Chapter 15 The Medicine Gourd: "You are love, warmth, and hope"...
The Jingyanggang area is bordered by the winding Jindi River to the east, the murmuring Tuhai River to the south, and the leisurely flow of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal to the north.
You Mingjiang came to the Jin Di River embankment alone. The scene before her made her expression unusually solemn.
After the flood, the wooden bridge disappeared without a trace, washed away and its whereabouts unknown. The riverbed rose, and dark brown, slippery silt piled up rampantly on the riverbanks, completely burying the once lush and tender grass shoots.
The river, which was seventy or eighty feet wide, was littered with the carcasses of chickens, ducks, pigs, cattle, mules, and horses, which had begun to rot and infest with maggots under the scorching sun.
The pungent, putrid stench wafted in waves, making it almost impossible for You Mingjiang to open his eyes. He slipped and nearly fell into the filthy river.
You Mingjiang's face was extremely pale.
Rivers filled with rotting corpses and overflowing sewage will inevitably become breeding grounds for epidemics over time.
Thinking of this, she made a decisive move and arranged for Hai Hongzhu and her group to head north overnight, while she stayed behind at the Mountain God Temple to finish up the rest.
really.
An outbreak of the highly contagious disease "Bie Luo Sha" has occurred!
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The cloth face covering was soaked with sweat and clung tightly to my face, making me feel stuffy, hot, and extremely uncomfortable.
Unable to bear the heat, You Mingjiang bent down, scooped up a handful of well water, and splashed the cool water onto her burning cheeks, hoping to cool down.
The main symptoms of "Bieluosha" are frequent diarrhea and vomiting. Some time ago, after the flood receded, the villagers, exhausted and weak, went down the mountain in twos and threes. They had to clear the thick silt and broken ruins, and bury their deceased relatives and friends. Inevitably, they came into contact with contaminated items, and then brought the infectious disease back to the mountain temple.
In addition, the weather was extremely hot, and some villagers were so thirsty that their throats were parched. They couldn't wait for You Mingjiang to boil the well water after the impurities had settled and let it cool down. Seeing that the well water was clear, they couldn't resist drinking it, and as a result, some people fell ill.
These villagers were already weakened by the flood, and within a few days, everyone in the mountain temple was infected with the disease.
Gao Jiping frowned, holding a charcoal stick in her hand, and scribbled on the dark yellow hemp paper.
Upon seeing You Mingjiang, he hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Dr. You, I took a few children to the mountains to collect herbs. We found quite a few forsythia, scutellaria, angelica, and perilla. However, fresh bamboo leaves, gardenia, and coptis are too hard to find on Jingyang Ridge."
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Gao Jiping stayed on her own initiative.
You Mingjiang had sewed a patch into the clothes of Hai Hongzhu, Tie Pinggu, and Hai Sidie, hiding 10,000 coins in each patch. Although she kindly persuaded the three to head north first and meet in Pingding Prefecture, they resolutely refused. Helpless, she had to compromise and tell them to go to the foot of the mountain to "isolate" and live there until the epidemic was over before setting off together.
As for Gao Jiping and her four adopted brothers, none of them wanted to leave together.
She plans to stay in Jingyanggang and open a small tavern.
Jingyanggang was a vital transportation hub, where merchants, officials, and even outlaws traveling from the north and south would need to rest.
People from all walks of life frequent this place, and it's exceptionally well-informed.
Moreover, the surviving villagers in the mountain temple also need to find a way to make a living. At that time, Gao Jiping's tavern can buy grain and vegetables from the villagers at fair prices, which will not only help the villagers get through the difficulties, but also help You Mingjiang win over the hearts of the people.
If You Mingjiang ever needs anything in the future, Gao Jiping and her brothers will be happy to help.
Seeing that Gao Jiping was determined, You Mingjiang didn't ask her why she stayed, and generously gave her 30,000 coins as start-up capital.
Gao Jiping was deeply moved and secretly resolved to turn this tavern on Jingyang Ridge into the most effective intelligence station.
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Let's get back to the main topic.
Gao Jiping turned the charcoal sticks, reporting to You Mingjiang item by item: "Agastache rugosa, gypsum, atractylodes macrocephala, and magnolia officinalis—these are the few medicinal herbs you have left. There are also jujubes, ginger, and dried tangerine peel. Before the flood, these weren't hard to find, but given the current situation, I'm afraid..."
You Mingjiang had been busy all night and was already exhausted. Hearing what she said, he glanced down at her and said softly, "That's enough."
Among these medicinal herbs, gypsum, forsythia, and scutellaria can clear heat and purge fire, specifically targeting heat toxins; agastache, magnolia bark, and atractylodes can strengthen the spleen and remove dampness, targeting dampness obstructing the spleen and stomach; angelica and perilla can relieve exterior symptoms and harmonize the middle jiao, dispelling external pathogens...
However, the combination and dosage of medicinal materials must be carefully adjusted according to the different stages of the patient's condition.
Gao Jiping continued methodically, "The three thatched sheds have been built, and we can transfer the patients with milder symptoms there tonight. The villagers with milder symptoms also found a few large pots in the ruins, which can be used to boil water."
You Mingjiang required all patients infected with the plague to drink boiled water; the makeshift thatched huts were used to isolate patients in batches according to the severity of their illness.
Let the plague on Jingyang Ridge stop at the Mountain God Temple.
She did not want to see the epidemic continue to spread.
There has been enough suffering on this land.
.
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In the stillness of the night, the infected villagers fell into a deep sleep.
After a busy day, Yu Mingjiang, who had been working non-stop, walked out of the mountain god temple with unsteady steps.
As she stepped across the threshold, she swayed twice and had to lean against the wall to steady herself.
With trembling hands, she struggled to slowly remove the coarse cloth face towel, her chapped lips oozing blood.
He casually sat down on the ground, leaned his back against the wall, and gasped for breath.
I've reached the limit of my abilities.
You Mingjiang raised his hand to wipe his face. The sweat stung his skin, making it red and itchy, and his throat was already hoarse.
Many villagers infected with "Bieluosha" suffered from severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance due to frequent diarrhea.
While traditional Chinese medicine decoctions can play a supplementary role, they can only slightly alleviate their discomfort and are not effective in combating Vibrio cholerae.
Even the alum is used up, so getting clean drinking water tomorrow will only be more difficult.
You Mingjiang had a vague feeling that this was an unprecedented and enormous challenge. If she made the slightest mistake, the first power she had painstakingly built would be destroyed.
perhaps……
She should have cut her losses and used the limited water and medicine to help those who were more likely to survive.
However, when she saw the villagers' eyes filled with fear and a desire to survive, her heart softened, and she couldn't bring herself to cut off their hope of life.
Strands of hair, damp with sweat, clung to her rosy cheeks, adding a touch of childlike innocence befitting her age.
In this bloody and treacherous world, might makes right, and strength determines life and death.
In the eyes of some powerful people, the lives and dignity of the weak are superfluous, and they are not worthy of choosing their own destiny.
They're just a bunch of worthless weaklings...
Is that really the case? Torn between inner conflict and his own thoughts, You Mingjiang suddenly slapped his thigh and stood up abruptly.
wrong!
She doesn't want any jungle law or survival of the fittest!
Beneath the vast sky, her figure was so small, yet so majestic.
If I encounter a mountain, I will cross it; if I encounter a sea, I will stride across it! She thought to herself: I am the master of my own will, and any stumbling block in my way is destined to be defeated by me!
Yu Mingjiang was covered in sweat, her eyes sparkling. Her voice was soft, but her attitude was firm: "I will not give up."
After thinking for a moment, she clenched her fist again and said in a stronger tone, "I won't give up on any of them!"
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As soon as these words were spoken, the Holy Mother System, which had been silent for a long time, seemed to be encouraged and suddenly became active again.
The system announcement sounded like heavenly music in her ears:
[Ding! Respected young hero, it has been several days since we last met, and I have been thinking of you day and night. You performed a chivalrous act at Jingyanggang in Yanggu County, successfully rescuing a group of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people. The reward for your righteous deeds has been sent to your bamboo medicine basket.]
The reward is as follows:
Chlorine dioxide effervescent tablets 0.75g/tablet * 200 tablets
Azithromycin injection 0.25g*1 vial
Ceftriaxone sodium powder for injection 0.25g*1 vial
[0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection 500ml/bag * 1 bag]
[This maintenance is now complete. This gift is a token of our encouragement. We hope you will remain humble and continue your efforts.]
You Mingjiang: "..."
Before she could recover from her surprise, she was stunned by the quantity of medicine she was rewarded with.
Whether it's an injection or saline solution, there's only one dose... Is the Holy Mother System letting her randomly pick a lucky person for the intravenous drip?
·
Just as she was internally complaining, the sound of fireworks rang in her ears again:
[Ding! We have learned that during the system's hibernation and upgrade period, you, young hero, have relied on your own efforts to help those in distress, demonstrating kindness and righteousness that moves heaven and earth!]
[You have defeated 99.9% of all challengers on the server. Two precious compensations are now offered.]
"Boom!" The sound of fireworks rising into the sky rang in her ears.
You Mingjiang heard the broadcast in her ear, as gentle as a mother's earnest instructions and murmur to her child.
High virtue makes one a saint; the earth is like a mother, nurturing all things with its vastness, and embracing all rivers like the ocean.
In the name of the Holy Mother, may the young hero You Mingjiang be granted a sincere love and blessing.
[②You are love, warmth, and hope. May the young hero's passion never fade, upholding righteousness in the world,① bringing joy to every household.]
Yu Mingjiang opened his eyes wide in bewilderment. Before he could even process what was happening, a soreness rose in his throat, and a choked sob escaped his lips.
·
Immediately afterwards, the two rewards from the Holy Mother System transformed into two golden treasure chests and were presented to her.
She took a deep breath, blinking rapidly, trying to hold back her tears. You Mingjiang opened the first golden treasure chest.
After a burst of fireworks effects, a dark, gourd-shaped medicine gourd jumped out of the golden treasure chest.
【Item Name: Medicine Gourd】
[Description: Legend has it that this gourd contained the elixir of immortality of Tieguai Li (Li the Iron-Crutch Li), while others say it is the "invisible" sixth brother of the Calabash Brothers. It appears unremarkable on the surface, with almost zero presence, yet it can replicate medicines without limit, although the replicates are less potent.]
[Note 1: This gourd cannot replicate living things; it can only replicate medicines.]
[Note 2: Once bound, users cannot be unbound or traded. The page will refresh automatically if lost.]
You Mingjiang was overjoyed, as this would solve the problem of insufficient injections.
She immediately began operating the device, aiming the bottle at the azithromycin injection. The gourd flashed with golden light, and a line of red text appeared on it: "Please enter the number of copies."
You Mingjiang thought for a moment and then wrote the names of the people in the temple on the gourd by hand.
Once the required quantity was received, the gourd's mouth slowly closed, and the dark gourd immediately began to glow. But just as its attribute stated, "its presence is almost zero," and no one in the thatched hut peeked out to check.
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During the brief moment when the medicine gourd was flashing, You Mingjiang opened the second golden treasure chest.
After opening the treasure chest, a shiny title appeared.
[Ding! Congratulations on obtaining the rare title "Listening to the Rain on a Withered Lotus" (Effective after equipping)]
Title: Listening to the Rain on a Withered Lotus Leaf
[Title Effect: Though the withered lotus is about to fade, it clings to life in the rain, possessing a beauty of fragile resilience. When wearing this title, if the player suffers fatal damage, a skill will immediately trigger, restoring 60% of their physical abilities and 80% of their health, maintaining a state of near-death.]
[Note 1: This can be triggered once every six months.]
[Note 2: Each skill trigger is based on the previous physical state.]
After opening the two treasure chests, the [Medicine Gourd] duplicated the corresponding number of azithromycin injections.
You Mingjiang followed suit, performing the same procedure on physiological saline and ceftriaxone sodium powder injection.
She thought to herself: No matter what, we're saved!
The future is bright.
.
With the blessing of the [Medicine Gourd], You Mingjiang steadily controlled the plague in the area around the Mountain God Temple.
She mixed azithromycin and ceftriaxone injections with saline solution and then moved among the surviving villagers, administering intravenous drips to each of them. In just three days, the villagers, who had been dehydrated from the "snail sha" (a type of rash), gradually regained their vitality, and color returned to their pale faces.
The heavy weight on You Mingjiang's heart finally lifted. After resting for a few days, she led the villagers to dredge the river.
Shouting slogans, the group dug out the silt shovel by shovel and filled the pits and hollows of the dike. Under the scorching sun, the silt became firm and hard in just two days. They then mixed in some reeds to further reinforce the dike.
After the river was cleared, You Mingjiang called on everyone to retrieve the human and animal carcasses floating in the river.
The villagers promptly burned the animal carcasses, and after some discussion, they decided to bury the bodies of the unfortunate people who had floated to the ground, so that they could rest in peace.
The tattered straw mats that everyone had scavenged from the ruins came in handy. They gently rolled up the floating corpses with the mats, then carried them on door panels and took them to the woods on Jingyang Ridge.
A deep pit, several meters deep, had already been dug, its bottom evenly covered with a thick layer of powder—a carefully mixed mixture of lime, sulfur, and wood ash—to prevent the seepage of bodily fluids. Then, the bodies, wrapped in straw mats, were placed into the pit one by one. With each layer of soil added, the villagers solemnly sprinkled on a layer of powder, layer upon layer, until a large mound was formed. Afterwards, mugwort was burned around the mound, the rising smoke disinfecting the surrounding air.
You Mingjiang specially moved a pine tree and planted it on the grave mound. She clasped her hands together and softly murmured, "①If in future lives there are people...who sincerely reverent...they will attain peace and happiness..."
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By the seventh month of the lunar calendar, the mountain jujubes are hanging all over the branches, their green color tinged with a hint of red, appearing and disappearing among the leaves.
Jingyanggang exudes a unique vibrancy.
On this day, the imperial court finally sent a vice censor-in-chief from the Censorate to regulate the waterways.
At this moment, the first rays of dawn were breaking.
Small groups of villagers rushed anxiously toward the mountain god temple. They were eager to share this incredible news with Doctor You as soon as possible.
But as soon as they stepped into the temple, the villagers were taken aback.
The mountain god temple, which was usually dilapidated, had been cleaned up and looked neat and tidy.
On the altar, there was a bunch of delicate crape myrtle flowers and a plate of brightly colored wild jujubes.
Dr. You and her bamboo basket have long since disappeared.
Inside the mountain god temple, only the empty four walls and the majestic statue of the god remained.
·
Sunlight filters through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the winding mountain road.
Yu Mingjiang wore a coarse brown robe, her long hair casually tied up, with a crape myrtle hairpin at her temple, and a bamboo medicine basket swaying gently as she walked.
She walked with light steps, occasionally taking out a jujube, wiping it on her handkerchief, and then putting it in her mouth to chew.
While his mouth was busy, he was also tossing a round, plump jujube up and down in his hand. He strolled along the winding mountain path, when suddenly, the sound of flowing water reached his ears.
Following the sound, and passing a clump of lush bushes, a sudden bright light appeared before my eyes. I saw a waterfall cascading down the mountainside, winding its way into a clear stream.
She jumped onto a rock, squatted down, and bent over to splash water to wash her hands. The clear stream reflected her face, and the sunlight poured down, making the shimmering waves look like fine gold leaf.
You Mingjiang raised her hand, plucked the crape myrtle flower from her temple, held the flower between her fingertips, and gently placed it in the stream.
The tiny crape myrtle flowers swayed gently as they meandered along the stream.
Meanwhile, in Jizhou.
Lu Xiaojia bent down and gently stroked the horse's neck, then jumped down and led the horse to the banks of the Ju River.
The horse is a good horse, but after running day and night, it is now so tired that it is panting heavily and can no longer move its legs.
Three or five lush crape myrtle trees were scattered along the water's edge, and Lu Xiaojia stood under the trees' freely outstretched branches.
The water shimmered, almost blindingly so, and his face was radiant, it was hard to tell whether it was the sunlight or the dawn rising from the depths of his heart.
Lu Xiaojia squinted and turned to face away from the light. The rosy clouds of pink, purple, white and red clung to the branches, and petals fluttered down, gently settling on his shoulder.
The horse was restless, its hooves clattering as it paced back and forth. Lu Xiaojia reached out and gently stroked the horse's mane to soothe it, but in doing so, she accidentally broke a branch of a crape myrtle flower.
In an instant, a whole crape myrtle flower suddenly fell into the water and drifted gently forward with the current. He subconsciously drew his sword, flicked the tip, and steadily scooped up the crape myrtle flower.
After examining it for a moment, Lu Xiaojia's lips curled into a slight smile. Sheathed her sword, picked up a crape myrtle flower, and carefully tucked it into her lapel. Then, she mounted her horse, gave a shout, and galloped away.
A sword without a sheath cannot be sheathed.
How can someone without a home talk about going home?
He has a home, but there is no place for him there.
So be it, so be it.
③Flowers fill the islet, wine fills the cup, and freedom is found amidst the vast waves.
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A note from the author:
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[Good Luck Lianlian] Quoting ① “Ten thousand families are blessed with Buddhas and red clouds stand tall, winning joy for every family”: from Shi Liang’s “Five Blessings Descend from Heaven - On the Birthday of Zhao Cizhang at Eighty”.
[Good Luck Lianlian] Quoting ② "You are love, warmth, and hope": From Lin Huiyin's "You Are the April of This World"
[Good Luck Lianlian] Quoting ③ "Flowers fill the islet, wine fills the cup, freedom is found amidst the vast waves": from Li Yu's "Fisherman - A Single Oar in the Spring Breeze, A Leaf-like Boat"
[Let me see] Thank you to the following little angels for sending nutrient solution and landmines:
[Heart] "discoco" irrigated with nutrient solution +20, "Jessica" irrigated with nutrient solution +25, "Big Pigeon" irrigated with nutrient solution +92, "Green Bamboo Red Peony" irrigated with nutrient solution +5 [Heart] Thanks to "Black Square Whiskey." for throwing a landmine [Heart]
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