Reborn with Nothing but My Farm and Vengeance in the Apocalypse novel Chapter 139

Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Loquat Paste

It had been over a month since the volcanic eruption. The larger ash particles had settled to the ground, and the air was visibly clearer.

Additionally, the outdoor temperature wasn’t as scorching as it had been during the peak heatwave, so people gradually started venturing outside again.

However, the air pollution problem wasn’t completely solved. Smaller volcanic ash particles still floated in the air.

Much like the PM2.5 particles that had caused so much discussion in previous years, these fine ash particles could remain suspended in the atmosphere for a long time, making them difficult to completely clear away.

It’s a well-known fact that the smaller the particle, the deeper it can penetrate the respiratory tract. Particles smaller than two micrometers can travel 100% of the way into the bronchioles and alveoli.

An expert on television spoke with a grave expression, "These volcanic ash particles are hard and insoluble in water. If they get into your eyes or are inhaled into your lungs, they can damage your corneas and lung tissue. Please take protective measures."

"Furthermore, when inhaled, this ash attacks the respiratory system and can trigger asthma, heart disease, lung conditions, and other respiratory illnesses. The danger is especially great for the elderly, children, and other sensitive individuals with heart conditions."

With the increase in outdoor activity, more and more people were developing respiratory infections from inhaling volcanic ash.

Many also developed symptoms of high, persistent fevers, leading to massive shortages of anti-inflammatory drugs and other medications.

Scalpers seized the opportunity to buy and resell medicine, jacking up the price of a single box of fever reducers to over ten thousand yuan.

’Thank goodness I stocked up on medicine before,’ Melody thought. ’Otherwise, it’d be impossible to buy any now.’

The expert on TV also urged people to avoid going outside unless absolutely necessary.

Although Melody’s family had installed an air purifier, it didn’t completely eliminate the ash problem.

Her grandmother had been coughing constantly lately, and the whole family was worried.

Even Melody herself felt a tickle in her throat from time to time.

After lunch, Melody returned to the Arcadian Space. The medicinal herbs she had planted in the fields had all been harvested and processed. She rummaged through the warehouse and found some vacuum-sealed red dates and lotus seeds she had stored earlier, preparing to make loquat paste.

Melody took an electronic scale from the kitchen and measured out two liang each of ophiopogon root, scrophularia root, fritillary bulb, and rehmannia root, and one liang of asparagus root.

She finely chopped the washed loquat leaves, removed the cores from the ophiopogon and asparagus roots, and placed all the prepared ingredients into the processing workshop’s brewing equipment.

She added water from the Arcadian Stream and let it simmer for an hour. The once-clear stream water turned a deep black.

Melody used cheesecloth to filter out the dregs, then poured the strained liquid back into the pot to simmer over low heat until it became thick and dense, clinging to a spoon without dripping.

After the liquid cooled, Melody added honey from the Arcadian Woods. Once she stirred it evenly, the loquat paste was ready.

Melody took a spoonful of the paste, letting it dissolve in her mouth before slowly swallowing. Soon, the discomfort in her throat began to fade.

Not only that, but the tightness in her chest, caused by her irregular sleep schedule in the perpetual darkness, also vanished. She now felt refreshed in both body and mind, and even her mood had improved significantly.

Melody filled jars with the finished loquat paste. She happily left the space and ran downstairs, bringing a jar to her grandmother, who was watching TV.

Melody said to her grandmother with a smile, "Grandma, this is some loquat paste I bought a while ago. It’s been in the storage room. I just tried some, and it seems to work really well. You’ve been coughing so much these past few days, you should try a little!"

Her grandmother’s throat was so sore she didn’t feel like eating anything, but seeing the expectant look in Melody’s eyes, she took a spoonful.

Unexpectedly, the moment the paste entered her mouth, she felt a wave of relief in her throat. Before long, the raw, painful feeling had subsided considerably.

Her grandmother quickly took another spoonful, and even the tightness in her chest eased significantly.

She picked up the jar in surprise and examined it. "What brand of loquat paste is this? It’s amazing! My chest feels so much better, and my throat doesn’t hurt as much."

But there was no label on the jar; it was just a plain, transparent glass bottle.

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