At twilight, Mo Hua first returned home and had his mother cook some food: two bowls of hot noodles, some soy-braised beef, refreshing pickles, a few plates of snacks, and several pots of osmanthus-flavored wine.
He then packed the food into a food box, stowed it in his storage bag, and took it up the mountain.
Midway up the mountain, there stood a man, a woman—two children—and the veiled woman, all standing as straight as before.
Mo Hua, carrying his storage bag, approached them and got straight to the point.
"You've disturbed Mr. Zhuang's peace," he said. "It's best you go back. Mr. Zhuang does not wish to see you."
Upon hearing this, both children appeared somewhat disheartened, while the veiled woman spoke up.
"Please pass on a message. Just say that an old acquaintance has come to visit, with urgent matters to discuss, and we must have an audience with Mr. Zhuang," she said.
