knee pads
As autumn deepens, the fields are always covered with a thin layer of white frost in the early morning.
Chen Bozhou noticed that when Yunwu was tending to those delicate herbs in the medicine field, he often squatted for more than half an hour, and the knees of his pants would always be soaked by dew and mud.
Although Yunwu never said it, Chen Bozhou had seen him rub his knees imperceptibly and frown slightly when he stood up.
This subtle movement was like a tiny thorn that pierced the heart of the sinking boat.
It was the last time he went into the mountains to hunt before winter. With luck, Chen Bozhou hunted a fox with fiery red fur.
The fox had a lush, shiny fur that would fetch a good price in town. The hunters on his trip were envious and urged him to take it in to sell for money.
Chen Bozhou stroked the soft and warm fur, but he had other thoughts in his mind.
Instead of selling the fox to a fur trader, he skinned and tanned the fox himself, and then went to the best tailor in town and begged him to learn the techniques of handling leather and sewing.
For the next few nights, he was busy in his room by the oil lamp, clumsily but intently.
The sharp needle tip pierced his fingers several times, and his thick fingers seemed a little unresponsive to the soft leather, but he did not show any impatience.
He wanted to make a pair of knee pads for Yunwu.
Once this idea came into being, it was like a seed falling to the ground, quickly taking root and sprouting.
He imagined Yunwu wearing it, squatting safely by the medicinal field on a cold morning, his knees no longer affected by the damp cold, and his brows, which were always slightly furrowed, perhaps relaxed.
Just thinking of this scene made him feel warm inside, more satisfied than selling the fox for money.
A few days later, a pair of leather knee pads were finally completed. Although the stitching was not very fine, the material was thick and the workmanship was solid.
Chen Bozhou wrapped it carefully and put it in his arms, as if he was carrying a hot secret, and came to the Yun family courtyard early in the morning.
Yunwu was sorting freshly picked herbs in the yard. When she saw him coming, a faint smile naturally appeared on her face: "Why are you here so early today?"
"I have something for you." Chen Bozhou was unusually a little embarrassed. He took out the cloth bag from his arms and handed it over, his ears slightly warmed. "Take a look and see if it's suitable for you."
Yunwu took it with suspicion, opened the cloth bag, and revealed a pair of fiery red fox fur kneepads inside. The fur was soft and shiny, lined with soft cotton, and the straps were very sturdy. He was stunned and looked up at Chen Bozhou, his eyes full of surprise.
"Is this... the fox you hunted?" Yunwu remembered that Chen Bozhou mentioned hunting a red fox a few days ago.
"Yeah." Chen Bozhou nodded, his eyes falling on the kneepads, feeling a little embarrassed to look directly into Yunwu's eyes. "I see you're always squatting in the wetlands, so your knees are easily caught in the cold. This... should be warmer."
Yunwu's fingers gently stroked the smooth, warm fur, and the touch soothed his heart. He remained silent for a long while.
Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, Chen Bozhou felt a little uneasy and asked tentatively: "Is it... not very good-looking? This is my first time making this, so my skills are a bit rough..."
"No," Yun Wu finally spoke, his voice softer than usual, but with a barely perceptible tremor, "very beautiful." He raised his eyes and looked at Chen Bozhou with clear eyes, "Thank you, Bozhou. This is very precious."
"It's not expensive!" Chen Bozhou waved his hands hurriedly, his tone urgent and sincere, "No matter how good the leather is, it's not as important as your knee. Try it on and see if it fits. Is it comfortable to tie? If not, I'll make some changes."
At his urging, Yunwu lowered her head and carefully tied the kneepad around her knee. The warm touch of the fox fur instantly insulated the morning chill, and the size was just right, neither too tight to restrict her movements nor too loose to slip.
"It fits perfectly." Yunwu said softly. He stood up, took a few steps, and squatted down to try it out. "It's very warm."
Chen Bozhou looked at his trouser legs that were always stained with mud and were now properly protected by the warm fox fur. The little thorn in his heart was finally removed, and replaced by an overflowing sense of accomplishment and joy.
He grinned, the sunlight shining on his face, his smile frank and bright: "As long as it fits! Wear it when you go to the fields and collect herbs from now on, so your knees don't get cold."
Yunwu looked at his unconcealed joy, and the softest part of her heart was gently touched.
He had seen too much of the warmth and coldness of human nature and had long been accustomed to bearing the wind and rain alone, but he had never imagined that there would be someone who would take his slight discomfort so seriously and carefully protect him from the wind and cold in such a clumsy yet sincere way.
"This fox fur... could have been sold for a lot of money." Yunwu whispered, his fingertips still unconsciously stroking the soft fur on the edge of the knee pad.
"What's money?" Chen Bozhou didn't care, and said it as a matter of course, "No matter how much money you have, it can't buy you good health. As long as you can feel more comfortable wearing it, it's worth more than anything else."
He said it so naturally, as if it was a matter of course.
The clouds and mist looked at him. In the morning light, Chen Bozhou's tall figure seemed to be able to block all the cold wind in the world.
He suddenly felt that the rumors, the anxiety and gloom about the future that had been lingering in his heart were dispelled at this moment by this fiery warmth.
"I will use it well." Yunwu promised, his voice was not loud but very firm.
At this time, Grandma Yun came out of the house on crutches. She immediately saw the brand new, brightly colored knee pads on Yunwu's knees. She squinted her eyes and smiled, saying to Shen Bozhou, "Bozhou, I'm sorry to have cost you money again. Wu'er just doesn't know how to take care of himself. I'll be relieved to have you looking after him from now on."
The implication of these words was too obvious. Yunwu's earlobes instantly turned a thin layer of red, and she turned her face away uncomfortably.
Chen Bozhou was overjoyed to hear this and quickly assured Grandma Yun: "Don't worry, Grandma, I'm here to take good care of Yunwu!"
From that day on, the fiery red fox fur knee pads became a common item around Yunwu.
Whether he went to the herb fields early in the morning or went up the mountain to collect herbs on a cloudy day, he would wear it carefully. The warmth of the fur not only protected his knees, but also seemed to extend to his heart.
Sometimes, Chen Bozhou would see him squatting on the edge of the field, his fingers gently stroking the smooth surface of his knee pads, his eyes soft and a faint smile at the corners of his lips.
Every time this happened, Chen Bozhou felt that the decision he made to keep the fox fur that autumn morning was the most correct and worthwhile choice he had ever made in his life.
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