In the ward.

Zhao Hao hurriedly handed over the humanoid material analyzer, oh no, Pan Zhongcheng applauded.

Yes, this cement has a certain proportion of pyrite slag added to it, which greatly improves its strength!

After three months of unremitting efforts by the exploration team, they finally found the location of the pyrite on Xishan Island.

But this is only the use of pyrite slag. Zhao Hao is not looking for pyrite to make cement, or even for iron smelting.

Because the iron content of this stuff is less than half, with the current smelting level, it is impossible to get good quality pig iron even if you work yourself to death.

But its sulfur content is more than half, which can be easily used to produce sulfur and sulfuric acid.

In fact, my country did not find any decent natural sulfur mines until 400 years later. Sulfur and sulfuric acid needed for industrial production have long been extracted from pyrite.

Pan Jixun picked up a square piece of golden pyrite and could not help but praise it: "It's beautiful, so beautiful, I can't bear to eat it."

"No wonder the scammers use it to impersonate gold, it really looks like gold." Zhao Hao also nodded in agreement. In the West, pyrite has long been regarded as a cheap ancient gem.

"That's because they are too stupid. You'll know after you try it." Pan Zhongcheng took a bite and with a snap, he bit off a corner of the ore. "It's very crunchy and completely different from gold."

"Hey..." Zhao Hao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Who has teeth like you?"

"It's crispy, just like eating a popsicle. If you don't believe me, try it." Pan Zhongcheng handed a piece to Master Zhao.

Zhao Hao naturally declined the offer. He quickly pointed to the third portion of ingredients and said:

"You can eat more of this, it can also cure your bloating."

"Huh?" Pan Zhongcheng looked into the small compartment and saw a few crystal clear things that looked like rock candy.

Pan Zhongcheng picked up a piece, licked it with his tongue, smacked his lips and said, "Salty and bitter, this is saltpeter..."

As he said this, he seemed to remember something, and suddenly his face changed and he said angrily: "Good boy, how dare you trick me!"

"Don't get me wrong, Zhongcheng. This is not made with urine, but natural Glauber's salt." Zhao Hao thought to himself that he was quite picky about food. He quickly explained it clearly, and only then did he appease the old man who wanted to eat people.

"Oh?" Pan Jixun couldn't help but asked in surprise, "There is still Glauber's salt on Xishan Island?"

"This is not from Xishan Island. We got it from Fengyang Prefecture." Zhao Hao replied with a smile:

"It's just a coincidence. Last month, Wu Ji discovered that someone was selling fake white sugar and rock sugar. After some investigation, it turned out that they were using Glauber's salt instead."

"We arrested them and brought them to the county for interrogation. We learned that they were from Fengyang Prefecture, where there is a large amount of natural sodium sulfate. So I asked Uncle Mi to investigate and brought back these. Please let the Prime Minister take a look and see if it is necessary to take action."

"It's necessary. It's pure bitter and chokingly salty." Pan Jixun nodded without hesitation, "It's much purer than the one made with urine... Ahem, I'm just guessing. I haven't tasted that."

"Oh." Zhao Hao nodded happily. The saltpeter produced by the saltpeter method has too many impurities. With high-purity saltpeter, the power of gunpowder will definitely be greatly improved.

He also said insincerely: "The ice made in this way can finally get rid of the fishy smell."

"Exquisite!" Pan Jixun couldn't help but praise. He would also run five or six hundred miles to find better ingredients for a purer taste.

This is the attitude a young master from an aristocratic family should have.

"This is the quartz sand I brought back from Fengyang. I guess Zhongcheng can't chew it, so just taste it and spit it out." Zhao Hao pointed to the last thing.

Fengyang is a good place. Not only does it have the only high-grade Glauber's salt mine in Southern Zhili, but it is also the only quartz sand mine in Southern Zhili.

The reason why Beijing's Liulichang cannot produce glass is because it does not have high-quality quartz sand.

Pan Zhongcheng chewed for a long time in disbelief, then reluctantly spat out the quartz sand in his mouth, took the cup and rinsed his mouth, saying, "Useless."

Having said that, he was still very satisfied with the first three items he ate, and he actually seemed to have regained his strength.

The two were discussing the difference in taste between quartz sand and ordinary river sand when they heard Gao Wu knocking on the door.

After a long silence, Brother Gao reported: "Zhongcheng's family is here."

"Oh, please come in." Zhao Hao stood up.

"Put these away first. If they see them, they'll blame me." Pan Jixun stuffed a piece of Glauber's salt into his mouth and hurriedly closed the lid of the box.

Zhao Hao quickly stuffed the wooden box into the bedside table.

At this time Gao Wu also opened the door, and an old man who looked about the same age as Pan Jixun walked in quickly with two young men.

"Father!" The two young men lay down at the head of Old Pan's bed and burst into tears.

The old man also stumbled forward, held Pan Jixun's hand and wiped his tears.

"Brother, why are you crying? I'm fine, aren't I?" Pan Jixun comforted the old man, then glared at the two young men and said, "Why are you two crying? I'm not dead yet, stand up."

The two young men were really obedient. They quickly stood up and sobbed without daring to cry out loud.

Pan Jixun introduced three people to Zhao Hao. The old man was his second brother, Pan Zhongzhan, a Jinshi in the 20th year of Jiajing, and the two young men were his eldest son Pan Dafu and second son Pan Longhan.

After the two sides exchanged greetings, Zhao Hao apologized to the three people, saying that he had not taken good care of Pan Zhongcheng and caused him to suffer. He also sincerely invited the three people to stay in Kunshan for a while, so that he could show his hospitality.

"Don't be polite, they all know it. It's an old problem." Pan Jixun waved his hand, telling Zhao Hao not to blame himself.

"Yes, Mr. Zhao. Most people can't stand my fourth brother's temper. We are so grateful that you can take care of him for so long." Pan Zhongxian also comforted Zhao Hao, saying, "It's a good thing that the two great doctors are here. They will definitely cure his illness."

Zhao Hao exchanged a few more pleasantries with them, then tactfully stood up and said goodbye, leaving the family to talk.

But Pan Jixun stopped him and asked, "Do you think my two sons are capable?"

"Hehe..." Zhao Hao thought to himself, this is the first time I see you, who should I ask if you ask me?

But he praised her without hesitation: "Zhongcheng is from a family of scholars and is strict in managing his family. The two sons are both outstanding people and will most likely achieve great things in the future."

"Since you think so highly of them, let them stay in Kunshan." Pan Jixun said, "Isn't your Yufeng Academy about to start school? Two more won't be too much anyway, so just accept these two students."

"Uh..." Pan Zhongxian opened his mouth and hesitated. He was born as a scholar, but he fell into disgrace with the Yan Party and had to resign early and return home, devoting all his knowledge to teaching his sons and nephews.

The Pan family was fertile, and the four brothers gave birth to 19 sons, among whom the two sons Pan Jixun and his two sons were the most capable.

Now seeing that his fourth brother wanted to pick the best one right away without even discussing it with him, Pan Zhongzhan naturally found it difficult to accept.

But his son was someone else's, and he could only watch Pan Dafu and Pan Longhan kowtow to Zhao Hao and become his disciples, feeling heartbroken.

Pan Jixun saw his second brother's disappointment, and while his two sons were seeing Zhao Hao off, he whispered to Pan Zhongxian:

"Brother, the boy surnamed Zhao is an amazing person. The children can learn much more from him than from us."

"Oh, really?" Pan Zhongxian looked at his brother, who always looked down on others, in surprise. He didn't know how the boy, who hadn't even grown all his hair yet, could conquer him.

"Indeed. Not only these two children, but also the next generation of our Pan family will go to Yufeng Academy for further study. I have worked like a slave for them in Kunshan, so I can't just not give them this little convenience, right?"

Pan Jixun blew his beard and glared, then said a little embarrassedly: "Although there are indeed a few more people in our family..."

ps. Second update, please give me your monthly vote!