Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 275 Warming Feet

If a person gets very cold, the best way to warm them up is to use their own body. This will not cause any aftereffects, nor will it cause pain, itching, or numbness. However, this really requires a lot of courage and willpower. It's not about getting chilled little by little outside; it's about actively enduring the cold while fully conscious.

It's like you're all hot and sweaty and you're naked, hugging a block of ice the same size as you. And it's not just about courage; you also need to be physically strong enough. Otherwise, like Xiaowei's mom now, you'll burn yourself out before others even get warm.

Xiao Hong agreed, took off her shoes, and got into bed. Aunt Wang said, "Forget it, I told you your aunt doesn't need to do it for me. Just keep them warm like this." Xiao Hong took off her socks, sat down, and put her feet under the covers, saying, "Won't they hurt and itch? I'm strong, it'll be fine."

Xiao Wei sat down on the edge of the bed, quickly rubbed his hands together to warm them, and put them under the covers to warm his mother's feet. He laughed and said, "Mom, you're not usually this impulsive. You dare to go for it without thinking it through?" Xiao Wei's mother blushed a little and reached out to pat Xiao Wei on the head.

A strong person's hands get very hot when they rub them together quickly. In just a few minutes, Xiaowei warmed his mother's feet. Xiaowei's mother pulled her feet out of bed, put on her socks, and got out of bed. She said to Aunt Wang, "I'll go boil some water. You can soak your feet in it later, so you don't get sick."

Xiao Wei sat further into the bed and said, "Auntie, give Xiao Hong one foot, and I'll warm it for you. I'm afraid Xiao Hong can't do it either."

Aunt Wang had no feeling in her calves and feet at that moment, so she theoretically stretched them towards Xiao Wei, but in reality, she only moved them a little bit. However, Xiao Wei knew where she was just by the slightest movement, so he rubbed his hands together to warm them and reached over to help Aunt Wang warm them.

Each rubbing session lasted about a minute, but her feet were so cold that the heat from her hands would instantly cool them down. She had to keep rubbing and warming them for more than ten minutes before Xiaowei's mother brought over some hot water, and only then did Aunt Wang regain some feeling in her feet.

Then Xiaowei and Xiaohong switched places. Xiaohong covered the foot that had regained feeling with both hands and feet, while Xiaowei covered the foot that was still cold.

Once she regained consciousness, things became easier; all she had to do was rub and knead her. However, since Xiaohong was a girl, the heat wasn't enough, so she used both hands and feet simultaneously.

So, Xiaowei's mother sat to the side talking to Aunt Wang, while Xiaowei and Xiaohong warmed Aunt Wang's feet. After another half hour, Aunt Wang finally felt her feet again. Xiaowei jumped to the ground, fetched a basin of warm water, and brought it over. Aunt Wang soaked her feet in it. At this time, the water couldn't be too hot; it had to be cooler than her body temperature.

Aunt Wang soaked her feet in the basin, let out a comfortable sigh, and said to Xiao Hong and Xiao Wei, "You two go back to your room. Xiao Hong, make some hot water to soak your feet, or your stomach will hurt later." Xiao Hong blushed a little, but still got out of bed and went back to her room with Xiao Wei. This was the first time she had openly shared a room with Xiao Wei in front of her mother.

The next day, when Xiaowei and Xiaohong got up and went outside, their two mothers were already busy in the kitchen. There weren't many people for breakfast: their family of six plus Hao Xiaodong, the night watchman Grandpa Guan, and Liu Hongliang.

Rice porridge, meat buns, stir-fried diced meat with pickled vegetables, salted duck eggs, fermented bean curd, and stewed cabbage with tofu.

After setting the food on the table, Hao Xiaodong, cigarette dangling from his lips, came out of the boiler room and saw Grandpa Guan carrying a lunchbox walking towards the dining room. "Uncle Guan," the old man greeted Hao Xiaodong with a smile and a nod. Hao Xiaodong waited at the dining room door for a moment before going inside with Grandpa Guan.

Inside, the two mothers were busy, while Xiaobing and Xiaowei's father were already seated.

Hao Xiaodong sat down at the table, while Grandpa Guan stood by the table, placing the bag containing the lunchboxes on the table and taking out the lunchboxes. The old man's movements were very slow.

Aunt Wang placed a steamer of buns on the table, glanced at Grandpa Guan, and said, "Uncle Guan, right? Don't bother taking any more today, just eat here."

Xiaowei's mother came over, shoved the lunchbox the old man was taking out back into his mouth, and pulled him to sit down at the table, saying, "We're not getting any food today, we'll eat here. This old man is so stubborn. Today is the eve of the Lunar New Year, we live in the same courtyard, we're family, how can we not eat together during the New Year?"

The old man sat at the table, glanced at the lunchbox bag that Xiaowei's mother had put aside, and said, "My hands shake, I eat slowly, and I'm afraid you'll find it annoying."

Xiaowei's dad said, "Everyone gets old eventually. What's the fuss about? From now on, just eat here. Don't carry it back and forth. It's so cold outside. By the time you get it ready inside, it'll be cold. You never listen to me. Don't be stubborn this time. If you eat slowly, just eat slowly. Nobody's bothering you. Xiaobing, go get Grandpa a bowl of porridge."

Xiao Bing stood up and ran to the porridge pot on the side. He filled a small bowl with porridge and brought it to Grandpa Guan: "Grandpa, here's some porridge for you. My mom's porridge is so delicious." The old man happily took the bowl and placed it in front of him. His hands were indeed a little shaky, but not too badly.

Severe Parkinson's symptoms are often associated with long-term alcohol consumption, which is why the incidence rate is higher among foreigners than among Chinese. Therefore, it is important to drink less alcohol and be more aware of health issues, especially for the elderly. It is advisable to drink tea regularly and limit alcohol consumption.

Xiao Hong and Xiao Wei went inside, and everyone started eating. The two mothers served Grandpa Guan food and steamed buns. Xiao Wei's mother asked, "Uncle Guan, who else is in your family? Where are you spending the New Year?"

The old man took a sip of porridge, swallowed it, and said, "I also have a daughter, who married far away in Liaodong City. She hasn't come over for several years. She lives with her son."

Xiaowei's mother said, "Where does your son work? I've only seen your daughter-in-law visit you in all this time, I haven't even seen your son yet. How old is your grandson?" Xiaowei's father glared at Xiaowei's mother.

The old man chuckled and said, "My son works at the mining bureau in Nanpiao, and my grandson goes to school there too. He comes back every few days. There's no one here anymore; my wife passed away early. These past few years, it's my daughter-in-law who has taken care of me. That girl is more filial than my son. It's good that she can come here to work; it's easier for her than for her, since she has a lot of work at her company. It's all good."

Xiao Wei was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Why didn't you go to school in the city instead of there?"

The old man said, "The child's household registration is over there. When my grandson was born, the whole family of three was there; the girl came later."

Hao Xiaodong asked, "Uncle Guan, is your son a government official?"

The old man said, "What kind of cadres are they? A section chief is just someone who leads the work. In the mine, only those who don't go down the mine are considered cadres."

Xiao Wei asked, "What did you do before, buddy? Were you a government official?"

The old man shook his head and said, "I'm not exactly a cadre, just a safety officer. I've worked in this field for half my life, but I've rarely gone down the mine. My son took over my shift."

Xiao Hong asked, "Shouldn't the safety officer be taking over your shift? How come you're the section chief now?"

The old man laughed and said, "Taking over means giving you a job; you can't just do whatever you want with it."

Xiaobing was the first to finish eating. He threw down his bowl and went outside. Yesterday, the yard was covered in snow, and he was the happiest of all. He said he wanted to build the world's biggest snowman. I don't know where he got that confidence from.

After finishing his meal, Hao Xiaodong put down his chopsticks, said goodbye to everyone, and went back to the boiler room.

(End of this chapter)