Cheng Hao was not entirely familiar with the routes in this area, but he knew the general direction.
"I'm not sure. There should be quite a few temples around here. During its peak, many were built. If we can stay in temples all the way, that would be feasible."
At least there would be shelter, so they wouldn't have to spend the night by the roadside.
Not to mention the danger.
The dew at night was heavy.
For now, people could spend the night in the carriages, but what about the livestock?
They would have to rely on them for escape in the future.
Therefore.
Cheng Hao circled the closest temple among the famous spots he knew, [Lingyun Stone Temple], estimating they could reach it by nightfall. "Let's pick up the pace. It would be good if we can get there before sunset."
Su Miaomiao flipped over, sat cross-legged, and lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. The view was still a blur of green, rapidly receding.
Around them, only the sounds of the caravan's rapid movement could be heard, with an occasional bird call.
"What we lack now are seasonings. We can't do without salt."
Su Miaomiao said this casually, but she was actually trying to discuss the issue. However, she and Cheng Hao were not short of salt.
The two of them had enough supplies from the convenience store in their spatial dimension to last for several years, but not a lifetime.
The bland noodle soup was truly disgusting to eat, and even the supposedly good white noodles here felt rough going down the throat.
Not to mention the dry rations, which were absolutely inedible.
Su Miaomiao wasn't being picky; she ate her share of the wild vegetable noodle soup, but she genuinely disliked it, making improving their diet a pressing matter.
But now, everyone was struggling to get good food, so she couldn't bring out anything special. Other meats or highly aromatic delicacies were also out of the question, as they would be too easily discovered. Yet, they couldn't go without eating forever.
Therefore.
If only the caravan could eat well, people wouldn't be so sensitive.
If everyone went hungry for ten days or half a month and hadn't eaten any meat, they wouldn't miss even the slightest hint of meaty aroma.
Su Miaomiao and Cheng Hao had a few boxes of mosquito repellent incense in their carriage that could be lit. These could mask slight odors, but stronger, more fragrant smells likely couldn't be covered.
She was already starting to crave roast chicken, roast sausages, and any meat that was full of flavor.
Seeing her eyes gradually gleam, Cheng Hao knew she was getting cravings. He immediately took out a salty, Chinese-style pastry, the Chestnut Crisp, and handed it to her.
Su Miaomiao's eyes lit up instantly. She began to eat, her cheeks puffing out. Fearing that the sounds would be discovered by Laifu and Ji Bo driving the carriage ahead, she ate very cautiously, truly like a cat stealing food, only lacking whiskers to make it even more convincing.
As she ate, she held out her hand towards him. Inside a small roll of paper were six small chestnut crisp cakes, about the size of chess pieces. She could finish one in two or three bites. She always remembered Cheng Hao, insisting on leaving half for him.
Cheng Hao only took one and pushed her hand back, indicating he had enough. "Regarding seasonings, let's find some time to see if we can find nearby villages. I wonder if we can buy some salt with money."
Seeing that he didn't want more, Su Miaomiao knew he wasn't a big fan of snacks, so she didn't insist. She ate the rest herself. Her mouth finally had some flavor, making her feel much more comfortable. Otherwise, she always felt her mouth was utterly bland, occasionally tasting the flavor of those wild vegetables.
It was truly unpalatable.
It was still bearable now; nothing felt particularly wrong.
"That works too. If we can't find a village or buy salt, I'll set some traps tonight. If I can catch some wild animals, we can eat their blood, which can substitute for something, but the horses need salt too, don't they?"
Su Miaomiao knew that in ancient times, some warhorses were fed a little salt. To raise horses well, one couldn't be stingy and could only feed them grass.
Fortunately.
The Cheng family seemed to be quite well-off. The horses' feed consisted of bundles of hay cakes, mixed with beans and bran.
It could only be said that at this time, only wealthy households could afford to keep horses, as horses, unlike cattle, required meticulous care.
Some poor families might not even eat as well as the horses.
Currently.
The horses' feed was sufficient for a period, so there was no immediate worry. Mixed with fresh fodder they collected themselves, it could last even longer.
However, salt still needed to be supplemented, not just for humans but also for the horses and the mules pulling goods, as they relied on them for work.
Cheng Hao rummaged through the salt in his spatial dimension. Besides a vat from the Cheng family's kitchen, there was also compactly packaged salt from the convenience store shelves. It wasn't a small amount, but it wasn't a lot either.
This also gave him a headache. If they couldn't reach a relatively stable place, they couldn't purchase more. And these supplies would only become scarcer in the future.
"Let's see."
Cheng Hao said this. He felt that in the future, when he went into the mountains and forests to find resources, he could be more observant and perhaps find a salt mine.
Su Miaomiao didn't say anything more, but in her mind, she was thinking about what she had said earlier: if they could find a place to stay tonight, she would definitely set some traps and see if she could catch some wild animals.
They fell silent again.
Cheng Hao was lost in thought, while Su Miaomiao leaned to the side and fell asleep. She needed to rest well if she was going to work at night.
Her childhood friend, startled, went to check on her condition. Seeing that her complexion was ruddy and she didn't seem unwell, he finally felt at ease.
He was afraid she might revert to her state when she first transmigrated, cold and pale all over. He had adapted to the body without any discomfort and quickly gained control, but Su Miaomiao's integration hadn't been as easy. It felt like dying and coming back to life. He was worried she hadn't fully integrated.
Currently, she seemed to be doing well.
Cheng Hao relaxed and stuck the map he had drawn onto the carriage wall.
He began to examine it.
He wondered if any areas needed to be added. The places he knew were mostly famous landmarks. He had no idea about the smaller details within them; he only knew the well-known spots along this route.
Anything he remembered, he would add information bit by bit.
Writing it down like this would make it clearer and help him think better.
Ji Bo and Laifu could faintly hear their young master and mistress discussing the caravan's salt shortage. They couldn't help but admire them.
They were not old,
but they were very steady and thoughtful, thinking more thoroughly than their elders.
They dared not disturb them.
They obediently continued to drive. The two of them sat in the driver's area, with a movable baffle on the side. When straightened, it formed a U-shaped space that could block wind in cold weather and rain when it rained.
When they curled up to sleep at night, they could sleep soundly, without fear of rolling off the carriage.