Chapter 1148: Artemisia annua (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Gong Xichou's handsome face almost contorted into a meme-worthy expression as he finally snapped, "Mommy, don't be so disgusting!"

Shen Tang retorted matter-of-factly, "Where am I disgusting?"

Was the emphasis of the previous sentence on the anus?

Shen Tang scratched his head: "Isn't it the anus?"

Gong Xi Chou was so angry his braids almost flew off. Pointing at the things that were pupating, he said, "Isn't the point that these worms are coming out of an anus? These are worms!"

Shen Tang scratched his head for the second time: "It's dangerous if the worm doesn't come out of the anus. What, didn't you have worms when you were a child?"

The two men were completely oblivious to the volume in their conversation, constantly using vulgar and explicit terms like "asshole," drawing strange looks from the patients in the nearby beds. They recognized Gong Xichou; despite his imposing physique and powerfully built fists that could splatter brains, he was actually quite compliant with another young man who resembled him. Rumor had it that he was a general.

The veracity of this rumor remains to be verified.

Because the young man himself rejected it.

The tall, beautiful woman beside the exotic young man was even more refined in features than him, but unfortunately, she looked terrible, as if she were suffering from exhaustion and kidney deficiency. Such a perfect couple, it's a pity their parents gave them mouths, and the first thing they said was "anus."

Gong Xiqiu's sidelong glance startled all the covetous eyes away.

He was satisfied when no one was watching anymore.

"How could I possibly have worms?"

He comes from the Gongxi clan.

The Gongxi clan were also experts in using Gu poison.

If a Gu practitioner gets infected with a parasitic disease, isn't that ruining his livelihood?

Shen Tang knew that arguing with him about this was like talking to a brick wall, so she simply changed the subject: "Most ordinary people suffer from parasitic diseases. The parasite eggs can hatch and parasitize the human body through various means. Not to mention the common people, even the wealthy are hard to escape."

Scholars and warriors, on the other hand, do not suffer from this kind of trouble.

As a responsible, overworked ruler who cares about people's livelihoods and understands their plight, how could Shen Tang not know about these hardships? That's why her focus is on whose anus it is, rather than the fact that worms are crawling out of the anus.

As for Gong Xichou, he held the honorary title of Grand General. Even if he had no troops to train or military affairs to handle, he wouldn't be so bored as to play with these insects. Even a five- or six-year-old child in the marketplace wouldn't have such a taste!

What did the high priest ask him to collect these insects for?

I suspect my stay wasn't just six days, it was six months!

Gong Xichou: "Eight children have died."

He explained the whole story.

The fire was extinguished, but the number of burned, crushed, and other injured was countless. The military camp was relatively empty, so some space was set aside to house these refugees. Even the most skilled medical professionals couldn't overcome the shortage of personnel; many refugees died before the medical professionals and the elder brother could arrive. There was a severe shortage of manpower, but fortunately, a group of doctors were transferred to the area.

During the treatment process, insects were found in the bedding and clothing of many refugees.

During this time, the child being cared for by the female doctor died suddenly.

This is the norm in wounded soldiers' camps.

Unlike usual, the female doctor wanted to take away several of the children's corpses, but the children's families demanded money and supplies: "I've raised these kids for eight years; even after removing the bones, they're still about thirty pounds of flesh. You think you can just take them away like that? If you want to leave, you have to pay!"

This family also suffered heavy casualties, with only two adults with minor burns and the couple's three remaining children surviving. The eldest child died suddenly. They had lost all their possessions and savings, and didn't know how they would make a living. Just as they were worrying, the female doctor surprisingly asked if they could forgo burying the children and give them their bodies to her.

The man knew immediately that the female doctor wanted to eat meat.

It's a little heartbreaking, but the remaining survivors also need to live.

He quoted a price, not too high, afraid of scaring the woman away. The female doctor's bright eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion upon hearing his quote. The man didn't understand, nor did he care to, and hardened his heart, saying, "This price isn't expensive at all!"

I've raised it for eight years!

Even if we ate bran for eight years, it was worth the price!

The female doctor sighed and agreed.

They sent someone to deliver the money and food the couple had requested.

The news spread quickly, causing panic among some of the refugees who had been quite wealthy before the disaster. Although it was common for fresh corpses to be used as food in chaotic times, the real fear was that they, the living, would also be forced to become food. Some refugees remained expressionless, while a small group began to have second thoughts. They too had reached a dead end, and some had relatives they couldn't save.

It's heartbreaking, but they need to live.

The medics and soldiers in the wounded soldiers' camp received hints one after another.

Are you buying meat or not?

As a result, the soldiers' medical staff instantly turned cold, their imposing presence causing the men to cower like quails. Left with no other option, they had to go back to the female doctor. The female doctor was speechless, but still made the purchase.

They bought a total of eight corpses.

What will I buy it for?

It's not meant to be cooked, fried, boiled, or boiled, but rather dissected.

Gong Xiqiu glanced at it and saw that the organs were covered with densely packed worm eggs and worms, which was even more disgusting than the parasitic Gu worms.

Junqiao, is this still edible?

Qu Tan, oh no, now it's Qi Yuanliang.

His daughter has such unusual tastes.

When Qi Miao led her team of medical personnel to provide support, Gong Xichou already knew her identity. The surname Qi was uncommon, and Qi Miao's appearance was strikingly similar to that of the young Shan Qi; the two must have a connection. A casual inquiry about her family background revealed that she was the daughter of Qi Yuanliang.

Gongxi Chou naturally took a liking to the daughter of an old friend.

Not all the refugees in the wounded soldiers' camp were obedient and docile; some were quite arrogant and presumptuous, even thugs who treated the women in the camp with disrespect. Qi Miao wasn't assertive and was easily taken advantage of. At this point, Gong Xi Chou was also puzzled—how could Qu Tan's daughter look so much like Shan Qi? Was something amiss? But given the ethical and moral implications, Gong Xi Chou didn't ask, lest he feel awkward.

Qi Miao said, "This isn't for eating."

After dissecting several corpses, insects could be found in almost all of them.

The only difference is the location and the quantity.

Qi Miao and the other doctors huddled together and whispered to each other. They decided to keep two bodies fresh for preservation, sew up the rest, cremate them after careful cleaning, and then collect the bones, put them in a pottery jar, and bury them on the spot.

Gong Xichou was completely baffled.

Families who sell corpses are even more fearful.

Qi Miao's return made them worry that the other party might break the contract.

Fortunately, Qi Miao only came to ask some questions.

For example, where they lived, what the child did for the adults before he died, what the family ate and drank.

The same question was asked to several other companies.

Gongxi Chou asked, puzzled: "Why are you asking these questions?"

[During her previous medical rounds, some patients within the territory were ordinary people, their bodies as clean and free of parasites as those of warriors and scholars. The Lord had long ago mandated that water collected in the wild must be boiled before drinking, and if a fire could not be lit, it must be heated using spiritual energy. Therefore, few soldiers in the army suffered from parasites. All this suggests that the parasites in the bodies of commoners are not self-generated but rather enter through external means.] Qi Miao then recounted her experiences traveling through mountains and rivers to treat patients, discovering that animals often reproduce in water, laying eggs, and that these water sources were the commoners' daily drinking water. The parasite diseases among the commoners were certainly related to this. Some eggs were large, while others were as small as mayflies in the water, indistinguishable to the naked eye.

Even seemingly clean and sweet water can contain insect eggs.

If ordinary people drink it raw, they will ingest insect eggs.

Qi Miao then pointed to one of the records.

Gong Xichou leaned closer but still couldn't understand it.

[Any problems?]

Qi Miao said, "It's a snail."

Finding the route of infection for these parasitic diseases may allow us to find ways to eradicate them.

Gong Xichou was taken aback: [Snails can't be eaten?]

[It's edible, in small amounts, cooked.] Qi Miao had also inquired about Gong Xi Chou's background and knew he was very strong. [Moreover, Uncle Gong Xi is a martial arts master, so even if it's not cooked, eating it raw is fine. The insect eggs wouldn't have a chance to parasitize your internal organs.]

He was instantly melted by the overwhelming martial energy the moment he showed his face.

The thought of eating raw snails made Gong Xichou feel a slight nausea in his throat. Qi Miao, having heard from somewhere that the Gongxi clan was knowledgeable about insects, came to ask for advice the next day. Prevention and eradication were matters for the future; for now, they needed to find a way to get rid of the insects. Gong Xichou said, "I only know a little bit. If you're curious about how to play with insects, Uncle will introduce you to the really amazing stuff."

He was of the same generation as Qi Yuanliang, but older than Qi Yuanliang.

Qi Yuanliang's daughter should call him uncle, no problem.

Gong Xichou shook Ji Moqiu, who was out collecting herbs, over.

Ji Moqiu was washing medicinal herbs when he heard that Qi Miao had come over about this matter. He got up and wiped his wet hands on the high priest's robe. Gu worms and insects causing parasitic diseases are completely different things, and Ji Moqiu's experience wasn't quite right for them. However, when he heard that Qi Miao was researching this not only for the baby girl adopted by the charity, but also to ensure that every child in Kang Kingdom could be free from insect diseases, he solemnly agreed to help her. Gong Xichou was unlucky; he was assigned to be their assistant.

He's like a brick; he can be moved wherever he's needed.

Gong Xichou poured out his grievances.

How could his elder brother be so heartless as to make a military general who could take on tens of thousands of elite soldiers collect worms crawling out of the anus of patients!

"Mama, don't you think so?"

Gong Xichou wanted to find comfort from Shen Tang.

However, his kindred spirit expressed his feelings.

“Junqiao is truly a compassionate doctor. Children have always been prone to death, not only due to illnesses like colds and chickenpox, insufficient food supply, and a lack of reliable doctors, but also due to parasitic diseases. If this can be solved, I wonder how many young lives can be saved.”

Eradicating insect diseases is not something that can be done overnight.

Because the problems of drinking water and food are difficult to solve.

Even now, Kangguo can only ensure that the common people in the more densely populated counties have enough to eat and wear, preventing them from starving. However, a high quality of life is still not guaranteed, let alone for the farming families living in the high mountains and dense forests. With unclean drinking water, pests and diseases cannot be completely eradicated. Since the root cause cannot be addressed, the only option is to treat the underlying problem.

Shen Tang handed the matter over to the Medical Department.

Medical staff at the Medical Department who wish to delve deeper into this area can request funding.

Unexpectedly, it was Qi Miao who started this.

She searched through all the existing medical books and found several prescriptions for expelling parasites. However, these prescriptions were sometimes effective and sometimes not, with varying degrees of success. Was it a dosage issue? Or were there different types of parasites? Did different types of parasites, and different locations of parasites, require different prescriptions?

Qi Miao's current main research topic is Jiaohuo.

Jiao huo is a type of roundworm.

This is also one of the most common types of parasitic diseases, and many children are susceptible to it. Qi Miao had this idea because a servant at the charity hall said that a child had a parasitic disease, possibly caused by a worm. At the time, Qi Miao was not in the capital but was practicing medicine elsewhere, so the servant could only find another itinerant doctor. The decoction prescribed by that doctor was somewhat effective, but the child continued to vomit and have diarrhea, and was exhausted for several days.

Qi Miao passed by and took a look.

The dosage was probably too high.

So she went to the door of the itinerant doctor.

The other party initially thought Qi Miao was there to settle accounts, only to discover upon inquiry that he wanted a specific prescription. The itinerant doctor was in a dilemma; this was his family heirloom, his livelihood. Qi Miao was generous, not only offering a price the other party couldn't refuse but also promising him an opportunity to become an apprentice at a clinic under the Royal Medical Bureau.

During the apprenticeship period, meals and accommodation are provided, along with a stipend.

The itinerant doctor immediately sold the prescription.

The prescription requires a type of Artemisia annua.

Take 5-6 qian of Artemisia annua, grind it into powder, add 1 liang of wine, soak overnight, take the clear liquid, steam and boil it, and then have the patient take it on an empty stomach. Finally, after a period of time, take 4 qian of Glauber's salt. This is the dosage for adults; for children, the dosage can be reduced accordingly.

How much to reduce and how much to use is entirely based on intuition.

This prescription had many alterations, and some ingredients were unavailable even to itinerant doctors, so they had to use substitutes with similar effects. He couldn't find the artemisia mentioned in the fragment; supposedly, that particular type of artemisia was more effective and had fewer side effects. Qi Miao would have to consult medical books herself.

Where can we find this type of wormwood?

If the seeds can be retrieved, they can be planted on a large scale...

The children of Kangguo will no longer fear the dragon.

Qi Miao planned to submit a memorial to the emperor requesting the grant.

However, the royal court has strict controls, and funding isn't easy to obtain. Qi Miao needs to provide sufficient medical records and lengthy explanations to prove her hypothesis. The Queen is meticulous and hates anyone who tries to falsify information to swindle her funds; she'll execute them if caught!

Qi Miao had been preparing for this for a long time.

After listening to Gong Xichou's complete retelling, Shen Tang said, "You mean artemisia? If you can't find it in Kangguo, you can go further north, into the Northern Desert. If you still can't find it, you can have Jun Qiao ask Wei Yuanyuan; she might have some clues."

Artemisia annua grows in arid regions.

Loose, fertile sandy soil is most suitable for its growth.

"This is a good thing that benefits the country and the people." The evil schemer does nothing but raise cats all his life, while his daughter thinks about practicing medicine and saving lives and is passionate about adopting abandoned babies. The father and daughter complement each other.

Gong Xichou said, "My elder brother said it's in the clan's territory, so there's no need to look for it."

Shen Tang: "..."

It's like searching for him a thousand times, only to find him right beside you! Shen Tang asked, "Did the High Priest go back again? Was he with someone this time? Otherwise, he would have gotten lost again."

Gong Xichou: "He brought a large group of people, a thousand in total."

"Does getting a seed really require such a big fuss?"

Just have a few guides take turns showing you the way.

"Since our destination is your tribe's territory, it's not advisable to reveal our location."

Shen Tang is understanding and considerate in every aspect.

As the saying goes, good deeds are rewarded, and her kindness was rewarded the very next second. Gong Xichou said, "This is quite a large force? My elder brother originally said he needed three thousand men, but Chu Wuhui by your side refused. Three thousand men could have attacked an ordinary county."

"What do you need so many for?"

Gong Xiqiu said, "Naturally, we'll empty the estate."

Shen Tang: "Inheritance?"

Gong Xichou: "Here you go."

︿(￣︶￣)︿

Tangmei: Unexpected windfall!