Seeing that she was stunned, Li Mo straightened up and lifted the oil lamp closer to her so that he could clearly see her expression. “It’s really dark out, and it’s not easy to walk there. If you fall, it won’t be worth it.”
Although this was true… “Okay, I’ll have to trouble you then.” Li Man really needed to pee. When he leaned over again, she got onto his back without thinking. “Walk slowly. I can hold the lamp.”
“No need.” Li Mo held up the lamp with one hand and supported her legs with his other hand. He was worried that she was going slip off from his body.
Truthfully, Li Man was scared of falling down too. Her arms were desperately wrapped around his neck.
He was wearing straw sandals, and the courtyard was full of mud, so he could only walk on the slightly drier path by the wall. Fortunately, the outhouse wasn’t far. It was in the backyard. His strides were long, and they quickly arrived.
Li Mo put her down and hanged the lamp on the outhouse’s doorframe. Then, he walked a few steps away and said to her, “You can go inside. I’ll wait for you here.”
“En.” Li Man hurriedly went into the outhouse. She untied her belt and immediately crouched down.
Once she was done, Li Man relaxed. However, thinking about how Li Mo was right outside, she blushed in embarrassment. After fastening her belt, she picked up the small lamp and came out. That man was still honestly standing by the wall. The night wind blew by, and she saw him slightly trembling. It was only now that she could clearly see that he was only wearing a thin shirt and a pair of shorts with his long legs exposed.
Li Man hurriedly went over to him and said, “Let’s quickly go back.”
“En.” Li Mo took the oil lamp from her, then crouched down in front of her.
Li Man had originally wanted to say that she could keep by the wall and slowly walk back by herself. But, if she did that, she would have to explain herself. Moreover, she definitely wouldn’t be able to walk as nimbly as him. It wouldn’t be worth it to delay their walk back. He was wearing so little clothing. She didn’t want him to freeze.
And so, she silently got onto his back.
Very quickly, the two of them returned to the eastern hut. Li Mo put the oil lamp on the big wardrobe. His younger brothers were all sleeping soundly. It was only Li Yan’s breathing that sound a bit heavy. He went over and gently checked his temperature by touching his forehead. Feeling that Li Yan was sweating out his sickness, Li Mo sighed in relief.
Li Man had already sat down on her quilt. Seeing Li Mo picking up a piece of cloth to wipe Li Yan’s forehead, she asked in worry, “How is he?”
Li Mo quietly answered, “He should be okay by tomorrow.”
“En, you should go to sleep soon too,” Li Man quietly urged, then she burrowed underneath the quilt. She felt sleepy too.
After Li Mo wiped off the rest of the sweat from his second brother’s body, he tucked Li Shu’s quilt around him. Little Five had moved away from his original position next to Li Mo’s spot and was about to roll off the bed. Li Mo moved him back. After that, he extinguished the lamp and quietly got onto the bed.
—
The rest of the night passed in silence.
The next morning, the sky was clear. The radiant sunshine came through the window and cast motley shadows in the hut.
The first half of last night had been unbearable for Li Man, but she slept very deeply afterward. Even after the neighbor’s rooster had crowed three times, she remained unaware.
Li Mo was the first one to get up from the bed. He checked on his second brother. His forehead wasn’t hot anymore, and Li Mo’s worried heart finally relaxed. His next thought was going to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for everyone.
However, he wasn’t good at cooking. After he scooped out some rice, he spent a long time washing it clean. As for the following part, he struggled to figure out how much water to add to the pot. Fortunately, Li Hua came into the kitchen at this time.
“Oldest brother, I’ll do it.”
Li Mo smiled. “Fourth brother, why don’t you go back and get some more sleep?”
“I slept enough.” Li Hua took the ladle from his oldest brother and added two more scoops of water to the pot before covering it.
It was clear that his fourth brother was much better at this type of work than him. Li Mo didn’t insist and simply said, “The weather is good today. I’ll go clean up the other hut.”
“En,” said Li Hua. Then, he sat down by the stove to start a fire to cook congee.
Li Mo went to Li Man’s hut. First, he took out the bamboo poles, leaned them against the eaves, and rehanged Little Five’s clothing on the poles. Then, he went back inside to tidy up her bed.