"Brother Wenqing, Brother Wenqing." Someone was shouting for Chen Ke. The voice echoed from the distant edges of his consciousness.

"If I sleep now, I'll be out for a long time. Now is not the time to sleep. I must set an example; I must get up and work." This self-reinforcing mantra, repeated like brainwashing over the past few days, forced Chen Ke to struggle and open his eyes.

He saw Qi Huishen and Hua Xiongmao standing on either side of him, whispering, "Let's carry him to the dormitory."

"No need to carry me. Zhenglan, go find Brother Wu. Ask him to come," Chen Ke said as soon as he could speak. He looked up at the sky outside; it was already starting to darken. He checked his watch; he had slept for less than two hours.

"Did I sleep for a *shichen*, or did I sleep for a whole day?" Chen Ke asked hurriedly.

"You slept for a *shichen*. The sky is getting dark, and we were afraid you'd catch a cold, so we were about to move you to the dorm."

Hearing this, Chen Ke felt a wave of relief. "At least I didn't delay He Zudao's treatment," he muttered. Wiping his face with his hand, Chen Ke remembered something important and hurriedly asked Hua Xiongmao, "Zhenglan, how are the rabbits? Are they alive?"

"The rabbits are all hale and hearty. I was just telling Huishen to feed them more water. It looks like they can last until tomorrow."

"Uh, spread new sand on the ground. There's poison in the rabbits' urine," Chen Ke quickly added.

Seeing Chen Ke's slightly delirious and rambling state, Hua Xiongmao urged, "Brother Wenqing, you should go rest for a while. You're exhausted."

"Everyone is tired. You two aren't doing much better. By the way, where is You Gou?"

Hua Xiongmao pointed to another lounge chair. "As soon as you lay down, Miss You just said not to disturb you, then sat down and fell asleep immediately."

Chen Ke looked over and saw You Gou sprawled face up on the chair. Her face was snow-white, and her breathing was rapid; she looked like a critically ill patient. This gave Chen Ke a start. "Quickly, call Xiao Lan in. Cook some hot porridge. Let You Gou drink the porridge and then go rest. Don't let her work herself into sickness."

Xiao Lan entered the room upon being called. She was just about to wake You Gou up when Chen Ke hurriedly stopped her. "Cook the porridge first, let it cool a bit, and boil some hot water too. If You Gou gets up now, she won't have the energy to eat or wash her face. Xiao Lan, feed You Gou half a bowl of porridge, then serve her while she washes her face and soaks her feet. Then send her to sleep."

Chen Ke spoke like a master commanding a servant, and Xiao Lan's face immediately turned sour. She froze for a moment but did not listen to Chen Ke. One of her hands was already on You Gou's shoulder, ready to gently shake her awake. Chen Ke grabbed Xiao Lan's shoulder and pulled her away from You Gou.

"Do you understand how to take care of people?" Chen Ke's voice was low, but his tone was extremely severe.

Xiao Lan knew enough to retreat; she simply shook her shoulder to break free from Chen Ke's grip. Perhaps because she was surrounded by a group of men, she didn't dare to act rashly. Xiao Lan retreated a few steps, then turned and trotted out of the room, heading back to the women's dormitory.

Chen Ke ignored her and said to Hua Xiongmao, "Zhenglan, go find Brother Wu. Tell him the medicine is made. Ask him to find people to test the medicine as soon as possible. The sooner the better; starting right now would be best."

"Alright." Hua Xiongmao looked at Chen Ke with concern, then glanced in the direction of the women's dormitory. Finally, he went out.

"Huishen, let's boil water and cook porridge together."

"Wenqing, you..." Qi Huishen stopped halfway. It wasn't that he was hesitant to speak, but rather that he didn't know what to say.

"Huishen, I know you think I'm meddling. But this is just my temper. Since You Gou is working here with me, I have to be responsible."

"How about this? I'll call my family's maid to come and serve You Gou?"

"What serve? This is Xiao Lan's job, isn't it?" Chen Ke whispered indignantly as he pulled Qi Huishen into the courtyard. "Everyone thinks serving others is menial labor; this is a societal problem. In the new era, there will definitely no longer be distinctions of high or low birth, noble or base. There will only be different jobs, not different statuses. However, doing a job isn't done like that. You Gou is exhausted; if she just shakes her awake, what if she catches a cold?"

"Brother Wenqing, she is the You family's maid after all. It's not our place to say much. I should still call my family's maid..."

"No need. You Gou is only this tired today. Since the medicine is made, she can just work normal daytime hours from now on."

The courtyard was very quiet. Zhou Yuanxiao had heard the argument. Adhering to his usual style, he had silently started lighting the stove to boil water. Watching Zhou Yuanxiao busy at work, a thought struck Chen Ke. He had wanted to make honeycomb briquettes for a long time, but was limited by a lack of funds and couldn't start. If the profits from the pharmaceutical manufacturing really reached the expected level, the honeycomb briquette project could actually begin.

Chen Ke didn't speak, but Qi Huishen suddenly said, "Brother Wenqing, I've heard of friends who are completely devoted to each other. You saving He Zudao, taking care of us like this... You are truly a hero."

"Eh?" Chen Ke was quite surprised to hear this from Qi Huishen. "Huishen, we are all revolutionary comrades, right?"

"Yes."

"Revolution isn't about killing one's father and mother to go make trouble, is it? Who would dare associate with that kind of person? After knowing such a person, they would just tell you to go die, go die. Is that revolution? That's a death sentence!"

"What Brother Wenqing says is true." Qi Huishen had gradually gotten used to Chen Ke's way of thinking. Qi Huishen quite agreed with Chen Ke's view on revolution.

Zhou Yuanxiao, who hadn't made a sound until now, suddenly interjected, "Wenqing, didn't you say last time that revolution means overthrowing the Manchu Qing? Doesn't that still require selling one's life? People still have to die."

As soon as Zhou Yuanxiao said this, Qi Huishen looked at Chen Ke with shining eyes. Zhou Yuanxiao wasn't wrong.

Chen Ke hadn't expected Zhou Yuanxiao to ask such a question, and for a moment, he really didn't know how to answer. But this question couldn't be avoided; if he dodged it, everything Chen Ke had said would be called into question. His drowsiness vanished instantly; Chen Ke was wide awake. Quickly cycling through his philosophy, Chen Ke replied, "Those engaged in military struggle—the comrades and comrades-in-arms who fight—naturally know they will encounter death. Those comrades and comrades-in-arms will certainly fear death; a person who isn't afraid of death has never been born. But since we have taken up this work, our task is to protect the new regime, to protect the comrades engaged in other work. If the enemy wants to shoot at you, they have to cross over our dead bodies first."

These decisive words caused a throb of emotion in Qi Huishen. He stared at Chen Ke. Chen Ke seemed to have recovered from his fatigue. Although his face was still pale, the bloodshot redness in his eyes had receded rapidly. Chen Ke didn't have a triumphant air; he looked as if he had merely stated a common fact. He walked to the well in the courtyard and drew water.

Although he had thought that revolution would involve death, Qi Huishen hadn't truly felt it until he faced it personally. The absolute trust between revolutionary comrades in Chen Ke's words gave Qi Huishen a sense of upliftment. And Chen Ke's ordinary actions, rather than diminishing Qi Huishen's trust, made this man—who always stood on the front lines of work—seem all the more convincing.

Chen Ke washed his face. While he was observing the current state of the rabbits, the water heated up quickly. There was leftover cold porridge. Zhou Yuanxiao had used a steamer to boil the water, so the porridge was warmed up along the way. Chen Ke went in and shook You Gou awake. Groggily, You Gou got up, finished the porridge in a few gulps in the courtyard, and washed her face with hot water. Chen Ke felt it would be inappropriate to ask You Gou to wash her feet in front of everyone. Watching You Gou sway as she walked into the women's dormitory, Chen Ke said, "Let's eat too."

Usually at this time, You Gou's family would send food over. The You family was punctual as expected; as usual, the steward carried a food box, entering with polite thoroughness but lacking warmth to greet everyone. Today, You Gou's second brother came along as well. The only resemblance between the siblings was their face shape and nose.

"Mr. You, thank you very much," Chen Ke said with a smile, going over to welcome him.

The Second Master You scanned the workshop and laboratory but didn't see You Gou. Seeing Chen Ke's pale face, his expression of dissatisfaction softened slightly.

"Mr. Chen, my sister hasn't been home for a long time. If it's not too busy here, I'd like to take my sister home for a visit. Our parents at home miss her very much." The Second Master You spoke quite politely.

"Certainly. We aren't that busy here anymore. And Miss You has been busy for a long time; I think she should go home and have a good rest," Chen Ke replied.

"Then I'll go call my sister to get up now."

Chen Ke wanted to stop him slightly, but worried that if Second Master You ran into Wu Xingchen, it might cause unnecessary trouble. He nodded.

Second Master You entered the women's dormitory. After a while, he came out looking furious. Without explaining anything, Second Master You simply cupped his hands at Chen Ke, turned, and left.

Less than fifteen minutes after Second Master You left, Wu Xingchen walked into the courtyard with Hua Xiongmao. Chen Ke felt glad that the two hadn't bumped into each other.

"Is the medicine ready to use?" Wu Xingchen asked in a low voice as soon as he entered the laboratory.

"It's ready." Chen Ke had already checked the lab bench; no one had touched the things on it. This batch of medicine was produced using the raw materials from the second purification, and the total amount was not small. Treating thirty to fifty people would be no problem.

"Then let's move," said Wu Xingchen.

Chen Ke put the syringes, seven needles, the prepared saline, alcohol cotton balls, and other items into the medical kit. After checking everything once, Chen Ke said, "Huishen, come with me."

Hearing this, Hua Xiongmao, who had looked eager to try, immediately looked a bit dejected. When Wu Xingchen and Qi Huishen were almost at the door, Chen Ke called Hua Xiongmao over. "From today on, except for the few of us, no one is allowed into the laboratory. Especially that Xiao Lan. Watch closely."

"Don't worry. I've been keeping an eye on it," Hua Xiongmao said seriously, a determined smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.

"Of course I trust Zhenglan."

After speaking, Chen Ke picked up a lantern, checked the flashlight in his pocket, and then left with Wu Xingchen and the others.

The door opened again, and Chen Ke and Qi Huishen entered the room together, wearing masks. The sky was already dark, and under the light of the lantern, the room seemed filled with flickering ghostly shadows.

The smell in the room was still nauseating, and the women looked even weaker. The abscesses on their faces had worsened significantly over the past few days; their pale faces and red sores looked even more terrifying. The women still remembered Chen Ke. Chen Ke didn't listen to what they were saying; he had Qi Huishen hold the lantern while he injected the medicine into the women's veins one by one.

Maybe it was because his last "visit" here had accustomed Chen Ke to it slightly, or perhaps Chen Ke's gaze was focused only on the women's arms. Or maybe having Qi Huishen by his side made Chen Ke feel somewhat at ease. This time, Chen Ke's feeling was clearly not as horrified as the last, but beside him, Qi Huishen's arm holding the lantern was trembling slightly the whole time. In the end, Qi Huishen had to place the lantern on the edge of the women's "bed."

The injection speed couldn't be fast. Chen Ke watched his watch, slowly pushing the plunger. Before coming in, he had asked the brothel owner again, and the owner confirmed that five of them had indeed fallen ill here first. But whether it was their first outbreak, he couldn't guarantee. Chen Ke barely remembered the appearance of the reasonable woman and one other woman. It had to be said that even if he couldn't remember, Chen Ke was absolutely unwilling to ask them again.

Having injected the drug into the other five women, Chen Ke suppressed the urge to inject the specific drug into those two women, giving them only two shots of saline. This drug was toxic; from any angle, injecting them was dangerous and unreasonable. Apart from Chen Ke's compassion objecting to it, there was no other reason not to do so.

After finishing the injections, Chen Ke hardened his heart and didn't listen to what the women said. He took Qi Huishen and left.

Seeing Wu Xingchen mumbling something with the brothel owner in a corner, Chen Ke didn't bother with them and left the courtyard straight away with Qi Huishen.

Qi Huishen didn't say a word until they reached the street. As they neared the workshop, Qi Huishen finally whispered, "It's truly miserable."

"Mn." Apart from this acknowledgment, Chen Ke didn't want to say anything.

"Wenqing, I've never seen such things."

"Mn."

Qi Huishen wanted to say something, but seeing that Chen Ke wasn't explaining things to him like before, and remembering Chen Ke's sleepless actions over these years, Qi Huishen fell silent too.

After dinner, Chen Ke called everyone together. Du Zhenghui and a few others couldn't stand staying up late like this, nor could they stand the boredom. Plus, the boys' dormitory wasn't big, so they had started only coming during the day and going back at night. Now that You Gou was still in a deep sleep, Chen Ke only said two sentences to the comrades: "No one is to reveal this news. I'm going to sleep." With that, Chen Ke walked back to the dorm, fell headfirst onto his bunk, pulled the quilt over himself, and entered dreamland.

Chen Ke woke up once in the middle, turned over, and fell asleep again. Later, around twelve o'clock, Chen Ke was woken by hunger. He walked out of the dorm with his stomach rumbling and saw food and dishes set on the table in the courtyard, covered by a gauze cage. Wu Xingchen and the others were sitting at the table talking.

This was the first time Wu Xingchen had given Chen Ke a pleasant look, and it was clear his smile was genuine. "Brother Chen, you're up. I figured you should be up by now. This table of wine and food has been ready for a while."

Chen Ke greeted Wu Xingchen but headed straight for the toilet. After relieving himself, Chen Ke sighed comfortably, came out, and washed his face. As soon as he sat down, Chen Ke asked, "How are the people?"

"The abscesses have started to shrink."

"And the people?"

"All alive."

Chen Ke let out a long sigh of relief. However, hearing Wu Xingchen say this, Chen Ke couldn't help but notice that apart from a few of their own, no one else was there.

"Wenqing, this was my own initiative. You're so tired, you need more rest. I let the others go back to rest first." Qi Huishen knew what Chen Ke was worried about. He said, "This morning, after Miss You got up, she said she was also very tired and went home first."

In the moments Qi Huishen was speaking, Chen Ke had already downed a bowl of porridge.

"And the rabbits?" Chen Ke asked.

"Also all alive."

"Wenqing, you don't need to say so much. I've seen your capabilities. What do you plan to say about this medicine?" Wu Xingchen was in a very good mood. Around noon today, he had forced the owner to open the door and forced the madam to go in and take a look. When the madam went in, she had a face full of anger, but when she came out, her face was full of joy. Seeing the disease cured so quickly, she estimated those prostitutes could take customers again soon. Plus, the treatment was free—a pie falling from the sky—so the madam was naturally happy.

The brothel owner was even shrewder. He knew what a huge business this miraculous medicine represented. He flattered Wu Xingchen in every way possible. He even enthusiastically invited Wu Xingchen back to his place to find the prettiest one for him to have some fun. This disgusted Wu Xingchen so much his nose almost crooked; he jerked his chin towards the small dark room. The brothel owner immediately felt he had missoken, gave an embarrassed dry laugh, and hurriedly apologized to Wu Xingchen.

"Brother Wu surely isn't just talking about splitting the money, right?" Chen Ke asked while burying his head in the food.

"Wenqing, how you talk to the foreigners, I don't care. But the brothers on the streets, you have to give an explanation. Today, that brothel owner dared to track me. if you treat more people, they will definitely track you to your door. Those hooligans and ruffians aren't so easily dismissed. As the saying goes, a good shoe doesn't step in stinking dog shit. Why should you tangle with those people? Those wretched scoundrels are crazy for money; they'll do anything."

"Mn, so what arrangements does Brother Wu have?"

"Let me hear what Wenqing thinks first."

Chen Ke said, "Brother Wu, you said you don't care how I deal with foreigners. You are familiar with matters on the streets. I shouldn't be the one speaking about these things; Brother Wu should be teaching me."

Seeing Chen Ke's firm attitude, Wu Xingchen finally said, "Two paths. One is that I introduce you to join the Tiandihui. In the future, no one on the streets will dare to touch you."

"And the other?"

"Wenqing helps me treat thirty people these few days. In the future, I'll come to you to get the medicine. I want thirty percent. Seventy percent goes to you. Then the little trouble today will be nothing."

"Brother Wu, you are honest." Hearing these two conditions, Chen Ke couldn't help laughing. "I said before, this medicine is highly toxic; a few out of a hundred people will die. I won't say anything else, but if I join the Tiandihui, I'm afraid there are Tiandihui brothers among the thirty people you want me to treat for free first. If my medicine kills someone, isn't that deceiving the master and destroying the ancestors? Would you want me to endure 'three knives and six holes' to atone for my crimes?"

Wu Xingchen just smiled upon hearing this. Chen Ke had already refused to join the Tiandihui. In fact, Wu Xingchen hadn't really hoped Chen Ke would do so.

"Brother Wu, as for the second path: if I cooperate with foreigners, naturally, the brand of the new medicine will be displayed. When this brand becomes popular, if you sell this medicine privately, aren't you afraid the foreigners will look for trouble with you? I want to cooperate with you because I want you to make money. We have many things to do in the future, and many places where we'll need your help. Just buying and selling this stuff... the vision is a bit short-sighted."

"Then what exactly does Wenqing mean?"

"With your capabilities, Brother Wu, you shouldn't only have the likes of He Yifa under your command. Although I don't know how the brothers on the streets operate, money is indispensable. If you buy medicine from me and take thirty percent of the money, how much can you earn? My idea is, why don't you just join us? We give you money, and you gather brothers and manage the friends on the streets. Isn't that better?"

Wu Xingchen hadn't expected Chen Ke to make such a request. In these times, which figure who could call the wind and summon the rain in Shanghai didn't have men in their hands? It wasn't that Wu Xingchen didn't want to do this, but he suffered from having no money in hand. And he was an outsider after all; holding the title of a Hall Master, he was constrained by others everywhere. If what Chen Ke said wasn't nonsense, Wu Xingchen could really spread his wings.

"Why treat me like this, Wenqing? We didn't know each other before. Now that you are putting up the money, naturally, I will help where I can. But aren't you afraid that after I become powerful, I might turn against you?" Wu Xingchen wanted to know what Chen Ke was thinking no matter what.

"In this Shanghai Bund, the only brother I know on the streets is you. This is fate. I believe in fate the most. Moreover, your seniority is high, you understand propriety, and you can endure. This makes you no ordinary person. If I don't cooperate with you, who should I cooperate with? Life is nothing more than the word 'profit.' You and I making money together is all for profit. It's fine as long as things are made clear. And I have always believed that everyone has righteousness in their hearts. In my dealings with you, Brother Wu, you are a person who speaks with great propriety and righteousness. If I end up with you stabbing me in the back, that only shows I did something too excessive. That would definitely be my mistake; what does it have to do with you?"

Although not entirely satisfied, this answer was at least within the range of what Wu Xingchen could accept.

"Since you say so, Wenqing, I might as well trust you this once. I'll say this upfront: I can't eat such a big business alone. Greasing various joints and managing friends on the streets—this money won't be small."

"I don't have much money right now. Treating those thirty people for you is something I can naturally do. But, Brother Wu, for every person treated after that, I will charge money. Let's agree first: for this month, we collect 50 taels per person."

"Is 50 taels too expensive?" Wu Xingchen was surprised at the price.

"This month counts as establishing the brand; the price is considered low. In the future, when I sell the medicine to the British, the price will be even more expensive. We can talk about adjusting the price then."

Having settled this matter, Chen Ke wanted to continue treating the few prostitutes. Wu Xingchen suggested not going again. Chen Ke simply said, "The medicine testing isn't finished. We must finish testing the medicine."

When the three went again, the brothel owner enthusiastically asked this and that. Wu Xingchen was in charge of dealing with the owner, while Chen Ke and Qi Huishen didn't say a word. They just injected the drugs and left. The prostitutes' conditions had improved greatly, so they were naturally joyful. Even the two prostitutes who hadn't improved looked somewhat radiant.

At night, Chen Ke injected them with the drug again. No one died. Chen Ke finally relaxed. Wu Xingchen led Chen Ke on a winding route through Shanghai, shaking off the people tailing them. Qi Huishen then led Chen Ke to He Zudao's home.

Just as Qi Huishen had said, He Zudao's illness had flared up quite severely. Upon seeing Chen Ke and Qi Huishen arrive, He Zudao cried until his voice was hoarse. And as Chen Ke had thought, He Zudao's brother had also started to show symptoms. After injecting both of them with the medicine and seeing no toxic reaction, Chen Ke finally returned with Qi Huishen.

"Wenqing, why cooperate with this Brother Wu like this?" Qi Huishen couldn't figure it out.

Chen Ke pointed to the white coats on both of them. "I wore this outfit to treat people last time, so I knew this matter couldn't be kept secret. If someone really wants to inquire about us, they can definitely find us."

"Then what are your thoughts, Wenqing?"

"This thing... except for the Manchu officials, we can cooperate with anyone. Whether it's foreign devils, brothers on the streets, or some comprador merchants. Everyone seeks wealth. Although everyone wants to be greedy, deals can be made. But the greed of the Manchus has reached the point where they won't leave you any benefit at all, so we absolutely cannot cooperate with them. If it really doesn't work out, I'll just leave. I only made this medicine to save He Zudao in the first place. I knew that making this medicine would mean endless trouble."

"Wenqing, if you want to leave, He Zudao and I will go with you," Qi Huishen said very seriously.

"Originally I said I wanted to leave, but back then, no one said they wanted to follow me in revolution. Now we have so many trustworthy comrades and have met so many people; why should we leave? Trust me, Huishen. As a Party member, having mastered the knowledge that Party members should master, nothing can stump us," Chen Ke said with full confidence.