At six in the evening, Li Xianglu and her aunt made lamb stew with sliced noodles that delighted everyone. There was originally a piece of lamb weighing about two jin that was meant to be saved, but Grandpa Lan insisted on not taking it, claiming he could eat anything he wanted in the city. So, Li Xianglu went ahead and cooked it, to avoid Grandpa Lan feeling like he owed too much to the Lan family.
Just before nightfall, the jeep returned to take the three of them back, as the two elders had discussed earlier. It was less conspicuous to travel back during the day, so it was decided it was better to leave after dark and just drive slowly.
After exiting the cadres' rest house and onto the main road leading to Jigu County, they encountered a bicycle ahead of them.
