The educated youth listened to Lin Yue's explanation and nodded in agreement. They had all been exposed to some hygiene knowledge in the city and knew that everything Lin Yue said made sense. However, for the villagers, these ideas were as novel as aliens. They listened with skepticism, and some even began to mutter to themselves.
"Is it really that amazing? We weren't like this before, and we were living just fine." A dark-skinned, robust villager said to the person next to him, his brows slightly furrowed and his eyes full of doubt.
“Yeah, that sounds a bit far-fetched. You think washing your hands and getting some fresh air will prevent you from getting sick? I don’t believe it.” Another villager chimed in, his arms crossed over his chest, a dismissive expression on his face.
Lin Yue noticed the villagers' reactions, but she wasn't discouraged. Instead, she became even more determined to get everyone to accept this knowledge. She knew that changing mindsets wasn't something that could happen overnight; it required time and practical examples to guide them gradually. "You might not believe it, so let me give you an example. Have you noticed that whenever someone in the village gets an infectious disease, it's very easy for them to spread it to others? That's because germs can spread in unsanitary environments. If we all pay attention to hygiene, we can reduce this spread and protect ourselves and our families. For example, if we wash our hands thoroughly and ventilate the room after caring for someone, those germs are less likely to remain around us, and we won't be so easily infected."
At this moment, Aunt Liu stepped forward, her eyes filled with worry: "Lin Yue, we'd like to try what you've mentioned, but we don't know how to judge whether the ventilation is good enough. And this soap, we don't have any in our village, and we can't afford it."
Lin Yue smiled and replied, "Aunt Liu, ventilation is actually very simple. Try to open the doors and windows for a while every day to let the air circulate freely. If the stuffy smell in the house is gone and the air becomes fresh, then it's about right. As for soap, we can make some simple substitutes ourselves. We can mix some wood ash and grease together, which can also have a cleaning effect. I can teach everyone how to do it in detail later."
Chen Yu quickly chimed in, explaining, "Everyone can try these methods first; they're not difficult. We're not suggesting you change all your habits at once, but rather that you try them gradually and see if they help your health. After all, we all want everyone to be healthy and get sick less often."
During the explanation, Lin Yue noticed that several villagers had their brows furrowed, as if something was on their minds. She went over and quietly asked one of them. The villager scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly and said, "Lin Yue, our family is large and our house is small. If we let it ventilate, it will be very cold at night. We don't have enough blankets."
Lin Yue pondered for a moment and said, "This is indeed a problem. We can ventilate during the day, and if it's cold at night, we can light a small stove in the room, but we must be careful not to get carbon monoxide poisoning. Alternatively, we can use some thicker curtains to cover the windows to reduce the amount of cold air coming in. We can adjust according to the actual situation and try to find a way that can both ventilate and keep warm."
Time slipped away quietly as Lin Yue explained and interacted with the villagers. The sun gradually rose higher, its blazing rays bathing the earth, and the weather became quite hot. However, the heat did not dampen the villagers' enthusiasm. Although many villagers still harbored doubts about this hygiene knowledge, they had at least begun to think about these issues, like seeds being sown in hard soil, waiting for the day they would sprout.
After the explanation, Lin Yue and Chen Yu didn't leave. They walked around the village again and again, patiently answering all sorts of questions from the villagers. They saw some villagers gathered together, enthusiastically discussing what they had heard that day, and some had even begun to try new methods of washing their hands, which brought them a sense of relief. They knew that change wouldn't happen overnight, but as long as they persevered, they would eventually reap the rewards.
Back in the infirmary, Lin Yue sat wearily in a chair, feeling as if she had just gone through a fierce battle. Chen Yu poured her a glass of water, his eyes full of concern: "You've worked hard today. You explained things really well. Although they may not understand right now, I believe they will get better gradually. You've already taken a very important step."
Lin Yue took the water glass, took a sip, and nodded slightly: "Yes, I know. This is just the beginning, and we must persevere. I hope this knowledge can truly help everyone and reduce illness. As long as even one person benefits from our explanations, then our efforts will not have been in vain."
In the days that followed, Lin Yue and Chen Yu actively put these hygiene practices into practice in the village. Carrying some simple tools, they went door-to-door helping villagers make simple soap substitutes. While making them, Lin Yue explained in detail: "Look, everyone, first we put the collected wood ash into this container, then slowly add some oil, like lard. Then stir it well, making sure it's fully mixed. That's how we make our homemade cleaning supplies." The villagers curiously gathered around, watching with amazement as ordinary materials were transformed into useful things in Lin Yue's hands.
They also guided everyone on proper ventilation, offering suitable suggestions based on different house structures and orientations. Some educated youth actively participated, working alongside the villagers to gradually change the village's living habits. Some villagers, after trying the new handwashing method, were pleasantly surprised to find that the dirt on their hands was indeed easier to wash off, and their hands felt cleaner afterward. They began to agree with Lin Yue's words, telling everyone they met in the village, "Lin Yue's words really make sense; this handwashing method is really good." Other villagers, after consistently ventilating for a few days, felt that the air in their houses was much fresher, the stuffy and humid feeling disappeared, and they slept more soundly at night. These small changes, like sparks, ignited a flame of hope for new ideas in the villagers' hearts, allowing Lin Yue to see the meaning of her efforts.
Lin Yue and Chen Yu didn't give up on the villagers who remained skeptical. They continued to patiently persuade them with numerous examples, helping everyone understand the importance of hygiene knowledge. In this process, their relationship with the villagers grew stronger, and the village was filled with a positive, supportive atmosphere. Everyone was striving for a healthier and better life, like a large ship sailing through turbulent waters. Although they encountered storms, their united efforts were propelling them slowly towards a brighter future.
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