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墨書 Inktalez
With her legs wrapped up, Qi Chong walked over to the chopping block and said, "Put your feet up here."
Yu Chunmiao complied, and Qi Chong skillfully tied her pant legs, adjusting them just right. The summer mountains were filled with mosquitoes; it was best to avoid getting bitten.
"You should have said something earlier! I've already been bitten on one leg," Yu Chunmiao replied, revealing a patch of bites on her bare calves.
She had never been cared for like this before. She had tied up horses without complaint, even when her thighs were chafed from riding. It seemed that delicate women had all the luck. Moreover, a man who could cook and take care of others was incredibly attractive; she liked warm-hearted men.
"Looks like I’m not included in this," Qi Rong remarked nonchalantly. "No matter, I’m a Manly Man anyway."
Chen Ruolan watched this scene from under the eaves and couldn’t help but think of her husband. He had done this for her twice before their first child was born, but after that, she hadn’t had the chance to go up the mountain again.
It was a blessing that the two children had met each other.
Qi Rong cleared an area with a long stick, carefully checking even the trees nearby. He was hoping to hear some rustling sounds; that would mean a good catch.
The soil in Banxia was soft, and Uncle and Aunt worked quickly with their small shovels.
"Qi Rong, don’t dig up the small ones; they don’t look good and we need to leave some for future growth," he advised.
Without looking up, Qi Rong wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve and replied, "I know that principle. My brother said if we find young prey, we should let them go; otherwise, there won’t be any left to hunt later. Of course, wild boars are an exception."
Wild boars couldn’t be spared; they reproduced too quickly. If they overran their territory, they would invade the village and ruin crops.
Around one o'clock in the afternoon, after filling their baskets by five o'clock, Yu Chunmiao suggested that Qi Rong pick some loquat leaves since there was still time.
Feeling a bit guilty about his mother’s illness—his sister-in-law remembered it better than he did—Qi Rong picked two banana leaves as they passed by and covered their basket before heading home.
Curious, Yu Chunmiao asked, "We've been in this forest for several days now; why haven’t we seen anyone else?"
Qi Rong sighed and explained, "People used to come here, but ever since two outsiders died in this area, the villagers have avoided it, saying it's unlucky. Our homestead is just what we bought from them."
He didn’t mention that his father had also passed away early and that his brother had become lame; the villagers believed even more strongly that this forest was cursed.
There were plenty of woods around the village where firewood could be gathered; why come here?
Yu Chunmiao wasn’t superstitious; she only cared about making money. It suited her just fine that no one was watching her business endeavors.
Upon returning home, Qi Chong was already waiting in the yard. With his long arms outstretched, he wrapped them around Yu Chunmiao and lifted her basket effortlessly.
Yu Chunmiao pulled her body free from the straps and immediately felt a sense of relief. Qi Chong leaned on his cane with his left hand while cradling a basket in his right, making his way to the backyard. To her surprise, the heavy load felt almost weightless in his hands. If that man’s leg wasn’t injured, he must be incredibly strong.
Curious, Yu Chunmiao hurried to catch up with Qi Chong and asked, “How much does it cost to treat your leg?”
It was essential to get his leg fixed.
Before Qi Chong could respond, Qi Rong stepped up behind them and said, “The town’s Yu Doctor said it would take thirty taels. It was easier to treat when he first got hurt, but now that two months have passed, they’ll have to break the bone again for it to heal properly; otherwise, he’ll be limping for life.”
Yu Chunmiao understood then that the longer they waited, the harder it would be to treat him. She resolved to ask about possible treatments when she sold goods tomorrow.
As they reached the backyard, Chen Ruolan was just finishing watering the vegetable patch. Her two baskets filled with bulbs reflected her joy of a bountiful harvest.
“Wow, you’ve dug up so many! How many pounds is this?”
Yu Chunmiao shared her thoughts about treating Qi Chong’s leg with her mother. “So, where can we find Yu Doctor?”
Chen Ruolan wiped the damp corner of her eye and replied, “He’s right next to our pharmacy; he specializes in bone injuries.”
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