After taking the medicine, Sunuo's condition still did not improve. Her face was flushed with fever, and even her breathing was rapid and irregular.
Gu Chenglan was very worried. Because in the jungle and during the rainy season, it is difficult for even people with normal health not to get sick.
In Suno's current condition, he might not be able to last three days.
"What can you do?" Gu Chenglan had to ask the chief who was still playing with the compressed towel. Because sometimes home remedies really work.
The chief glanced at Sunuo, turned around and said something to his eldest wife.
The eldest wife nodded obediently, pulled a piece of dirty-looking cloth and rubbed her food-stained hands, then stood up and went out.
When she came back, the eldest wife was holding a jar in her hand.
There were streaks of black stains running down the jar, which looked like they were often poured out of something and then not wiped clean.
But Gu Chenglan didn't care about this. He only stared at the chief's eldest wife, watching her come and squat down in front of Sunuo.
Because she was so far into her pregnancy, the woman's squatting posture was strange, awkward and uncomfortable.
She held the jar with one hand and opened the lid with the other, signaling Gu Chenglan to do it herself.
"How to use it?" Gu Chenglan could only hope that the chief who could speak a few words in English could give him some tips.
"Put it on her forehead." The chief said simply.
Gu Chenglan freed up a hand and reached into the jar.
The jar was so dark that it was hard to see what was inside, and I didn't know where the contents were.
I was almost touching the bottom when I came across a sticky grease. Just by the feel, it looks a bit like industrial engine oil.
Gu Chenglan first dipped some in it and took it out to take a look. It was brown oil with a fishy smell, as if it was extracted from some animal.
The eldest wife shook her head vigorously, as if to tell Gu Chenglan that it was not enough.
This time Gu Chenglan reached in again, dug out a piece of grease, and tentatively applied it on Suno's forehead.
The eldest wife nodded and put the lid back on. She casually pulled the rag and stuffed it into Gu Chenglan's hand, then she went out with the jar in her arms.
Gu Chenglan wiped her hands with a dirty cloth and looked down at Sunuo intently. Although I knew the temperature wouldn't drop that quickly, I was still a little anxious.
"Just wait, the fever will go down in one night." The chief said, carefully opening a compressed towel.
While waiting for the towel to expand in the air, the chief added: "But if she keeps burning, there is really nothing we can do."
Gu Chenglan said nothing and just held Sunuo in his arms to make her feel more comfortable.
When the chief's eldest wife came back, the chief shook the soft towel in his hand and generously rewarded her with this towel that had lost its "magic". Then he said a few more words.
The eldest wife was obviously flattered. She held the towel and kissed it for a long time, and then kissed the chief's hands and feet. Then she turned to look at Gu Chenglan and motioned for him to follow her.
Gu Chenglan followed her out with Su Nuo in her arms, and was led back to the house where they lived before.
But this time it was clear that he was not getting good treatment. After he went in with Suno in his arms, the chief's eldest wife withdrew, closed the door tightly, and stabbed him to death.
A door can't trap Gu Chenglan at all, but now he is only worried about Sunuo's situation.
Fortunately, the indigenous medicinal oil was really effective. More than two hours later, Suno's body temperature finally began to drop.
(End of chapter)