Chapter 10, A Trial on the Treatment of Smallpox (Part 2)

Everyone's gaze was still fixed on Li Su, and Sun Simiao patted his shoulder, expressing his dissatisfaction by saying, "Continue speaking, why are you in a daze!"

Sun Simiao impatiently interrupted him: "When lives are at stake, why are you wasting time with such nonsense? Hurry up and bring out your sick cow, quickly!"

"Old Immortal Sun! Truly Old Immortal Sun!" Butler Hu was stunned with surprise, his eyes fixed on Sun Simiao without blinking, his gaze fervent, the intensity of his enthusiasm akin to having captured a wild, pristine Ultraman with bare hands

The courtyard was filled with kneeling figures, and Sun Simiao wore a displeased expression. He let out a heavy snort towards Li Su, clearly dissatisfied with this young man. Then, with a stern face, he addressed the crowd kneeling in the courtyard: "What are you all kneeling for? Get up, get up! Kneeling at the sight of others, where did you learn such a bad habit?"

Sun Simiao nodded slightly, no longer paying attention to Butler Hu, and continued to observe the sick cow

Li Su did not kneel, but he was also astonished

Sun Simiao paused for a moment and looked at Li Su, saying: "If it proves effective, little child, you shall receive a bow from all the people of the world"

Ah? Hu Guanjia's gaze quickly shifted to Li Su, clearly changing from reverence to suspicion: "Li family's kid, what are you trying to do this time?"

"Be quiet, I only treat humans, not animals. This cowardly child claims he can, you should ask him."

Little doll, do not deceive this poor Taoist. Is there really a way to ensure that those who have not contracted smallpox will never be infected in their lifetime? Is it true?

There are many new words that are hard to understand, but... it seems quite impressive

Li Su stared blankly at Sun Simiao, and at that moment, he also felt an impulse to kneel down, to kneel and ask the old immortal to bless him... to become wealthy

Sun Simiao was very particular about knowledge, especially in the field of medicine. He raised his head to look at Butler Hu and asked, "How long has this cow been ill? What are the symptoms?"

Li Su glanced at Sun Simiao and said with a bitter smile, "Today, while discussing the matter of smallpox with the Wang brothers, I casually mentioned a few things. I didn't expect that this Taoist elder overheard it, so..."

As soon as the words were spoken, the sound of knees hitting the ground echoed in the backyard, followed by several thuds as the butler and servants of the Hu family fell to their knees, and even the Wang brothers knelt down.

I dare not, I dare not, the old immortal has frightened me... Speaking of which, old immortal, do you believe me so easily just because you heard me ramble a few words?

Li Su smiled wryly and said, "Old Immortal, I have never claimed that I can definitely cure it; I am merely trying. The plague has become so severe, how could one person's strength make a difference?"

The King of Medicine, Sun Simiao? I never expected that the first celebrity I would encounter during the Zhenguan era would be him

Butler Hu fixed his gaze on Sun Simiao and Li Su for a long time, and finally decided to follow the old immortal's words, turning around to lead the ox away

Butler Hu increasingly looks up to the mountains: "The old immortal saves all beings, even the animals have been saved, truly a boundless merit..."

Sun Simiao laughed in anger: "You, a cowardly child without a single hair on your mouth, what virtue or ability do you possess that would make me trust you? It is truly that I am at my wit's end with this illness, and in my desperation, I am seeking any remedy. You claim to have a solution, so I will reluctantly follow you to see for myself. Do you think I have nothing better to do than to accompany you on this journey?"

Sun Simiao snorted and said: "Forget it, why should I argue with a little brat like you? As long as you truly have a way to deal with smallpox, I would be willing to bow down on behalf of all the people in the world, what of it?"

I am sorry, I can only guarantee that those who have not contracted smallpox will not be infected again in this lifetime, but for those who have already contracted smallpox, I am unable to help. I apologize, I can only save your parents, but I cannot save the fourth one.

Li Suxin was in a state of confusion, nodding perfunctorily.

Upon seeing the old immortal inquiring, Butler Hu hurriedly replied with respect: "It has been ill for about ten days, nothing serious, just lacking in spirit and eating very little. It is quite difficult to find a veterinarian in the surrounding villages. The master plans to report to the authorities in about ten days to have it slaughtered."

Beside him, Sun Simiao's expression became excited; after many years of practicing medicine and helping the world, he had long since become indifferent to life and death. What he focused on was another key point

Sun Simiao nodded: "The great matter of life and death requires that any treatment method must be based on the differentiation of the pathology. Only after examination can we prescribe the appropriate remedy. Let us try this for the sake of all living beings in the world. If it proves effective..."

The Wang brothers were stunned, tears streaming down like a fountain. Wang Zhi, being the younger one, simply opened his mouth wide and began to wail.

The spirit of the cow does not seem very good, lazily drooping its head, continuously chewing on something, its large eyes scanning the crowd, then disinterestedly lowering its head again

Butler Hu has always looked at Li Su with a strange gaze; he can be said to have watched Li Su grow up. However, at this moment, the profound and erudite appearance of Li Su is something he has never seen before. This young man's temperament... seems to be significantly different from before

On her pale face, beads of cold sweat slowly trickled down, and Li Su felt that she had let down the Wang family brothers, and had let down the fourth son of the Wang family

Sun Simiao appeared bewildered, and within that bewilderment, there was even a hint of... shame

I, Sun Simiao!

He realized that he had made a mistake

Pointing at the extremely revered Butler Hu, Sun Simiao said: "Do you have a sick cow at home?"

Li Su pointed to the udder of the cow and continued, "If there is any ulceration on our bodies, it will result in the formation of pus. Once the abscess is removed, the ulcerated area will gradually heal. In fact, the same applies to animals. Old Immortal, please observe, this cow's udder is currently producing pus, which is a result of the immune system fighting off a virus. After the cow's body has resisted, the pus contains the smallpox virus, but it is different from the smallpox virus because the pus also contains antibodies that combat the smallpox virus. What I need is this pus; it is very important. If applied to a person's wound, it can not only prevent smallpox but also treat ... treat ... treat ..."

It is evident that this individual is by no means a fraudster seeking wealth, nor is he a worthless old fool. He is a truly renowned elder, a centenarian who is said to have lived to the age of one hundred and two. What is even more admirable is his character and medical ethics, as well as his exceptional medical skills and his unpretentious attitude towards fame and fortune

Li Su pointed to the pus-filled sores around the cow's udder and said, "This cow has also contracted smallpox, but the antibodies and immunity of cows are much stronger than those of humans. Although the smallpox virus is the same, cows, through their own resistance and immunity, have developed a certain level of immune capability. Therefore, while smallpox is a fatal disease for humans, it is rarely fatal for cows

Li Su took a few steps sideways, walked to Sun Simiao's side, bowed to him, and with a smile said: "This young man has eyes but fails to recognize Mount Tai. I have just offended the old immortal, and I hope the old immortal will not hold it against me..."

After a long while, Li Su stood up, her eyes slightly reddened. She turned to look at the Wang brothers and suddenly bowed to the two of them

As Li Su spoke, her pace gradually slowed, yet her complexion involuntarily turned pale

Li Su crouched down and looked at the abdomen of the cow. Indeed, it was a female cow, and there were several sores on the udder, which had already become pus-filled and yellowish, somewhat disgusting. It was indeed a cow suffering from cowpox.

Li Su smiled dryly a couple of times, and at that moment, Butler Hu was leisurely leading a cow over.

In the previous life, there was very little understanding of smallpox, as it had nearly become extinct by that time. Modern individuals do not deliberately remember this eradicated disease; they only hear that inoculation with cowpox is effective. However, whether it can cure or merely prevent is something Li Su really does not know. It is not until this moment, upon seeing the sick cattle, that fragmented memories from the past surge forth like a tide, gradually piecing together a coherent whole. At this moment, he suddenly realizes that cowpox inoculation can only target healthy individuals who have not yet contracted smallpox, but it cannot save those who have already shown symptoms of the disease.

Wang Zhuang is the leader. At this moment, although he is heartbroken, he is also resolute. He vigorously wipes away his tears with his sleeve and says heavily: "The fourth brother is unfortunate, we accept it. In times like this, saving one person is better than none. I beg you to find a way to save my parents. My parents have not contracted smallpox yet; they can still be saved. As long as my parents are alive, this family cannot be destroyed."

Wang Zhuang and Wang Zhi, standing to the side, were so anxious that they stamped their feet, and everyone, including Butler Hu, could not help but urge them on.

Sun Simiao nodded slightly and said, "That is indeed the truth. Although he is a young man, he is not considered arrogant. Now, tell me, how do you plan to test it?"

Sun Simiao also crouched down beside Li Su, glancing sideways at Li Su and asking, "Little child, tell me, how can we use a cow to treat smallpox?"