Chapter 26
Chapter 26: It Hit My Mouth
In their view, a horse with such severe injuries basically had only one path left—death.
Xie Changqing efficiently wrapped the last piece of gauze. He had just reapplied medicine to Little Red: “It can live. It’s just injured, that’s all. Once it’s healed, it’ll be fine.”
“…” The herder was stunned for a long moment, then suddenly slapped his thigh: “Oh my! Last year my horse’s rear got a gash, and I just killed it straight away…”
Thinking back, he really regretted it. The teeth were in great condition, and it was the fastest horse in his herd.
But because it had been cut by a tree branch, leaving a long wound with the flesh turned inside out, Xie Yu had said it couldn’t be saved—the wound would get infected.
He had even advised killing it quickly, so that if infection spread throughout the body, the meat wouldn’t be edible anymore.
“That’s also possible,” Xie Changqing said, seeing his regret, and patiently explained: “Because it’s winter now, bacteria don’t reproduce as quickly, so it’s relatively easier to treat.”
If it were spring or summer, Xie Changqing wouldn’t dare claim he could save Little Red.
After all, once a wound becomes infected, it progresses very rapidly.
Unless large amounts of antibiotics are continuously administered, death comes easily.
Hearing his words, the herder made an “oh” sound, looking thoughtful: “So that’s how it is…”
However, he immediately became excited again: “But you can definitely treat this injury, right?”
“…Mm.” Xie Changqing nodded.
Wasn’t it obvious? Little Red was clearly in much better condition today.
And yesterday’s medicine had taken effect too—the wound wasn’t as red and swollen, and had even started healing.
“That’s wonderful!” The herder circled around Little Red looking again and again, then left excitedly.
Before long, Xie Changqing noticed his prestige points had increased by five.
It seemed the herder had gone to spread the word for him…
Xie Changqing smiled, finding these people quite interesting.
They got along without so many complications—their interactions were simple and direct.
You treat me well, I’ll treat you well.
You’re capable, so I admire you.
This made communication easy and getting along quite pleasant.
Xie Changqing felt that the people in their pasture were much more lovable than those scheming types in the Sixth Pasture.
Sure enough, early the next morning, Nuomin came running over, quite excited: “You really saved that horse!?”
Yesterday when they had brought it back, she had truly thought Xie Changqing was preparing to kill it and make it into dried rations for the winter.
“Mm, saved it.” Xie Changqing was just about to go change its bandages, talking while walking toward the stable: “Want to come see?”
“Sure!” Nuomin played with her riding whip, quite curious: “You don’t know—quite a few people are talking about it, saying you’re amazing.”
Some were even saying he was much more capable than Xie Yu.
Others speculated that Xie Yu had run away precisely to make room for Xie Changqing, so he could also become a veterinarian.
Hearing this, Xie Changqing frowned: “No, if anyone else says that, please clarify it for me.”
Xie Yu was just scum—he couldn’t let them whitewash his reputation.
“Oh. Alright.”
When the two reached the stable, they found Batu and Xie Duoduo together feeding Little Red.
The two had gotten up early and gone to gather the most tender and fresh grass.
If they could, they would have loved to select each blade individually.
Watching them, Xie Changqing wanted to laugh and said helplessly: “If you’re free with nothing to do, you could go carry back a bucket of water.”
Although it was injured and needed care, this… wasn’t really necessary.
Seeing them arrive, Batu and Xie Duoduo quickly moved aside, excitedly saying: “Aha, Little Red is very happy today! Is it going to get better!?”
Xie Changqing removed the medicinal plaster to look, seeing it had absorbed well, and nodded: “It’s indeed recovering nicely.”
If it continued like this, it might be well in a few days.
“Wow, really!” Batu and the others were overjoyed.
Watching him apply medicine to Little Red, Nuomin leaned over to look: “Hm? This medicinal paste of yours is?”
“I mixed it myself.” Xie Changqing showed it to her.
It was just a black paste anyway—she couldn’t tell what was in it.
After finishing the medicine application, Nuomin looked thoughtful: “This medicinal paste of yours… how long can it keep?”
“Depends on how it’s used.” Xie Changqing packed up the medical kit, saying casually: “If you want the best results, mix it fresh and use immediately.”
But that wasn’t convenient for transport and storage. In winter it could keep for ten days to half a month, but in spring and summer only two or three days.
“It can also be made into powder.” Xie Changqing thought for a moment: “That way, when you want to boost the medicinal effect, just package it and add water to mix.”
The effect would be slightly weaker, but it could keep for half a year.
“Half a year… that works!” Nuomin looked excitedly and nodded: “Can you make more?”
“Ah?” Xie Changqing was somewhat puzzled.
Nuomin lightly patted him, eyes shining: “Are you stupid!? Such a good opportunity and you’re not seizing it! We don’t have enough for ourselves, but we can sell it to others!”
Sell to the Seventh, Eighth, and Tenth Pastures—they all used the same winter grazing grounds and weren’t too far away.
After winter ended, when they moved to spring pastures, they’d have to travel for three to five days, during which livestock mortality rates were extremely high.
This was different from moving to winter grazing grounds—after all, autumn was a time of rest and plenty, but winter grazing wasn’t so comfortable.
Some animals, already skin and bones from hunger, would collapse and never get up again after traveling three to five days.
And most of these losses were due to injuries and infected wounds that couldn’t be treated.
“Oh…” Xie Changqing nodded thoughtfully: “That works!”
Nuomin made a sound of agreement and waved her hand: “Then it’s settled! Seventy for you, thirty for me—you make it, I’ll take it to sell!”
Perfect—she knew people in various pastures, and they’d be happy to buy from her.
This was great news for Xie Changqing, who was just looking to make money: their winter food supplies weren’t quite enough, and he still owed Uncle Sangtu thirty pounds of dried beef!
After Nuomin left, Xie Changqing immediately got busy.
Each medicinal herb needed to be dried and then ground—time was tight, no time to wait for them to dry slowly.
Fortunately there was plenty of cow dung, so no worry about fuel for the fire.
Then came the mixing, and he needed to add some anti-inflammatory medicine and such…
Xie Changqing thought it over, spent three points, and exchanged for medicine to mix in.
This was when the medical kit showed its worth.
Otherwise, relying only on the few medicine bottles the Seventh Pasture had given them, using them sparingly, anyone would be reluctant to use them.
He stayed busy until midday before finally preparing twenty doses of medicinal materials.
Batu and Xie Duoduo were also quite tired—one helped with grinding, the other with drying the herbs.
The ground powder had to be extremely fine with no large granular herb stems, and the herb drying also required precise timing—too dry or too moist wouldn’t work.
“Shall we eat first?” Tana lifted the felt curtain and poked her head in, smiling: “I’ve cooked mutton!”
She had specifically added the herb fruit Xie Changqing had given her—it was indeed very fragrant.
Xie Changqing nodded, rubbing his wrist: “Alright, coming.”
He was truly tired, having been busy all morning.
However, all that fatigue disappeared the moment he picked up the bowl of mutton soup and that aroma hit his face.
“So fragrant!” Batu’s eyes lit up, extremely excited.
He didn’t rush to eat the meat, but first drank a big bowl of soup.
Xie Duoduo took a sip of soup, and tears immediately came streaming down: “Mama! This soup hit my mouth! It’s also burning my stomach with fire!”