Chapter 4

For modern people, only a few special viruses can make one feel at a loss. Such as AIDS, and the gradual weakening of organs due to aging!

However, in ancient times, let alone tetanus, even a small cold could be fatal if not treated in time or if one's constitution was not strong enough!

Of course, even if you had no illness at all. If you were born in ancient times!

To live longer, you would have to burn more incense to make your parents give you a stronger constitution, and then live a better life with better nutrition. Only then might your lifespan reach 60-70 years!

And if you didn't have either of these two conditions, well, think about the unbearable average human lifespan in ancient times, and you would definitely be scared out of your wits!

During the Xia and Shang dynasties, the average lifespan did not exceed 18 years. In the Zhou, Qin, and Western Han dynasties, the average lifespan was 22 years.

In the Tang and Song dynasties, the average lifespan was 30 years. In the Qing dynasty and the Republic of China, the average lifespan was 35 years.

What? You ask about the Ming dynasty? It was actually similar to the Tang dynasty! Around 30-35 years!

The reason why 90% of the poor people in ancient times had a consistently low average lifespan was mainly due to wars and lack of timely medical treatment. Of course, it also included severe malnutrition and other issues!

Now, think about us in the 21st century in the People's Republic of China, where the average lifespan is 72-75 years, and many people live to 80-90 years, or even over 100 years. Don't you suddenly feel a sense of happiness?

The saying "I would rather be a dog in peace than a man in chaos" comes from this!

(Also, don't envy the great power and numerous concubines of ancient emperors. Throughout Chinese history, there have been 83 dynasties with a total of 559 emperors, including 397 "emperors" and 162 "kings." However, the average lifespan of these hundreds of emperors and kings combined was only 39.2 years.)

That's right, you didn't read it wrong. The emperors in Chinese history didn't even live to an average of 40 years. How pitiful!

At this moment.

When Zhang Jingzheng heard that Zhu Zilong had a foreign prescription that could save his father, as a filial son, he couldn't wait and immediately pulled Zhu Zilong into the inner courtyard.

The Zhang family's large courtyard was indeed quite large, with three or four sections.

In the jargon, it means that the courtyard is divided into several rows, and one row is called one section. "Three sections" and "four sections" mean three or four rows.

After passing through three round arches, a garden appeared.

There were flowers, grass, artificial hills, and a pond. It was truly a wealthy household.

Of course, no one in the group had any leisurely thoughts at the moment. Zhang Jingzheng pulled Zhu Zilong along at a fast pace, and the maids who bowed to them along the way were ignored.

Entering the main house, Zhu Zilong saw an old man lying on a large wooden bed, who must be Zhang's father. Two maids were attending to him, and a woman in plain clothes was sitting beside him, weeping.

Zhu Zilong and Zhang Jingzheng approached. When Zhu Zilong glanced at the wooden bed, his eyes twitched.

A bed made of rosewood? What a tycoon! This bed, if placed in the modern collection market, would be worth at least a few million dollars.

"Little Brother Zhu, this is my father. Please take good care of him!" Zhang Jingzheng said.

Zhu Zilong nodded, took a few steps forward, and saw that the old man on the bed was pale and unconscious. He quickly went over, touched his neck, and found that the pulse was still normal, so he wouldn't die immediately.

In the modern world, before his穿越 (穿越 means "穿越" in this context, which refers to the concept of time travel or being transported to a different era), Zhu Zilong's family had mostly been sick. As the saying goes, "long-term illness makes one a good doctor," and he had learned a few medical skills.

Subsequently, Zhu Zilong asked the previous doctor and the servants who were taking care of Zhang Jingzheng's father about the situation.

Now, he was 80% confident.

However, to be on the safe side, he took out his medical kit and, following international practice, performed a skin test before administering an injection for acute diseases.

After the skin test showed no problems, Zhu Zilong injected the subsequent solution.

To enhance the effect, he also hung an IV drip, which was part of the medical kit, though the quantity was limited.

While Zhu Zilong was doing this, the surrounding people were unusually silent.

Clearly, everyone was very surprised, even to the point of not knowing how to speak.

Especially Zhang Jingzheng, who, despite his calm expression, was experiencing a storm of emotions inside. The methods of treating diseases in ancient Chinese medicine were clearly very different from Zhu Zilong's Western medical methods.

Especially when they saw that the bottles containing the medicine were made of glass, the onlookers' eyes widened. They must have been thinking, "Using precious glass to store medicine, can you be any more extravagant?"

("琉璃" (liuli) first appeared in the "Yan Tie Lun" by Huan Kuan of the Western Han dynasty, where it is mentioned, "… and jade, coral, and liuli are considered national treasures." The term "liuli" has been used until the Ming dynasty.)

In the Ming dynasty, there was glass, but this kind of transparent, high-quality glass was something they couldn't produce.

If it really existed, it would be considered as valuable as gold and jewels in the minds of the people of the Ming dynasty.

For a moment, the doctors who were initially skeptical and had many thoughts in their minds were now silent.

Especially in the eyes of the Zhang family, the precious transparent glass bottle, even if someone said it contained divine medicine, they would believe it. Otherwise, why would such a good glass bottle be used?

It seemed that the Zhang family owed a great favor!

When the IV drip was finished, Zhu Zilong tidied up his things, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said that it was done and they just needed to wait a while.

"Zhang Youfu!" Zhang Jingzheng called out, and a steward immediately came over.

"Master, what are your orders?" the steward Zhang Youfu replied.

"Prepare a good room for Little Brother Zhu to stay in. Follow his instructions for everything inside." After saying this, Zhang Jingzheng turned around and smiled at Zhu Zilong, saying, "Little Brother, do you have a courtesy name?"

Hearing this, Zhu Zilong remembered. He had read many novels and historical books and knew that ancient people had two names. For example, Guan Yu was also known as Guan Yunchang, and so on.

Zhu Zilong thought for a few seconds and quickly made one up: "My courtesy name is Sihai, meaning 'all under the four seas are brothers'!"

Before saying this name, Zhu Zilong had thought of many names, but he felt that this was the right time to play the emotional card. "All under the four seas are brothers" was very appropriate.

Moreover, returning from afar, as a descendant of the dragon, traveling the four seas, it sounded very pleasant.

"Ha ha, Sihai? Very good, very good. I am over forty, so I will call you Nephew Sihai, is that okay?" Zhang Jingzheng stroked his beard and said with genuine emotion.

"Of course, Uncle Zhang, you are too formal. Since we are uncle and nephew, you are my family. We are one family, so there's no need for such formalities. Treating the sick is my duty," Zhu Zilong said, standing up and bowing respectfully to Zhang Jingzheng.

This bow, combined with the favor, made them half a family.

Zhang Jingzheng was also a man of emotion and immediately ordered the servants to prepare wine and dishes to drink with Zhu Zilong.

The Zhang family, inside and out, was immediately busy.

Just as the wine and dishes were being served, a servant came to report.

When Zhang Jingzheng heard the report, his face was full of joy. He quickly pulled Zhu Zilong back to his father's room!

At this moment, Zhang's father was already awake, but still a bit dazed, drinking some light soup.

Zhang Jingzheng immediately asked the previous doctor to re-examine him. After a short while, he received a definite answer. Knowing that his father needed to rest, the group left the room.

The wine and dishes in the living room were already on the table, and Zhang Jingzheng pulled Zhu Zilong to sit down.

Zhang Jingzheng personally poured the wine, raised his glass, and said to Zhu Zilong, "Nephew, this glass of wine is to thank you for saving my father. To me, it is a great favor."

Zhu Zilong immediately raised his glass and replied, "Uncle Zhang, you are too formal. Since we are uncle and nephew, you are my family. We are one family, so there's no need for such formalities. Treating the sick is my duty."

"Ha ha ha, Nephew, what you said is very true. Come, let's drink this glass together!"