The plague spread within the city, and the entire Zhangling County was busy beyond measure.
King Huai’an was so worried that he had already turned quite a bit grayer.
It was now already the fourth watch, and the candlelight in Bihua Hall was still burning.
This epidemic had caused many deaths.
For ordinary commoners, winter was already difficult to endure, and with the plague raging, the outcome was predictable.
In theory, with the underdeveloped transportation and sparse population in ancient times, epidemics shouldn’t spread so rapidly.
The problem lay in the fact that there had been a war in Minzhou, and the refugees, carrying sickness, scattered and fled, causing the epidemic to spread without being controlled.
Suddenly, a maid came in with news that Chen Jiao had come seeking help.
Chen En lifted his head from a pile of documents and impatiently said, “What does she want at this hour?”
The maid responded, “The young lady says she wants to request that the head of the family send people to help her deal with the epidemic.”
Chen En froze for a moment, then irritably said, “A little girl, don’t bother me.”
Outside, they suddenly heard Chen Jiao’s voice, “Father, let Ah Ying give it a try; what harm could it do?”
Chen En fell silent for a moment and made a hand gesture.
Soon, Chen Jiao was invited into the study.
The room had a brazier burning, making it much warmer.
She had been running outside for a long time, and her face was frozen stiff.
Chen En looked at her and said, “It’s late, with the cold wind and night chill. Ninth Lady isn’t resting and is running around everywhere?”
Chen Jiao curtsied and replied, “These days, there’s mustard soup served at every meal in the house. I suddenly remembered something.”
Chen En: “???”
Chen Jiao continued seriously, “Earlier, I went to ask Doctor You about the symptoms of the epidemic. He said mustard has the effect of clearing the lungs and relieving phlegm, which made me recall an old story.
When I was in Tongzhou with my mother, I worked in the Baijiang Hall, where I overheard a merchant talking. The merchant said that during his travels, he encountered a mother and her child.
The woman talked about her young son, who had been sick with a high fever and persistent cough since he was four years old. After seeing many doctors, his condition didn’t improve. They thought he couldn’t survive, but by chance, they met an old monk begging for alms.
The old monk came from Tianning Temple and told her a secret recipe, advising her to feed her son with mustard pickled juice. This would cure his illness. The woman was skeptical, but when she tried the recipe, it truly cured her son, which was considered a miraculous story.”
Chen En didn’t believe her nonsense and retorted, “Nonsense. If mustard pickled juice truly has such a miraculous effect, we’d be using it every day in the house. Why hasn’t it shown any improvement?”
Chen Jiao kept a secret, saying, “The old monk said it was a secret recipe, so it must not be ordinary mustard pickled juice.”
Chen En didn’t respond.
Chen Jiao continued, “Doctor You said mustard has the effect of clearing the lungs and relieving phlegm. This shows it has medicinal value. The merchant shouldn’t be making things up.”
Chen En pointed at her, “And what would you like to do?”
Chen Jiao quickly said, “I want to ask Father to send people to search for mustard pickled juice in the city and uncover its hidden secret.”
“Right now, the epidemic is hard to overcome. Father, just let me try. Whether it works or not, it won’t have any impact.”
Chen En stroked his beard.
“There are sick people everywhere outside. Don’t you care about your own life?”
Chen Jiao replied, “Father, just let me try. I will be careful and take all necessary precautions.”
Chen En scolded, “Nonsense.”
Chen Jiao said, “Father…”
To persuade him, she took out the coquettish technique that Madam Xu had taught her, moved closer, and gently shook his arm, saying sweetly:
“I heard from Mother that Father stays up every day dealing with city affairs, and as children, we want to share the burden and show our filial piety. Father, just allow Ninth Lady to try. Let me do my part, fulfilling my filial duty.”
After some coaxing and using filial piety as an argument, Chen En couldn’t withstand her persistent persuasion and agreed.
Chen Jiao was overjoyed.
The next day, the household dispatched more than ten people to follow her orders.
The group stood together in the yard, listening to Chen Jiao give instructions.
She stood under the eaves and said to them, “The mustard pickled juice I’m looking for must have been pickled for at least three years, and there must be green mold growing in the jar.”
One of the servants, curious, asked, “Won’t the mustard pickled juice with green mold be spoiled? Why is the young lady looking for it?”
Chen Jiao clasped her hands behind her back and answered, “That’s none of your concern. Just go and look for the mustard pickled juice that has been pickled for a longer period. If it doesn’t have green mold, don’t bring it back. Understand?”
The group replied in unison, “Understood!”
Chen Jiao continued, “If I find out that anyone is using the name of the Huai’an Prince’s residence to cause trouble and tarnish my reputation as Ninth Lady, I will make sure to punish them severely. Everyone, think carefully before acting.”
The group quickly responded, expressing their fear and obedience.
Chen Jiao gave further instructions on the task, emphasizing that anyone who found the mustard pickled juice with green mold would be richly rewarded.
Although the servants didn’t know why she was looking for such a thing, hearing about the heavy reward, they were all energized.
With that, the group of more than ten people left the residence and went out into the city to search for the mustard pickled juice.
After they had dispersed, Chen Jiao went inside.
Madam Xu, filled with curiosity, asked, “Why is my child looking for spoiled mustard pickled juice?”
Chen Jiao teased, “You’ll find out when the time comes.”
Madam Xu chuckled and jokingly said, “You’re keeping it a secret.”
Chen Jiao smiled without answering, only saying, “The way you taught me to act spoiled has been very useful. I must practice it well.”
Madam Xu laughed and teased, “How shameless!”
In the history of our dynasty, mustard has been a common food, and most families would pickle some.
It’s as common as pickling radishes.
After the more than ten servants left the residence, they went from street to street, knocking on doors and asking about the mustard with green mold that Chen Jiao had described.
Generally, people wouldn’t let their mustard spoil.
At most, they would eat it within a year or two, then pickle a new batch.
If it had green mold, it was either spoiled or had been left too long and forgotten.
Such mustard was not easy to find.
The servants searched for two or three days but couldn’t find the item.
Some of them brought back jars that were either completely spoiled, with black water inside, or had white mold, which wasn’t what Chen Jiao was looking for.
Chen Jiao rejected these and told them to keep searching, even in the surrounding villages.
After searching for four or five days, one of the servants, named Wu Daniu, finally struck luck.
A woman named Wang, who lived in the West Street Alley, had overheard a rumor at the rice shop and came home to gossip with her husband, joking about how the Huai’an Prince’s residence, such a powerful family, was asking for spoiled mustard pickled juice.
Her mother-in-law, Mrs. Zou, who was lying in bed, overheard and curiously asked, “Where did you hear this rumor?”
Wang replied, “I just heard it at the rice shop. They said the Ninth Lady of the Wang residence loves to eat spoiled mustard pickled juice, and they’ve even sent people to look for it.”
Her husband, Jiang Dalu, didn’t believe it at all.
As he worked, he said, “Don’t be ridiculous, how could anyone eat spoiled food, especially the young ladies from a prestigious family?”
Wang said, “I didn’t believe it either at first, but the woman at the rice shop said that some of the Prince’s household servants came by to ask about it yesterday. So, it must be true.”
Mrs. Zou clicked her tongue and teased, “Perhaps they’re so used to eating rich food that they’re looking for something unusual?”
This joke made the couple laugh.
They were lucky and had not contracted the plague yet.
However, some of the less fortunate neighbors had lost several family members to the disease.
Once the authorities found out, they immediately went to take the bodies away and burned them all together.
Anyone who dares to cause trouble could easily end up dead.
The soldiers in the city were fierce, all wearing masks.
Common folks would never dare provoke them.
The three of them overheard some strange gossip.
Neighbor Widow Huang, hearing their voices, came over.
The three thought she had some matter to discuss, but she hesitated for a long time before finally saying she had a jar of spoiled mustard pickled juice at home.
The three of them were taken aback.
Wang said sarcastically, “Do you really think that by bringing spoiled mustard pickled juice to the Wang residence, you’ll be rewarded?”
Huang felt embarrassed and scratched her head.
Her husband had died of illness the year before, and she had no children.
It was just her and her mother-in-law living together.
Her mother-in-law had a bad memory and often forgot things.
The jar of spoiled mustard pickled juice had been handled by her.
Jiang Dalu didn’t believe the rumors either and said, “Who would eat spoiled food? What if it causes death? Who would take responsibility?”
Huang, still hopeful, said, “But what if we really get a reward?”
Wang seemed to see through her thoughts and said, “You’re welcome to go and claim the reward yourself.”
“We don’t have the guts to provoke the Wang residence. One wrong move, and we’d lose our lives, and that would be unfair.”
Mrs. Zou joined in, “Yes, they’re officials. Taking spoiled food there is already unreasonable. If they get beaten, it wouldn’t be worth it.”
People like them, the common folk, would see an official and want to run, not willing to get involved.
Widow Huang, being a widow, naturally didn’t have the courage to go to the Wang residence to claim a reward, so she turned to Jiang Dalu instead.
“I’ve heard that the Wang residence is looking for spoiled mustard pickled juice with green mold. My jar also has green mold, so it can’t be fake.”
“I’m just a weak woman, I truly don’t have the courage to go ask for a reward, but if Dalu is willing to take the risk, we can split the reward evenly.”
Jiang Dalu refused, “Don’t drag me into this.”
Huang quickly replied, “I’ve thought about it carefully. Since we know that spoiled mustard pickled juice can’t be eaten, it’s likely that the people at the Wang residence know it too.”
“They must be looking for it for a reason, but I’m afraid no one has the guts to go. After all, it’s the Wang residence, and ordinary people wouldn’t dare enter.”
Her reasoning seemed somewhat logical.
Wang, curious, asked, “Does mustard pickled juice really grow green mold?”
Huang nodded, “Yes, it does. If you don’t believe me, you can come and see for yourself.”
Wang’s curiosity was piqued, and a bit of greed stirred within her.
She immediately decided to go with Huang to see the jar of spoiled mustard pickled juice.
Widow Huang returned to her house, which was bare and drafty.
She moved a clay jar from the corner and opened the lid for them to see.
A sharp, sour stench of fermented food immediately hit them, causing everyone to step back a couple of steps.
The mustard had likely been pickled for many years, and the smell was overwhelming.
Wang, covering her nose, leaned in to look inside.
Sure enough, she saw that the mustard had grown a lot of gray-green mold, clearly showing signs of rot.
Jiang Dalu also peered inside, disgusted.
“This mustard must have been pickled ages ago.”
Huang said, “I’m not sure, ask my mother. She doesn’t remember either.”
She carefully sealed the lid back on and continued, “I’ve heard that the Wang residence wants mustard pickled juice with green mold. This must be what they’re looking for.”
Wang looked at Jiang Dalu eagerly.
Jiang Dalu shook his head repeatedly, “Don’t look at me, I don’t have the guts to ask for a reward.”
Wang said, “But what if we really get a reward? Isn’t this better than you working?”
Jiang Dalu replied with confidence, “Working doesn’t risk death or getting beaten.”
Wang: “……”
She had indeed been tempted by greed, and she exchanged a knowing look with Huang.
That very night, Wang persuaded Jiang Dalu over and over again, until he angrily scolded her for being desperate for money.
The couple quarreled, and in the end, Wang agreed to go with him to the Huai’an Prince’s residence to gather courage.
Jiang Dalu reluctantly agreed.
The next day, they prepared a large basket, and Huang carefully wiped the dust off the jar of spoiled mustard pickled juice, wrapping it up tightly.
The jar wasn’t very large, but it was incredibly heavy, at least several dozen pounds.
Jiang Dalu strapped the basket to his back, and the couple left the alley.
When they arrived at the Huai’an Prince’s residence, they saw the main gate tightly closed, and even the side gate was shut.
The couple hesitated, feeling quite intimidated.
Jiang Dalu, standing at a distance, put the basket down but didn’t dare to approach.
Wang, who had been confident earlier, shrank back in fear when she saw the imposing gate.
The pressure from the powerful family was overwhelming.
The couple stood in the cold wind, hesitating for a long time.
A servant came in and out, but they didn’t dare ask.
Just then, Wu Daniu, who had just returned, spotted the couple, standing awkwardly in shabby clothes, hunched like a pair of frightened geese, and found it odd.
He casually asked what they were doing.
Jiang Dalu, already thinking of turning back, was trembling so much he could barely speak.
But Wang, braver than her husband, said they were carrying spoiled mustard pickled juice.
Wu Daniu glanced at the basket, having little hope.
He assumed it was just like the mustard pickled juice they had seen before, but when he approached and uncovered the burlap cloth, the stench of the spoiled, fermented juice hit him.
It was overwhelming.
“Ugh!”
Wu Daniu staggered back a couple of steps, but then, as he looked more closely, he was stunned.
Huh!
There really was green mold!
He couldn’t believe his eyes.
He pinched his nose and leaned in again, examining the jar carefully.
Indeed, it was covered with greenish-gray mold.
At first, he had thought that Chen Jiao had been fooling them, but it seemed there really was mustard pickled juice with green mold!
He quickly asked, “Is this mustard pickled juice inside?”
Wang nodded eagerly, “Yes, yes, it’s pickled mustard, it’s just spoiled and grown mold.”
Wu Daniu grinned widely.
“You two are going to get rich!”
Wang’s spirits lifted immediately.
Jiang Dalu quickly sealed the jar, handling it with surprising care, as though it contained gold instead of spoiled mustard pickled juice.
The outer courtyard was off-limits to men, so Wu Daniu told the couple to wait in the gatehouse while he carried the basket to Lixiang Courtyard.
“You two wait here to collect your reward. Don’t try to run off.”
The couple smiled broadly, unable to stop grinning.
Inside the side room, Chen Jiao was speaking with Madam Xu when her maid, Dingxiang, came in with news that a servant had brought the mustard pickled juice with green mold.
Chen Jiao had seen many spoiled mustards, but never one with green mold.
She was skeptical, saying, “Have you verified it?”
Dingxiang nodded repeatedly.
“Yes, the mustard really has a lot of green mold, grayish-green, and it smells absolutely terrible!”