Chapter Seventeen: The ground is cold, let me help you up.
Zhong Xiaoxiao wanted to say something more, about Song Xingzhi, about the bits and pieces she had heard or figured out herself.
Zhang Chunxue's heart felt like it was being gripped by an invisible hand, aching and throbbing, and she felt a little breathless.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and forced a smile as she interrupted her daughter, "Alright, alright, stop talking about this nonsense."
"Hold Yuanyuan tight first, and make sure she doesn't catch a chill. This child is very precious." Zhang Chunxue tried to keep her tone calm as she quickly changed the subject.
Upon hearing this, Zhong Xiaoxiao's attention immediately shifted, and she quickly nodded, "Yes! Mom, I understand!"
She wrapped her little niece even tighter in her arms, her little face pressed against the swaddling clothes, feeling the softness and warmth.
The two walked upstream along the riverbank, one after the other.
The pool here is deeper and clearer than downstream, allowing you to see swaying aquatic plants and occasional small fish swimming by.
Zhang Chunxue stopped and placed the bamboo basket and net on the shore. She neatly rolled up her trouser legs, revealing her slender but strong calves.
The icy river water must be bone-chillingly cold.
Seeing this, Zhong Xiaoxiao felt sorry for her and quickly stepped forward: "Mom, the water is cold, let me go down! I'm young, I'm not afraid of the cold!"
Zhang Chunxue turned around and saw her daughter's serious and worried face. Her heart warmed, but her face hardened.
"Nonsense! What kind of mother stands on the shore and lets her daughter splash around in cold water? Hold Yuanyuan and stand back so the water doesn't splash on the child."
Zhong Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, knowing she couldn't go against her mother's wishes, but her eyes were a little red.
Zhang Chunxue held onto the rocks on the shore with one hand and held a small net in the other, carefully searching in the water.
The stones in the pool were slippery, and she almost slipped and fell several times.
She held her breath, her eyes fixed on the movement beneath the surface of the water.
After searching for quite a while, hard work pays off!
"Splash!" She swiftly scooped a palm-sized crucian carp into her net.
Then, there was a smaller one.
Zhang Chunxue's face lit up with joy. After searching through the cracks in the rocks for a while, she actually caught a few plump loaches.
She stepped ashore contentedly, her feet covered in mud and water, which was icy cold.
"Mom, we caught him!" Zhong Xiaoxiao shouted happily.
Zhang Chunxue poured the fish and loach into the bamboo basket. Looking at the lively fish, her mood lightened considerably.
"Well, there were some gains!"
Because her feet were completely wet and her shoes were covered in mud, she simply didn't wear them. Instead, she carried the bamboo basket in her hand and walked back with Zhong Xiaoxiao.
The mother and daughter walked back to the village along the same path they had come from. The morning mist had mostly dissipated, and the sky was beginning to brighten.
Zhang Chunxue walked barefoot on the ridge of the field. Although it was a little uncomfortable, she didn't care.
As she walked along the gravel road at the village entrance, she felt a sudden pain in her foot, as if she had stepped on something sharp.
"Hiss—" She gasped and stopped in her tracks.
Zhong Xiaoxiao quickly helped her up: "Mom, what's wrong?"
Zhang Chunxue lifted her foot and saw that a sharp piece of stone had cut the sole of her foot, and bright red blood was gushing out.
"Mom! You're bleeding! It's a huge gash!" Zhong Xiaoxiao was so frightened that her face turned pale, and her voice trembled with tears.
Zhang Chunxue frowned, but waved her hand dismissively: "It's nothing, just a minor injury. I'll just get some wood ash and apply it when I get back."
She has suffered countless injuries in the past.
Just as they turned the corner, they bumped into Song Xingzhi, who was returning from washing clothes.
He was carrying a bucket of freshly washed clothes, clearly having just returned from the river.
Upon seeing Zhang Chunxue and Zhong Xiaoxiao, he paused for a moment, instinctively trying to look away.
He glanced down and saw the wound on Zhang Chunxue's foot; his expression immediately changed.
Song Xingzhi's voice also turned serious: "Your foot is injured? Why is it bleeding so much and you haven't even treated it?"
He put down the wooden bucket, squatted down, and wanted to check it.
Zhang Chunxue subconsciously pulled her foot back, looking a little embarrassed: "It's nothing, Secretary Song, I just accidentally scratched myself."
Song Xingzhi frowned, his tone leaving no room for argument: "This is no small matter! In this weather, wounds can easily become infected if not treated properly!"
He stood up, picked up the wooden bucket, and said, "Come with me to the river to wash it off and then bandage it properly."
Zhang Chunxue's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly shook her head: "No need, no need to trouble Secretary Song, I can handle it myself at home."
She really didn't want to have too much contact with him, especially in public.
Seeing her evasive gaze, Song Xingzhi sighed inwardly, his voice tinged with bitterness: "Chunxue... Sister-in-law, I know you may not like me, but you need to treat this wound quickly, otherwise you'll suffer!"
He paused, his voice softening slightly: "We're all from the same village. Even if there's nothing else, I can't just ignore it when I see it."
After hearing what he said, Zhang Chunxue couldn't refuse forcefully anymore, and the stinging pain in her feet also made her waver.
She bit her lip, and finally gave a soft "hmm," which was considered her tacit agreement.
Seeing that she agreed, Song Xingzhi immediately led her to the riverbank not far away, and Zhong Xiaoxiao, carrying the child, quickly followed.
When they reached a clean, large blue stone by the river, Song Xingzhi asked Zhang Chunxue to sit down, and then carefully lifted her feet.
Zhang Chunxue felt her cheeks burning and her toes curling up.
Song Xingzhi seemed oblivious to her embarrassment, and carefully cleaned the mud around her wound with the cool river water.
He moved very gently, as if afraid of hurting her.
After washing her clean, he took out a brand-new white handkerchief from his jacket pocket, carefully pressed it against her wound, then tore open the lining of his freshly washed jacket, which still smelled of soap, and tore off a clean strip of cloth to carefully bandage her wound.
Zhang Chunxue felt a sudden tremor in her heart as she looked at his focused expression.
After bandaging the wound, Song Xingzhi looked at her still wet feet and took off his coat, using the dry lining to wipe her feet clean.
Then, he picked up the cloth shoes she had placed aside and gently helped her put them on.
Zhang Chunxue was completely stunned. She never expected Song Xingzhi to be so...bold!
This is way too intimate!
She was startled and looked up sharply at Zhong Xiaoxiao.
Fortunately, Zhong Yuanyuan in Zhong Xiaoxiao's arms was probably hungry and suddenly started to cry. Zhong Xiaoxiao was busy comforting the child and didn't notice what was happening.
Zhang Chunxue breathed a sigh of relief, but her heartbeat just wouldn't calm down.
"Alright, sister-in-law." After doing all this, Song Xingzhi looked up, his expression becoming even more gentle. He reached out his hand to Zhang Chunxue: "The ground is cold, let me help you up."
Zhang Chunxue looked at his outstretched hand; the hand had distinct knuckles, and was warm and strong.
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