As the sunset draped the mountain forest in a soft golden veil, the four of them and their cat returned to the tranquil Taoist Temple, laden with their harvest.
The bamboo baskets were filled to the brim with spring's tenderest wild vegetables and great, plump mushrooms, along with a bucket of lively stream fish and tiny shrimp.
Chen Shi'an set down his basket and briskly carried the bucket of fish over to the well.
"All right, it's getting dark. Wash your hands and get ready to help with dinner. Who wants to get the fire going and steam the rice for me?"
No one answered him. When Chen Shi'an turned around, all three girls had already run into his room.
Another rustle of changing clothes followed. This time, they finally put on all their underwear, no longer embarrassingly bare underneath as they had been beside the hot spring.
Lin Meng Qiu was the quickest. Once she was dressed, she opened the door and dashed out, leaving it not quite shut and provoking startled cries from Stinking Cicada and Sister Wanyin, who were still changing inside...
By the time Wen Zhixia and Li Wanyin emerged fully dressed, Lin Meng Qiu had firmly monopolized the spot in front of the stove.
The Class Monitor really knew a thing or two about tending fires now!
When she was lucky, she could get the stove going with a single match. Even when she was less fortunate, it never took more than three.
She started with dry leaves, puffed out her cheeks, and blew gently through the blowpipe. The glow inside the stove instantly brightened, soon becoming a roaring fire.
With practiced movements, Lin Meng Qiu added the easily ignited bamboo strips and pine branches first, then pushed in thick logs that would burn longer.