Insufficient balance

  The beakers and flasks boiling inside gave Chen Ke a very reassuring feeling. Apart from a set of "modern" glass experimental equipment, the other devices were all "Chinese style", that is to say, they were made up of cheap furniture. Fortunately, Chen Ke was particularly able to make do with it, and You Yun didn't mind at all. This was the situation on the fourth day of the experiment. In the previous four days, work could be said to have gone on day and night, but even the alcohol lamp had not been lit.

  Chemical experiments are a very difficult thing, even if Chen Ke and You Huan are undergraduate students majoring in chemistry, this knowledge is still not enough. At that time, the quality of foreign goods was not high either. Arsenic vanadium is not something special, there's no need to counterfeit it, but its purity is also a very annoying thing for Chen Ke. This isn't the 21st century, chemical reagents all have a series of purity labels on them and are quite reliable. The first difficulty You Huan and Chen Ke face is to carry out purification to reach the required purity for the experiment.

  Chen Ke only had the molecular formula of Arsenic Vanadium, and only this molecular formula. Chen Ke didn't remember all the parameters of Arsenic Vanadium. Although You Hou moved to the workshop with his luggage and a simple servant on the second afternoon. Although Hua Xiongmao, Qi Huishen, and Zhou Yuanxiao led three other young people with "courage" as assistants. The first two days were spent in discussions and debates between Chen Ke and You Hou.

  Chen Ke was originally worried that his experiment might be stolen, but soon he didn't want to think about it anymore. What Chen Ke needed to do was complete the "paperwork" for this experiment. Chemical experiments are extremely complex and difficult for those who understand them. The other young people all had their own thoughts, everyone wanted to learn something from the experiment. Chen Ke and You Hui made a list, Qi Hui and Hua Xiongmao led the team to purchase together. Everyone went quickly, and came back quickly, afraid of missing out on anything.

  However, every time these young people saw Chen Ke and You Huan standing in front of the blackboard, using Chen Ke's "clay powder pen" to write all sorts of strange symbols on the blackboard. Chen Ke was still okay, although his words were like reciting a heavenly book, at least it was Chinese. You Huan often quarreled with them in a foreign language (German) that they couldn't understand. Some young people tried to secretly copy what was on the blackboard, but as soon as those strange patterns and characters were written, Chen Ke or You Huan would point to these things while discussing, quickly modifying or simply erasing and rewriting.

  In just a day and a half, the young people became disheartened. They gave up on learning opportunities, merely listening numbly to Chen Ke and You Xing's enthusiastic discussion that only they two understood, writing things that only they two grasped, while others were completely baffled.

  On the third afternoon, manual work officially began. The assembly of complex experimental equipment, water baths, distillation apparatus, and filters. Large jars, furnaces, alcohol lamps, flasks, test tubes. This series of equipment was combined again. Various chemical raw materials were subjected to purification treatment. Chen Ke and You Huan were busy with experiments in their hands, discussing the experiment orally. They also had to record various data on paper. Like a Taoist refining elixirs and sprinkling holy water. Still something that others couldn't understand at all.

  Humans are creatures that do things they don't understand under someone else's command, and the resistance is huge. To overcome this emotion, a great deal of mental effort must be spent. Although the young people respected Chen Ke very much and wanted to save He Zuodao, after working for more than a day, they all felt extremely exhausted, even more so than on days when they dyed cloth.

  Chen Ke and You Huan's faces were as pale as the white coats they wore. In the past four days, the two of them had slept less than 20 hours. The crystallization of their hard work was the clear and transparent medicine in the test tube. There was no cheering, nor the legendary tears. Chen Ke and You Huan sat down on the couch, staring at the test tube like dead dogs.

  "Miss, the young master has brought food." Yu Yun's maid, Xiao Lan, shouted from outside the door. Every day, someone from Yu Yun's family would come to deliver food. Chen Ke could understand that during his university graduation experiment, his male classmates would often stay up all night in the lab, and their families would occasionally come to visit and bring some food. Not to mention 1905, when Yu Yun, a young girl, moved into the laboratory to live. After delivering the food, Yu Yun's family would also call out the maid to discuss things and keep an eye on Yu Yun's situation at all times. Two girls surrounded by a group of boys would not be left unattended in anyone's home.

  The people in the Yu family are still quite considerate, and every time they send something, it's enough for everyone in the "lab" to eat. At the working dinner party, people who were exhausted from fatigue and those who were bored to death all kept silent. After Chen Ke finished eating, he said to Qi Wei: "Qi Wei, go sell some rabbits this afternoon."

  Rabbit?

  "Alright, rabbits. First buy 30 of them. 50 is also fine, at least get 10 of them. You guys handle it."

  Chen Ke knew that everyone would definitely ask for the reason, so he simply said it all at once, "The rabbit is used for experimentation. To test whether our medicine is effective or not."

  "Is it already done?" Zhi Hui asked in surprise.

  "It's done, it's just that I don't know if what's been done can save people or kill them." Chen Ke said wearily. Then he turned to Hua Xiongmao, "Zheng Lan, help me find Wu Xingchen. I need his help with something."

  "Good." Huaxiong Mao replied.

  "I'm going to take a nap, don't wake me up for anything. Put the rabbits in the courtyard first when you bring them back. Oh, and buy several more cages. One rabbit per cage. Let's scatter." After finishing speaking, Chen stood up crookedly and walked towards the temporary "male dormitory".

  You Yun covered her mouth and let out a big yawn, "Xiao Lan, I'm going to take a nap too." After finishing speaking, she also stood up, taking the same tired and heavy steps as Chen Ke, slightly stumbling towards the "girls' dormitory". Xiao Lan quickly got up to support You Yun into the dormitory. Although she wanted to serve Miss until she fell asleep, You Yun lay down on the bed, pulled the quilt over her body, and was already asleep. Xiao Lan casually helped You Yun pull the quilt once, and soon retreated out.

  The people in the courtyard glared at each other, "Is that it?" Du Zhenghui asked incredulously. The Du family was a medical family, but he himself was passionate about building houses. However, as a member of a "medical family", Du Zhenghui was full of interest in this pharmaceutical endeavor.

  As soon as the words fell, Du Zhenghui had already stood up and quickly walked towards the laboratory. The others were stunned, except for Zhou Yuanxiao, who sat still on the stool. The rest of the people got up simultaneously and rushed to the laboratory together. Inside the laboratory, there was no change, that pile of equipment that everyone didn't understand was still in its usual state, without any eye-catching changes. Various test tubes and bottles were filled with liquids and powders. The distiller slowly dripped distilled water outward. As for this huge distiller, everyone had figured out the operating method and principle.

  "Where is it?" Du Zhenghui asked.

  Hua Xiongmao and Qi Hui Shen almost simultaneously observed the expressions of the people around them. Du Zhenghui was eager, the other two young men were curious, and Xiao Lan looked down with her eyes cast downward, but her eyes were also darting about in all directions, hoping to find that final medicine. Qi Hui Shen and Hua Xiongmao exchanged a glance, and Hua Xiongmao said: "Hui Shen, how do you plan on buying this rabbit?"

  "Hmm, going together to buy would be a waste of time, let's split up and buy separately. Anyway, Wen Qing said at least 10, 50 is also okay. Each person only buys ten, if you can't buy enough, go exchange more. Don't buy too many either, this way we'll definitely get the rabbits and won't overbuy. I think this is better."

  Others thought this suggestion was good and expressed their agreement. Everyone went out the door, heading in different directions. Hua Xiongmao made a gesture with his eyes to Zhou Yuanxiao before leaving. Zhou Yuanxiao pretended not to see it and still had that aloof expression, he shouted: "Little Lan, let's clean up the table!"

  Xiao Lan quickly came out of the house and began to collect bowls and chopsticks with Zhou Yuanxiao in a slow and steady manner. Hua Xiongmao walked out of the yard as if he hadn't seen anything, quickening his pace. After passing two streets, Hua Xiongmao slowed down, and soon Qi Huishen turned around from the front street corner, and the two of them walked forward slowly and steadily together.

  "Hua will be deep, and that Youjia ghost still has a lot of thoughts." Huaxiong Mao said.

  "Zheng Lan, you also have some influence in your family."

  "Your family is no different. From what I know, your family is even more formidable than the Yu's."

  "My father wasn't interested in business at all. Apart from selling foreign goods and buying land, I haven't seen him do anything else." As he said this, Qi Hui cast a sideways glance at Hua Xiongmao, "I didn't expect Zheng Lan to have dug up my family's financial situation."

  "You're so famous, I still need to ask around." Hua Xiong smiled brightly and said, "Don't mention it, but I must prepare. Originally, I thought making medicine was just a matter of internal and external application. Now that I see how much effort you put in, I don't even understand what I'm looking at. In today's world, there are many people who rob and plunder. As long as this medicine is made, it will be the target of everyone's attention. No matter what, I don't want to let your hard work go to waste."

  "This remark made Zhi Hui extremely displeased. 'Zheng Lan brother, if you have something to say, just say it directly. This hiding and concealing is not suitable.'"

  "I'm telling you this because I trust you. As Wen Qing said, we brothers are also comrades now."

  Although these words are reasonable, they sound even more piercing. Qi Hui furrowed his brow, "Zheng Lan brother, what do you mean?"

  "In these times, it's every man for himself. You may think you're doing the right thing by wanting to save He Zuodao, but in your father's eyes, just watching him make this medicine is enough to warrant a share. And not a small one either." Hua Xiongmao said seriously.

  "Zheng Lan, you don't know, my father has always..."

  Before Qi Hui Shen could finish speaking, Hua Xiong Mao immediately interrupted him, "No matter what problems you and your father have, he is still your father."

  After hearing this, Qi Hui fell silent.

  "Wen Qing is not a fool, he's just too busy to take care of this matter right now. We're all comrades in the revolution. I may not be able to help Wen Qing with making medicine, but I should at least think ahead for him on other matters. Once this medicine is released, it won't just be Shanghai that's affected - there are many people infected with syphilis nationwide, and among them, there are quite a few who are wealthy and influential. We've been listening to Wen Qing's lectures for some time now, so we should at least come up with a plan. Otherwise, Wen Qing will offend too many people, and those who can be infected with this disease aren't exactly the kind of people you'd want to mess with. We can't just watch Wen Qing suffer."

  Qizhui Shen was originally somewhat dissatisfied, but after hearing this, he slowly nodded. "What does Zhenglan mean?"

  Hua Xiongmao took a deep breath, apparently not wanting to say this: "I actually hate foreigners the most. Weng Qing hasn't told you, but on our first day in Shanghai, we beat up two foreigners together. But what Weng Qing said is right, business is business. What he said was... even if it's with demons and monsters, we have to do it. I think you should contact the foreigners." By the end of his speech, Hua Xiongmao's tone was very unpleasant, but he managed to say it anyway.

  "Zheng Lan, you really made me look at you in a new light." Qi Hui couldn't believe that Hua Xiong Mao would actually suggest borrowing the power of foreigners.

  "We won't do it, but we can't guarantee that the You Yun girl won't do it. The You Yun girl won't do it, but we can't guarantee that her family won't do it. Even if the You Yun girl's family doesn't do it, once this medicine becomes famous, your father might still do it. Since we can't avoid it, let's just find someone who can cover up for us first." Hua Xiongmao said, and then let out a long sigh.

  Qizhui nodded in deep agreement with Hua Xiongmao's words. He thought for a moment. "Zhenglan, you're right, but since we've decided to follow Wenqing, let's wait until he has some free time and then discuss this matter together with him. After all, it's only proper that Wenqing makes the decision."

  Hua Xiong nodded and at the next intersection they went their separate ways.

  Wu Xingchen did not expect Hua Xiongmao to come directly to the Tiandihui's clubhouse to find him. When he heard the report, Wu Xingchen almost thought it was a mistake, but after seeing Hua Xiongmao, he confirmed that there was no mistake.

  "Brother Wu, I don't know when you're free, Brother Chen wants to invite you over for a visit. There's something important to discuss."

  "Hmm, what's the matter?" Wu Xingchen didn't want to go see Chen Ke. Chen Ke's speed of dyeing cloth was far beyond Wu Xingchen's expectations. He Yifah rushed back from outside after handling some business and went to find Chen Ke. He was sent away with a few taels of silver and a piece of cloth. After waiting for a few days, he went again, but Chen Ke had already sold all the cloth. He Yifah was sent away again with a few taels of silver and a piece of cloth. Chen Ke could fool He Yifah, but not Wu Xingchen. Through private investigation, Wu Xingchen knew that Chen Ke had produced over a thousand pieces of cloth this time.

  "I'm also unclear about this matter, Brother Chen has invited Brother Wu over, and he'll know once he gets there. It should be a big deal."

  Wu Xingchen had heard this nonsense too many times. Whenever someone said there was a big deal, it definitely wasn't good news. Big deals meant big expenses. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. But thinking of Chen Ke, Wu Xingchen didn't want to refuse anymore. Chen Ke left a very interesting impression on Wu Xingchen. It was clear that Chen Ke wasn't someone who mixed with the underworld, but he wasn't stupid either. Since Chen Ke was willing to find him, maybe there really was something to be gained from this deal. Thinking of this, Wu Xingchen said: "Then I'll set off immediately. Is it convenient on your side, Brother Chen?"

  Chen Ke didn't expect Wu Xingchen to arrive so quickly, and was startled awake by Hua Xiongmao. Chen Ke rubbed his sleepy eyes and raised his head, only to see Wu Xingchen standing at the door. He looked at his watch and saw that it had only been two hours.

  "Brother Wu, you've arrived." Chen Ke struggled to get up.

  "Brother Chen, are you preparing to play the sheng?" Wu Xingchen said with a smile.

  Chen Ke thought for a moment before he understood. He was wearing a white coat, and it made him look like a "filial son". It had been a long time since someone spoke to him in the northern dialect, and looking at Hua Xiongmao's puzzled expression, Chen Ke couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Brother Wu, you're really funny."

  After the three sat down, Chen Ke briefly explained that he was developing a cure for syphilis and needed to take some pus from the patient's sores for experimentation. As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Xingchen almost burst into anger. Before he could erupt, Chen Ke asked him to take a look at the next room. Wu Xingchen suppressed his anger and went to the laboratory, where he saw all sorts of strange equipment, and his anger suddenly dissipated.

  Chen Ke pulled up a stool, and the three of them sat down. "The others have gone to buy rabbits." Chen Ke said as he picked up a syringe. The experimental method was to inject a small amount of pus from a patient with gonorrhea onto the rabbit's testicles. Soon, abscesses would appear on the rabbit's testicles, and then they could use the rabbit to test the medicine. After yawning and finishing explaining the experimental procedure, Chen Ke said: "Wu brother, you're influential in Shanghai, if I can get some results from this, I'll definitely need to cooperate with you. You find a place to get the pus, and I'll come do it myself. Once the medicine is ready, we can use those people to test it. Wu brother, you'll naturally know whether my medicine works or not."

  Wu Xingchen had never dealt with someone like Chen Ke before, and all he saw was Chen Ke's pale face, yawning one after another. However, his spirit wasn't bad, and he didn't look like someone who had taken opium. In such a situation, Wu Xingchen hoped to take the initiative, so he asked casually: "Brother Chen, how long haven't you slept?"

  For Wu Xingchen, avoiding direct answers to Chen Ke's questions is his way of taking the initiative. As long as he can divert the topic, Wu Xingchen believes that Chen Ke will come to him again in the future.

  "For three days, I slept less than six hours. For this medicine, I risked my life. I thought that since we have fate to meet each other, in the future, for this medicine, we will inevitably meet again. Brother Wu, now when we brothers mention this medicine, it's still considered our brotherly affection. Next time we meet, Brother Wu can come find me at home. At that time, talking about affection is no different from speaking nonsense."

  Wu Xingchen couldn't tell whether Chen Ke's words were true or false. Looking at Chen Ke's sleepy appearance, Wu Xingchen believed even more that this was Chen Ke's true intention.

  "Brother Wu, this medicine is for cooperating with the foreigners. Damn it, nowadays even the government doesn't dare to provoke the foreigners. However, no matter what, this thing still relies on Brother Wu's Jianghu brothers. This money I earn isn't much. For the Tiandihui Hall, this money isn't a lot either. The Tiandihui will either swallow me whole or send someone like He Yifa to work with me. Finding someone like He Yifa is definitely not as good as finding Brother Wu. This money isn't a lot, but we brothers have a bond of righteousness and can do this thing together. We should earn the money that's rightfully ours, not let some fool like He Yifa earn it."

  Chen Ke looked dazed, but every sentence he spoke directly pierced Wu Xingchen's heart. Wu Xingchen carefully observed Chen Ke, seeing that his eyes were bloodshot and his face was pale. It was clear that he had been up all night. However, every word Chen Ke said hinted that Wu Xingchen should strive for his own interests.

  "This kind of thing, if someone else were to do it, they would definitely think it's shameful. Finding a few prostitutes with venereal diseases, this is intentionally humiliating my brother. But I want to find Brother Wu, just so you can see the effectiveness of my medicine with your own eyes. This thing can't be faked, either it works or it doesn't. Brother Wu, you'll know as soon as you see it. I think Brother Wu is a talented person, we did this and both benefited. Curing illnesses and saving lives, this is accumulating good karma. Brother Wu, even after we die and meet the King of Hell, those people whose lives you saved will still remember your kindness. Brother Wu, let's do this kind of thing together. This is merit."

  After hearing this, Wu Xingchen couldn't help but want to grasp the Buddhist beads on his wrist. Those were the Buddhist beads that had been consecrated by the abbot of Shaolin Temple. When Wu Xingchen was ten years old, his mother had personally sought out these consecrated Buddhist beads. Wu Xingchen felt an indescribable feeling. Now, originally it should have been two rascals discussing how to divide their spoils. But in Chen Ke's words, it seemed like a matter of great merit.

  Hua Xiongmao listened to Chen Ke's words, feeling a sense of disappointment and admiration. Today, he had an in-depth conversation with him and Qi, which was actually about the profits of this special medicine, not wanting it to fall into someone else's pocket. However, Chen Ke never discussed such matters, but he had already carefully considered future events.

  Ever since meeting Chen Ke, Hua Xiongmao had always felt that Chen Ke was not an ordinary person. Today, Chen Ke's words made Hua Xiongmao even more convinced of his own thoughts. At the same time, he also felt a sense of resentment towards Chen Ke. Why didn't he say these things to himself earlier? Had he been thinking so much about Chen Ke just for nothing?

  At this moment, Hua Xiongmao saw Chen Ke turn to himself with a faint smile. Hua Xiongmao looked into Chen Ke's eyes filled with bloodshot and saw the faint apology and encouragement in them. In an instant, Hua Xiongmao felt that he had already understood Chen Ke's meaning, Chen Ke was not acting on his own accord. It was just because he did not predict that Hua Xiongmao could bring Wu Xingchen over so quickly.

  No matter what, Chen Ke will definitely clear things up with himself. Hua Xiongmao firmly believes that he did not misjudge the person. Although Chen Ke is pragmatic, he is not a person who only considers himself.