Chapter 20 What happened to Xiaodong’s legs?

Qiao Ran couldn't help but feel sad.

How innocent and kind children are!

I was still hungry, and still felt sorry for the imaginary little rabbit.

She saw her grandma taking down a cloth bag from the carriage, taking out a bag of needlework and walking over.

"Ranran, take off your shoes, and grandma will mend them for you. You see, the soles of your feet are all worn out, aren't they?"

Qiao Ran shook her head and refused: "Grandma, the light is not good at night. Don't let it hurt your eyes. I will sew it myself tomorrow!"

"Grandma, don't be in the way. I don't know how much sewing I have done under the oil lamp in the past few decades, not to mention these fires are so bright."

Qiao Ran couldn't resist her, so she had to take off her cloth shoes with exposed toes.

Looking at the old lady who lowered her head to mend her shoes, Qiao Ran couldn't help but think of her grandfather.

Her grandmother passed away when she was very young. In her impression, her parents were also very busy. They all worked in the city and only came back to see her during holidays.

She grew up with her grandfather. When she was a child, her grandfather also wore reading glasses and made cloth shoes for her under the light.

Her grandpa’s mille-feather soles made her feel better than all the shoes in the world.

Thinking that there were several pairs of mille-feuille cloth shoes that grandpa had given to her in the courtyard, Qiao Ran thought about finding a chance to wear them out, but now that she was on the road all day, she was reluctant to waste such good shoes.

Qiao Ran looked around. Qiao Dong hadn't come back yet, so she asked, "Grandma, what's wrong with Xiaodong's leg? Did the doctor fail to cure it?"

Mrs. Qiao paused her hands and sighed: "At that time, our family had just married your third uncle, and we didn't have money to hire a doctor, so we borrowed three taels of silver from several families in the village. He sent Dong'er to the hospital in the town. The doctor helped him reattach the leg bone. He said that the child's body recovered quickly and he could just stay in bed for half a month. Who knew that half a month would be enough? After that, Dong'er went to the ground to walk, but he still felt that the pain in his leg was unbearable. We thought it was because the leg had not healed well, so we let him rest for ten more days, but we didn't expect that the pain was still the same after ten days. He has endured it like this for all these years. Pain, limping.”

Qiao Ran couldn't help but frowned after hearing this.

She didn't expect that Xiaodong was actually walking with severe pain.

Then, isn't it like the mermaid in the fairy tale who turns into a human form, enduring pain every step of the way?

Qiao Ran felt deeply sorry for her eldest brother.

When Qiao Dong came back, Qiao Ran called him over and took him to the carriage, blocking everyone's view.

"Sister, do you have a problem with me?"

Qiao Dong is taller than Qiao Ran, but whether due to physical torture or working more and eating less, the young man's figure is a little thin.

But he was born with handsome features, and even though he was wearing coarse linen clothes, he still did not hide his handsome appearance.

When he stood still, he looked like a handsome young man!

No one could see that he was a cripple with limited legs and feet.

"Sit down and let me look at your legs."

Qiao Dong didn't ask any questions and sat down after listening to his sister's words.

Qiao Ran opened his trousers and saw a finger-long scar on his calf.

She touched his leg a few times and already had a clue in her mind.

Qiao Dong's leg bone was reattached, but a tendon was twisted, causing him to feel pain when walking.

It would be nice if I had a set of silver needles on hand now. For Qiao Ran, this is just a small problem. Just apply the silver needles a few times and it will be fine.

She was deeply loved by her grandfather, and her silver needle skills made the old man praise her. She was also very pleased that her medical skills could be passed down.

This era pays great attention to the protection of men and women. Three-year-olds have different beds and seven-year-olds have different seats. Qiao Ran rolled up her brother's trouser legs and touched his legs. If an outsider saw it, they would definitely make irresponsible remarks. .

Fortunately, everyone was busy and no one else noticed.

Qiao Dong just thought it was his sister who felt sorry for him and wanted to see how his leg was injured.

Qiao Ran didn't say anything, lowered his trouser legs again, and just asked: "Xiaodong, do you believe sister?"

Qiao Dong looked into his sister's eyes. They were no longer ignorant, but clear and bright, which was inexplicably reassuring.

He nodded: "Sister, I believe you!"

Although my elder sister was stupid in the past, she also loved and protected these younger brothers and sisters.

What reason does he have to distrust his sister?

Qiao Ran smiled: "Okay, tomorrow I will go to the city to buy a set of silver needles, and I will start treating your legs tomorrow night. It only takes a few days of applying the silver needles, and the pain in your legs will disappear, and you will be able to follow up after ten days." He is walking like a normal person.”

Qiao Dong's eyes widened in shock when he heard this.

It's not that he doesn't trust his elder sister, but when did his elder sister learn medical skills?

"What, you don't believe sister?"

Qiao Ran raised her eyebrows.

Qiao Dong shook his head: "No, I trust my sister!"

He wanted to ask something and opened his mouth, but still no question came out.

Qiao Ran nodded with satisfaction: "That's good. Don't tell anyone else yet. After dinner tomorrow, you follow me to a place farther away from the fire, and I will give you acupuncture. When your leg is healed, I will give it to everyone." a surprise."

Qiao Dong nodded obediently: "Okay, I will listen to my sister."

Before dawn the next day, everyone got up early and hurried on, wanting to quickly go to the town ahead to buy something.

It was almost noon when they arrived at the gate of Qingyun City.

Qingyun City is a small county town, but there are officers and soldiers guarding the city gate.

Many refugees like them gathered at the gate of the city. Many people sat helplessly on the ground, their faces sallow and sad.

Only a few people lined up to enter the city.

Everyone handed a few coins to the officers and soldiers guarding the city before they could enter the city.

"If you want to go into the city, come and line up. Ten cents for a person and five cents for a car."

The officers and soldiers shouted, beat up some people who still wanted to sneak into the city without money, and threw them aside.

The old village chief of Qingshui Village found an open space far away from the city gate for everyone to gather together.

"The official said that it costs ten cents per person to enter the city. You should discuss among yourselves who to send into the city. It is best for everyone to go in together. Don't delay too long. Buy the things and come out immediately. Don't keep everyone waiting."

Everyone started to discuss it. In fact, many people had already discussed it last night.

But none of them expected that the entrance fee to the city would be so expensive, ten cents! In the past, you could buy a pound of brown rice or black flour.

Even if the price of food is soaring now, you can still buy at least half a catty of whole grains, which is enough for a family to eat.

Some families who didn't have much money hesitated, and some approached the old village chief.

"Village Chief, the entrance fee is so expensive. My family doesn't have much money left. Can you please select a few representatives to buy food and save everyone the entrance fee?"