There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 129 Making Masks

Although Atractylodes lancea also has anti-ulcer effects, we still need to ask Dr. Sun to come and take a look.

Otherwise, if it gets serious, it will be difficult to treat.

Li Shuchen counted the children; there were only about a hundred.

If you count the women again, there are only about a thousand.

Women and children combined only account for 10% of the number of refugees.

The percentage is too small.

Princess Changning: "Li Shuchen, I'm back."

Li Shuchen stood up and looked at the cartloads of new clothes behind him, and couldn't help but marvel at Princess Changning's extraordinary wealth.

"Princess Changning, amazing!"

At this time, the Prefect of Kaifeng and Gu Ziying also returned one after another.

Prefect of Kaifeng: "Miss Li, you should have enough clothes."

Li Shuchen glanced at the tents; there were now over two hundred. "That's enough, Your Excellency. They can go take a bath now."

The Prefect of Kaifeng: "Everyone go to bathe. Women should line up at the tents first, and men should wait until the women have finished bathing before they bathe."

Li Shuchen waited until everyone had finished bathing and changed into new clothes before calling the children back.

Soldiers: "Sir, what should we do with the clothes these refugees have changed out of?"

The Prefect of Kaifeng glanced at the clothes, then looked at Li Shuchen calling to the children in the distance.

He started walking towards Li Shuchen. At first, as an official in the capital, he was too embarrassed to ask a commoner how to do things.

But by the end of the day, I was completely captivated by Miss Li's extensive knowledge.

Now he can ask questions with ease and confidence.

"Miss Li, what do you think we should do with the clothes that these refugees have changed out of?"

Li Shuchen thought for a moment and said, "Dig a deep hole and bury the dirty clothes in it, the deeper the better."

The Prefect of Kaifeng stroked his beard and said to the soldiers, "Do as Miss Li says."

The officers and soldiers did as instructed. Dozens of them found a spot and began digging a pit. With many hands making light work, they quickly dug a huge, deep pit and then threw the dirty clothes in.

Then cover it with soil and tamp it down firmly.

Li Shuchen: "Sprinkle a layer of lime on top to prevent the spread of disease."

Prefect of Kaifeng: "Do as instructed."

Then the soldiers began to spread lime, handful by handful, until a thick layer was formed. Only when Li Shuchen said to stop did they stop.

Looking at the soldiers' dirty hands, Li Shuchen said again, "You all need to wash your hands."

Wash the soapberry leaves thoroughly several times. Do not wash them by the river; only wash them in a secluded place with running water. After washing, then fumigate the entire area with Atractylodes lancea.

The Prefect of Kaifeng: "Do as Miss Li says."

Li Shuchen also went to wash her hands, asking Lao Ba to fetch water for her. She carefully rubbed her hands according to the professional seven-step handwashing method.

The Prefect of Kaifeng also squatted to the side washing his hands, glancing at Li Shuchen every now and then.

Li Shuchen noticed this and found the Prefect of Kaifeng to be quite adorable. He coughed slightly and spoke.

"Your Excellency, there are proper ways to wash your hands. Please allow your officers and soldiers to learn from this humble citizen."

The Prefect of Kaifeng had the same idea, so he immediately summoned his officers and soldiers, and brought basins of water to the opposite side of Li Shuchen.

One person scoops water, the other washes their hands.

Li Shuchen began teaching.

First, wet your hands with water and rub them with soapberry.

The officers and soldiers did as instructed, and the Prefect of Kaifeng also did as instructed.

After seeing that they had all done so, Li Shuchen continued...

"The first step is to rub your palms together."

After demonstrating, he showed the soldiers how to do it, and they learned very diligently.

"The second step is to interlace your fingers and rub your palms together."

"The third step is to interlace your fingers, rub the backs of your palms together, and alternate between both hands."

"Fourth step: Clasp your hands together and rub the backs of your fingers."

"Fifth step: Rub your fingertips against your palms, then switch hands."

"Sixth step: Rotate your thumb in your palm, then switch hands."

"Seventh step: Rotate and knead the wrist of the other hand with one hand, then move down the forearm to the elbow, alternating between the two."

"Alright, that concludes the seven steps of hand washing. I humbly request that Your Excellency teach this method to the displaced people."

The Prefect of Kaifeng looked at a row of soldiers and said, "After you've washed your hands, go and teach the refugees."

Officer and soldier: "Yes, sir."

After washing his hands, Li Shuchen went to cook rice porridge.

After serving the evening porridge, it was already dark when we finally packed up and headed home.

On their way back, the three of them remained silent, seemingly without speaking. It was unclear whether they were exhausted or simply saddened by the sight of people's suffering.

Li Shuchen thought about all the preventative measures he had taken today to combat the epidemic, but he wondered how many diseases they would actually prevent.

The displaced population is densely packed, and the air circulation is poor. I'm afraid some people will contract the epidemic later. *sigh*: "There are still too many displaced people. If only we had masks."

Upon hearing this, Gu Ziying instinctively asked, "What mask?"

Li Shuchen: "It's just a piece of cloth, with thin strings on both sides that can be hung on the ears to cover the mouth and nose, reducing the risk of disease entering the body through the mouth and nose."

Gu Ziying thought for a moment and said, "It sounds simple, I can do it."

Li Shuchen's eyes lit up: "You can do it?"

Gu Ziying nodded: "I'll have the embroiderers at the tailor shop make some when I get back, and I'll show them to you tomorrow."

Li Shuchen waved his hand and said, "Forget tomorrow, let's go tonight. I'll go with you."

Gu Ziying: "Okay"

Princess Changning: "I'll go with you; I might be able to help."

Knowing that masks could be made, Li Shuchen felt a little better and began to tease, "Princess Changning, you've been busy all day, aren't you tired?"

Princess Changning said earnestly, "It's tiring, but it's worth it to be able to do things for the refugees and reduce their chances of contracting the epidemic."

Li Shuchen put away his teasing and said seriously, "Ziying and Changning love the world so much; it is a blessing for the Zixing Dynasty."

Gu Ziying: "I feel that having you is a blessing for our Purple Star Dynasty."

Li Shuchen: "Me? I only talk the talk, I haven't done nearly as much as you guys have."

During their conversation, the three arrived at Gu Ziying's clothing shop.

Li Shuchen and Princess Changning followed Gu Ziying into an embroidery room.

There are ten embroiderers inside.

The embroiderer quickly made one according to Li Shuchen's instructions.

Li Shuchen picked it up to look at it, and then tried it on.

I sensed something was wrong, so I offered a suggestion.

"Tighten the top and bottom a bit more, make it fit the face perfectly."

Following Li Shuchen's suggestion, the embroiderer made slight modifications and handed it back to Li Shuchen a moment later.

Li Shuchen tried it on again and nodded.

"That's right, that's how it looks. However, to have the function of filtering and blocking harmful gases, it needs..."

The outer layer is made of a waterproof yet breathable fabric.

There should be a layer of fabric in the middle to filter substances.

Then use a moisture-absorbing fabric as the inner layer.

Only in this way can a useful mask be made.

Gu Ziying smiled and said, "Don't worry, Shu Chen, we have all the fabrics you mentioned, we can make it."

Li Shuchen smiled and asked, "How many can you make in one night?"

Gu Ziying replied, "Around two thousand."

Li Shuchen yawned and said, "That's not enough. We need at least ten thousand. Could you ask other clothing shops to help us make more?"

Gu Ziying: "I'll handle this."

Princess Changning: "And me? I'll find some people to make some too. We should be able to finish them all in one night."

Li Shuchen nodded and then yawned.

Gu Ziying felt a pang of heartache: "Shu Chen, you've had a long day, go home and rest."

Princess Changning added, "Yes, Li Shuchen, you've been working so hard all day, you must be exhausted. Leave the rest to me and Ziying."