The boiling liquid in the test tubes and flasks gave Chen Ke a sense of reassurance. Apart from a set of "modern" glass experimental equipment, everything else was "Chinese style"—that is, cobbled together from cheap furniture. Fortunately, Chen Ke was particularly good at making do, and You Gou didn't mind either. This was the situation on the fourth day of the experiment. For the four days prior, work had proceeded day and night, though the alcohol lamps hadn't even been lit.

Chemical experimentation is an arduous task. Even though both Chen Ke and You Gou were chemistry undergraduates, their knowledge was still insufficient. In this era, the quality of foreign goods wasn't necessarily high. Salvarsan wasn't anything special, so there was no need for counterfeits, but the purity of the ingredients was a massive headache for Chen Ke. This wasn't the 21st century where chemicals came labeled with a series of purity grades that were highly trustworthy. The first hurdle You Gou and Chen Ke faced was purification, to reach the grade required for the experiment.

Chen Ke had the molecular formula for Salvarsan, and *only* the molecular formula. He hadn't memorized all the various parameters. Although You Gou had brought her maid and simple luggage to move into the workshop on the afternoon of the second day, and although Hua Xiongmao, Qi Huishen, and Zhou Yuanxiao had led three other "bold" young men to serve as assistants, the first two days were still spent amidst discussions and arguments between Chen Ke and You Gou.

Originally, Chen Ke had worried that the secrets of his experiment might be stolen, but he soon stopped bothering with that concern. What Chen Ke needed to do was complete the "paperwork" for the experiment. To those in the know, chemical experimentation is an extremely complex and grueling endeavor. The other young men originally had their own little calculations, all wanting to learn something from the experiment. Chen Ke and You Gou made a list, and Qi Huishen and Hua Xiongmao led people to purchase the items. They went fast and came back fast, afraid of missing anything.

But every time these young men returned, they saw Chen Ke and You Gou in front of the blackboard, using "clay chalk" made by Chen Ke to write things that looked like "ghostly talismans." Chen Ke was alright; although his wording was like reading from a heavenly book, it was at least Chinese. You Gou often started shouting in a foreign language (German) that they couldn't understand. Some youths tried to secretly copy down the things on the blackboard, but as soon as those strange shapes and characters were written, Chen Ke or You Gou would point at them, discussing and rapidly modifying them, or simply wiping them out to rewrite them.

It only took a day and a half for the young men to grow weary. They abandoned the opportunity to learn, merely listening numbly as Chen Ke and You Gou excitedly continued discussions only the two of them understood, writing things that only they comprehended while the others remained completely in the dark.

On the afternoon of the third day, the manual labor officially began. The assembly of complex experimental equipment: warm water baths, distillers, filters. Large vats, furnace fires, alcohol lamps, flasks, test tubes. This series of equipment was assembled. Various raw chemical materials underwent purification processing. Chen Ke and You Gou were busy with the experiment with their hands while discussing it with their mouths, all the while recording various data on paper. It was like Taoist priests refining pills of immortality or sprinkling talisman water—still stuff the others couldn't make heads or tails of.

When human beings are directed to do things they completely don't understand, their resistance is immense. To suppress this emotion consumes a great deal of mental energy. Although the youths respected Chen Ke and desperately wanted to save He Zudao, after working for just over a day, they all felt utterly exhausted. Much more exhausted than the days of hard labor dyeing cloth.

Chen Ke and You Gou's faces were as pale as the white lab coats they wore. In these four days, the two of them had slept less than twenty hours combined. The crystal of their toil was the clear, transparent liquid in the test tube. There were no cheers, no legendary tears. Chen Ke and You Gou collapsed onto reclining chairs, staring at the test tube like dead dogs.

"Miss, the Young Master has sent food," You Gou's maid, Xiao Lan, called from outside the door. You Gou's family sent people to deliver food every day. Chen Ke could understand this; during university graduation experiments, when his male classmates worked all night in the lab, their families would also visit occasionally to bring food. Let alone in 1905, with You Gou, a girl, moving into a laboratory to live. After delivering the food, You Gou's family would call the maid out to talk, keeping track of You Gou's situation. Two girls surrounded by a group of guys—no family would be at ease.

You Gou's family was sensible enough that the food sent each time was enough for the entire "laboratory" staff. At the work meal, the people tortured to exhaustion by fatigue and those dispirited by boredom remained silent. After Chen Ke finished eating, he said to Qi Huishen, "Huishen, go buy some rabbits this afternoon."

"Rabbits?"

"Yes, rabbits. Buy 30 first. 50 is fine too, but at least 10. You guys handle it."

Chen Ke knew everyone would ask for the reason, so he just said it all at once. "The rabbits are for experiments. To test if our drug is effective."

"It's already made?" Qi Huishen asked in pleasant surprise.

"It's made, but I don't know if the thing we made will save people or kill them," Chen Ke said wearily. He then turned to Hua Xiongmao. "Zhenglan, help me find Wu Xingchen. I have a favor to ask him."

"Alright," Hua Xiongmao responded.

"I need to get some sleep. Unless it's something important, don't wake me. Put the rabbits in the yard when you buy them. Oh, buy more cages. One rabbit per cage. Meeting adjourned." After speaking, Chen Ke stood up unsteadily and walked towards the temporary "men's dormitory."

You Gou covered her mouth and let out a big yawn. "Xiao Lan, I'm going to sleep too." She stood up, taking steps as heavy and weary as Chen Ke's, and walked slightly steadily towards the "women's dormitory." Xiao Lan hurriedly got up to support You Gou into the room. Although she wanted to help her mistress to bed, You Gou lay down, pulled the quilt over herself, and was asleep instantly. Xiao Lan tucked her in and quickly withdrew.

The people in the courtyard stared at each other. "Is it done just like that?" Du Zhenghui asked in disbelief. Du Zhenghui came from a family of doctors but was personally keen on building houses. However, being from a "medical family," he was full of interest in this drug manufacturing.

Before his voice had faded, Du Zhenghui was already standing up and walking quickly towards the laboratory. The others paused, then, except for Zhou Yuanxiao who sat still on his stool, everyone else rose in unison and rushed to the lab. There wasn't much change inside; the pile of equipment they didn't understand looked the same as usual, with no eye-catching changes. Various liquids and powders sat in test tubes and bottles. The distiller was slowly dripping distilled water. They had at least figured out the operation and principle of this massive distiller.

"Where is the stuff?" Du Zhenghui asked.

Hua Xiongmao and Qi Huishen observed the expressions of those around them almost simultaneously. Du Zhenghui was eager, the other two youths were curious, and Xiao Lan looked submissive with lowered brows, but her eyes were darting around, hoping to spot the final drug. Qi Huishen and Hua Xiongmao exchanged a glance. Hua Xiongmao said, "Huishen, how do you plan to buy these rabbits?"

"Hmm, going together is a waste of time. Let's split up. Since Brother Wenqing said at least 10, and 50 is fine too, everyone buy ten. If you can't buy them, go to other places. Don't buy too many. This way we'll definitely get rabbits without overbuying. I think this is better."

The others thought this was a good suggestion and agreed. Everyone went out, heading in different directions. Before leaving, Hua Xiongmao gave Zhou Yuanxiao a signal. Zhou Yuanxiao acted as if he hadn't seen it, maintaining his cold demeanor as he called out, "Miss Xiao Lan, let's clear the table."

Xiao Lan hurriedly came out of the room and began clearing the dishes methodically with Zhou Yuanxiao. Hua Xiongmao acted as if he saw nothing and walked quickly out of the courtyard. After crossing two streets, Hua Xiongmao slowed down. Not long after, Qi Huishen turned the corner from the street ahead, and the two walked forward together at a leisurely pace.

"Huishen, that You family has quite a few schemes," Hua Xiongmao said.

"Zhenglan, the You family has some influence."

"Your family is the same. As far as I know, your family is even more powerful than the You family."

"My father has no interest in industry. Apart from selling foreign goods and buying land, I haven't seen him do anything else." Saying this, Qi Huishen glanced sideways at Hua Xiongmao. "I didn't expect Zhenglan to have investigated my family's background."

"With the Qi family being so famous, do I even need to investigate?" Hua Xiongmao laughed heartily. "If Wenqing won't say it, I can't help but prepare. I originally thought making medicine was just one of those things, nothing more than internal potions or external poultices. Now seeing Wenqing expend so much effort, and I can't even understand it... In this world today, there are plenty of people who rob and plunder. Once this medicine is made, it will be a target for all. No matter what, I don't want Wenqing's blood, sweat, and tears to go to waste."

These words didn't sit well with Qi Huishen. "Brother Zhenglan, speak your mind. Hiding and tucking your meaning away like this isn't appropriate."

"It's because I trust you that I'm telling you this. According to Wenqing, we brothers are comrades now."

Although the logic was sound, it sounded even more piercing. Qi Huishen frowned. "Brother Zhenglan, what exactly do you mean?"

"These days, it's all about plucking feathers from a passing goose. Huishen, right now you're full of saving He Zudao, but in your father's eyes, even if you just watched this medicine being made, you should get a share. And not a small share," Hua Xiongmao said seriously.

"Zhenglan, you don't know, my father never..."

Before Qi Huishen could finish, Hua Xiongmao interrupted him. "Regardless of what issues you have with your father, he is still your father."

Hearing this, Qi Huishen fell silent.

"Wenqing isn't a confused man. Right now he just can't spare the energy to manage this. We are all revolutionary comrades. I can't help Wenqing with making the medicine, but I must think thoroughly for him on other matters. Once this drug is out, not just in Shanghai, but across the whole country, there are plenty of people infected with the flower and willow disease [syphilis], and quite a few are wealthy and powerful. We haven't been listening to Wenqing's lectures for just a day or two; we have to come up with a charter or regulations. Otherwise, Wenqing will offend too many people. Those who catch this disease aren't benevolent types. We can't watch Wenqing suffer a loss."

Qi Huishen had been somewhat dissatisfied, but after hearing this, he slowly nodded. "What is your intention, Zhenglan?"

Hua Xiongmao took a deep breath. It seemed he really didn't want to say this: "I actually hate foreign devils the most. Wenqing didn't tell you, but on our first day in Shanghai, the two of us beat up two foreigners together. But Wenqing is right, business is business. That sentence Wenqing said... even if we have to do business with demons and monsters, we must do it. I think you should contact the foreigners." By the end, Hua Xiongmao's tone was very unpleasant, but he had managed to say it.

"Zhenglan, you really make me look at you with new eyes." Qi Huishen never expected that Hua Xiongmao would propose borrowing the power of foreigners.

"If we don't do it, there's no guarantee Miss You Gou won't. If Miss You Gou doesn't, there's no guarantee her family won't. Even if her family doesn't, once this medicine makes a name for itself, your father might not refrain from doing it. Since we can't bypass it, we might as well find someone who can cover this matter. *Sigh!*" Hua Xiongmao finished with a long sigh.

Qi Huishen agreed deeply with Hua Xiongmao's words. He thought for a moment. "Zhenglan, although what you say isn't wrong, since we've decided to follow Wenqing, wait until he's a bit more free, and we'll talk to him about this together. We must let Wenqing make the decision."

Hua Xiongmao nodded. At the next intersection, the two went their separate ways.

Wu Xingchen hadn't expected Hua Xiongmao to come directly to the Tiandihui clubhouse to find him. When he heard the announcement, Wu Xingchen almost thought they had the wrong person. Upon seeing Hua Xiongmao, Wu Xingchen confirmed there was no mistake.

"Brother Wu, I wonder when it would be convenient for you? Brother Chen would like to invite you over. There is an important matter to discuss."

"Heh, what important matter?" Wu Xingchen didn't really want to see Chen Ke. The speed at which Chen Ke dyed cloth had greatly exceeded Wu Xingchen's expectations. He Yifa had returned from errands and rushed to find Chen Ke, only to be sent away with a few taels of silver and a bolt of cloth. When he went again a few days later, Chen Ke had already sold out the cloth. He Yifa was again sent away with silver and cloth. Chen Ke could fool He Yifa, but he couldn't fool Wu Xingchen. Through private investigation, Wu Xingchen knew Chen Ke had produced over a thousand bolts of cloth this time.

"I'm not clear on the details either. Brother Chen invites Brother Wu over; you'll know when you get there. It should be a big piece of business."

Wu Xingchen had heard this kind of nonsense too many times. Whenever someone said there was big business, it was definitely not a good thing. Big business meant big expenses. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. But thinking of Chen Ke, Wu Xingchen didn't want to refuse. Chen Ke had left a rather interesting impression on him. Clearly, Chen Ke wasn't a figure from the underworld, but he wasn't stupid either. Since Chen Ke was willing to seek him out, perhaps there really was money to be made. Thinking of this, Wu Xingchen said, "Then I should head out now. Is it convenient on Brother Chen's side?"

Chen Ke hadn't expected Wu Xingchen to arrive so quickly. Being shaken awake by Hua Xiongmao, Chen Ke lifted his head with sleepy eyes and saw Wu Xingchen standing by the door. He checked his watch; it had only been two hours.

"Brother Wu, you're here." Chen Ke struggled to stand up.

"Brother Chen, are you preparing to play the funeral pipes?" Wu Xingchen said with a smile.

Chen Ke thought for a moment before realizing. He was wearing a white lab coat, which did look somewhat like a "filial son or grandson" in mourning. It had been a long time since anyone spoke Northern dialect to him. Seeing Hua Xiongmao's confused look, Chen Ke couldn't help but laugh happily. "Brother Wu puts it interestingly."

After the three sat down, Chen Ke roughly explained that he was making a medicine to cure the willow disease and needed to collect pus from patients' sores for experiments. As soon as he finished, Wu Xingchen was almost ready to fly into a rage. Before he could explode, Chen Ke invited him next door to take a look. Wu Xingchen suppressed his anger and went to the laboratory. Seeing the room full of strange equipment, his anger immediately extinguished.

Chen Ke pulled up stools, and the three sat down again. "The others went to buy rabbits," Chen Ke said as he picked up a syringe. The experimental method involved injecting a bit of pus from a syphilis patient into a rabbit's testicles. Soon, the rabbit's testicles would grow sores, and then they would use the rabbit to test the medicine. Yawning as he finished explaining the process, Chen Ke said, "Brother Wu, you call the wind and summon the rain in Shanghai. If I can get a result from this, I definitely can't do without cooperating with you. Regarding collecting the pus, once you find the place, I'll do it personally. When the medicine is made, we'll use those people to test it. Brother Wu, you'll naturally know if my medicine works."

Wu Xingchen had never dealt with someone like Chen Ke. Chen Ke was pale, yawning one after another, but his spirit wasn't bad; he didn't look like an opium addict. In this situation, Wu Xingchen wanted to seize the initiative. He asked casually, "Brother Chen, how long have you gone without sleep?"

For Wu Xingchen, avoiding a direct answer to Chen Ke's question was his way of taking control. As long as he could change the subject, he believed Chen Ke would come begging to his door later.

"Less than twelve hours in three days. I've risked my life for this medicine. I'm thinking, since we had the fate to meet, and we'll have to meet again for this medicine anyway... Brother Wu, discussing this medicine now counts as friendship between brothers. If we meet later and you come to my door then... talking about friendship would be no different than telling lies, right?"

Wu Xingchen couldn't tell if Chen Ke was speaking the truth or nonsense. Looking at Chen Ke's sleepy appearance, Wu Xingchen inwardly believed these were Chen Ke's sincere words.

"Brother Wu, I'm going to cooperate with the foreign devils on this medicine. Dammit, the current government doesn't dare provoke the foreigners anyway. But no matter what, this matter relies on your brothers in the jianghu. The money I make isn't much. For the Tiandihui hall, this money isn't much. The Tiandihui could either swallow me whole, or send someone like He Yifa to work with me. Finding a useless person like He Yifa is definitely not as good as finding a figure like you, Brother Wu. This isn't a lot of money; we do this on brotherhood and loyalty. The money we should earn, we brothers won't miss a single copper. Why let a fool like He Yifa earn it?"

Chen Ke looked dazed, but every sentence he spoke pierced straight to Wu Xingchen's heart. Wu Xingchen looked closely at Chen Ke. Chen Ke's eyes were red and his face pale, clearly the look of staying up all night. But every word Chen Ke said was hinting that Wu Xingchen should fight for his own interests.

"This kind of crappy job, if I asked anyone else, they'd definitely feel it was shameful. Looking for prostitutes with the willow disease—damn it, that's deliberately shaming a brother. But I'm looking for you, Brother Wu, to let you see the drug's efficacy with your own eyes. This thing can't be faked; it either works or it doesn't. You'll know at a glance. Brother, I just think you're a talent. If we do this, it's good for you and good for me. Curing sickness and saving lives, this is accumulating hidden merit. Brother Wu, even after we die and see the King of Hell, you've saved so many lives, those people will remember your kindness. Brother Wu, let's do this together. This is a deed of merit."

Hearing this, Wu Xingchen couldn't help but want to grasp the string of prayer beads on his wrist. Those were beads consecrated by the abbot of the Shaolin Temple. Wu Xingchen's mother had personally begged for them when he was ten. Wu Xingchen felt an indescribable sensation. It was supposed to be two thugs discussing the division of spoils, but coming from Chen Ke, it sounded like an act of boundless merit.

Hua Xiongmao listened to Chen Ke's words, feeling a mix of loss and admiration. His deep conversation with Qi Huishen earlier had been about the profits of this miracle drug, ensuring they didn't fall into others' pockets. But Chen Ke, who never spoke of this, had long since thought through the future clearly.

Ever since meeting Chen Ke, Hua Xiongmao felt he was no ordinary person. Today, hearing Chen Ke speak like this made Hua Xiongmao even more firm in his belief. At the same time, a sense of resentment towards Chen Ke arose. Why didn't he tell him these things earlier? He had thought so much for Chen Ke; was it all just wishful thinking?

Just then, Hua Xiongmao saw Chen Ke turn to him and smile faintly. Hua Xiongmao saw a slight apology and encouragement in Chen Ke's bloodshot eyes. In an instant, Hua Xiongmao felt he understood Chen Ke. Chen Ke wasn't acting arbitrarily; he simply hadn't predicted that Hua Xiongmao would bring Wu Xingchen over so quickly.

Regardless, Chen Ke would definitely have explained things to him clearly. Hua Xiongmao was convinced he hadn't misjudged the man. Although Chen Ke was pragmatic, he wasn't someone who only considered himself.