139 Chapter 139: Drought and Locust Plague
Qin Xiaoyao’s words were true. She was not a man and was not qualified to take the imperial examination. Otherwise, she would definitely try her best to see if she could gain some fame.
After all, she believed that her learning ability was not bad.
Song Que’s eyes finally showed a hint of interest.
“It’s a shame you’re not a man,” he whispered.
“Huh? What?” Qin Xiaoyao didn’t hear him clearly.
Song Que did not repeat, however.
Instead, he said, “I can’t take the scholarly examination for the time being, and there’s no need to.”
“Why can’t you take it?” Qin Xiaoyao was puzzled.
“Isn’t the elementary scholar exam held twice every three years? You missed it last year, but you’ll have another chance next year.”
Song Que glanced at Qin Xiaoyao.
“I am observing a mourning period,” he said.
Qin Xiaoyao was stunned.
Only then did she remember this.
“In this era, you are not allowed to sit for the Imperial examinations during the mourning period?” she asked Song Que.
“Yes. I can only go for the examinations after the three-year mourning period ends.”
Qin Xiaoyao appeared somewhat disappointed.
“Then you can take the exam three years later. The two of you go to the academy and learn first. A beard well lathered is half shaved.”
A hint of a smile crept across Song Que’s eyes.
Was the idiom ‘A beard well lathered is half shaved’ supposed to be used in this way?
“No need. Something will happen in Mountain Spring Town soon.”
Qin Xiaoyao got a shock.
Thinking of Song Que’s identity as a prophet, she instantly became nervous.
“What… will happen?” she asked worriedly.
Seeing Qin Xiaoyao’s reaction, Song Que couldn’t help but feel happy again.
“You’ve guessed it right previously. Mountain Spring Town will experience a great drought soon. Not only Mountain Spring Town, but Zhao County and the dozens of counties around Zhao County will also suffer from droughts.”
“There’s no way we can harvest this autumn’s grain. The grain price will rise soon.”
Qin Xiaoyao’s heart tightened.
“So, the food you asked me to stock up on before…”
“Yes,” Song Que nodded his head.
“If there’s any extra money at home, you can go buy some more food and put it in the storage room.”
“As for the food in the cellar, don’t touch it for now.”
Qin Xiaoyao immediately turned to look at Song Que.
Song Que sighed again.
Once again, he nodded under Qin Xiaoyao’s gaze.
“After the great drought, there will be a locust plague. At that time, not only the crops but some trees would also suffer. There will be a famine in Mountain Spring Town.”
When the locust plague came, it was overwhelming.
The few remaining crops in the farm fields would be gnawed clean, and it would be impossible to harvest anything.
Qin Xiaoyao’s expression changed.
“Fa… famine?”
“Will… people starve to death?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“It will be more difficult for those who live outside the town. When the time comes, there will be people squeezing into town.”
“Some people will also choose to flee to other states and capitals.”
Qin Xiaoyao’s heart skipped a beat.
She thought of the documentaries she had watched before the apocalypse.
Locust plague, panic fleeing…
She thought that after escaping the apocalypse, she would be able to live a stable life and no longer have to lead a life on the run.
Was she painting too rosy a picture of this world?
Back then, if she had not listened to her attractive husband to buy a courtyard dwelling in town but insisted on building a house in Brook Falls Village, would they also face the predicament of lacking food and water in the future? Would they have to flee with their entire family?
With her physique and ability, it would not be difficult for her to survive, but what about the rest of the family?
“I… will go to the grain store tomorrow to buy more grain.” After a moment of panic, Qin Xiaoyao quickly calmed down.
Song Que glanced at Qin Xiaoyao.
“Mm-hmm,” he answered. He hesitated for a moment, but eventually, he decided not to tell Qin Xiaoyao about the mountain bandits.
By September, his legs would have fully recovered.
...
When the time came, he would make preparations with her.
After talking for a while, the couple finally closed their eyes and went to sleep.
Qin Xiaoyao, on the other hand, couldn’t fall asleep after learning about the drought and locust plague.
After turning around twice, Song Que sensed Qin Xiaoyao’s unease and opened his eyes.
“You can’t sleep?” the man quickly asked.
Qin Xiaoyao’s body froze.
“Mm-hmm,” she replied after a moment’s hesitation.
“Then let’s continue chatting,” Song Que suggested.
“Alright.” Qin Xiaoyao thought about it and agreed.
“Tell me about your life during the apocalypse.” Song Que was very curious about that world.
Qin Xiaoyao was caught by surprise.
...
After recalling for a while, she began to describe it to Song Que.
Her attractive husband was a prophet and had been protected in the base all year round. He definitely wouldn’t know the dangers and excitement outside. It wasn’t strange for him to be curious.
It was a good opportunity. She could tell him about it and let him know how powerful his wife was.
And so, Song Que soon heard a series of thrilling and dangerous stories.
Then, as the female lead of the story, his wife was able to turn the tide at almost every critical moment and avert danger.
“Is your strength-type special ability any different from the Internal Force of this era?” Song Que suddenly asked.
Qin Xiaoyao was stunned.
“Internal Force? Are there really people in this era who have Internal Force?” she immediately asked Song Que.
She had explained her own strength-type special ability as Internal Force because she felt that it was similar to the Internal Force mentioned by the storytellers.
However, she didn’t know whether there were really martial arts experts who cultivated Internal Force in this era.
“There are.” Song Que gave an affirmative answer.
“However, the requirements for cultivating Internal Force are very high. They have to train hard from a young age, and only after many years, or even decades, will they be able to achieve anything.”
In his previous life, after he gained power, he had martial arts experts to protect him.
Those with high Internal Force could even leap onto roofs and vault over walls, and shoot leaves to injure people.
Qin Xiaoyao’s interest was piqued when she heard this answer.
“Are there really martial arts experts? You’ve met them? What are they like?” She turned around and faced Song Que.
When the woman turned around so suddenly, Song Que’s breathing stopped for a moment.
He restrained his urge to back away, and he calmed his mind before saying, “I’ve met them.”
Then, he described the scene of him witnessing Internal Force experts leaping onto roofs and vaulting over walls, as well as shooting leaves to hurt people.
Qin Xiaoyao nodded, but her eyes were filled with disappointment.
“Is that all? They can’t absorb people’s power or use inner strength to hurt people from a distance?”
Song Que was a little surprised.
Was that all? It was extremely rare to find a martial arts expert with Internal Force.
At that time, his office had spent a lot of money and promised a lot of benefits, but he had only managed to engage two people.
“You can do all of this?” Song Que didn’t reply and looked at Qin Xiaoyao doubtfully.
Qin Xiaoyao pouted.
“Of course, I can’t.”
Seeing the odd look in Song Que’s eyes, Qin Xiaoyao continued, “But I can also leap onto roofs, vault over walls, and shoot leaves to hurt people!”
Only then did Song Que stare at Qin Xiaoyao again.
Qin Xiaoyao’s face was filled with pride.
“Of course, because I haven’t returned to my best state yet, it might be a little difficult to fly over roofs and vault over walls now.”
Qin Xiaoyao was a little embarrassed to see the other party trying to hold back his laughter.
“But… but it’s not a problem to hurt people by shooting leaves!”
“Do you remember the wild game we ate in Brook Falls Village?”
Song Que held back his laughter.
“I remember,” he said in support.
“I used my special ability and injected my power into the stones before hitting the prey,” Qin Xiaoyao said proudly.
Afraid that Song Que would look down on her, she quickly added, “I used stones because it saves more energy. If I use leaves and inject more special ability power, it’s still very powerful!”