Invented Garlic Oil!

Ming Yi hurriedly left the house and headed straight to the local medical office. On the way, he noticed that although much of the water in the city had receded, the houses along the streets were still in ruins, with remnants of walls and debris, the air filled with a damp, muddy smell.

Zhang Wenyuan, too, was busy with disaster relief efforts. As the local medical officer of Changsha Prefecture, he was responsible for medical treatment, coordinating the distribution of relief supplies, and ensuring the stability of the disaster-stricken people’s morale.

At that moment, he was standing at the gate of the government office, flipping through several injury lists and material supply lists while directing the bailiffs to carry medicines and bandages.

Over twenty bailiffs were busy spreading out the damp medicinal herbs on bamboo mats to dry. The air was filled with the bitter scent of dried tangerine peel and white atractylodes. Zhang Wenyuan occasionally instructed, “Quickly, spread these herbs out so they don’t get damp again! The injured are still waiting for medication!”

“Lord Zhang, we have finished counting the herbs here. Do you need us to prepare more?” a clerk rushed over holding a document.

Zhang Wenyuan looked up, rubbed his tired eyes, and spoke with a hint of exhaustion, “Distribute the herbs we have according to priority, focusing on the seriously injured. Also, send someone to the pharmacy outside the city to see if more can be collected.”

The clerk nodded and turned to make arrangements.

Ming Yi was about to speak when a deafening crash suddenly came from the east.

Everyone turned toward the sound, only to see that a temporary shelter built at the foot of the city wall had collapsed in the chaos. Several laborers were struggling to drag people from beneath the collapsed bamboo framework, and the trapped citizens were groaning in pain.

Zhang Wenyuan instinctively grabbed his medical kit and ran toward the scene. His official boots sank into the muddy ground with each step, making a “puff” sound, and mud splashed onto his pants.

After treating the wounded and washing the blood from his hands with well water, Zhang Wenyuan finally noticed Ming Yi waiting under the locust tree.

Ming Yi had been standing there, his gaze focused on Zhang Wenyuan’s busy figure, but he had never interrupted him.

Seeing Ming Yi, Zhang Wenyuan spoke tiredly, “Ming Yi, sorry to have kept you waiting.” He raised his arm to wipe the sweat from his forehead and walked over.

Ming Yi quickly approached and cupped his hands in a salute. “Lord Zhang, thank you for your hard work. I have seen you busy all day, and I didn’t want to disturb you, but this matter is urgent. I hope you can spare some time to listen.”

Zhang Wenyuan waved his hand, signaling Ming Yi not to worry. “Saving lives is the priority. If you have something to say, speak up. We’ll figure out a solution together.”

Ming Yi nodded and proceeded to explain the situation at the medical clinic: “Lord Zhang, I must be honest. We have run out of alcohol at the clinic. Right now, we urgently need to treat wounds, and we can only use garlic as a substitute. While it’s not as effective as alcohol, it can still serve as a disinfectant.”

Zhang Wenyuan sighed deeply after hearing this. “This flood has really caused a lot of harm to the people. Ming Yi, your method is a good one. Garlic indeed has detoxifying properties, but I fear the garlic in Changsha may not be enough.”

Ming Yi lowered his head slightly and spoke with determination: “The only solution for now is to collect all the garlic in the city, and use it for emergency treatment.”

Zhang Wenyuan nodded thoughtfully and said, “Alright, I will arrange for the bailiffs to go door-to-door and collect garlic. But the people are struggling to take care of their own needs right now, so it may not be easy.”

Ming Yi understood the difficulty and spoke earnestly, “Lord, I ask for your help, even if it’s just a little. It could save lives.”

Zhang Wenyuan sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness but also resolve. “We can only do our best.” He immediately instructed the bailiffs to act.

However, things did not go as smoothly as expected. The bailiffs ran all over the city, visiting large households, but most people, struggling to survive the disaster themselves, donated only a token amount of garlic.

The bailiffs returned empty-handed, with only a handful of garlic in their baskets.

By dusk, they had managed to gather less than five pounds of garlic.

The head bailiff spat and cursed, “These stingy people! They lived well before, eating and drinking lavishly, but now, when the flood has struck, they won’t even donate a little garlic! Truly heartless!”

The head bailiff led several of the bailiffs, stepping through the mud, to the old Tang restaurant.

Once the most famous restaurant in Changsha, the place now seemed unusually quiet. The large red lanterns outside had long been knocked down by the storm, and only a few tattered red papers fluttered in the wind. The stone steps in front were covered in mud, and the once-bustling diners had disappeared. Instead, a few disaster victims huddled in the corners, shivering.

The head bailiff pushed open the half-closed door. Inside, the restaurant was dim, and the air was thick with the musty smell of dampness. The once-bustling hall was now empty, with overturned tables and chairs scattered across the floor, along with broken porcelain and dishes.

The clerk behind the counter, engrossed in his account books, looked up when he heard the noise. “What can I do for you, gentlemen?” The clerk’s tone was indifferent, clearly not welcoming the arrival of the bailiffs.

The head bailiff stepped forward and cupped his hands. “Brother, the medical office is collecting garlic. Dr. Liu Ming Yi needs it to treat the disaster victims. I’ve heard that Tang restaurant has a rich cellar. Could you donate some to help out?”

The clerk frowned and shook his head. “Gentlemen, as you can see, our restaurant has been wrecked by the flood. The garlic in our cellar has been soaked in water, and the remaining garlic has to be saved for our own use. I’m really sorry, we can’t help.”

The head bailiff wanted to say more, but the clerk had already turned and gone into the kitchen, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation. The head bailiff sighed and left with the bailiffs.

In the kitchen, the clerk ran into Tang Xue, who noticed the clerk’s displeased expression. She casually asked, “Who was that just now?”

The clerk sighed and briefly explained the situation, ending with, “These bailiffs are so annoying. We’re struggling to survive, how can we spare the garlic for others?”

Tang Xue furrowed her brows, sensing that something was amiss. “They said it was for treating the disaster victims? Did they mention which doctor needed it?”

The clerk scratched his head, recalling, “I think they said it was Dr. Liu Ming Yi.”

When Tang Xue heard the name “Liu Ming Yi,” her eyes suddenly brightened.

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Tang Xue said with a hint of reproach. Then, in a soft yet firm voice, she instructed, “Go to the cellar and bring out the two remaining baskets of garlic. Send them to the bailiffs.”

The clerk was taken aback and hesitated. “Miss, that’s our last garlic. We still need it for cooking.”

Tang Xue said, “Saving lives is more important. The restaurant’s business can be rebuilt, but lives cannot be replaced. Don’t hesitate.”

Seeing Tang Xue’s firm resolve, the clerk didn’t say anything further. He quickly gathered a few of the staff to head to the cellar, and Tang Xue followed, overseeing them as they loaded the garlic onto a cart. She stood at the restaurant door, watching the bailiffs load the garlic, feeling a slight sense of relief.

The head bailiff, grateful for Tang Xue’s generosity, cupped his hands and said, “Miss Tang, your righteousness is greatly appreciated. On behalf of the disaster victims, I thank you!”

Tang Xue smiled faintly and replied sincerely, “No need for thanks. Dr. Liu has saved me before. Now that he needs garlic to save others, I have no choice but to help. I just hope this garlic can be of use.”

The head bailiff nodded repeatedly, leading the bailiffs to deliver the garlic to the medical clinic. Tang Xue stood at the restaurant door, watching the cart leave, her heart still uneasy.

She returned to the restaurant, gave further instructions to the staff to continue cleaning, and then went to the kitchen.

There, she opened a large wooden box in the corner, filled with newly harvested rice. She grabbed a handful of grains, feeling their plumpness and inhaling their faint, pleasant aroma. This was the new rice harvested by the Tang family’s farm, intended for use during the New Year. However, given the current disaster, she immediately decided to use it for rice porridge to help the victims.

“Second Miss, are you really going to give out the rice porridge?” the head cook asked, with some concern. “This rice was meant for the New Year. If we give it all away, what will we do at the end of the year?”

Tang Xue nodded gently. “We’ll worry about the end of the year later. Right now, there are so many people hungry. If we have rice, we can’t just stand by.”

The head cook opened her mouth to protest but stopped when she saw Tang Xue’s determined gaze. She held back her words and didn’t say anything more.

Tang Xue spoke softly, “Once the rice porridge is done, I’ll need to go to the farm. I fear this year’s harvest won’t be enough. I need to make plans early.”

The head cook sighed softly, a hint of worry in her eyes. She knew that although the second miss was young, her decisions were always firm, especially in tough times. Her resolve was often stronger than others.

The head cook replied, “You’re right, Miss.”

Tang Xue walked to the kitchen door and looked at the growing number of disaster victims outside. Her mind was full of mixed emotions. After the flood, the price of grain had skyrocketed in the city. Many families had run out of food, and the poor, already struggling, were hit hardest. As the second miss of the Tang family and the inheritor of the Tang restaurant, she felt responsible not only for the family business but also for the welfare of the people in the city.

Soon after, the bailiffs delivered the two baskets of garlic to the medical clinic. Wei Lan and Ming Yi were overjoyed and quickly directed the apprentices to bring the garlic into the backyard.

Later that night, the medical clinic set up a ceramic kiln in the backyard, the firelight reflecting on everyone’s faces. Wei Lan personally handled the process, crushing the garlic and placing it in a pot. This was the same pot she had used for distilling alcohol, but tonight it would be used to distill garlic oil.

The steam slowly flowed through the copper pipes into the porcelain bowls, gradually forming yellow oil droplets. This was a method Wei Lan had developed through repeated experimentation. While it wasn’t as refined as modern techniques, it was sufficient for creating an effective antibacterial solution.

The garlic, when crushed, activated its unique enzymes and catalyzed the formation of allicin.

This was garlic oil.