Courtyard House: Rebirth of a Shopkeeper in 1937

After the meal, the siblings immediately set about preparing for the distillation and purification of camphor leaves. This newly custom-made ceramic distillation apparatus was made of a special material; the thick ceramic body conducted heat slowly and was extremely sensitive to sudden temperature changes, as even the slightest mistake could cause it to crack and become unusable. Xingbao understood this perfectly, proceeding with composure and meticulousness, step by step, leaving no room for error.

The siblings worked together to place the clean, dry earthenware pot steadily on the stove, poured in an appropriate amount of water, and then lit the fire, deliberately using a low flame to slowly preheat the pot. The earthenware pot has a wide, thick bottom, making it difficult to heat evenly. Xingbao kept a close eye on the fire, carefully controlling the heat to ensure the flames gently adhered to the bottom of the pot, gradually increasing the temperature. By using a slow fire to gently heat the earthenware, he completely avoided the risk of cracking caused by rapid high temperatures.

Once the water in the pot gradually warmed up and became scalding to the touch, and the temperature stabilized, Xingbao slowed down and slowly added the pre-chopped and sorted camphor leaves into the water in batches. He carefully controlled the pace of adding the leaves, adding them in small amounts several times to avoid putting in a large amount of cold leaves at once, which would lower the water temperature. He used the warm water to buffer the temperature difference, protecting the ceramic pot and preventing the risk of damage caused by sudden temperature changes.

After soaking all the camphor leaves in a wooden basin into the pot, the siblings covered it with the matching ceramic lid, ensuring a tight, secure fit. They then carefully wrapped the gaps with a clean, thick cloth to prevent heat from escaping. Next, they filled the pre-existing compartment around the pot with hot water, which not only prevented the liquid inside from drying out during distillation but also further sealed the pot to retain heat and ensure efficient distillation.

After the sealing process was completed, the two began assembling the condenser. Gui Xiang held the specially made wooden barrel, while Xing Bao carefully inserted the ceramic condenser tube into the barrel, then tightly sealed the bottom connection outlet with a soft cloth to prevent air or liquid leakage. Working in perfect harmony, the two repeatedly fine-tuned the height and angle of the barrel, precisely aligning the upper distiller with the lower filter. The entire set of equipment was neatly connected, fit perfectly, and had a stable structure without any looseness.

After all the equipment was in place, the siblings filled the wooden bucket with cold water, relying on the principle of water cooling to ensure that the steam quickly condensed into liquid. Once all the procedures were in place, Xingbao steadily increased the fire in the stove, allowing the flames to rise evenly and continue heating the camphor leaf juice in the pot.

The stove fire blazed, steam rising slowly, and the newly designed borneol purification equipment officially began operation. The siblings stood side-by-side before the stove, their eyes fixed on the entire apparatus, their hearts filled with anticipation and trepidation. This improved equipment had eliminated the drawbacks of the rudimentary brewing equipment of previous years. Success or failure, purity or impurity, depended entirely on today's distillation results. They awaited the slow, pure borneol extraction, hoping it would be a testament to their meticulous preparation and hard work over the past few days.

After simmering over a low flame for a while, the water and camphor leaves in the pot were completely blended. The boiling liquid churned and bubbled, and wisps of warm, herbal aroma seeped out through the gaps in the sealed ceramic lid, sweet and soothing, dispelling the smoky and pungent smells that had accumulated in the kitchen over the past few days. As the temperature continued to rise, the steam inside the pot became increasingly dense, carrying the essential oils contained in the camphor leaves, turning into a fine white mist that slowly drifted along the ceramic condenser.

The condenser tube, soaked in cold water, was icy cold. Scalding hot steam rushed into the tube, instantly contracting and condensing into tiny droplets of frost that thinly adhered to the inner wall. Gui Xiang held her breath, gently closing her eyes and pressing her right ear lightly against the filter's outer wall. Her fingertips clenched unconsciously, her chest filled with a tense yet burning anticipation. Even her breathing was extremely soft and slow, as if afraid of disturbing the purification process with the slightest sound.

After waiting a while longer, under the repeated effects of the continuous temperature difference, the frost beads condensing on the pipe wall piled up layer by layer and solidified into sheets. Suddenly, a very faint sliding sound came from deep inside the condenser pipe, as light as a mosquito's buzz, almost drowned out by the faint smoke from the stove, but was accurately caught by Gui Xiang, who was listening intently. She opened her eyes instantly and whispered in a very low voice, "Xing Bao, something is moving in there!" As soon as she finished speaking, there was a crisp "plop" sound, followed by a series of fine splashing sounds. Tiny solid particles kept hitting the filter screen, and the bottom of the filter made a crisp and distinct "drip-drip" sound of liquid dripping.

"It's a success, Xingbao! I can hear the borneol condensing!" Guixiang's eyes lit up with joy. She kept her voice down and exclaimed softly, not daring to make a sound, lest she disturb the fire in the stove and disrupt the hard-won purification process.

Xingbao's tense brows slowly relaxed, his straight back eased slightly, and a smile flickered in his eyes. Even hearing the sound of the ice flakes condensing and knowing that the initial success had been achieved, he didn't glance sideways for a moment. He remained focused on the fire in the stove, his fingertips subtly adjusting the arrangement of the firewood to keep the fire at a steady, constant boil—not too strong, not too weak, but long and even, steadily supporting the steam rising from the pot at a uniform pace. He gently instructed Guixiang to change the cold water in the wooden bucket as needed to ensure a consistent condensation effect. He was also clear-headed; this was only the beginning of the purification process. If the heat or temperature were even slightly unbalanced, the condensed ice flakes would be of inconsistent purity and contain mixed particles, greatly reducing the overall yield. All the careful preparation and meticulous groundwork laid by the siblings over the past few days would be wasted.

As the fire stabilized, the droplets at the bottom of the filter became increasingly dense, transforming from sporadic drips into a continuous stream. With a faint scent of camphor leaves and no trace of smoke or burnt smell, this testifies to the excellent sealing and stability of this new ceramic set.

The siblings, one quiet and one active, each diligently performed their duties at the stove. Xingbao focused on controlling the fire and adding firewood to maintain a steady distillation process; Guixiang carefully tended to the equipment, occasionally replenishing the wooden bucket with cold water to prevent the water temperature from rising and affecting the condensation effect. The stove fire was warm, the stream murmured gently, and the sweet aroma of herbs and wood filled the entire kitchen, creating a sense of peace and comfort.

After a full hour of steady distillation, Xingbao estimated that the essential oil from the camphor leaves in the pot had been completely extracted. Only then did Xingbao remove the open flame from the stove. The dripping sound of the liquid in the filter gradually slowed down until it stopped completely. The remaining heat dried the residual moisture in the pot, and the pot was gradually cooled down, still following the principle of slow cooling, to protect the ceramic pot from damage caused by temperature differences.

After the equipment cooled down slightly, the two carefully disassembled the device. A small bowl of crystal-clear ice flakes had accumulated in the porcelain filter, with a delicate texture and pure color, which were pure natural ice flakes.

Looking at the bowl of hard-won, pure borneol, the siblings smiled at each other. The days of busy work, careful preparation, and the tense anxiety of watching the heat just now all turned into a sense of peace. In these chaotic times when medicine is scarce, this bowl of borneol is their most solid source of confidence in protecting their mountain village and their neighbors, and it is also the path to prosperity they will find for their fellow villagers in the future.