Chapter 130: Worrying
The guy next to him just remembered and nodded quickly.
Xu Fu went upstairs. Since Baili Yunzhou left, he had more time to spend with his senior sister. A month ago, he told Master Deng that he would not study there anymore, and moved to the accommodation provided by Changming Pavilion overnight, just to be closer to his senior sister.
He knocked on the door and walked in, saying, "Sister, take a rest and have some cakes."
Yu Huatang looked up from the blueprint and said, "You don't have much money right now, so don't buy these next time."
Xu Fu nodded and sat with her, telling her some interesting stories and the phenomena he had witnessed. Finally, he sighed, "My father also told me to go back and open a shop. I saw that the medicine shops on Heyuan Street are obviously more profitable than the shops. If I had to choose, I really think opening a medicine shop is better."
Yu Huatang asked, "Is the pharmacy crowded?"
"Hmm. There are more than just a lot of people, there are simply huge crowds." He thought for a moment and said, "But most of them are elderly. There have been some young people these past two days. So I think if I want to make a lot of money, the pharmacy is the best place to do it."
Yu Huatang asked uneasily, "You just said that many elderly people have been sick recently."
"Yes." Xu Fu didn't know she was asking this. "Many people in Changming Pavilion have also asked for leave."
Yu Huatang nodded and stopped talking. She stood up and walked out. She came to several pharmacies and found that they were indeed crowded as Xu Fu said.
She felt a little uneasy. Fifteen years ago, when she was nine years old, a plague killed half of the villagers. She remembered clearly that it was the elderly and weak people, and then some young people.
She didn't dare to think about it anymore and immediately went to the government office to tell Zhao Yan about the situation.
Zhao Yan stared at her motionlessly, "That's definitely the case."
Yu Huatang nodded. "I don't know the details, but I visited various pharmacies today, and business is indeed better than before. And these are all elderly and frail patients. If you have any concerns, you can consult the doctors first. I just feel that this situation is too similar to before."
Zhao Yan said, "Okay, I understand. I'll verify these symptoms tomorrow."
Yu Huatang finally put her worries to rest. She was not a doctor and was afraid that he would not believe what she said. But regardless of whether it was a plague or not, such a large number of people getting sick could also be some other epidemic.
A few days later, the officials from the government office came and asked her to come over.
She followed him there. Along the way, she looked out from the sedan chair and saw that there were more people in the major pharmacies than before, and several doctors also followed him to the government office.
After everyone arrived, Zhao Yan said solemnly, "A few days ago, Miss Yu reminded me that the disease in the city is indeed an epidemic and is contagious."
As soon as these words were spoken, all the doctors who were called in were terrified and broke out in cold sweats.
Doctor Luo is the president of the guild here. He vaguely sensed something was wrong a few days ago. Except for some people with underlying diseases, the rest of the people who came to see the doctor were healthy. But these healthy people suddenly fell ill. When Zhao Yan asked him to verify it yesterday, he also got the answer.
Once this new epidemic spreads, doctors like them will be the first to bear the brunt. Even the guild president is terrified when faced with such a situation, but as the guild president, he cannot retreat.
Afterwards, Zhao Yan instructed some protective measures and issued an order that all major shops would not open unless necessary.
After a few days, the people in the city vaguely felt that something was wrong. Those who were sick died suddenly, which made the people extremely panic.
The doctors who faced the patients were even more terrified. Most of them had isolated those who were seriously ill, vomiting profusely, and unable to be cured. But they still couldn't hold on and died within a day or two.
Some people who were not sick were infected while taking care of the patients and became the next to die.
Zhao Yan immediately wrote a memorial to report to Fuzhou Prefecture and also wrote a letter to the imperial court.
At the same time, several neighboring counties, including Hui'an County, also discovered multiple epidemics. The number of deaths each day was more than the day before. Quanzhou Prefecture suddenly became an epidemic city. All official roads and small paths were closed. Except for some officials and people who bought and sold medicinal materials, no one was allowed to leave!
By the time Fuzhou Prefecture sent people to provide support, the epidemic in Quanzhou Prefecture had become even more serious, and all major shops were closed. Yu Huatang had already notified people a few days ago not to gather together or come to the shops.
It was originally thought that this would alleviate the symptoms of the epidemic, but Zhou Xiang from Dengshitang was already bedridden, and the doctors from Xingrentang and Baozhitang also fell ill one after another.
The people in the city were even more frightened.
Zhao Yan once again summoned all the major shops and doctors. In addition to asking for countermeasures, he also needed personnel and financial support.
The shop owners who came this time were no longer arguing like before, and even the doctors were silent.
Zhao Yan said, "The most important thing now is for the doctors to develop a prescription to control the epidemic, and how to prevent those who are not sick from getting sick. In addition, I need more manpower. This epidemic has broken out suddenly, and there are more female patients. The doctors are already overwhelmed. Can the major owners spare some manpower or provide some help?"
Doctor Luo quickly said, "Regarding the prescription, I've gathered all the doctors to develop it, but I'm afraid it won't be that fast. Regarding prevention measures, if the patient is at home, they must be isolated individually. Their clothes and dishes must be kept separate. Even after death, everything must be burned, including the bed."
Another doctor said, "We also need to warn the people not to walk around the streets. Even if they come into contact with sick people, they must wear gloves and a face cloth, and change clothes and wash hands immediately after coming out."
"I heard that half the people in some of the counties down below have died. Can we still hold on?"
…………
Later, after most people had shared their experiences, Doctor Luo added, "Sir, I think this disease may have an incubation period. People who came to the pharmacy had no symptoms at first, but two days later, they immediately became weak all over and had a high fever. I'm thinking... perhaps, someone who looks fine may actually be ill..."
As soon as these words came out, there was a sudden silence...
If this is true, then some of them are already patients...
If contact could be contagious, they would unconsciously hug their arms, as if trying to distance themselves from others...
Zhao Yan asked, "Apart from these situations, is there anything else?"
He added, "Since there isn't one, what I want to discuss next is whether the major shops are willing to contribute manpower and financial resources?"
The room was silent. Everyone in the shop knew that this was not a simple matter of manpower. They had to be present in person and it could not be done by just sending a few people.
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