Jiang Ning was unaware of the risk that her past experiences might be dug up. After she had prepared the rooster, she placed it on the previously cleaned perilla leaves.
The wild ginger and thyme that Nong Chun had just dug up were cleaned and set aside. Jiang Ning used her knife to chop them finely and, along with other seasonings, evenly rubbed them on the rooster, giving it a thorough massage inside and out. Then she wrapped the chicken in more than ten perilla leaves, securing it tightly with vines, making it look very much like a large, irregular rice dumpling.
While Jiang Ning was busy, Nong Chun was equally engaged.
Seeing the perilla leaves, he guessed Jiang Ning might be using a method similar to "beggar's chicken," so after washing the wild ginger and thyme, Nong Chun proactively mixed some sticky wet mud together.
Jiang Ning coated this wet mud around the exterior of the perilla leaves to act as insulation and protection.
