"Third Aunt, don't cry. No matter how sad you are, it's no use now..."
Qin Xiaoniang carried Huan Ge'er over, glanced at Nian Jie'er's foot injury, and couldn't help but sigh, "This child is so obedient. If it were someone else who was more delicate, they definitely wouldn't have been able to withstand it at all..."
“It’s my fault. I always thought she could walk on her own. I didn’t carry her along the way. It’s all my fault, sob sob sob…” Zhang Xiu’e said, crying even harder.
Seeing her so heartbroken, Nianjie could only pretend to be strong, raising her head and enduring the pain to comfort her, "Mother, don't cry, it doesn't hurt anymore, it really doesn't hurt anymore..."
Song He'er patted Nian'er's forehead and encouraged her, "Nian'er is the most obedient. Just bear with it for a bit. I'll see if there are any herbs or anything nearby. I'll get them, crush them up, and apply them to you."
"Thank you, sister."
Song He'er smiled, turned around and walked to the other side of the tent.
Qin Xiaoniang did not stop her this time, after all, Song He'er had gone to look for things more than once or twice, and she was already used to it.
The most common plant in the desert is the prickly cactus. Song He'er found a spot and took out some aloe vera from her spatial storage, as it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and could be applied to the affected area.
When Song He'er returned to Zhang Xiu'e's side, Qin Xiaoniang had already washed Nian Jie'er's feet clean, while Su Yu's wife was mending shoes nearby.
“Mother, this is aloe vera, it’s the best for reducing inflammation. Peel off the skin and apply it to Nian’er. I’ll hold Huan’er.”
Qin Xiaoniang nodded and handed Huan Ge'er over to Song He'er.
After applying the medicine, the swelling subsided considerably in a short while.
Su Yu's wife brought over the mended shoes. "I used more than a dozen layers of fabric to sew the soles back together. Let's wear them like this for now. Once we get out of the desert, we'll figure out how to buy new ones."
Zhang Xiue breathed a sigh of relief, took the shoes, and held them up to Nianjie's feet.
"Hmm...it is a bit big, but it's not very durable. But for now, we can only make do with it. Thank you for your hard work, Madam Zhou."
Su Yu's wife smiled and said, "We came out of the General's Mansion together, so it's only right that we do these things. You don't need to be so polite."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a commotion arose from not far away.
Song He'er looked in the direction the sound came from and saw a crowd gathered in front of her, with thick smoke rising around them, as if they were cooking.
Qin Xiaoniang carried Huan Ge'er back and reminded him, "Let them eat whatever they want. Don't make trouble. We still have food to eat. Let's not cause any more trouble."
Song He'er nodded, "I understand, Mother."
Chunrao and Chundi made a simple rice porridge with a raw egg mixed in. Although it didn't taste very good, it was enough to fill their stomachs.
Taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, Song He'er pulled Qin Xiaoniang into the tent, took out a piece of goat milk glutinous rice cake from her bosom, and stuffed it into Qin Xiaoniang's hand.
“Mother, this is what I secretly saved up. No one noticed. You were sick the other day, so you should eat more good food to nourish yourself.”
Qin Xiaoniang stared in astonishment at the soft, fluffy goat milk glutinous rice cake in her hand, "Where did this come from? How come you always have such good things?"
Song He'er made a shushing gesture, signaling Qin Xiaoniang not to make a loud noise.
"Mother, keep your voice down. There's not much of this. I bought it in town last time and have been secretly hiding it. I haven't had a chance to give it to you yet. Right now, everyone's attention is on the two of us. Hurry up and eat it..."
Qin Xiaoniang hesitated, "But... is this a good idea for us?"
"What's wrong with it? You're a patient. If everyone has to share, I don't have any here. Wouldn't that just cause unnecessary arguments?"
Qin Xiaoniang thought Song He'er's words made sense, so she didn't say anything more, took the piece of goat milk glutinous rice cake, and ate it in a few bites.
About half an incense stick's time later, the area outside the tent was filled with the rich aroma of roasted meat.
Song He'er had seen people cook dog meat in modern times, but she had never seen roasted wolf meat. According to the book, this kind of meat was very fishy and not as tender as dog meat. It could only be eaten as a substitute for other meats.
Just as he was pondering this, Wang San walked over, having stuck a wolf's leg into a stick.
"I see the children are craving it too, so I'll give you some. Don't let the wolf's name fool you, it tastes almost like beef!"
When Chun Di saw the dark wolf leg, she was so frightened that she backed away repeatedly. "Thank you... I... I don't eat this."
Wang San smiled and said, "If you don't eat it, the children will. Look at these kids, they're all drooling."
Chun Di still did not take the wolf's leg.
After a long while, Wang San turned his gaze to Zhang Xiu'e again and generously handed her the wolf leg.
"My lady, are you scared too? You seem quite strong; you don't look like someone who wouldn't dare eat wolf meat!"
Zhang Xiue sneered, "What do you mean by that? Are you implying that I'm fat?"
"Hehe, don't worry, I'm giving this to you sincerely. This meat is really delicious, we've all had some, you should try it."
Zhang Xiue was a straightforward person; she either ate or she didn't eat, and she would never keep anyone in suspense. Besides, they hadn't eaten meat for a long time, so seeing some meat now was a welcome treat.
Thinking it over, Zhang Xiue took the wolf leg, tore off a piece of meat, put it in her mouth, and chewed it a couple of times.
"Hmm, not bad."
Seeing that she accepted it, Wang San didn't say anything more and turned back into the crowd.
Zhang Xiu'e peeled off the charred skin, tore the meat into strips, and divided it among the children. The adults only ate the charred skin.
"He'er, try this, it's really good." Zhang Xiu'e handed a piece of meat to Song He'er.
Song He'er shook her head. "Third Aunt, I have a small appetite. I just drank a bowl of porridge and I can't eat anything else. You guys eat."
"Hmm... Shall I take some in for your mother?" she said, and then she started to walk into the tent again.
Qin Xiaoniang had just eaten goat milk glutinous rice cake, and now she couldn't eat anything at all. She was currently sleeping in the tent with Huan Ge'er.
"No need, my mother is asleep, it's not good to wake her..."
Zhang Xiue hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Then shall we share it all?"
"Third Aunt, eat up! I think you've lost twenty pounds on this journey!"
"Little girl, how dare you laugh at me!"
"without....."
The group finished eating the wolf leg amidst laughter and chatter, and then it got dark.
To save on candles, everyone went without lighting lamps, simply using the moonlight to crawl into their tents and prepare to rest.
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