Lu Tu tried hard to recall the lesson his high school biology teacher had given, but even with his excellent memory, he could only remember about 70-80% of it at this point.
I vaguely remember that penicillin cultivation requires three steps: 1. collecting penicillin mold, 2. preparing culture medium, and 3. preparing activated carbon.
The first step, collecting Penicillium, is the simplest and easiest to obtain. In principle, the mold on the surface of rotten fruits and vegetables, rotten wood, and damp cloth can all be used as a source of Penicillium.
However, the teacher specifically mentioned back then that none of these are as good as citrus fruits, mainly because the peel of citrus fruits is cleaner and less likely to breed other bacteria. But even though it is early spring, citrus fruits cannot be grown at all in places like Wuchuan in the north.
The people of Wuchuan generally can't afford to eat, so how could they allow vegetables to mold and rot? This makes things even more difficult.
At this moment, Lü Tu turned back to the Wang family and happened to see the familiar servant Lin San.
She waved to him and said, "Go to your kitchen and see if there are any rotten vegetables or fruits. Find me a few, the kind that can be stored for a long time."
Lin San was shocked: "Sir, please don't harm me! If you want to eat, I will definitely prepare fresh food for you!"
Lu Tu was too lazy to explain further, and said with a stern face, "I have other uses for it. Just do as I say and bring more."
"Okay!" Lin San was relieved and ran out happily.
Before long, two cloth bundles were brought to Lü Tu. From a distance, it could be seen that the bundles were soaked with juice and dripping water continuously.
After taking the document, Lü Tu patted Lin San on the shoulder and said, "Don't mention this to anyone. You'll be rewarded after it's done."
Lin San rubbed his hands excitedly: "Hehe, thank you, sir." Although he didn't know what Lü Tu was going to do, it was just some rotten fruits and vegetables that were about to be thrown away, a trivial matter.
Lu Tu opened the bundle and glanced at it. As expected of the Wang family, they were the most prominent family in Wuchuan. They actually had a few tangerines. It seemed that they had been transported from other places. It had been a long time since they were transported. Although there was no mold on the surface, they were soft and limp when you touched them, and they looked like they were about to rot.
With these things in hand, Lü Tu felt much more at ease.
The next step is to find the important culture medium, which must meet four nutritional requirements: carbon source, nitrogen source, inorganic salts, and growth factors.
Carbon sources are easy to obtain. In principle, any concentrated juice of carbohydrates will do. For example, grains such as rice, millet, and wheat can be ground and boiled into a concentrated juice. However, the best is actually sugarcane juice, but considering that it is only produced in the Guangdong and Guangxi regions, Lü Tu dared not hope for it.
Nitrogen source is protein. After thinking for a moment, Lu Tu went to the market and spent money to buy 10 catties of soybeans. He would grind the soybeans and add the powder to them.
Inorganic salts are the simplest. Salt contains sodium chloride, and wood ash can also provide sodium and chlorine to the culture medium, so this step can be considered solved.
The growth factor could only be obtained by juicing vegetables. Although Lin San had also managed to get some vegetables, it was still not enough. Lü Tu then bought some radishes with leaves, intending to use a large amount of radish leaves to provide vitamins and amino acids.
Lu Tu strolled around the market again and bought many pottery jars, thus completing the preparations. The next step was the most important: cultivating penicillin.
The thought of this gave Lü Tu a terrible headache. The reason was that penicillin cultivation requires a very stable temperature, which is around 25 degrees Celsius, while Lü Tu's current perceived temperature was about 5 degrees Celsius.
It seems that once we get back, the only option will be the most basic method: burning coal in a confined space to control the temperature.
Lu Tu, carrying a bag and bottles on his back, arrived at Zhang Miao's clinic once again.
Zhang Miao was startled upon seeing this: "Lord Lü, are you trying to run away?"
Lu Tu said with a wry smile, "Who runs away without taking anything but valuables? Are they going to beg for food on the road?"
Zhang Miao thought about it and agreed: "By the way, sir, what did Lord Yun say?"
Lu Tu's face darkened: "He won't see me."
"Lord Yun is the Commandant of Wuchuan Prefecture, and this matter is urgent, so I will go and visit him."
Lu Tu didn't stop him, nodding and saying, "Then I'll leave it to Doctor Zhang. My brother..."
"Don't worry, Lord Lü, I have arranged for my apprentice to take care of him, there won't be any problems."
"That's good. If you see Lord Yun, you must explain to him the seriousness of the situation. Do not be careless, or it will be a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood."
Zhang Miao bowed respectfully with a solemn expression: "Lord Lü's concern for the people is truly a blessing for them."
Lu Tu shook his head helplessly: "What use is my concern for the people? It can't change anything. Doctor Zhang, I will stay at home for the next few days. If anything happens in the city, you can come to Kuishan Village to seek refuge with me."
Seeing that Lü Tu had become so pessimistic, Zhang Miao couldn't help but sigh deeply: "Thank you for your kindness, sir. My family has lived in Wuchuan for generations. If I, as a doctor, cannot even cure the disease and have to run away, I would be ashamed of my ancestors' teachings."
Upon hearing this, Lü Tu was filled with respect: "Dr. Zhang truly has the heart of a parent; the people of Wuchuan are blessed to have you."
"Oh, sir, there's no need for us to flatter each other anymore. Please excuse me for not seeing you off to the Commandant's residence first."
"Goodbye!"
After Zhang Miao left, Lü Tu inquired with the apprentice at the clinic and learned that Liu Hu had hired several oxcarts and hauled 3,000 catties of quicklime back to the village. Only then did he feel relieved.
He hurried out of the city gate and, upon seeing Jia Dazhuang, couldn't help but remind him, "These days, after finishing your duties, you must wash your hands with wood ash. Don't ask why."
Seeing Lü Tu's serious expression, Jia Dazhuang bowed and thanked him, saying, "Thank you for your concern, sir. I will do as you say."
Lu Tu nodded: "If you encounter anything beyond your control, bring the brothers guarding the South Gate to Kuishan Village to find me."
Jia Dazhuang noticed that Lü Tu not only gave him money every time he came, but was now also extending an invitation. Although he didn't understand Lü Tu's purpose, he could sense Lü Tu's goodwill. He bowed and said, "Thank you, sir, I will."
Lu Tu didn't linger any longer and ran straight towards the village. At this moment, he already regretted it a little, as a large group of refugees would come tomorrow.
If all else fails, he will not accept the offer, even if it means bearing the infamy of being untrustworthy. His reputation is insignificant compared to the lives of his fellow villagers.
Before long, they caught up with Liu Hu and his convoy.
"Tiger, were there any unexpected incidents on the way?"
"I don't have an older brother, I'm just thinking about that day..."
But Lu Tu interrupted him directly. There were more than a dozen oxcart drivers with him. The situation was still uncertain, and they couldn't cause widespread panic, otherwise Wuchuan would be in complete chaos.
Most importantly, Lu Tu doesn't know how many people like Zhou Taishan are colluding with the Wuhuan.
Once the Karasuma learn of the large-scale smallpox outbreak in Wuchuan, they might launch a surprise attack. At that point, with only 300 soldiers under my command, I wouldn't even have the right to fight to the death.
Back in the village, after instructing Liu Hu to disinfect the area, Lü Tu went straight into the warehouse.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
