Uncle Quan, on the other hand, felt a lot more fondness for Ye Wudao and Zhao Xiaoman. To the mountain people, being able to eat is a blessing. After spending the morning together, this couple from the big city managed to impress Uncle Quan. They weren't the fragile city folk he had worried about. All along the way, they hadn't complained of weariness, especially Ye Wudao, whose face did not betray a hint of fatigue.
As for Zhao Xiaoman, being a girl who had persevered until now was quite commendable—it wasn't reasonable to expect her to endure like a man.
After eating and drinking their fill, everyone planned to rest for an hour before setting out again. Zhao Xiaoman, feeling somewhat dirty from the day's walk, decided to wash her face in the nearby stream.
