She walked down the mountain path, passed Wind-Return Ravine—there was little wind today, so the crossing went smoothly—and climbed over another low slope. From afar, she saw smoke rising from the cooking fires of Peaceful Market.
Su Wanwan quickened her pace.
She remembered Chu Yang and the others saying they would wait somewhere nearby, though they had not decided exactly where. She had thought she would have to search the town house by house, but the moment she reached the old locust tree at the entrance, she heard White Donkey bray.
That bray was highly distinctive. It was not an ordinary donkey's cry, but a howl full of intense dissatisfaction and accusation. Translated, it probably meant, "Why am I the only one without anything tasty?"
Following the sound, Su Wanwan discovered that it was coming from a shop on the town's main street. She looked up at the sign—"Peaceful Eatery." Beneath it was a smaller line: "House specialties: roasted lamb leg, braised beef, Osmanthus Wine."
Standing at the entrance, Su Wanwan smelled the aroma of roasted meat drifting out from inside, and her stomach gave an uncooperative growl.
She pushed open the door and went in.
The eatery was not large, with seven or eight tables. It was lunchtime, and the place was fairly full. Su Wanwan spotted the table by the window in the corner at once—
The table was covered in dishes.
A roasted lamb leg occupied the center of the table, its golden, glistening skin dusted with cumin and chili powder. Around it were braised beef, stewed pig trotters, stir-fried lamb with scallions, sweet and sour pork ribs, sliced pork with garlic sauce, cold cucumber salad, peanuts, smashed cucumbers—wait, why were there two plates of cucumbers?
Three people sat around the table.
Chu Yang sat by the