Chapter Eleven: Sending Human Feelings

  Seeing Liu Sheng so happy, Li Qin was slightly surprised. It's just a common horse flu, as long as the diagnosis is correct, it's not difficult to treat, why make such a fuss and say that he can perform witchcraft, where did he look like a god?

  In treating influenza, traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine are different. Traditional Chinese medicine does not take into account the situation of the virus, but only treats according to specific symptoms. Whether it is equine influenza or other types of influenza, traditional Chinese medicine can use the same method for treatment, as long as the diagnosis is correct.

  At the end of the Han Dynasty, before Zhang Zhongjing wrote "Shanghan Lun", when ordinary people contracted typhoid fever, many families suffered greatly, and there were mournful cries in every room. Even Zhang Zhongjing's family did not escape, with two out of three relatives dying. It was this tragic scene that moved Zhang Zhongjing to study medicine diligently, which eventually led to the writing of the classic medical book "Shanghan Lun", earning him the title of "Sage of Medicine".

  Li Qian's time was before the great chaos, about 20 or 30 years before Zhang Zhongjing wrote his book. In other words, during this period, not only was it difficult to cure human plague, but even equine influenza, which is one of the most common plagues, was extremely difficult to treat.

  The Qiang people, although gradually sinicized, still make a living by grazing horses and sheep. No matter where they are, they are extremely afraid of the plague. On the grasslands, those who treat horse plagues are often shamans. Shamans use one or two kinds of herbal medicine to simply treat the horse plague, although the effect may not be very good, it is enough to make the herdsmen worship them. As for the simple treatment method, the shaman will absolutely not reveal it, but will pretend to be mysterious and make the herdsmen deify their witchcraft.

  Of course, the people of Zhongyuan also like to make a fuss about mysterious and obscure things. For example, when Da Yu was controlling the floodwaters, his skill in treading on high and low places was very good, which was necessary for his work, but the common people took this skill of his and gave it a resounding name called "Lingbo Weibu", saying that if one practiced it well, one could ride the air and fly, and they even called this technique the root source of all techniques, the essential point of mysterious mechanisms. When Shang Tang was praying for rain, he liked to sit on top of a pile of firewood and perform ***, and every time just when he wanted ***, the sky would rain; in fact, it's just that he was very skilled at weather forecasting. If you don't pray for rain but instead pray for wind, holding a wooden sword and reciting incantations, that's Zhuge Liang.

  Li Qin immediately understood that it was not Liu Sheng's fault for being overly surprised, but rather a matter of the times they lived in. People from this era would definitely not treat horses with influenza; instead, they would take good care of them and enhance their immunity to let the horses get through it on their own.

  Li Qian shook his head and said, "Brother doesn't know sorcery, but I do know a prescription for treating horse plague. Of course, I'm referring to this plague, other horse plagues... can't be sure."

  Liu Sheng excitedly grabbed Li Qin's arm with both hands and refused to let go. He said, "Good brother, I have a favor to ask of you. This piece of charcoal is more precious than a golden horse, and the foal in its belly is even..."

  Li QIN interrupted him and said seriously: "Liu brother, I regard you as an elder brother, don't you regard me as a younger brother?"

  Liu Sheng immediately straightened his body and said loudly: "I naturally regard you as a brother..."

  Li Qian interrupted him again, saying: "If we're brothers, then don't use the word 'beg', it's not necessary! Brother Liu, don't be anxious, call someone to bring paper and pen, I'll write a prescription right away, to cure your fire carbuncle disease. Take one dose tonight, and another tomorrow morning, and after noon tomorrow, your fire carbuncle disease will be cured, do you believe it or not?"

  "Believe it, believe it, of course I believe!" Liu Sheng turned around and shouted loudly: "Bring paper and pen... Ah, brother, my family doesn't have paper, will sheepskin do?"

  Li QIN nodded and said: "As long as you can write, it's okay."

  Liu Sheng shouted again: "Bring the sheepskin and pen, that ink, bring our family's iron pot over here, be careful not to wipe away the soot at the bottom of the pot!"

  Upon hearing the master's order, the servants immediately brought over the items. Two strong men carried in the iron pot and placed it in the horse enclosure, set up a small table, spread out a sheepskin, scraped off a layer of ash from the bottom of the pot, mixed it with water, and then presented the brush to Li Qin.

  Li Qin looked at the pen and said, "Brother Liu, you're a big businessman, from now on it's better to hire an accountant, then naturally you'll have all the necessary stationery, at least some bamboo slips would be good."

  Liu Sheng hastily nodded and said: "That's right, that's right. If you want to do big business, you must keep a good account."

  Li Qinfu wrote a prescription, to cure the horse flu, you need to use golden chamomile, Huang Qi, Zhimu, Lianqiao, licorice and other ten or so herbs. A medium-sized horse can be cured with one dose, but Fire Tuo is two circles larger than an ordinary horse, so it needs two doses to work.

  He had just written a golden character and stopped, thinking: "This character is also written too ugly, recognizing characters and writing well are not the same thing, this pen is also useless."

  Li Qian stopped writing, and Liu Sheng immediately felt a chill. He thought that if the prescription was really effective, it would be priceless. The two of them had just met for the first time and didn't have a deep relationship. Even if they did, such a precious prescription couldn't be given to an outsider. It wasn't that Li Qian was being stingy, but rather he was too naive and his request was excessive!

  Liu Shengdao said, "Brother, this prescription is so precious that it absolutely cannot be spread outside. How about this? I'll let my family go and buy the medicine, and have them bring back half a catty of each type from the pharmacy. Then you can mix the medicine yourself, and consider the leftover medicine as my gift to you. You can take it back to your own home, how's that?"

  Before Li Qin could answer, he turned around and shouted again: "Go to the pharmacy to grab medicine, half a catty of each medicine, don't dare to reduce half a flavor, go quickly!" The servants were shocked and hurried to execute the order.

  Li Qian was taken aback, he had no intention of keeping it a secret. Now his foundation is shallow and if there's a precious prescription, he can't keep it safe, and it might even attract countless people with knives and guns to "visit" him. But if he tells Liu Sheng the prescription, Liu Sheng will definitely keep it a secret. Looking at Liu Sheng's appearance, he won't go "visiting" others, who dares to visit him?

  Li QIN nodded and said, "Alright then, let's go get the medicine!" After a pause, he whispered, "Liu brother, didn't I say that if we're going to call each other brothers, we need to be sincere with each other? Once the medicine is ready, I'll give you the prescription. You must accept it graciously!"

  To give the prescription for curing horse plague to a horse breeder - this is indeed a great kindness!

  Liu Sheng's mouth was agape, thinking that the Li brothers were too kind-hearted, and it was hard to find such good friends in the world! He swallowed his saliva, and for such a great favor, he really didn't know how to thank them. After humming and hawing for half a day, he suddenly said: "Brother, I have a daughter who is 12 years old this year. You can take her back home as your wife and let her give birth to children for you. What do you think?"

  Li Qian's mouth twitched, what joke was this? Even if he wanted to thank him, he couldn't use his own daughter, a 12-year-old! He said: "How can this be, then I won't become your son-in-law! Brother Liu, how can you take advantage of me!"

  "No, no, how dare I take advantage of you, brother? I'm not without a sister!" Liu Sheng was so anxious that he was sweating all over, at a loss for what to say.

  At this time, the servant brought wine and meat, which resolved Liu Sheng's embarrassment. The two sat opposite each other at a small table, because Liu Sheng had also contracted horse flu, although it was not serious, but Li Qin still told him not to drink. Now whatever Li Qin said, Liu Sheng listened, although he was fond of drinking, he endured and did not drink. The two ate and chatted while eating.

  Liu Sheng loved his horse as much as his life, and at the banquet, he couldn't stop boasting about his Fire Spark, and had high hopes for the foal in its belly, wishing he could get an extraordinary good horse. Li Qin listened more and spoke less, sighing in his heart that with the chaotic times coming, Liu Sheng's good horse would soon be coveted by others, taken away through clever means, it was just that he didn't know yet. But thinking of Chi Tu Bao Ma, his heart also felt warm, if this horse could belong to him, how great would that be.

  It took only one meal's time, and just as the two had finished eating, the servants returned with the medicine. Not only did they bring back several hundred kinds of medicine, but also a complete set of decocting equipment and scales for weighing medicine. They even brought back a full set of writing materials, including pens, ink, paper, and inkstones.

  As soon as the things were moved into the horse enclosure, Liu Sheng immediately drove all his servants out and stared at Li Qin. Li Qin saw that he was anxious and didn't play dumb, immediately started making medicine, and even wrote down the prescription and handed it to Liu Sheng.

  Li Qindao said: "Brother Liu, this is the prescription for treating the plague in front of us. Please keep it safe. By the way, don't use it to treat other plagues."

  Liu Sheng hastily said: "Yes, yes, brother understands." He carefully folded the prescription and solemnly tucked it away in his bosom.

  Li QIN made the medicine and Liu Sheng personally administered it to Huo Tan. When Li QIN saw that he was almost recovered, he said: "Just follow my method earlier, tomorrow morning, Brother Liu will personally make another dose for Huo Tan to take, and you can also practice making medicine."

  After saying that, he bid farewell and said he would come again tomorrow. He also told Liu Sheng the address of Li Jia's residence, so that if there was an urgent matter, he could go to find him. Liu Sheng had intended to keep his guest, but seeing that Li Qin was determined to leave, he had no choice but to have a servant bring out a whole leg of roasted mutton, as well as stewed chicken and wine, to send off Li Qin.

  Liu Sheng personally saw him off at the door and had his servants carry the gifts with long poles to send Li Qian back to the Jia family.

  They arrived at Jia's Lane, and by then it was already dark. Li Qiang took the long stick and gifts, and let the servant go back.

  Standing outside the courtyard, Li Qin shouted: "Sister, I'm back!" and pushed open the door.

  Li Jia came out of the house and said, "Brother, why are you back so late? The leopard skin must have been sold! Ah, it must have been sold for a good price!" She saw Li Qin carrying many things and her face lit up with joy, knowing that her brother must have sold the leopard skin for a good price.

  Li Qin laughed and said, "I got a lot of good millet, the buyer sent the grain to our house, these are for you all to enjoy!" He took down the lamb legs and other things and handed them over to Li Jia.

  At this time, Mr. and Mrs. Jia came out together, and Mrs. Jia said: "Good child, we've been waiting for you to come back and eat, the meat soup has been heated up several times, why did you just get back?"

  Jia Zheng said, "Wine jar, is there wine? Good Li Gong, you really have a good eye for things, knowing that your uncle hasn't had a drink in almost two years, and yet you've bought wine to pay your respects!" He took a step forward, picked up the wine jar, and sniffed it repeatedly through the mouth of the jar, his face filled with an intoxicated expression.

  Li Qin laughed and said, "It wasn't bought, it was given by Liu Sheng. I think these things are enough for you to eat for half a month. If there's no millet or anything, just go to my house and take some. That leopard skin was exchanged for six stones of good millet!"

  Li Jia and Mother Jia were both shocked and exclaimed in unison: "Sixty taels, how can it be so much!"

  Jia's father was also taken aback, but immediately said: "In the city, except for the county magistrate, only Liu Sheng can afford to buy leopard skin. But with six stones of high-quality millet and these things, the price he offered is a bit extravagant."

  As they spoke, they entered the house together.

  ——

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