Chapter 5 The Ming Dynasty is about to end
Wang An first used alcohol to disinfect the old man's affected area, which made the old man grimace in pain. If you didn't know, you would think it was some kind of torture.

However, the old man seemed to have gotten used to it and did not dodge or ask for help.

Chongzhen was very surprised and asked, "Boss, what are you applying? Why does it smell like alcohol?"

"You are disrespectful. I told you to call me big brother!" Wang An had already finished disinfecting. He rolled his eyes at Chongzhen and took out another porcelain bottle to explain, "Most of the abscesses on Uncle Zhang's back are ulcerated, so they must be disinfected with alcohol first, that is, after the external evil is driven out, then the medicine can be applied to prevent recurrence."

"Alcohol?" Chongzhen muttered.

Wang Chengen guessed, "The smell of alcohol is so strong, it must be liquor."

Wang An gave a thumbs up when he heard this. "You are very knowledgeable, but this is my special liquor, which is stronger than ordinary liquor."

Distillation, the key technology for producing high-proof liquor in later generations, actually appeared as early as the Tang Dynasty. However, due to limitations of utensils and craftsmanship, the degree of the purified liquor was still not high.

But by the end of the Ming Dynasty, it had reached around 40 degrees.

Moreover, the mainstream drink among the upper class at that time was still rice wine, and the stronger liquor was considered to be drunk only by the untouchables in the market, so the distillation technology did not develop further.

Wang An also thought about making strong liquor to make his first fortune.

But after learning the reality, they had to give up, but they still improved the distillation process to make high-proof alcohol for use as a disinfectant.

Ancient Chinese medicine believed that alcohol could drive away evil spirits, and the evil referred to also included various types of diseases, hence the saying that external evils entered the body.

But it was the first time that Emperor Chongzhen saw someone apply strong liquor directly to the affected area like Wang An did, and he couldn't help but feel very curious.

At this time, Wang An had already uncorked another porcelain bottle, and immediately a strong and pungent smell wafted out.

Chongzhen couldn't help but cover his mouth and nose. The owner of the herbal medicine shop who treated him as his cousin seemed to have a strong preference for strange liquids. Previously, he said that glycerin could moisturize the skin and even blow up You'anmen Gate, then it was liquor, and now he took out something unknown.

However, Wang An was still using cotton to dip the liquid in the porcelain bottle, applying it evenly on the old man's affected area, and then wrapping the affected area with white gauze.

"Okay," Wang An patted the old man, took out a small paper bag and handed it to the old man: "Two days' supply, three times a day."

The old man took the paper bag and said flatteringly, "Little doctor, I'll give you the consultation fee when I have more money. I've been in so much pain these past few days that I can't do anything."

Wang An seemed to have expected this. He waved his hands impatiently and said, "Old poor fellow, I already knew you had no money, so I'll let you owe it first."

The old man was overjoyed and kept thanking him.

However, Chongzhen was completely confused. The horror of back abscess had been recorded in "The Veritable Records of Taizu". Crown Prince Zhu Biao could not withstand it despite the full treatment of the Imperial Medical Bureau.

The young shopkeeper in front of me just smeared some unknown liquid all over the place?

He couldn't help but ask: "This... is this all? Are you kidding me?"

Wang An frowned slightly when he heard this. It seemed that his cousin didn't give him much face!
Could it be that he has lived a wealthy life for too long that he is not polite to poor relatives like himself?

Although Wang An wanted to attract investment, he did have no bottom line.

Before Wang An could say anything, Zhang Bo was the first to get upset. He pointed at Chongzhen and cursed, "Hey! What do you know, young man?"

"Wang Xiaoshen Doctor has superb medical skills and a kind heart. How can you slander him casually? Besides, he has cured countless back abscesses like mine. Zhang's new wife and Li's uncle are both witnesses!"

Wang An coughed twice, pulled the excited Zhang Bo and said, "Okay! This is my cousin. He just came back from the border. He has never seen the world, so it's normal that he doesn't know my abilities."

"You go back and take good care of yourself, and remember to take your medicine on time." Uncle Zhang coughed twice awkwardly, bowed again to express his gratitude, and left.

Chongzhen was not angry, but was surprised by Zhang Bo's words.

It seems that Wang An can really cure back abscesses? And he has already had several successful cases.

If this is true, then Wang An is truly an extraordinary person.

As Wang An was seeing Zhang Bo off, Wang Chengen came up to him and whispered, "Your Majesty, there are many unruly people here, it doesn't seem safe, why don't you return to the palace?"

Chongzhen waved his hands and said, "This young shopkeeper looks like an extraordinary person. He can also treat stubborn diseases like back carbuncle. There is no harm in making friends with him."

After Wang An sent Zhang Bo away, he took Chongzhen to sit down and said earnestly: "Brothers like you and I have never been together before, so it is normal that you don't understand each other."

"It doesn't matter whether you participate in the laundry business or not, but there is one thing you must listen to me!"

Seeing Wang An's seriousness, Chongzhen couldn't help but feel a little joking and asked, "Oh, what's the matter?"

Wang An said solemnly: "Didn't your uncle ask you to come back and buy a house? Listen to me, don't stay in Beijing, you must settle down in the south!"

"Why is this?" Chongzhen asked in surprise.

After all, the capital is the capital of the Ming Dynasty and the best place in the world.

Countless people dream of owning a house of their own in Beijing, but this "cousin" in front of them is trying to persuade them to go to the south.

Wang An sighed, shook his head and said, "We are blood relatives, and I won't hide some things from you."

Wang An waved to Chongzhen, motioning him to come closer.

Chongzhen moved closer with some amusement, wanting to hear what Wang An had to say.

Wang An leaned close to Chongzhen's ear and whispered in a low voice: "The Ming Dynasty is about to end! It's better to leave early!"

"Nonsense, you...you..." Chongzhen stood up suddenly and glared at Wang An.

Chongzhen had just ascended the throne and was about to do something, but someone actually told him that the Ming Dynasty was going to end. The fact that he did not directly let Wang Chengen kill Wang An was considered a great achievement in cultivating his energy.

Wang An’s reaction to Chongzhen was not surprising. After all, as a Ming Dynasty person, how could he easily accept the idea that the Ming Dynasty was about to end?

Wang Chengen was afraid that Chongzhen would get angry and do something bad, so he quickly stood up and accused Wang An, saying, "The young shopkeeper is simply spreading rumors to confuse the people. Now that the Holy Emperor has ascended the throne, everything is new. I also heard that the current emperor intends to eliminate the eunuch party, which is a sign of revival!"

Wang Chengen repeatedly ignored Wang An, the "young master", and Wang An was not polite when he heard this. He sneered and said:

"Resurgence? Let me ask you, there is the Later Jin outside, and Wang Er from Shaanxi is rebelling inside. The Ming army has been in arrears for a long time and the military discipline is lax and unable to suppress it. In addition, the factional struggles in the court are getting more intense!"

"Tell me, what is the sign of rejuvenation?"

Wang Chengen was speechless and looked at Chongzhen cautiously.

Chongzhen was trembling all over, suppressing his anger and retorting: "Not to mention that the Ming Dynasty has a large number of troops gathered in the nine borders, even the Mongolian Khan Lindan is enough to control the Jianzhou Jurchens; as for Wang Er of Shaanxi, he is just two or three thousand bandits, there is no need to be afraid!"

(End of this chapter)