The carriage soon arrived at Linxi Village.
Jing Li lifted the car curtain and saw the scene outside, and was stunned.
The small open space at the entrance of the village was crowded with people, and faces, familiar or unfamiliar, were looking at them with the same eagerness in their eyes.
"What's wrong?" Seeing Jing Li didn't move, Qin Zhao asked from inside the car.
"Nothing, nothing..." Jing Li opened the curtain of the carriage and helped Qin Zhao out.
Qin Zhao paused for a moment when he saw the scene in front of him, then got off the carriage with the help of Jing Li and the coachman.
They walked toward the crowd, with the village chief standing in front.
Qin Zhao said: "I just want the village chief to find a few people to help me move my things. What are you doing..."
"You've helped the village so much, everyone wants to come and see you." The village chief smiled, turned around and ordered, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and move your things."
Everyone responded, and several farmers jumped onto the cart. Each of them took a pile of books, and soon all the medical books were unloaded from the cart.
Qin Zhao took a quick look and saw members of the Chen family, the Lin family, the Li family, and even Li Hongyu, who was helping out with one arm hanging by the side.
He retracted his gaze and asked, "Has the village chief recovered?"
"I took your medicine and that minor illness has long been cured." The village chief waved his hand and said, "As for you, I noticed that you don't look very well. Have you been overworked recently?"
Qin Zhao: "Not bad."
"You are such a stubborn kid." The village chief sighed and said, "Ever since I heard that the county magistrate left you in the county, I have been worried. I wanted to go see you, but the village needs people to build the river embankment, and I just finished all the matters in the past two days."
They walked along the road at the entrance of the village and saw from afar that the original embankment had been raised a lot and the floodproof ditches beside the fields had all been dug.
"... I'll be watching this project day and night, and I'll do everything according to your instructions, so you can rest assured." said the village chief.
Qin Zhao nodded, and suddenly someone pulled his sleeve.
A little boy, only as tall as Qin Zhao's waist, stood in front of him, holding a basket of eggs and looking up at him: "Uncle Qin Zhao, thank you for asking the officials to build the embankment. My family's fields are at the lowest point in the village, and they used to be flooded every year when the water level rose. My mother asked me to give these to you, thank you."
The boy has a tanned skin but bright eyes.
Qin Zhao's expression faltered for a moment, and he said softly, "Take the things back. No need to thank me. This is what I should do."
"This is also a little gift from the villagers, just accept it." The village chief said, "Not only his family, but also many other villagers have sent gifts. Some of them are still with me, and I will send them to you later."
"Yes, just take it."
"You have helped the village so much, we cannot fail to show our appreciation."
"Don't be polite, take them all!"
Everyone was talking at once, Qin Zhao couldn't refuse and was a little hesitant.
A person beside him reached out his hand and took the things from him: "Why are you being so polite to such a big guy? Come, I'll help you hold it."
It’s Li Dali.
Li Dali said, "We are all neighbors. It doesn't make sense for us to ask you for help for nothing. We would feel bad if you didn't accept it. Don't you agree?"
Everyone responded in unison.
Qin Zhao had no choice but to nod in agreement.
The boy in front of him hadn't left yet, and he tugged at Qin Zhao's clothes again: "Uncle Qin, I'm going to the town to study in elementary school next year, too."
Qin Zhao's eyes moved slightly.
Children in Linxi Village were rarely sent out to study. Before this, only Chen Yanan had gone to school in the town.
"It's not just him." The village chief said, "After this incident, many people in the village want to send their children to school to learn to read. Even if it's not for passing the imperial examinations, it's good to know a few more words."
The village chief paused and sighed, "In the early years, I also advocated in the village that the younger generation of children should be sent to school, but no one was willing. This time you have fulfilled my wish."
Qin Zhao: "That's great."
"Okay, village chief, let's talk about this another day." Li Dali said, "Everyone, go away and don't block us here. Our Mr. Qin has been traveling all day, let him go back and rest early."
The village chief nodded and helped to send everyone away.
Only Li Dali was left to send Qin Zhao home.
They received many gifts from villagers along the way, which were nothing more than daily necessities such as fruits, vegetables, bedding and cotton.
Jing Li and Li Dali moved the things back home together.
Several farmers who were helping to move the books had already arrived at his yard.
Fortunately, the bookcase that Fang Tianying had given him was big enough, and most of the space was still not full, enough to store the medical books that Qin Zhao had brought back.
Everyone put down their things and did not stay long. Only one person drank a bowl of water and left.
Jing Li sent him out of the yard, and when he came back he saw Qin Zhao standing by the table, already organizing the books.
Qin Zhao brought back a lot of medical books, but he didn't have time to put them in the bookcase, so they were scattered on the table and the floor. Qin Zhao bent down to pick up a book from the ground, and suddenly he felt dizzy and staggered.
"Don't do it." Jing Li quickly walked over to support him, "Go and take a rest, I'll take care of these."
Qin Zhao said: "It's okay, I still... cough cough!"
He started coughing without warning.
They had been traveling all day to get back to the village today. Qin Zhao's face was not looking good to begin with, and this cough was like he was going to cough out all his internal organs. He put one hand on his lips and supported the table with the other hand, his thin shoulders trembling slightly with the cough.
Qin Zhao's eyes went dark, and when he caught his breath, he found that Jing Li had helped him sit on a chair.
He had a layer of cold sweat on his forehead, and his palms felt sticky and slightly cool.
Qin Zhao looked down and saw a glaring red.
"… "
He closed his eyes and sighed silently.
Jing Li went to get a clean handkerchief, soaked it in water and wrung it dry, first helped Qin Zhao wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, then came to his lips.
Those thin lips were tightly pursed and so pale that the bright red at the corner of the lips looked even more shocking.
Jing Li's fingertips trembled, and he wiped away the blood without saying a word, then squatted down to help him wipe his hands.
"I told you to take a good rest." After pouring a cup of warm water for Qin Zhao to rinse his mouth, Jing Li said, "I'll make the bed first. You might feel more comfortable if you lie down for a while."
Qin Zhao nodded.
They had been away from home for more than a month, and all the beds had to be taken down and washed.
Jing Li was quite skilled at doing these things. He quickly took off all the original bed covers and replaced them with clean ones.
Then he helped Qin Zhao lie down.
Jing Li tucked him in and asked in a low voice, "Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something before going to bed?"
"Can you do it?" Qin Zhao smiled.
“No… but I can buy it.”
"No need." Qin Zhao said, "Come up and lie down for a while."
"I'm not tired. You go to sleep. I'll go organize those books." Jing Li stood up after saying that, but Qin Zhao held his hand.
The warmth from Qin Zhao's palm was transmitted to Jing Li's hand. Jing Li curled his fingertips without looking back.
"Xiao Yu." Qin Zhao looked at him and said softly, "Have you forgotten what I told you?"
“… I haven’t forgotten.” The voice was very low, with a hint of crying.
Qin Zhao sighed and said, "You are just bullying me because I don't have the energy to punish you right now."
"… "
Jing Li turned around obediently.
The young man's eyes were red, and when he lowered his head, the tears that could not be held back finally rolled down and fell on the back of Qin Zhao's hand.
Qin Zhao squeezed his hand, his voice still gentle: "Come here, I'll coax you."
Jing Li bent down and was hugged by Qin Zhao.
He buried his head in Qin Zhao's shoulder and said in a crying voice: "I know you will be fine. As long as you find all the herbs, you will be fine. I am... I am..."
"You feel sorry for me, I know."
Qin Zhao patted his back again and again and whispered, "Okay, don't cry. People will think I bullied you later."
Jing Li responded softly.
He didn't cry for long.
After a while, Jing Li calmed down a little, tilted his head and rubbed his eyes, and took the initiative to break free from Qin Zhao's arms: "I'm not crying anymore."
Qin Zhao was already feeling miserable enough, he couldn't afford to bother him any more.
Jing Li stood up, his eyes still a little red, like a little rabbit who had been wronged: "You should take a rest, I will go to organize those books."
"Wait." Qin Zhao didn't let go of his hand and asked, "Did you forget something?"
Jing Li: “Ah?”
Qin Zhao: "Punishment."
Qin Zhao uttered these two words lightly, but the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat ambiguous.
Jing Li pursed his lips and moved closer a little embarrassedly.
Qin Zhao said, "I can't get up."
Jing Li and Qin Zhao looked at each other for a moment. The latter had a smile in his eyes, and it was obvious that he was planning something bad.
Jing Li knew what he was planning.
He lowered his head and briefly touched his lips to Qin Zhao's.
Over the past month, Qin Zhao would occasionally use this method to "punish" him, but this was the first time Jing Li took the initiative to do such a thing.
The touch of lips was fleeting, but Qin Zhao still didn't let go, with the corner of his mouth slightly raised: "It was too fast, I didn't feel it."
“…” This is clearly what he said before.
The room was silent. Qin Zhao held Jing Li's hand, as if he would not let go or sleep unless Jing Li was obedient.
Jing Li could only lower his head and press his slightly cold lips against Qin Zhao's.
The other person's lips were soft and slightly cool. Jing Li carefully traced the outline of the lips. After a while, he raised his head slightly: "You will get better soon, right?"
"I will." Qin Zhao raised his hand and stroked the red corners of his eyes, saying softly, "I promise."
But Qin Zhao's illness this time was more severe than any other time.
From the day he returned to the village, he lay in bed for nearly half a month before he finally felt a little better.
On a midsummer afternoon, cicadas chirped in the yard.
The yard is cleverly designed. Even in midsummer, there is still a gentle breeze in the yard and it doesn't feel hot.
Qin Zhao leaned against the bed and looked out through the half-open window.
Jing Li was squatting in the yard taking care of the flowers and plants.
Jing Li was not exaggerating when he said he could grow flowers.
It has been nearly two months since the flower seeds were planted, and many flowers and plants in the yard have grown green leaves. Although they have not bloomed yet, it is not difficult to imagine how lush the yard will be when they bloom.
The germination rate is simply not that of the miscellaneous flower seeds that cost two cents a bag.
This is probably part of the Koi's good fortune.
Qin Zhao thought so, opened the medical book in his hand and continued to study, occasionally picking up the pen to make a few marks on the book.
"Qin Zhao, why are you reading again? Doctor Ge said you can't be too tired now!" Jing Li frowned when he saw him like this when he entered the room.
Qin Zhao fell ill because he was too tired in the county town and his body couldn't support it. After resting for half a month, he recovered a little, but Jing Li was particularly sensitive recently. He didn't dare to let him read for too long or go out easily, for fear that he would be tired again.
Qin Zhao didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "I've been lying in bed for half a month."
Jing Li pulled the book out of his hand and said angrily, "If you fall ill again, just lie in bed until Mr. Xue prepares the antidote."
"… "
Jing Li had been so worried for the past half month that he hadn't been able to eat or sleep well, and even his temper had gotten worse. Qin Zhao decisively shut up and didn't argue with him.
Jing Li put the book Qin Zhao had been reading back on the bedside table and was about to say something else when he suddenly heard someone knocking on the gate.
"Qin Zhao, are you home? There's a letter for you!"
Jing Li and Qin Zhao looked at each other.
Qin Zhao didn't have many acquaintances outside the village and rarely received letters. This letter could only have come from one person.
Pei An.
Pei An's last letter was ten days ago. In that letter, he said that the medicine Qin Zhao wanted could not be found in the county town, and the county magistrate was going to pass the news of the search for herbs to the provincial capital and think of a solution there.
Ten days have passed, and it's time to reply.
Jing Li hurried outside to get the letter.
He didn't know many words now and was not very proficient. He just recognized that it was indeed the handwriting of the county lawyer, so he handed the letter to Qin Zhao.
Qin Zhao read the letter.
After a moment, he put down the letter.
Seeing that there was no joy on his face, Jing Li's heart sank: "You still haven't found all the medicine?"
Qin Zhao nodded: "Most of the herbs in the prescription have been found and sent to Mr. Xue's pharmacy, but there is still one missing..."
Jing Li: "What's missing?"
"Astragalus."
Qin Zhao picked up the medical book on the bedside, flipped through it and searched for a moment, then said, "Here it is."
"Qidongcao tastes sweet and grows in the mountains in summer and autumn. It can be harvested when the stems and leaves are lush, dried, and used as medicine."
Jing Li frowned: "Since this herb grows in summer and autumn, why can't we find it?"
"This herb is too rare." Qin Zhao shook his head. "If I hadn't read it in this book, even I would have never heard of it."
The rarity of this medicine is completely different from that of Wushan ginseng.
Although Wushan ginseng is rare, it can be found in many medical clinics because it is frequently used in prescriptions.
As for Astragalus membranaceus… If you ask about it in a clinic in the city, the doctors there probably won’t even be able to tell you what the properties of this medicine are or how to use it.
If they are used less, naturally no one will pick them.
"Why would Mr. Xue use such an unconventional herb..." Jing Li muttered softly, and then asked, "What should we do now?"
"Mr. Xue once said that there is no substitute for the herbal medicine in the prescription he wrote. If any herb is missing, the antidote cannot be made." Qin Zhao sighed, "I can only trouble Master Pei to look for it for a few more days."
He took the paper and pen from the bedside and wrote a simple reply to Pei An.
"Just like before, deliver the letter to the post station at the entrance of the village and then come back. Be careful when walking." Qin Zhao handed the letter to Jing Li and instructed.
Jing Li took the letter, but didn't leave in a hurry.
Qin Zhao asked: "What?"
"I'll go find medicine for you." Jing Li said.
Qin Zhao was stunned.
"Astragalus grows in the deep mountains in summer and autumn. Aren't we living in the mountains soon?" Jing Li said seriously, "I am a koi. If they can't find it, then I can definitely find it."
"Little fish..."
Jing Li said: "You were the one who told me to believe in myself. Now I believe in myself. I think I can find it!"
Qin Zhao looked at him, his eyes softened: "Thank you."
His illness this time was indeed more serious than any previous one, but it was not as severe as any of his previous illnesses in the past three years.
Because he was alone at that time, even though Chen Yanan would occasionally come to see him and bring him some food every day when he couldn't get out of bed.
But most of the time, he has to rely on himself to get through it.
Everything is different now.
Qin Zhao withdrew his gaze, lifted the quilt and got out of bed.
"What are you doing here?" Jing Li frowned sensitively, "You can't go up the mountain with me, you're-"
"no."
Qin Zhao sighed helplessly, not understanding what image he had become in Xiaoyu's mind. He put on his clothes and patiently explained: "I will accompany you to the village chief's house and hire a few people to go up the mountain with you."
"… You little confused boy, what will you do if you get lost without a guide?"
Jing Li was walking on the mountain road with one foot deep and one foot shallow. Suddenly, his foot slipped and someone immediately supported him from behind: "Be careful!"
"I'm fine, thank you." Jing Li pushed his hand away.
Li Hongyu touched his nose and looked away uncomfortably: "I told you that you shouldn't go up the mountain. If you want to find herbs, why don't you let us do it?"
Qin Zhao now has a very good image in the village. He just proposed to the village chief that he wanted to hire people to go up the mountain to look for medicine, and soon seven or eight people came to help.
And they all asked not to be paid.
Qin Zhao naturally would not take advantage of others for nothing, so he paid each of them twenty cents and asked them to take Jing Li up the mountain early the next morning.
There are many herbs growing in the deep mountains near Linxi Village, and villagers usually come here to collect herbs and firewood. After entering the mountain, everyone went their separate ways, leaving Li Hongyu to take care of Jing Li.
"Of course I'll come with you." Jing Li found it particularly difficult to walk on the mountain road, and whispered, "You won't be able to find me without me."
Li Hongyu didn't hear clearly: "What did you say?"
"Nothing." Jing Li said again, "You are the one who shouldn't have followed. Your hand hasn't even healed yet."
"This injury is nothing. Even if my hands are broken and my eyes are blind, I can still walk around this mountain unharmed." Li Hongyu said with a proud tone.
He has been hunting in the mountains with his father since he was a child and is very familiar with the mountains.
Li Hongyu paused and continued, "But to be honest, I have never seen the kind of herbs you are looking for in the mountains. Can they really be found in this mountain?"
"Yes." Jing Li said firmly, "We will definitely find it."
But Jingli searched the mountain for several days in a row and didn't find even a similar leaf.
"... I'm not a koi fish after all." Late at night, Jing Li sat on the bed and said frustratedly, "None of the wishes I made have come true... It hurts, it hurts!"
Qin Zhao applied medicine to the rubbed ankle and wrapped it with gauze: "Bear with it, it won't hurt tomorrow."
“I know…” Jing Li lay on his back on the bed, his bare feet still on Qin Zhao’s legs, which were already wrapped in a lot of gauze.
He seldom walked on mountain roads, and every time he did, he would either be scratched by tree branches or rubbed by his shoes. He would have new injuries almost every day after coming down the mountain.
Qin Zhao reached out and gently grasped the other person's ankle.
Jing Li's skin was fair and delicate, which made her wounds look even more shocking.
"Rest at home for a while tomorrow. You can't go up the mountain like this." Qin Zhao said.
"No need. Li Hongyu and I have agreed to go to the western mountain tomorrow. We haven't been there in the past few days." Jing Li said, "I said I would find the herbs, so I must find them. Do you believe me?"
Qin Zhao shook his head: "If I were in better health..."
He didn't finish his words.
If there were any other choice, he would never agree to let Jing Li do this, but he and Jing Li both understood that this was the only way now.
Qin Zhao's eyes dimmed, and he stroked a scabbed scar on the other person's instep with his fingertips.
Jing Li felt a little itchy when he touched him and shuddered slightly.
They were about to go to bed, wearing only thin underwear. The light from the oil lamp in the room was already very dim, casting the two figures in obscurity, adding a bit of ambiguity.
Qin Zhao has been in poor health these days, and there are many things Jing Li has no time to think about.
But in this atmosphere, those thoughts that I never think about during the day pop up one after another uncontrollably.
He and Qin Zhao are now... probably together, right
Jing Li's ears felt a little hot.
Qin Zhao's face finally looked a little more rosy under the light, and he looked even better than he did during the day.
Jing Li looked at each other absentmindedly, and Qin Zhao also looked back at him. The palm that was pressing on Jing Li's ankle slowly moved upwards and touched the slender and tight calf.
Jing Li shuddered all over and subconsciously wanted to hide backwards.
But Qin Zhao leaned forward slightly and placed one hand on Jing Li's side, blocking all his escape routes.
Jing Li was pressed into the soft bed, looking at Qin Zhao's face which was infinitely enlarged in front of him, and his breathing almost stopped.
Suddenly, an unusually hot feeling came from the corner of my forehead.
"!!!"
"The fish scales are out again." Qin Zhao placed his fingertips on the scales on Jing Li's forehead and stroked them gently, seeming to find them quite interesting.
The little monster was obviously not very skilled, and fish scales started to appear when he got nervous.
When he was touching the fish body, Jing Liming was obviously not afraid of Qin Zhao touching his scales, but the human-shaped fish scales seemed to be particularly sensitive and afraid of heat. Whenever Qin Zhao touched them, Jing Li would shake slightly.
Jing Li couldn't stand the feeling and turned his head away: "Don't... don't touch me."
The hand that had rested on his forehead stopped.
Jing Li turned his head and Qin Zhao looked at him deeply. A kind of silent desire quietly spread in the dark night.
As their eyes met, the air seemed to become exceptionally thinner and the temperature gradually rose.
After a moment, he lowered his head and gently kissed the fish scales.
Extremely restrained and extremely gentle.
Jing Li's whole body was tense, but Qin Zhao didn't do anything. The oppressive feeling on his body suddenly disappeared, Qin Zhao stood up, pulled the quilt over Jing Li and wrapped him up.
"Go to sleep." Qin Zhao said softly, "Good night."
The next day, Jing Li got up early as usual.
It was just getting light outside the window. Qin Zhao helped Jing Li tie his belt and asked, "Are you really going today?"
"Of course I'll go." Jing Li chewed a piece of millet cake and said vaguely, "The sooner we find the herbs, the sooner we can cure your illness!"
Qin Zhao looked out the window. It had rained again last night and the ground in the yard was still slightly wet.
"The book says that the period after the summer rain is suitable for the growth of Astragalus membranaceus. We can give it a try today." Qin Zhao helped him tidy up his clothes and whispered.
"I know." Jing Li walked to the door, thought for a moment, turned back, and gently hugged Qin Zhao, "Don't feel burdened. It's my duty to take care of you. This is what a man should do."
Qin Zhao: “?”
I always feel like there's something wrong with this sentence.
Before Qin Zhao could answer, Jing Li had already left the door. He shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and was about to lie down for a while when he suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.
"Qin, Qin Zhao!" Jing Li called him from outside the window, his voice somewhat anxious, "That herb... has lush stems and leaves, slender leaves, and a silver-gray texture on the leaf surface, right?"
Qin Zhao vaguely sensed something and stood up and walked to the window.
Jing Li pointed to a patch of soil in the corner of the wall. After one night, new grass leaves grew there.
It is exactly what Astragalus membranaceus looks like.