Chen Ye stepped forward without hesitation. "I'll go. My mother is sick, and it's my duty to care for her. I'll look after the other uncles and aunts, too. You can entrust it all to me."
The old village chief nodded, somewhat gratified.
His gaze fell upon the others. "And you?"
No one spoke. They all hung their heads, a silent, dark mass.
The mad scholar couldn't help but step forward. "I can..."
Before he could even finish, the old village chief waved his hand dismissively.
"Don't volunteer, mad scholar. It's not that I look down on you, but you're too frail. This plague is vicious. I'm afraid that if you go, you'll fall ill yourself after just a few days."
The mad scholar insisted on going, but the old village chief was adamant in his refusal.
The old village chief's gaze fell on one of the men.
"Heiwa, your brother is sick, too. Aren't you going to look after him?"
True to his name, Heiwa had a dark complexion.
