Cheng Hao settled his own bedding and asked Lai Fu to bring some ginger to boil a big pot of ginger soup, adding only a little sugar.
Just sweet enough.
To ward off the cold.
Mainly worried that with so many people here, if a cold were to spread, what would happen?
Lai Fu was about to go to the privy when he heard this and naturally agreed. Ji Bo also went with him, and the others, seeing this, also got up.
They went together.
It made them feel more at ease.
In less than half a day, the snow outside had already accumulated quite thickly.
Fortunately, they cleared it diligently.
Otherwise, the roofs would have been buried.
In the east of the temple hall.
In the corner.
Cai Shi was stirring the meat soup in the big pot. Hearing them mention boiling ginger soup, she said, "Oh, we'll need to set up a stove for that. Otherwise, how will we do it?"
Xi Shi also got up, preparing to go out and fetch another large iron pot.
Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Liuzi, with their good eyesight, had just finished tidying their beds. Hearing this, they immediately stood up and said, "We'll go!" "Yes, it's a good time to go to the privy while the snow isn't too heavy."
They went out together.
Xi Shi then sat down with a smile, continuing her work with Cai Shi.
Over at the Shan'ao Village contingent's corner.
Gao Dashan was also fussing with his own big pot, boiling hot soup, adding a few pieces of cured pork ribs and a lot of mushrooms his wife had picked, which had been dried. Today, they had been soaked for a while before cooking.
Hearing the commotion from the Cheng family's caravan, he smiled and praised, "You people are so efficient! Everyone is eager to work! Not a single one of you shirks your duties!"
This made the people in the Cheng family caravan laugh. Who wouldn't be happy to be praised?
However, some people from Shan'ao Village heard this and felt it was a bit off, as if it was implying that their own people were not as diligent.
Gao Dashan hadn't meant anything by it; he just said it casually. After he finished cooking his hot soup, other villagers also came over, wanting to use his makeshift stove.
The makeshift stoves for the several caravans were all built with stones, not very high, and were all near the windows. The windows here were made of wood and covered with gauze, some of which had rotted and been patched with paper.
However, a few holes were still left open for ventilation. The makeshift stoves were also built near the doors or windows for easy ventilation.
Everyone had plenty of firewood. The firewood was thoroughly dry in this weather. If wet wood were used, the smoke wouldn't be particularly heavy, but there would definitely be some smoke and smell. However, at a time like this, no one minded.
The big pot was cooking something.
Gurgling and steaming, it made the entire temple hall warmer.
At least it was better than outside.
Lai Fu, returning with the ginger, shook off the snowflakes from his body as he entered and said with a gasp, "Ay! Don't think it's that warm inside, but compared to outside, it's like heaven and earth! It's freezing to death!"
Ji Bo was still patting the snow off himself and then patted Lai Fu on the back, "Then you should definitely thank our young master and young mistress. Otherwise, we might be buried in the snow on some mountain path right now!"
The old man couldn't help but mention the young couple's contributions in almost every sentence, for fear that everyone would forget.
Lai Fu, being quick-witted, handed the basket of ginger and sugar to Cai Shi and Xi Shi and said he was going to express his gratitude to the young master and young mistress!
Ji Bo laughed and called him a sly devil!
Cheng Hao naturally stopped him from performing any grand gestures and told him to go and rest, "If there's nothing else, rest more and get your energy back."
Having been with his young master and young mistress for a long time, Lai Fu knew their personalities. Seeing that he was smiling, he chuckled and agreed, then turned and went to the side. His and Ji Bo's bedding was just there.
Under the pretense.
Of protecting their masters!
This child now dares to joke with them. He is quite lively.
Su Miaomiao also chuckled along.
She sat cross-legged, watching everyone busy with their own tasks.
She couldn't help but sigh.
"Ah, it's really good. It's not easy for everyone to be safe and sound, with no one missing, to get here! Although there aren't many people on the road, and I can't get any news, there haven't been any accidents or conflicts. I just hope it continues to be so smooth..."
She sat cross-legged with her chin propped in her hand, which was indeed very unbefitting of a young lady from a wealthy family. But everyone was already used to it. After all, how could a young lady raised in seclusion possess such archery skills and capabilities?
Lai Fu was full of admiration!
Ever since he saw his young master and young mistress using bows and arrows, he had been itching to try, wishing he had such skills.
Cheng Hao patted her head without saying anything. He was also resting, letting his body recover. The journey so far had been quite arduous, and it was indeed not easy. Of course, he also hoped that the rest of the journey would be smooth.
But reality is hard to predict.
Now that a severe cold wave has hit, this blizzard will likely freeze many to death and starve many to death. How much food would refugees have? How could they be as fortunate as their three caravans?
Those they encounter later will likely be much more dangerous than those encountered earlier.
Only the strong and ruthless will survive, and those without means will not.
Cheng Hao did not say anything to disturb his childhood sweetheart's hope, but clearly, what he could think of, she could too. Finally, she muttered, "Anyway, with this weather, we can't do much. Why don't we let everyone practice martial arts later?"
Strengthening their bodies is also good.
A good physique is built through practice; naturally gifted individuals are rare.
As soon as Su Miaomiao finished her musing, she began to nudge her childhood sweetheart, whispering in his ear, "What do you think about taking advantage of this time, when the snow outside is less heavy, to train some people? To improve their defensive capabilities?"
Cheng Hao felt ticklish on his ear from her warm breath, so he turned his head slightly and replied affirmatively, "That's a good idea. It's better than letting everyone go to waste during this snow that might last indefinitely."
Exercising their bodies and learning a few moves would be enough to deal with ordinary people.
Those with a proper fighting style will certainly fare better than those who fight haphazardly. Moreover, there are also defensive techniques to avoid being injured, thus improving their safety. At least in a fight, the one who doesn't fall is the winner.
Therefore, Cheng Hao strongly agreed with Su Miaomiao's idea. People cannot stop exercising, or they will become weak in no time, with limp and powerless limbs.
Furthermore.
Cheng Hao noticed that as long as the Shan'ao Village group wasn't facing danger, minor disputes still existed among them. When people are idle, they are prone to causing trouble, arguing, and fighting. So, letting everyone exercise can also divert their attention.
"We can also practice archery. Aren't there people in Shan'ao Village who can do woodwork? Let them figure out how to make some bows and arrows. That would be another defensive weapon."
Su Miaomiao found this to be very reasonable and nodded in agreement, "Indeed! Let me organize it, and you can be the chief instructor. I'll teach everyone to identify herbs. We'll need to collect more herbs later, which we can keep for ourselves or trade with others. It will be very useful!"