Chapter 25: Chapter 25: New Shoes
"Is it difficult to weave these straw shoes?" Madam Liu couldn't contain her curiosity and stopped what she was doing to join in for a look.
"It's not difficult. It's just that processing the straw and twisting the straw rope will take some effort," Qin Xiaoyao said.
While talking, her hands did not stop working, and she continued to weave.
"There will be more opportunities to enter the mountain in the future. I'll make a few more pairs today since I have the time. It'll be convenient to wear in the future."
Qin Xiaoyao glanced at Song Ye and continued. "I'll make a pair for each of you. When you go into the mountains to gather firewood, you can also change into straw sandals."
Usually, the siblings were the ones who gathered the firewood for their home, so Madam Liu rarely went out. However, occasionally, Madam Liu would tag along.
The mountain paths were difficult to walk on, and moving around in fabric shoes was not as easy as in straw shoes.
"Hehe! We don't have to restrict ourselves to wearing them only when we go into the mountains. We can also wear them even for normal activities."
"The straw sandals are light and durable. I'll let Yun'er and Ye'er wear straw sandals for a while, and I won't have to repair their shoes."
The main point was that there was no way to repair those shoes anymore.
Moreover, the children's feet grew quickly, so even if those shoes were mended, the children would not be able to wear them for long.
Qin Xiaoyao thought about it and nodded.
"That's true. It's not cold now, so they can wear straw sandals!" she replied.
In her heart, she was thinking that when she had earned enough money, she would have to buy a pair of fabric shoes for each of her family members.
At this moment, Song Yun came out and placed a stool next to Qin Xiaoyao. She was waiting to learn how to weave straw sandals from her Sister-in-law.
Madam Liu's interest was also piqued. She stopped her embroidery work and also moved a stool over to sit on the other side of Qin Xiaoyao.
Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao was quite happy.
Following that, she began teaching.
The mother and daughter learned conscientiously. After a few tries, they gradually mastered the essentials.
Fifteen minutes later, Qin Xiaoyao finally finished weaving her first pair of straw sandals.
"It's done. I'll try them on first!" Qin Xiaoyao let out a breath and stood up.
Then, she walked to one side, took off her fabric shoes, and changed into the straw sandals.
The soles of the straw sandals were soft, and the sandals were light. They also did not constrain the feet as much as fabric shoes.
After wearing them on her feet, it really made her feel comfortable.
Under the envious gazes of the mother and two kids, Qin Xiaoyao walked back and forth a few times before she nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad."
"Sister-in-law, Ye'er also wants straw sandals!" Song Ye couldn't contain himself any longer and pounced at Qin Xiaoyao.
"Hehe! Sure! I'll weave them for you now!" As Qin Xiaoyao spoke, she picked up the little child.
She only put Song Ye down when they returned to the spot under the roof eaves.
Song Yun looked at the straw sandals on Qin Xiaoyao's feet with envy.
Her hand movements quickened, preparing to make a pair of sandals for herself.
Thus, the few of them chatted and laughed as they got busy.
At this moment, in the room next door.
Song Que was lying on the bed when he heard the commotion outside. After his initial anger subsided, he was also a little confused.
What was that woman up to? Now, she didn't bother him anymore but got along so well with his family.
Furthermore, this time, she said that she wanted to look for a doctor to take a look at his leg injury, and even wanted to borrow money from her maternal family. Was it true? Or was she planning something again?
In the courtyard.
This time, Qin Xiaoyao finished weaving a pair of small straw sandals in less than fifteen minutes.
"Come on, try out your new shoes." Qin Xiaoyao smiled as she placed the straw sandals in front of Song Ye.
"Alright! Thank you, Sister-in-law!" The little child quickly thanked her.
Then, he allowed Qin Xiaoyao to support him as he changed out of his fabric shoes into the straw sandals.
"Ye'er has new shoes!" After changing into his straw sandals, the little child began scampering around the small courtyard.
Everyone was amused by his overjoyed demeanor.
Qin Xiaoyao glanced at her little sister-in-law's envious face, then at the straw sandals in her hands, which were not very well woven, and said, "Next, I'll make a pair for Yun'er."
Song Yun's face turned red.
"No, there's no need to. I can weave them myself."
"Never mind! If you want to make straw sandals that can be worn, you'll have to practice a few more times." Qin Xiaoyao laughed.
With that, she got busy again.
"Thank… thank you, Sister-in-law." The little girl blushed and finally accepted Qin Xiaoyao's kind offer.
Then, fifteen minutes later, Song Yun also put on her new shoes.
Then, it was Madam Liu's turn.
Now that the three of them had new shoes, Qin Xiaoyao was just about to make a pair for her attractive husband when Doctor Li showed up.
Hearing his voice, Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly went to welcome him.
After a round of greetings, she immediately invited him to Song Que's room.
"Doctor Li, thank you for making this trip. I'll have to trouble you to take a look at my husband and see how bad his injury is." Qin Xiaoyao took a stool and placed it beside the bed, inviting Doctor Li to sit.
Doctor Li didn't stand on ceremony and sat down.
He instructed Song Que, who had already sat up, to stretch out his arm.
Before Song Que met Doctor Li, he had been suspicious of Qin Xiaoyao and was somewhat against Qin Xiaoyao's arrangements.
However, when he saw that it was Doctor Li who came, he immediately chose to cooperate.
The reason was that he had heard people mention Doctor Li when he was studying in the town's academy.
Back when his father was seriously ill, he had wanted to ask Doctor Li to treat his father.
In the end, his plan was interrupted by Qin Sanya.
Compared to those unreliable and troublesome traveling doctors, this Doctor Li was definitely much more reliable.
Seeing Song Que extend his arm out to Doctor Li for him to take the former's pulse, Qin Xiaoyao and the threesome who followed her into the room, all heaved a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Song Que cooperated.
In the silence, Doctor Li took Song Que's pulse for a long time before releasing him.
Then, he took his medical case from the cabinet.
After taking out his tools, he began to unwrap the strips of cloth used to bandage Song Que's wound.
Doctor Li's actions were professional and skilled, but even so, Song Que trembled a few times in pain.
After about five minutes, Doctor Li finally removed all the cloth strips that were wrapped around Song Que's legs.
Qin Xiaoyao furrowed her brows as she looked at the black and hideous wound, as well as the fresh blood that flowed out after the removal of the cloth strips.
At the same time, she covered the eyes of Song Ye, who was the closest to her.
"You two go out and play first." Qin Xiaoyao instructed Song Yun.
Song Yun was also shocked by what she saw.
She knew her sister-in-law's intention.
"Okay." She quickly answered, took her brother's hand, and went out.
Qin Xiaoyao then looked at Madam Liu.
When she saw her mother-in-law looking at her attractive husband's leg with tears rolling down her face, she went up and patted Madam Liu on the shoulder.
Madam Liu felt her daughter-in-law's comfort and controlled her emotions a little.
When Song Que saw this, he endured the pain, and an odd look flashed across his face.
"Doctor Li, can my leg still be treated?" He immediately asked Doctor Li.
Doctor Li didn't pay any attention to him. Instead, he turned to look at Qin Xiaoyao.
"Go and get some clean hot water and a clean handkerchief."
"Okay!" Qin Xiaoyao hurriedly replied.
She then turned around and walked out.
Madam Liu also reacted quickly. "I'll go help." She added.
After speaking, she went after her daughter-in-law.
Doctor Li continued to clean Song Que's wound quickly with the tools in his hand. Then, he poured some hemostatic powder on it, helping Song Que stop the bleeding temporarily.
Only then did he look at Song Que.