Steam billowed from twelve massive iron cauldrons lined up outside Grandma Chen’s mobile kitchen airship.
The air was dense with the rich fragrance of simmering ginger broth, roasted scallion oil, braised pork ribs, and steaming celestial grain.
Six hundred employees, farmers, caretakers, and security guards sat around one hundred large redwood tables on the central pavilion plaza.
Beside the tables, eight hundred rescued spirit-beasts lay peacefully on the lush grass. White spirit-cranes nibbled on sweet grain from silver bowls. Thunder-leopards gnawed contentedly on roasted marrow bones, their heavy tails thumping against the ground like muffled drums.
At the head table, Grandma Chen wiped her brow with a clean linen towel, her maternal face beaming with pure joy.
Six-year-old Little Guo’er carried a steaming porcelain tureen to Lin Mo’s table, her bright red pinafore tied neatly around her waist.
“Brother Lin Mo! Taste Grandma Chen’s special soup!” Little Guo’er chirped cheerfully, her round cheeks flushed from the kitchen heat. “Grandma used Uncle Han Shan’s fresh Golden-Dragon Rice and Auntie Bai Ling’s Jade-Nectar Milk!”
Grandma Chen ladled a generous portion into Lin Mo’s celadon bowl.
