Akes settled in the mountain village.
Monica brought him food every day without fail.
At dawn, while the mountain village was still shrouded in a thin layer of mist, she arrived with a tray. On it sat a bowl of steaming multigrain porridge and two wild-vegetable cakes. The porridge was made with millet, red beans, and Chinese yam, cooked to just the right thickness until it was soft and smooth. The cakes were mixed with chopped dandelion greens and shepherd's purse, giving them the distinctive fresh scent of the mountains. The first time Akes tried them, he thought they tasted a little bland, but after a few more bites, he could savor the wild vegetables' own slightly bitter flavor and lingering sweetness.
"Eat it while it's hot." Monica set the tray on the low table beside the bed, then opened the window to let in the fresh morning air.
Akes propped himself up and sat, then took the bowl and sipped. Suddenly, he detected the faintest trace of medicinal fragrance in the porridge. "What did you put in this?"
"Bletilla and astragalus, plus a little teasel root." Monica sat by the table and counted them off on her fingers. "Bletilla helps stop bleeding, astragalus replenishes qi and strengthens the body's defenses, and teasel root helps mend tendons and bones. I asked Grandpa Desri about them. He said they're mild and suitable for your injuries."
The stewed meat she brought at noon had been prepared with just as much care. It was wild rabbit from the mountains, cut into small pieces and slow-cooked over a low flame for two hours until it was tender enough to eat without chewing. A few thin slices of Spirit Mushroom floated in the broth. It was a rare fungus that grew in the damp shade