Author: Mahjong Jun

Pingyang County, Zhao Wenmu’s home.

Zhao Wenmu recalled the smell of rat droppings in his previous life and listed a series of ingredients on the paper.

It has a sour, sweet and slightly refreshing taste, and the main ingredient must be tangerine peel.

The so-called tangerine peel is actually made from orange peels that have been dried in the sun or at low temperatures. He originally wanted to make some tangerine peels by himself, but he couldn't compare with later generations. There are almost no out-of-season vegetables and fruits at the moment.

In the hot summer, it is naturally impossible to buy fresh oranges on the streets of Pingyang County in the north.

So I had to go to the drugstore and buy ready-made tangerine peel.

"There should be hawthorn, or some plums, like black plums."

He then thought about it, he probably couldn't buy black plums either, but fortunately hawthorns were enough.

As for some of the other ingredients, considering that the rat excrement looked a bit weird, and combined with the lack of technology and ruthless work in this era, Zhao Wenmu naturally thought that it should be some traditional Chinese medicine.

I had to go back to the pharmacy again and discuss it with the elderly Chinese doctor.

"You want to make a snack using Chinese medicine?!"

The old Chinese doctor was full of surprise, but after stroking his beard and thinking for a while, he happily said:

"It's not impossible. It's delicious and has some health benefits."

The two discussed it with great interest. Zhao Wenmu introduced the flavor he wanted, and the old Chinese doctor prescribed several Chinese medicines for him.

"Licorice has a sweet taste and is good for replenishing Qi, eliminating phlegm and relieving cough."

"Luo Han Guo is sweet in taste and cool in nature. It has the effects of clearing away heat and moistening the lungs, soothing the throat, smoothing the intestines and laxative."

…

Combining the tangerine peel and hawthorn that Zhao Wenmu had already selected, as well as the fact that starch would be used as auxiliary ingredients, the old Chinese medicine doctor gave him a list and approximate ratios.

"You can add more or less of these herbs, or not add them at all. Just use them according to your taste."

With this experienced traditional Chinese medicine doctor under his control, Zhao Wenmu dared to try it boldly.

Otherwise, how can medicine be taken casually?

"This snack has the effects of clearing away heat and moisturizing the lungs, strengthening the stomach and digesting food. It is suitable for all ages. It is very good!"

The old man admired sincerely and then asked:

"What are you going to name it?"

"Rat shit."

Zhao Wenmu replied without hesitation.

The corner of the old man's mouth twitched, but considering what the final particles would look like when these things were combined together, he said rather helplessly:

"It's quite vivid."

Only then did Zhao Wenmu react, and he quickly explained:

"I'm always joking with you, let's call it the Monkey King Pill. It's the elixir the Monkey King stole from the Supreme Lord."

When the old man heard this, he was about to stroke his beard and praise, "It's so wonderful, so wonderful," when he heard Zhao Wenmu murmur:

"I guess everyone will still call it rat shit."

…

After returning home, Zhao Wenmu grinded these materials into powder in a stone mortar, and then began to experiment with different ratios of materials.

Zhao Zimeng and Zhang Yuanming naturally became his medicine men.

Specialized in tasting the various semi-finished powders he makes.

"Too sweet, too sweet!"

"Ah, so sour!"

"This is a bit bitter."

Zhao Wenmu experimented with dozens of different ratios, and finally got a formula that was unanimously approved.

"Brother, is it really okay to eat this?"

Zhao Jing looked at the dark powder in the stone mortar and asked with some uneasiness.

Zhao Wenmu thought to himself, this is not the finished product yet. If this girl sees the final pill, she will be shocked.

Thinking of this, he suddenly became excited.

"Don't worry, there must be no problem. I asked the doctor!"

“Not only is there no harm, it can also strengthen the stomach and digestion, moisten the lungs and relieve coughs!”

With Zhao Wenmu's guarantee, Zhao Jing and Rong Xinyi also tasted it boldly.

Facts have proved that it is indeed suitable for all ages, and Zhao Wenmu’s unfinished semi-finished products were quickly sold out.

Although he had the appropriate ratio, Zhao Wenmu was still at a loss as to how to make it into small pills.

Thinking that there are various small pills in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhao Wenmu went to find an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor for advice.

"Chinese medicine pills are mostly made by adding some binders or excipients."

The old man made no secret of this and carefully introduced to him the method of making traditional Chinese medicine pills.

"These binders include water, honey, wine, vinegar, concoction, and the pills produced are also different, such as water pills, honey pills, water honey pills, wax pills, etc."

"I think that rat shit of yours is suitable for making into honey pills."

Speaking of rat droppings, the old man couldn't help laughing, with a smile on his face.

"Refining honey is a task that tests your patience. You need to boil it over high fire first, and then change to a slow fire to simmer it slowly. During the boiling process, you should pay attention to the color of the honey. If you find that the honey is turning yellow and foamy, use a bamboo chopstick to

Dip a drop into the honey, then move the bamboo chopsticks over the bowl of cold water and let the honey drip into the cold water. If you find that the honey does not spread out in the water but sinks to the bottom, the honey is considered ready."

The old man told Zhao Wenmu that the honey used to make honey pills needs to be refined in advance. The reason for this is to remove impurities in the honey, destroy enzymes, kill bacteria, evaporate water, and enhance the viscosity.

Moreover, there are many types of refined honey: young honey, medium honey and old honey, each with its own merits.

I didn’t expect that a small pill could have so much value.

Zhao Wenmu studied for a whole afternoon and finally mastered the method of making honey pills.

However, this hand-rolling of honey balls is really not an easy task, and looking at the small balls rolled out in the hands, it always feels like the mud balls rubbed off the body when taking a bath when I was a child.

Thinking of this, Zhao Wenmu suddenly felt that this thing was a bit disgusting.

As a last resort, he had to change to a more troublesome method.

Apply honey water on the bamboo grate over and over again, then sprinkle the ground and sifted fine powder on it, and brush it over and over again with a brush.

Then continue to sprinkle in fine powder, shake the grate, and let them clump together automatically to form small particles.

Finally, dry it in the shade for a while, and the perfect Monkey King Pill will be made.

During this time, Zimeng, Yuanming and Zhang Xiaohe would set up stalls selling maltose after school every day, and they had formed a deep friendship.

"Uncle, we invited Xiaohe to come to our house as a guest the day after tomorrow. She wants to bring her brother with her, is that okay?"

The day after tomorrow was Sunday, and the two little guys completed another punishment: inviting Zhang Xiaohe to their home.

In fact, this is not considered a punishment.

"Okay, tell Xiaohe that she and her brother are welcome to come together."

It happened that Zhao Wenmu wanted to find out the reason for the child's lameness.

As far as he knows, many lame children can be corrected through surgery, but they miss the best time for surgery because of poverty, and thus remain disabled for life.

Now that you have encountered it, why not find a way to help?

"Uncle Third, can we sell this Monkey King Pill?"

Sure enough, the two little guys had an idea on his head.
Chapter completed!