Chapter 35
Using a water snake to steal the Eastern Pearl is quite a unique method.
Chu Huan had never heard of this before and was particularly interested: [How do you steal this?]
System: [Sister Huan, have you heard of snake tamers?]
Chu Huan thought for a moment: [Is he the kind of person who can control snakes with a flute? You sometimes see snake charmers at the market.]
This was also the first reaction of the emperor and his officials after hearing about snake taming.
The second prince's expression was a little subtle.
System: [Those so-called snake charmers can only control a little bit. True snake taming requires raising a snake from an egg, nurturing it from infancy to adulthood, living and eating with it, and staying with it all the time. Only in this way can the snake be tamed and obeyed.]
Some people train snakes to be aggressive by feeding them raw meat. For example, they smear the object they want to steal with a scent the snake likes, instructing the snake to swallow it, and then spit it out again after reaching another location.
This would allow for a perfect smuggling operation, leaving no trace at the scene. Dongzhu are small, valuable, and easy to sell. There's nothing easier to steal and sell than these.
Chu Hua: [Dongzhu are large, round, and white with a slight silver sheen. They are considered the embodiment of holiness. A cherry-sized Dongzhu can fetch anywhere from one to over ten taels, depending on its quality.]
The system can eat melons but can't understand the outrageous prices: [White pearls are everywhere, why are Dongzhu so expensive? ]
Chu Hua: [Dongzhu is produced in the Northeast. The high latitude and cold weather mean that river clams grow slowly, and Dongzhu grows even slower.]
Modern clams have extensive experience in cultivation, and the pearls harvested from them are often of unusual shapes. This was even more true in ancient times, when pearl divers had to make numerous trips down the river, harvesting large numbers of clams to obtain the desired pearls. This was truly difficult to come by.
[Besides practical reasons, there are additional reasons: the founding emperor of the Great Sheng Dynasty was originally from the Northeast, and he favored the local specialty, Dongzhu. Dongzhu was used in the emperor's crown and the empress's phoenix crown. Princes, princesses, concubines, and other royal relatives also used Dongzhu as accessories according to their rank.]
Sometimes, as a token of his favor, the emperor bestowed Dongzhu on meritorious officials. Fearing impeachment by the censors, these officials dared not use the Dongzhu themselves, so they gave it to the women in their families as dowries, claiming it was a treasure they would occasionally show off but never actually use.
[Bead sellers also spread the message that "Dongzhu is the embodiment of holiness" and "a woman must have a pair of Dongzhu as a dowry when she gets married." However, due to the recent severe overharvesting in Northeast China, the number of Dongzhu is decreasing, and the price is rising.]
The system was stunned: [Simply put, things are valuable because they are rare, and the royal family deliberately raised the price to show their uniqueness and nobility.]
[Going from buying a bunch of them for over ten taels to buying one each? Isn't that just too much money to burn?]
Chu Huan smiled but said nothing.
emperor:"……"
Officials: "..."
That's quite right, don't say it next time :)
System: [What about the Nanzhu? ]
Chu Hua: [Eastern pearls are freshwater pearls, while Southern pearls are saltwater pearls. Southern pearls are produced in more places and have a higher yield than Eastern pearls, so their price is lower. Furthermore, Southern pearls also have a common use: as medicine.]
If the price of medicinal herbs rises too much, how will ordinary people survive?
The emperor and all the officials nodded repeatedly: Very good analysis!
I didn't expect Chu Huan could learn so much knowledge from doing business and even apply it to the small matters of people's livelihood. Not bad.
It's just... aren't they enjoying themselves right now? Don't get too carried away!
Fortunately, Chu Huan quickly brought the subject back to the topic: "Given the value of the Yidong Pearl, stealing even one would be enough to land him in jail. This man has been training snakes to follow the river since they were little. This deliberate plan clearly wasn't just for the sake of a one-off or two-off theft."
[How long have you been stealing? How much have you stolen?]
System: [For over a year now, I've been stealing a dozen or twenty at a time, selling them, and enjoying myself for months.]
He was quite cautious. He would take a few months off after stealing, and he didn't steal frequently. He would run away after stealing. Otherwise, he would have been caught long ago.
Chu Huan thought to herself: Using this method to steal Dongzhu, and then running away, it's so slippery that it's hard to say whether we can catch the person.
[The water snake was trained, so how could it be caught by Lord Wang?]
System: [It's a smell. The incense stained on Lord Wang's fishhook is somewhat similar to the incense used by snake tamers. The other snakes have been able to distinguish them, but that one is a bit stupid.]
Zuodu Yushi: “…” I always feel like I’m being ridiculed.
Chu Huan's curiosity had been satisfied, so she quickened her pace and headed to the Ministry of Revenue to continue checking the accounts with her sisters for today.
The Jinyiwei, carrying the incense on the fishing hook of the Left Censor-in-Chief, wandered around the river for a long time but failed to attract a single water snake. They even went into the water to look for it but didn't see any, so they had to return empty-handed.
Come to think of it, it was several days ago that the Left Censor-in-Chief caught a water snake while fishing.
That person must have collected the water snakes early on. When he saw that the number was not right, he quickly ran away. He would not be so stupid as to stay there and wait for others to catch him.
When the emperor knew about it, he exclaimed, “…”
After all the calculations, it turned out that only the pearl that fell into the toilet could be salvaged.
After much consideration, he gave up. No matter how poor he was, he couldn't be so poor as to dig in the dirt.
What if one day the melon-eating system uncovers his secrets? Will he still be able to maintain his dignity as an emperor?
And... Chu Huan, when are you going to dig for the treasures of the previous dynasty?
I'm really short of money!
The emperor's ardent desire for money was conveyed to Chu Huan word for word through the melon-eating system 188 that night.
System: [Sister Huan, is everything ready? It's time to go treasure hunting.]
Chu Hua: [That place is a bit far. Let's go there during the autumn hunt and use the excuse of being lost.]
The autumn hunt is scheduled for one month later, and the list has been released, with Chu Ping and Chu Qin on it.
The Wen family was extremely busy preparing everything needed for the family's trip. In the past, Chu Huan could help out, but this year, the Wen family had to do it alone.
Chu Shu did send someone to deliver a letter, saying that she wanted to come back to help Wen Shi and also wanted to go with them to the autumn hunt to see some of the scenery, but was rejected by Wen Shi.
Liu Yue collaborated with the enemy and committed treason, harming so many court officials. Chu Shu is currently imprisoned on the farm and has not received any other punishment. The emperor released her because he was worried that other members of the Chu family would be implicated. How could the Wen family possibly let Chu Shu out again?
What if Chu Shu had evil intentions, harmed Chu Huan, exposed the existence of the system, and angered the emperor and all the officials? The Wen family didn't dare to take the risk.
While everyone was preparing for the autumn hunt, the cowpox research conducted by the Imperial Medical Bureau showed results.
The prisoners transferred from the Zhenfu Division's prison did not contract smallpox after being vaccinated with cowpox. Civil and military officials were then vaccinated with cowpox in batches. They recuperated on the farm for a few days before being vaccinated by other people. Several old men in their sixties and seventies survived safely.
Good things come in pairs: Chu Huan's penicillin research has also made some progress.
The penicillin cultured from orange peels was impure at the beginning, and no matter how many methods we tried, it didn't work.
Later, she took a little from the orange peel and put it on new orange peel to culture it again. She failed several times. It was not until she changed it again and again that she got some decent experimental products.
The first experimental product was used on a dog that had become infected and developed a fever after stepping on a nail at home. The fever subsided on the same day, with amazing results.
Chu Huan wanted to conduct more experiments to determine whether the effect was accidental, so the Jinyiwei took some of her away to do experiments.
System Feedback: [There were three prisoners with high fevers in the Jinyiwei and Ministry of Justice prisons. Two were rescued, and one died.]
Chu Huan's heart immediately raced: [Is the penicillin impure?] Could it be that she had killed someone?
System: [No, it's a bacterial infection that wasn't treated. It was delayed for too long and turned into a serious illness. Even with medicine, it can't be cured.]
Chu Hua was relieved, but not too much: [Penicillin is an antibiotic. It can only be used to treat diseases caused by bacterial infections and is not suitable for other diseases.]
[Now that someone has died, the Imperial Physician may have difficulty distinguishing between a bacterial infection and other illnesses. The Emperor will likely not allow the drug to be used until this is clarified.]
I don't have much penicillin on hand, so I'll take my time, experimenting as I go. I also need to figure out the best storage method.
System: [Come on, Sister Huan! I'm cheering you on!]
The conversation between the two men was quickly recorded and sent to the palace.
The emperor didn't understand what antibiotics and bacterial infections were, so he summoned the Imperial Medical Bureau Director and the Imperial Medical Bureau Judge, but they didn't understand either.
The cowpox research conducted by the Imperial Medical Bureau came to an end and was handed over to the imperial physician in the vaccination department and then returned.
He suspected Chu Huan might have some other unparalleled abilities that she had yet to reveal. He was very excited after reading the report. "Your Majesty, how about I use this prisoner's death as an excuse to ask for your advice, Lord Chu?"
The Imperial Hospital was very smart and their judgment was not bad: "Your Majesty, what Lord Chu said is all unknown to me. Instead of wasting time here guessing, why not let Lord Chu come to the Imperial Hospital and answer our questions?"
While they were still worrying about how to persuade people to get vaccinated against human smallpox, Chu Huan had already sent people to search everywhere and obtained ready-made cowpox, and was just waiting for the final stage of the experiment.
Whether in terms of money or action, they are much better than them by half - if the Imperial Medical Service wants to do any research, it has to seek approval from the Ministry of Revenue before it can get the money, and those stingy men in the Ministry of Revenue... hehe.
The cowpox incident made the imperial physicians in the vaccination department famous. If they could eradicate smallpox in Dasheng, it would be a great achievement and their reputation would last forever.
They can't get any credit for cowpox, but they should at least get some credit for penicillin, right?
As for other people's concerns about whether women are feminine or not...you are a man, why don't you develop some cowpox penicillin!
Emperor: "Yes."
After giving an oral order, the Imperial Medical Bureau Director and the Imperial Medical Bureau Judge took a group of imperial doctors to the Ministry of Revenue to snatch the person away.
"I've given it to you for quite some time."
“That’s right!”
"Now we have to come to our Imperial Hospital first."
“That’s right!”
The imperial physicians also brought their own tools: silver needles, medicine pestles, and medicine cutting knives.
It was obvious from their pretending to be ferocious attitude that the Ministry of Revenue would not release the people, and a commotion had broken out, so they had to fight back a few times.
Ministry of Revenue official: “…”
The women: "..."
Not really, not really.
Under the threat of silver needles, medicine pestles, and medicine cutting knives, Chu Huan was successfully abducted to the Imperial Hospital.
"Master Chu, how is penicillin made?"
"Master Chu, how should penicillin be used?"
"Master Chu, can anyone use penicillin?"
"Master Chu, why did the prisoner who took penicillin die?"
Chu Huan answered them one by one, trying to be as detailed as possible.
She had already prepared the relevant answers and answered them fluently. After finishing her answers, she wanted to leave - she didn't like the smell of medicine.
However, her overly relaxed attitude made the other doctors think that she had something else to tell them, so they pulled her aside, questioned her over and over again, and refused to let her go.
Helplessly, Chu Hua could only say what she could think of at the last minute, such as, "Cinchona cream, also known as quinine, is imported from overseas and can treat malaria."
Imperial doctors:!!!
If smallpox is a disease that is beyond our control, malaria is no less so!
Malaria, also known as fever and chills, first causes shivering from the cold, then heat and sweating. It lasts for a long time and is very tormenting.
Traditional medicines for treating malaria include Artemisia annua, Dichroa febrifuga, Bupleurum chinense, etc., but there are no particularly effective medicines. We have to try various prescriptions slowly each time.
"Lord Chu, where is the cinchona?"
"Lord Chu, how does quinine treat malaria?"
"Master Chu, has anyone been successfully treated with quinine cream?"
"Does Lord Chu have any quinine cream ready?"
Chu Huan was confused by the question. She could only remember this because she remembered that Emperor Kangxi's malaria was cured by quinine. She really didn't know anything else.
"That's something foreigners make. I just know it's okay to eat it. I've never seen it before, and it's not readily available. I really don't know anything else. I don't understand medicine."
How could the imperial doctors believe it?
Cowpox, penicillin, quinine, all the good things Chu Huan gave them were things they had never heard of or seen before. Of course, the more of these things, the better!
"Master Chu, don't hide your incompetence at this time."
"Yes, Master Chu, doctors should communicate with each other so that they can grow together."
"Yes, Lord Chu, do you think we are too stupid?"
Chu Huan: “…” The more she spoke, the more outrageous it became.
The ages of her two lifetimes combined are not as old as the Imperial Hospital. How dare she act disrespectful in front of her elders and even think that they are stupid?
"My Lords, I only stumbled upon some information and I don't know anything about medicine."
"A doctor knows how to observe, smell, ask, and palpate. I don't know anything about that. If you put herbs in front of me, I only recognize ginseng, red dates, and wolfberries. I really don't know how to do it, and I can't teach you much."
Everything she said was from the bottom of her heart, but the imperial doctors were stubborn and believed that she had a lot to say, so they came to the Ministry of Revenue every day to ask her questions.
Chu Huan: “…” You forced me to do this!
[Tong'er, get started! ]
System: [Alright, let's start with the Imperial Hospital Envoy.]
Chu Hua: [Of course! This old man is so stubborn! I told him I can't heal, but he still doesn't believe me!]
The Imperial Hospital Envoy who had just entered the Ministry of Revenue: "..."
Having seen too many civil and military officials killed in public in the court, he didn't want to suffer the same fate, so he turned around and ran without hesitation.
Even so, it was still too late.
System: [The Imperial Hospital Envoy was born into a poor family. He grew up in poverty, didn't eat much, and didn't grow tall, which was very distressing.]
One day, he asked his father, "Dad, I'm so short. What should I eat to grow taller?"
Chu Huanxin said: Supplement calcium and get some sun.
System: [His father said: "They say like cures like. Eat more noodles. They're wide and long, so they'll help you grow taller."]
The young Imperial Physician received the letter and from then on, he ate noodles every meal, almost turning himself into noodles.
Chu Huan thought about the height of the Imperial Hospital envoy: [The Imperial Hospital envoy is not short.]
System: [Yes, he successfully grew taller, and from then on, he became even more convinced that eating noodles can make him taller. His son was short, so he ate noodles. His grandson was short, so he ate noodles. The key point is that his whole family is not short, and the Imperial Hospital Envoy is convinced of this.]
Chu Huan: “…”
"Like cures like, so why doesn't he eat snakes? Aren't snakes also broad and long?"
The system fell into deep thought.
The Imperial Hospital Director also fell into deep thought. Could it be that eating snakes can also make you taller? Well, I'll let my short grandson try it when I get home.
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