Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen: Take One Step at a Time

"Did you remember everything the divine doctor said?" Zhang Kedali's imposing presence was evident as he glared at his concubine. Despite his stern look, the concubine, who seemed to be quite favored, was not intimidated. Instead, she approached Chen Xie and bowed, saying, "Divine Doctor, is my daughter really not in serious danger?"

"Diarrhea, or what we call loose stools, can be caused by many things. Medical texts generally attribute it to external evils invading the body, but each doctor's understanding of medical techniques varies because traditional medicine lacks a systematic theory. Ha, I digress. The young lady's condition is not serious. Based on my understanding, it's food poisoning. We've already administered the appropriate treatment, and she should recover in three to five days."

Zhang Kedali waved his hand, dismissing the concubine, who had no intention of staying and turned to check on her child. At this moment, a servant came forward with a tray covered in red cloth. Zhang Kedali said, "Divine Doctor, you've worked hard. Please accept this small token of appreciation." Chen Xie knew it was silver and didn't hesitate, gesturing for the servant to place it aside.

"Sir, you are too kind. I've been away from Dengzhou for some time and miss my family dearly, so I won't stay long. My apprentice, Yu Lian, will remain. If there are any changes in her condition, please inform the Zhang household."

Chen Xie tossed the red-wrapped silver into his bag, irresponsibly leaving Yu Lian behind as he returned to the Zhang household. In reality, Chen Xie was giving Yu Lian an opportunity to independently care for a patient. In modern society, medical personnel undergo years of professional and systematic education before they can practice, but in the Ming Dynasty, such conditions did not exist. It was a matter of using people to fill the gaps. While it might seem unethical, this was the reality. Which famous ancient doctor didn't build their reputation on the lives of others?

Changsheng had been waiting at the door for a long time. With Young Master Chen away for nearly a month, Changsheng felt abandoned. Life as a servant to Young Master Chen was wonderful, with food and clothing far surpassing what other servants in the household enjoyed. Young Master Chen had a good temper and treated his servants kindly, never resorting to physical punishment. If Young Master Chen didn't return, his wonderful life would come to an end.

Now that Young Master Chen was back, his wonderful life could continue.

Walking back to the Zhang household, Chen Xie never rode in a sedan chair. It wasn't that he found it uncomfortable, but he disliked the idea. After living in the Ming Dynasty for some time, Chen Xie understood that riding in a sedan chair was the most comfortable mode of transportation. The streets of Dengzhou were paved with stone slabs, making them relatively smooth, but even horse-drawn carriages jolted along the road.

Only by walking could one truly feel the poverty and backwardness of the Ming Dynasty's urban society. It was mid-afternoon, and the street was dotted with patches of dried sewage, with occasional piles of cow or horse dung. Most people wore tattered clothes, and beggars were everywhere. Even in a large city like Dengzhou, the situation was dire, and it was even worse in the countryside. In Zhang Village, the Zhang family was considered relatively kind, only taking fifty percent of the rent, while the standard was sixty percent, and seventy percent was not uncommon.

The biggest contradiction in agrarian civilization was the imbalance between population growth and limited land resources, a problem that had no internal solution. The only solution was external expansion, but each dynasty's rise was preceded by long periods of war. With the birth of a new dynasty came a long period of stability, during which the central government took measures to maintain its power.

By the eighth year of the Tianqi era, when Chongzhen ascended the throne, the Ming Dynasty was still relatively stable. At this time, no scholar or official believed that the Manchus could take over China. To them, it was just a minor issue. The wealthy still lived in luxury, with many indulging in nightly revelry.

So, if someone were to say that the Ming Dynasty had only seventeen years left, they would surely be beaten and arrested. One must eat one bite at a time and do things step by step. Chen Xie was not a person who set unrealistic goals and had no intention of saving the Ming Dynasty from its troubles. Without such a pressing need, he was not in a hurry.

The most pressing matter was to earn money and establish his own foundation. Other matters could be dealt with later. With his knowledge of the future, Chen Xie was confident he could protect the Zhang family and his own assets during the upcoming turmoil caused by Kong Youde. As for what happened after that, he would deal with it as it came.

At this point, Chen Xie did not have grand ambitions. As for the threat posed by the Jurchens, he didn't take it too seriously. Once he had the money, he could raise an army equipped with rifled muskets and modern crossbows. The idea that "ten thousand Jurchens cannot be defeated" was a lie. Even the remnants of Qi Jiguang's army, when faced with overwhelming numbers, had their front teeth knocked out. In the face of the modern army Chen Xie planned to build, the Jurchens would be no match. Did he know about the Battle of Baliqiao?

Zhang Xin and his two younger brothers were waiting at the door. Upon seeing Chen Xie, they didn't greet him first but asked, "Did you bring any good food?" It must be said that the Zhang children were well-mannered, but Chen Xie had spoiled them. Phrases like "We're family, no need to be formal" and "If you're so formal, are we really family?" had become common, and they no longer felt the need to be polite to each other.

He gave each of the younger boys a lollipop (wrapped in paper he had specially prepared). With their candy, the boys respectfully greeted him, "Big Brother, you've worked hard. Thank you, Big Brother." Then... they were no longer interested in him, each sucking on a lollipop and comparing who had more.

Zhang Xin smiled as he watched Chen Xie entertain the younger boys. Once they were gone, he stepped forward and bowed, "Big Brother, you've had a long journey. Father is in the study, please come with me."

Entering the study, Chen Xie was surprised to see Zhang Yao smoking a pipe, puffing away. He only put it down when Chen Xie entered. He knocked the ashes out of the pipe and said, "You're back, sit down."

People in the Ming Dynasty smoked? Chen Xie realized his understanding of the Ming Dynasty was still shallow.

"Do you smoke this too?" Chen Xie pointed at the pipe, and Zhang Yao chuckled, "It's brought from the south, called 'dangui.' Smoking a few puffs when tired can refresh one's spirit. Some merchants call it 'golden thread grass,' 'golden thread smoke,' 'golden thread intoxication,' 'reviving grass,' or 'divine grass,' but it's just marketing to fool the uneducated."

Chen Xie suddenly saw a golden opportunity. In modern society, tobacco was a monopoly, but in the Ming Dynasty, it wasn't. Chen Xie was too excited too soon. Chongzhen had issued a ban on tobacco because its popularity led to a decrease in food production. In the Chongzhen era, a lack of food was a serious issue. In any era, food security was a matter of national security and received significant attention.

"This substance is addictive if smoked long-term. I believe it should not be widely promoted. Its high price means that if farmers find growing it more profitable than growing food, they will switch, leading to a decrease in food production. In the event of a natural disaster, a food shortage could cause unrest." Zhang Yao was quite insightful, pointing out the core issue.

Due to the low agricultural productivity in the Ming Dynasty, a high yield of 300 pounds of wheat per acre was considered exceptional. In such conditions, a country primarily based on agriculture could not afford to neglect food production. A lack of tobacco wouldn't cause unrest, but a lack of food certainly would.

"I have learned a great deal!" Chen Xie respectfully accepted the lesson and pulled out a stainless steel cigarette case (a custom-made item for smoking) from his pocket. He took out a cigarette and offered it to Zhang Yao, "Try this?"

Zhang Yao examined it, noting the "Zhonghua" inscription, and said approvingly, "Naming it 'Zhonghua' is excellent!" The lighter appeared, and the flame flickered. Chen Xie's efforts were in vain; Zhang Yao was startled but didn't understand it was a cigarette.

"This device can instantly produce fire, truly a marvel of craftsmanship." Zhang Yao praised the lighter, leaving Chen Xie speechless. He quickly lit a cigarette for himself and smiled at Zhang Yao, offering the lighter again. Zhang Yao understood and took a puff, the modern industrial process making the tobacco smooth and rich, easily winning him over. After finishing the cigarette, Zhang Yao extended his hand, and Chen Xie promptly handed over the case.

"Since you've offered it, I won't be polite." Zhang Yao played with the case, finding the mechanism, pressing it to open and close, like a child. He played with it for a while before stopping.

Chen Xie remained silent, thinking, "Lucky I ordered dozens of these cases online. I knew this would happen. I had planned to promote it myself, but it seems the intelligence and popularity of tobacco in the Ming Dynasty make promotion unnecessary. Just this alone could make me rich. Growing tobacco in the Ming Dynasty might not be practical, but in modern society, I could buy equipment and start an underground tobacco factory. As long as I don't sell it publicly, it shouldn't be illegal."

"Si Hua, what are your plans now that you're back?" Zhang Yao brought the conversation back to the topic. This time, Chen Xie had a clear goal and was prepared.

"This trip has given me a good understanding of the Ming Dynasty's customs and the might of its army." He emphasized "might" but with a less-than-positive tone. Zhang Yao coughed and said coolly, "Soldiers are crude, don't take it to heart."

"Uncle Zhang, I have many plans and the ability to build a large business. The problem is, once my business grows, how do I protect it from being coveted by others?" Chen Xie raised this issue, and Zhang Yao, after a moment's thought, knew Chen Xie was serious. Zhang Yao understood the current state of the Ming Dynasty better than Chen Xie did.