Chapter 1294: Chapter 1272: Receiving Gifts
“But you all still carry external pathogens, especially since each person’s external pathogens are different. If you all enter the delivery room and get close to Fifth Lady, the pathogens you carry will enter her body through her unhealed wounds, and then she will develop a fever and various illnesses…”
Eldest Lady Han immediately said, “Young Lady Zhou, rest assured, I won’t let them in. In the future, even if I go in, I will change my clothes before entering.”
The ladies of the Li Residence also immediately understood and quickly said, “Then we will visit Fifth Lady when she feels a bit better.”
When Manbao saw that they were finally “persuaded,” she immediately showed a satisfied smile. Happily turning around to go home, she unexpectedly faced Minister Li and Minister Han, standing quietly at the courtyard gate.
Manbao: …
Manbao was invited to the study to talk.
Minister Li sat in the main seat, leaning slightly forward, and asked, “Doctor Zhou Junior, you just mentioned that soldiers on the battlefield often die after being wounded because of external pathogens invading?”
Manbao felt a bit embarrassed, as she had just scared their daughter and daughter-in-law, but she quickly regained her composure, nodded seriously, and said, “Yes, this principle is surely known by the imperial doctors. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Imperial Doctor Tan and Imperial Doctor Liu.”
Minister Li pondered for a moment and asked, “Is there a way to prevent it?”
Manbao nodded and said, “Of course there is. Like this time, frequently disinfect with atractylodes, wash hands often, scald medical instruments with boiling water, boil water before drinking, ensure clean bandages, and keep wounds clean. These may seem like minor details, but they can save countless lives.”
Manbao knew from experience that before she studied medicine, her brothers often drank water directly from the cistern when thirsty and tired, without boiling it.
Even Datou followed their example. It took her a long time to change this habit, but even now, Daji and the household servants find it too troublesome to go to the kitchen and drink directly from the cistern, except in the depth of winter.
Once, under Keke’s guidance, Manbao scooped a ladle of water into the system, and by examining it in the lab of the teaching room, she saw what was in the water and was terrified.
Subsequently, that ladle of water was recorded by Keke, though it earned very few points.
Because Keke said the organisms in the water are found on several planets in its world, they’re not uncommon, but the Encyclopedia Hall still awarded her a few bonus points.
Minister Li continued to ponder, while Minister Han remarked, “Wanting to apply such measures on the battlefield is impossible. Not to mention, the wounded are placed on open ground without shelter, how much atractylodes would be needed to fumigate them all?”
Manbao furrowed her brows and said, “Aren’t there tents?”
“But the tents aren’t enough to accommodate all the wounded.”
Minister Li said, “Then start with the simplest things: clean bandages, boiled water, and clean hands…”
He said, “Find some time to talk with Zhenyuan.”
Minister Han silently agreed.
Manbao scratched her head and asked, “Minister Li, are we, the Great Jin, going to war?”
Minister Li finally reacted and immediately smiled, “No, just discussing preventive measures, Doctor Zhou Junior, you’ve been a great help. I heard that the wife of Sanlang can already get out of bed and walk?”
Minister Han also immediately looked towards her.
Manbao said, “She can get out of bed, but she is afraid of pain, so she can only take a couple of steps. I think even if she can only manage a few steps, it’s beneficial for her recovery.”
Minister Han didn’t expect that his daughter could actually get out of bed and walk. Just last night he heard the Eldest Lady say that the abdomen was directly cut open, and the child was taken out from the belly.
He nodded blankly, unsure if he took it all in.
Manbao gently shook her head, got up, and excused herself to leave.
The two ministers hurriedly tried to keep her.
Manbao was insistent, “I’ve stayed over a night; I really need to go home, otherwise, my family will worry.”
The family wasn’t worried at all. Manbao happily jumped off the carriage, pushed open the door, and ran into the backyard announcing her return. Only Xiang Mingxue, who lived in the east wing, heard her and opened the window to look over, then smiled, “You’re back?”
He said, “Bai Shan and Bai Cheng are still at school and haven’t returned yet. Your fourth brother took some people out, saying he took on a job for Jishi Hall, transporting medicinal materials, might come back tomorrow. Mr. Zhuang went out to enjoy the snow with others.”
So, there was no one at home, except for Xiang Mingxue.
Manbao felt a bit disappointed, so she simply walked over and asked, “Where’s Xiang Chao?”
“He went to collect the items. Didn’t you give a blueprint earlier? Young Master Liu had someone make the rehabilitation equipment for me. Bai Shan and the others said it was done when they returned yesterday, so he went to pick it up today.”
Manbao was quite disappointed.
Finally, the servants from the Li Residence arrived behind her carrying many things, asking, “Doctor Zhou Junior, where should we place these items?”
Manbao said, “Just put them in my room.”
Xiang Mingxue watched as the servants carried in cloth, various gift boxes, and even two pots of peonies. Curious, after they left, he asked, “I understand sending cloth and gift boxes, but why peonies at this time?”
Manbao sighed, “I don’t know who spread the rumor, but outside people say I love exotic flowers and plants. Peonies symbolize wealth and nobility, so Eldest Lady Han thought I would definitely like them and picked the best two pots from their greenhouse to gift me.”
She said, “I firmly refused, but she insisted on giving them, and there was no way to decline without seeming impolite, so I had to accept them.”
Heaven knows she genuinely wanted to refuse.
Beautiful peonies, who has more of them than she does?
Xiang Mingxue chuckled, thinking she was simply being modest like Eldest Lady Han.
Seeing this, Manbao sighed deeply, wondering why no one believed her when she told the truth.
Seeing her thus, Xiang Mingxue believed her a bit more and curiously asked, “Aren’t you fond of flowers and plants? Why don’t you like peonies?”
“I do like them, but I already have peonies. I just want to collect flowers and plants that I haven’t seen before.”
Xiang Mingxue didn’t expect her to be so fussy and laughed, “This is indeed troublesome. How would anyone know what flowers and plants you’ve seen and which you haven’t?”
He said, “It’s better to just accept whatever others give you. Once word gets out, people will naturally know you genuinely like flowers and plants, and they’ll gift you more of them next time.”
Manbao thought for a moment and thought his idea was good, then gave him a thumbs up.
The Li Residence sent a lot of things to Manbao, but it wasn’t from Minister Li’s family; it was sent by Li Sanlang.
Manbao picked and chose, setting the cloth aside, intending to have Zhou Lijun put it away when she returned; she usually kept the cloth she received.
She also put aside some jewelry, planning to let Zhou Lijun pick from it before putting it in the system, so she could take it home to her mother and sister-in-law.
As for the box of silver, after glancing at it, she put it into the system and noted it in her little account book.
Regarding the peonies, after a glance, Manbao moved them to the study, planning to gift them to the teacher when he returned.
Taking care of peonies in the winter is so demanding; she’d rather not exert herself for that.
Well, Auntie Zheng loves flowers, so she could give her a pot tomorrow, making it less burdensome for the teacher.