The hot, pungent smell of fresh horse manure mixed with the earthy scent of grass flooded Chen Mo's nostrils. The stable was bustling with activity, and the air was thick with the sounds of hooves clopping and the clinking of harnesses.

Two soldiers worked together, one pushing a wheelbarrow while the other shoveled the manure into it. The work was repetitive, but necessary, as the horses were the lifeblood of the camp.

Chen Mo stood at the edge of the stable, watching them work. There were more than ten warhorses at the trough, all fat, strong, and healthy, their sleek coats glistening under the light. It was clear that they were well cared for.

When the lead horse spotted He Maguan walking toward it, it whinnied happily, tossing its head and swishing its tail, causing two large piles of manure to fall to the ground.

"Oh, okay, okay!" He Maguan chuckled, patting the horse's neck affectionately. "Seems like you're not too bothered by the work, huh?"

He glanced over at Chen Mo's thin frame, then at the soldiers still shoveling the manure. "Looks like you can't handle this kind of labor yet," he said, giving Chen Mo a sympathetic look.

The two soldiers, who had been shoveling the manure, turned their heads at the mention of Chen Mo. They eyed him warily, their expressions a mix of caution and curiosity.

"Master, here comes another person to help," one of the burly soldiers said with a smirk, his eyes sizing Chen Mo up.

"Yes," He Maguan replied absent-mindedly, then motioned for Chen Mo to follow him. "Come with me, I'll show you something else to do."

The shack next to the stable was small but well-organized, with a stove and a pile of firewood stacked neatly in the corner. It looked like a makeshift kitchen of sorts.

"Can you make steamed cornbread?" He Maguan asked, looking at Chen Mo as he pulled two bags of flour from a shelf.

"Yes," Chen Mo answered quickly, his eyes lighting up. Just the thought of food had his stomach growling. He'd been starving for so long, and if He Maguan wanted cornbread made for the horses, maybe he could sneak a bite.

"Good. Here's the recipe," He Maguan said as he began to measure out the ingredients. "Twenty pounds of wheat flour, seven pounds of cornmeal, three ounces of salt, two spoons of oil, and fifteen eggs."

Chen Mo felt his mouth water at the sight of the ingredients. He had no experience making feed for horses, but he could certainly make cornbread. He'd had plenty of practice with making food back when he was on the streets, surviving by doing whatever odd jobs he could.

As he got to work kneading the dough, He Maguan stepped in to help. The man's hands were skilled, and in no time, they had several buns lined up to be steamed.

"Where did you escape from?" He Maguan asked as he worked, glancing at Chen Mo with a mix of curiosity and understanding.

"Qingzhou... An County," Chen Mo replied after a brief pause. He had only escaped a few days ago, and all he could remember were the names of the places he had passed through. He wasn't sure how much of his past he should reveal.

He Maguan nodded, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "Ah, from the north. I escaped from the north too, when I was about your age. Times were hard there too."

Chen Mo remained quiet, his hands busy with the dough, his mind focused on the task at hand. He couldn't help but notice the slight warmth in He Maguan's voice—there was a hint of camaraderie there.

Before long, five large steamed buns were ready. He Maguan stood up from the stool with a groan, stretching his back before he moved to check the buns.

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"Let these steam for a little longer, and then we'll let them cool down," He Maguan said, turning to leave. But then he hesitated and looked back at Chen Mo. "Don't eat too much when they're ready. You might get sick from overeating."

Chen Mo froze for a moment, surprised by the unexpected kindness. He Maguan's advice wasn't just about the food—it was a sign that he cared, that he understood the pain of hunger all too well.

"Thank you, Master He. I know my limits," Chen Mo said sincerely, bowing his head in gratitude.

He Maguan smiled and turned to leave the shack, leaving Chen Mo alone with the steaming buns.

The smell of the cornbread filled the small room, and Chen Mo's stomach growled loudly. His body had been starved for so long that the mere scent of food made his hunger even more unbearable.

He waited impatiently as the buns steamed, every second feeling like an eternity. His mind raced with thoughts of eating, of filling his empty stomach.

Finally, the buns were ready, their surface slightly golden and soft to the touch. Chen Mo didn't waste any time. He picked up two with chopsticks, quickly dunked them in the water basin to cool them down, and swallowed them whole.

The cornbread was delicious, warm and comforting in a way that nothing else had been in recent days. The hunger that had gnawed at him for so long was finally starting to subside.

He quickly ate another two, then another. Each bite filled him with more warmth, more life. He felt his energy return, his body slowly beginning to heal.

When he had eaten four of the buns, he paused, finally feeling full. He could still eat more, but he knew that it was important not to overdo it. He had been starving for days, and if he ate too much, it could make him sick. So he forced himself to stop, even though his stomach still growled for more.

He let the buns cool down further as he cleaned up the shack, wiping down the counter and making sure everything was in order. He didn't want to appear ungrateful for the food he had just been given.

Just as he was finishing, He Maguan returned, pushing a wheelbarrow filled with the steamed cornbread to feed the horses.

"Once these cool down, we'll go feed the horses," He Maguan said, his voice carrying a hint of approval. "You'll be in charge of feeding them from now on."

Chen Mo nodded, feeling a sense of responsibility. The horses were important to the camp, and taking care of them meant he was proving himself useful.

"Don't forget, the horses need to be fed twice a day. You'll need to keep track of their portions carefully. If you give them too little, they'll get angry," He Maguan warned as he patted one of the horses gently on the head.

Chen Mo didn't mind. As long as it meant he could stay here and continue to eat, he was more than willing to take on the task. He helped load the cooled buns into the wheelbarrow, then followed He Maguan into the stable.

He Maguan showed him how to feed the horses, making sure he understood the importance of measuring the portions correctly. The horses were strong, and if they weren't fed properly, they could become dangerous.

After the feeding was done, He Maguan arranged for Chen Mo to sleep in a small barrack to the left of the stable. It wasn't much, but it was better than sleeping on the cold ground.

The bedding was simple, but it had been washed and cleaned, and Chen Mo was grateful for it. He had nothing to call his own except a few sets of clothes, but the warmth of a bed was enough for now.

Over the next half month, Chen Mo gained some weight, his cheeks filling out, and his body starting to regain its strength. He had more energy, and his complexion gradually improved.

One evening, after a hard day's work, Ma Cai called out to him from the kitchen. He had a large pot of vegetable stew in his hands and twenty steamed buns stacked in a basket.

"Come, eat," Ma Cai said, setting the food down.

Chen Mo quickly rinsed his hands in the horse trough and walked over to the table.

"What's for dinner today?" he asked, eyeing the pot.

"Same as usual—carrots and cabbage stew," Ma Cai replied, sounding a little frustrated.

"We've been eating this for days!" Ding Bao, another groom, grumbled as he helped himself to the food.

"The captain grows vegetables in his garden and sells them to the kitchen," Ma Cai explained quietly.

Ding Bao sighed. "When will the captain do something useful?"

Chen Mo listened but didn't join in. He had learned quickly that soldiers often vented their frustrations in private, but he knew better than to join in.

"Keep your voices down," he said quietly. "Someone might hear."

They all sat down to eat, the simple meal filling their bellies. For Chen Mo, each meal was a small victory. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep him going.

"Your body's looking better," He Maguan commented, watching Chen Mo eat. "Tomorrow, you'll help Ding Bao and the others shovel the manure. You've been here long enough."

Shoveling manure was the dirtiest, most exhausting work in the camp, but it was part of the deal. He had to prove himself before he could do anything else.

"Alright," Chen Mo said, wiping his mouth. He had learned that it was pointless to argue.

Ding Bao and Ma Cai exchanged a look, but said nothing. They knew that, sooner or later, everyone had to take their turn.

End