One rabbit plus half a bamboo rat, along with plenty of mushrooms, filled a large iron pot to the brim with broth, meat, and vegetables.
The flatbreads were made by Cai Shi and Xi Shi. After they finished bathing the youngest child, they started to knead dough and make flatbreads. By noon, when the stewed meat was ready, the flatbreads were also all griddled. This time, they had ample time, and the dough proofed even better.
The texture was excellent.
A large pot of stewed meat bubbled and steamed, making everyone hungry as noon approached. Those passing by couldn't help but ask what was being stewed.
Saliva kept dripping.
They were so hungry.
Su Miaomiao was also hungry!
The little girl sat on a small stool, as well-behaved and lovable as could be.
She stared intently at the big pot and perfunctorily told Xiao Wuzi next to her, "Meat, a whole pot of meat dishes, and the mushrooms are incredibly delicious too. I even went to exchange for some fragrant sauce. I poured in almost half a jar, and the whole pot smells wonderful! We'll dip the flatbread in it later, and you'll be savoring it for three days!"
Before even tasting it, Xiao Wuzi couldn't stand listening. Being familiar with Su Miaomiao, he audaciously asked, "Can all these people eat this?" He wouldn't normally speak to his master like this.
But she was truly approachable, as easy to talk to as a neighbor's older sister.
This gave Xiao Wuzi the courage to ask, his eyes still glued to the big pot. Unfortunately, it was covered with a wooden lid, so he couldn't see anything. However, the caravan hadn't split up to eat yet, and everyone's food was in this big pot.
He had actually guessed that there would be a portion for them, the servants, but he still found it hard to believe. After all, everyone would get to eat meat!
And not just once or twice, but this time they were getting a portion of such a hearty meat dish?
Su Miaomiao nodded vigorously, saying, "Yes, yes, yes, everyone will have some. How could you not? This stew was made specifically to reward you all, so of course, everyone will have some!"
She even said there would be plenty!
More traps were being set up, and one rabbit and half a bamboo rat were being saved for the evening. If there were any leftovers, they could be stewed again for dinner.
Su Miaomiao was contemplating getting Cheng Hao's agreement to do something big. If they had too much to eat, they could make cured meat or jerky to save as rations. Even without rice and flour, meat could keep them half-full, and with some wild fruits and vegetables, they could hold on for a while longer.
As winter approached.
Hunting would become difficult, and food would be harder to find.
She also learned from the head of the Jin family that everyone was now in a state of panic, and it was likely that supplies would become harder to obtain in the future. In the later stages, everyone would be scrambling for the limited resources, and they might not be able to gather as many mountain goods. It was only because there were few people on this old official road that they had this advantage.
They hadn't traveled far yet and had already encountered the Jin family's caravan, indicating they weren't the only ones who were clever. They would likely encounter others later.
If they were ahead, and their caravan was behind, the resources on the road ahead would have been plundered first. By then, they might not even have a single wild vegetable left.
Su Miaomiao felt a sense of crisis as she thought about it and realized they couldn't continue like this.
They needed to stockpile.
Prevention was better than cure.
Upon learning that they would also get to eat their fill, Xiao Wuzi's face lit up with joy. Seeing her lost in thought, he didn't disturb her and quietly retreated.
He had to get back to work!
Waiting to eat the delicious meat at noon!
As soon as he arrived, he was surrounded by others. When they heard that there would indeed be a portion for the servants, everyone became even more motivated.
The Jin family's caravan was bewildered, wondering what was suddenly causing such cheers from the other side. A group of people looked joyous, without a hint of hardship.
In contrast, on their side.
Everyone was dispirited and underfed because the head of the family was withholding food.
Except for the sounds of chattering girls from the second carriage, the other servants had blank, numb expressions, like walking dead. Their eyes lacked light as they quietly worked, though it was unclear what they were working on.
Manager Du saw this and felt that it couldn't continue. He couldn't let the Jin family perish, and he himself wanted to survive! So, he decided to swallow his pride and ask Supervisor Ji for some advice.
How could he manage the caravan so well? How could he motivate everyone?
He actually had some idea.
Without enough to eat, how could they have the strength? Unfortunately, his own master was clueless!
Before he could even approach the Cheng family's caravan, a servant reported that one of the horses following behind the carriages had died, possibly from exhaustion or illness.
Manager Du's eyebrows twitched, feeling that it was truly one misfortune after another. "Oh, what a mess! What if it's a horse epidemic? If all the horses die, how will we escape? We're doomed!"
He cursed and ordered the servant to lead him to see the horse.
When he arrived, the horse was only twitching slightly. Manager Du felt a pang of heartache. Losing another horse was such a loss!
The servant, with whom he had a good relationship, saw that the horse had already died. He swallowed and suggested, "We don't know how this horse died. This is meat, after all. Can we eat it?"
He reasoned that it would be a waste if it wasn't eaten.
Everyone was starving.
Manager Du saw the young man's eyes gleaming, which frightened him greatly. He felt even more anxious, thinking that he couldn't let them go hungry like this any longer.
Who knew what would happen.
In such times.
Even indentured servitude contracts were not very effective. If the servants rebelled...
The so-called masters of the Jin family wouldn't know how they died.
Manager Du didn't want to end up dying at the hands of these young men, so he forced a smile and pretended to be mysterious, saying, "No, we can't. We don't even know if it's sick. What if it makes you ill?"
He cajoled the young man to go back to work, as they needed to start preparing their meal. The Cheng family's caravan was about to start their noon meal, and they hadn't even eaten breakfast yet. The main reason was that the head of the Jin family was in a bad mood and had gone straight to sleep, locking the large grain chest. Only he had the key, so everyone had to wait.
The young ladies in the second carriage didn't have to worry. Their fathers wouldn't let their daughters starve. They had plenty of dry rations, and some snacks were also stored before the city fell.
It was only the servants who suffered.
Meanwhile, the head of the Cheng family woke up from a comfortable sleep and threw a tantrum, saying he would starve to death!
He almost beat a servant to death again.
Manager Du intervened and spoke a few words, after which the head of the Jin family threw the key to Manager Du, telling him to open the chest, take out the grain, and then lock it again.
As the young servant left, his eyes were still fixed on the horse.
Manager Du felt an increasing sense of dread. He looked back at the horse, which had died with its eyes open, and felt even more terrified. He dared not look any further and decided to find Supervisor Ji to ask if there was any way to persuade the masters.
And how to keep the subordinates in line and united.
Manager Du knew that managing a caravan was not a simple task. He believed that Supervisor Ji must have some experience, so he hurried to learn from him.