Courtyard House: I Rely on Time-Space Trade to Build a Nation

Deep inside the cave, outside the sterile operating area, Zhao Ping'an, Xu Yuanshan, Zhou Liang, Zhao Dongliang, Chen Xiangmin, and Lin Li held their breath, their eyes fixed on the operating table inside the glass partition.

Under the soft glow of operating lights, three soldiers dressed in full sterile suits, wearing masks and goggles, were performing the final packing with textbook-perfect movements.

After fine filtration and crystallization, the pale yellow sodium penicillin solution gradually precipitates into a pure white powder in a low-temperature sterile environment.

The robotic arm-like dispenser precisely fills each clean and sterilized small glass bottle with powder, then screws on the cap, labels it, and packs it into an aluminum box... The movements are fluid and graceful, carrying a rhythm unique to the industrial age.

"First batch, complete!" The operations team leader—a young technician named Lu Mingyuan—said.

Originally an apprentice in the pharmacy department of a church hospital in Beiping, he was recruited by Zhao Ping'an from the city to work as a sanitation worker when Zhao was in Wayaocun.

After the uprising, he was discovered by Zhao Ping'an because he was literate and knowledgeable about medicine.

— Gently placing the first sealed aluminum box on the transfer window, her voice was muffled through the mask, but she couldn't suppress her trembling excitement.

Zhao Ping'an stepped forward, put on sterile gloves, and took out a bottle of penicillin from the aluminum box.

Inside the crystal-clear glass bottle, white powder settles quietly, and the label on the bottle clearly reads: "Sodium penicillin, 20 units, production batch number: 480621".

Zhao Ping'an didn't speak, but walked to the small temporary testing station set up next to him.

Take a sterile syringe, draw an appropriate amount of physiological saline, and inject it into the penicillin vial. Gently shake; the powder will quickly dissolve, forming a clear solution.

Next, he dipped a small amount of solution into the inoculation loop and spread it evenly on an agar plate that was already covered with Staphylococcus aureus. His movements were steady and meticulous.

Everyone's eyes followed his movements. Xu Yuanshan unconsciously clenched his fists, Zhou Liang held his breath, Chen Xiangmin's eyes widened, and even the usually composed Zhao Dongliang's Adam's apple bobbed.

The plates were placed in a constant temperature incubator.

"Theoretically, there should be a clear antibacterial ring within two hours." Zhao Ping'an glanced at the clock on the wall. "However, we can wait and see how the accelerated experiment goes."

He gestured for Lu Mingyuan to place another plate coated with penicillin solution under the light for close observation.

Time ticked by. The only sounds in the cave were the low rumble of machinery and the suppressed breathing of the people.

About twenty minutes later, Lu Mingyuan suddenly exclaimed, "Look!"

Everyone gathered around. Under the light, in the area in the center of the tablet where penicillin solution had been applied, the previously densely growing bacterial colony had developed a visible, relatively sparse "vacuum zone"! Colony growth had been significantly inhibited!

"It really...it really works!" Lu Mingyuan's voice suddenly rose, filled with unbelievable elation. "The gut microbiota has been suppressed! We succeeded! We really created penicillin ourselves!"

It was as if a floodgate had been opened.

"It's a success!"

"We've built it!"

"Good heavens... this is a life-saving medicine!"

The suppressed cheers erupted instantly.

Although the soldiers inside the glass partition couldn't hear the sounds outside, they couldn't help but pat each other on the shoulder when they saw the excited expressions of their leaders, their eyes behind their masks curving into crescents.

Hearing the commotion, the soldiers guarding outside the cave couldn't help but peek out, their faces beaming with pride.

Chen Xiangmin looked at the small bottle of penicillin, then at the roaring production line in front of him.

Looking at Zhao Ping'an beside him, whose expression was calm yet gratified, the last trace of doubt in his heart vanished, replaced by a sense of awe and shock.

This young man actually managed to conjure up a strategic medicine more valuable than gold in this desolate mountain cave in just over ten days!

Political Commissar Lin Li patted Zhao Dongliang on the shoulder forcefully: "Old Zhao, you two brothers... have truly made tremendous contributions to our brigade and our unit!"

Zhao Dongliang grinned, wanting to say something modest, but found himself too excited to speak, and could only pat Lin Li's hand hard.

Standing slightly behind the crowd, Zhou Liang watched the bustling scene before him and saw Zhao Ping'an's composed and calm profile as he was surrounded by people. The last bit of "unconvinced" in his heart completely turned into sincere admiration.

This wasn't luck; it was genuine ability, a vision and courage far exceeding that of ordinary people! I had indeed been judging others by my own petty standards.

After the cheers subsided, Xu Yuanshan took a few deep breaths to suppress his surging emotions. He gently tugged at Zhao Ping'an's sleeve, and the two walked tacitly to a slightly secluded ventilation opening on one side of the cave.

"Comrade Ping'an," Xu Yuanshan's voice was extremely low, yet filled with barely suppressed urgency, "What... what's the production volume like? How much can be produced in a day?"

Zhao Ping'an was prepared and didn't keep anyone in suspense: "We're currently in the trial production phase. The equipment is still being broken in, and the staff are getting used to operating it. Producing 5,000 bottles a day shouldn't be a problem right now."

"Five thousand bottles..." Xu Yuanshan quickly did the mental calculations, his eyes shining. "That's quite a lot! Frontline field hospitals might not even use fifty bottles a day! How many people could that save!"

"Old Xu, don't worry, this isn't the maximum capacity yet." Zhao Ping'an smiled and continued, "The standard capacity of this equipment is 20,000 bottles per day."

"Twenty thousand?!" Xu Yuanshan gasped, almost unable to suppress his voice.

"Yes, 20,000 bottles, 200,000 units." Zhao Ping'an nodded. "The main constraint on production right now is the slow pace of fermentation and purification of the upstream raw materials—artificial corn steep liquor. Once our technicians have become more proficient in the process for another week or two, and we can speed up the process, reaching the designed production capacity shouldn't be difficult."

Xu Yuanshan's heart pounded. He seemed to see thousands of wounded soldiers pulled through thanks to timely penicillin treatment, and the army's combat effectiveness secured by robust medical support. Forcing himself to calm down, he pressed on, "What if both sets of equipment were running at full capacity?"

"That's 40,000 bottles per day," Zhao Ping'an stated, then changed the subject, reminding him...

"However, Lao Xu, there's something I need to make clear beforehand. This set of industrial equipment isn't for small workshops."

It requires supporting facilities such as factory buildings, a stable power supply, pure water production equipment, raw material warehouses, and wastewater treatment facilities... It occupies a considerable area.

We're lucky with this cave; its spatial structure is suitable, and it can be used with just a few modifications.

To install a second unit, or to expand production in the future, we'll need at least 2400 square meters, which is about three and a half to four acres of flat land. We also need to consider concealment and transportation conditions.

Xu Yuanshan's expression turned serious, and he carefully wrote down: "I understand. Site selection is a major matter and must be handled prudently."

Ping An, when do you estimate we can get the second set of equipment installed? And the technicians... do we have enough of them right now?

"Technicians..." Zhao Ping'an glanced at the busy figures in the operating area.