The small boat gently sways, and the fragrance of rice porridge fills the air.
As North opens her eyes, she feels the soft bedding and looks around the small room with neatly arranged wooden shelves and covered bamboo baskets. Sensing the rocking bed and hearing the faint creaking sounds, she wonders about her current situation. Has she traveled back in time, or have local people rescued her? In the not-so-large room, a small window is open, revealing a sky full of stars. "Oh, I haven't gone back. The night sky with such pure stars is not something you find easily in the Great Heavenly Empire," North laughs wryly.
Taking advantage of the moonlight, she gets out of bed and opens the only door, stepping onto the deck. The boat is docked on the calm river, with a forested mountain on the right bank, unseen in the dark night. On the left, an endless sugarcane field stretches out. The gangway on the port side extends straight into the sugarcane field, leading to a broad platform where the outlines of some buildings are vaguely visible. The myriad stars are fading away, leaving only the morning star to twinkle brightly.
"Is the young lady awake? Hungry?" Cheng Zhong, coming out from the neighboring cabin, immediately greets upon hearing movement.
"Oh, Uncle! Hello. I am Tong Xiangbei. Did you save me? May I know who you are...?"
"Hello, young lady. Call me Uncle Zhong. I saw you fainting on the bamboo raft, about to hit the stone beach, so I brought you on board. The boat's conditions are simple, and we couldn't rearrange immediately, so we could only place you in the storage room. Please forgive us."
"Uncle Zhong, hello! Thank you for saving my life! You're too kind. I slept very well and warmly. Thank you for arranging everything," North sincerely expresses her gratitude. The first person she encounters in this world not only saved her but is also so kind. The days of despair, loss, and nervous anxiety seem to dissipate rapidly. The road ahead doesn't seem so frightening, and she unconsciously relaxes, a smile playing on her lips.
Watching the girl with a pair of eyes that momentarily resemble fallen stars, pure and untainted, Cheng Zhong breathes a sigh of relief. He walks to one side of the deck, opens a stove, adds some fresh charcoal, and says, "You must be hungry after sleeping for five or six hours. I kept some rice porridge for you to eat now. Everyone is still asleep; it will be bright soon. I'll cook more food for you later."
"Uncle Zhong, don't be so polite. Having hot porridge is already great! In the early morning, the dew is heavy. You can rest in the cabin. I'll take care of myself."
"No problem. Older people like me don't need much sleep. Oh, by the way, I placed those straw baskets from your raft over there, along the starboard side. Take a look to make sure nothing important was left behind."
"Really?! Thank you, Uncle Zhong! There's nothing particularly important, just some herbs and food. That's great, Uncle Zhong. Let me prepare breakfast. How many people are on the boat? I'll handle it, and I'll make sure you enjoy the meal."
Uncertain why, Cheng Zhong instinctively feels that this girl with an expressive face will bring him surprises. Thinking about the young master, who hasn't been happy or carefree for the past ten years, the good mood ignited by North begins to weigh heavily again. He simply mentions the cooking utensils on the deck and returns to his room.