"It's common knowledge that it's good for people to drinking more warm water when they have a fever or cold.” Li Man fidgeted and tried to pull her hand out Li Yan's tight grasp, but his five fingers seemed like unbreakable pincers.
Li Hua could see this from a single glance, but since Li Man had deliberately leaned over to try to hide the sight, he pretended that he hadn't seen anything. He brought the hot water outside to cool it down and didn't come inside until he thought the water was cool enough to drink.
"I'll help him drink it." Li Man stretched one hand out and tried her best to move her other hand too.
Sure enough, when Li Yan heard these words, the corners of his lips curved up, and he obediently loosened his grip on her hand.
Li Man hurriedly stood up, rubbed her hand that had turn red from being held too tightly by Li Yan, and said to Li Hua, "Help your second brother. Make sure he drinks plenty of water."
Li Hua saw his second brother staring at her fleeing figure with a vexed look. He chucked and asked, "Second brother, can you sit up?"
Li Yan glanced at him, then he pulled up the quilt to cover his face. "Not thirsty. I don't want to drink."
"Second brother." Li Hua was stunned for a moment. Why was his second brother acting like a child? He helplessly looked at Li Man, who was standing at the doorway.
Li Man hadn't expected that Li Yan would have this type of temperament either. However, it was more important to go along with a sick person's wishes. She could only come back into the room, take the bowl from Li Hua, sit down at the edge of the bed, and said to Li Yan, who had tucked himself into bed, "You have a fever. You can't cover yourself up like this. Come on, drink some water." As she said this, she tugged the quilt down.
The damp towel fell to the side of the pillow. His bright and clean forehead was sweating, and his handsome face was as white as frost. His dried lips had almost no trace of red.
He was already in such a bad state but still throwing a tantrum. Sigh. Li Man gritted her teeth as she watched him. She scooped up some water and brought it to his lips, "Here, take a sip."
Li Yan slowly opened his eyes and stared at her unwaveringly before his lips slowly parted.
He was really going to be that picky about who gave him the water? The corners of Li Man's mouth twitched. She lightly poured the mouthful of water into his mouth.
He slowly swallowed. Furrowing his brow, he complained, "It's so tasteless."
"You're sick, that's why you think it doesn't taste good. Here, drink some more," Li Man softly explained as she scooped up another spoonful of water and brought it to his lips.
"I really don't want to drink it." It was as if there was a knot between Li Yan's brows, but since Li Man was attentively serving him, he reluctantly opened his mouth and swallowed another mouthful of water.
Spoonful by spoonful, Li Man fed him the water. Li Yan was probably feeling better after drinking the first few sips of water, so he stopped fussing and obediently drank the water.
Once the bowl of water was finished, Li Man stood up and reminded Li Hua, "Watch him and wipe his body from time to time. He's okay right now. If his fever rises and he fall unconscious or babbles nonsense, come look for me."
Before Li Hua could say anything, Li Yan was already anxious enough to open his eyes again to stare at her. "Where are you going?"
"Have a good rest," said Li Man tactfully. She turned around and left the hut. If she stayed, that fellow probably wouldn't rest peacefully.
"How heartless." Li Yan was somewhat furious. She wasn't even willing to accompany him when he was sick.
As Li Hua wiped his palm for him, he said, "Second brother, take a nap for now. Oldest brother and third brother will be back soon."
"Oh." Li Yan could only close his eyes. He really did feel bad and ended up drifting off into sleep.
Li Man had merely gone to the kitchen. She opened the windows to let in the fresh air and started tidying up the pile of bits and bobs that Li Mo had rummaged through to find the raincoat. She tossed the unusable items in one pile and decided that she would toss all of it out when she had the free time.
After she was done with this, she washed her hands and returned to the eastern hut. Li Hua was still sitting at the side of the bed, and Li Yan had already fallen asleep.
Li Man quietly walked over and whispered, "Why haven't your older brothers returned yet? Is the doctor's house far from here?"