"Nice to meet you!"
The two parties exchanged greetings at the dock, and then Wei Bachi accompanied the two to review the navy. After the review, both parties boarded the carriage and headed for the commercial building next to the customs.
In order to prevent the Dutch from bringing the plague, every time the Dutch came, they could only stay in the business building. Regardless of the esteemed status the governor boasted about being "the prince's diplomats," in the eyes of the Senate they were all potential carriers of germs.
The business building is located at the corner of the pier, a beautiful three-story red brick house. The outside is surrounded by a bamboo fence half as tall as a man, with vine roses twining on it, and the flowers are in full bloom. It looks colorful and beautiful, but in fact it is full of small thorns, acting like a barbed wire fence. The upper floor of the merchant house is a hotel for merchants, diplomatic envoys and senior seamen to rest - the "dregs of mankind": sailors are not accepted here. They must all live on board and are not allowed to stay ashore.
Downstairs is a canteen, bar and duty-free shop. There are not only separate toilets but also bathing facilities. This place is equipped with North Korean security army soldiers who are brought from Jeju and carry big sticks. The first priority is to urge the guests staying here to take a bath, otherwise they will be served with sticks.
In order to ensure the safety of the service personnel working here, they were all vaccinated with cowpox and injected with experimental vaccines against various common infectious diseases at the time.
Naturally, the envoy and his entourage do not need to enjoy such "courtesy". Compared to Europeans at that time, the Dutch were quite hygienic. Both the British and the French were deeply impressed by the cleanliness and orderliness of Dutch cities and residences.
"Please take a rest here first and relieve yourself from the fatigue of the journey." Wei Bachi sent them to the lobby of the store. "If you have any questions, we will discuss it tomorrow." He motioned to the service staff who were waiting for the guests in the lobby. , "We must entertain several guests well."
"Yes, long!"
Zhong Lishi said: "I will accompany them up."
Wei Bachi chuckled: "Why, his father got excited when he saw the little Huygens? Or did he fall in love with the little foreign horse?"
Dr. Zhong also smiled back: "I want to communicate more with little Huygens' father. He is also a scientist. We have many things in common..."
The entourage of Huygens and Boncourt were placed on the second floor. And they were led to the third floor of the business building - which is dedicated to receiving high-end guests or guests who are willing to spend a lot of money to enjoy it. Four houses have been prepared here. At the door of each bedroom is a wooden sign with the guest's name written in German.
The waiter opened the door of the first bedroom: "This is the lady's room." Zhong Lishi said with a smile.
Credia couldn't help but exclaimed: "It's so beautiful!"
Although the three men did not speak, their faces showed admiration.
By seventeenth-century standards, the room was neither luxurious nor beautiful. If you want to go by the decoration style at that time, it is very "Dutch": the room is small, the walls are painted white, and the floor is clean. The furniture is simple and functional, without much carved decoration. The only decoration that could be called a Chinese painting on the wall and flowers in a porcelain vase.
Although there are differences in artistic modeling. But the overall aesthetic taste is typical of Dutch bourgeoisie.
If there was one thing that drew everyone's admiration, it was the large glass windows opening onto the bay. You can see the blue sea and the green mountains and rivers not far away - the scenery is pleasant.
Dr. Zhong’s attention had been on Huygens’ father just now, but now he cast his eyes on Franz von Boncourt’s children.
Because Caucasians mature early, the ages of young men and women are difficult to estimate. Dr. Zhong had met many European and American people because of his work in the past, and he also made friends with a few Germans, so he had a certain idea. Judging from his appearance, Cretia was probably sixteen or seventeen years old, and Westly was probably two or three years younger than her sister.
Their heads were all a beautiful golden color, and Crédia and Westly were not tall. Cretia is only 1.60 meters tall at best. Westley is even shorter. Both of them had well-proportioned and beautiful figures, but the mature girl didn't have any choppy looks at all - Dr. Zhong couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed.
"Is this a suite?" Credia curiously opened a small wooden door inside. He immediately covered his mouth and screamed in surprise. "God!"
"What's wrong? Sister." Probably because of his age, Westley was much more outgoing than his father who was introverted and calm, so he rushed over immediately.
Westley also screamed in surprise at the door: "It's... unbelievable!"
He turned his head and looked at Zhong Lishi with eager eyes: "Sir...this, is this the Australian bathroom..."
Dr. Zhong smiled slightly. Modern bathroom equipment is the most shocking equipment in this time and space. No native can resist its powerful charm. For Europeans, this shock is even greater: because the entire bathroom is made of porcelain.
"Can these pipes really pump out hot and cold water on their own?"
"Of course." Zhong Lishi said. "This is actually no different from the principle of a fountain."
"Yes, I understand, but a fountain is just a fountain." Westley's eyes lit up with excitement. "This is amazing!" He said to his smiling sister, "It's so right that we came here this time!" As he said that, he ran from the bathroom door to Dr. Zhong, "Can I ask you for advice every day? I have always been puzzled by the law of 'nature is afraid of a vacuum'..."
"Of course..." Dr. Zhong was a little caught off guard. He originally wanted to have more academic exchanges with Huygens' father and inquire about Christian Huygens's current situation. Unexpectedly, this young man also had a great interest in science. enthusiasm.
He quickly filtered through the European scientists in his mind during this historical period, and it seemed that there was no one named Westley Boncourt.
"Great!" Westley turned to look at his father again, "Is that okay? Father."
"Of course, my child." Although Mr. Boncourt looked very serious, he obviously doted on this boy. "As long as Dr. Zhong doesn't object." He said and bowed slightly to Dr. Zhong: "I hope this will happen." It didn’t cause you any trouble…”
"No, not at all." Dr. Zhong's teacher-like mood took over again, "I'm very happy."
Dr. Zhong also reminded them of some precautions - according to regulations, foreign visitors can only move around the commercial building and the civilian dock. If they are willing, they can also go to the commercial street. To enter Kaohsiung city, you must apply for a pass.
After the greetings were finished, Dr. Zhong was about to leave, when suddenly Mr. Boncourt followed him a few steps closer.
"Dr. Zhong, please stay."
"What's up?"
"I have a small personal request." Mr. Boncourt seemed a little embarrassed. "You know, smallpox has always been a very dangerous plague."
"Yes."
"I have heard in the Netherlands and Batavia that the Chinese have an operation to prevent smallpox, which can make people infected with a mild case of smallpox without risking their lives, and then they will never get smallpox again for life-"
"That's right. This is called variolation." Zhong Lishi nodded and asked, "Do you want to vaccinate your child against variolation?"
"As you can probably tell, none of my children have had smallpox. I hope they can escape the hands of the god of plague... So this time I am willing to risk taking them to Asia. But in Batavia I I asked the Chinese about the specific vaccination method - I know a little bit about medicine: this method of active infection is not very safe and has a very high mortality rate..." Mr. Boncourt looked very anxious.
Zhong Lishi nodded. Although variolation is a pioneering work in preventive medicine, it is much more dangerous than cowpox.
"At this time, someone told me that the Australians have mastered a special variolation technique that can make the vaccinated 100% safe..."
Dr. Zhong suddenly realized: No wonder this senior official of the East India Company would take the risk of sailing thousands of miles with his two children - from the Netherlands to Batavia, a normal voyage takes 160 days - risking the risk of being shipwrecked at sea. Come to East Asia. In addition to satisfying his son's desire to "see the world" and become a naturalist, there is also this intention.
Indeed, Lingao now inoculates all refugees with cowpox - this is the most easily available vaccine, which basically eliminates smallpox infection. This reputation seems to be gradually spreading.
He immediately said cheerfully: "This is not a big problem. I will mention it to Mayor Wei."
Kaohsiung already has professional epidemic prevention personnel vaccinating refugees with cowpox, and it is not difficult to add a few more people.
"Thank you so much!" Boncourt was overjoyed when he saw that he didn't shirk, and he immediately saluted. Dr. Zhong couldn't help but sigh to himself that "the hearts of parents in the world are pitiful."
"This is a little gift from me, as a thank you." Mr. Boncourt took out a beautiful small box.
"Well...well," Dr. Zhong was curious, but according to the rules of the Senate, senators were not allowed to receive gifts from the natives in private. He immediately declined politely, "Mr. Boncourt, we cannot receive gifts in private. Yes. Your gift must be given on a formal occasion..."
Boncourt saw the resolute look on his face when he spoke. He had also heard about the "integrity" of the Australian elders in Batavia, so he stopped insisting.
"Sir," Westley interjected, "where can I ask your advice?"
"Just come to the customs. I'm working on a project at the customs." Zhong Lizhi pointed to the customs building outside the window and said to Mr. Huygens, who was standing aside with a smile, "I think Mr. Huygens might also be interested." .”
