Beside the stream, Harimu opened a packet of Egg Cake that Li Long had brought him and ate it with the clear stream water.
Li Long had brought some for his children before. He had tried a piece then, and it had tasted wonderful, fragrant and sweet.
But he had only tried that one piece, leaving the rest for his children, Nasen and Sasiken.
Now he intended to eat a whole packet, because he had finished his nang.
He had not brought much nang to begin with. His planning had been a little optimistic; he had not expected to eat so much on the journey or get hungry so quickly.
He must have used up a great deal of energy traveling.
Although the Egg Cake was soft, it was a little dry going down, and Harimu needed a sip of water with every piece.
After finishing the packet, Harimu held the plastic bag upside down, tilted his head back, and shook all the crumbs into his mouth. Only then did he fold up the bag and put it away, still wanting more.
The bag would still be useful when he took it home.
At noon two days later, Harimu returned to the Summer Pasture and caught sight of his family's yurt.
The horse beneath him gave a cheerful neigh and ran toward the yurt.
Nasen was piling up the cow dung he had collected. Hearing the horse, he turned to look, then shouted excitedly.
Soon, everyone in the family came running out, along with Jade Mountain River from the nearby yurt.
The two families' grazing grounds adjoined one another. When they came this time, they had simply set up their yurts close together so they could look out for each other.
"Did the journey go well?" Jade Mountain River called.