Zebi Mountain Manor is nestled against the mountain, with its walls curving eastward until reaching the cliff edge. The water pavilion serves as a place for waterworkers to clean the canal, guiding the mountain stream into the manor. A large water reservoir connects the mountain stream and the internal water channels, controlled by iron gates to manage water flow during rainy and dry seasons. The spacious two-tiered wooden platform is suitable for workers to sit or lie on, facilitating overnight work during heavy rainfall. It's a common resting place for mountain dwellers heading to town.
Beyond the water pavilion, only a narrow mountain path, not more than two meters wide, follows the stream, leading westward and upward. Crouching down, Tong Chen uses three long cloth strips to tie North's trouser legs, creating a pair of makeshift leggings suitable for mountain travel. Another strip of fur cloak is tied around the waist, securing the fabric. Tong Chen skillfully weaves North's long hair into a thick braid, securing it on the head with a blue cloth. Smiling, he tells North, "Chen Gege, the basket is too full today, so I won't be able to carry you later. Miss North, you'll have to walk on your own. Tie the cloth tightly; don't let the mountain wind mess up your hair or catch it on tree branches, understand?"
Watching Tong Chen's caring instructions and recalling his earlier attempt to fashion an extravagant cloak into a dress, North feels a surge of emotion and even a tinge of jealousy towards Tong Xiaojie. Trying to contain the tears welling up, North hastily waves goodbye to the departing duo and starts walking. Tong Chen, carrying luggage on his back, offers a bow before hurrying to catch up. Cheng Mo and Qiao Er watch the scene in silence until the figures disappear over the mountain ridge, only then do they board the carriage and depart.
As North ascends, the heart becomes more unsettled. Walking with a heavy heart for an hour, Tong Chen stops at a water bay with a sandy beach. "Miss North, have some food here. I'll light a signal fire; they will surely come down to assist when they see the smoke."
In a small canyon nestled among towering mountains on all sides, several small streams gently flow from the mountain rocks and green grass, gradually converging into a shallow river. Here, a massive granite rock creates a one-meter high waterfall, forming a clear pool at its base. The pool is surrounded by fine white sand, reflecting glimmering waves under the afternoon sunlight, with fish and shrimp swimming together in the water. At this moment, all the gloom and tension are washed away, and even the breath becomes refreshing. Miss Bei approached, washed her hands and face in the flowing water, and casually stored a few groups of fish and shrimp in her space. When her divine sense explored, about 500 meters northwest, a mountain peak appeared at the semi-height of 100 to 200 meters above the canyon floor. Five or six terraced fields, clearly human-made, encircle a large stone platform of eight to nine hundred square meters in the middle. Further back, the outlines of several large houses connect to the mountainside. This should be the location of the Tong family.
"Miss Bei, come and have some food. Once the smoke rises, it won't take an hour for Biaozi and the others to come. The whole family has been looking at the stone platform these days." At the upstream of the creek, there are several stone pillars and a large stone platform. Tong Chen arranged a soft cloth on one of the stone pillars, opened the food prepared by Qiao Er on the stone platform, beckoning Miss Bei to come over. Meanwhile, he took a bamboo knife and went to the nearby forest to cut a new bamboo, cutting it into sections to clear the compartments inside, and used some creek water to set up a makeshift fire. This place is the must-pass route for the Tong family to descend from the mountain, so they carved some stone stools and tabletops for resting and dining. The food is plentiful, including flatbreads, roasted lamb legs, whole chickens, and various pastries, looking very enticing.
Miss Bei kept looking at the opposite mountainside until Tong Chen walked over and sat down. Only then did she pick up a piece of freshly baked spring cake and slowly bite into it.
"Looking at the mountain can exhaust a horse. When I sent the smoke up, they responded with three colored flags on the summit. I reckon those three lads will all come down. Unfortunately, they have to detour around the two mountains from the east. Even at this height of about a hundred meters, it will still take them a couple of hours to get here quickly. The sun is high today. Take your time eating and rest enough before setting off. Once they arrive, Brother Chen can free up the bamboo basket to carry you home." Tong Chen glanced at the bamboo basket filled with items, triggering memories of the past when it couldn't carry a person.