When Bai Lingmiao brought the two bowls of rice over, Li Huowang saw the harvesters' hands shaking with excitement. They bowed to her repeatedly, thanking her profusely.
Unlike Li Huowang's group, who needed wild vegetable soup to cut the richness, the two harvesters had no such problem. With almost devout expressions, they cradled their bowls and ate the cured pork rice mouthful by mouthful.
They quickly devoured the rice, but carefully picked out the cured pork. They then wrapped the meat in a cloth, clearly intending to save it for later.
The old harvester ran to the creek at the edge of the field and washed the two bowls spotless. He returned them to Li Huowang with a gap-toothed smile.
The old harvester seemed to want to say something, but he was tongue-tied and no words came out. In the end, it was Li Huowang who spoke first.
"Old fellow, Da Liang has so many fields and such good harvests. You're already at this age—why are you still coming out to work the land?"
