Qin Sang nodded, not making any absolute promises:
"I believe the reason you can't stand is due to muscle weakness caused by long-term bed rest and malnutrition.
If you want to recover, the first and foremost step is to supplement your nutrition, eat and drink well, and meet your body's nutritional needs.
Then, you need to add rehabilitation exercises. It will be a long-term process requiring persistence. You'll need at least half a year, or even longer, to see any results."
As Qin Sang explained, a trace of worry welled up in Xia Tieniu's hopeful gaze:
"Sister-In-law, will treating my illness require a lot of silver?"
Qin Sang knew what he was worried about:
"Not necessarily. In my opinion, the main expense would be on food. As for the rehabilitation exercises, they are a set of movements I can teach you for free. The rest is just you practicing on your own."
Xia Tieniu withdrew the hand propping him up, glanced at Widow Xia beside Qin Sang, then turned his face away:
"Then... then forget it. I don't want to be treated."
Qin Sang was slightly taken aback. Widow Xia beside her suddenly spoke up:
"No, you must be treated. It's just eating some better food. I've earned work points for meat, and we still have rice and flour at home. Only when you get better will this family get better."
Hot tears streamed from Xia Tieniu's eyes:
"But what if I still don't get better? If you, sister-In-law, find this paralyzed good-for-nothing a burden, just throw me on the mountain to feed the wolves or snakes. I definitely won't hold a grudge."
Widow Xia's eyes also brimmed with tears:
"How do you know you won't get better if you don't try? I believe in Sister Qin, and I'm not afraid of wasting that food.
If you die, you can just leave everything behind. But what about your two children?
They've already lost their mother. Do you want them to lose their father too?
Why aren't I afraid, yet you're the first to be scared?
Are you even a man?"
Xia Tieniu seemed struck by these words and remained silent for a long time.
But Widow Xia was determined:
"Sister Qin, don't mind him. I'll make him accept the treatment. In this family, what I say goes."
Qin Sang nodded to Widow Xia and then left the shack:
"If you want him to recover, you must make sure he eats and drinks well to regain his strength.
Also, I'll ask Carpenter Zhao to make a Wheelchair and some tools for rehabilitation exercises. The cost... you can pay with Medicinal Herbs.
Furthermore, when doing these exercises, half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening at first. The duration will slowly increase. He'll definitely be unsteady in the middle and will need someone to support, accompany, and protect him.
See if you want to do it yourself or hire someone."
Qin Sang definitely had to clarify this point in advance. Otherwise, even with the tools ready, Xia Tieniu alone wouldn't be able to use them.
Widow Xia looked at the shack, then at the villagers not far away, and clenched her fist:
"I'll do it myself."
In times like these, where could she possibly get the silver to hire help?
As for her reputation, she couldn't afford to care about that anymore.
Qin Sang couldn't help but feel some admiration for the woman before her:
"Alright. Once the Wheelchair and tools are made, I'll teach you how to use them. Also, Tieniu can't just lie down all the time. There's a set of training movements for when he's not doing rehabilitation exercises. Come to my house tonight, and I'll teach you what to do."
Widow Xia nodded:
"Okay, thank you, sister."
Qin Sang emphasized once more that he must eat well. Seeing Granny Xia so moved she was about to kneel, Qin Sang hurriedly stopped and supported her:
"Granny Xia, please don't. It's not certain if he can be cured. I'm just offering some advice. I don't deserve your kneeling."
After comforting Granny Xia, Qin Sang didn't delay any longer. She went to find Carpenter Zhao, requesting a Wheelchair, and also mentioned Crutches and a Walking Frame, leaving Carpenter Zhao utterly bewildered:
"In-law, a chair with wheels?"
Qin Sang knew it would be hard for someone from ancient times who had never seen one to understand. She simply took out paper and a brush from her robe and drew it.
Although not very detailed, Carpenter Zhao quickly grasped the idea:
"In-law, how did your mind come up with this? If this chair can really be pushed, then all those elderly people in their seventies and eighties who can't walk could sit in Wheelchairs and go out to sunbathe?
And these Crutches, can they really let people with leg problems go out and walk?"
Qin Sang nodded:
"Whether it works or not, you'll know once you make it and have someone try it.
In-law, these things are needed urgently. How much do you think is appropriate?"
Carpenter Zhao shook his head:
"No need, no need. We're idle in the mountains anyway with nothing to do. The raw materials are everywhere. It's a good chance to practice and keep my skills from getting rusty."
Qin Sang smiled:
"What do you mean 'nothing to do in the mountains'? There's plenty to do. We still need to ask you to make beds and tables. Other families might want to build log cabins too. It's all work. I must pay you, otherwise I won't take it."
Seeing Qin Sang's insistence, Carpenter Zhao finally spoke up:
"Then two catties of flour will do."
"Deal. About how long will it take you to make them, In-law?"
"The wheels for the chair will take some effort. Two days."
"Good, it's settled then."
After finishing the discussion about the Wheelchair, QinSang went to the Village Chief's House shack. The Village Chief's family was large, using four shacks in total, occupying a not insignificant area.
Seeing QinSang approach, the old Village Chief walked over leaning on his cane:
"Da Zhuang's Mother, why have you come in such heat?"
Qin Sang smiled:
"I came to talk to everyone about digging for Medicinal Herbs."
"Perfect timing. I also have something I'd like to discuss with you."
"Then you go first."
The old Village Chief pointed at the smoked meat on the Drying Rack set up behind the four shacks:
"Look, there are still several hundred catties of meat that haven't been distributed. Hunter Xu told me this morning that he'll take the Patrol Team out hunting tomorrow. If they catch more game, the accumulated meat will pile up even more.
I'm truly afraid all this meat will spoil in my hands. If it gets wasted, the villagers will surely blame me. What do you think we should do?"
Qin Sang asked, puzzled:
"Didn't you say the Patrol Team and Hunting Team distribute meat every day? And the village still needs to build defenses at the Mountain Pass, dig Flood Discharge Channels at the river, and build Watchtowers elsewhere. Can't this meat still be distributed?"
The old Village Chief shook his head:
"In winter it would be fine; it could be distributed over a month or two. But look at this midsummer heat. And I calculated that because the amount of meat distributed each time is small, even if we finish the tasks you mentioned within half a month, we still won't be able to distribute all this meat."
Qin Sang knew what the old Village Chief was worried about:
"Then build houses."
"Build houses?" The old Village Chief was very surprised. "Like yours?"
Qin Sang nodded:
"Rather than letting this meat rot and go to waste, it's better to have everyone put in some effort to improve their living conditions. Look, living in these shacks can't be comfortable. Building a row of large houses, where you don't have to stoop to go in and out, would be much better.
People live more comfortably, and the meat gets distributed without spoiling. It kills two birds with one stone."
Qin Sang knew the villagers wouldn't be enthusiastic about building houses because they all thought the Rebel Soldiers' threat would be over soon. Once they could leave the mountains, the houses here would be wasted.
Getting them to do it on their own initiative, no one would be willing. But with meat as a reward, it's a different story.