“I’m going to go look at second brother.” Li Mo felt very guilty that he hadn’t been able to bring back the doctor. He was worried that his second brother had taken a turn for the worse, but the looming dread finally dissipated once he entered the hut and saw Li Yan sitting on the bed, “Second brother, how are you feeling? Doctor Wang wasn’t home, and I’m not sure when he’ll returned, but I’ll go check his house tomorrow.”
“Oldest brother, I feel much better.” Li Yan felt bad when he saw that his oldest brother’s face was dripping. It was either sweat or raindrops or both.
“That’s good.” Li Mo came over and touched his forehead to check his temperature. It was still a bit hot, but it wasn’t as bad as before. “You’re really do seem better.” After saying this and seeing that his younger brother was only wearing thin clothing and not even covered up by a quilt, he hurriedly pulled up the quilt to cover him.
But, Li Yan refused. "Oldest brother, wife said it’s not necessary.”
Li Mo was stunned.
Hearing voices coming from the hut, Li Man came inside with the bowl. She brought the warm water to Li Yan, “Drink some while it’s still warm.” Then, she explained to Li Mo, “His temperate was too high because of his fever, so he needs to cool down.”
Li Mo still didn’t understand after hearing these words. Didn’t you get better from a fever by sweating? It would be worse if his second brother got a cold on top of his fever from being too cold.
Seeing Li Mo’s expression, Li Hua elaborated, "Oldest brother, let’s listen to her. Second brother really has gotten much better.”
Li Mo was flabbergasted. He looked somewhat incredulously at Li Man. Was it because of her that second brother had gotten better?
At this time, Li Shu had already drank a large bowl of ginger soup in the kitchen and brought over another bowl. “Oldest brother, here. This is the ginger soup that wife cooked. You should drink some.”
“Oh.” Li Mo took the bowl and deeply looked at Li Man. Warmth and affection flashed through his eyes. “Thank you.”
Li Man felt a bit embarrassed by his response. “Why are you being so polite? Hurry, drink the soup before it gets cold. You worked so hard all afternoon. You should take a rest after you drink the soup.” As she said this, she looked at Li Mo and Li Shu’s muddy feet. With her brow furrowed, she said, “There’s warm water left in the kitchen. The two of you should go soak your feet first.”
“Soak our feet?” This was the first time that Li Shu heard of such a thing. When their feet became dirty in the past, they would only pour cold water over their feet to clean off the dirt.
Li Man ignored him and said to Li Mo, “I’m going to go wash Little Five’s clothes. The two of you should take some warm water to soak your feet. It’ll help dispel the lingering cold. Otherwise, you’re likely to get sick from walking barefoot outside in the rain all day.”
“Okay, I’ll listen to wife,” said Li Shu.
Li Mo looked embarrassed. He was a grown man. For him to doing something like soaking his feet… Still, he would do it since his wife had asked him.
Once Li Yan and Li Mo had finished drinking water and ginger soup, respectively, Li Man took their bowls back to the kitchen.
Only the Li brothers remained in the hut.
Little Five curled back into his quilt with a happy smile.
Li Shu walked to the side of the bed and asked Li Yan, “Second brother, how are you feeling now?”
“Much better.” His brothers’ genuine concern left Li Yan feeling as if his heart was overflowing with warmth.
“That’s good then.” Li Shu let out a long, comfortable sigh. He and his oldest brother had been feeling anxious and angry that they hadn’t been able to bring the doctor back. On the way back, oldest brother had been so worried that he slipped and almost fell into a pond when they passed by it. Fortunately, he had grabbed onto a branch that was by the pond and didn’t fall into the water.
Li Mo glanced at Li Yan, then he said to Li Shu, “Alright, third brother, let your second brother rest so that he can recover.” As he said this, he tugged his younger brother out of the room with him and headed straight for the kitchen.
Li Shu suddenly remembered. Right, they still had to wash and soak their feet.
Inside the kitchen, Li Man was washing Little Five’s clothes. Seeing the two of them coming inside, she said, “I poured the warm water into a bucket. Once you’re washed your feet, you’re not allowed to keep walking around in barefoot.
“En,” Li Mo assented. He picked up the bucket and headed outside. Li Shu hurriedly picked up a basin and followed after him.