When flecks of green finally appeared across the wild hills, those wandering, gaunt figures vanished. There were wild vegetables in the fields and tender buds on the trees. They might not fill a stomach, but they could keep someone alive.
After the apricot blossoms fell, the flowers on Rocky Ridge hurried to put out buds, eager to bloom before the leaves unfurled.
He Ning climbed the mountain, broke off a few flowering branches, and placed them in a clay jar full of water.
She set it on the windowsill.
Outside the window, brilliant white lightning flashed over the monastery buildings. Thunder followed, and the scattered raindrops soon thickened into a downpour.
The little buds quietly opened, bit by bit.
It was soothing to fall asleep to the sound of rain.
After a deep sleep, she looked outside again and saw fresh, tender green emerging from the withered yellow of the mountains.
Perhaps that rain had washed away the stifling gloom of early spring. Laughter returned to the monastery.
After evening prayers, Black Snake first went to Spring Well and drank deeply, then slithered to the stone terrace outside the Mountain Gate.
He Ning had arrived early and had already been waiting a little while.
She bent over, searching for something on the ground. Black Snake slithered closer to watch carefully and saw her pick a few tender green blades of grass, blow away dust that was not there, then put them in her mouth and chew slowly.
She narrowed her eyes and smacked her lips in enjoyment, then picked a few more.
"This tastes good. Nice and sour."
Black Snake remained silent.
When bored, he had tried gnawing on all sorts of grass and leaves. Without exception, he had spat them all out.
He Ning rummaged around a little longer,