Lili nodded, and Shen Jiaqing was about to go inside to brew medicine for her: "Come inside quickly, I'll brew your medicine."
"good."
Shen Jiaqing entered the house first, and Lili followed, noticing Zeng Yingfeng's hesitant expression.
Zeng Yinfeng was a little confused. Shen Jiaqing knew this place was dangerous, so why did he let Lili stay instead of sending her away?
Lili was equally confused: "What's wrong with Brother Zeng?"
"Miss Chen, this place is dangerous, why...?"
"Thank you for your concern, Brother Zeng, but don't worry, this little illness won't hurt me."
Zeng Yingfeng was even more confused.
Lili raised an eyebrow, smiled at him, and went inside to drink her medicine.
Zeng Yingfeng wanted to go in and say a few more words of advice, but then he remembered that there was still medicine simmering in the stove, so he stopped.
Lili drank the bowl of medicine in one gulp, and Shen Jiaqing quickly gave her a piece of candied fruit: "Candied fruit is very precious here now. There are many children in the village, and if each of them eats one piece, it will be gone in half a day."
Lili silently made a note of it and asked, "Fourth brother, how is the situation now? I came in from the village entrance and didn't see any houses open."
Shen Jiaqing's expression was solemn: "On the second day after we arrived, Master found out the cause of this cholera outbreak."
It rarely snows in Saihō County, but this sudden blizzard overnight washed away the embankment upstream of the river next to Riki Village. In addition, the area is surrounded by mountains, and the blizzard caused pollution.
After a blizzard, the melting of large amounts of snow in mountainous areas can trigger landslides and mudslides. These geological disasters can disturb the soil, rocks, and vegetation on the mountain surface, carrying impurities into rivers, lakes, and other water sources, increasing water turbidity and potentially introducing heavy metals and other harmful substances, thus affecting water quality.
In addition, blizzards may cause some animals to freeze to death. When the snow and ice melt, these animal carcasses may be washed into water sources. During the decomposition process, the carcasses will release a large number of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, thus polluting the water sources.
A series of problems led to a cholera outbreak in Rikimura.
These past few days, Physician Sikong and his team have been doing their best to prevent the cholera outbreak from spreading further and to control the villagers' illnesses.
"What about the antidote? The treatment?"
Lili asked impatiently.
The light in Lili's eyes was too dazzling, carrying a kind of certainty that seemed to come from nowhere, which stunned Shen Jiaqing.
"ah?"
"I mean, fourth brother, how's your research going? How much longer will it take to develop a healing technique?"
Shen Jiaqing was bewildered: "Lili, what are you talking about? Although I have been trying to study this disease, I haven't made any progress yet. I don't know if it's because of the fatigue of the past few days, but whenever I seem to be able to think of something, my head hurts terribly, and then I can't think of anything at all."
Shen Jiaqing frowned, sighing with some distress, "Ultimately, it's because my skills are insufficient; I can't do anything. However, even someone as capable as my master has no clue, so I don't expect to be able to come up with anything. It's just that the people in this village are probably..."
Shen Jiaqing lowered his head in disappointment. Since he was studying medicine, he naturally understood that people are born, grow old, get sick, and die one day.
But this village has only a few hundred people, young and old, men and women, and all of them. Is he just going to watch them die like this?
To die in such an unusually cold winter?
"Fourth brother, don't worry, you can do it." Lili smiled, her eyes still sparkling like a small flame in the cold weather, warm and encouraging. "Fourth brother, you're only a teenager, you're still a child, don't put so much pressure on yourself."
Lili patiently and gently guided the boy in front of her, this kind and intelligent boy.
Shen Jiaqing's eyes flickered slightly.
"Fourth brother, you can definitely do it."
The fog in Shen Jiaqing's heart seemed to gradually dissipate, and after the confusion, a warm and firm strength seemed to be injected into her heart.
After a moment, Shen Jiaqing nodded: "Mm."
The brother and sister smiled at each other. Encouraged by his sister, Shen Jiaqing was instantly energized, as if he had been given a shot of adrenaline.
If Lili says he can do it, then he can do it!
Shen Jiaqing grabbed another piece of candied fruit for her, coaxing her like a child: "Alright, Lili, you can eat the candy yourself, I'll go do some more research!"
Lili chuckled as Shen Jiaqing lifted the curtain and went into the inner room. Through the fluttering corner of the curtain, Lili saw stacks of medical books on the table in the inner room, and dozens of kinds of medicinal herbs on the shelf next to them.
After Shen Jiaqing went inside to get busy, Lili took a look around the room.
This room was probably the largest one Lili had seen along the way. It wasn't exactly shabby, but it seemed that the doors and windows were only slightly ajar for ventilation, and there was only a small brazier of charcoal burning.
Lili didn't eat the candied fruit; she put it away, thought for a moment, and then went out again.
Zeng Yingfeng was still diligently fanning himself and decocting medicine, but with a hint of sadness at parting.
Lili hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and tentatively called out, "Prefect Zeng?"
Zeng Yingfeng turned around in surprise and saw Lili standing behind him.
Zeng Yingfeng stood up: "How did Miss Chen know...?"
Lili smiled and said, "Lili heard that the government sent two doctors to stay in the village, but Brother Zeng has the air of a scholar and his demeanor is hard to conceal, so he doesn't seem like a doctor. I also heard that Prefect Zeng is currently in Rucheng. I dared to guess, and I guessed right. Before I set off, my second brother said that he met a Prefect Zeng who helped him, allowing the supplies my fourth brother needed to be sent up the mountain. Lili thanks Brother Zeng."
Zeng Yingfeng waved his hand: "It's nothing."
Zeng Yingfeng never expected that the owner behind the caravan was actually Shen Jiaqing's second brother.
Shen Jiaqing is a disciple of the divine physician Sikong. Despite his young age, he possesses such a noble character and is willing to risk his life to save others in this critical situation.
From Shen Jialu to Shen Jiaqing, and now to Shen Lili, the Shen family has truly impressed him.
Zeng Yingfeng frowned: "Miss Chen, although you have taken the medicine and are not in danger for the time being, you are still young. It would be better to go down the mountain as soon as possible."
Lili smiled but didn't answer.
Metaphysics is a difficult thing to explain.
Zeng Yingfeng had tried to persuade her many times, but Lili refused, and he couldn't force her to agree.
With Doctor Sikong and Shen Jiaqing around, nothing would happen to Lili. Zeng Yingfeng paused for a moment, then squatted down to continue examining the medicine.
The courtyard gate creaked open, and several voices of conversation drifted in.
Lili looked in the direction of the sound.
"The medication will be ineffective in two days. Those who are not infected should get off the mountain as soon as possible tomorrow and should not stay on the mountain any longer."
"Yes, Dr. Zhang and I will go to each household tonight to notify them again."
"Senior Sikong, after those villagers come down the mountain, will you also...?"
The Divine Physician Sikong shook his head: "If I go down the mountain, what will happen to those people who are lying in bed?"
"No, Senior Sikong! This medicine cannot be taken continuously, but if you don't take it and continue to stay here, aren't you just courting death?"
"Then take your medicine."
"That's absolutely unacceptable, Senior Sikong. This medicine is too potent. Continuous use will definitely damage your body, and you might even bleed from all seven orifices and die. You developed this medicine; don't you know that?"
Doctor Sikong didn't reply. The next second, he saw Lili, who was sitting obediently under the eaves, smiling and looking at him expectantly.
"Pear?"
"Grandpa Sikong!"
Doctor Sikong quickly ascended the steps, and Lili, like a little sparrow, happily rushed up to him, tenderly brushing the snow off his sleeves and catching the straw hat he had taken off.
"Grandpa Sikong, why have you lost so much weight in such a short time? Have you not been eating or resting properly?"
The divine physician, Sikong, was somewhat serious, but his brows and eyes were clearly relaxed. He was extremely pleased with Lili's caring manner, and even his old bones felt warmed.
"Mind your own business. As for you, why aren't you staying in Liucheng? What are you doing here? Don't you know how dangerous this place is?"
"Lili knows, and it's precisely because she knows this place is dangerous that she insisted on coming here. Otherwise, how could Lili be at ease leaving you and Fourth Brother behind?"
The divine physician Sikong sighed, "You, you."
Lili smiled sweetly, and the two doctors who followed the Divine Physician Sikong in were stunned. They asked, "Uh, Senior Sikong, this is... your granddaughter?"
Doctor Sikong did not refute, and introduced them to Lili: "These two are Doctor Zhang and Doctor Li."
Lili curtsied gracefully: "Dr. Zhang, Dr. Li."
"Why."
The two people, with great insight, praised Lili for her graceful appearance, and Doctor Sikong, without any modesty, proudly accepted everything on Lili's behalf.
The divine physician Sikong asked Lili, "Have you seen your fourth brother?"
"I've seen him."
"Yes, it's good that you're here. It'll allow him to relax a bit. He's been working hard lately, so you should spend some time with your fourth brother."
"Of course, but besides Fourth Brother, Grandpa Sikong, you can't work too hard either. You've forgotten, you're not a young man in your prime anymore."
The Divine Physician Sikong feigned anger: "Hey, what do you mean by that? Are you looking down on me because I'm an old man?"
“Where?” Lili smiled.
The laughter and joy at that moment briefly dispelled the tension and dullness of the past few days, bringing an unprecedented sense of ease.
Physician Sikong glanced at the medicine Zeng Yingfeng was brewing and said, "That's enough."
"Ah, then I'll take it to Aunt Liu now."
"Um."
Zeng Yinfeng wrapped the pot handle with a thick cloth, poured the medicine into a bowl, covered his mouth and nose with a gauze, and went out with an umbrella.
Seeing this, Dr. Zhang and Dr. Li also said they were going back inside to eat.
Only the grandfather and granddaughter remained under the eaves. After they went inside, Lili hung up the straw hat and asked, "Grandpa Sikong, do you know that Brother Zeng is the Prefect Zeng?"
"Um."
Lili nodded: "Prefect Zeng is indeed a rare good official, but he is a bit inexperienced."
Lili could somewhat understand why Grand Tutor Zeng had sent his own son to be the prefect.
As an official who serves as the parents of the people, it is certainly good to regard the people as one's own life. However, since he has taken on this great responsibility, he should understand how heavy the burden on his shoulders and how important his duties are.
Rather than risking danger here, Zeng Yingfeng should prioritize his own safety.
The burden on his shoulders was heavier than he had imagined. What would happen if something happened to him here?
But it cannot be denied that he does indeed possess a rare childlike heart.
The Divine Physician Sikong smiled casually: "Where's your fourth brother?"
Lili whispered mysteriously, "Fourth Brother is researching healing techniques."
The divine physician Sikong raised an eyebrow.
*
Before nightfall, Lili found out what Licun lacked and rode her horse down the mountain.
Unlike when she came, Lili asked Zeng Yinfeng to protect her as she descended the mountain.
As night fell, the wind and snow intensified. Lili put on a straw hat, but her hair was still blown about wildly.
“Brother Zeng,” Lili called out to the person next to her who was lost in thought.
"Um?"
After observing for a moment, Lili asked with a smile, "Brother Zeng, are you worried?"
Zeng Yingfeng did not deny it: "Yes."
"Would you mind talking to Lili about it?"
Zeng Yingfeng wanted to shake his head, but when he saw Lili's exceptionally pure eyes, he was bewitched and nodded.
“Of course,” Zeng Yingfeng said. “You heard it at the door this afternoon. Doctor Sikong’s medicine can only last for a while. After the day after tomorrow, if those few uninfected villagers don’t leave, they will get infected sooner or later.”
"Is Brother Zeng worried that they won't leave, or that something might happen after they leave, and that people outside will also get infected?"
Zeng Yingfeng was somewhat surprised: "Both, I suppose. I certainly believe in Doctor Sikong's medical skills, but this matter is serious, so we have to be extra careful. What if those villagers move elsewhere and carry any latent pathogens? These past few days, I've personally seen people with cholera; their bodies are covered in sores, and some are even unrecognizable..."
"You're right, where will these villagers be moved to?"
Zeng Yinfeng mentioned a place name.
Lili frowned.
"Since you have such concerns, instead of brewing and delivering medicine in the village, you should go back and do what a prefect should do. For example, arrange for people to set up an isolation area. Even if those villagers bring hidden sources of infection, they can be isolated and observed, right?"
Lili sighed again. This prefect was kind-hearted, but not very smart.
How could you not think of something so simple?
No wonder Doctor Sikong let him stay in the village to help out; he just wanted to wait for him to figure it out on his own, which would take three autumns.
"Miss!"
At the foot of the mountain, Huang Ying and Yun Shu could be seen waiting there from afar. Upon hearing the sound of horses' hooves, the two maids lifted their skirts and ran up the mountain.
Only after seeing Lili did my worries subside.
Upon seeing a strange man beside Lili, the two instantly became wary and stopped ten steps away, waiting for Lili.
Lili responded, and seeing the two maids approaching, she didn't say anything more.
"Thank you, Brother Zeng, for taking Lili down the mountain. I will send someone to deliver the things up tomorrow. I also need Brother Zeng's help to tell the soldiers guarding the area. Thank you."
Zeng Yingfeng said, "Ah, that's easy."
Lili smiled and spurred her horse toward the two of them.
"Huang Ying, Yun Shu, it's so cold, how long have you been waiting here?"
"Miss, are you alright? Did the Fourth Young Master give you that preventative medicine?"
"Drink it, drink it, don't worry."
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