Knowing that she had this habit, Brother Sang would always heat a pot of water on the stove in advance so that she could scoop it into a basin to soak her feet as soon as she came back.
The wooden foot basin was also made by Brother Sang. Since the new house was built, Brother Sang's energy and spirit have visibly improved, and he is more motivated to do everything than before.
This is perhaps the deep-seated sense of belonging to home that Chinese people have in their bones. Once they have a house, they want to fill it with all the necessities, decorate it warmly, and live in it comfortably.
Many of the small items and household utensils in the house were made by him bit by bit with a carving knife.
For example, bowls, ladles, cups, buckets... Although he can't do heavy work, he is very good at this kind of small woodworking.
Zheng Quchi pulled up a wooden stool in the kitchen and sat down to soak his feet. After washing away the chill and fatigue, he suddenly remembered that there was another person in the room.
At this moment, Yuwen Sheng was observing Zheng Quchi's room.
The room, decorated in a log cabin style, is simply furnished. To the north is a canopy bed without curtains, to the right is a chest of drawers, and to the left is a small table with several sheets of rough yellow bamboo paper placed on it using river stones. On the table is a carved wooden vase with two budding red plum blossoms inserted inside.
Inside the room, there was a faint fragrance, some of camphor wood, some of yellow stamens and red plum blossoms, and some of the unique body fragrance that Zheng Quchi left behind.
The bedroom floor was made of dried wooden planks, coated with a layer of varnish made of pine resin and sap. Zheng Quchi was worried about dampness, so he specially raised it 30 centimeters off the ground. As a result, the floor felt very flat and comfortable underfoot, unlike ordinary rammed earth floors which become bumpy and uneven after being walked on for a long time.
Aside from the lingering, unsettling fragrance, the room's simple, understated color scheme and decor suited Yuwen Sheng perfectly.
The individual rooms built in the camp are worlds apart from those here.
The door was pushed open, and Zheng Quchi brought in a basin of hot water: "Liu Fengmian, soak your feet."
Yuwen Sheng turned his head, puzzled: "Soaking your feet?"
The State of Ye did not have this compound noun. People in the State of Ye would wash their feet before going to bed, but they would only wash them with warm water and very few people would use the word "soak".
"Soaking your feet in hot water for a while can dispel cold, reduce swelling, and relieve fatigue accumulated during the day."
She specially asked her brother to make a lid for the foot bath basin, with two holes cut out for her legs to extend, so that the water temperature could be maintained for longer.
Yuwen Sheng had never soaked his feet, nor did he believe in such things.
"You must be very tired after standing for so long today, so give it a try."
As she spoke, she unceremoniously pressed him down to sit on the edge of the bed. Knowing that he had difficulty seeing, and to make up for almost accidentally killing him today, and for waiting for him all afternoon, she didn't mind taking off his shoes and socks and letting him put his feet in the hot water.
Yuwen Sheng's hands and feet have always been cold, perhaps due to the martial arts he practiced, or perhaps due to the congenital damage to his heart meridian.
As the hot water soaked his feet, a strange warmth instantly enveloped him.
"Is it comfortable?"
"……Um."
As the Qi and blood flow downwards, the unobstructed meridians release both the muscles and the mind, and his voice becomes languid and relaxed.
No one can escape the law of "it smells so good!" Zheng Quchi yawned and didn't wait for him any longer: "When the water gets cold, don't soak your feet anymore. Dry them and go to bed. I'll come back to pour more water tomorrow."
After she left, Yuwen Sheng's feet remained soaked in the water in the foot basin until it was completely cold, the warmth he had felt earlier gradually replaced by a familiar chill.
Thinking of Zheng Quchi's back as he turned and left without a second glance, a flash of annoyance crossed his eyes.
She lowered her eyes, her gaze fixed on the hazy moon and the cold, unpredictable mood, and kicked over the foot basin.
Clang!
"What's wrong?"
Zheng Quchi threw on an overcoat and jogged over. When she saw the water spilled all over the floor and that he was sitting silently by the bed, she picked up the foot basin and said, "Did you fall? I told you I'd pour the water."
She thought he was trying to get up to pour water and had kicked over the basin because of his poor eyesight.
Yuwen Sheng was taken aback.
He thought that when she came over, she would immediately accuse him of spilling water and being useless like a piece of trash, or even if she held back her temper, she would still give him a hard time and think that he had caused her trouble... But when she came over, she first showed concern for him, and then cleaned up for him without any complaints.
Yuwen Sheng opened his mouth, his eyes innocent: "I think I can..."
He's lying; he deliberately spilled the water.
Feeling guilty and remorseful: "You're tired today too, and I still have to rely on you for such a small thing..."
He lied because he wanted her to always put him first.
Hearing him say that, Zheng Quchi paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "You can rely on me, you don't need to force yourself."
She knew about his situation when she returned from the selection process, so of course she wouldn't look down on him now because of his shortage of personnel.
Yeah?
Yuwen Sheng gave her a bright smile: "The water's cold, I want to soak in it again."
His smile, like gazing at a beautiful woman under the moon, possesses a magical power, giving people a unique aesthetic enjoyment.
Zheng Quchi was momentarily stunned, but he didn't indulge him completely: "Your feet won't be able to stand soaking for too long, I'll do it for you tomorrow."
"But my feet are cold."
Is it still cold after soaking for so long? She instinctively wanted to touch it, but couldn't bring herself to do it.
She guessed, "You must be cold-sensitive. When I have time, I'll make you a hot water bottle and put it on your bed so you'll stay warm all night until dawn."
What is a hot water bottle?
"It's made of copper, like a round pot. You fill it with boiling water, tighten it, and it'll keep you warm for a long time, just like a charcoal brazier."
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