Fire Two’s refusal to eat was not without reason, and there was more than one reason.

The most direct cause was the unpleasant experience this afternoon.

Thanks to Han Cheng’s efforts over the years, the practice of using a toilet for defecation had already become deeply ingrained in the tribe. Even without Han Cheng’s advocacy, no one, except for the very young children, would relieve themselves where they sleep.

However, today, Fire Two had broken that norm. Though a woman from the tribe had placed a diaper under her beforehand, Fire Two felt very uncomfortable, especially as she lay there, feeling the warmth beneath her, and watched as the women of the tribe changed her diaper.

On the one hand, she felt moved by their care and consideration, but on the other hand, she felt profoundly guilty, thinking she had become a burden to the tribe. Not only could she no longer contribute, but her condition was also preventing many others from working normally.

As a result, she decided not to eat.

By not eating, she would waste less food and cause fewer problems for the tribe.

As the night grew deeper, several people from the tribe came to visit Fire Two, offering comforting words. Some of them, who weren’t very good with words, patted their chests and reassured her that they had enough food to feed everyone, even if Fire Two couldn’t work. She could rest and recover without worrying about food.

The tribe’s gestures warmed Fire Two’s heart, but when Han Cheng came again with food, Fire Two shook her head more firmly.

The autumn sunlight filtered through the window, casting a warm glow onto Fire Two’s bed.

She turned her head and looked through the window, where she could see some bamboo leaves swaying in the breeze. Occasionally, one or two small birds flew by in the small patch of sky visible from the window.

This bed was new, provided by Han Cheng, to ensure that Fire Two wouldn’t feel too confined or stuffy.

It was strange and challenging to come to terms with—one moment, she was a healthy person, and the next, her leg was broken, leaving her unable to move, not even able to relieve herself. It would be odd if she didn’t feel anxious.

At that moment, Han Cheng was squatting in front of a small stone mortar, slowly grinding something with it.

Once the contents turned into a paste-like consistency, he carefully scooped it out with a spoon and placed it into a bowl.

This paste was made from red mountain fruits that the tribe had picked. After cleaning them, removing the seeds, and grinding them into a paste, Han Cheng was preparing them specifically for Fire Two.

Ever since she broke her leg, Fire Two’s appetite had diminished. She barely ate anything, and even when she ate a small amount the day before, she ended up vomiting it back up.

Though Han Cheng didn’t know precisely why Fire Two’s appetite had suddenly worsened, he was trying to help her based on his experience. The ripe mountain fruits were sour and sweet, and they were known to be very appetizing. Han Cheng, who had eaten hawthorn balls as a child, remembered the taste well.

Though Han Cheng didn’t know how to make hawthorn balls, he could prepare hawthorn porridge.

When a person can’t eat, it’s a big problem—”Man is iron, rice is steel,” as the saying goes. For someone like Han Cheng, who had a hearty appetite, not eating regularly was unsettling.

Right now, his primary focus wasn’t necessarily on treating Fire Two’s broken leg but on finding ways to stimulate her appetite.

The room was quiet, and everyone in the tribe was busy with their tasks. Fire Two lay quietly on her bed, staring out the window.

She no longer felt hungry. After enduring the kind of stomach pain that felt like fire burning inside her, she had lost the sensation of hunger.

Lying on the bed, she felt light and floaty.

Looking at a white cloud drifting in the sky outside the window, she felt as though she, too, was floating in the air like the cloud. The feeling was strange but comforting.

Over the past few days, many things had been on her mind.

Most of her thoughts were about what had happened since Han Cheng arrived at the tribe.

Before Han Cheng came, life had been tough, and it felt like the days were endlessly repetitive—nothing to cherish, nothing to look back on.

But now, what lingered in her thoughts was the fruit that had caused her to fall down the hillside—the fruit she had never managed to pick.

Now, looking back on it, she didn’t feel it was such a waste.

In fact, in her mind, she found herself once again beside that dirt slope, watching the fruit rot and the seed sprout, grow, flower, and bear fruit.

The fruit tree had grown tall, taller than any other tree in the tribe.

Its branches were heavy with fruit, tinged red by the sunlight. Playful children, like monkeys, clambered up the tree to pick the fruit.

One fruit fell from the hand of a child and rolled down, stopping at Fire Two’s feet.

Fire Two bent down slowly, picked up the fruit, wiped it with her rough hands, and then placed it in her mouth.

With a gentle bite, the sweet juice of the fruit spread through her mouth, radiating warmth through her limbs.

A radiant smile appeared on her face…

“Thud.”

In the quiet room, a soft sound echoed.

An object slipped from Fire Two’s hand, hanging over the edge of the bed. It rolled across the floor and finally came to a stop in an inconspicuous spot.

It was a seed—the pit from the fruit Fire Two had picked and placed in her pocket.

At that moment, there were teeth marks on the seed, and some parts were chipped.

This was from when Fire Two, desperate from hunger, had used her remaining teeth to gnaw at it in secret when no one was around.

After the sound, the room fell silent again.

The sunlight outside gently streamed in, casting a glowing halo on Fire Two’s smiling face, making her look radiant.

Soon, footsteps were heard outside the room, accompanied by the clinking of a spoon and bowl.

Han Cheng, carrying a bowl of mountain fruit porridge, entered the room with a smile on his face and quick steps, walking toward where Fire Two was lying.

He was trying to give Fire Two a psychological cue to make her feel like her situation wasn’t as serious.

As Han Cheng approached her, he came to a sudden stop. After standing in front of the bed for a moment, he sighed softly and slowly sat on the edge of the bed.

Three days later, a female tribeswoman was sweeping the house with a broom. She swept up the seed and, after pausing to look at it, wondered what could have left teeth marks on such a tough seed. It was so hard that even smashing it with a stone wouldn’t break it open easily.

Her curiosity didn’t last long. She quickly tossed the seed aside and continued sweeping the floor. The seed mixed with the dust and debris, forgotten.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay