"It’s ready!" Fang Rui said, turning around.
In addition to the masks and Insect-Repelling Medicine Pouches, the Insect Repellent Liquid was another preventative measure he had concocted. Made by mixing Insect Repellent Powder with water, it was meant for spraying around the house.
The Insect-Repelling Medicine Pouches were primarily for personal protection, while the Insect Repellent Liquid was for wide-area spraying around the home to repel rats and fleas. The two served different purposes.
"Alright, this ratio is perfect. You can start spraying. The main hall, the inner rooms, the courtyard... Don’t miss a single spot."
Fang Rui checked the Insect Repellent Liquid to make sure it was fine before giving his instructions.
"We’ll help too!"
Fang Ling and Nannan, the two little girls, ran over hand in hand.
This kind of "splashing and spraying" job was not only helpful but also fun. It was the sort of thing they loved most.
The five of them had just finished spraying inside and outside the house.
DONG! DONG!
Outside, the sound of a gong was suddenly accompanied by a voice. "Go home! Everyone, return to your homes to prevent the plague from spreading! The Rebel Army will deliver relief grain door-to-door, so everyone stay home and rest easy!"
Fang Rui peered out the window and saw a Night Watchman, his face covered with a silk cloth, patrolling the street and shouting loudly.
Soon after, governmental officers from the Rebel Army came to their door, conscripting Physicians and requisitioning medicinal herbs at a set price.
Fang Rui, however, was not conscripted.
He had a good relationship with the Rebel Army’s governmental officers in Willow Alley, having greased their palms from time to time. Furthermore, his father was on a secret mission for the Rebel Army, and there was a directive from the top to give preferential treatment to soldiers’ families. Finally, he looked so young that they likely assumed his Medical Skill wasn’t anything special. To them, having one more or one less like him made no difference, so they were willing to make an exception.
They didn’t requisition all the medicinal herbs in the outer hall at the set price, either. They even left a small amount behind.
Of course, the main portion of the medicinal herbs Fang Rui had stockpiled earlier was hidden in the cellar, so it remained untouched and perfectly preserved.
After seeing the governmental officers of the Taiping Bandits off.
To prevent patients from coming to his door seeking treatment and putting Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, Third Lady, Fang Ling, and Nannan at risk, Fang Rui decided to simply shut the main gate.
...
Later that morning, Jiang Ping’an came to Willow Alley again, bringing a large batch of supplies.
"I know you’re not short on staple food, Brother Fang, so this time I brought mostly scarce goods like meat, eggs, oil, and soybeans!"
"Thank you, Brother Jiang. How is the epidemic over in Sweet Water Well Alley?" Fang Rui asked.
"Not good!"
A worried expression appeared on Jiang Ping’an’s face. "One case has already appeared, and the entire household has been sealed inside. It’s only because I’m a constable for the Rebel Army that I can even get out. An ordinary person wouldn’t be able to leave the alley."
"I see."
Fang Rui muttered, completely dismissing the idea of going there.
’What about my other courtyard in Bai Yang Alley?’
’I don’t know anyone over there, and who knows what the situation is like. It’s safer to stay here in Willow Alley. Even if patients come knocking, the worst-case scenario is I just don’t open the door.’
Seeing Fang Rui’s silent frown, Jiang Ping’an offered some comfort. "Brother Fang, don’t worry too much. I heard that among the infected soldiers in the Rebel Army, one or two have already been cured..."
"They’re isolated cases for now, but who knows? Maybe a cure will be developed by tomorrow and distributed to everyone."
"Let’s hope so!"
Fang Rui agreed, but inwardly he knew it was unlikely.
As a Physician whose "Fang’s Medical Skill" had even reached the Mastery Level, he understood the situation as soon as he heard about it.
It was nothing more than using aggressive medication to stimulate the patient’s immune system—a lucky break, like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse, that cured one or two people. ’That’s not so difficult. A Medical Skill at the Skilled Level, provided it’s of a high standard, combined with a bit of luck, can accomplish that.’
’The difficult part is creating a targeted, universally applicable formula that will work on the vast majority of people, preferably one using ingredients that are common and easy to find.’
’You could say that the road from curing a single person to developing a widely applicable formula for mass distribution is still a very, very long one!’
"One more thing, Brother Fang. The epidemic is getting serious. As more parts of the city go into lockdown, I’m afraid it’ll become difficult for me to visit."
Jiang Ping’an grasped Fang Rui’s wrist. "Brother Fang, you must take care of yourself!"
"You too, Brother Jiang!"
Fang Rui urged him earnestly. Then, after secretly using his Force to disinfect his own wrist, he turned back into the house. He came out with some Insect-Repelling Medicine Pouches, masks, and Insect Repellent Powder. "The pouches and masks—I’ve given those to you before, Brother Jiang, so you know how to use them. As for this, it’s Insect Repellent Powder. You mix it with water to spray around the house. The ratio is..."
After sending Jiang Ping’an off.
Fang Rui disinfected these scarce supplies with a special medicinal powder and moved them into the house.
He watched as Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady happily put away the supplies, and as the two little girls, Fang Ling and Nannan, hopped and skipped about, seemingly untroubled by the epidemic.
His mood brightened considerably. ’All sorts of protection, stockpiled supplies... I’ve done everything I can. I’ve done my part; now it’s just a matter of seeing how the situation unfolds.’
...
The Taiping Bandits had reacted to the plague with undeniable speed. Even so, the epidemic continued to spread uncontrollably through the city.
「Around noon.」
Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady were in the kitchen cooking. Fang Rui was playing under the eaves with the two little girls, Fang Ling and Nannan, using a chess set he had recently put together.
Suddenly a shout came from outside: "Is Brother Rui there?"
Hearing the voice, Fang Rui didn’t open the door. He went to the window in the main hall and peered outside. "Uncle Dashen?!"
He was a neighbor from Willow Alley, but they weren’t particularly close.
At the gate, Uncle Dashen was supporting Da Muzi. The younger man’s face was pale, and he shivered intermittently. His breathing was rapid, and he clutched his forehead with one hand, seemingly delirious.
"My Da Muzi suddenly fell ill! He has a fever and the shivers. I was hoping you could take a look, Brother Rui!" Uncle Dashen said.