Mines weren't just everywhere, but she wasn't going to dampen everyone's commitment to secrecy. After all, she planned to set up a mosquito coils workshop and other workshops in the future.
Having an awareness of secrecy was a good thing, and she supported it.
Tian Wenmo was squatting and then standing by the stove, fiddling with the air vent. Qin Sang patted his head.
"Wen Mo, did you discover something?"
Tian Wenmo nodded.
"Mother, last time Eldest Girl taught me how to tend the fire, she said that more firewood isn't always better. Now this Honeycomb Coal is also hollow; is it the same principle?"
Qin Sang nodded.
"Exactly. Allowing the firewood to come into full contact with the air makes the fire burn brighter."
Tian Wenmo looked up with his small face and asked with a serious expression:
"Does that mean air can also burn?"
Qin Sang was truly a bit surprised; this kid had the potential to be a scientist.
"Having ideas is a good thing, but as for this question, Mother can't answer it either."
"Mother hasn't read many books. I know how to do many things entirely because of experience accumulated or learned in life; I don't know exactly why they work."
"Since you've raised this question, Wen Mo, can you think of a way to prove it and give yourself an answer?"
Tian Wenmo was stunned.
"Prove it?"
"Yes. For example, you just asked if air can burn. Then, if there is no air, can things still burn?"
"It's like me asking why a kite can fly but a stone cannot. Can we make a stone fly into the sky?"
"When we raise a question, we can also find the answer ourselves. Perhaps the answer we find is something no one else has ever known."
"Tell me, isn't that more interesting than learning the knowledge in books that many people already know?"
Hearing the word 'interesting,' Tian Wenmo's confused eyes instantly lit up.
"Mother is right. I will find a way to prove it."
Qin Sang laughed. My son, if you really research this, you might start your own school of thought and be written into the history books. Perhaps in future generations, foreigners will be studying the definitions you wrote.
However, it was too early to say such things; it might just be a child's momentary curiosity.
Just as Qin Sang was about to offer more guidance, A Qing came running in a panic:
"Aunt, this is bad! A patient who looks like they have the plague has arrived at the Cave!"
Qin Sang's expression changed slightly. She was about to leave but turned back to instruct the old Village Chief:
"Regardless of whether it's the plague or not, the camp must be quarantined and sanitized. Anyone returning must be disinfected first, and wild game absolutely cannot be eaten."
The old Village Chief nodded. Only then did Qin Sang take A Qing home to grab her medical kit.
"What's the situation at the Cave now? How many people have plague symptoms?"
A Qing knew the matter was serious and replied quickly:
"There are four or five patients now, but only one looks like they have the plague. Er Fu had them sent to a separate Cave."
Qin Sang nodded.
"Did any of you have contact with that patient? Was the person coughing up blood?"
"Only Er Fu had contact. We are currently looking after the other patients. Er Fu is looking after the patient along with the old man's granddaughter. Er Fu won't let us in. The old man was only sent here after he started coughing up blood. Er Fu told me to come back and inform you, and said if you weren't back, I should wait for you at the camp."
Qin Sang stopped asking questions. Walking was too slow, so Qin Sang mounted the Horse that had just finished unloading cargo.
"I'll head over first. Don't rush; let Da Zhuang bring you."
The mountain wind carried a chill, and Qin Sang's back felt a bit cold.
Despite all the precautions, had they still failed to prevent it?
Because this route was traveled often, a small path had already been trodden out. It took half an hour to walk, but Qin Sang on horseback only took the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn.
Hearing the sound of Horse hooves, San Hua ran over.
"Aunt, Er Fu is in that Cave over there."
She had waited here specifically to show her the way.
Qin Sang dismounted and put on a mask and gloves.
"You all must be careful too. Make sure to take protective measures."
San Hua took the reins and nodded.
"Aunt, we know. You should hurry and go see Sister Er Fu."
Qin Sang didn't stop and soon reached the Cave entrance. Just as she was about to enter, she heard Er Fu's voice from inside:
"Mother, don't come in. It's enough for me to take care of things here. I've already given her the Plague Avoidance Powder and disinfected the air with a mugwort stick. The fever has subsided for now, but she's still coughing up blood. Teach me what to do."
Qin Sang knew Er Fu was afraid she would be infected. Qin Sang didn't stop but strode into the Cave. She heard clear coughing sounds. After adjusting to the brief darkness, Qin Sang saw an old person lying on a mat on the ground. The old person was covered in bloodstains from coughing, as were the nearby mats and the floor.
Er Fu stood up in surprise.
"Mother?"
Qin Sang opened her medical kit and took out antibiotics.
"Mother won't leave you alone."
Treating the plague required strong, sufficient doses of antibiotics. She had to perform a skin test on the patient first. If there was an antibiotic allergy, a direct injection would be lethal.
While waiting for the skin test results, Qin Sang looked at the old man's granddaughter nearby.
"Which camp are you from? Did anyone notify you about the possible plague?"
"Do you know what your grandfather ate or touched before this? Are there others in your area with these symptoms?"
The little girl was about ten years old. Her eyes were full of fear and anxiety as she tightly held her grandfather's hand. Hearing Qin Sang's questions, she nodded and replied:
"We are from Zhang Family Village. Our camp is in the Cave to the southwest. A few days ago, some people did come to our place. They spoke with the Village Chief and gave him some things, but we don't know exactly what was said."
"Grandfather's food and drink were the same as before—grass roots and rainwater. Oh, he felt a bit unwell two days ago, but he thought it was just a cold and didn't say anything. It wasn't until he coughed up blood that the Village Chief got very scared and drove me and Grandfather out, telling us to come here for treatment."
Qin Sang's expression was frighteningly cold. If what the child said was true, she feared this child was also infected.
Qin Sang felt the child's forehead; it was a bit hot.
Seeing her Mother's actions, Er Fu added:
"I saw that he was also coughing a bit, so I had him take some medicine too."
Qin Sang nodded and also performed a skin test on the little girl.
The time it takes for a stick of incense to burn had passed; the old man's skin test time was up, and there was no allergy.
Only then did Qin Sang begin to inject the old man with a sufficient dose of antibiotics.
After waiting a while longer, the little girl showed no allergy either.
Now she only hoped the antibiotics would take effect quickly. Otherwise, even the gods would find them hard to save.
"Aunt, Er Fu?"
Heizi's shout came from outside. Qin Sang went out to take a look.
"Heizi, why are you here?"
Heizi's face showed some anxiety.
"I... I saw Brother Da Zhuang was busy, so I brought San Hua over."
Qin Sang didn't ask more and said in a heavy voice:
"Er Fu is fine; I'm here."
"It's good you're here. There's something I need you to do."
"Go back and find the Village Chief. Ask who was arranged to go to the Zhang Family Village camp in the southwest Cave back then. Their Village Chief didn't tell the villagers anything about epidemic prevention."
"Take some people with you, ensure you have protection, and notify them of everything again."
"If anyone is sick, lead them to this Cave."
"In addition, seize that Village Chief and deliver him to General Lin."