After teaching Cai Shi and Xi Shi the method for stewing meat, they told the two to rest, as the kitchen would be their responsibility and they didn't need to get involved.
The children had also returned.
Chattering noisily.
Cai Shi and Xi Shi assured them that they would also help and told them to go rest at ease.
Both women were accustomed to work.
Although they were tired from foraging, they felt a little better now.
They could still handle more work.
After all, they could rest on the carriage tomorrow, which wouldn't cause any problems.
Cheng Hao thanked them and led Su Miaomiao towards their carriage.
The large carriage was like a mobile RV, simple but adequate.
Xi Shi and Cai Shi had been foraging nearby, which was relatively easy. However, Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao had gone to more remote areas and had to clear paths, making them more tired. Clearing paths by cutting grass and branches was hard work.
Cheng Hao asked Su Miaomiao if her hands were sore. She waved her hand, indicating she was fine.
He then used the space to heat water and wring out a towel. Both of them washed up briefly. The space was also magical; it could heat water and even cook things. It proved that time passed, but food remained unchanged.
Cheng Hao cut an apple in half and experimented at the front desk. It was still as fresh as if it had just been cut. He took it out, looked at it, and handed it to Su Miaomiao.
Su Miaomiao nimbly took it and began to eat it with a crunch, the sweet juice immediately filling her mouth. She loved crisp apples.
Cheng Hao also ate the other half, both of them getting some vitamins.
"When we sent the mountain goods to Uncle Ji earlier, we heard your father say that we would be traveling tomorrow and would have less time to rest on the way."
Su Miaomiao said while eating, and she asked Cheng Hao for a notebook and pen. She wanted to recall the medicinal formulas and write them down in case she forgot them later.
She wanted to record them while her memory was still fresh, to avoid forgetting them when she was old. If she were to pass away, she could leave something for her descendants.
These things were precious.
They could cure illnesses.
Cheng Hao found her whimsical ideas amusing but followed her instructions, handing her a thick, good-looking notebook.
It could indeed benefit future generations.
He himself was not idle and continued to update his map. Tomorrow, if all went as planned, they would head straight for the next temple to rest. He wasn't sure if they would make it.
While no one was around.
And Lai Fu wasn't there either.
Su Miaomiao asked Cheng Hao for a New Orleans-style chicken drumstick and happily gnawed on it. Compared to the food in the caravan, this delicacy was more familiar. It was the first time she had eaten something like this after being in ancient times for several days.
Cheng Hao didn't refuse her, only telling her to eat one, fearing it would be too greasy and upset her stomach.
Dinner was late today.
By the time the caravan started eating, it would be very late, and both of them were already hungry.
Naturally, they should eat first.
If there was food, why should they suffer? It was just that there hadn't been many opportunities before.
They dared not eat anything too strong-flavored.
Now, they could satisfy their cravings, and there was still plenty of food in the space.
They weren't worried.
Cheng Hao also ate a roujiamo, to tide him over before thinking about other things.
The others in the caravan liked to gather and chat to relax, rarely returning to their carriages. If they were really tired, they would lean against a tree and sleep.
However, as dusk fell, mosquitoes and other insects began to appear, flying in swarms.
Everyone was extremely annoyed.
Although their clothes were quite covering, some insects still managed to get in and bite them.
Their exposed skin suffered even more.
Initially, Cheng Hao didn't notice. He was calculating how long their current supplies would last. Su Miaomiao was discussing with him whether the caravan's formation needed to be adjusted, how to defend themselves if they encountered people later, and the need to have everyone exercise and practice some martial arts to improve their defense capabilities.
They were both engrossed in their conversation.
Su Miaomiao, with her sharp hearing, didn't miss the rustling sounds outside. She made a gesture to pause and said, "I'll go get some mosquito repellent grass. We'll light it for them to fumigate. The lumberjacks also need some."
Mosquito bites could cause illness, especially in those with weaker constitutions. The caravan members couldn't afford to get sick. If a few fell ill, their progress would slow down, and it could even spread to others. They absolutely had to repel mosquitoes!
Seeing that she remembered what he had told her and where she was going, Cheng Hao said she would be back in three minutes. He then picked up his cloth shoes, lifted the curtain, and went outside.
He thought to himself that he needed to learn to trust her more, but he still couldn't help but lift the curtain to look. He saw her figure running towards the supply vehicles at the back, and after a while, she went over to the resting people, gestured something, and then returned.
Su Miaomiao came back in, slightly out of breath. Cheng Hao had already lowered the curtain and was holding a notebook, pretending to be nonchalant. He asked, "Did you teach them how to use it? What did they say? Is there enough medicinal grass?"
"Enough! Enough! Just light a fire and it'll work, it's that simple. Just fumigate around our caravan, and then at intervals, light a small pot of fire with some medicinal grass in it, and it'll last for a long time."
Su Miaomiao assured him that there were no problems. As soon as she finished speaking, someone outside started fumigating according to her instructions, which indeed drove the mosquitoes and insects away.
Cheers erupted from outside, as everyone felt they could finally rest comfortably.
Cheng Hao lifted the curtain again and looked at the tired faces of the lumberjacks outside. Only after driving away the mosquitoes did they show a hint of a smile. Many were also holding their stomachs. With such strenuous labor, it was impossible not to be hungry.
Just then, Lai Fu trotted past, and Cheng Hao called him over, gesturing for him to come closer. "Go tell Uncle Ji to ask my father if he can take out some of the leftover dried rations and distribute them to the lumberjacks."
The reason he didn't ask Lai Fu directly was that these young servants were not noticed by the master of the house. Cheng Hao feared that if the children didn't deliver the message properly, they would be beaten and scolded again, so he still asked the experienced Uncle Ji to go.
Lai Fu agreed and prepared to leave, still carrying the hot water for the resting people, which was prepared to quench everyone's thirst.
Cheng Hao also remembered to ask, "Has the drinking water for our caravan been boiled?"
At this critical juncture.
Neither people nor animals could afford to get sick.
Lai Fu knew the importance of drinking water and nodded vigorously, saying, "We all follow your instructions, young master. The water for both people and the horses and mules is boiled. It's a bit troublesome, but no one has gotten sick!"
He even added, "The people from the Jin family who came to chop wood said that some people in their caravan had diarrhea and stomachaches. When I asked, they were drinking raw water!"
Lai Fu couldn't help but admire his young master's foresight.
Cheng Hao nodded, acknowledging the information.
He then let Lai Fu go.
Lai Fu finally agreed and ran off to deliver the water and then find Uncle Ji.
A moment later.
Some activity was heard outside again, clearly indicating that they had all started eating some dried rations.