Chapter 4

### Chapter 4: An Unconventional Cure

Chen Xie didn't speak too confidently; it was a cautious habit. A child who had grown up reading people's faces to earn a living would naturally be cautious. As long as it wasn't lung cancer, a patient who hadn't been exposed to antibiotics would find it very hard to die with penicillin and streptomycin working together. Zhang Yao only heard the words "there is a cure," and didn't pay attention to the rest.

In the Ming Dynasty, if you got tuberculosis, you were as good as dead, sooner or later. Filial piety was one of the foundations of governance, and Zhang Yao was a well-known filial son in Dengzhou. After the sudden rise and fall of emotions, Zhang Yao grabbed Chen Xie's hand and rushed inside.

The Zhang family's large courtyard was quite extensive. Chen Xie didn't understand the concept of "three or four courtyards," but he knew they had passed through three arched gates before reaching a garden. A winding path led to a pond, surrounded by bamboo. Chen Xie didn't understand the poetic charm of the wind rustling through the bamboo. Zhang Yao, too, had no such mood, pulling Chen Xie along quickly. Despite his pregnant belly, he walked so fast that sweat soon covered his forehead, and his breathing became heavy.

After circling the pond, they came to a wooden and brick house. Chen Xie followed in a daze, feeling a sudden darkness as he entered. He had to adjust his eyes for a moment. Looking around, he saw that all the windows were tightly shut, and his brows furrowed. How could someone with tuberculosis have all the windows closed? This was practically inviting the disease to spread.

Stopping, Zhang Yao, who was also tired, tried to pull Chen Xie but failed. Turning back, he saw Chen Xie's furrowed brows and was startled. "Little Brother Chen, is something wrong?"

"Mr. Zhang, I don't care how other doctors treat tuberculosis, but if you want me to treat it, you must follow my instructions. Otherwise, if the condition worsens, I won't be responsible." Chen Xie knew it would be impossible to explain what tuberculosis was and how it spread to a Ming Dynasty person like Zhang Yao. He didn't understand traditional Chinese medicine and didn't know how to explain it using TCM terms.

Zhang Yao nodded straightforwardly. "Of course, I will follow everything you say." Tuberculosis was an incurable disease in this era. Zhang Yao, a scholar and former official in Henan, had a unique perspective. Officials in this era were quite interesting; they could work when they wanted and quit by handing over their seals and walking away. Scholars in the Ming Dynasty were that arrogant and irresponsible.

Zhang Yao had left his position as a judge in Henan because he was unhappy. (Note: Zhang Yao, a native of Shandong, was a scholar and a judge in Kaifeng. During the rebellion in Dengzhou, the city was breached, and he was captured. Zhang Yao fought back with a stone and was killed. His wife and four children all died by jumping into a well. This is all the historical information available. Since he is not listed in the Ming History, only a few words are recorded in local annals. The rest is left to imagination.)

With this assurance, Chen Xie felt more at ease. He pointed at the windows. "Have someone open the windows. Tuberculosis is contagious, and poor air circulation can infect healthy people. I don't know which incompetent doctor gave this advice, but this is practically murder by negligence."

These words were quite impactful. Although the term "contagious" was unfamiliar, Zhang Yao could infer its meaning. He quickly had someone open the windows. Chen Xie then unslung his large backpack, which he had refused to let the servants take. This was his life's work, and he wouldn't let anyone touch it.

He took out a medical kit, put on a stethoscope, and then took out two masks, handing one to Zhang Yao. "Follow my lead." He put on the mask himself, knowing that even if tuberculosis could be treated, getting infected wasn't a good thing. Chen Xie didn't dare to be careless.

Although it felt awkward, Zhang Yao had promised, so he followed suit. Chen Xie walked inside and saw an elderly man lying on a large wooden bed, presumably Zhang's father. Two maidservants were attending to him, and a woman in plain clothes was sitting nearby, weeping.

Zhang Yao seemed to dislike this woman. He nodded slightly at her. "Second Lady." Then he turned to Chen Xie. "Little Brother Chen, this is my father." Chen Xie took a few steps forward and saw that the elderly man was pale and unconscious. He quickly approached, feeling the man's neck, and found the pulse to be normal, indicating he wouldn't die immediately.

Chen Xie, who had some experience as a barefoot doctor, understood the psychology of patients and their families. He didn't rush to speak but continued his examination, using the stethoscope to listen. It was still unclear whether the illness was tuberculosis. With the patient unconscious, he could only ask others.

"Who has been taking care of the old master? Have her come out; I have a few questions." Chen Xie moved to the front hall, and Zhang Yao followed, a step behind, bringing the woman with him.

The front hall was much brighter, and Chen Xie could finally see the woman clearly. She was petite and had a delicate face, a typical example of a modest and refined woman in modern times. She walked with a slight sway, a result of foot binding.

"Miss, please tell me about the old master's condition." Chen Xie didn't know how to address her, so he simply called her "Miss." Zhang Yao opened his mouth to correct him but didn't.

The woman was startled and hesitated, but seeing Zhang Yao's lack of reaction, she spoke softly. "My name is Suxin. I have been with the old master for three years. Two days ago, he suddenly felt chest pain and began coughing uncontrollably. I had the most famous doctor in Dengzhou, Doctor Liu, come to see him. He diagnosed it as tuberculosis, prescribed some medicine, and left. Last night, the old master coughed up blood continuously and fell asleep this morning at dawn."

Without any diagnostic tools, it was hard to be 100% certain it was tuberculosis. The only symptoms that matched were chest pain and coughing up blood. As for Doctor Liu, he might not be incompetent, but he was certainly incompetent in treating tuberculosis.

The old master was unconscious, and there was no point in trying to ask him. Chen Xie decided to start treatment immediately. Western medicine had a clear advantage in treating acute diseases, with quick results. He first did a skin test and then administered a fever-reducing injection. The old master had a low fever that had lasted for three days.

The skin test was fine, and when he took out the IV bag, he realized he had no place to hang it. The solution was simple: he grabbed a servant and had him hold the bottle.

Zhang Yao watched silently, truly following Chen Xie's instructions. As a scholar and former official, he had excellent composure. Though his face showed no expression, his mind was in turmoil. The methods of Western medicine were vastly different from those of traditional Chinese medicine.

To Zhang Yao, everything happening before him was utterly bizarre. The bottle containing the medicine was made of glass, which was incredibly luxurious. He had intended to ask a few questions but gave up when he saw the glass bottle containing glucose. Why? Glass existed in this era, but transparent glass was impossible to produce. Using such high-quality glass bottles for medicine could only mean it was a divine elixir. Even if it contained just water, Zhang Yao wouldn't have questioned it. Without a doubt, in Zhang Yao's eyes, the transparent glass bottle contained a miraculous drug. Saving his father was a great favor, and he felt deeply indebted.

After finishing, Chen Xie walked out, and Zhang Yao quickly followed. Just as he was about to speak, Chen Xie said, "Mr. Zhang, when the old master wakes up, move him to a different place for treatment. Everyone who has entered this room must bathe and change clothes. The clothes they take off should be boiled in a large pot for half an hour. All the items in this room should be cleaned and then left in the sun to dry for a day. The bed sheets, mosquito nets, and other items must be boiled before they can be used again. I will arrange the new residence later; you just need to prepare the people and items."

"Lai Fu!" Zhang Yao turned to call the old steward, who had been following him, speaking very politely, unlike how he would speak to a servant.

The old steward was actually only in his forties, but in this era, people aged quickly, making him look nearly sixty with a face full of wrinkles.

"Master, what are your orders?" The old steward approached, his skeptical eyes never leaving Chen Xie, and he kept giving Zhang Yao meaningful glances. Zhang Yao immediately said, "Let's talk outside. Little Brother, please wait a moment."

Chen Xie nodded, sitting down and feeling a sense of relief. It was no surprise that the old steward was suspicious, but Zhang Yao's presence kept the situation under control. Otherwise, with his unconventional treatment methods, he would have been beaten and handed over to the authorities.

At this moment, Chen Xie could calm down and organize his thoughts. Overall, his luck had been good today. It was fortunate that the old master had tuberculosis, a disease that Ming Dynasty doctors were helpless against, giving him the opportunity to shine. It was also fortunate that Zhang Yao was open-minded and didn't treat his methods as witchcraft.

Stepping out of the front hall and standing in the courtyard, the old steward Lai Fu approached. "Master, where did you find this young man? He doesn't look like a doctor at all." "A young man with no facial hair is unreliable." Chen Xie didn't realize that after traveling through time, his height hadn't changed, but his complexion had become much fairer. He used to be a bit dark, but now he looked young and fair.

"Lai Fu, you can say this to me, but don't mention it to Little Brother Chen. Didn't you see the transparent glass bottle? I won't blame you for your concern." Zhang Yao was still polite, but his words completely stunned Lai Fu. He hadn't noticed the transparent glass bottle, and the thought made him break out in a cold sweat.

"Transparent glass bottle..." he muttered to himself, then slapped himself.

Zhang Yao sighed and shook his head, turning to walk back. Chen Xie remained seated, sipping tea from a small cup, which wasn't very satisfying. After all the work, he was thirsty, and the hot tea wasn't refreshing. He reached into his bag, took out a bottle of mineral water, and drank half of it in one gulp. Putting the bottle down, he noticed Zhang Yao staring at him in shock.

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