Chapter 34: The Struggling Siblings

Chapter 34: The Struggling Siblings
On the outskirts of the northern city of Fengcheng, the previously bustling caravan has now been replaced by refugees awaiting entry into the city.
The midday sun shines down on them, as if it were an open-air barbecue, causing waves of heat to rise throughout the northern outskirts.
Today is the hottest day in Fengcheng, coinciding with the summer season. The recent floods caused by an earthquake have gathered the local people here.
"Brother Xu Shu, Little Ying is hungry and wants to eat something," a little girl pulled on the sleeve of the young boy in front of her. With her other hand continuously rubbing her stomach, her big eyes revealed a strong desire.
小姑娘很小，大概只有十岁左右的样子，穿着还有些湿润的布衣，上面还带着些泥土的痕迹。
名叫徐庶的十六少年摸了摸胸口食囊，里面装着的是一个发霉的馒头，这是他们在来的路上捡的。
"Xu Xiaoying, this steamed bun should not be eaten anymore. Look, it has turned black," Xu Shu took out a food pouch and opened it in front of Xu Xiaoying. A strong odor immediately made her cover her nose and step back repeatedly.
"Xu Shu, why are you keeping this thing if it's inedible?" Xu Xiaoying said with a disgusted expression.
"Keeping it naturally serves a purpose," Xu Shu resealed the food packet and stuffed it back into his chest.
“徐庶，你就不嫌臭吗？还是赶紧把食囊也扔了吧，我想起都没有食欲了，”徐小樱推搡着徐庶，一副不把食囊扔了，就不会罢休的表情。
徐庶看得乐了，刚才徐小樱还饿得不行，现在马上又生龙活虎了，肯定是想着馒头，故意装的。
小姑娘这个年纪，个子也才长到徐庶的齐腰处，力气自然不比年长的徐庶，徐庶只是看了一眼渐渐打开的城门，就立马制住了徐小樱动作。
"Stop messing around, the city gate is open, there is something to eat."
Upon hearing food, Xu Xiaoying immediately stopped what she was doing and turned to look at the city gate. They had just been fooling around, and now she was actually feeling a bit hungry. However, with all these people here, how much would they be able to get?
Looking at Xu Xiaoying looking up at him, Xu Shu patted her little head and then led her towards the city gate.
Since the southern gate of Fengcheng was flooded, most of the refugees have gathered at the northern gate, not only because it is relatively safe here, but also because this is where the most and fastest relief efforts are.
The gifts from the three major families from the northern part of the city have begun to be distributed at the North Gate of Fengcheng. They represent their respective sects, and naturally, there can't be absence of the figures from the Spiritual Officials Hall.
“徐庶，你干嘛，你想我撞死吗？”徐小樱紧跟在徐庶的身后，不料徐庶突然停住了脚步，还好徐小樱紧紧抓住徐庶的衣服，不让刚才那一撞，这小姑娘肯定会一屁股坐在地上。
“抱歉，我差点忘了这个，”徐庶拿出收藏已久的食袋，轻轻打开一个口子，然后挂在自己的腰间。
“徐庶，你是要臭死我独吞食物吗？”徐小樱捂着鼻子走了好远才停了下来。
"Xu Xiaoying, you... I can't do it anymore, please come and help me." Xu Shu covered his chest and kept coughing, attracting the attention of many people. Some kind-hearted individuals wanted to help upon seeing Xu Shu in distress, but before they could approach him, they ran away. I'm happy to assist you with the translation! What specific information or assistance do you need regarding the translated content?
“别靠近他，他可能得了瘟疫，”刚才离开的一人喊到。
“不是吧，刚才我看他还好好的，怎么突然就得了瘟疫。”有一人似乎刚才注意过徐庶，见徐庶突然发病，不由的疑惑起来。
"Don't believe me? Go and smell for yourself, see if there's a foul smell coming from him." The others who had dispersed also began to speak up, and more and more people started paying attention to this side.
And Xu Xiaoying saw all of this, she had followed Xu Shu for so many years, how could she not understand what Xu Shu was up to.
北城外聚集了那么多难民，纵使三大家族与灵官殿提供了那么多粮食，也不足以救助日益增多的难民。
从不断外迁的难民，还有布施的粮食越来越少就可以看出，每天定量的布施，并不是所有人能分到粮食。
"Ah! Brother Xu Shu, how did you contract the plague? You can't leave me behind." Even though Xu Xiaoying had figured it out, she couldn't care less about the foul smell. Both tears and mucus gushed out instantaneously as she rushed forward and rubbed against Xu Shu.
这种浮夸的表演直接把周围的观众给整蒙了，包括正在装病的徐庶，“徐小樱，我还没死呢。”
抱着徐小樱的头，徐庶虚弱的眼神满是渴求，轻咳了两声，徐庶看着周围的人群，歇斯底里的吼道：“我没有瘟疫，别听他们胡说，我没有瘟疫，小樱你要相信我。”
Xu Shu held Xu Xiaoying's head against his chest and struggled to lift her up. As he listened to the laughter that occasionally came from Xu Xiaoying, Xu Shu was completely devastated.
“别笑了，再笑我也忍不住了。”徐庶强忍着穿帮，一步步走向布施的地方。
好不容易制造的气氛，徐庶还等着插队呢，这要是得不到多余的粮食，他们可走不出丰城。
“快让开，他们感染了瘟疫，别被传染了。”
这个世界的瘟疫虽然不是绝症，但也需要仙人出手才能救治，但仙人怎么无缘无故的出手帮助凡人，若不是癔症伤及到了天和，仙人是不可能出手，毕竟获得天道的庇佑，只有救人与水火之中，救世人与苦难，才能得到天道的认可。
当然，自然灾害是不能算在其中，因为那可是上天的惩罚，说起来很残忍，但事实就是这样。
“我没有瘟疫，你们不要诬陷我，”徐庶看着周围的人满脸怒容，但脚下的步伐却没有丝毫的停顿。
"Stop, don't go any further," several aides blocked Xu Shu's way, and ahead of him was a porridge shed, where two women were being protected by them.
"We... we just want to beg for some food," Xu Shu's words revealed his fear, but his gaze was fixed firmly on the surrounded girl.
"Let them come," the young girl said calmly.
"But Miss Er, they have been infected with the plague. If..." The servant wanted to dissuade her, but the woman raised her hand to interrupt him.
"No worries, with Uncle Gu Yuan here, I will be fine."
没错，在此布施的不是别人，正是代表朱家与青莲剑宗灵官殿的朱晓敏，“让他们过来吧。”
Zhu Xiaomin's words, the housekeeper dare not not listen and, after nodding, they let them approach.
"Thank you, Miss, you are truly a good person," Xu Shu flattered with a smile. Then he gently put down Xu Xiaoying and said to her, "Xiaoying, quickly thank your sister."
"Thank you, sister, thank you, sister," Xu tightly clasped Xiaoying's hand. At this moment, Xiaoying could finally smile, and this smile even infected many people. Especially, they noticed that there were still traces of tears in the corners of Xiaoying's eyes.
“你们的家人呢？”看着与自己差不多大的徐庶，朱晓敏好奇的问道。
徐庶的母亲在生徐小樱的时候难产死了，父亲出去打猎以后就没有回来过，徐小樱这几年都是由徐庶带大的，虽然辛苦，但也是熬过来了。
And these Xu Shu definitely won't say it, covering his chest, Xu Shu coughed hard and said laboriously, "They all passed away one after another after falling ill, now only my sister and I are left."
多可怜的孩子，谁能确定他们的父母不就是死于瘟疫，甚至身旁的徐小樱也配合的咳嗽了两声，吓得周围的难民又后退了数米。
"Xiaocan, give them more food," Zhu Xiaomin couldn't bear to watch anymore. She really wanted Gu Yuan to help them, but she knew that unless there were sufficient benefits even as a revered member of the family, they wouldn't take action.
“要是姐姐在家就好了，她一定会帮我的。”朱晓敏尽量不去看徐庶他们，转过头，让叫小灿的丫鬟给徐庶准备了七天的粮食。
在有明显的症状下，没有药物稳定，得了瘟疫能活上七天就很不容易了。
当然有这么多粮食，徐庶也很满足了，七天都足够他前往其他地方了。
“谢谢小姐，谢谢小姐，”徐庶跪在地上给朱晓敏拜了三拜，还不忘让徐小樱跟着学。
“且慢，他们是骗子，他们并没有感染瘟疫，”正当家丁要递给徐庶粮食的同时，一个声音从人群中传来出来。
The crowd dispersed, and a group of house servants wielding swords rushed out, closely following a man in traditional Chinese clothing. It was evident that he was the one who had spoken earlier.
The man looked at Xu Shu and Xu Xiaoying with a sly expression and said, "Hmph, you two little swindlers. Our family's custodian had already noticed something was off with you. How dare you deceive people in public? Capture them immediately."
一声令下，不少人想要上前提人，可朱晓敏怎么如他所愿，召集下人上前，直接护住在了徐庶二人身前。
“袁泽宇，三大世家早有约定，这不是你该来的地方。”朱晓敏的气质与刚才简直判若两人，一股英气直逼袁泽宇。
“晓敏，这两个人就是骗子，我是在帮你，”袁泽宇皱紧眉头，强忍着怒火，尽量让自己表现的平淡。
“晓敏不是你叫的，袁泽宇，请你自重，”朱晓敏似乎很讨厌袁泽宇这么称呼她，胸口被气得起伏不定。
“朱晓敏，你别忘了，朱家已经与我袁家订婚，你迟早是我的女人，”袁泽宇面露阴狠，说完这句话后，也不管面色苍白的朱晓敏，直接让收下继续上前。
此时朱家的家丁都震惊了，纷纷震惊的看向朱晓敏，一时间不知道该不该继续阻拦。
“诶，他们要逃。”一个家丁穿过朱家的防线，正好看见徐庶抢过食袋带着徐小樱向郊外逃窜。
这还了得，如果让徐庶就这么逃了，袁泽宇扒了他们的皮，那还是轻的。
推开身边的朱家家丁，袁家的人赶忙朝着徐庶追去。
(End of this chapter)