I took a moment to observe the mortars held by my fellow participants, paying particular attention to Jun, who was seated in the second row from the front.
Jun was holding a stone mortar, and I was intrigued by his choice.
I also noted Luo Luo, who held a fine granite mortar cradled in her hands. It was notably large, smooth to the touch, and had a polished sheen.
"Wow, your mortar is so pretty!" I exclaimed, clapping my hands in delight.
"Yes! I made sure to choose wisely, just like Ms. Xia said," Luo Luo replied with a sense of pride, adorably tapping her mortar as if to show it off.
Then, there was Yuri, holding a wide mortar adorned with stunning mosaics and intricate designs. It was simply breathtaking and drew the eyes of everyone around her. With a glowing smile, she said to me, "I fought for this—gorgeous, isn't she?"
I responded with a nod of agreement before directing my attention towards the front once more.
