Duke of Zhenguan

Taking on apprentices, especially formal apprentices, is a very serious and important matter.

Although the apprentice is already fifty years old, according to custom, relatives and friends should still be invited to gather together as a kind of witness.

Just around noon, the Li family summoned several close relatives from Tiechi Lane, and Lin Chuan personally went to invite the Cheng, Qin, and Yan families as well.

As evening approached, the Lin family home became exceptionally lively.

It was only then that Lin Chuan truly witnessed just how advanced Zhen Quan and Zhen Liyan's medical skills were.

"By observing the complexion, one can diagnose illness; by listening to the voice, one can determine life or death!"

The two brothers' medical skills have truly reached a state of returning to simplicity.

The people living in the Iron Ruler area were all poor. Due to long-term malnutrition and overwork, their bodies were like old, broken machines, riddled with problems.

The two brothers were able to diagnose the illness with just one glance and even provided a treatment plan on the spot, leaving everyone in the Lin family that night in awe!

Zhen Quan and Zhen Liyan were both quite old, and after eating and drinking a few sips of tea, they were feeling a bit tired. So Lin Chuan asked Zhao Fu to take some people and Liu Zhengqi to send the two of them back first.

After seeing the people off, when he returned to toast Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong, Qin Qiong jokingly said with a smile:

"Lin Chuan, you're quite something, kid! Most of the imperial physicians in the Imperial Medical Bureau are practically disciples of Doctor Zhen, and you've actually managed to build a relationship with him!"

"If I had known that my disciple was practically a disciple of Doctor Zhen, I would never have accepted him!" Lin Chuan said helplessly.

"Alright, kid, stop being modest. Although I don't know where you learned your medical skills, the method you used to treat my injuries was specially written by Physician Liu and submitted to His Majesty with a memorial requesting its promotion!"

After receiving His Majesty's decree, the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau went to the Left Guard and, after a series of experiments, found that the chance of contracting the disease was 80% lower than before!

Young man, do you know how much merit this is?

In the aftermath of each major battle, less than half of the casualties were actually killed on the battlefield. Most died from their injuries or from contracting diseases. Although the methods of disinfecting with alcohol, cleaning wounds with saline solution, and bandaging wounds with clean gauze were simple, these simple methods could save the lives of those soldiers!

His Majesty had already discussed with us whether or not to promote you to a higher rank! But to make matters worse, you went to a brothel with Huai Dao and killed Pei Erlang! Alas…” Qin Qiong sighed softly.

"Alright, Second Brother, stop sighing. He's only a few years old. A viscount is enough. If he becomes an earl at such a young age, where will we put our faces? When we were his age, we were all messing around in brothels."

"If you ask me, well done!" Cheng Yaojin said with a smile.

"Uncle Cheng, Uncle Qin, I no longer hold any title. Besides, I really didn't kill Pei Erlang..." Lin Chuan said speechlessly.

"His Majesty will return the title to you sooner or later, don't worry!" Qin Qiong comforted him with a smile.

"That's good!"

Lin Chuan chuckled and picked up the wine pot to pour wine for Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong.

"By the way, when did you kidnap Chu Rou?" Qin Qiong suddenly asked.

"what?"

The topic suddenly shifted to Cheng Churou, and Lin Chuan froze on the spot, glancing awkwardly at Cheng Yaojin.

"Why are you looking at me? Cheng Family Manor is only so big. You've been sitting by the river for half a day. It's hard for me not to notice!" Cheng Yaojin said irritably.

"Men should marry when they are of age and women should marry when they are of age. What's there to be embarrassed about? Since you both love each other, why not settle down early and get married after the mourning period is over?"

"With the engagement in place, even if things go a little out of line, Old Cheng can't really say anything, can he?" Qin Qiong said with a smile.

Since the words had been so clearly stated, it would be foolish for Lin Chuan not to understand. He seized the opportunity and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Qin Qiong:

"I've been thinking the same thing, but I haven't been able to find a suitable elder to propose marriage to Uncle Cheng. If Uncle Qin doesn't mind the trouble, could you do me this favor?"

"Haha, of course I don't mind the trouble. That girl Chu Rou even learned martial arts from me for a few days. She's practically my daughter. So this matter is settled!" Qin Qiong laughed heartily.

"Brother Qin, I haven't agreed yet!" Cheng Yaojin said irritably.

"I won't agree. How about we go to the training ground and have a friendly spar?" Qin Qiong asked, amused.

"Forget it, Second Brother's health is not what it used to be, it would be unfair to win!" Cheng Yaojin shook his head.

Qin Qiong glanced at Cheng Yaojin and waved his hand:

"Then it's settled. I'll send the marriage certificate another day!"

"Second Brother, how can you just send the marriage certificate directly? You have to follow the rules!" Cheng Yaojin said unhappily.

"Alright, alright! Follow the rules!" Qin Qiong said with a smile.

The marriage was settled, and since Lin Chuan didn't have to attend court, he spent his life keeping the gentleman company, and Cheng Yaojin got him completely drunk.

The next day, he didn't get up until the sun was high in the sky. Li was already waiting in the front yard of the east wing with more than ten people from Tiechi Lane.

Lin Chuan, dressed neatly, led Mei Xiang to the front yard. The people of Tiechi Lane looked at Lin Chuan, who was dressed in brocade, and then at the pretty maid behind him, and for a moment they did not know how to address him.

"Uncle Wang, it's only been a few days, how come you've become so unfamiliar with each other!" Lin Chuan said with a smile to the blacksmith Wang who had helped him forge his first iron distillation vessel.

"Your status is different now, Dalang!" Wang the blacksmith said awkwardly.

"Nothing's different, I'm still the eldest son of the Lin family!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"That's right, we've known each other for over ten years, we can't afford to become estranged!" Mrs. Li added from the side.

After the mother and son offered some words of comfort, the people in Tiechi Lane finally felt relieved. However, just as Wang the blacksmith said, their status was indeed different now!

Lin Chuan didn't force them and began to teach them how to make soap.

Lard and wood ash.

Making handmade soap requires no skill at all; you just need to experiment a few times to find the perfect ratio.

After trying for a long time, the first handmade soap was freshly made. After trying it themselves, the Li family and the people of Tiechi Lane regarded Lin Chuan as a god!

Lin Chuan held the soap, accepting their flattery with ease, and asked them to prepare various flowers such as osmanthus, orchid, and gardenia to add, trying to make soaps of different colors and scents.

Once the soap is made, you can find a shop in the East Market and just sit back and collect money.

Meanwhile, the number of refugees outside Chang'an was increasing.

The area around the city gates became filthy and chaotic, and the water sources were inevitably polluted. In addition, as the weather grew hotter, more and more people were getting dysentery, and it was gradually developing into a plague...

Just as Lin Chuan was at home making soap, Li Shimin, having received a secret report from the Hundred Cavalry Division, summoned more than a dozen imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau to the palace.

Liu Zhengqi was one of them.

Dysentery is not difficult to treat. As early as the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the medical sage Zhang Zhongjing gave a prescription. The real difficulty is that dysentery is highly contagious.

After discussing with his colleagues at the Imperial Medical Bureau for a long time, they still had no clue. Liu Zhengqi thought of his newly appointed master and, with a try-it-out mentality, brought gifts to the Lin family.

Upon hearing this, Lin Chuan thought it was just contagious and didn't take it too seriously. He smiled and said to Liu Zhengqi:

"I do have a solution. Here's what I'll do: I'll write it down in a booklet, and you can come and pick it up first thing tomorrow morning!"