237: Fifth Incarnation: Heavenly Physician (29)

Xiao Qi silently noted this down and, through other channels, "accidentally" heard more similar stories from vegetable vendors who had been extorted by Clerk Zhou and porters who were forced to pay "tribute."

Furthermore, a sharp-eyed beggar "unintentionally" discovered that the expensive main medicinal ingredients at "Young Master Wang's" medicine stall bore emblems on their packaging. These emblems were somewhat similar to the marks used by a certain high-profile pharmacy in the city, which catered to high-ranking officials and nobles, to privately dispose of "old stock"... Rumors and gossip, carrying specific details and subtle implications, began to quietly connect and ferment among the lower-class commoners.

They weren't as open and upright as "Young Master Wang's" charitable acts, but like an underground current, they slowly and powerfully eroded the Foundation of certain things.

Clerk Zhou initially paid no mind to it, until at a banquet, a colleague mentioned with a half-smile, "Brother Zhou really has a knack for making money; someone even offered you an ancestral jade Pixiu as tribute." Only then was he startled.

When he sent people to investigate, he found that various rumors about him creating excuses to exploit merchants, accepting bribes, and even colluding with pharmacies to use old medicine as good medicine for "charity" were already circulating widely with vivid details. Moreover, the spearhead was subtly pointed at the backer behind him—

Embezzlement could be a major or minor issue, but if it led to more being uncovered, the loss would outweigh the gain.

"Young Master Wang" also sensed the subtle change in the atmosphere.

In the eyes of the people who came seeking medicine, gratitude remained, but there was an added, barely perceptible layer of scrutiny and distance.

The prestige brought by his "charitable acts" seemed to be eroding under a silent doubt.

Even more troublesome was the sudden increase in pressure from Clerk Zhou's side, which began to hint for him to "restrain himself" and "not cause trouble."

Not long after, an "accidental" theft occurred in the warehouse of that large pharmacy, and the stolen items happened to be a batch of specially marked aged medicinal materials.

Although "Young Master Wang" was not directly implicated, under the tense atmosphere, the pharmacy conducted an emergency self-inspection. To avoid suspicion, Clerk Zhou also quickly cooled his interactions with "Young Master Wang."

Although "Young Master Wang's" free clinic stall was not immediately removed, its momentum was far from what it used to be, and those free "high-quality medicinal materials" were quietly replaced with more common varieties.

This bloodless contest ended with the temporary retreat of "Young Master Wang" and Clerk Zhou.

Xu Yuan did not show his face; in fact, the vast majority of people in "Rat Alley" did not know that this undercurrent was related to them.

But the principle that "the people's hearts are like a scale," along with the potential inherent in that seemingly loose yet information-gathering and public-opinion-guiding network, brought Xu Yuan a deeper realization.

"Power can intimidate for a time, and profit can entice for a moment, but only reason and emotion take root in the heart, growing slowly yet firmly."

After dealing with this minor interference, Xu Yuan's attention immediately returned to a more imminent crisis.

Combining various pieces of information—the abnormal border climate Xiao Qi heard from refugees, the persistent humid and sultry weather A Niu learned about from flood refugees in the South City, and the exceptionally rampant mosquitoes, flies, rats, and ants he observed this summer—the ominous premonition in his heart grew stronger—

A large-scale epidemic was very likely to break out at the turn of summer and autumn.

This time, he did not wait.

Through core nodes like A Niu, Xiao Qi, and Aunt Zhang, he transmitted clear instructions and a simple "epidemic prevention plan" to every corner of the network:

Stockpile as much dry firewood, table salt, and lime as possible.

Collect common herbs with mosquito-repelling and filth-averting effects, such as mugwort, calamus, and atractylodes, and dry them for later use.

Select relatively independent and well-ventilated empty houses or shacks in each area to serve as temporary isolation sites for suspected patients.

Elect courageous and meticulous people who know a bit about nursing; Xu Yuan would provide them with simple training on identifying symptoms and providing care.

These preparations seemed overly paranoid to many, but based on their trust in "Young Brother Su" and the habit of obedience established during the moldy rice incident, the members within the network still more or less carried them out.

Xu Yuan used his limited resources to silently hoard the most basic heat-clearing and detoxifying medicinal materials like Houttuynia, honeysuckle, and Isatis root, repeatedly rehearsing how to quickly distribute medicine, organize isolation, and soothe people's hearts once an epidemic broke out.

What was bound to come finally arrived.

After the first cool rain of early autumn, cases of high fever, coughing up blood, and bruising on the body appeared first in the South City refugee camp, followed by the crowded shantytowns of the East Market. Death came swiftly and hideously.

Panic exploded instantly, far exceeding the moldy rice incident.

The government's reaction was, as always, muddled and cold-blooded: they sent soldiers to blockade the affected areas, strictly forbidding anyone from entering or leaving, calling it "isolation" for the sake of appearances. They ignored the situation within the blockaded zones, only continuously dragging out discovered corpses to an open area outside the city to be doused in oil and burned.

Billowing black smoke and the stench of burning flesh filled the air; the entire capital was shrouded in a doomsday-like atmosphere of terror.

"Rat Alley" also saw its first case.

Desperate wails instantly ignited the alley.

Some wanted to flee, some wanted to rush out to "reason" with the government, and more people slumped to the ground, waiting for death or the arrival of the soldiers.

Right then, Xu Yuan stepped forward.

He gave no impassioned speech, but simply put on an "overgarment" sewn from boiled coarse cloth, covered his mouth and nose, and gave orders to the panicked core members gathered in front of the straw hall:

"A Niu, take some men to guard the alley entrance. Not to stop people from leaving, but to persuade them! Tell them that running around will only lead to a faster death. If they stay in the alley and follow the methods we've prepared, there's still a chance for survival! If they really won't listen... there's no need to force them."

"Aunt Zhang, Granny Li, take the women and immediately start boiling large pots of the epidemic prevention medicinal soup as I taught you before! Light the mugwort and atractylodes as well!"

"Xiao Qi, go contact our brothers in other areas. Tell them the 'Taiping Medical Team' is activated, and to act according to plan! The focus is on isolation, providing medicine, boiling water, and deep burial!"

"Other neighbors, go home immediately. Use boiling water to wash all utensils, sweep the courtyards, and burn mugwort to fumigate the rooms! Suspected patients are to be sent collectively to the abandoned kiln at the west end for isolation; it has been prepared according to my instructions! Remember, those caring for the sick must also wear overgarments and wipe their bodies with boiled cloth afterward!"

"..."

Xu Yuan's instructions were clear and rapid, carrying an unquestionable calmness.

The panicked crowd seemed to have found a pillar of support and subconsciously began to act.

A Niu and other young men stood at the alley entrance with wooden sticks. Their voices of persuasion trembled, yet were exceptionally firm.

Large pots were soon set up, and the scent of herbs mixed with mugwort smoke began to permeate the air, overpowering the smell of fear. Patients were moved carefully yet as quickly as possible.

Xu Yuan personally entered the temporary isolation zone.

He could not use Spells, so he could only rely on his understanding of pathology and limited herbs to do his best to alleviate the patients' suffering and guide their care.

He had healthy people work in shifts to avoid excessive contact.

Corpses were wrapped in coarse cloth treated with lime and buried deep in a wasteland pre-selected for its distance from water sources.

"Rat Alley" was not an island.

Almost at the same time, in several corners already permeated by Xu Yuan's network—the East City Workshop district, the dock shantytowns, the edge of the South City refugee camp—similar organized responses appeared one after another.

Though crude, and though people continued to die, the orderly resistance, the warmth of mutual aid, and the significantly higher survival rate compared to the official blockaded zones formed a glaring contrast.

Black smoke versus medicinal smoke, blockade versus mutual aid, abandonment versus salvation... the people's eyes were sharp.

When "Rat Alley" and several surrounding areas paid a price but tenaciously survived the initial peak of deaths, while the government's blockaded zones were nearly silent with death, the reputation of the "Taiping Medical Team" and its organizer, "Young Brother Su," spread like wildfire.