Having had their midday meal, Jinghan and her companions took a short rest. It just so happened that Zhixin and the others had also finished picking all the ginseng seeds that morning. Everyone took their belongings and ran to the riverside, where Zhixin led Guo'an and the rest in washing the ginseng seeds. Meanwhile, Jinghan and Wencheng took Jingxian and Mingyu down to the cove.
It was the beginning of the afternoon, the time when the sunlight was strongest. Jinghan found many large leaves by the river to hold over her head, providing some shade. This plant, known locally as "big bonestem," has a single stalk with a large round leaf sprouting from it. The stalk, about as thick as an adult's thumb, is tender in the spring and edible. With a sour and sweet taste, it's a favorite among the children. They can usually be found growing under the rocks along the river, and every spring, Jinghan and the others would come to pick and eat them.
