Chahapter 26: Inventing Steam Sterilization and Honeycomb Coal

Under Wei Lan’s meticulous management, the medical clinic gradually found its footing, but new challenges quietly emerged. Back in the modern world, Wei Lan had used vast amounts of sterile supplies daily without a second thought. But now, as she watched her carefully stockpiled sterile gauze deplete at an alarming rate, she felt a pang in her heart. Truly, one doesn’t appreciate the cost of daily necessities until they manage a household themselves.

What troubled Wei Lan even more was the lack of running water—every drop had to be drawn from the well by Shunxing, who carried bucket after bucket. Using the boiling method to sterilize gauze required large amounts of water, as medical supplies had to be fully submerged, and the continuous evaporation meant that water had to be constantly replenished.

Before opening the clinic, the gauze consumption was manageable, but with an increasing number of patients, the demand skyrocketed, along with the water usage. This was a growing concern for Wei Lan.

As she pondered ways to improve sterilization efficiency, Shunxing returned with another load of water, sweat dripping from his forehead. Wei Lan quickly approached him and took the carrying pole. “Dashun, take a break first.”

Shunxing wiped his forehead, his eyes showing stubborn determination. “I’m not tired, I can handle it.”

Wei Lan gently scolded, “Don’t push yourself too hard.”

Shunxing lowered his head slightly, his voice softer, with a hint of childish pleading, “Then… I’ll rest for a bit. Sister, don’t be annoyed with me.”

Wei Lan couldn’t help but laugh at his expression. “Alright, how could I be annoyed with you? Go and rest.”

Only then did Shunxing smile in satisfaction and obediently sit to the side.

In the modern world, high-pressure steam sterilization was a common method, but Wei Lan had no idea when pressure cookers were invented. This was beyond her knowledge.

Just as she furrowed her brows in deep thought, an idea suddenly flashed through her mind. Her eyes brightened, and a smile unconsciously formed on her lips. Excitedly, she exclaimed, “I’ve got it!”

She decided to use steam sterilization instead of boiling. Compared to boiling, steam sterilization required much less water, and the penetrating power of steam was far greater, releasing substantial latent heat and offering superior heat transfer efficiency. Thinking about this, Wei Lan was instantly energized and began working without hesitation.

Wei Lan found a large iron pot and set it securely on stone pedestals in the backyard. She then cleverly built an iron rack over it. She instructed Shunxing to gather firewood and coal while she poured an appropriate amount of clean water into the pot.

Shunxing moved swiftly, quickly bringing over a bundle of firewood and several pieces of coal, neatly stacking them beside the iron pot.

Wei Lan placed the firewood and coal beneath the pot and ignited them. The flames quickly spread, licking the bottom of the pot, and the water inside gradually heated up.

Shunxing helped by fanning the flames, making the fire burn even more fiercely. The crackling sound of burning wood echoed in the quiet backyard.

Soon, the water in the pot reached a rolling boil, releasing thick steam as the temperature soared past 100°C. Wei Lan carefully wrapped the items needing sterilization—such as clothes, bandages, and surgical tools—in clean cloth before placing them into a steamer. She then positioned the steamer on the iron rack above the pot, ensuring the steam could evenly reach every item.

Maintaining the fire, Wei Lan watched the process attentively, silently counting the minutes. It generally took 15 to 30 minutes to ensure thorough sterilization. Meanwhile, Shunxing continued adding firewood and coal to keep the flames steady.

Although Shunxing didn’t fully understand what Wei Lan was doing, he had always supported her unconditionally. As long as Wei Lan needed help, he would do his best.

At this moment, Honghua and Jiu’an, curious about the sizzling sounds from the backyard, couldn’t resist coming over. When they saw the steaming iron pot, they found the scene quite peculiar.

Jiu’an’s eyes lit up, thinking it was food being prepared. He gestured excitedly, looking at Wei Lan with eager anticipation, as if expecting a delicious meal any second.

Seeing three pairs of puzzled eyes, Wei Lan couldn’t help but laugh and explained, “This is for sterilizing, not cooking!” She briefly introduced the principles of steam sterilization.

Honghua suddenly understood and admired, “That’s ingenious! It saves much more water than boiling.”

Shunxing’s eyes filled with admiration. “Sister, you’re amazing!”

Just then, Mingyi arrived after hearing the commotion. Upon seeing the steaming setup, he curiously asked, “What delicious dish is being made?”

Honghua giggled and explained, “Brother Mingyi, Xiaolan is sterilizing things with steam!”

Mingyi, intrigued, asked, “Lanmei, earlier you mentioned using 75% alcohol for disinfection. Can steam also sterilize?”

Wei Lan blinked and explained earnestly, “There are various methods of disinfection, each with its own purpose. Alcohol is mainly used for skin disinfection since it evaporates quickly. Steam sterilization is especially useful for gauze and surgical tools because it penetrates deeply, making sterilization more thorough.”

Mingyi then asked, “In the Compendium of Materia Medica, it’s mentioned: ‘In a postpartum woman’s room, vinegar steam is beneficial as it helps with blood circulation.’ Does that mean vinegar steam can also disinfect a room?”

Wei Lan nodded thoughtfully. “That’s correct. Vinegar steam does have some disinfecting properties, and the smell can also refresh the senses. However, its sterilization effect is relatively limited.”

Mingyi listened intently and sighed in admiration, “I’ve learned something new today.”

After steam sterilization was complete, Wei Lan carefully removed the sterile supplies and placed them into prepared clay jars. These jars were thick and evenly heated, allowing the items inside to dry slowly over a gentle fire.

She periodically checked by touching the items, ensuring they were thoroughly dried, as moisture could promote bacterial growth. Maintaining sterility required meticulous attention to every detail.

Meanwhile, Shunxing was busy tending to the stove, constantly adding fuel. Before long, the once towering stack of firewood was nearly used up. Noticing the fire weakening, Shunxing picked up some coal and was about to add it to the stove.

Wei Lan suddenly noticed and called out, “Dashun, is that coal?”

Shunxing paused and nodded. “Yes, it’s coal. Why?”

Wei Lan took a coal ball and examined it closely. “Is there no honeycomb coal?”

Shunxing looked confused. “Honeycomb coal? I’ve never heard of it. What is it?”

Wei Lan continued, “How do you make these coal balls?”

Shunxing explained, “We sift and categorize the coal dust, mix it with sticky yellow clay, add water, knead it into a dough-like consistency, shape it into squares, then use a special sieve to shake it into round coal balls, which are then sun-dried.”

Wei Lan nodded thoughtfully before suggesting, “Could you try making them into a honeycomb shape? Like a round cylinder with twelve evenly spaced holes.”

After considering it briefly, Shunxing found it plausible and agreed readily. “Alright, I’ll give it a try.”

Mingyi, intrigued, asked, “What’s the benefit of this?”

Wei Lan patiently explained, “Honeycomb coal allows more air to pass through, making combustion more efficient and fuel-saving.”

Still skeptical, Mingyi poked a few holes into a coal ball with a stick and, to his surprise, saw the fire blaze instantly. His eyes widened in amazement. “It really works! What’s the principle behind this?”

Wei Lan smiled. “The holes increase airflow, allowing the coal to burn more completely, just like how blowing on a fire makes it burn stronger.”

Mingyi asked, “What’s ‘oxygen’?”

Wei Lan mentally smacked her forehead—she had accidentally introduced a modern concept! Quickly, she simplified her explanation, “Air contains different elements, one of which helps us breathe and makes fires burn. We can call it ‘oxygen.’”

Mingyi nodded in thought, while Shunxing’s admiration for Wei Lan grew even deeper.

With the sterilization and drying complete, Wei Lan stored the materials carefully, ensuring their sterility was maintained.

Honghua, observing the process, commented, “This is just like drying meat—first steaming, then drying, then sealing.”

Wei Lan smiled. “Exactly. That’s where I got the inspiration from.”