“Just wait a bit longer,” Mu Jiyu replied, also impatient.
Xiao Zizi’s group was better equipped, as these men had developed a habit of bringing snacks.
Meng Yu handed me the last thin pancake: “I’m full. Eat more and don’t go hungry.”
Everyone paused to watch him. After a moment, they resumed their tasks, puzzled by how he could be full without eating.
“This inn is really run-down,” Shi Ran remarked as he came downstairs, the old stairs creaking with each step.
“At least it’s habitable, but why is the food taking so long?” I complained while eating the pancake.
Just then, Wang Zai, our scout, returned and jumped onto the table.
He instinctively grabbed Feng Qingyin’s hand, nibbled the steamed bun, then rolled off. In the next moment, a black-clothed handsome man sat steadily on the chair. Tapping the table, Wang Zai looked gleeful: “They’re waiting for a hen to lay eggs, and someone’s been sent to catch fish.”
We all wilted instantly. This small, shabby shop didn’t even have ingredients to cook, finally clarifying what the shopkeeper meant by “absolutely fresh.”
“Second brother, let’s stay here tonight. There are no inns for the next thirty li,” a burly man entered, carrying a large sack.
“Okay,” came a muffled voice from a shorter, fat man. He glanced at us and sat down in a corner.
The muscular man followed, casually throwing the sack on the ground and pulling out an oil-paper package. When opened, the fragrant aroma of marinated beef spread. He spread the food in front of the fat man, then pulled out another package of five-spice dried meat, reaching into the sack again.
We stared hungrily, occasionally wiping away saliva. Damn, it’s all Mu Jiyu’s fault for forgetting to bring dry rations! As the big man reached into the sack again, I thought, “desperate times call for desperate measures.”
With a drunken laziness, I closed my eyes again.
But not two seconds later, I suddenly opened my eyes wide, gripping my shoulders tightly: “Shuang’er? Shuang’er?”
Stunned, I realized he had mistaken me for Han Shuang’er, and my heart sank.
I pushed him away and turned to leave.
