Hearing her speak, Chen Jiao couldn’t help but smile.
Wu Daniu was waiting in the front hall, looking pleased as if presenting a treasure.
After a while, Chen Jiao and Xu Shi came over.
He bowed respectfully and excitedly said, “Little Mistress, the green moldy mustard you’re looking for really exists!”
He then opened the jar, and a pungent, sour smell immediately filled the air, unbearable to anyone nearby.
Xu Shi grimaced and said, “It really stinks terribly.”
Chen Jiao covered her nose and mouth and moved closer to inspect.
Inside the jar, there were indeed many grayish-green molds.
Afraid she couldn’t see clearly, she asked Wu Daniu to bring the jar outside.
The sunlight outside was bright, and she could clearly see the contents of the jar.
Indeed, it was the penicillium mold she was searching for.
Chen Jiao was overjoyed and asked, “How did you find this?”
Wu Daniu immediately explained in detail.
Chen Jiao instructed him to call Wang and his wife to come and answer some questions.
After he left, the jar of green moldy mustard was carried into the room by Dingxiang and the others.
Xu Shi followed behind, clicking her tongue in curiosity and asking, “Daughter, don’t keep it hidden. What exactly is the use of this rotten mustard?”
Chen Jiao replied, “Mother, don’t ask. I’ll have to test it first before drawing a conclusion.”
With that, she turned to Dingxiang and instructed, “Go and ask Jiang Mama if she is willing to try the medicine. If she’s not, I’ll find someone else.”
Dingxiang responded with a “Yes” and went to the servant quarters that had been separated.
Chen Jiao had someone fetch a clean spoon, rolled up her sleeves, and reached into the jar to scoop up the brine.
After years of aging, the mustard juice had changed color, and some of the leaves had decomposed, mixing into the brine.
As she stirred the mold inside the jar, an idea suddenly occurred to her.
When making dough, people use yeast from old dough to make the dough rise.
So, could this moldy mustard brine also serve as a base, artificially spreading the mold to other pickled mustards to cultivate more mold?
Chen Jiao felt it was worth trying.
Meanwhile, Wang and his wife, waiting at the gatehouse, were filled with nervous anticipation, finally seeing Wu Daniu.
When they heard that Chen Jiao wanted to see them, they immediately became anxious.
Wu Daniu reassured them, “Don’t be afraid. Our little mistress has a good temper and is very pleased with the mustard you brought.”
Wang Shi, slightly relieved, cautiously asked, “Then when can we receive the reward?”
Wu Daniu replied, “The little mistress wants to ask you some questions. Follow me and we’ll go.”
Hearing this, the couple grew nervous again.
Wu Daniu reassured them, “Once the questions are asked, you’ll get your reward.”
So, the couple nervously followed him to the Li Xiang courtyard.
Along the way, the beautifully carved beams and painted pillars, the pavilions, and the grand structures left them in awe.
They had never seen such luxury in their lives, especially when passing by the household servants, they couldn’t help but show envy.
The household servants were all dressed decently, unlike them, who were ragged and poor.
Not to mention their lack of freedom as slaves.
In this chaotic era of warlords, ordinary people were fortunate if they could have a full meal, let alone rely on a noble family like the Wang family.
Even if they had to sell their children, they still hoped to enter the family as servants, because it was far better than being outside, where people’s lives were like that of ants and their fates like grass.
Upon arriving at the Li Xiang courtyard, a maid announced their arrival, and Wang and his wife were escorted to the side hall.
Chen Jiao was sitting on the couch, and the couple nervously greeted her.
Chen Jiao instructed someone to arrange seats for them.
Wang Shi stole a glance at the young lady sitting on the couch, noting her youth, fine clothing, and striking beauty.
Chen Jiao, in a kind tone, asked them about the mustard they had brought.
Jiang Dalu was timid.
He wanted to receive the reward, but he was also afraid of getting into trouble, so he quickly said, “To be honest, that spoiled mustard brine wasn’t originally from our family.”
Chen Jiao, curious, asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Wang Shi immediately explained the origin of the brine in detail.
Chen Jiao understood and thought that only a careless person could have stumbled upon such a jar.
Since the couple had gathered the courage to bring it, she naturally couldn’t let them leave empty-handed.
She immediately had someone fetch money to reward them.
A cloth bag was sent to Wang Shi by a maid.
Chen Jiao said, “It’s not easy to bring this mustard brine in the cold wind, so this is a small token of our appreciation from the household. Please accept it.”
Wang Shi suppressed her joy and shyly said, “Thank you, little mistress, for your reward.”
She took the bag with both hands and, feeling its weight, couldn’t help but smile.
Wow, it’s even a bit heavy!
Huang Shi, who had provided the mustard, also received a reward.
Chen Jiao wanted to continue searching, so she instructed Wu Daniu to personally visit Huang Shi’s house.
He was to deliver the reward and also inquire if they had any old pickled mustard, even if it didn’t have green mold.
After sending them off, Chen Jiao personally used a small red clay stove to heat the mustard brine.
When it boiled, she poured the liquid into a medicine jar.
Dingxiang came in, and Chen Jiao instructed her to let it cool before sending it to Jiang Mama and the others to take.
There were three patients for the experiment.
To avoid allergic reactions, she asked them to first try a small amount.
If there were no unusual reactions, they could continue, but only three spoonfuls per dose, three times a day.
She patiently explained the instructions, and Dingxiang listened carefully, then curiously asked, “Does this spoiled mustard brine really work?”
Chen Jiao replied, “It’s a long shot, but we’ll know once we try.”
Dingxiang took the jar and delivered it to the servant quarters.
At this time, Jiang Mama was showing symptoms of phlegm, blood stasis, and heat toxins.
She had high fever repeatedly, struggled to breathe, and felt chest pain.
The medicine wasn’t helping, and she was in great distress.
One of the others in the same room was in the early stages of the illness, while another, like Jiang Mama, was in the stage of abscess formation.
The three of them alternated coughing, back and forth.
Fortunately, Chen Jiao had given specific instructions.
If it were any other household, the servants would have been thrown together and left to deal with it, with life and death left to fate.
Dingxiang didn’t dare to enter the room.
She placed the medicine jar at the door and conveyed Chen Jiao’s instructions exactly as she had been told.
Jiang Mama asked Hu Sanniang, who did the heavy work around the house, to open the door and take the medicine.
Hu Sanniang, who had the lightest symptoms, was big and strong and could move around freely.
She brought the jar into the room.
Dingxiang, still standing outside, reminded, “The little mistress said to let everyone taste it first, in case something goes wrong.”
Upon hearing this, Hu Sanniang became a bit nervous.
Curiously, she opened the lid and saw the strange-looking medicine inside.
It smelled odd.
“What is this? Will it kill someone if we eat it?”
Dingxiang wasn’t sure how to explain, so she simply said, “To be honest, epidemic medicines often don’t work, so we can only try it as a last resort.”
Jiang Mama, coughing, said, “I’m old, I’m going to die sooner or later, so I might as well give it a try.”
Hu Sanniang quickly brought the jar to her and used a spoon to scoop a small amount for her to taste.
As soon as Jiang Mama’s tongue touched the mustard brine, she groaned.
Hu Sanniang, concerned, asked, “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Mama’s face scrunched up.
“It’s too salty.”
Hu Sanniang: “???”
Dingxiang outside couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh.
Jiang Mama, savoring it slowly, frowned and asked, “Dingxiang, what is this medicine? It’s salty with a sour taste, and it smells bad.”
Dingxiang responded, “Jiang Mama, don’t worry. If it works, our little mistress will be like a living Bodhisattva.”
Inside the room, Hu Sanniang and Wei Shi both looked at Jiang Mama, asking if she felt any unusual symptoms.
Jiang Mama shook her head and said, “Let me take a little more.”
Hu Sanniang followed the instructions and fed her three spoonfuls of the brine.
Because it was too salty, Jiang Mama took it in small sips each time.
Seeing that there were no immediate issues, Wei Shi was anxious and said, “I’ll try some too.”
Hu Sanniang reminded her, “The little mistress said to try a little first.”
Wei Shi was terrified and couldn’t wait, quickly taking three spoonfuls.
It was indeed unbearably salty!
The three of them gradually finished their portions, each finding the taste strange.
That same day, Chen Jiao personally prepared two doses of the old mustard brine for the three of them.
They took the brine along with their usual medicine.
The next day, three more doses were prepared, all delivered by Dingxiang.
In the late afternoon, as evening approached, the least symptomatic Hu Sanniang realized that she had no more high fever.
Usually, by this time, she would have been burning with fever, feeling agitated and dry in the mouth.
Later, Dingxiang arrived with more brine and asked about their conditions.
Hu Sanniang, a little excited, said, “It’s strange. I haven’t had a high fever today. Though I’m still coughing, I feel much better than usual.”
Dingxiang was surprised, saying, “Hu Mama, you’re not trying to fool me, are you?”
Hu Sanniang quickly replied, “I’m telling the truth. I feel much better today.”
Dingxiang then asked about Jiang Mama and Wei Shi.
Their symptoms were much worse, but whether it was psychological or something else, both of them felt a bit better than usual.
Dingxiang returned to report the situation to Chen Jiao.
Chen Jiao was very pleased after hearing this and said, “If Hu Mama doesn’t have a high fever tomorrow, then it’ll prove that the mustard brine is working.”
Xu Shi, who was standing nearby, widened her eyes in disbelief and joyfully said, “Daughter, if this spoiled mustard really works, does that mean we’ll get rich?”
Chen Jiao: “…”
Indeed, they could make a fortune.
On the third day after Jiang Mama and the others started taking the brine, Hu Sanniang clearly felt better.
She hadn’t had another high fever, and even her cough had significantly eased.
Jiang Mama’s high fever was under control.
She had previously suffered from chest pain, but now she could breathe much more easily.
Though she still coughed up phlegm, she was able to lie flat.
Wei Shi, being younger, was doing even better than Jiang Mama.
Chen Jiao instructed them to call in Doctor You for a consultation.
Upon hearing that Jiang Mama and the others showed signs of improvement, Doctor You came, still half skeptical.
Chen Jiao waited outside, wearing a face mask.
Doctor You first examined Hu Sanniang.
After a thorough examination, he was astonished.
He assumed that Hu Sanniang’s youth had allowed her to survive after narrowly escaping death.
Next, he examined Wei Shi, and his doubts grew.
Finally, he looked at Jiang Mama.
Although her condition was more serious, she no longer had a high fever, her chest pain had subsided, her breathing was smoother, and her energy had improved.
Clearly, there were signs of recovery.
Doctor You, still full of questions, came out and, looking at the young lady, suddenly gave her a formal bow.
Chen Jiao quickly returned the gesture.
Doctor You, with a serious expression, said, “Please, little mistress, enlighten me and clear the doubts in this old man’s heart.”
Chen Jiao gestured for him to follow and explained, “The key lies in the mustard used in our daily meals here.”
Doctor You: “???”
Chen Jiao patiently explained the remarkable effects of the old mustard brine.
The news of the improvement in the health of the household servants in the Lixiang courtyard soon spread.
The entire Wang residence was buzzing, and everyone’s attention turned to this.
In the Bihua Hall, Prince Huaian of Huai’an had contracted a lung abscess and was coughing day and night.
When Gao Zhan came to report on the situation at Li Xiang courtyard, Chen En couldn’t believe it and blurted out, “A young girl? How could she have such skill?!”
Gao Zhan, equally excited, pointed outside and said, “This is absolutely true!
“I heard that Doctor You has already examined them, and Jiang Mama and the others, after taking the little mistress’s medicine, no longer have a high fever and are improving!”
Chen En coughed violently, his head throbbing, and, unable to bear it, said, “You quickly go and ask that ancestor what she wants. Whatever it is, I’ll give it! Everything!”