Return to Africa to become a tycoon

Chapter 3, Room 1: Gold Pounds

I don't know how long I slept.

When he woke up again, Liu Yide didn't even get out of bed; he just lay there quietly.

After a good night's sleep, all the fatigue and tension vanished.

What followed was a familiar feeling filled with memories—how many years ago was the last time I felt so energetic and vibrant?

ten years ago?

Or even earlier...

Besides that, there are changes in the body, changes that come from the inside out, not just superficially making one look younger.

He could even clearly feel that his current body contained even more power.

Of course, this is just a feeling.

However, there is still one crucial issue.

System!

He called out to himself, but there was no response.

"Is my posture wrong?"

Let's try a different position and do it again.

"Father..."

There was still no movement.

Isn't it said that all time travelers have cheat codes?

Liu Yide then realized that this was not the case at all—there was no system at all!

"Well, it seems I'm just an ordinary transmigrator..."

"Knock knock knock!"

Just then, a knock on the door snapped him out of his despondency.

When Liu Yide opened the door, he saw a boy of about fourteen or fifteen years old standing outside. He was thin, wearing a sailor hat and a sailor uniform.

He immediately realized what was happening and asked:

"Were you sent by the first mate?"

"Yes, sir, my name is Tom," the boy replied.

"The first mate noticed you hadn't gotten up yet, so he sent me to invite you over for lunch."

lunch?

Glancing out the window, Liu Yide was surprised to find that he had slept until noon.

A penniless person naturally doesn't need to be polite; if someone invites him to eat, he goes. He immediately followed the boy downstairs.

Compared to last night, the smell in the hotel lobby was much better, with only a few sailors present. Upon seeing Liu Yide, Hyde immediately greeted him warmly:

"Doctor, you're awake. I've been waiting for you."

As he spoke, Hyde pulled out a small black cloth bag and dumped it on the table with a "clatter".

Under the light, several bright yellow coins sat on the table—these were... gold coins!

"Here is thirty pounds, sir."

Hyde pushed the gold coin forward, a hint of fanaticism in his eyes.

"Of course, I know this consultation fee isn't enough, but it's just an advance payment. As long as you can cure my illness, I promise I won't treat you unfairly."

Although the other party's tone was polite, Liu Yide always felt that there was a subtle threat hidden in their words.

But when he saw the gold coins on the table, his eyes lit up instantly—gold!

In an instant, he felt his long-dormant bloodline awaken!

I am a descendant of the dragon!

In that instant, the dragon's bloodline was revived!

No, it's not just the bloodline that's awakened, but also—is this a cheat code?

Looking at the room full of sailors, Liu Yide felt as if the whole world had suddenly brightened up – how could it not be bright with so many walking gold coins gathered here?

These people... are practically walking gold pounds!

With a thought, Liu Yide looked at the sailors beside him:

"They must have this disease too, right?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, Liu Yide pondered for a moment:

"Let's treat it together then."

Should we treat them together?

Hyde's eyes were filled with astonishment:

"What?"

"Treatment is the same whether it's one person or a group of people. Doctors have the heart of parents. I'm a kind-hearted person and can't bear to see patients..."

That's nonsense; he just wants to increase his chances of success.

Even if he can't cure Hyde, he can still maintain his reputation as a "miracle doctor" by curing others.

If I cure him, I'm a miracle doctor; if I kill him... I'm still a miracle doctor.

Upon hearing this, the sailors immediately gathered around, each pulling out a handful of gold coins, silver coins, and paper money.

"Sir, can you really cure us?"

When the old sailor Conrad asked that question, his eyes were filled with expectation. Although he had been insane for so many years, he had never given up hope.

Each time, he would be filled with hope that he could be cured.

Seeing the sailors' eager eyes, Liu Yide nodded slightly:

"There is a high probability that it can be cured."

There was no guarantee or assurance, just a simple "high probability".

This, on the contrary, dispelled the doubts of the sailors who had initially been somewhat skeptical.

Because they have seen too many so-called "miracle doctors" who claim to be able to cure diseases.

When people are diagnosed with a terminal illness, they often prefer to believe in miracle cures.

This is human nature.

—A coward who fears death!

Is there a pharmacy nearby?

To cure an illness, medication is naturally indispensable.

After lunch, Liu Yide, led by Tom, went to a nearby pharmacy.

Although Italy is one of the relatively underdeveloped countries in Europe, Genoa, as Italy's largest port, is a very prosperous city with clean streets lined with three- or four-story European-style buildings. It has all kinds of institutions, including hospitals and pharmacies.

In the pharmacy, although Liu Yide did not understand Italian, the pharmacist was able to communicate with him in simple English.

In 1878, pharmacists, in addition to a few ready-made medicines, would also concoct various "miracle potions" on their own. As for whether they could cure diseases, only God knows.

However, Liu Yide didn't need those things. He purchased various medicines and a few syringes, then left the pharmacy carrying his newly bought medicine kit.

Upon reaching the roadside, Liu Yide asked:

"Tom, where's the nearest slum?"

Every port city has its slums. The docks need a large number of laborers, most of whom live in simple wooden huts. The alleys are full of sewage and mosquitoes, making them breeding grounds for disease.

Before long, the two arrived at a nearby slum. Looking at the appalling conditions, Tom frowned and asked:

"Sir, what are we doing here?"

"Drug testing."

Liu Yide patted the medicine box and explained,

"I need to test the dosage of the medication before I can treat the first mate and the others."

Actually, he didn't come here to test the drug; he came here to "get the drug."

The "medicine" he needed was in the slums.

Urban slums have always been natural breeding grounds for epidemics.

……

That afternoon, Hyde rolled up his sleeves and lay on the bed, watching Liu Yide draw medicine into the syringe with clumsy movements, and couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

Could this guy really be a con artist?

But even if you've been scammed, it doesn't seem like a big deal. After all, doctors have been using all sorts of unorthodox methods and drugs to treat syphilis for hundreds of years, and only God knows whether they're effective.

The moment the needle pierced his vein, Hyde couldn't help but frown. Watching the medicine slowly infuse into his body, he remained filled with doubt:

"Sir, can this medicine really cure me?"

When Hyde spoke, the other sailors also stared at Liu Yide with pleading eyes. They were all suffering from syphilis and were willing to accept treatment, but they were just grasping at this last straw.

"Um."

Liu Yide nodded, paused slightly, and said:

"It can cure most people, but it's not necessarily effective for everyone; it depends on individual constitution. Medicine can't cure fatal diseases, and there's no cure for fatal diseases. It's all about fate."

Talking about fate with foreigners is just nonsense.

Even so, a light still shone in the sailors' eyes. Even the slightest glimmer of hope was enough to fill them with hope—they knew all too well the final outcome of this disease: madness, followed by death in endless pain and torment.

Next, Liu Yide used a syringe to inject the medicine into the veins of each sailor, and then all he could do was wait.

Logically, he shouldn't be treating so many people at the same time. But he himself wasn't clear about the risks and mortality rate of this treatment.

What if someone gets into trouble?

Therefore, the more lab mice the better, as the probability of success will be higher.

Even if someone unfortunately passes away, as long as someone survives and is cured... that is a miracle!

As for the sailors, they seemed completely unaware of the danger.

For those trapped in despair, what they fear is not the risk of treatment, but the complete absence of hope.

For people suffering from terminal illnesses, they will cling to any glimmer of hope, no matter what.

Looking into those expectant eyes, Liu Yide knew very well that they were also his hope—the hope of surviving in this era.