The old man upon hearing this, immediately revealed a slight smile, took out a chipped bowl, fetched some water from a nearby water jar, cleaned it thoroughly, and filled it with a bowl of wheat porridge for Yu Ziqing.
Yu Ziqing squatted by the bonfire, cradling the chipped bowl with one hand, and slowly slurped around the edge.
The old man just sat there, watching Yu Ziqing devour the bowl of porridge huffing and puffing, then he allowed himself a smile, picked up his own bowl, and shovel it in with a pair of chopsticks.
Yu Ziqing didn't speak, just waited like that.
This bowl of porridge was the key to establishing trust between them.
Yu Ziqing eating the porridge proved he wasn't the type to live off incense fire, and the old man finishing his porridge also proved he wasn't either.
Once the old man had finished his porridge, Yu Ziqing took the initiative to wash the bowls and add some firewood; only then did he sit back down in front of the bonfire.
