Even after they left, the young soldier who had been on duty had not returned to normal.
The group remained silent the whole way. When they reached the vicinity of the camp, two of them exchanged a glance and silently turned towards the camp. Jian Dan also silently returned to the family compound. None of them uttered a sound.
When Qin Qinghuai and Cheng Chao returned, it was already dark, but there was no light coming out of the house, and the courtyard was very quiet.
The two stood at the door for a long time. Qin Qinghuai rubbed his face vigorously, trying to look as normal as possible, before reaching out to push the door open.
Let's go!
The entrance was quiet. The two paused for a moment, then Qin Qinghuai pushed open the door to the east room. In the dim light, a figure lay indistinctly on the kang (a heated brick bed). Qin Qinghuai secretly breathed a sigh of relief, reached out and pulled the quilt to cover her, then came out and closed the door behind him.
"What's wrong? Are you inside?"
Qin Qinghuai took off his coat and hung it in the west room, then lit a lamp.
"She's asleep, don't wake her yet."
Cheng Chao sighed softly.
"This person is as tough as can be, but in his heart, he can't bear to see this or that. He's probably feeling uncomfortable inside."
Qin Qinghuai pursed his lips and didn't say anything. Yes, he was a stubborn but soft-hearted and proud little guy.
When I got back, I was feeling tired and cold, so I lit a fire and lay down. But the images I had just seen kept flashing before my eyes: one moment it was frostbite covered in pus and blood, the next it was hands covered in cracks, then it was the stiff, immobile young soldier on patrol, then it was the young soldier shivering in the drafty barracks, and then it was someone grinning innocently, showing off a mouthful of white teeth...
Lost in thought, she couldn't calm her mind and tossed and turned until they were almost back before finally falling asleep. She thought a good night's sleep would help, but when Qin Qinghuai came in to call her after finishing his meal, she discovered...
"Honey, do you have a fever?"
Simple opened her eyes groggily, still a little disoriented, and it took her three seconds to focus her gaze on the person in front of her.
What's wrong with me?
Only when she opened her mouth did I realize that this was her voice.
It was no different from working a bellows; only belatedly did he realize the needle-like pain in his throat. Qin Qinghuai noticed too, quickly handing him some cooled, warm water and helping him up.
"Have some water first, then we can talk."
He drank most of the water in the tub, and Jian Dan finally felt a little more awake. He glanced out the window.
"You're back? Is it so late?"
Qin Qinghuai got up and lit the lamp, then sat down and let someone lean against him.
"Did you catch a chill while you were out today? Why is your throat still so sore? Do you have any medicine at home? Shall I take you to the clinic?"
Jian Dan was also stunned. She had rarely even caught a cold during the years she had been working in the countryside, but she never expected it to be so serious this time.
"Cough, no, no need, I have medicine, I'll just take the medicine."
He then took out a few pills and swallowed them. Qin Qinghuai quickly brought the teacup to his lips.
"Why are you in such a hurry? Eat first, then take your medicine,"
After gulping down some water and swallowing the medicine, Jian Dan shook his head.
"It's okay, I don't take medicine often, and it works very quickly."
Cheng Chao had already heard the commotion but couldn't go in, so he diligently tidied the table. Seeing her come out, he looked her up and down, then frowned.
"Didn't you take your medicine? Why is your face still so red?"
With a simple eye roll, Qin Qinghuai explained,
"It's been taken for a while, so the medicine needs time to take effect. Come on, let's eat first."
Qin Qinghuai was glad that he hadn't wanted to wake her up, so he made a simple and convenient dumpling soup. However, he knew Jian Dan's taste, so he used tomatoes to make it sour, which suited her current liking.
However, he was a bit out of sorts and only ate half a bowl before putting it down.
Seeing her constantly clearing her throat, Qin Qinghuai's eyes flickered. He cut up a plate of watermelon, brought it over, and pushed it in front of her.
"Here, have some watermelon to soothe your throat."
Sure enough, I guessed right again.
Simple's eyes lit up, and after taking a bite, his eyes narrowed in satisfaction.
"Delicious, so satisfying!"
Cheng Chao's gaze shifted between the two people, a hint of a smile in his eyes. He had no experience, but just looking at them, he felt a warm and cozy feeling.
"Okay, just eat a few pieces. If your stomach feels uncomfortable later, go back to your room and lie down for a while. If you're sleepy, you can go to sleep."
"OK,"
Having eaten her fill, she felt much better and, without hesitation, got out of bed.
"You two eat, I'm fine, I just need to lie down for a while."
Qin Qinghuai was still worried, so he sent her back and watched her lie down.
"Are you sure you don't need to go to the clinic?"
"No need, no need. I know my own body condition. I'll just take the medicine, sweat it out, and get some sleep. You guys go eat."
"Alright."
Qin Qinghuai walked with a constant sense of looking back.
She had just woken up, but perhaps because of the medicine she had taken, she fell asleep again after lying down for a short while.
The bizarre and fantastical things from before didn't reappear, but I still couldn't sleep soundly.
The fever subsided for several hours but then rose again. Qin Qinghuai would get up every now and then to touch his forehead, and sometimes even use his own forehead to check it if he was worried. He would wipe his forehead with a wet towel. It wasn't until the early hours of the morning that the fever finally subsided and his breathing became calm.
Qin Qinghuai then felt relieved and dozed off for a while.
When I woke up in the morning, my fever hadn't returned, but my throat was much worse, and I could barely speak.
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