t had time yet. If they really threw the bodies down the mountain, I don’t know how many people will be harmed. I guess no one will dare to come to the mountain in the future.”

Xu An sighed and said, “Exactly. Fortunately, you saw it.”

Xu Ran didn’t reply but changed the topic to the firewood. “Brother Xu An, the firewood is wet. Can you light it?”

Xu An said, “It doesn’t matter. You can fetch here some hay, and set up the frame with some dry woods. The firewood will serve as pyre. When the hay is burned up, the firewood will be dry too.”

Xu Ran remembered that there was usually a pyre when dead bodies were burned on TV, so he didn’t ask further. He just kept helping to pick up the firewood.

The incineration would be held on the mountain. After they picked up enough firewood, the villagers also brought dried wood and hay to the mountain.

However, the resentment was very strong, and it seemed that they had a grudge with Xu Dawong and the dead family. In addition, there were not many spectators because they were afraid of infection.

If the village chief hadn’t let these people watch, they would have left.

Xu Ran didn’t care, since it was not the way of infection.

The fire lasted for a long time, and the village chief and the patrol had been guarding the place. The pit had been dug long ago, waiting for the ashes to be buried in.

Xu Ran without staying there for long, went home after watching for a while.

After returning home, he first rinse himself, changed his clothes, burned the clothes he had worn, and then went out to see everyone.

He told the ins and outs of the matter to everyone.

After he was done, he found out that Gao Quan was not around. Xu Ran asked Liu Tong, “Gao Quan has gone out with me, but we separated in the middle. I didn’t see him when we were on the mountain. Did he come back?”

Liu Tong said, “I didn’t see him. I wonder if he went out to cut the grass. Yesterday, he mentioned that the grass was gone. He probably went to gather some seeing it didn’t rain today!”

Xu Ran didn’t think much about Liu Tong’s words. After all, Gao Quan had always behaved in a strange way.

Gao Quan came back about supper time. Clothes all wet, he came back empty-handed.

It happened that Xu Ran opened the door for him. Seeing him like this, Xu Ran couldn’t help asking where he had been.

Gao Quan looked at Xu Ran, hesitated a bit and said. “I went to meet Lu Qi, who said that he was here to take Second Young Master away. Now that the plague is out of control, it might be spread into the village at any time. It is too dangerous. What’s more, the prince already knew about the plague. Lu Qi said that if he doesn’t take Second Young Master away, The prince will come over to pick him personally.”

Xu Ran, frowning, opened the door and said to Gao Quan, “Come in first. We’ll talk about this later. I shall think it over.”

Gao Quan nodded, walked into the house, and went upstairs to change his clothes as usual.

He left but Xu Ran couldn’t calm down anymore. He knew from Gao Quan that Lu Qi’s father had excellent medical skills. Judging from Lu Qi’s appearance, he probably had acquired all the skills from his father. If even he could do nothing with the plague, it would be terrible.

If a doctor said such words, the plague should be very serious.

The other thing was how he should talk to Liu Tong. Lu Qi and the others hadn’t appeared in front of them for six years and Xu Ran almost thought they wouldn’t appear.

Now it seemed that they were paying attention to them all the time. Although Xu Ran also wanted to go out for a tour, let the children experience more, and also visit King Yan in Yanzhou, he really wasn’t sure how to tell Liu Tong that he had a twin brother.

However, from the fact that Liu Tong could give birth to twins, it was very likely that King Yan’s matter was true. After all, twins were inherited.

Xu Ran patted his head. He had forgotten to ask Gao Quan if Lu Qi would come here tonight.

In Xu Ran’s eyes, Lu Qi was a kung fu master. His kung fu was even better than Gao Quan. He had always come and gone like a shadow. It would be great if such a person could teach Tangtang and Guoguo martial arts. Besides, he could also learn medical skills from him, which seemed quite good.

In Xu Ran’s fantasy, he went farther and farther. When he came back to his senses, he couldn’t help but smile. Really, he was always in the habit of overthinking.

He had to explain not only to Liu Tong, but also to Zhuo Yun and Qin Shuwu! After all, if they suddenly left, it would be impossible for them not to say anything about it. Furthermore, they were still living in his house.

Xu Ran, a little vexed, scratched his head hard. However, he was just seen by Baozi and Qingshu upstairs. Baozi shouted from upstairs, “Dad, don’t scratch your head. You are getting bald.”

Xu Ran’s face darkened instantly. He thought that he was not in his seventies and eighties, how come some scratching would make him bald!

Xu Ran made a gesture of beating to Baozi, but Qing Shu next to him immediately pushed Baozi behind. “Uncle Xu, don’t beat Baozi. If you want to beat somebody, beat me. I’m more resistant than Baozi.”

Qingshu’s voice was quite loud. It attracted a group of people from the house. They heard that Xu Ran was going to beat someone. Before they could ask what was going on, they hugged Xu Ran first.

“Calm down, why did you beat the child?”

Xu Ran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, looking at the person who hugged him, the third brother of the Qin family, the one who pampered children most.

Xu Ran said, “Third Brother, let me go first. These two bear kids are upstairs. How can I hit them! Can you listen to me first?

Third Brother Qin saw that Baozi and Qingshu were really upstairs, so he bought Xu Ran’s words and let go of him.

Xu Ran looked at Baozi and Qingshu for a while and said, “Baozi, shouldn’t you explain for Dad?”

Baozi, who was called, looked confused and said that he had no idea about what to explain.

Similarly, Qingshu wore the same expression as him…

Xu Ran cursed again in his heart and had to explain himself, “I was just thinking about things! Then I scratched my head as I walked. This is my habit. As a result, Baozi saw it from upstairs and said that I would go bald. I didn’t even scold him. I just made a gesture and Qingshu called out.” After saying this, Xu Ran smiled helplessly, indicating that he was wronged.

Hearing his explanation, and seeing that the two kids were playing happily upstairs, Third Brother Qin knew that he had wronged Xu Ran. He apologized to Xu Ran repeatedly to express his apology.

Xu Ran waved his hand. “Third Brother Qin, don’t apologize. It’s just a misunderstanding. Besides, you are out of care for the children.”

Hearing Xu Ran say this, Third Brother Qin couldn’t say anything else. He followed the group of people back into the house.