Chapter 7: Blisters on the soles of feet

Young children love sweet things. When they eat candy after a long time, they can't help but shake their heads, squint their crescent-shaped eyes, and show an extremely happy expression.

Qin Xiangnuan was amused by her cute appearance and relaxed a little. She took out the cake from her arms, tore open the package, and coaxed her softly, "Eat slowly. Big sister still has two pieces. Don't choke..."

When Beibei heard this, he stared at her with wide eyes and forgot to chew for a moment.

"Big sister, can I take it with me?"

Beibei was attracted by the soft cake in her hand. She sniffed and asked in a low voice with a red face.

"Hmm?" Qin Xiangnuan was a little surprised. Seeing that she didn't answer, Beibei hurriedly swallowed her saliva and explained, "Brother Feng and mother haven't eaten for a long time. Beibei wants to share some with them."

"The teacher in the private school once said that we should learn to share and not eat alone."

Beibei spoke childishly but seriously. Qin Xiangnuan was surprised and raised her hand to rub her head. "You are so sensible."

"It's just that Beibei and I made a pinky promise not to tell anyone else about this, not even Brother Feng. We have to keep our promise, right?" Qin Xiangnuan whispered, worried that this would cause a disturbance and unnecessary trouble. "Big Sister will find a way to feed them, too, Beibei, don't worry."

Beibei nestled in Qin Xiangnuan's arms, nodded obediently, but her eyes were still reluctant to look at the pastries.

She fiddled with her fingers and muttered softly, "Brother Feng always leaves the dry food for Mom and me. I saw him secretly rubbing his stomach a few days ago. He must be extremely hungry. He's so hungry that he can't even walk and is limping."

"When I ran over that day, I saw Brother Feng rubbing his feet with his hands. There were bubbles on his feet just like Daddy's..."

Beibei was a little sleepy. She rubbed her eyes and leaned on Qin Xiangnuan's shoulder. She talked incoherently, but Qin Xiangnuan couldn't help but frown and look at Qin Feng who was keeping watch in the distance. His standing posture was indeed a little strange.

No! She actually forgot such an important thing.

Qin Xiangnuan held Beibei and handed her over to Liu.

"Cousin Feng, let me see your feet." Qin Xiangnuan walked to Qin Feng and asked him to take off his shoes and socks without saying anything.

Qin Feng was stunned by her and stepped back evasively.

An awkward smile appeared on his face. "Cousin Nuannuan, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

"Don't move!"

Qin Xiangnuan didn't waste any words with him. She just pushed his shoulders, pressed him to the ground, and tore off his shoes and socks. There were several blood blisters with pus on the soles of his feet. The pus inside was about to burst the outer layer of skin.

There were blisters on the soles of his feet, and whenever he walked, he would feel excruciating pain. However, Qin Feng had been able to endure it until today without saying a word.

"It's okay, it will be fine in a few days... Don't worry, cousin Nuannuan."

Qin Feng scratched his head and looked at her serious expression, thinking that she was frightened. He tried to comfort her and put on his shoes and socks again.

Qin Xiangnuan raised her eyes and scolded him, "You know, if it gets any more serious, you won't be able to keep your leg anymore."

"If the wound gets infected, you'll have to limp from now on, let alone practice martial arts or riding a horse. Why don't you just stay put?"

Qin Xiangnuan's temperament as a doctor emerged, and her words were harsh. Qin Feng was frightened by her. After a moment of silence, he whispered, "It's not that serious. Dad is also..."

Second uncle has it too?

Qin Xiangnuan was a little annoyed. She had been very busy these days and kept encountering unexpected things that distracted her.

She even forgot that the men in the general's mansion were still wearing thin boots and socks. After trudging all the way, those boots and socks were not made of silk or soft cloth like the women's boots and socks, so they would naturally rub their feet.

But they were really patient and refused to say a word. Qin Xiangnuan felt sad and took out a silver needle.

"Cousin Feng, bear with it, it might be a little painful."

Qin Xiangnuan squatted down, pricked the blood blister with a silver needle, and squeezed out the pus in the blood blister with swift movements. She then sprinkled some anti-inflammatory drugs. She could not take out gauze from the space to bandage them, otherwise the officials would see it and would definitely become suspicious.

She thought for a moment, tore off two pieces of cloth from her body, and tied his feet tightly.

Qin Feng's forehead was covered with beads of sweat, and his lips were bloodless from the pain. He still said to Qin Xiangnuan, "Little sister, your clothes...will get cold in a few days. What if you catch a cold from the cold?"

"It's okay, second uncle has some too?" Qin Xiangnuan ignored all that and stood up to ask.

Qin Feng nodded when she asked, "Dad's condition is much more serious than mine, and the same goes for Third Uncle."

As expected of a man from the general's mansion, he is a man who can endure hardships and work.

Qin Xiangnuan gathered them all together and examined them carefully. Third Uncle Qin Wen was the most seriously injured. He was usually quiet and didn't practice martial arts like Second Uncle, and his physical foundation was weak. The soles of his feet were bloody and even stuck to his shoes and socks. Even Qin Xiangnuan, accustomed to seeing the injured, couldn't help but frown at the sight. She tried to be as gentle as possible as she handled him.

"I'm sorry to trouble Nuannuan, and you still have to help us treat our injuries."

"If it were Big Brother, he wouldn't be so precious as us. After all, we're used to a life of luxury. So we figured we'd endure it as long as we could. We'll get to the border as quickly as possible, so you don't have to suffer as much."

Qin Wen took a deep breath and spoke incoherently because of the pain.

Qin Xiangnuan squeezed out the pus and blood, and replied without raising her head, "Even if Daddy were here, he wouldn't be able to endure the long journey."

"Uncle San's words really make me feel like an outsider. All these years, with Daddy away, it's thanks to Uncle Er and Uncle San that they've taken care of Mom and me in the capital. They've done us a favor, so how can they be considered a burden?" Qin Xiangnuan rubbed her knees and stood up. She was a little unsteady after squatting for so long. She looked at the stunned Qin Wen and continued, "If you really want to talk about being a burden, it's you who's been implicated by Daddy."

"If it were an ordinary citizen with no relatives or friends, how could he be exiled to a cold and bitter place?"

"If Second and Third Uncles continue to be so polite, the family will always become estranged. How can we get along if there is a rift? It is better to speak frankly about anything, take care of each other, and bother each other. If you owe a favor, you should repay it. Only when there is give and take can the relationship last. There is no need to worry about whether there is any debt or not. That is how family should be."

Qin Xiangnuan's eyes were blazing and her words were resounding.

Qin Yi and Qin Wen looked at each other, both showing self-ashamed expressions, and smiled, "Nuannuan is right, we were stupid."

"It's just... there's something."

Second Uncle hesitated, looking at the pairs of shoes and socks lying on the ground. "The road ahead is full of mountains and rocks. Nuannuan worked so hard to treat our injuries, but if we continue, the same thing will inevitably happen again. We can't walk for one day and rest for two."

Failure to arrive at the border on time may have a wider impact.

"I have a plan! I just need to ask Second and Third Aunts to take some trouble and come with me." Qin Xiangnuan narrowed her eyes and looked at the woods in the distance. An idea came to her mind, and a confident smile rose at the corner of her lips. "If the shoes and socks are not good, just make a new pair."