We reached 西华路 with no plan at all, only a simple idea to spend the afternoon walking, queueing and eating. The street was already alive, packed with people moving slowly from stall to stall, some carrying bowls, some holding plastic boxes, all looking quietly pleased with their choices. The air was filled with steam, chatter and the comforting smell of food.

We did what everyone else was doing. Join a queue, wait our turn, eat, then move on to the next line. No rush, no checklist, no need to decide too much. Just follow the crowd and trust the street. Sometimes we stood by the counters watching the cooks work, sometimes we found a small corner to lean against and share what we had just bought.

Time passed very quickly without us noticing. The weather was still cold, but it did not matter anymore. Warm bowls in our hands, warm lights from the stalls, and the easy rhythm of walking and eating made everything feel relaxed. There was something very comforting about this simple routine, like the city was slowly welcoming us in.