Chapter 12

A person's future path is greatly influenced by their childhood. As an ordinary only child, Chen Ke had no playmates. His parents were very busy, and if Chen Ke could stay at home and read books quietly without causing trouble outside, it would be a great convenience for them. Indeed, Chen Ke spent his childhood as they had hoped.

Among many popular science books, "The Story of the Candle" and "The Road to Conquering Bacteria" had a significant impact on Chen Ke at that time. These books, written in simple language that children could understand, explained the history of the development of chemistry and medicine. Later, when Chen Ke chose chemistry as his major, it was largely due to the influence of these two books.

In "The Road to Conquering Bacteria," the story of the fantasy doctor Ehrlich and his research on the wonder drug 606 was introduced. Chen Ke later specifically studied the production methods of 606 and 914, and even produced them himself. The joy he felt upon completing the experiment is something Chen Ke still remembers vividly. Therefore, on June 27, 1905, Chen Ke felt an even greater sense of joy.

606 and 914 pioneered the way for chemical drug therapy. In 1908, Ehrlich received countless honors. Chen Ke greatly admired the honors this great predecessor received. Now, although he did not expect to achieve the same level of fame, he at least hoped to achieve the same level of success. Ehrlich was German, and this drug could not be replicated by the British until the outbreak of World War I. During the war, the British, unable to obtain the drug, spent a huge amount of money researching alternatives. It was only after Germany's defeat and the end of the war that the British, as the victors, gained control of this wonder drug.

"We must save He Zudao. He is our colleague, our comrade. We cannot abandon him." Chen Ke said to the young people. "Huishen, take me to see He Zudao. Tell him this news."

Qihuishen looked at Chen Ke with deep emotion. "Mr. Wenqing, why don't you write a letter for me to take to him? He Zudao said he respects Mr. Wenqing very much, but he is too ashamed to see you after contracting this disease."

"What's there to be ashamed of in such a matter?"

"Mr. Wenqing, I will tell He Zudao about your plan to make the medicine for him right away. He Zudao is so distressed by this disease that he wants to die. If you go to see him now, he might really do something drastic. Please write a letter, and I will take it to him."

Moved by Qihuishen's sincerity, Chen Ke had no choice but to take out a notebook and a disposable pen. Under the envious and surprised gazes of the young people, he wrote a letter with his terrible handwriting. The content of the letter was simple: Chen Ke wanted He Zudao to believe that he could definitely make the wonder drug to save him. This new group would never abandon any of its members.

Watching Qihuishen run out the door with the letter, Chen Ke looked at the other young people who were staring at him with eager eyes. He was not very confident about the confidentiality of the operation. So far, the only person Chen Ke could collaborate with was You Gou. These young people knew too much, which could only be harmful and not beneficial.

Chen Ke was not in Germany, nor was he the famous Dr. Ehrlich. This wonder drug was a double-edged sword for Chen Ke, and he needed a collaborator.

Chen Ke called the young people to the blackboard and began to explain the causes of syphilis. Upon learning that skin contact alone could transmit the disease, everyone's face changed. As for how to ensure disinfection, the solution was to change clothes, take a bath, and expose clothes to the sun. Although Chen Ke was not sure if his methods of killing bacteria were correct, it was the only way to scare these people back home.

Seeing the young people's anxious faces, Chen Ke dismissed them. Hearing this, the young people were relieved and ran off.

Huaxi Mao's face was also uneasy. "Wenqing, is it really that serious?"

"It definitely isn't. But when we do experiments, you shouldn't go back home. Let's go back and get some clothes to change into. We won't be going back to our residence for a few days."

"Alright, I'll follow Wenqing's lead."

Qiu Jin and Xu Xilin were not at the residence. Chen Ke asked the maid Lin Jian, but she was not very clear. Chen Ke and Huaxi Mao decided to go to the location of their last meeting. However, they had forgotten where it was. They wandered around aimlessly, not daring to knock on doors to ask. In the end, they returned to pack their things and wait.

While packing, Chen Ke asked, "Zhenglan, do you think these people are trustworthy?"

"Wenqing is worried that once the medicine is made, someone might take advantage of the situation, right?" Huaxi Mao smiled.

"Exactly."

"We do need a patron. The officials are definitely not reliable. Even people from the underworld... are not reliable. If it really doesn't work out..." Huaxi Mao muttered, "If it really doesn't work out, Wenqing should act alone. Don't let them scare you. They need you, and as long as the formula doesn't leak, they can't do anything to you. This medicine is a matter of life and death."

Hearing Huaxi Mao's words, Chen Ke felt that this was the only way. After packing their things, they instructed Lin Jian to tell Qiu Jin to wait at the residence if she returned. Then they left.

Back at the workshop, You Gou had not returned. Zhou Yuanxiao had already said he would return to the workshop in three days. Since no one was at the workshop, Chen Ke and Huaxi Mao thoroughly cleaned the entire place. As they worked enthusiastically, they heard You Gou excitedly shout, "Thank you both for your hard work."

Finally, someone had arrived, and Chen Ke's mood immediately relaxed.

"You Gou, we have important matters to discuss!" Chen Ke shouted.

You Gou was dressed beautifully, having finished dyeing the cloth. She had changed into a new dark blue silk dress and, unusually, wore a silver hairpin. After listening to Chen Ke for a short while, the previously smiling You Gou suddenly stood up, her face dark as water, and looked at the stool with disgust. "Will I be infected?" Her tone was cold and frightening.

"Definitely not."

"Hmph!" You Gou kicked the stool to the side in a fit of rage. "When one sits on a stool, trouble comes from nowhere! Brother Wenqing, if I get this disease..." Here, You Gou's lips trembled, her eyes turned red, and she began to cry in委屈.

"Calm down! Calm down! I'm going to make this medicine, aren't I?" Chen Ke knew that if a young woman like You Gou contracted this disease, it would be impossible to clear her name.

"I don't want to hear this nonsense. I'm going back now to burn all the clothes I've worn." Here, the bewildered You Gou grabbed Chen Ke's collar and sobbed, "Wenqing, Wenqing, will my family be infected?" Here, You Gou was so scared by her own imagination that she started crying.

"Damn! What a mess!" Chen Ke felt a mix of emotions. He had planned to research the new medicine with You Gou, but her reaction had completely disrupted his plans. Normally a confident young woman, You Gou was now completely flustered. "Women are unreliable!" Even Chen Ke, who always advocated for gender equality and respect for women, couldn't help but complain.

But seeing You Gou, who looked like a frightened rabbit, trembling all over and with tears in her eyes, Chen Ke had to patiently comfort her. Using all the medical and biological knowledge he knew, Chen Ke explained at length why You Gou was safe, even explaining the human immune system. However, this knowledge did not make You Gou feel any safer. Instead, she used it to question Chen Ke randomly.

In the end, Chen Ke shouted in anger, "I said you're fine, and your family will be fine. That's a guarantee!" This clear and forceful shout frightened You Gou, but it also calmed her down.

"This has nothing to do with you. We need to save He Zudao! He's in a bad state." Chen Ke continued to shout.

"Ah... Oh, as long as my family is fine." You Gou finally managed to say this, almost making Chen Ke laugh.

Chen Ke asked You Gou to sit down, but she hesitated to sit on the stool. Chen Ke ignored her and pulled out a stool to sit down himself. "First, we need to buy materials from Wang Bin. You must not reveal what you are doing."

You Gou nodded vigorously.

"Second, we start making the medicine now. You must not leak any information about our medicine."

You Gou nodded again.

"Third, this is money. How much money? If even ten thousand patients in the world buy this medicine, and each person pays you twenty pounds, how much is that?"

"Two million pounds." You Gou calculated the result nervously, but she clearly did not understand the significance of this amount.

"So, young man, let's go find Wang Bin together." Chen Ke said in a relaxed tone.

"Huh? Two million? Two million pounds?" You Gou finally understood Chen Ke's meaning. "Wenqing, two million pounds!"

"It's definitely not all for you!" Chen Ke said sharply, seeing the almost glowing eyes of You Gou.

"I want ten percent! No, five percent! No, fifty thousand! No, thirty thousand! Thirty thousand pounds is enough." You Gou started to get confused again.

"If you take thirty thousand pounds, won't you be afraid for your life?" Chen Ke laughed.

After the emotional ups and downs, You Gou rested for a while and finally returned to her normal state. She calmed down and said, "Let's go find Wang Bin now."

606, also known as arsphenamine or "Salvarsan," is an arsenic-based anti-syphilis drug. It was discovered by Paul Ehrlich and his colleagues after extensive research. In 1908, Ehrlich's laboratory identified the 606th compound as having anti-syphilis activity. This was the first attempt to optimize the biological activity of a lead compound through chemical modification, and it was highly effective and relatively safe for syphilis and other spirochete diseases.

Paul Ehrlich pioneered the field of chemotherapy. 606, marketed as Salvarsan in 1910, was the first organic compound to treat syphilis, a significant improvement over the inorganic mercury compounds used at the time. In 1912, a more soluble and easier-to-use but slightly less effective compound, neosalvarsan (914), was introduced. The invention of 606 was a major achievement in medicine, later improved to "914" (neosalvarsan) and thioarsan, which could be administered by intramuscular injection.

606 and 914, the precursors of arsphenamine, were actually quite common. This compound was widely used in 17th-century England as a preservative for corpses. The arsenic compounds that seeped from old cemeteries are known pollutants of groundwater in 21st-century England.

Wang Bin frowned when he saw the medicine. It was not because he had any foresight about the future of Chinese environmental protection. He simply could not understand why a long list of materials included something used to preserve corpses.

On the way, Chen Ke had strictly ordered You Gou not to speak recklessly, so she remained silent.

"Are these things hard to get?" Chen Ke asked.

"Not too difficult. I'll have the materials for you the day after tomorrow. Come tomorrow, and I'll give you what I have." Wang Bin replied.

"Thanks, Brother Wang. I'll bring the money tomorrow."

Back at the workshop, Chen Ke stopped You Gou from asking questions. He and Huaxi Mao carried a piece of white cloth that had been treated to fade. Cloth was a profitable item at the time. Chen Ke had left dozens of colored fabrics in the workshop for personal use. The dark blue work clothes they had sewn together were one of them.

"Make ten white lab coats." Chen Ke said this and left with Huaxi Mao.

In the evening, when they returned to their residence, they heard Qiu Jin talking to Lin Jian inside. Chen Ke felt relieved. Finally, they had found someone.

"Sister Qiu, I have a request."

"What is it?"

Chen Ke took out a small package and pushed it across the table to Qiu Jin. When she opened it, she saw a pile of silver. She sighed and was about to take off her watch.

"Am I such a miser in your eyes, Sister Qiu?" Chen Ke laughed.

"Then what is it, Wenqing?"

"I heard that Sister Qiu is going to Japan. I have a favor to ask. Mr. Chen Tianhua is also in Japan, and you will definitely meet him when you go. I would like to invite Mr. Chen Tianhua to return to China and meet me. This fifty taels of silver is for his travel expenses."

"Oh." Qiu Jin finally understood Chen Ke's intention.

"I have never met Mr. Chen Tianhua, but I have read his works and am eager to meet him. You have a good reputation, and it would be most appropriate for you to help me contact Mr. Chen Tianhua. I would have gone with you to Japan to meet him, but I have matters to attend to here and cannot leave."

"Haha, Wenqing is always busy." Qiu Jin laughed. Understanding Chen Ke's intention, Qiu Jin was quite curious. After these days of interaction, Qiu Jin knew that Chen Ke was a person who did not act without a good reason. His meetings with Xu Xilin, Tao Chengzhang, and Cai Yuanpei were all like this. With just the small amount of silver she had provided, Chen Ke had managed to make money in Shanghai. Indeed, Chen Ke relied on his own abilities, but without the support of so many people, he would not have achieved his current status.

Chen Tianhua's works, "A Sudden Awakening" and "The Alarm Bell," were well-known among revolutionaries. Like the late Zou Rong, he was a respected figure among the younger generation. Chen Ke's great interest in Chen Tianhua must have had a special reason.

"Does Wenqing know Mr. Chen Tianhua?"

"No, I have only read his works. I am very eager to meet him."

"Then why not go to Japan with me? Meeting him in person would show more sincerity. Is Wenqing that busy?"

"For the next month, I don't know how many hours of sleep I will get." Chen Ke said with a helpless laugh. In his English textbook, there was an article about Dr. Ehrlich, who had to write letters to himself to remember his family's birthdays so he could attend their birthday parties. Although Chen Ke had made the medicine before, it was in a 21st-century laboratory. In 1905, he had no idea what kind of "Chen Ke Laboratory" he would end up with.

Qiu Jin knew that Chen Ke did not lie. Although she had not seen Chen Ke dyeing cloth, the strong smell on him and Huaxi Mao when they returned was proof of what they were doing. Since Chen Ke said he was busy, it must be true.

"I will help Wenqing with this." Qiu Jin said and put away the silver.

Returning to the workshop, You Gou was gone. There was a letter on the table. Before opening it, Chen Ke mentally prepared himself. Even if the letter contained something like You Gou demanding to break off their relationship, he was ready to accept it.

The content of the letter surprised Chen Ke. You Gou did not complain. Instead, she clearly stated that she planned to stay at the workshop during the medicine-making process. To avoid trouble, she would bring a maid to live there. She was going home to convince her family of this plan, so she would not come early the next day, or even at all.

Chen Ke put down the letter. No wonder she was a chemist; they really had the same level of determination. With no one at the workshop, Chen Ke prepared to leave. But he heard the sound of the door being pushed open. The dyeing was finished, so the door was no longer locked. Who would come at this hour?

The door opened, and Qihuishen appeared.

"Mr. Wenqing, I have seen He Zudao. I came here several times today, but no one was here. I had to deliver He Zudao's reply to you."

"Huishen, please sit." Chen Ke said quickly. Qihuishen's dedication was something Chen Ke truly admired. "The world fears only seriousness. We Communists are the most serious." This clear standard was set by a great leader. Chen Ke already liked Qihuishen, a revolutionary, and now he considered him the first person to recruit.

He Zudao's letter deeply moved Chen Ke. The pain in the young man's heart was evident in every word. Contracting the disease was already a shameful matter, and He Zudao repeatedly swore in his letter that he had not done anything "bad." He begged Chen Ke to save him, promising that if he recovered, he would follow Chen Ke loyally, willing to face any danger for him.

"Huishen, did you tell He Zudao that I said we will not abandon our colleague?"

"Mr. Wenqing, when I went to see He Zudao, he locked his door and wouldn't let me in. I specifically told him your words, and although he didn't open the door, I heard him crying his heart out inside. Mr. Wenqing, I trust you. Please save He Zudao!"

Chen Ke quickly helped Qihuishen up. "Huishen, we are all colleagues and friends. How can we stand by and watch someone die? He Zudao has been with us all this time and definitely hasn't been to any brothels. I trust him."

"Mr. Wenqing, during the medicine-making process, I will follow your instructions and do whatever you ask."

"Whatever I ask?"

"Exactly."

"Alright, can you stay here with me? We need to work day and night. The sooner we make this medicine, the sooner we can save He Zudao."

"I will follow Mr. Wenqing's instructions." Qihuishen answered without hesitation.

"Good. I studied chemistry and have always admired the predecessors who could work tirelessly through the night. This time, I will do the same to save He Zudao and experience the hard work of our predecessors. Haha." Chen Ke said with confidence.

"Don't overwork yourself." Qihuishen advised.

"Work is the most glorious. Huishen, work is the most glorious. If you sit there doing nothing, will the sky drop a pie on you? Why do the imperialists look down on China? Because China has made no contribution to the world. We must work, create, and fight to build a new China. Only then will the world respect us. Millions of people like you and me, working hard and risking our lives, can build a new China. Huishen, do you want to join me in the revolution?"

"Is this the revolution, Mr. Wenqing?" Qihuishen did not want to dampen Chen Ke's enthusiasm, but his tone of doubt was unavoidable.

"Huishen, the revolution is not about killing; it is about saving people. The revolution is a humanitarian act!" Chen Ke's voice was deep and powerful.

Huishen was taken aback by these words.

Chen Ke patted Huishen's shoulder. "Huishen, I am not a cruel person. With my abilities, I could be wealthy, with no worries about food and clothing, and have multiple wives. In the future, I could have many children and enjoy family happiness. But I love our China and its people. China should not be in this state. Seeing China today makes me feel worse than death. But what can I do alone? Without the support of many comrades, I can do nothing. Join me in the revolution, Huishen. Let's gather those who are willing to revive China. We will not abandon anyone and save the Chinese people and our country from its current state."

Listening to Chen Ke, Huishen was speechless. Gradually, his eyes turned red. "Mr. Wenqing, you are a true revolutionary."

"Don't flatter me. Just say it clearly. Do you want to join?"

Huishen wiped away his tears. "I will follow Mr. Wenqing loyally."

"Stop calling me Mr. Wenqing. We are not that many years apart. Since we are comrades, just call me Wenqing. Go back and rest now. Come here at noon tomorrow. The days ahead will be tough. Let's save He Zudao first."

"Am I also a revolutionary comrade, Wenqing?" Huax