I relied on a system to prolong my life in ancient times.

Chapter 364 Cowpox

Xiao Siyue has been keeping a close eye on Yangyang's situation these past few days. Although she hasn't seen him, news about Yangyang has been getting out.

Knowing that Yangyang is now much better and out of danger, Xiao Siyue's tense mood relaxed a lot.

She had been in ancient times for over a decade, and no one around her had contracted smallpox, so she hadn't thought about it—that in ancient times, smallpox could be fatal.

Xiao Siyue couldn't help but feel a little regretful. In the past few days, she had also researched a lot of information and learned that people in Da Zhou died from smallpox every year, especially children.

If she had remembered sooner, those children might still have been saved.

Thinking about getting vaccinated against smallpox, Xiao Siyue immediately tidied herself up and headed towards Xiao Qinian's place.

"Dad, are you busy?"

"Yue'er, what's wrong? Father isn't busy." Xiao Qinian was reading a book. He put the book down and looked at Xiao Siyue.

“Father, last time I not only got a treatment for smallpox from the system, but also a method to prevent smallpox.”

"Prevention? Does it mean preventing people from contracting smallpox?" Xiao Qinian immediately stood up. If so, it would be a good thing that would benefit the people.

"Well, it's not entirely preventable, but it will reduce the chances of getting smallpox." Xiao Siyue couldn't be too definitive.

“That’s an excellent method. Every year, many children in our Great Zhou die from smallpox. If we had this method, we could have many more children.”

The Great Zhou Dynasty is not short of food, but it is short of manpower. Although the number has increased significantly in recent years, it is still far from enough.

"Father, this method is rather unusual, and no one has tried it yet. It's best not to tell anyone else." Xiao Siyue wondered if he would shock Xiao Qinian if he revealed the method.

"What method?"

“Father, this method involves vaccinating people who have never been infected with smallpox with cowpox,” Xiao Siyue said, looking at Xiao Qinian.

"Cowpox?"

"Similar symptoms to smallpox can also appear on cows. The fluid from the smallpox lesions is obtained from cows infected with cowpox. Then, a small wound is made on the outside of a person's upper arm, and the fluid is applied to the wound." Xiao Siyue explained the method of cowpox inoculation in general.

"This, Yue'er, is what you're saying true?" Xiao Qinian's eyes widened. He knew about cowpox, but cows don't get as badly infected as humans. They usually recover after a while. But if you apply cowpox spores to a perfectly healthy person, wouldn't that person also get infected? And can a person recover like a cow?

"Dad, it's true. You can also get vaccinated with smallpox, but cowpox is safer and has a higher success rate."

"Dad, haven't you noticed that people who have had smallpox can't get infected again? Actually, this method is to infect people in advance, and this infection won't be as severe as Yangyang's. It will only cause a slight fever and physical discomfort, and pustules will appear at the injection site. It will get better in a few days and won't be life-threatening, but you won't be able to get infected again afterward."

Xiao Siyue tried to speak as plainly as possible so that Xiao Qinian could understand.

Xiao Qinian thought about it and realized that people who had had smallpox generally wouldn't get infected again. Yue'er's method was indeed worth trying. If it really succeeded, smallpox might be eradicated altogether.

"Yue'er, you need to think this over carefully. Don't tell anyone yet."

"Yes, Dad, I can try it out first." Smallpox vaccination is already quite mature, so Xiao Siyue wasn't afraid. There has to be a first person to be vaccinated, and if she succeeds, it will increase credibility.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Yue'er, you wouldn't be acting recklessly." Xiao Qinian's expression immediately changed. This was just a guess. What if something unexpected happened?

"Dad, it's alright, don't worry. I'm healthy, nothing will happen." Xiao Siyue assured him. She had a system, and she had completed her missions well in the past few years. Not only had her lifespan increased significantly, but her health had also improved, and she hadn't been sick for several years.

"That won't do either. Leave this to your father. You just wait and see." Xiao Qinian's face darkened, and his expression was very serious.

"Dad, have you forgotten that I have a system? It's most suitable for me to try. Even if something happens, the system will help." Xiao Siyue still decided to try it herself. It wasn't that she was kind or foolish, but that she had confidence in the smallpox vaccination.

Looking into Xiao Siyue's determined gaze, Xiao Qinian felt incredibly warm inside. This child always thought of others first.

"Yue'er, is everything you said true? Will nothing really happen?" Xiao Qinian asked again and again.

“Really, Dad, I swear.” Xiao Siyue raised her right hand, holding up three fingers.

"Alright, I'll make the arrangements. You can go back now."

Seeing that Xiao Qinian had agreed, Xiao Siyue left happily.

After Xiao Siyue left, Xiao Qinian was still a little worried. Remembering that Doctor An was still at the mansion, he sent someone to invite him over.

"Dr. An, do you think this method is feasible?"

"My lord, this method should be feasible in theory, but no one has tried it, and I dare not make a hasty judgment." Doctor An stroked his beard, actually feeling quite impatient to give it a try.

He's too old, so I don't know if he can even try it, and also whether it will work for him? After all, most smallpox cases are children.

"Dr. An, let's give it a try. If it works, it will be a good deed." Xiao Qinian thought of Xiao Siyue's confident gaze and made a decision after gritting his teeth.

Doctor An looked at Xiao Qinian in disbelief. He hadn't expected that Lord Xiao would be even more anxious than he, a doctor.

But when it came to the people who would conduct the experiment, Doctor An hesitated: "My lord, it's not easy for us to find someone to try this out."

"Dr. An, you don't need to worry about this. I've already found someone." Xiao Siyue felt a little reluctant when she thought of her daughter, but her daughter insisted. If she didn't agree, the girl would probably do it herself.

Who could blame Xiao Siyue, who is now not only wealthy but also well-connected and capable, making it easy for her to find a cow with smallpox?

"Alright then." Doctor An had assumed that Xiao Qinian had found some servant or beggar from outside, since that's how people from big families usually did it.

They never expected that the person being tested was Xiao Qinian's daughter, the most beloved eldest daughter of the Xiao family.

When Dr. An finally saw Xiao Siyue, he was so shocked that he couldn't speak. He looked at Xiao Qinian with a strange expression, as if to say that Xiao Qinian was really ruthless.

But that's a story for another time. Right now, he's thinking about how to find the cowpox vaccine.