Chapter 3, a transformation occurs
Lao Huang has just arrived in Paris with the newly appointed envoys from England, France, Italy, and Belgium, led by Xue Fucheng. He will soon proceed to London to serve as a second-class counselor. Yang Feng, as a wealthy Chinese traveler, naturally should first report to the Chinese embassy in Paris. Although Chinese individuals are quite rare in Europe at this time, it is not to the extent that Envoy Xue Fucheng would personally receive them. Therefore, this task was entrusted to Huang Zunxian, who serves as an aide.
The officers had no objections to this, and although 1,000 francs is not a small sum, it pales in comparison to their own unspoken difficulties and future prospects. Soon, these individuals paid the fee for the injection and, with a hint of apprehension, returned to their respective homes to seek out their mothers.
Captain Lavelle, these friends are! He quickly pushed this fellow aside and then looked around at the officers surrounding him, all wearing sycophantic smiles, and said in a low voice.
"Brother Yang, what kind of medicine is this?" After these officers dispersed, Huang Zunxian wiped the sweat from his forehead and, in astonishment, gazed at the tens of thousands of francs before him, saying in disbelief.
Uh? I hope Lord Huang can forgive me. My friends are not very fond of being known to the outside world. As you know, the anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States is quite severe. For Chinese individuals like us, survival is difficult, and the technologies they possess can easily attract the covetous eyes of those foreigners. Therefore, we must act with caution. Yang Feng hurriedly said, forgetting that Old Huang had also served as the Consul General in San Francisco; he might understand the situation in the United States even better than himself.
According to the description by the captain of the French Navy ironclad ship Méduse, this injection known as "Tian Yi Sheng Shui" was administered in a dosage roughly the size of a tear, and it brought one of his sailors back from the brink of death. At that time, the sailor was on the verge of death due to a return of fever, and even the ship's doctor believed that there was no hope for his recovery.
He is in urgent need of a backing. Although the Qing Dynasty may not last for many more years, if he continues to stir things up, it certainly won't last long either. However, the current situation still has some semblance of strength; after all, there is still one of the strongest fleets in Asia. The Dingzhen II, which has only been in service for a few years, is precisely at a time when it can flaunt its power in Japan. The once-mighty empire, which has been repeatedly ravaged by the British and French, seems to have experienced a moment of revival, especially during the recent Sino-French War, where it managed to give the French a hard time. Therefore, maintaining a facade of strength is still feasible.
Oh, Brother Yang is actually a Chinese expatriate in America. I wonder where he lived in the United States? I have also lived in America for a few years and am quite familiar with the Chinese expatriates there
Dear Yang, you have finally returned! This bearded man, whose syphilis has not yet fully healed, embraced Yang Feng with deep affection, feeling the skin as rough as sandpaper, causing the big boss Yang to immediately break out in goosebumps
Four days later in Paris, France, a Chinese billionaire who is sailing around the world on a private yacht has made headlines in several entertainment sections of newspapers. This young and handsome Oriental man, who does not have a braid, not only possesses a yacht powered by his own invention of a diesel internal combustion engine, but also carries a miraculous medicine.
Learning to write and to wield a sword, none can compare; as I stroke my graying temples, they gradually turn silver. My parents rejoice, and relatives congratulate, on the day I fell to the ground thirty years ago. It is said that although Boss Yang is unlearned, he can still remember this poem.
The effects of penicillin are undoubtedly remarkable, especially in this era where individuals have little to no resistance to it. Although Yang Feng administered diluted doses, the results were almost instantaneous. The next morning, Boss Yang was brushing his teeth by the waters of the Seine! Yesterday, those officers surged to the dock like a pack of wolves, each waving cash and shouting, startling Huang Zunxian, who had come to see Yang Feng.
"Brother Yang, I take it you are from the capital? May I ask your esteemed father's name?" A figure dressed as a zombie, sitting opposite him, merely smiled faintly at his crude words, and then asked with some confusion.
Why
Huang Zunxian nodded noncommittally. As a bureaucrat of the Qing Dynasty, his ability to read between the lines was undoubtedly top-notch. This oddly dressed individual probably spoke nine lies out of ten, but that was of little consequence; in the officialdom, someone who spoke nine lies out of ten was already considered quite honest.
It can be said that this approach is relatively reasonable; the key is that Yang Feng has to conduct skin tests for each of them, as he does not want to cause fatalities just as penicillin is newly introduced
"What a load of nonsense, I clearly cured his syphilis!" Boss Yang said disdainfully while looking at the newspaper in his hand
After obtaining what he desired, Boss Yang returned to the banks of the Seine, feeling quite satisfied. He continued to reside on his yacht. Upon arriving at the dock, he noticed dozens of French naval officers gathered around his ship. As soon as Captain Lavelle spotted him, he rushed over like a fly drawn to blood
How about this! They can each pay a hundred francs in advance, and I will give each of them a diluted injection from hetushu.com. If they feel it is effective, then I will sell them another injection at the price of one thousand francs each, and I will also provide them with the usage instructions, allowing them to find a doctor to administer the medication themselves" said Yang Feng
This is not feasible; I will not stay in Paris for long, as I have now accepted an appointment from the Qing Dynasty's embassy in the United Kingdom and will soon be going to London as a translator with them
Yang Feng smiled faintly without responding
He has an agreement with Lavelle; this guy brings him a client, and he gives a ten percent commission. However, the price of the medicine is not cheap
Ravel nodded and said: "Yang, as per your request, one thousand francs per syringe, but they require payment in installments"
This matter is quite unexpected. After encountering the ferry "Styx" returning from Algeria to Brest, he originally intended to ask for directions and leave. However, upon learning that the ferry was fast and preparing to head to France, the captain immediately requested his assistance in transporting a sailor who had contracted a fever on the way to Paris. Naturally, Yang Feng would not miss such a good opportunity.
As soon as dinner concluded, I was mysteriously invited by the captain to his quarters, where I somewhat awkwardly informed him that I happened to be troubled by one of these persistent ailments.
At this time, the franc was on the gold standard, with one franc equivalent to 0.29 grams of gold. One hundred francs was close to one tael, and nearly ten taels of gold could be exchanged for a tiny vial of liquid, no larger than a thumb. This is simply liquid gold!
Yang Feng stared at him in astonishment, then glanced at the officers, feeling a chill run down his spine. Of course, he was not the French Minister of Defense; the naval officers' safety measures when seeking companionship were inadequate, which had nothing to do with him. What he was concerned about was his own income. He pulled Laville aside and then whispered, "Did you clarify the price?"
"Mr. Huang, to be honest, I am actually a Chinese expatriate from the United States. As for the so-called ancestral miracle medicine, that was just a ruse to fool these foreigners. In reality, this ship, along with the idea, was invented by me and a group of like-minded young people, and we are preparing to take it to Europe to make money," Yang Feng said with a smile. The gaunt man sitting in front of him was a well-known figure, the renowned poet and diplomat Huang Zunxian.
At this point, he was immediately elevated to the status of a distinguished guest aboard the Minghe, with the captain personally inviting him to dinner. While sipping red wine and enjoying steak, he boasted extravagantly about the efficacy of penicillin, specifically emphasizing that it was equally effective against stubborn ailments such as syphilis and gonorrhea. He was well aware of the nature of these Frenchmen.
How much profit can be extracted from a city that underwent a complete overhaul twenty years ago? London, on the other hand, is different; the wealth of the world is concentrating there. Consider the ancient families that have persisted for hundreds of years, and think of the astonishing wealth of the British royal family. Yang Feng feels as if a vast mountain of gold is waiting for him to excavate
Thus, the remaining matters became straightforward. After penicillin resolved the captain's unspeakable dilemma, Yang Feng immediately became the object of his flattery. Especially upon learning that Yang Feng could continuously procure this miraculous potion from China, Captain Lavelle could hardly wait to engage in traditional Chinese practices of sacrificing a chicken and burning yellow paper with him
Mr. Huang, you also know that we overseas Chinese, drifting abroad, have the greatest wish of being able to return to our hometown. To be honest, we do not care about money; what we desire now is to hold an official position, so that when we return, we can bring honor to our ancestors. Yang Feng said sincerely, revealing the true face of a sycophant.
He told the Frenchman that he had a hereditary miracle cure, which could be said to cure the disease instantly. Upon hearing this, the Frenchman naturally thought it was excellent. The sailor originally had little hope, treating it as a last-ditch effort. However, after Yang Feng performed a skin test and administered a dose of diluted penicillin, the sailor's symptoms began to significantly alleviate shortly thereafter
Ravel asked Yang Feng while dividing the spoils, "Yang, why don't you stay in Paris? You could easily open a pharmacy here and specialize in selling your medicine"
Boss Yang came to the Chinese embassy seeking employment, stating in his own words that he was there to serve the court. He expressed that he would be willing to work without pay, as long as he could be given an opportunity to repay the court and express his gratitude to Her Majesty the Empress.
They all need your help just like I do," Ravel said awkwardly in a low voice
"Mr. Huang, please do me a favor. I will ship the goods, and you will collect the payment, one thousand francs per person." Yang Feng, not bothering with pleasantries, directly pulled Huang Zunxian onto the boat, assigning him the task of distributing the medicine while Huang Zunxian was responsible for counting the money, quickly distributing the medicines.
Huang Zunxian was quite welcoming of this. At that time, the Chinese diplomats stationed abroad were in dire need of aides who understood Western customs and culture. Although Yang Feng's background was somewhat unclear, his proficiency in five languages made him a rare talent. After assessing his linguistic abilities, Old Huang reported with some surprise to Xue Fucheng. Thus, Yang Feng transformed into a translator for the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom, becoming a member of the Chinese diplomatic staff.