Famous for alcohol

Coincidentally, the Taibai transport team was about to send a new batch of alcohol to the capital, so Fu Zhiqiao went back to the capital with the transport team.

After entering the city gate, the bustling streets slowed the carriage down. Before they had gone far, Ginkgo suddenly pointed to a group of people not far ahead and asked, "Miss, there are a lot of people gathered up ahead."

A group of people were gathered around the notice board, talking incessantly, and the words "alcohol" and related terms could be faintly heard.

"Let's go take a look."

Fu Zhiqiao alighted from the carriage. It turned out that the imperial court had already released the news that alcohol could reduce fever. The gist of the notice was that colds were difficult to cure and the people were suffering. His Majesty was merciful and could not bear to see his people suffer, so he specially found the good medicine alcohol. From this day forward, anyone suffering from a persistent high fever could go to Huichuntang next to the government office to get the medicine.

If you catch a cold, the illness may linger for ten days or half a month without getting better. In severe cases, you can only watch as the patient is dragged to death by the high fever. Even if you are lucky enough to survive, the aftereffects of the fever can cause you to become mentally impaired.

For those with persistent high fever and no other options, this notice undoubtedly points them to a way out.

Alcohol is already quite famous in the Qingzhou and Yuzhou areas, but in the capital, few people know of its existence.

What is alcohol?

"Can this alcohol really reduce fever?"

"Want to know if it's true? Why don't you try it and see?"

"Pah! Pah! Pah! You dog, don't you dare curse me!"

"If not, would the imperial court make it available for us ordinary people?"

"Yes, the notice said that this alcohol was previously used by the soldiers in the military camp. It is His Majesty's kindness that he wants to make it available to us common people as well, so that no one will die from high fever anymore."

"Is it true? My little grandson Erzhu died because of a fever caused by a cold. If this alcohol had been brought out sooner, maybe Erzhu could still be alive." An elderly woman with gray hair said, her eyes filled with tears and her voice choked with sobs.

"It's not that the imperial court didn't want to use it; the soldiers had only been using it for a short time, and once they found it to be effective, they immediately started using it on our people."

The old woman wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes: "I know, it's just that my Erzhuzi was unlucky and didn't live to see the good times. Now that we have this alcohol, the children in the future won't end up like my Erzhuzi, just waiting to die."

The old woman's words moved countless people.

Seeing the crowd enthusiastically discussing alcohol, Fu Zhi Qiao's lips curled into a smile. The more people knew about alcohol saving her, the better. Just as she was about to leave, a voice, trembling with tears, came from the crowd, "Really? Can alcohol really bring down a high fever?"

The slightly hoarse crying drew everyone's attention. A thin woman, about twenty years old, was standing at the back of the crowd, pushing a cart. A woman in her forties was lying on the cart. Both of them were dressed in very ordinary clothes, and the woman's shoes were covered in mud, clearly indicating that they came from the countryside.

No one answered. The woman's voice, choked with sobs, continued, "Dear brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, where is the clinic you mentioned that can treat high fever? I can't read, could someone kindly show me the way?"

"The clinic is right next to the government office. Do you know what the government office is?"

After hearing this, the woman bit her lip but didn't move. She wondered if the clinic next to the government office would be very expensive.

Seeing the woman's conflicted expression, Fu Zhi Qiao immediately understood what she was worried about.

To promote alcohol, we need to let the public see its effects, and perhaps now is a good opportunity. She immediately gave Yinxing a wink, and Yinxing understood her meaning, walked to the woman's side and said, "Go ahead, my daughter will pay for your medical expenses."

Everyone looked over at the sound and saw Fu Zhiqiao standing to the side.

She was dressed in a jade-patterned brocade and satin robe, with a six-panel Xiang skirt of the same color on her lower body. Her attire clearly indicated that she was a woman from a respectable family.

The woman wept with joy: "Thank you so much, kind person."

And so, Fu Zhiqiao and Yinxing led the way, with the woman pushing a cart behind them, as they headed toward the clinic mentioned in the notice.

As everyone watched them leave, someone said, "Let's go, let's go to the clinic and see if that alcohol really has a miraculous effect."

Many people who wanted to see what the commotion would happen also joined in.

Huichuntang was actually a shop diagonally opposite the government office. The location was chosen right under the nose of the government office to prevent anyone from causing trouble.

Upon arriving at the clinic, Fu Zhiqiao stepped inside first, while onlookers gathered at the entrance.

The clinic only had a doctor, a physician, and a young apprentice. Fu Zhiqiao and his group were the first to come for treatment.

The doctor in charge of Huichuntang was named Feng Caoshan. He had a shrewd look on his face and appeared to be around forty years old. When he saw Fu Zhiqiao, he was taken aback for a moment and asked, "Does the young lady want to have a consultation?"

Fu Zhiqiao stepped aside and pointed to the cart parked at the door, "That lady has a persistent high fever and has come here seeking a way to reduce it."

The woman helped her mother to Feng Caoshan's side, pleading, "Please, doctor, save my mother!"

The woman's lips were pale, and despite leaning against the woman, she still seemed as if she might collapse at any moment. She weakly said, "Doctor, I... I feel dizzy and lightheaded, and I can't even use my hands and feet..."

"Sit down first." Feng Caoshan first took the woman's pulse, then touched her forehead with the back of his hand to check her temperature, and asked, "How long have you had this fever?"

If the fever is not severe, a few doses of herbal medicine can cure it. There is no need to use alcohol to reduce the fever. Although alcohol is effective, it is really not cheap.

The woman was no longer able to speak, but her daughter answered, "My mother started having a fever the day before yesterday. She took two doses of medicine and thought she was better, but last night she suddenly had a fever again, and the medicine was no longer working. Doctor, what's wrong with my mother? You must save her!"

Feng Caoshan immediately understood and gestured for her to calm down, "Your mother's illness is caused by wind-cold, and the most urgent thing is to bring down her high fever."

Alcohol costs half a string of cash per use.

Alcohol is not cheap, and it would be uneconomical to abuse it. The government does not provide alcohol for free. Setting up clinics, doctors, and pharmacists all require money, and the government will not do business at a loss.

When the woman heard that she needed half a string of cash, she looked at Fu Zhi Qiao with pleading eyes. Fu Zhi Qiao smiled and comforted her, while Yin Xing took out her purse and paid the consultation fee for her.

The woman knelt down with a thud, crying out, "Thank you so much, my benefactor! Thank you so much, my benefactor!"

Feng Caoshan summoned a female physician to help the person away. The clinic had male and female physicians to serve different patients. Alcohol was only effective when applied to the body, and lifting the robes was something that could only be done by someone of the same sex.

Seeing that her mother had been taken for treatment, the woman felt a little relieved and began to tell Fu Zhiqiao about her situation. According to the woman, her name was Sun Shuhua, and she lived in Xiahe Village, thirty miles outside the city. Two years after she got married, her husband died in an accident. She was unable to have any children, so her husband's family kicked her out. She had no choice but to go and live with her own mother.

Her older brother and sister-in-law disliked her and refused to accept her. Fortunately, her mother still loved her very much and insisted on keeping her by her side. Even so, her older brother and sister-in-law would treat her like she was invisible. Now, her only support is her mother.

Ginkgo comforted her, "Don't worry, Tree Flower Lady, Aunt Hu's high fever will definitely come down after she uses the alcohol!"

A look of gratitude flashed in Sun Shuhua's eyes. She wiped away her tears with her handkerchief and nodded heavily. Her mother would definitely be alright!

The female physician helped Granny Hu to the couch in the next room, lowered the linen curtain, and then lifted her clothes.

Although Aunt Hu's head was spinning from the fever, she was still conscious. She suddenly grabbed her collar and asked in a horrified voice, "What do you want to do?"

The waitress was quite strong and subdued Granny Hu in no time. "What do I want? I want to save you!"

As the cool alcohol was rubbed on her body, Aunt Hu involuntarily hissed. The waitress rubbed her twice and fed her some herbal medicine in between. As the alcohol evaporated, it took away the heat, and Aunt Hu's body temperature gradually returned to normal.

About half an hour later, Aunt Hu's dazed mind gradually cleared, the feeling of coldness in her body slowly disappeared, and she regained a lot of strength.

The female physician came in and asked, "How are you feeling?"

After getting dressed, Aunt Hu's face was slightly flushed. "I'm fine, I'm fine."

Nobody told her she had to take off her clothes to apply alcohol! It was so embarrassing!

"That's good. Get up and have a bowl of water." The female doctor handed the water to Aunt Hu.

"Um? I'm not thirsty right now, can I not drink it?"

"No, everyone who has had alcohol applied needs to drink a bowl of water to avoid dehydration." Actually, the female doctor didn't know the reason either; she just did whatever she was told.

After finishing her water, Aunt Hu followed the female doctor out of the cubicle. Their appearance immediately drew everyone's attention. Seeing Aunt Hu's flushed face, Sun Shuhua assumed she still had a fever, rushed over, touched her forehead, and exclaimed with delight, "She's really not hot anymore!"

The mother and daughter embraced each other, weeping with joy.

Feng Caoshan stroked his beard and instructed, "A cold can be serious or minor. Now that the high fever has subsided and your mother is fine, I will prescribe a new prescription for you. As long as you take the medicine on time, you will recover in less than three days."

Feng Caoshan was very proud of his medical skills.

"Thank you so much, doctor! Thank you so much, doctor, for saving my mother's life!" Sun Shuhua was about to kneel down immediately.

Feng Caoshan held her up, "No, no, no, don't thank me, thank His Majesty!"

Sun Shuhua was very emotional, repeating everything Feng Caoshan said, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The clinic had dedicated guards who immediately reported the situation to their superiors.

Sun Shuhua and her son walked out of the clinic carrying a bag of medicine, leaving the crowd of onlookers dumbfounded.

"Has the high fever really gone down?"

"If a person can stand up, then it's definitely not true."

"Wow, this alcohol actually works?"

It works, doesn't it? People go in lying down and come out walking; you can't fake it under the watchful eyes of everyone.

Feng Caoshan was able to become a resident doctor at Huichuntang not only because of his medical skills, but also because of his clever mind. Aunt Hu was the first patient he treated and the first person to use alcohol to reduce fever. With such a good example here, wouldn't it be a pity if he didn't come out and say a few words about it?

"As you all have probably seen, Aunt Hu's high fever has subsided. This time, we are very grateful for the precious medicine, alcohol. Otherwise, given Aunt Hu's condition, she would have been in critical condition in a day or two, and even a miracle would have been difficult to save her."

Fu Zhi Qiao nodded secretly. This doctor was not only outstanding in medical skills, but also quite eloquent. He ignited everyone's emotions in just a few words.

However, this was a result she was happy to see.

Upon hearing Feng Caoshan's words, everyone realized that the use of alcohol among the people was an imperial edict personally issued by His Majesty the Emperor. They then praised His Majesty the Emperor for loving his people like his own children and for being a wise ruler.

Since ancient times, those who win the hearts of the people win the world. If Emperor Chengde wanted to gain a good reputation and be remembered for generations, he had to gain a good reputation from the people.

The news from the streets quickly reached the palace, and Emperor Chengde was overjoyed. Alcohol could reduce fever, cure diseases, and even win the hearts of the people. It was truly a wonderful thing!