Chapter 109 Benefits
How could Mr. Bu Ke not know about the Women's Assistance Association established by Li San Niang?
After all, Shihualou and the women inside were secretly the territory and personnel of the Bad People. Qi Zhidie, the new madam of Shihualou, only contacted Li Sanniang because of Mr. Bu Ke's orders.
Qi Zhidie brought her sick mother to seek medical treatment, which prompted Li Sanniang to establish the alliance ahead of schedule.
Otherwise, according to Li San Niang's original plan, she intended to wait until she joined the Chang'an Medical Alliance and gained a certain status before gradually considering establishing an organization to help the women at that time to see a doctor and take medicine.
Furthermore, Li San Niang even went to the Bad People's Liaison Office to find Mr. Bu Ke, asking him to help investigate whether the women in the Shi Hua Lou had any serious problems, whether they could be saved, and whether they would get into any trouble.
However, when faced with Li San Niang's question, Mr. Bu Ke calmly replied, "Of course I know. Didn't you ask me about it before, San Niangzi?"
Li San Niang nodded, "That's right. My original intention was to do my part to help the women at this time, but because of the special status of the women in Shi Hua Lou, I put them in the secret book. But on the surface, I want to help the poor women the most. You must know the principle of 'give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.'"
Facing Li San Niang's gaze, Mr. Bu Ke nodded, indicating that he was listening attentively.
"Therefore, when I spoke with the Alliance last time, I mentioned sterility. Once this concept is established, there will be a large demand for surgical gowns, masks, caps, gloves, and cloths. This will naturally provide a job for skillful and hardworking women, allowing them to earn more money and afford to see a doctor and buy medicine for themselves and their children when they are sick."
Mr. Bu Ke really didn't expect that there was such a hidden meaning behind what Li San Niang went to promote and teach to the Medical Alliance.
Li San Niang paused for a few moments, giving Mr. Bu Ke enough time to think.
"But in fact, the purified alcohol is the most profitable part. Please let me explain."
Firstly, if the alcohol is of sufficient purity, it has a disinfecting effect, which would be a miracle cure for the injured. It's not just for minor injuries in daily life, such as cuts from stones while hoeing, but also for lowering a persistent high fever;
Most useful in treating injuries caused by metal objects, this item can increase the survival rate of soldiers after being wounded! Even experienced soldiers who have been on the battlefield, and even a woman like me, know that it is a treasure of our Great Tang Dynasty!
Although Mr. Bu Ke had already heard about the benefits of alcohol from his elder brother when Li San Niang asked him to go find Mr. Bu Ke, he felt that he hadn't paid enough attention to alcohol when he heard Li San Niang's explanations again.
"Secondly, this alcohol is an excellent accelerant. If needed for military purposes, a small can can ignite ten or even dozens of times more of the same substance."
Thirdly, sir, you've seen the purification process. Different purities of alcohol naturally have different effects. The finest spirits sell for five taels of silver a small jar in the West Market. If you were to sell the spirits after they've been purified once, how could you not fetch two or three times the price? That would be a considerable profit.
"Sir, think about it. Wouldn't it be wonderful if our Tang soldiers could have a sip of strong liquor to warm themselves in the harsh, cold Western Regions? We could even sell it to the people of the Western Regions, different grades for different groups—that's feasible."
After saying this, Li San Niang stopped and watched Mr. Bu Ke's fingers intertwine, giving him time to react and think. Li San Niang thought that Mr. Bu Ke must be having a thousand thoughts and many ideas in his mind at this moment.
Mr. Bu Ke was indeed surprised, but after a moment he picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, and looked at Li San Niang with slight surprise, saying, "San Niang is amazing. I am no match for you. You have such high insights into business, which is truly impressive. I admire you."
After praising Li San Niang, Mr. Bu Ke also complimented Li's father, saying, "Doctor Li has raised San Niang to be so intelligent and kind-hearted. I'm afraid there are few young ladies in Chang'an who have such insight as San Niang."
Regardless of whether Mr. Nobody's words are true or false, who doesn't like to hear nice things?
Anyway, Li San Niang was very happy to see Li's father stroking his beard and smiling as he listened.
"Sir, please don't be so quick to praise me. The benefits mentioned above are not something our Li family can participate in. But what I, Li San Niang, ask for is that if the higher authorities decide to produce and purify this alcohol on a large scale in the future, there will definitely be a need for manpower, whether it is planting corn, potatoes or sweet potatoes, or fermenting and brewing wine, or even the transportation work will be quite demanding."
What I want is to get involved in this, so that the relatives of the women in the Women's Aid Association, whether their husbands or sons, can have an extra income, which will naturally provide them with money to pay for the medical treatment and medicine for the women and children in their families.
After all, all I can do now is tell people through my mother when she delivers babies that I treat women, and that I can charge a lower consultation fee and prescribe medicine at cost price. But sir, how many women can I save by myself?
Naturally, this technique should be spread so that more doctors can master it and save more lives! It would be even better if more ordinary people could participate and earn money through their labor.”
At this point, Brother Li took over the conversation and continued, "Sir, you are very talented and well-connected. My father and Third Sister are both members of the Bad People, so they are our own people. I hope you can help me come up with some ideas and find some connections. This would benefit you, the Bad People, Third Sister, our Li family, and even the entire Tang Dynasty."
“Take a look at Third Sister, sir. She’s only eighteen and she already has such wonderful ideas. Who knows if she’ll have other ideas in the future? If she does have any more ideas, she’ll naturally have to tell you first.”
Brother Li's words really hit the nail on the head!
At first, Mr. Bu Ke's scheme to get Li San Niang to join the Bad People was just a side move.
At the time, Mr. Bu Ke thought that having only one physician in Chang'an was not enough for the Bad People. Coincidentally, Li San Niang had become famous in Chang'an for using her special techniques to save the young master of the Qian family and the young lady of the Liang State Duke's mansion. Mr. Bu Ke thought that since they were both from the Li family, and although she was a woman, she also had good medical skills, so it would be good to recruit her.
Therefore, he deliberately brought people into the Li family during the Ghost Festival to lure Li San Niang into the scheme and get her on the same boat.
But Li San Niang really gave Mr. Bu Ke too many surprises!
The fact that Li San Niang was willing to teach her life-saving techniques to the doctors in the Medical Alliance free of charge already made Mr. Bu Ke think that Li San Niang was no ordinary young woman, but had some insight and courage that even men did not have.
After that, Li San Niang sought out the Bad People to invite master craftsmen to make weapons, and then went to the Alliance to rescue the prostitutes. Later, she even wanted to establish an alliance, wanting to help the millions of prostitutes in the world from the root.
When Mr. Bu Ke received the intelligence from the spy monitoring the Li family, he was still laughing at the young girl who only had some medical skills. How dare she make such a boast?
Who would have thought that Li San Niang would ask her brother Li to deliver to Mr. Bu Ke the blueprints for purifying alcohol and information about the importance of alcohol?
Although Mr. Ke initially looked down on Li San Niang's lofty aspirations, judging from Li San Niang's actions, she was never one to speak without reason and was an upright person who spoke her mind.
After receiving the blueprints, Mr. Bu Ke gathered the craftsmen to study them, and in just a few days, they actually managed to make it.
That's why I came to discuss things with Li Sanniang a few days late, just two days before Li Sanniang's speech at the Alliance.
At this moment, after hearing what Brother Li said, Mr. Bu Ke really believed that Sister Li was a great treasure. He had already unearthed some gold and silver treasures, and there might be even more waiting for him in the future!
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