Chapter 222: Smallpox
Chapter 222
The brightly colored tomato scrambled eggs, tender garlic stir-fried pork, sour and spicy potato shreds, and a shredded sweet potato, spareribs with beans and corn all cooked together in one pot were all dishes that no one had seen before.
Seeing these unfamiliar dishes, not only Meng Huaining, but even the eighth and fifth brothers at home couldn't help smacking their lips.
He Zhiran also didn't intend to explain too much. She gave Mo Jiuye a look, and Mo Jiuye promptly got everyone started eating.
This first bite was no joke...Meng Huaining could no longer mind his image. He rolled up his sleeves with the Mo brothers and heartily wolfed it all down.
Only when he felt somewhat stuffed did Meng Huaining put down his chopsticks and ask, "Ninth Brother, I haven't seen these ingredients either. They weren't also bought from the foreigners, right?"
He knew himself that he was asking even though he knew, but he just couldn't help asking...
"That's right, Brother Meng should eat more if he finds it delicious." Mo Jiuye vaguely replied.
At this moment, he had no heart to explain too much. As long as his wife's cooking tasted good, he had to eat more.
One pot of tea, one table of delicious food, and Meng Huaining even wanted to loaf around at the Mo's and not leave.
However, he still had to face reality.
After the meal, He Zhiran brewed another pot of tea for them. It wasn't until the evening that Meng Huaining reluctantly brought up taking his leave.
No matter what, Meng Huaining had helped the family a lot, so He Zhiran generously gave him a package of Bi Luo Chun tea.
For Meng Huaining, this gift was simply an unexpected favor.
He couldn't resist such good tea leaves and could only shamelessly accept them.
From now on, he would have to take special care of the Mo family to live up to this package of tea.
After sending off Meng Huaining, everyone tidied up and then returned to their rooms.
Early the next morning, Mo Chuhang got up early to go to the yamen to work.
Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran planned to buy some simple furniture for the house, so they hurried along with him in the mule cart.
Buying furniture was something He Zhiran really couldn't accomplish using the space's capabilities. After all, the style of the furniture bought in the space would seem out of place with this era if said to have been purchased.
Moreover, they would build a new house next spring, so He Zhiran planned to design the furniture herself at that time.
For now, the more simple the better for what they were using in the house, as long as it was usable.
So the two asked around for furniture shops in Yancheng and went directly there.
The style of furniture in this era was relatively simple. Apart from those wealthy families that would customize some high-end goods, what was placed in the shops were all practical and affordable pieces.
Therefore, Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran simply chose some tables, chairs, and cabinets that the house urgently needed.
With so many people in the house, even so, the two bought a huge pile.
It had been a long time since the shop owner had encountered such big customers, so he was overjoyed and even threw in a few extra small stools for them.
The shop owner was responsible for delivering the furniture to their door, they just had to clearly state the address.
After buying the furniture, there was still some time before noon, so the two wanted to stroll around town and look for news about Tang Mingrui.
They hadn't walked far when they saw the commoners in front of them all running in the opposite direction from them.
The commoners seemed to be shouting as they ran, "Hurry, get away from that clinic!"
Mo Jiuye didn't know what was happening. He grabbed a man running towards them and asked, "Big brother, what happened up ahead?"
The man glanced at Mo Jiuye and said, "There's a smallpox patient in front of the clinic, hurry and run!"
After speaking, the man forcefully struggled free from Mo Jiuye's grip and continued running away with the crowd.
Smallpox was no small matter in ancient times. Not only was it contagious, but it also killed many people.
Mo Jiuye solemnly said to He Zhiran, "Ranran, you go into the space first. I had smallpox as a child and won't be infected. I'll go take a look first."
He Zhiran shook her head. "Smallpox is spread through the air, droplets, and contact. I'll be fine if I'm careful."
Anyway, she had as much alcohol in her space as she needed and could carry out the most thorough disinfection.
As she spoke, He Zhiran had already pulled Mo Jiuye to an empty place, and the two entered the space together.
He Zhiran took out two masks, one for herself and Mo Jiuye to wear.
In addition, medical gloves were also necessary protective measures. As for protective clothing and such, it would be too ostentatious to wear out, so she temporarily gave up on that for now.
They could thoroughly disinfect with alcohol when they got home later.
Mo Jiuye understood clearly that if he didn't let Ranran participate in such matters, she would definitely not be willing.
So he could only indulge her.
After simply protecting themselves, the two flashed out of the space.
At this time, no one could be seen on the street. They had probably all run far away.
The two walked in the direction of the clinic.
They saw a young man sitting limply in front of the clinic door, holding a little girl in his arms who didn't look older than ten.
The two were not unfamiliar with this young man. It was none other than Tang Mingrui, whom they had intended to look for.
Tang Mingrui's face was full of decadence, and the light in his eyes was also gone.
Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran strode over.
"Brother Tang, what on earth happened?"
Although the two people coming towards him had strange things on their faces, Tang Mingrui recognized them with one glance.
"Big Brother Mo, Big Sister Mo."
Tang Mingrui's voice carried sobs.
"My sister broke out in red blisters on her body. I brought her here for treatment, but unexpectedly, she has smallpox..."
He Zhiran didn't hurry to speak, but carefully observed the little girl Tang Mingrui held in his arms.
The little girl did have many red rashes on her face, but however you looked at them, they didn't seem like smallpox.
The lesions from smallpox were relatively deep, but the blisters on the little girl's face were very clearly floating above the outer layer of skin.
To further confirm her judgment, He Zhiran walked forward a few steps and squatted in front of the little girl.
She tentatively reached out to touch the blisters on the little girl's face.
Tang Mingrui and Mo Jiuye moved at the same time.
"Ranran, you can't touch her!" Mo Jiuye shouted loudly before rushing forward to grab her.
Tang Mingrui hugged his sister and scooted back, "Sister Mo, it's dangerous!"
He Zhiran first said to Mo Jiuye, "I suspect she doesn't have smallpox."
Mo Jiuye was surprised. He had also just seen that the rash on the little girl was the same as when he had smallpox, so how could it not be smallpox?
"Ranran, if it's not smallpox, what could it be?"
"I suspect she has chickenpox."
"Chickenpox?" Mo Jiuye and Tang Mingrui asked at the same time.
He Zhiran could only patiently explain, "The symptoms of chickenpox are somewhat similar to smallpox, but it's not as severe. I guarantee I can cure her."
Mo Jiuye understood his wife would never say anything she wasn't confident about.
He Zhiran felt the grip on her relax. She struggled free and came before the little girl again. Her gloved fingers gently touched one of the more prominent blisters on her face.
He Zhiran's face immediately revealed a smile.