Chương 132: Treatment, Wine Production

Liu Ce then picked up gauze and a mask, saying, "These are for protection. When Huang Xu coughs or sneezes, cover his mouth and nose with gauze. Burn the used gauze immediately; don't keep it. Also, those of you taking care of him should wear these as well."

He took out several simple face masks: "Wear these over your mouth and nose to prevent infection."

Huang Zhong looked at these strange things and didn't understand them at all, but he remembered everything Liu Ce said. He quickly took out a pen and ink and wrote them down one by one.

Liu Ce continued to explain the precautions.

He walked to the window and pushed it open with a "whoosh".

"First, the room needs to be well-ventilated."

Liu Ce pointed to the fresh air rushing in and said, "This room is too stuffy, the stale air doesn't dissipate, which is bad for the illness. From now on, open the windows for at least two hours every day to let the sunlight in."

Huang Zhong hesitated: "But the doctor said... tuberculosis is sensitive to wind..."

"That's wrong!"

Liu Ce waved his hand, "Ventilation doesn't mean blowing cold air. Opening the windows and letting in fresh air is good for the lungs. Think about it, even people feel uncomfortable being cooped up indoors, let alone a sick person."

Huang Zhong thought about it and agreed, so he quickly wrote it down.

Liu Ce pointed to the sunlight outside the window and said, "Secondly, let him get more sun. Move the couch to the window so Huang Xu can bask in the sun for an hour every day. Sunlight can kill germs—oh, it can kill pathogens. It's good for his recovery."

Liu Ce became serious and said, "Third, separate meals. Prepare separate bowls, chopsticks, cups, and towels for Huang Xu. Disinfect them by boiling them in water for half an hour after use. Eat separately as well, and don't sit at the same table with family members. This disease is contagious, so be careful."

Huang Zhong's face turned pale: "Contagious? Then... then in these next few days..."

Looking at his condition, Liu Ce comforted him, saying, "You're healthy, so you'll be fine for now. But you should be careful in the future. Especially if you have elderly people or children at home, try to keep them away from you."

Fourth, strengthen nutrition.

Liu Ce laughed and said, "Have the kitchen make more chicken soup, fish soup, and bone broth. Tuberculosis takes a lot of energy, so you need to replenish it. Eat more meat, eggs, and dairy products—oh, dairy products are cow's and goat's milk, drink some if you can. Only when your body is healthy can you withstand the effects of the medicine and fight off the disease."

Huang Zhong nodded as he took notes, his pen almost leaving afterimages.

Liu Ce added, "I'll come every now and then to check on your recovery. Let me know when you run out of your medication, and I'll try to find another way. Remember, this illness takes six months to a year to treat, and you can't stop taking the medication even if you seem to be getting better. You have to persevere, otherwise all your previous efforts will be in vain."

Huang Zhong was moved to tears upon hearing this.

He knelt on the ground with a thud and kowtowed heavily: "Your Excellency's great kindness! I will never forget it! From this day forward, my life belongs to you, my lord! I will go through fire and water for you!"

Liu Ce quickly helped him up: "Hansheng, you flatter me. We are both doing this for the people of Youzhou, so let's not talk about gratitude. Huang Xu is a good boy, so of course I have to save him."

Huang Xu lay on the bed, watching Liu Ce's figure, tears welling up in his eyes.

He opened his mouth, his voice weak but each word clear: "Thank you, my lord... I will never forget your great kindness..."

Liu Ce turned back and smiled at him: "Take good care of yourself. When you get better, I'll teach you horseback riding and archery, so you can become a mighty general like your father, protecting your country!"

Huang Xu nodded vigorously, and a smile finally appeared on his pale face.

After leaving Huang Zhong's residence, Liu Ce breathed a long sigh of relief.

He was actually quite nervous just now—although he knew that anti-tuberculosis drugs were effective against tuberculosis in this era, he had never witnessed the effects firsthand. What if Huang Xu was allergic to the drugs, or had other complications… Fortunately, it seems that things are going well now.

He heard Huang Xu's laughter coming from the courtyard behind him—though he still coughed a little, it was noticeably lighter. He also heard Huang Zhong's cheerful reply, which sounded very energetic.

A smile appeared on Liu Ce's face.

"Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda," Liu Ce exclaimed.

The guard whispered beside him, "My lord, your medicine... it's truly miraculous. Young Master Huang's cough lessened not long after taking it."

"If you treat the symptoms correctly, the medicine will naturally be effective," Liu Ce said with a smile.

A few days later, in the backyard of the Liu residence.

Liu Ce lifted the lid of the earthenware jar, and a rich aroma of wine wafted out. He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing in ecstasy.

"It's done!"

This is a wine he improved using modern distillation methods. It has been fermenting for more than ten days and is ready to be distilled today.

He directed his servants to put the fermented mash into a specially made distillation pot—a pot he had a blacksmith make from memory; it was rudimentary, but the principle was correct.

A fire is lit, the mixture is heated, steam rises, and clear liquid begins to drip from the condenser.

"Bring the wine!" Liu Ce shouted.

The servants quickly grabbed a jar to catch it.

The liquor is crystal clear, like water, but its aroma is so strong that it makes you feel a little dizzy.

Liu Ce scooped up a little with the bamboo tube and took a sip. He closed his eyes to savor it.

Well, the alcohol content was probably around 30 or 40 degrees. Although it couldn't compare to the baijiu of later generations, it was much better than the sour and weak wines of the Eastern Han Dynasty!

"Good wine!" he exclaimed.

It's smooth on the palate with a sweet aftertaste. While it may not compare to modern premium wines, it's definitely top-tier for its time.

"It's done!" he exclaimed, slapping the table in delight.

Cai Yan, Zhang Ning, and Ren Hongchang came over upon hearing the noise.

"Husband, is the wine ready?" Cai Yan asked curiously.

"Alright, alright!"

Liu Ce poured three cups.

"Here, have a taste! Be careful, this liquor is strong."

The three of them each picked up a glass.

Cai Yan, being the most refined, first smelled it, then took a small sip.

As she tasted the wine, her eyes widened slightly: "This wine... it's so clear, so fragrant!"

Zhang Ning, on the other hand, was much more straightforward. He downed half a glass in one gulp, then choked and coughed, "Cough cough... It's so strong! But... it tastes good!"

Ren Hongchang cautiously took a small bite, and his face immediately turned red: "It's so strong... but the aftertaste is sweet."

Liu Ce laughed heartily: "Drink slowly, this wine can't be gulped down like before. How is it? Much better than the wine before, right?"

Zhang Ning poured another half glass.

"This is so much better! After drinking this, all the other wines I drank before tasted sour and weak, like water. This is real wine!"

Cai Yan nodded and said, "The wine is clear, fragrant, and mellow. Husband, if this wine were sold, it would surely be very popular."

Ren Hongchang added in a low voice, "It's just... a bit expensive, isn't it? Ordinary people probably can't afford such good wine."

Liu Ce laughed and said, "Don't worry, I have a plan. Once we start mass production, the costs will come down. Then ordinary people will be able to afford good wine!"

The three women looked at him with sparkling eyes.

This man seems to be omnipotent.

The next day, Liu Ce summoned Shen Wansan to the backyard.

Shen Wansan was bored out of his mind these days—he was a merchant, and being idle was worse than death for him. Hearing that Liu Ce was calling him, he came running over eagerly.

"My lord! You summoned me?"

Shen Wansan rubbed his hands together, looking expectant, and asked, "Is there some business to be done?"

"You're so clever."

Liu Ce laughed and scolded, "Come on, I'll teach you something good today."