By the early evening, Lóng Wei returned to the same middle-aged man, who was selling the sweet dumpling. He found out from many people that only legends mentioned the ninety-nine lake.
The middle-aged man glanced at Lóng Wei, who was waiting for him to finish his work.
When the crowd became smaller, Lóng Wei walked toward him and asked him to give him one serving of the sweet dumpling.
The middle-aged man hummed and prepared one for Lóng Wei. The Prince ate the dumplings with zeal and found them delicious.
"Did you thoroughly ask the people about the location of the lakes?" The middle-aged man waited for Lóng Wei's response.
"Why are you so interested to know that?" Lóng Wei instead of answering questioned him back. He threw the thin, sharp bamboo stick in the bamboo bin and asked him how much he had to pay.