Sick with an epidemic

After Old Madam Zhu and Zhu Changhai returned with the bags of food and the money they had extorted, Lin Ai quickly grabbed her two sons and entered the house. She carefully closed the door tightly before sliding the lock to make sure no one would break in again.

" Mother, are you hurt anywhere ?" Zhu Qingyang asked hurriedly, holding her mother's arm with concern. Lin Ai shook her head and gently stroked her son's head, but her eyes were still filled with worry.

" Mother is fine, but you guys have to take good care of yourself," she said, before looking at Zhu Qingcheng, who had just gotten up from the ground after being pushed down a moment ago.

" I'm fine, Mother," Zhu Qingcheng replied bravely, even though his face and expression were still painful.

Zhu Qing'an walked out of her father's room. After taking care of his condition and making sure that there was nothing to worry about at the moment, she called everyone to gather in her father's room, closing the door to prevent any noise from leaking out.

Zhu Qing'an sat on the floor beside her father's bed, her face full of determination.

" Everyone, we can't let this go on. How long are they going to keep hurting and extorting us ? We have to get out of here !"

" Go out ? But they won't let us go easily," Lin Ai said with concern.

" I'm afraid that … if we talk about separating the houses, they'll be even more violent."

Zhu Qing'an nodded in agreement with her mother's words. She knew that those evil people would definitely be dissatisfied that they would no longer be her assistant.

" I know, Mother. But I have a plan. We will make them chase us away without having to ask or confront them."

" Chase us away ? How, big brother ?" Zhu Qingyang asked with wide, curious eyes.

" We will make them think that we have an epidemic," Zhu Qing'an said calmly.

" No one wants to be around a deadly disease. When they can't stand it anymore, they'll have to kick us out of the house."

" Epidemic ?" Lin Ai repeated in a shocked tone.

" But how do we make them believe ?"

" I have a plan," Zhu Qing'an replied.

" We will pretend to cough and act sick. Whenever they come here, we will make them believe that this disease is highly contagious, even being close to it can be contagious."

" But will it actually work ?" Zhu Qingcheng asked.

" I'm afraid … what if they don't believe us and still force us to go out and work ?"

" I'm sure they'll be terrified," Zhu Qing'an said with confidence.

" People like Grandma and Uncle, who are so selfish, would never risk their lives for money or food."

Lin Ai was still hesitant, but looking at her children's faces that showed determination and determination, she finally nodded.

" If it's the only way we can escape this hell, I'll give it a try."

" Good," Zhu Qing'an said, before starting to explain the details of the plan.

" Starting tomorrow, I will prepare some herbs that give off a medicinal smell, and we will make our house look like a place where a seriously ill patient lives. Everyone, please help to make it look as real as possible."

" Understood !" Zhu Qingcheng and Zhu Qingyang said at the same time. Although they were slightly apprehensive, their eyes were filled with hope.

That night, Zhu Qing'an's plan was carefully laid out. In the midst of the silence, everyone's hearts were slowly burning with hope to finally escape this misery.

Early the next morning, Zhu Qing'an woke up early and quickly prepared a basket and rope to climb the mountain. She headed to the place where she had found a unique herb. Not only did it cure diseases, it also had a pungent smell that was similar to the deadly medicines of the modern era.

On the mountain, Zhu Qing'an picked out a variety of herbs, including broad-leaved roots, leaves covered in fine hairs, and bark that, when crushed, smelled like sulfur. She spent the whole day filling up her basket before walking home with a hopeful smile on her face.

When they got home, Zhu Qing'an began teaching the family how to act out their illnesses. Lin Ai and her two sons, despite not being skilled at it, tried to follow along diligently.

" Qingcheng, you must act exhausted and cough frequently. As for you, Qingyang, act like your chest hurts when you cough. Do you understand ?" Zhu Qing'an ordered in a serious tone .

" I understand, Big Brother !" Zhu Qingyang replied enthusiastically.

Zhu Qing'an ground some herbs and boiled them in a clay pot, causing smoke and a pungent smell to permeate the entire secondary house.

" This smell must have made Grandma and Uncle think that we were treating a serious plague," she said, nodding in satisfaction.

At nightfall, Old Lady Zhu and Zhu Changhai, who were believed to be Lin Ai and her children, went up the mountain to find food in the forest and returned to the secondary house as usual. The two of them intended to steal food or valuables as was their habit.

" Lin Ai ! Give me this stuff now !" Old Madam Zhu shouted loudly before pushing open the secondary house's door and entering without waiting for permission.

As soon as she entered the house, the sight that she saw made her pause for a moment. Lin Ai was pale and leaning against the wall as if she had no strength to stand up, while Zhu Qingcheng was sitting beside her, coughing. Zhu Qingyang held his chest and groaned softly on the ground.

" What is this ?!" Old Lady Zhu took a step back and covered her nose.

" What's wrong with you guys ?!"

" We are sick … seriously sick," Lin Ai replied in a low voice.

" The village doctor said that ... it is a contagious disease. If you are still around us, you might catch it too ..."

" Huh ?! An infectious disease ?" Old Lady Zhu shouted loudly, her face instantly turning into fear.

" Yes, sir …" Zhu Qing'an walked out of her father's room. She put on pale make-up and spoke in a soft voice.

" We don't want you to suffer, but this disease … is very serious. I'm not sure if we'll still be alive tomorrow …"

Zhu Changhai, who saw the herbal cauldron emitting a pungent smell and billowing smoke, became even more alarmed.

" This is … Are you going to spread disease to me ?!"

" I warned you not to come into this house," Lin Ai said softly, but with a hint of exhaustion.

" We ourselves don't want anyone to get this disease ..."

Old Lady Zhu quickly retreated, covering her nose tightly before turning around and pushing Zhu Changhai out of the house.

" Go ! Hurry up and get out ! I will not stay in this inauspicious place for another minute !"

" Mother … but I haven't taken anything from them yet …" Zhu Changhai began to protest.

" What the hell ?! Do you want to die ?! I won't risk my life over these things !" Old Lady Zhu roared before dragging Zhu Changhai away without looking back.

When the two were out of sight, Lin Ai and her son quickly closed the door. Zhu Qing'an looked at the scene with a faint smile, and she said softly but firmly:

" This is just the beginning. Our family has to get away from these people…"