TFWYH – Chapter 374 Locust Plague

An hour passed, and everyone gradually got up. The quiet manor became lively again.

Right after breakfast, Tang Wan immediately gathered everyone into the bean-sprout room to help.

She couldn’t sell grain cheaply, but bean sprouts were different.

They cost almost nothing to produce — no matter the price, she wouldn’t lose money — and it would make things easier for the common people as well.

Ling Yu used the excuse of going out for a stroll, but actually went to the pigpen area, drove all the cattle into the shed, and locked the doors and windows.

When he came back, he heard that the Tang father and son were asking to return home.

Tang Hongba said, “There’s stored grain at home. I can’t just keep freeloading here forever.”

Tang Wan thought: … I absolutely cannot let you go back.

She rolled her eyes and said pitifully, “Dad, help me sprout the beans first. Once you learn, you can grow them yourself and sell them later.”

Tang Hongba replied helplessly, “Cut it out. Do you think I don’t know you? You’re already married — how proper is it for your natal family to keep living at your husband’s home?”

Tang Wan said, “But your house has collapsed. Where would you live if you went back?”

Tang Hongba froze. “Collapsed?”

“Yes! Not only yours — Uncle Qin’s house collapsed too.”

“… ”

Tang Wan continued persuading him, “Dad, stay. It’s chaotic outside. If you go back, Uncle Qin will go too. You two might manage to protect yourselves — but what about the others?”

“This…” Hearing that, Tang Hongba gave up the thought of returning.

His daughter was right — now was not the time to go back.

Better to stay here where everyone could look after one another.

Once the disaster passed, they could rebuild the house.

“Then I’ll shamelessly stay for now. I’ll go speak with your mother-in-law. Go take care of your work.”

Tang Wan nodded and then called the servants in to help as well.

At that moment, a sudden change occurred.

A dark cloud drifted across the sky — pitch black.

But Tang Wan quickly realized something was wrong. Her face changed drastically. “No — that’s not a cloud. It’s locusts.”

Everyone was shocked.

The dark mass rapidly grew, spreading across Xiangxi Town and blotting out the sky.

Countless locusts swarmed in.

“Quick — shut the doors and windows! Everyone get inside!” Tang Wan cried out, grabbing the stunned Ling Sheng from the doorway and pulling him in. The servants snapped to their senses and rushed indoors with their heads covered.

Once everyone was inside, Tang Wan quickly shut the door.

Ling Yu had already closed all the windows while she was moving.

The next moment the locust swarm arrived, slamming nonstop against the doors and windows with crackling, rattling impacts.

At the same time, frightened shouts and crying could be heard from the townspeople down the mountain.

Madam Jiang’s face turned pale. “Heavens — good thing we came inside, or we’d be injured for sure.”

Aunt Yang said with lingering fear, “Exactly. Such a pity about the fruit in the orchard — none of it will survive now.”

Tang Wan spoke up at once, “Fruit is nothing — people matter more.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The locusts kept battering the doors and windows. The paper-covered windows couldn’t withstand that kind of impact.

Before long, some locusts broke through and flew inside.

Panic erupted. The women screamed repeatedly.

Tang Wan told the men to shield the women and kill the locusts that got in. She grabbed cloth and fastened it over the windows, and told Yan Cheng to stuff fabric into the door cracks and other gaps.

Seeing the floor covered with a dense layer of locust corpses made Madam Jiang’s scalp prickle; all color drained from her face.

Ling Yue was badly frightened too, supporting Madam Jiang as they retreated almost all the way into a corner.