"After all, if an epidemic truly breaks out, the consequences of not controlling it promptly would be unimaginable."
Li Dazhuang was genuine, worrying about this matter, his emotions almost entirely displayed on his face. The county magistrate was also a good judge of character, knowing that Li Dazhuang's demeanor suggested he was likely not lying.
However, such a significant affair could not be decided based on mere hearsay.
The county magistrate then began to inquire of Ye Tiancheng, seeking more detailed information about the epidemic.
Ye Tiancheng did not fear the magistrate's questioning.
Although he claimed to have amnesia, his knowledge of medical arts was deeply ingrained in his mind. Ye Tiancheng made his judgments based on his experience and accumulated knowledge, not on rash pronouncements.
Ye Tiancheng had also conducted observations over a period before reaching his conclusions.
Even though he knew that the magistrate would likely not understand some of the more technical aspects, Ye Tiancheng still meticulously explained his reasoning and the basis for his conclusions to the magistrate.
Ye Tiancheng stated that he had made rigorous judgments and ultimately determined that the illness appearing in Li Dazhuang's village was, in all likelihood, an epidemic. Furthermore, even if it were not an epidemic, or not a particularly virulent one, it was still not to be underestimated.
Firstly, it could be confirmed that this illness was contagious. Secondly, it could not be cured by ordinary methods. As the illness progressed, severe cases, like Li Dazhuang's wife, were already bedridden and unable to perform strenuous labor.
If the situation continued to deteriorate and remained untreatable, death would only be a matter of time.
Such an illness, even if not an epidemic, would eventually lead to dire consequences if left uncontrolled.
The county magistrate found Ye Tiancheng's explanations to be logical and persuasive. Indeed, such an illness, even if not an epidemic, posed a significant threat. Given the circumstances, if this wasn't an epidemic, what else could be considered one?
He took the matter very seriously and expressed his gratitude to Ye Tiancheng and Li Dazhuang for promptly reporting the situation to the authorities.
Moreover, the county magistrate assured them that they would respond swiftly, summon physicians to thoroughly investigate the situation of the illness in Li Dazhuang's village, and ascertain if similar cases had appeared in other nearby areas.
If Ye Tiancheng and Li Dazhuang's accounts were confirmed to be true, they would immediately implement control measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic.
Upon meeting the county magistrate, Ye Tiancheng felt an inexplicable sense.
This was truly a good official.
He did not know the origin or reliability of this intuition, as there were officials who merely put on a show. However, Ye Tiancheng felt that his intuition was trustworthy.
If this intuition proved true, it would be a fortunate outcome.
He feared that encountering an unbenevolent official would be far worse, as it would only complicate and exacerbate the situation.
Ye Tiancheng still believed that the current situation was the better outcome.
After receiving the county magistrate's assurance, Ye Tiancheng indicated that he intended to visit nearby medical clinics and consult with the physicians who had previously treated the patients in Li Dazhuang's village, to understand their opinions on the villagers' ailments and to see if any conclusions could be reached or methods found to cure these patients.
The county magistrate naturally did not hinder Ye Tiancheng in this regard. He even inquired if Ye Tiancheng needed assistance from the government.
Ye Tiancheng considered for a moment and then stated that it was not necessary for the time being.
He preferred not to cause a stir from the outset, as it might lead to undesirable consequences, and he disliked trouble.
The county magistrate, upon hearing Ye Tiancheng's thoughts, did not press the matter. He merely told Ye Tiancheng that if they needed any help in the future, they could seek him out again. He also assured them that the government would immediately begin investigating the situation in Li Dazhuang's village.
Ye Tiancheng and Li Dazhuang then left the government office together.
Subsequently, Li Dazhuang led Ye Tiancheng to search for medical clinics and consult with the physicians who had treated the people in Li Dazhuang's village, hoping to discuss the matter and, if nothing else, obtain medical records that might be of assistance.
Li Dazhuang took Ye Tiancheng to several medical clinics in the city.
After all, since the people in their village could not find a physician capable of curing their illness, they had naturally sought out all the physicians available in the city.
Some of these physicians were willing to discuss the condition if approached, while others, though reluctant to discuss it, had no objection to providing medical records.
However, there were also those who were unwilling to cooperate.
Ye Tiancheng and Li Dazhuang did not force the issue.
It was best to have such things, but if not, there was no point in forcing it. At this time, they simply did not have the energy to deal with such complications.
However, this trip by Ye Tiancheng and Li Dazhuang not only achieved their original objective but also yielded an unexpected, or rather, a very grim piece of news.
They learned that among the physicians who had treated the villagers in Li Dazhuang's village, one physician discovered that he himself had contracted a similar illness after returning, and even two apprentices in his clinic later developed similar symptoms.
Although it was possible that their constitutions were better, or that their medical knowledge allowed them to manage it more effectively, resulting in milder symptoms, it could not be denied that these symptoms had indeed appeared in them, and they had not yet recovered.
This was truly very, very bad news.
The physician who contracted this illness harbored some doubts, and therefore, when Ye Tiancheng came to consult him, this physician was remarkably cooperative.
After all, who would not value their own life?
This physician possessed considerable medical experience. While his skills might not be considered exceptionally brilliant, they were certainly far beyond those of an ordinary physician. Yet, even he had inevitably contracted the illness and was unable to cure himself.
Was that not terrifying enough?
The sensitivity of a medical practitioner was sufficient to make this physician realize that this illness was not to be taken lightly.
Upon learning that Ye Tiancheng was also researching this illness, the physician was very willing to discuss it with Ye Tiancheng and share his medical records. When he learned that Ye Tiancheng, although unable to find a cure, could prescribe a formula that provided significant symptomatic relief, the physician was clearly very interested in that relief formula.
Ye Tiancheng was also generous in sharing this relief formula.
Moreover, Ye Tiancheng did not merely share one formula but shared various formulas, developed by combining different patient case histories and adjusting the herbs accordingly.
Ye Tiancheng believed that when facing such a dangerous illness, the most important thing was to find ways to control it and cure the patients. As for some physicians who hoarded their knowledge, Ye Tiancheng could understand but did not agree with their approach.
The physician who discussed the illness with Ye Tiancheng was greatly impressed and deeply moved by Ye Tiancheng's magnanimity.
Regardless, it was extremely rare to find a physician willing to openly share their clinical results, and such selfless individuals were truly few and far between.
Ye Tiancheng, however, did not think much of it.
It could only be said that Ye Tiancheng acted more according to his own inclinations, following his inner thoughts and choices, and not being overly influenced by external factors.
If he wanted to do something, he simply did it.
He paid no mind to what others thought, how they acted, or what they said about him.
This trip had been quite fruitful for Ye Tiancheng.
After all, being able to learn the opinions of other physicians and see the medical records they had left behind was helpful for Ye Tiancheng's continued research into this illness.
The same things would appear differently in the eyes of different people.
Sometimes, viewing matters from different angles might lead to new discoveries and new paths, which would be of great help to Ye Tiancheng in developing a formula to cure this illness.
Having reported the situation in the village to the government and successfully engaged in discussions with physicians from some medical clinics, Ye Tiancheng had nothing else to do for the moment.
He chose to return to the village first, to study the new information he had acquired. Moreover, Ye Tiancheng needed to constantly observe the patients in the village, to see if their symptoms had changed in any way, if there was any deterioration in their condition, or if any new villagers had become infected.
When Ye Tiancheng had treated the villagers in the village before.
Although he could not directly point out that an epidemic might have broken out in the village, he had indicated that the illness present in the village could be transmitted to others, and therefore, the sick patients needed to minimize contact with others to a certain extent.
Most villagers took Ye Tiancheng's words seriously.
However, if a small number of villagers did not strictly adhere to Ye Tiancheng's medical advice, there was nothing that could be done. Such things were unavoidable.
Unless the government intervened and enforced compliance, it was difficult to completely prevent such occurrences.
It should be noted that even with government intervention and forced compliance, not everyone would strictly follow the government's orders.
After returning to the village, Ye Tiancheng had been continuously researching the illness and developing medicinal formulas.
During these few days, the government had indeed taken the matter very seriously. The situation that Ye Tiancheng and Li Dazhuang had reported to the government was quickly investigated by some physicians, who, under the guise of not disturbing the populace, first observed the situation.
Later, after analysis, it was found that the situation was indeed not optimistic and required control.
The government quickly took action. On one hand, they had physicians begin researching how to cure this newly emerged illness. On the other hand, they began dispatching people to seal off some villages and towns.
The county magistrate discovered after his investigation.
In fact, the places where this illness had appeared were not limited to Li Dazhuang's village. Some areas in the surrounding villages and towns had also experienced similar situations, and tracing the earliest medical records had become quite difficult.