Li Long enjoyed a hearty meal of Steamed Rice at Gu Xiaoxia's place and left belching.
Two teachers had come over during the meal to see what was going on. Li Long greeted them generously, bowl in hand, and lavished praise on Gu Xiaoxia's cooking, both her rice and her dishes.
The two teachers had come to watch the fun, only to get an eyeful of the couple's affection. Then they left.
Li Long mounted his bicycle and said to Gu Xiaoxia:
"I'll head off, then. I'll come see you again when I have time. Your dad's work should be nearly finished in another ten days or so. Are you going back into the mountains anytime before then?"
"Not for now. As long as I know Dad's doing well, that's enough." Gu Xiaoxia wiped her hands on her apron. "He's happier there than he is back with the team, and he's eating well, too. My students' midterms are coming up, so I'm a little busy these days."
"Then I'll take you into the mountains when you're free." Li Long started pedaling, waved to Gu Xiaoxia, and rode away.
Gu Xiaoxia watched until Li Long's figure disappeared before returning to her room to finish tidying up. It had only been a lunch break, but it had felt very fulfilling.
As Li Long pedaled toward the team's village, he felt a little sheepish. He had originally come back to deliver some wild greens and check on things at home, but he had ended up eating lunch at Gu Xiaoxia's place, and the greens he had brought back had wilted a little.
Still, they were all right. They were edible.
As he approached the village, he saw a group of children breaking off reeds by the reed ditch to make spears-javelins or red-tasseled