CH 117

August 19, 2022 by danmeiheaven

After showcasing the hand sanitizer and essential oil and getting a lot of surprised reactions, Xia Zuoyi took out the third research result—vodka.

Following the popularity of essential oils among noble ladies, this wine instantly attracted the interest and attention of all men.

Vodka was a type of distilled alcohol.

In the early period of history, it was used as medicine in medical projects and had great value in treating various diseases.

And vodka could not be drunk directly, otherwise, it would cause physical discomfort…

Before Xia Zuoyi finished speaking, a nobleman said disdainfully, “It’s just a kind of wine, what effect can it have on the body.”

This noble was an alcohol addict. He would feel uncomfortable if he did not drink even for a day.  

And he has an incredible alcohol tolerance. He had never been drunk when he was drinking with other people, something he was very proud of. 

Xia Zuoyi continued, “Drinking too much vodka can cause lip numbness, a burning feeling in your throat, and stomach pain…”

“In mild cases, your throat may burn up and you may lose your voice, and in severe cases, you may lose your life.”

After he finished speaking, the nobleman sneered with disdain, disapproving.

Xia Zuoyi smiled and then poured out a small glass of vodka, “Would you like to try it?”

From the gap of the curtain, Segalot saw Xia Zuoyi’s rosy lips curved up slightly and his caramel-colored eyes were crystal clear. Clearly, it was a look of mischievousness. 

If he could say that, it means that this wine was indeed extraordinary.

But the disdainful aristocrat did not notice this.

On the contrary, he drank the small glass of wine poured out by Xia Zuoyi in one gulp. He smacked his lips and tasted it. He felt it was good so he let Xia Zuoyi pour another glass.

Xia Zuoyi acted accordingly.

Then, he handed the second glass that was more than ninety percent to the middle-aged nobleman.

The middle-aged man gulped it down quickly again, and then things went south.

Probably the first drink was so fast that his body had not properly responded yet. 

By the time he took the second cup from Xia Zouyi’s hand, the middle-aged man’s head had begun to buzz slightly…

However, due to his slow thinking, he unconsciously took the glass and habitually poured it into his mouth.

Immediately, the burning sensation rushed directly from his stomach to his throat… His throat became hot and numb, causing his face to turn red from the burn…

It was as if he was heavily punched in the stomach that he curled up in pain immediately and fell from his chair.

This caused the people next to him to stand up in a panic.

Xia Zuoyi ordered the attendant to pour the honey water he had prepared into the nobleman’s mouth. One cup, two cups… A lot of honey water spilled from the corner of the nobleman’s mouth, soaking the expensive fabric of his collar, making it sticky and uncomfortable.

However, the noble’s face has obviously improved a lot and has visibly been relieved.

Although his body was no longer curled up like a shrimp and the pain of intoxication was alleviated, he still did not wake up. Instead, his eyes remained closed, and snored with a flushed face…

The people next to him looked at the glass with a little bit of wine left with inexplicable expressions. 

‘Two cups and you’re done?!’

‘There was no way to stay up like this.’

So it was up to the first prince Warner to let the nobleman leave the auction. However, the nobleman was too fat and the servants he brought could not lift him.

Therefore, the eldest prince arranged for two knights to help move the nobleman together. After a period of tossing, the matter was finally done.

Through this, everyone understood the power of this thing called vodka.

Someone asked, “Since you can’t drink it directly, how do you use this kind of wine?”

Xia Zuoyi: “Vodka has a wide range of compatibility and is very inclusive.”

“Its biggest feature is its purity. It can be used as a base to mix drinks with different flavors. You can add beer, juice, wine…”

As he spoke, he poured the medicinal syrup that Chebman had just presented into half a glass of vodka and then raised the glass to ask who would like to try it.

In the end, the glass went into the hands of the king of Powell, His Majesty Gena Kozmo.

He drank the liquor mixed with the medicine syrup in one gulp. His Adam’s apple rolled with his action, then his eyes widened slightly, and said, “I’d like to taste some of the original.”

Xia Zuoyi gave him a little bit.

Gena’s face slowly turned red after drinking. He loosened his collar a little and exhaled hot air. Everyone could see that he was slightly drunk.

The other nobles who had not yet finished drinking their share also asked Xia Zuoyi to give them the original one. Their faces changed soon after tasting the novel flavor. 

—It made people who had not tasted it even more curious.

“Good drink,” Gena commented.

He turned the small glass in his hand and said, “I wonder if the lord is interested in discussing the sale of this vodka with Powell Kingdom after this?”

“I want to make this liquor the national drink of my kingdom.” 

He did not hide his love for this drink in the slightest.

He enjoyed the boiling heat rising from his stomach that for other people, just a little bit could make them feel numb, slightly drunk, and warm all over…

This kind of wine was just right for the people of Powell who live in the extreme north.

“It depends on whether Your Majesty can afford the price.” Xia Zuoyi said with a smile.

The auction house was not the place to talk business, so the two of them looked at each other and then stopped talking.

The minds of some nobles also began to come alive.

—It must be said that there were indeed too many good things in Desinia’s hands.

Thomas, the president of the Ed Chamber of Commerce, frowned and looked at Archibald Cavendish without a trace.

His Royal Highness was also the leader of the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce. They and the Thorns Chamber of Commerce were usually in a cooperative relationship…

Lord Desinia brought out these things at the exchange meeting today…

He feared that one day, the Ed Chamber of Commerce would face a crisis under the pressure of these two… They must think of a way.

When everyone was immersed in their own thoughts, Xia Zuoyi took out the fourth research result. It was a bottle of purple-black liquid.

He said, “This is a kind of medicine for disinfection and sterilization treatment of trauma, called iodine.”

He looked around the audience and said solemnly, “Here, I want to put forward an argument—bacteria.”

“Bacteria are the pathogens of many diseases. One of the causes of people’s diseases is a bacterial infection, that is, harmful bacteria enter the human body, resulting in headache, fever, and even stomach ache.”

“When there’s an injury on the body, wound infection is also caused by it… “

“Not only that, when people touch, insect bites…”

“That is impossible!”

Before he could finish speaking, a doctor stood up from his seat and interrupted him.

The man shouted, “Our illness is due to the fear of the devil and the punishment of the God of Creation! A sick person harbors sin and should pray sincerely with the help of holy relics for them to heal!”

“What are you talking about?!”

“Yeah, what’s that?! Never heard of it!” Someone echoed.

Some nobles sat back in their chairs and watched the play.

The man became angry with Xia Zuoyi’s words. He said that only the God of Creation could stop the disease and fear spread by the devil and doctors could treat the sick only with the help of the God of Creation.

There were some who clearly agreed with him.

Among them was the alchemist who developed the “universal antidote”.

Xia Zuoyi asked lightly, “Then may I ask this doctor, how many patients have you cured with the help of the God of Creation?”

This sentence made the man speechless as if he had been choked.

After a long while, he said, “Those who died aren’t pious towards the God of Creation… God will not bless them…”

Xia Zuoyi: “When you fall ill, do you want to die or live?”

“Of course, I want to live.” The man replied with a baffled look on his face.

“Yes, I think so too. So how can they pray to the God of Creation with an impious heart when they have a strong desire to live?”

Xia Zuoyi added, “Illness is never brought by the devil, don’t treat everyone as a fool.”

“You just don’t know how to cure them!”

“Without the herbal medicines and ointments I developed, you would still be using bloodletting, induced vomiting, scalding wounds with a soldering iron, craniotomy, and even limb amputation to treat your patients…”

“Oh, I was wrong. It’s not treatment, it’s torture.” 

“To some extent, you are the devil!”

With a furious expression, he continued, “Sprinkle salt on the wound of the patient, dig out the bone marrow of the injured knee, and cut off a leg that was originally just an abscess… You are not curing them, you are killing the patient by cruel means!”

“No, we are not…”

Some doctors tried to refute him, but their faces were already pale.

Because they recalled that apart from relying on the medicines sold by the Thorns Chamber of Commerce for treatment, those who used other methods for treatment did indeed…

Xia Zuoyi ignored these rigid-minded people.

They still could not be reasoned with.

He continued, “Bacteria are microorganisms that are invisible to the naked eye but can be seen with the aid of an instrument. This is a proven truth.”

“When brewing liquor, some will turn acrid. Even the milk will turn sour after a long time… These are all spoilage caused by microorganisms.”

“That’s why we can’t let these spoiled foods enter our bodies, because it will cause stomach ache, sickness, and so on…”

He knew that most of the people present might not understand these words.

But it did not matter. All he wanted was to make an impression.

Xia Zuoyi picked up the purple-black liquid and explained, “The significance of iodine is to disinfect, reduce bacteria, prevent diseases, and can also treat external wounds such as burns, scrapes, and cuts.”

“This is a topical medicine. It cannot be taken orally.”

“The vodka can also be used as a medicine for disinfecting and cleaning wounds after being treated. However, it’s very irritating so it’s not recommended for use…”

“These results are not made by me alone, but everyone’s efforts. “

Xia Zuoyi pointed to the alchemists he brought.

He named each alchemist and said the role they played in each research. They performed their respective duties and collaborated with each other, which led to the emergence of the four research results…

Especially the iodine. Its process was not easy. 

Because Xia Zuoyi first needed to let them understand the existence of bacteria, that it causes diseases, and iodine has the function of disinfection… Without understanding the reason, it was impossible to understand the research.

In the process, much professional auxiliary research equipment had been developed.

For example, the microscope for observing bacteria, although relatively simple, was enough for them to observe the existence of microorganisms, breaking the wrong common sense of inherent cognition.

He explained to everyone about paying attention to hygiene and understanding the importance of sterilization. 

If proper purification could be carried out in time, the transmission of germs could be cut off.

For example, breathing, sneezing, and coughing may spread the disease to others through droplets, dust, and so on. If applicable, it was necessary to adopt quarantines, so that the infection could be interrupted…

Some people thought that he was talking nonsense and despised the God of Creation. Throughout Xia Zuoyi’s presentation, he was interrupted many times, clamoring for him to step down and that he was being rude. 

Xia Zuoyi ignored their opposition.

Because a cold eye and a ‘shut up’ from Orville or Archibald were enough to make these people stay in their seats in a cold sweat and no longer utter such ignorant words.

Xia Zuoyi: “The difference between a wise person and a stupid person is that the former will know that seeing is believing and words are nothing but wind1. He will wait until he has confirmed the matter before agreeing or refuting my point of view.”

“And fools will take it for granted. They like to think with their ego or think they are always right.”

He watched some thoughtful alchemists and doctors before saying, “Don’t hurry to deny it before it was proven. If you want to know more… You may as well go to Desinian Territory in person.”

“The alchemy tower welcomes you at any time.”

After the meeting, Xia Zuoyi did not talk to Orville or Archibald the first time but ordered Fernandi and Walker to act according to the list they made…

Surprisingly, shortly after they returned to the Sherry Hotel, Udit received a message from a servant that two alchemists, Jacob Ken and Philipp Kiel, had come to visit.

Translator’s Note: