The day of the Cheng family's departure.
The weather remained inclement.
More and more people were leaving Que Prefecture City, the sound of hooves never ceasing.
That morning.
Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao, along with a small group, went early to retrieve the vehicles.
Li Datou and Wang Daming were certainly going, as were Li Dazhuang and Li Dali, Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Liuzi, all spirited and eager.
They were even more excited.
On the way, they chatted about the new vehicles, full of curiosity.
The weather that day was truly outrageous.
It was passable in the morning, but by noon, it was impossible to move.
The air was still a bit stuffy.
But it didn't dampen everyone's good spirits; they chatted and laughed, feeling relaxed.
After passing through the bustling market where stalls were being set up, they arrived at the woodworking workshop on the other side.
Li Datou stepped forward and knocked.
An apprentice inside immediately answered, opened the door, and smilingly led them in.
"There are too many vehicles, so we've temporarily stored them in another yard. If not for so many people leaving, we wouldn't even have a place to put them."
The apprentice led them further, through the small courtyard of the processing workshop, across a narrow alley, to a rather spacious yard.
As the large wooden gate opened.
Inside were rows and rows of carriages, a truly spectacular sight.
They were arranged in a neat, uniform fashion, as if by someone with a touch of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The arrangement was meticulously organized.
The vehicles were in a subdued, dark wood tone, more like dark red.
The guiding apprentice was quite proud. Pointing to the vehicles, he said, "Knowing they were leaving today, we fed the horses and loaded the vehicles early this morning. These wheels took a lot of effort. Young Master Cheng and Mistress Cheng are willing to spend money, and it shows. The horses will save a lot of strength!"
Li Datou was stunned for a long time, and after a while, he finally exclaimed, "Ay yo!" then slapped his thigh, finally marveling, "Good heavens, am I dreaming? How can there be such large carriages?"
Looking utterly disheveled, he reached out and touched the side of the large carriage.
It was made of good wood.
Wang Daming turned away, unable to watch, finding it too embarrassing.
But his astonishment was understandable.
The new vehicles were indeed impressive.
Not just their exterior appeal.
Their interiors were equally robust.
The configurations had been upgraded by several levels, which would astound them even more later.
This was because.
All the carriage interiors had been fitted with many new designs on top of the original ones.
The front driver's seat was made even more spacious, comfortably seating four people.
Due to the large wheels, the carriage sat high, and the steps for boarding and alighting were more prominent.
However, they were still retractable.
They could be retracted when not needed, just as convenient and not taking up space.
Even Wang Daming was greatly surprised. Looking at the young couple chatting calmly, he was shocked that they had undertaken such a massive project behind the scenes. After all, the cost was not a trivial sum.
They were truly willing to spend.
Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Liuzi, these youngsters, were already dumbfounded, gazing at the tall vehicles, their forms resembling small mobile houses.
"Heavens above, I, Xiao Wuzi, have never seen such a large carriage in my life. How much can this hold? It's amazing, how can it be so amazing?"
"Are our Young Master and Mistress deities? How can they have such a grand undertaking?"
This was all money.
The two boys were incredibly astonished, not daring to reach out and touch these vehicles.
Su Miaomiao laughed heartily, "What are you afraid of? They are just larger vehicles. Touch them if you want. You can even go inside and take a look. You'll be driving them later, and they'll be your living spaces. Go and see them!"
She, Cheng Hao, and Cao Lisong had been communicating about the modifications throughout the process.
Although he had many apprentices, twenty to thirty of them, they couldn't build so many vehicles. Later, some work was outsourced, and then assembled back. However, the critical parts were done by their own people, so they weren't afraid of others learning.
Su Miaomiao focused more on safety, while Cheng Hao's thoughts were more detailed.
There were no visible differences in the exterior of the vehicles.
But the interiors were vastly different.
The carriage of the young couple themselves was furnished according to their personal living habits and preferences, while the other vehicles were also thoughtfully designed.
There were family-style ones.
And there were also styles for single men like Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Liuzi.
It was about the number of beds inside.
After all, the cost of one carriage was quite high, so the single men had to share.
It wasn't as extravagant as having one carriage for every two or three people.
Nor was it so crowded that one carriage was packed full.
The space was within reasonable limits.
Enough for them to live comfortably, with each person having their own storage cabinet and bed curtains, preserving their personal space.
Ultimately, it would be handed over to them, and they could organize their own living spaces.
Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao, considering that such frequent uprootings might occur in the future, decided to build the caravan into a mobile home, making everyone as comfortable as possible on their journey to find a new settlement, and of course, including their own quality of life.
Therefore, in addition to the vehicles for basic living, they added some logistics vehicles, such as those for storing supplies, which were simply for storing provisions and were empty carriage compartments without beds.
Ten such supply carriages were prepared for their own use.
At the same time, living vehicles were also reserved for the people of Shan'ao Village.
After all, they were all advancing and retreating together now.
It was necessary.
However, the ten supply carriages were for their own use, to carry grain and drinking water.
The items from Shan'ao Village were organized by family unit, not unified like the Cheng family's. Therefore, they could tie their own things to their own vehicles, and they could expand their thinking. Everyone was smart.
In addition, there was a mobile bathhouse vehicle, equipped with four small bathrooms, bathtubs, and some toiletries for personal hygiene.
This eliminated the need to set up temporary curtain barriers in the wilderness.
It saved a lot of time.
There were two such bathhouse vehicles made in total, one for the Cheng family and one for the people of Shan'ao Village. Each carriage had four small compartments, two for men and two for women, and within the same sex, they were further divided for adults and children.
To prevent cross-infection.
They would arrange for everyone to use them in rotation, and they would be cleaned before and after use.
Of course.
This was contingent on them encountering abundant water sources along the way.
That was too difficult.
Setting that aside for now.
Suffice it to say, having a mobile bathroom in the caravan was a very convenient matter.
This way, the hygiene issues of the caravan members would no longer be a concern.
Maintaining hygiene at all times.
Would reduce the likelihood of illness.
This was not a small matter; their efforts were painstaking.
After all, getting sick was always dangerous.
Especially when medical care was poor.
Besides these special bathing carriages, the Cheng family also kept a live animal carriage for chickens and rabbits, managed by Cheng Xiaoxi.
If fish weren't difficult to raise and inconvenient, there would have been a fish-farming carriage. But thinking about it, it was impractical, so they didn't build one.
The fish in the yard would also be prepared as small dried fish to take along.
They couldn't raise them on the road, and they wouldn't bear to throw away even this small amount of meat. So they would be prepared uniformly and taken along. They could also be fed to the chickens.
Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao had too many fantastic ideas, and they were so thoughtful that everyone found it hard to believe. Cheng Dazhuang and Cheng Dali, after touring the family-style carriages, were full of surprise. The interior was like a small home, and it was incredibly good.
The brothers were impressed to the point of prostration by the couple's ideas.
They thought they had indeed followed the right people!
Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao had reserved one carriage each for the brothers.
After all, they were newlyweds.
Their wives could stay in the carriage while they drove, and although their position in the caravan would be towards the rear, they could be responsible for overseeing the latter half of the caravan, essentially being the rear guard.
The brothers immediately said it was no problem, just a small matter.
Just the gesture of giving each brother a carriage was generous enough.
Cheng Dazhuang and Cheng Dali's hearts were completely won over; they were at a level where they would do anything they were asked! They wouldn't quibble over these minor details.
Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao were very pleased with this and smiled happily.
Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Liuzi had returned from their tour and excitedly asked what they were going to do.
Cheng Hao said, "You are grown up now and can stand on your own. For the supply vehicles, you two will drive them along with the other young men. The same applies to the other supply vehicles; they will be driven in pairs."
Su Miaomiao added, "It's good to have a partner when you're in pairs. If you get tired midway, you can take turns, and one person can rest their eyes, so it won't be so exhausting. As for the nights, you'll sleep in the living carriages."
Living carriages would also have drivers arranged. In any case, driving would be done by two people, which was a big difference from the previous situation where several people squeezed in.
They wouldn't be able to sleep well at night.
Now it would be much more comfortable.
Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Liuzi naturally agreed, patting their chests and assuring them.
Cheng Hao smiled and said, "Alright, then the supply vehicles will be entrusted to you two."
They readily agreed.
They were still very excited, likely unable to calm down for a while.
Cheng Hao familiarized them with the vehicles and gave them some instructions on the protective mechanisms inside, so they could learn and remember them quickly. This would allow them to handle unexpected situations together when working in pairs.
When Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Liuzi heard this, they became serious and focused.
Su Miaomiao was very pleased with them; they were indeed quick-witted and resourceful, and bolder than others. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so familiar with them. Although the other servants were also diligent and good children, they lacked the boldness of these two and just worked diligently in the background.
Those who could handle matters truly needed people with the personalities of Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Liuzi. Therefore, important matters were often entrusted to them to help handle. They had indeed become the captains of their small teams.
Su Miaomiao smilingly told them to work hard, and they readily agreed!
Everything was in place.
Everyone took up their respective duties.
First, they would take the Cheng family's vehicles back to the alley entrance to load their luggage.
Because there were many alleys and few main roads, and the new vehicles were large, they were afraid of blocking the roads. Therefore, they would load their luggage separately. After the Cheng family finished loading and left the city, it would be the turn of the people of Shan'ao Village. The young couple would lead them to retrieve their vehicles.
The Cheng family loaded their vehicles quickly. The young couple took the drivers to get the vehicles, while Uncle Ji, Laifu, and Jiawang led the others to pack their luggage. As soon as the vehicles arrived at the intersection, they began moving things onto the vehicles and organizing them.
They were assembled quickly.
Only the empty front courtyard remained, and their former traces of life were gone.
Although they hadn't lived there long.
As they left again, everyone's mood was complicated and a bit somber.
Before closing the gate.
Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao saw the dejected looks in Uncle Ji, Laifu, and Jiawang's eyes and felt quite bad. Finally, Su Miaomiao smiled and said, "The next time, we will definitely find a place where we can put down roots!"
Uncle Ji, Laifu, and Jiawang's eyes then regained their luster.
They all nodded.
Then they locked the gate and left.
They placed the key in the mouth of the small stone lion and left after ensuring it was properly placed.
They had already arranged it with someone.
This was how the handover would be done.
Cheng Hao asked Uncle Ji and the others to wait outside the city. He and Su Miaomiao would take the people of Shan'ao Village to retrieve their vehicles. Then, while they were loading their luggage, they would visit the old friend, the old gentleman.
Su Miaomiao then remembered the newly acquainted young woman. Due to too many subsequent matters, she hadn't found the time to talk to her. She sighed, but now it was even more inconvenient to disturb her.
They had met by chance.
It was better this way.
However, after taking Gao Dashan and the others to retrieve their vehicles, she did accompany Cheng Hao to visit the old gentleman and left him some food. Knowing he wouldn't accept money, she brought him some jam and dried rations, which were durable and simple to eat. He finally accepted them when he couldn't refuse.
Finally, he gifted the young couple a pair of inkstones and a pair of mandarin duck jade pendants.
Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao were not hesitant.
They knew that this parting would be difficult to see each other again, but they wouldn't forget him.
The old gentleman just smiled, appearing equally carefree. He blessed the young couple with a long and happy marriage, and after a brief chat, they parted ways.
Su Miaomiao couldn't quite describe the feeling; her heart felt a little empty. She looked at the familiar streetscape and environment nearby. Usually, at this time, she and Cheng Hao would be rushing through the streets for various matters.
Or in the evening, they would stroll back hand in hand, discussing things.
As they left again this time.
They were unlikely to return, unless the world was at peace and they could revisit the old place.
Cheng Hao could naturally sense his childhood sweetheart's belated sadness. He reached out and held her hand, gripping it tightly.
"Don't be sad. When peace returns to this land, if you want to come back and see, no matter when, I can accompany you back."
Su Miaomiao also squeezed his hand and looked up at him, smiling. At this moment, she was truly grateful because, no matter where she was or how the world changed, he was always by her side.
She looked down at their steps and said with a smile, "The most important thing is you. As long as I am by your side, I can go anywhere. I don't have that strong an attachment to this place, and I don't necessarily want to come back in the future. It's just human nature, a tiny emotion that arises when it's time to leave..."
Cheng Hao said, "Yes, so what I want to say is that no matter when, if you want to go anywhere, I can accompany you, unconditionally."
Setting aside his usual playful demeanor or feigned arguments to mask his true feelings, this man was becoming increasingly honest, not hiding his thoughts at all.
Su Miaomiao looked into his earnest eyes, and at this moment, his handsomeness reached a new peak. Another thing was that, no matter when or where, she, Su Miaomiao, would always be moved by him, Cheng Hao, undeniably so.
So she pulled on his sleeve and dragged him down. She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss, with no other desires, just a simple desire to touch lips, like a gesture of affection, a small intimacy between them.