Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 430 - 428

Mrs. Liu nearly jumped up in shock upon hearing these words, "What? You want to go too, no way! Rui’er, I wouldn’t stop you if you would like to go south, but not this time, maybe next time!"

What on earth are the children thinking these days! Why do her children always love to run towards danger!

Why can’t they lead a peaceful and simple life! Their actions always leave her worried, hanging by a thread.

She was so worried that her hair was turning white!

It would be fine if Shen Chengyao went on his own, but taking Jingrui with him, he would certainly be averse to having his son risk danger. So, he persuaded, "Rui’er, listen to your mother, there will be plenty of opportunities to go south in the future. There’s no need to be impulsive. It’s chaotic down there, and being an official myself, I might not be able to look after you."

"I have thought this through. I want to be an official in the future. I don’t know where I’ll be posted, and being able to follow father now and learn how to handle floods and disasters, gaining some practical experience, I think that’s more important than anything else." Jingrui said firmly.

No matter what, he had made up his mind to go south this time.

"I support my elder brother’s decision! Our family’s future honor depends on my elder brother and Hao’er. It won’t be wrong to learn more about how to handle natural and man-made disasters. Actually, the epidemic isn’t that frightening. I have a prescription for treating it. Let me write it down for father later."

"My girl, do you have a prescription for treating the epidemic? Haha, that’s wonderful! I knew I was right to come and find you." At this moment, Doctor Luo’s vigorous voice emanated from outside the door, and then he strode in.

The others quickly exchanged greetings and then took their seats. (Doctor Luo often came over for meals, so he could enter without being announced.)

"Miss Xiao’er, the Emperor has sent me south to treat the common people afflicted by the epidemic. I had no idea how to go about it, so I thought of you. Indeed, you are the right person to approach for any difficult and miscellaneous disease! You must help me this time!"

Upon receiving the Emperor’s decree, another imperial doctor almost burst into tears! No research had been conducted on how to treat the epidemic, how could he go about it!

But he had no worries at all, he didn’t think it was a big problem. He heard that Shen Chengyao was also going south this time, which meant there would be no problem! He decisively ran over to plead for help before mealtime!

"Doctor Luo, you are giving me too much credit," Xiao’er said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

All she had was an additional space, an extra study in that space, and a few more books in the study.

"Enough with the nonsense, girl, I am in a hurry. Quickly write down the prescription, I have to go and prepare the medicine after I eat!" said Doctor Luo, not mincing his words.

Mrs. Liu treated Doctor Luo as Xiao’er’s lifesaver, upon hearing this, she hurriedly asked Zijing to go to the kitchen and check whether the meals were ready.

Xiao’er had someone fetch ink and paper, and wrote down the prescriptions for three different elixirs that are said to treat the epidemic.

Some of the herbal ingredients in these prescriptions were quite valuable, such as musk, rhinoceros horn, amber, and even one prescription listed 50 pieces of gold and silver foil each.

Doctor Luo was stunned on seeing these three prescriptions. Each one was more expensive than the other!

"My girl, do you have any other affordable prescriptions? Isn’t this one slightly too expensive? Only the rich and noble families can afford this!"

"This is something I happened upon by chance, and I’m not sure if it will work. Doctor Luo, see what you can make of it! The expensive medicines are afforded by the wealthy, and after they have brewed it, the remaining liquid of the brew can be given to those who can’t afford it till all the flavors are brewed out, and then they can dispose it. Isn’t that alright?" Xiao’er knew that the medicines were expensive, but she was no professional. It was already good that she could remember these.

Doctor Luo thought it was feasible after hearing it. These medicines can be used to make at least three brews after one round!

Xiao’er recalled the artemisinin of modern times and added, "Doctor Luo, you can try using fresh Artemisia annua leaves. They contain a substance called artemisinin which can also be used to treat the epidemic. Whether the essence can be extracted from boiling the leaves directly or whether it can be brewed in conjunction with dwarf lilyturf, Scutellaria and capillary wormwood, I’m not sure. Doctor Luo, you may want to think about it and perhaps add or subtract some other medicines to formulate a prescription."

After mulling it over, Doctor Luo felt that they were all addressing the symptoms: "Good, I’ll think some more and see what else I can add to formulate a more plebeian prescription."

The next day, as expected, many prestigious families set up sheds outside the city to distribute porridge.

Who would not like to do good deeds under the eyes of the Emperor?

Following Doctor Luo’s newly researched prescription, Xiao’er took out water and herbs from her space and instructed the servant to cook more than a dozen large pots of medicinal soup, which were distributed free of charge to the refugees in the name of Marquis Shengping and their own pharmacy.

Among these refugees, in addition to those who were truly homeless, there were also some people who chose to leave their homeland for fear of contracting the epidemic.

Upon hearing that there were free preventative soup medicines available, they all rushed to get in line, and the queue was so long that there seemed to be no end in sight.

Everyone praised Marquis Shengping’s wife and the principal of Rui’an county for their kindness. They were simply benefactors, lovers of good deeds!

Everyone had their medicine before getting their porridge and buns. After all, hunger would not kill them on the spot, but the epidemic could take their lives at any moment!

In such charitable acts, many ladies and young ladies would step forward. This was a chance to acquire a good reputation.

The First Prince’s Mansion had gone all out today with thick meat and rice porridge and white flour steamed buns!

The Prime Minister’s Mansion was serving porridge made with large bones, and white flour steamed buns.

The other prestigious families were serving white porridge with cornmeal or a mixed flour steamed buns.

Yet, even so, none of them could match the appeal of a single pot of medicinal soup. The words of praise were continuous.

Liang Yanli knew that today was the first day of charitable donation, and to make the people remember her, to gain a good reputation among the people, this day was crucial. Therefore, she persuaded the First Prince to go the extra mile, serving meat porridge with white flour buns.

Unexpectedly, the scenes she had imagined of people scrambling to get the food did not occur. Waves of praise reached her ears, but none were for her.

She twisted her facial features in frustration, to the extent that it looked ghasty. It scared the refugees who finished their medicine and queued up for porridge and buns away, making them decisively change their queues!

Li Yun Ning looked at Xiao’er’s laughing face as she instructed the refugees on when to eat food and what food not to eat after having the medicine. She was so angry that she wished she could knock over those big barrels of medicine.

Why does everything always revolve around her! Why does she always get the best things!

Shen Bao’er, seeing Mrs. Liu and Xiao’er’s contented and happy faces, had an expression filled with jealousy and resentment. Originally, she could have turned her fate around relying on her elder brother, but everything was ruined now! The people of the third branch were all ingrains, looking on as their own brother’s family fell into trouble without giving any help!

This family was so fake. They helped outsiders but never their own!

Unable to hold back, she opened her mouth to say, "Can medicine also be drank casually? Who knows if this is truly able to treat the epidemic!"