Chapter 185 Chapter 185 Update.
Upon asking, I found out that there were such shelters not only outside the Great Wall, but also in all the counties inside the Great Wall. This shelter in the eastern suburbs only accommodated the people infected with the plague in the Five Tombs, as the plague outside was in its outbreak period.
Zhuang Gaiyi had just sent her back when Yu Linlang came to report that there was trouble in a shelter. He hurriedly jumped on his horse, reined in his horse, looked back at her for a while, and then whipped the horse and left.
Ji Xu saw his group of people walking away, and heard the sizzling sound of the medicine stove, so he hurriedly took it down. It had been away from them for too long, and the medicine inside had dried up. It was a pity, so he had to boil a new batch to eat.
Later, Chen Juan sent someone to deliver a bathtub, which solved the problem of bathing and was also a happy event.
She got up once in the middle of the night to soak beans. She got up, drained the water, covered it with a soapy cloth, and waited for the bean sprouts to sprout in three days.
By the fifth day of staying here, the number of people infected with the plague from the Five Tombs who were accommodated here had risen to 120.
The ingredients delivered daily have also changed from some meaty items like large bones, pig lungs, and pig livers to pure vegetables.
Every day, large winter melons and bitter vegetables that were in season were delivered. Even if Ji Xu cooked them in large quantities, they would inevitably get tired of them.
"Why is it winter melon and bitter vegetable soup again?"
"They've eaten me into a winter melon."
"We've eaten all the winter melons in the world."
When I saw today's meal in the straw hut, I felt a bitter taste in my mouth.
"Eat more sour food in spring and more bitter food in summer. It is also good to eat some bitter vegetables to clear heat and detoxify."
Although Ji Xu's words were meant to comfort everyone, she also knew that the food was too monotonous. Even the more expensive wheat was in short supply, not to mention flour, which could be considered a refined grain and was something only the upper class could afford.
There is no shortage of food that poor families can afford, such as beans, so Ji Xu plans to use beans in some new ways.
Not only did the bean sprouts grow, she also saw some rotten wooden boards piled against the wall. She asked and found out they were left over from the construction of the shelter. She picked up two pieces and went to the Yulin Guard to ask for saws, hammers and other tools, and sawed the boards there in her spare time.
When Yi Gu came to collect her coat, she asked:
"What is this for?"
"Nail some wooden frames and make tofu."
This way, you can eat soy milk and tofu pudding in the morning, as well as tofu, tofu skin, bean curd sheets, dried tofu, and bean dregs. These are many new dishes to change everyone's taste.
"Can you make tofu?"
Yi Gu was very curious. Wang Huzi, who was taking a nap, said:
"You're asking for trouble."
Perhaps Ji Xu's slow preparation for meals was inconsistent with his rough nature, so he ignored all kitchen matters and just ate, drank and slept every day. He would only get down from the bamboo couch when Ji Xu was ready and urged him to share the soup.
This stone mill was purchased by her from the Imperial Guards. Yigu persuaded Wang Huzi to do the grinding of beans.
"Xu Niang is busy preparing three meals a day, so you deserve to do this. I just dug up some calamus roots by the water a while ago, and I'll be able to make calamus wine soon."
As soon as Wang Huzi heard the wine, he came to grind the mill. He did this job every day.
The next morning, while eating tofu pudding, Ji Xu did not forget to bring a bowl to Yi Gu. Yi Gu ate it and said:
"So tender and sweet, did you add malt sugar?"
Ji Xu nodded. Of course, the kitchen of the shelter did not have good things like malt sugar. He met Zhuang Gaiyi that day and asked him how to send a message home.
The letter said that he was safe here, and the prescription for preventing the epidemic was also written in the letter. Yu Linlang handed it to the maid from outside the door. Xiaozhu at home could read and read it to Tian.
Tian packed a large bag of things and asked someone to bring them here, including food, clothing and daily necessities. This can of malt sugar was brought by Tian.
There was also a jar of meat sauce and a jar of pickled cucumber, both of which she made, for fear that Ji Xu would not eat well here.
Before going to the straw hut to share breakfast, Ji Xu thought for a moment, went back to his room to get the can of malt sugar, dissolved it all in the tofu pudding, and took it to the Plague Office with Wang Huzi.
Now that there are more people, there are three buckets in total. Wang Huzi carries two and she carries one.
“It’s sweet tofu pudding!”
"Xu Niang, this is another trick you've painstakingly created!"
“It’s slippery and delicious.”
They have been eating too much winter melon, bitter vegetables and bean porridge recently, and later they started eating bean sprouts, and now they are eating tofu pudding.
“It’s actually sweet!”
"Can we eat malt sugar here too?"
"This is the malt sugar my mother brought. I don't like sweets very much, so I gave it to everyone to sweeten their mouths."
Ji Xu told the truth that they couldn't let everyone misunderstand that these were things from the shelter, otherwise they would have to come to her if they couldn't eat them in the future.
"You are so willing to give up."
"I'll give you a melon. My son sent it to me."
They wanted to thank her and gave her some fruits under the condition, but they also knew that Ji Xu could not eat anything they had touched, otherwise she would be infected with the plague, so they remembered her kindness in their hearts.
When we arrived at Manager Hu's room, we saw that there was a small lacquered table in her room. On it were some exquisite foods that did not belong here and must have been sent in from outside.
Ever since the General of the Central Army came back last time, after hearing Chen Juan talk about the people's grievances here, it was decided that relatives and friends from outside could send things to the shelter once every two weeks. After being checked by a special Yulin Lang, they would be brought here and handed over to an individual.
Manager Hu's life was much better now. He no longer looked as disheveled as he did on the day he started the trouble. He sat there, eating some preserved fruits sent by her pawnshop owner.
"Would you like some sweet tofu?"
Seeing that her bowl was not placed out, Ji Xu asked.
"Look at what I'm eating, why would I want a bowl of tofu pudding from you?"
All I saw were some longans, preserved dates, and fried cakes.
After hearing what she said, Ji Xu left and was about to give her share to the other families who didn't have enough to eat, but she heard the bottom of the bowl knocking. She pushed the bowl out and said:
"Stop, even if I don't eat, I can't give my share to others. Fill it up for me."
He got a bowl, waited until Ji Xu walked away, quickly brought it in, and ate the whole bowl in one gulp.
Because the food they sent was all dried fruit bait cakes that had been stored for a long time, which was not enough to eat dry food every day. If you want to eat ready-made food with soup, you have to eat something made by this little hoof.
Tsk, delicious.
After Ji Xu had distributed the breakfast, he was about to go out when he saw three more people from Wuling who were infected with the plague coming in.
One of them was very old and seriously ill, but he was carried in and lived next door to Wang'er.
"People are coming again. People are coming every day."
"There's also a little one!"
There was a girl who was even younger than Wang'er, not even two years old, and was brought in by her mother. Fortunately, her illness was not serious, so she lived outside. People asked her what her name was.
"Little bean."
Her mother said, still chewing something to feed her. She had more rashes than the little one. Someone who had been here for a long time said:
"You can't feed them like that. The imperial physician here said that the epidemic is transmitted through the air in the mouth and nose."
"There are more and more of them every day. Will all the people in Chang'an eventually be crowded here?"
When Ji Xu went to the Imperial Medical Bureau to get anti-epidemic medicine, there was a meeting there to discuss countermeasures to the outbreak of the plague. The leading imperial physician slammed the table in anger.
"We only provide diagnosis and treatment. We have no right to care where they went or how they got infected," said a young doctor.
The imperial physician, Gu Hong, scolded him and then asked them about their countermeasures. Some of them said:
"Post our anti-epidemic prescriptions in various pavilions. They will read them, take the medicine, and reduce the risk of contracting the epidemic."
Some also say:
"One more thing, burning Atractylodes macrocephala in the morning and evening to fumigate the house will naturally help them ward off the epidemic."
The imperial physician Gu Hong remained silent. The other doctors secretly guessed that he was so moody and anxious because his first wife had also contracted the plague.
"The price of Atractylodes macrocephala has risen to seven taels of silver per catty. I heard that the prices of the two herbs in the anti-epidemic prescription, Morus alba and Gardenia jasminoides, have also risen sharply. The people have become more trusting of Taoist nun Ma's remedies."
"Who's speaking?"
The Imperial Physician, Gu Hongdao, and all the other doctors in the hall turned to look. They saw a young woman, with a natural and frank appearance. Even though so many people were looking at her, she didn't look timid.
"Who are you?" asked the imperial physician Gu Hongdao.
An imperial physician recognized him and said:
"I'm the city chef who prepares three meals a day for the Plague Department. Why are you here instead of going to the kitchen? Can't you see we're busy? Go! Get the medicine and wait outside."
"Little girl, please come to the front and tell us what you have to say."
Only after Gu Hong gave the order did they make way for her to come in.
"Go on, tell me why the people of Wuling prefer to believe in folk remedies."
Gu Hongdao, Ji Xu then said:
"Because medicinal materials are expensive, folk remedies are cheap and more readily available. Taoist nun Ma from Baqiao has come up with a number of methods that are widely believed in the market. For example, she suggests applying sesame oil to the philtrum before going out, and swallowing fourteen soybeans and seven red beans every day. Many of us do this."
Tian was among them, and she did this with her entire family.
"Many people firmly believed that if they did this, the disease would not enter their bodies, and they continued to go out, talk to others, and share food."
As soon as these words came out, everyone laughed.
"Nonsense."
"Sesame oil, soybeans, and red beans? That's all nonsense."
“Only fools would believe it.”
Only the Imperial Physician, Gu Hong, had a dark expression on his face. These Imperial Physicians were divided into two groups: those assigned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs felt the pulse and examined the emperor's family, while those assigned to the Ministry of Rites treated the officials. None of the Imperial Physicians treated ordinary people.
"So, even if we post the anti-epidemic prescription, it would be useless? Then there's no need for us to work in vain."
There was a royal doctor, Ji Xu, who said:
"It should still be applied. Those who can afford medicine will naturally use it. However, I would like to ask the imperial physicians, in addition to taking medicine, what else should we do in our daily lives to prevent epidemics?"
The imperial doctors started to show off their skills:
"Every morning at dawn, sweep the yard and keep everything clean inside and out."
"No matter how big or small a house is, it must have holes for ventilation."
"Don't eat from the same utensils, don't wash your hands with the same container."
"Discard ashes every day and make sure to move around after meals."
"During the damp and moldy seasons of spring and summer, the walls should be freshened with lime to prevent the dangers of dampness and poison."
"Mosquitoes and flies are the easiest way to spread disease, so food must be covered. If there are red spots on meat, it will become sour and smelly and should not be eaten."
…
"I appreciate your words, but most people don't know that they should be doing these things in their daily lives. Well, I think if we could compile this information into a concise and easy-to-understand 'Health Chronicle' and spread it everywhere, perhaps fewer people would be infected."
After hearing Ji Xu's words and tone, they no longer rejected her as they did at the beginning. Instead, they felt that their talent was appreciated, and became a little complacent. They seriously discussed whether this method was feasible.
The imperial physician, Gu Hong, spoke first:
"That's a good idea, but as you said, many people can't read. How can they understand this 'Health Chronicle'?"
"In my hometown, this kind of thing is usually preached by the three elders of the village who are highly respected, and everyone will be convinced. I think this method is also applicable in Wuling. Each village will ask the three elders to beat the gong to preach. In the market, we can find Ma Dao Nun from Baqiao to tell everyone these details.
Over time, everyone will know about it, which will be beneficial not only for this epidemic but also for us in the long run."
"Nun Ma? No way, no way. She's clearly a charlatan. Wouldn't it ruin the reputation of our Imperial Medical Bureau if we were to associate with someone like that?"
"That's right."
"Tell me, among our imperial doctors, whose words can convince the people more than Nun Ma?"
Gu Hong's words stumped them. The audience fell silent. After listening to Gu Hong's words, they said:
"I think this method is feasible. If the Health Chronicle can help people develop good habits, it will be a more long-term solution to prevent epidemics."
Imperial Physician Gu Hong said he would discuss this method with the General of the Household and submit it for implementation. He was assigning different tasks to each imperial physician, such as copying and going to Baqiao to find Taoist nun Ma...
It was their internal division. Ji Xu took the medicine and went out. He saw Zhuang Gaiyi coming back at some point. He was wearing a black robe and riding boots, leaning against the door wall. There seemed to be a smile on the corner of his mouth, and he made a clapping gesture.
"General of the Central Army! General of the Central Army! Please come in!"
The imperial physician inside called him. The two of them exchanged a quick glance, and a sense of reunion was conveyed. He went inside, and Ji Xu went out.
Later, the shelter really slowed down the growth of the population. Even those who had lived there for a long time noticed it and said in surprise when they were sharing the food:
"Why hasn't anyone come these past two days?"
"Has the plague outside been stopped?"
Some who came in later also talked about the "Health Chronicle" that was circulating outside.
"Yijin girl, your name is also in the health journal."
"My name?"
That day, Ji Xu went to get medicine and met the imperial physician Gu Hong, who praised him:
"This girl is really a person who can see the big picture from the details and is as meticulous as a hair."
He also gave a copy of the compiled health history to Ji Xu and said:
"This is also due to your contribution. The General of the Central Army discussed with me and decided to have your name marked on it along with the Imperial Medical Bureau."
Speaking of the "Health Chronicle", Taoist nun Ma received some silver and went from street to street with a petty official, beating gongs and explaining the details. This went on for several days.
When Tian heard about it, she sent her maid to the bookstore to buy a volume of the popular "Health Chronicle".
Jindou bought it and said:
"Even students from the Imperial Academy and children from officials' families bought this book to read. It's said that the general mentioned this book during a court meeting. Therefore, it's well-known not only in our streets and alleys, but also among civil and military officials. This is the last volume, and I bought it back."
"Where is my daughter's name?" Tian asked anxiously.
Jizhu took it and identified it, pointing out each word to her.
"A Golden Lady, this is my sister's nickname!"
Tian's face was so radiant, but it was a pity that there was a plague outside and she couldn't go out and gossip with others.
Moreover, more people understand the principle of the transmission of infectious diseases, so during this special period, fewer people gather together to chat with each other.
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