The rain had been falling for six or seven hours without pause.
Yan Qing began preparing dinner despite the weather. She brought out her gas stove, washed some rice—tonight she would have a proper meal with steamed rice.
She took half a chicken, chopped it, and cleaned it thoroughly, planning to make a spicy stir-fried chicken.
She heated plenty of oil in the pan and added the chicken, drained of water, stir-frying until golden brown on the surface. Then she added a stir-fry sauce along with scallion, ginger, garlic, star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, and Sichuan peppercorns. Soy sauce, dark soy, oyster sauce, salt, and chicken bouillon were added. A cup of water went in, brought to a boil over high heat, then simmered on medium.
The rice was ready. In another small pan, she quickly stir-fried some garlic with fresh greens.
Back at the main pan, she reduced the sauce over high heat, then plated the chicken. One bite of rice, one bite of chicken, then mixed with the savory sauce—the combination was irresistible. Tonight, she ate her fill again.
Afterward, she had a couple of oranges to aid digestion, added a few thick logs to the fire, and for the first time in a while, slept a deep, undisturbed sleep.
The next morning, the rain still drizzled steadily.
Not knowing whether it had rained all night or just continued this morning, Yan Qing simply reheated some leftover food and sat by the cave entrance. A pot of water bubbled over the fire, and a small tea set rested on the table.
Yan Qing picked up a book—coincidentally another farming and survival story. She read to pass the time while learning new skills.
By evening, around seven or eight, the rain began to ease, and Yan Qing finally felt relief. She went to sleep, knowing the storm was nearing its end.
On the third day, she woke to a clear sky, but the forest paths were still muddy and treacherous.
The stream water had turned murky—today was not a day for travel.
After two days of rain, the forest animals had emerged to forage. Not wanting to risk an early journey, Yan Qing returned to her cave.
Some dry branches remained at the entrance, but she decided to ration them and not cook today. Lunch was simple night-market snacks, and dinner consisted of a few fruits.
Her appetite was low, anxiety building as she wondered whether she could depart tomorrow. That night, she woke several times but remained safe and sound.
The following morning, she woke at nine. The sun shone brightly, and after a day’s drying, the ground was no longer muddy. Yan Qing knew she could finally continue her journey.
Eager to move, she skipped breakfast, eating just two buns. Before leaving, she filled her water bottles and used mineral water bottles with fresh pool water.
Yan Qing had already observed the surrounding cliffs. She decided to climb the cliff on the left side.
With her hiking shoes and gloves on, she began the ascent. As expected, the cliff was climbable. Thirty minutes later, she reached the top.
The view stunned her—the cliff was far higher than she had imagined. From the summit, most of the surrounding mountains could be seen. After surveying the terrain carefully, she made her plan.
She would move toward the left-front area, where she saw four mountains forming a tight circular formation. She hoped to find her ideal dwelling spot there.
After replenishing her water and energy, she picked up her trekking pole and continued forward.
Though the next area appeared close from the summit, she knew it would take at least two days to reach it. She needed to maintain a steady pace.
Night fell quickly as she walked through the dense jungle.
Yan Qing dared not turn on her flashlight. She could hear the roars of wild beasts—close, and unmistakably, the roar of a tiger reverberated through the trees.