The Lucky Farmgirl

Manbao saw them about to argue and quickly changed the topic, "Fourth brother, when would you have time to go with me for the inoculation? Hmm, Lixue and the others should also take a leave, and we can all go to the imperial manor for it."

Old Zhou said, "Can’t we do it at home? Why run all the way to the imperial manor?"

Manbao replied, "It’s safer over there, ready-made place. I’ll discuss it with Director Xiao later to see if any other expenses are needed."

No expenses are necessary, at least not at the moment. Director Xiao is eager for more people to come for the inoculation; he did some statistics in the Imperial Hospital - basically, those aged over eight and under sixteen have come.

If there are any concerns among the ministers, the Imperial Hospital’s stance is the guarantee.

Director Xiao’s family also participated. His six-year-old grandson was sent in, and although Imperial Doctor Lu also wanted to send someone in, he only had a small granddaughter, too young, and he couldn’t bear it. So in the end, he chose his youngest son to go in.

Thus, even before the vaccine was widely advertised, the families of the imperial doctors had already gotten vaccinated, with Zhou Man’s family having the most participants.

Manbao, facing the looks of his colleagues, helplessly spread his hands and said, "Can’t help it, my family is big."

The youngest six heads, including Zhou Lichong, all came for the inoculation, but among Manbao’s peers, only Zhou SiLang came.

The others rarely travel far, so they don’t necessarily need the inoculation.

However, Xiang Mingxue and Zhou Lijun also came, as they often travel, especially to the grasslands, and need to be very careful.

A group of people moved into the imperial manor in a flurry, with Manbao and Imperial Doctor Lu being confined there again.

This time, because it involved all official families and a significant number, even the Emperor was concerned, asking about it every day, fearing any official families might sacrifice for the cause.

Fortunately, with so many imperial doctors watching, the vaccine had undergone countless tests, and the prescription had been improved. There were no accidents, at most, three people had a high fever for a while, but the number of pustules was small, and they got over it in a night or a day.

So, half a month after all the official families moved into the imperial manor, they all successfully came out, making even the Emperor eager to have a go at the inoculation himself.

But the ministers persuaded against it, and the Crown Prince expressed willingness to undergo the inoculation on behalf of the Emperor.

However, the ministers still persuaded against it.

The Crown Prince is not young anymore. According to the Imperial Hospital’s data, the risk of inoculation in adults is higher than in younger ones, so the Crown Prince should not take that risk.

However, although the Emperor and the Crown Prince couldn’t get inoculated, the ministers saw the benefits of inoculation. If inoculation once can eradicate smallpox disease, that’s a huge improvement in life safety for their descendants.

So many ministers contemplated and planned to send children under sixteen in their households to receive cowpox inoculation at the imperial manor.

The Emperor was very pleased with this outcome and thus didn’t insist on being inoculated himself but called Director Xiao and said, "Since so many official families want to enter the imperial manor for inoculation, your Imperial Hospital should do well to receive them. It’s best to come up with a procedure."

Director Xiao agreed, then went back and gathered everyone at the Imperial Hospital, "His Majesty’s idea is to start with families of officials of the third rank and above, then layer down. Of course, it’s voluntary, but you all must handle it well. Those physically unsuitable for inoculation should be picked out, do not be careless. If there’s a mishap, all our previous efforts will be wasted."

Director Xiao discussed with everyone about adding new bedding at the imperial manor, and separating men and women.

These official families naturally include both men and women, mostly the families of officials of the third rank or above, or the children of the nobility. If anything goes wrong due to mismanagement, what if they come back to smash our Imperial Hospital later?

Don’t think they wouldn’t dare; these ministers, especially those nobility, have quite a temper, and Director Xiao didn’t want to provoke them.

As the brightest and the youngest, Manbao was handed an abacus to tally up the cost of the items they listed.

As Manbao calculated, his heart ached, and after noting down the total cost, he asked Director Xiao, "Is it also free?"

Director Xiao was surprised, "Is it that expensive?"

Manbao replied, "You mentioned changing all the bedding. Each bed also needs a small table, and each room needs a cabinet. I calculated according to the purchase prices listed, and it’s already at the cheapest."

Director Xiao also felt the pain and thought for a moment before saying, "I’ll go see His Majesty."

The Emperor looked at the account presented and fell silent.

Director Xiao folded his hands, standing below with his head lowered, and said softly, "Your Majesty, this only accounts for the items needed to be added. The cowpox and medicinal herbs needed for the inoculation are not yet counted, and neither is half a month’s board and lodging for each group."

Emperor: "I remember your Imperial Hospital’s families are free."

"Yes, but since our families are our own, we were more casual. At the time, we didn’t add additional items; meals were simple, and we used a total of thirteen prescriptions..."

The implication is that although it was free for them, they spent less, and their significance was different. Without them first setting an example, would everyone have dared to come for the inoculation?

The Emperor also found the point reasonable, so he waved his hand generously and said, "Then charge them money, charge..."

The Emperor looked at the total calculated above, calculated a bit, and said, "Just charge one tael of silver per person, wouldn’t that be a lot?"

Director Xiao immediately said, "Not a lot. If I were to charge, I would be willing to pay."

The Emperor was thus reassured and waved Director Xiao off.

Director Xiao brought back the Emperor’s instructions to the Imperial Hospital.

Hearing about the charge, Imperial Doctor Liu frowned, saying, "I’m afraid they wouldn’t agree."

Imperial Doctor Lu also said, "We didn’t pay then, and now if we let them pay, the ministers might have opinions."

Manbao thought for a moment and said, "Why not give them a list? It’s for their own good. If we don’t add the items, it’s doable for free."

Director Xiao squinted at her, "Do you think the grandsons and granddaughters of State Duke Zhao and State Duke Su would be willing to use the bedding used by others?"

Manbao then rolled her eyes, "Then I’ll make them a list."

Manbao’s list, once made, wouldn’t be solved with just one tael, but that didn’t matter. Manbao indicated that the excess would be subsidized by the Emperor and the Imperial Hospital.

Director Xiao was left dumbfounded, and seeing two prescriptions of medicinal herbs listed, couldn’t help but ask, "Not everyone would use medicine, right?"

"Not everyone can resist without a single dose," Manbao said, "If we prepare in advance, it’s thoughtful of us. Since we’re preparing, of course, it should be included in the expenses. Whether the adults understand or not, the mistresses in the inner courtyards surely will."

She remembered Grandma Liu saying that when it comes to hospitality supplies in the inner courts, it’s better to have more than less. So if they prepared what they might need in advance, she believed the mistresses would support it.

The bills should be communicated to the ministers, but ultimately, they would still be sent to each household, and wasn’t it the mistresses who paid?

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