Xiangbei didn't know why the old man's mood suddenly changed, perhaps he was reminded of something hard to let go. Without dwelling on it, North picked up the slightly cooled rice porridge, took a few sips, then went to the row of straw baskets. Seeing that everything was intact, she felt happy, grabbed some food, and prepared to have a hearty meal. Only she knew how hungry she was after exhausting herself exploring the path yesterday.
She picked up two burnt bamboo tubes and heated them over the fire. She cracked open a black lump of soil, removed the soil chunks containing feathers, revealing a beautifully roasted clay-baked chicken with a golden-yellow hue. North devoured almost half of the chicken leg and breast urgently, considering how hungry she was after expending so much mental energy on the exploration yesterday.
She then lifted the bamboo tube from the stove and, upon opening it, a rich fragrance emanated from the red rice mixed with chicken and mushrooms. Stimulating her taste buds, she slowly started to realize that the cabin remained sleepless due to the unrestrained smile of North. Her actions also awakened Cheng Zhong, who had been unable to truly fall asleep.
Considering that her recent journey has been exhausting, North decided to cook a warming and nutritious congee for everyone. She washed the iron pot used for meat porridge and added half a pot of clean water, along with ginger, Chinese yam, astragalus, and wolfberries she had stuffed into the chicken's belly. Then, she opened a bamboo tube, poured the chicken, mushrooms, and red rice into the pot, stirring it slowly.
With a steaming bowl of congee in hand, she returned to the stove. North noticed the genuine concern and surprise in Cheng Zhong's eyes when he walked over. Cheng Zhong, seeing the black bamboo and soil, joked about the enticing aroma wafting around, expressing his surprise. North explained that these dishes are called "bamboo tube rice" and "clay-baked chicken" and assured him that they are safe and delicious. She invited Cheng Zhong to try it during breakfast, stating that it would be even more aromatic and tender than what he smelled before. Cheng Zhong eagerly accepted the invitation, and they prepared for the morning meal together.
While Cheng Zhong enjoyed the congee, North prepared several other dishes. As the eastern horizon brightened, they packed some meals and a bowl of congee, then disembarked towards the two bamboo houses at the end of the platform in the sugarcane forest.
Back on the deck, North, with her hair still damp, tied a piece of cloth around her head to keep her wet hair out of the way. Dressed in the new clothes provided by Cheng Zhong, the light yellow cotton jacket, purple belt, and trousers complemented her well. With the early morning sun casting a gentle glow, the cool breeze rustling through the sugarcane forest, and the warmth of the fire heating up the congee and several steamed buns, North looked around and felt a sense of peace.
Cheng Zhong wasn't in sight, so North stepped onto the gangway, following it to the end, stopping on the large platform in front of the bamboo house. She took a deep breath of the ancient and sweet air, closed her lips, clasped her hands, and silently told herself, "Since you're here, just accept it." Initiating a Tai Chi posture, North began practicing the ancient martial art she had learned from her father, a ritual she often used to calm herself during moments of distress.
In the bamboo house, Cheng Zhong and the young man, who initially wanted to greet North, exchanged a look. Both were gradually filled with surprise, watching as North gracefully moved through the Tai Chi forms, a sight they hadn't anticipated.