"How did I not think of that!"
She muttered to herself.
"Exactly."
Wu Liang gave her an approving look.
"You should know from that medical knowledge that some fungi produce a substance specifically to kill other fungi."
"And these penicillium molds before us are what can produce Antibiotics."
Using moldy things to save people.
If it weren't for Alesha, who had received new medical knowledge, she would have definitely thought Wu Liang was a madman.
But now, looking at those greenish-blue molds, her eyes were filled with excitement.
"But... what do we do?"
She asked impatiently.
"First, we need to provide a culture environment for these fungi so they can multiply in large quantities."
Wu Liang stood up and explained the method in detail.
"Prepare some broth, or boil grain into a paste to serve as their food."
"Then, carefully seed these penicillium onto the food and place them in a warm, humid spot to let them grow wildly."
"Once they are covered in mold, we will collect the culture liquid."
"The medicine we need is inside that liquid."
Wu Liang described the most primitive method of culturing and extracting penicillin in the simplest terms.
The environment was what it was, and with limited conditions, they could only use such primitive techniques.
"I understand!"
Alesha carefully noted down all the key points and nodded vigorously.
"I'll get to it right away!"
No sooner said than done.
Alesha immediately summoned several of her most trusted Moon Spring tribespeople.
They brought clean clay basins and, following Alesha's instructions, brewed thick grain paste and broth.
Then, using a sterilized knife, they scraped the greenish-blue mold off the grain and transplanted it onto the new culture medium.
Dozens of clay basins were neatly arranged in a separate tent kept warm and humid.
At Wei Xian's residence, the atmosphere was solemn.
Little Wu Qi lay in a soft animal-skin swaddle, his small face flushed red with fever and his breathing rapid.
Wei Xian sat by the bedside, her eyes red and swollen.
She hadn't closed her eyes for days, her face full of exhaustion.
Culturing penicillin would still take time; distant water cannot quench a nearby fire.
Wu Liang had someone find some willow trees, peel off the bark, and boil it in water.
Willow bark contains a substance called "Salicin," which can be converted into Salicylic Acid in the human body.
This is essentially the most primitive Aspirin.
It is remarkably effective for reducing fever and relieving pain.
At the moment, it was a very convenient choice for a fever reducer.
Under Wu Liang's personal direction, the willow bark was cut into small pieces, thrown into a clay pot filled with clear water, and set over a fire to boil vigorously.
As time passed minute by minute, the water in the pot gradually turned dark brown, and a strong bitter scent filled the entire room.
Wei Xian watched the pot of dark medicinal soup nervously, her heart in her throat.
Two hours later, the medicinal soup had boiled down to less than half a pot, its color as dark as ink.
Wu Liang had the women use several layers of clean linen to filter out the dregs, resulting in a bowl of thick, brown liquid.
"It's too bitter; the child won't be able to drink it."
Wu Liang tasted a tiny bit, and the bitterness made even him frown.
He thought for a moment and said to Eliza, "Go get some Honey."
Honey was added, slightly neutralizing the unpalatable bitterness.
Wu Liang carefully used a small wooden spoon to scoop up a little bit of the dark brown Willow Bark Soup.
He blew on it, and after confirming it wasn't too hot, he slowly brought it to little Wu Qi's lips.
Perhaps sensing his father's presence, the slumbering little Wu Qi instinctively opened his small mouth.
A spoonful of the slightly sweet yet bitter soup was fed to him just like that.
Everyone held their breath, staring intently at the tiny infant.
Wei Xian's heart was in her throat, her hands clenched tightly together, her knuckles white from the strain.
One spoonful, two spoonfuls... less than half a bowl of the soup was fed to him in several goes until it was finally all gone.
Having finished, Wu Liang settled his son back down and covered him with a thin animal skin.
About two hours later, Eliza, who had been keeping watch nearby, suddenly let out a low cry.
"Look!"
Wu Liang and Wei Xian whipped their heads around.
They saw a fine layer of sweat beads breaking out on little Wu Qi's forehead and the tip of his nose!
Wu Liang reached out and felt little Wu Qi's forehead.
The previously scalding heat had subsided considerably.
"The fever... it's gone down..."
Wei Xian was overjoyed, her fingers gently touching her son's cheek.
Wu Liang pulled her into his arms and gently patted her back.
"Don't worry, our son is going to be fine."
Outside the window, a sliver of dawn was already appearing on the horizon.
Wu Liang had Eliza organize people to brew Willow Bark Soup in large quantities, prioritizing its supply to the Wounded Soldiers Camp.
"She's sweating! Look, she's sweating!"
"The fever's gone! It's really gone! We're saved!"
Joyful shouts echoed throughout the Wounded Soldiers Camp.
After drinking the medicinal soup, most patients' temperatures dropped bit by bit, and their expressions of pain gradually eased.
The way they looked at Alesha and the Moon Spring women changed to one of heartfelt gratitude.
However, Alesha herself didn't dare relax in the slightest.
She knew better than anyone that reducing the fever was only treating the symptoms.
To truly resolve this epidemic, those dozens of basins of mold needed to do their work.
Willow Bark Soup could only alleviate their symptoms; it couldn't provide a cure.
Inside the tent, the surfaces of the grain paste and broth had fermented over time.
Now, they were completely covered by a thick, fuzzy, greenish-blue fungal mat.
"It's ready."
Wu Liang came over to check the color and thickness of the fungal mat and nodded to Alesha beside him.
"Now, collect all of this liquid."
Wu Liang directed.
"Remember, be gentle. Do not get the mold itself into the liquid."
The Moon Spring women carefully tilted the clay basins, using fine linen as a filter.
They filtered out the turbid, yellowish culture liquid bit by bit, collecting it into clean clay jars.
This was the most primitive and crude penicillin extract.
It contained not only life-saving Antibiotics but also a large amount of impurities and toxins.
Using it directly carried immense risk.
But right now, there was no other choice.
To verify the efficacy, Wu Liang had someone find a head of livestock.
Soon, a wounded and infected Wild Boar was carried over.
After the wound was cleaned with alcohol, although it hadn't worsened further...
...the severe internal infection had drained its vitality, leaving it with only its last breath.
"Bring it over."
Wu Liang said in a deep voice.
"First, use it to save this Wild Boar. If it succeeds, we can use it on people."
Alesha had someone pry open the Wild Boar's mouth.
Then, she used a wooden spoon to force a spoonful of the yellowish liquid down its throat.
The liquid smelled terrible. The Wild Boar instinctively struggled for a moment, but in its weakened state, it was powerless to resist.
One spoonful, two spoonfuls... less than half a bowl of the liquid was poured into its stomach.
Having done all this, all anyone could do was wait.
As time passed, the Wild Boar suddenly twitched violently.
Immediately after, it began to vomit.
It spewed out the foul-smelling liquid from its stomach along with undigested food scraps, making a mess everywhere.
"What's happening?"