Go back to the prosperous days and become a layman

Chapter 706 705 Camel Meat Supply Limit
On the way home from the Science and Technology Commission, Tang Zhitong had to pass by the Municipal Postal Bureau. He turned at the square and went to the Municipal Bureau.

The main purpose of going to the Municipal Bureau was to get some medicine from the Municipal Bureau’s health center.

Classmate Xiao Wang had a fever last night and reminded Tang Zhitong that he should keep some common medicines at home.

It is unknown when the habit of preparing medicine originated. Tang Zhitong remembers that there were no commonly used medicines at home when he was a child.

Firstly, the whole family is in good health. Secondly, even if you have a headache or fever, the doctor will prescribe three days' supply of medicine wrapped in a piece of paper and ask you to come back for a check-up after three days. If you are better, you should not continue to take the medicine if it is not better.

Later, things seemed to change. Although not many hospitals were built, pharmacies sprang up everywhere like mushrooms after a rain. You could see one every two or three hundred meters, and sometimes even several different brands were crowded on the same street.

It is no exaggeration to say that even in a tourist city, the number of local hotels may not be less than the number of pharmacies.

There are too many pharmacies, and the consequence is that every time you go there you will be faced with sales pitches. You will be given a bunch of prescriptions for colds and coughs, and those who are not firm in their opinions will often buy everything. After three or five visits, you will have two drawers of medicines stored at home.

But now it is just the opposite. People have to go to hospitals or clinics to get medicine. Many people often cannot find a single Western medicine pill if they don’t have any chronic disease patients at home.

The Tang family didn't have any stock of common medicines, so Tang Zhitong felt that they should still prepare some, such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.

At present, many people are confused about the difference between antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, but as a half-baked person who has participated in the compilation of the "Manual", Tang Zhitong knows that there is a big difference between the two.

Antibiotics inhibit or kill bacteria, while anti-inflammatory drugs mainly treat inflammation such as redness, swelling, heat, and pain.

Common antibiotics at present include penicillin, chlortetracycline, and oxytetracycline, and anti-inflammatory tablets include analgin and acetylsalicylic acid.

In fact, it is not surprising that people cannot tell the difference. Before liberation, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs were all imported, expensive, and not close to people's lives.

At that time, penicillin was called penicillin and acetylsalicylic acid was called aspirin. The two names were too similar, and most of the people were illiterate, so it was strange that they could tell the difference between them.

The city bureau's health room is very small, with only one temporary bed and one doctor.

In the old city, each system has its own hospital or cooperative hospital. The military has its own hospital, the public security has its own hospital, and many units, factories, and schools have their own clinics that specialize in treating minor illnesses. If the illness cannot be cured, the patient will be sent to the corresponding higher-level hospital.

Tang Zhitong felt that the reason for setting up a clinic was, firstly, to make it convenient for employees to see a doctor, and secondly, to reduce the pressure on large and medium-sized hospitals.

"Comrade Tang, where do you feel uncomfortable?" After looking at Tang Zhitong's work ID and confirming that he was an employee of this unit, the doctor picked up the stethoscope hanging around his neck and prepared to examine Tang Zhitong.

"Well, doctor, I'm going on a business trip in a couple of days, and I want to get some medicine ready in case I catch a cold or cough on the way, so I can get the right treatment." Tang Zhitong didn't say directly that it was for his family. As he worked in finance, the documents he handled included not only receipts generated for work purposes, but also employees' personal medical expenses.

The nature of the work at the escort department determines the physical fitness of the employees. There is not a single sickly person, but the Finance Department receives a few receipts from the health center every month.

Who was the medicine for? As long as the amount was not outrageous, Tang Zhitong usually did not ask and signed the prescription with a blind eye. The names and units of the people could be matched, and the doctor had prescribed the medicine. Why did he jump out and be the bad guy?

"Haha, then what kind of medicine do you want?" Hearing what Tang Zhitong said, the doctor smiled, hung the stethoscope around his neck again, picked up the pen and unscrewed it, preparing to write a prescription, looking as if he was used to it.

"Let's take chlortetracycline and acetylsalicylic acid. Prepare three days' worth of each." Tang Zhitong answered without hesitation. Since he was using his own medical insurance to provide for his family's backup, it would not be appropriate to prescribe too much at once. He had to take it in small amounts.

"That's quite professional. Most people don't say acetylsalicylic acid." The doctor smiled and started writing the prescription.

Tang Zhitong chuckled as a response.

The doctors in the clinic have multiple duties, including consultation, prescribing, collecting fees and dispensing medicine.

After paying the money, getting the medicine and receipt, Tang Zhitong went straight home.

Thinking that there were no wild vegetables left at home, in order to avoid having to eat pickles tonight, Tang Zhitong picked out a bag of shepherd's purse.

"Mom, I got some medicine from the clinic today. If anyone in the family has a headache or fever in the future, you can take one pill as an emergency. This is for cough, one pill at a time, three times a day. For children, take half the dose. This..." Tang Zhitong took out the medicine after returning home and planned to give it to Zhang Guifang.

"I get a headache when I hear this. I can't remember it. I'll just leave it with you and ask you for it when I need it." Before Tang Zhitong could finish his words, Zhang Guifang frowned and waved her hand.

"Okay, then I'll take it first." Tang Zhitong was speechless. For an illiterate woman, it was indeed a bit difficult to remember the efficacy and dosage of each medicine.

"Today, camel meat is available at Yangshikou and the price is cheap. I haven't eaten it for years, so I wanted to buy two taels. However, your Aunt Ma said that they don't sell it to Han people anymore." Zhang Guifang couldn't sit still. She complained to her own son while sewing the soles of shoes.

"Really? Are you not selling only camel meat to the Han people, or are you not selling beef and mutton to the Han people either?" It was the first time Tang Zhitong heard this, and he immediately grasped the key issue.

If Han people could still buy beef and mutton, the situation would not have deteriorated so quickly.

"We won't sell to Han Chinese anymore." Zhang Guifang stopped the needle in her hand and said mysteriously, "I heard that they had to transfer camel meat because they ran out of beef and mutton. I don't know how long pork can last. Do you think pork will be out of stock soon?"

"Not really. There are many people raising pigs. As long as the streets continue to issue meat coupons, there won't be a big problem." Tang Zhitong didn't want to add to his mother's anxiety, so he could only lie with a smile on his face.

In fact, Tang Zhitong had already begun to sigh in his heart.

Many people in the old city like to eat hot pot, and a large proportion of them are Han people.

As we all know, hot pot cannot be separated from mutton, so beef and mutton were previously sold to Han people.

Now not only are you not selling beef and mutton to the Han people, but you are also using camel meat to fill the gap in your religion's beef and mutton needs. This shows how badly the meat shortage has become. Next, I'm afraid you will continue to reduce the meat supply, or even stop it altogether...

"It's hard to say. The street did give us vegetable coupons a while ago, but there has been no vegetable supply in the past few days. If you hadn't brought back the shepherd's purse, we would have to eat pickles again today." Zhang Guifang saw the shepherd's purse that her son brought in, and turned the topic to the supply of vegetables, her tone somewhat complaining.

"It's not a big problem. The Chinese toon is about to come down. I'll take some time to go to the street and buy some if I can, and then pickle them. In a few days, when we plant vegetables in our yard, we won't be short of vegetables soon." Speaking of pickles, Tang Zhitong thought of Zhang Laosan from Zhuzikeng. The weather warmed up early this year, so the first batch of Chinese toon buds should be falling from the trees soon, right?
"Oh, I wish I could grow some crops this year, but it seems there's no land to spare." Zhang Guifang spoke with great regret.

"Mom, it's good enough that we can grow some vegetables. Vegetables can also replace grain. What's more, don't we have a jar of corn at home? After a few days, when the corn is almost finished, I will find a way to buy something else." Tang Zhitong continued to comfort his old mother. He must not let his family get sick from hunger. The stored food at home was not enough. At worst, he could go out again.

As long as you have hard currency, you can buy food whether in Bangbang or Pingxiang in the south.

Among them, Bangbang is the best choice. Although the current publicity is friendly, there has always been an undercurrent.

Two-faced, facing three sides, when Tang Zhitong first learned about this, he felt really fucking angry.

I came here on my own and got this opportunity and magical power, so shouldn’t I quickly get some interest back?
On this point, Tang Zhitong very much agrees with letting the Bangbang buy Chinese stocks. These are simply golden leeks!
I remember how the Bangbangs were ripped off again and again in the field of virtual currency. It was so cruel that even Tang Zhitong couldn't bear to watch it. In comparison, we are still kind-hearted.

"It's easy for you to say. The closer it gets to a disaster year, the more expensive food will be and the harder it will be to buy. There may even be robbers on the road. I don't want you to take that risk." Zhang Guifang shook her head firmly, not wanting her son to take the risk.

"It's okay. I will go out of town with the company's car. We are all carrying guns, so no one will be blind. Also, Mom, don't mention robbery or anything like that to other people outside. It's not a good idea to talk about this right now." Tang Zhitong did not forget to remind his old mother while fooling her.

Nowadays, no matter what the people say, the higher-ups generally don't say anything. In order to allow people who are not well-fed to vent their emotions, they have even extended the business hours of cinemas and relaxed restrictions on dances.

But some people have a good memory and are good at looking back on the past after they have enough to eat again.

Tang Zhitong didn't want to wait until the accounts were settled for Zhang Guifang to be dragged out.

The mother and daughter were chatting about this and that, and just when Tang Zhitong was almost done picking shepherd's purse, classmate Xiao Wang came back.

"How are you today? I bought some medicine. If you still have a fever, take a pill." Tang Zhitong saw Xiao Wang come back, washed his hands, took her bag, took out the medicine he bought and handed it to her.

"I don't have a fever anymore, but I still have a little nasal congestion. I'm almost well now." Student Wang spoke with a nasal tone.

"Okay, then you take it. If anyone in your family feels unwell, give them a pill accordingly." Considering that he would go to the farm to work later, Tang Zhitong gave the custody of the pills to Xiao Wang.

Xiao Wang did not refuse and put it away after asking about the name of the medicine, its efficacy and how to take it.

"Our municipal bureau has set up a farm with the help of the ministry, and I will have to go there to work in a while. If anyone feels unwell when I'm not at home and the medicine doesn't work after two days, take them to the outpatient clinic for penicillin." Tang Zhitong was worried and reminded.

In terms of actual efficacy, penicillin is the most effective of all antibiotics, but currently most penicillins are injections, and a skin test must be done before injection, which is not possible at home.

Both chloramphenicol and oxytetracycline are available in tablets, and their main advantage is convenience. Although they can cause tetracycline teeth, we have no choice now. We cannot avoid seeing a doctor. As long as we don't take them every day, it won't be a big problem.

The reason why he was so sure was that Tang Zhitong had eaten it before coming here. At that time, the family raised chickens, and in order to prevent chicken plague, his mother would grind up tetracycline and mix it into the chicken feed every once in a while.

Children didn't have much snacks at that time. After tasting tetracycline, Tang Zhitong would beg his mother to give him a piece every time he fed the chickens.

Even with this amount of consumption, it does not cause tetracycline teeth, so the safety is acceptable.

"You have a farm? And you are one of the top eight members. You are treated really well." After agreeing, Xiao Wang said with some envy.

"Hey, it took a lot of effort. There are several thousand people in the Municipal Bureau, and there are also many people in the department. When the time comes, the farm's output will be one cent, and I don't think it will be of much use." Tang Zhitong did not rely on the farm for his family's food. The reason he brought it up at that time was for his colleagues in the escort department.

Even if the farm has output, food will only be distributed according to the number of existing employees, or even distributed in the form of canteen subsidies. This can alleviate the food shortage of the employees' families, but it cannot provide support.

"A little is better than nothing. At least our unit doesn't have the qualifications. Why did you pick so many vegetables? You can't finish them, right?" Student Xiao Wang rolled up his sleeves and was about to wash all the shepherd's purse that Tang Zhitong had picked.

"The department will plant potatoes tomorrow, and I have to go over to join in the labor. I plan to mix some and bring some for my colleagues to try." Tang Zhitong is a man of his word and doesn't like to just talk big.

I mentioned to Ma Wei before that I wanted to mix some for her to try, but there was never a chance before. This time I happened to come across it, so I fulfilled my promise.

However, Tang Zhitong did not mention Ma Wei, but mentioned another woman in front of Xiao Wang. Isn't this just asking for trouble?
But it wasn't really a lie, because there was a lot of shepherd's purse, and Tang Zhitong planned to share some with Fang Yuan and Sister Chen when the time came.

While Tang Zhitong was busy blanching and mixing shepherd's purse, he heard someone calling him outside. He opened the door and saw that it was Ma Kejian.

"Third brother, what brings you here?" Tang Zhitong was very surprised and quickly welcomed Ma Kejian into the house. The two brothers hadn't seen each other for a while.

"Isn't this the northwest wind? It blew me right here." Ma Kejian's face was filled with joy as he joked with Tang Zhitong.

"You can't go back now, the wind hasn't changed yet." After Tang Zhitong finished speaking, he turned to Xiao Wang and said, "Wenwen, get a bottle of wine out. I want to drink with Third Brother tonight."

Ma Kejian did not stop her. As if they had a tacit understanding, he took out four lunch boxes from his bag and said to Zhang Guifang, "Aunt, please don't blame me for not coming to see you after the New Year."

"Don't blame me. I look at you like a eucalyptus. You are all busy with work, and work is important." Zhang Guifang happily brought a stool to Ma Kejian. Not only that, she also expressed her kindness as if complaining that it was too expensive for Ma Kejian to bring things over.

(End of this chapter)