Chapter 390 - 384_1
"It’s midday. Let’s stop for a bit to eat some dry food and rest before we continue the journey. Wife, are you alright? Has the morning travel been uncomfortable for you?"
"No, I’m fine," Lin Yue replied with a cheerful smile. Having ridden in the carriage all the way, it was indeed time to get out and stretch. Despite preparing the carriage to be as comfortable as possible, the constant jolting of the ride nearly rattled her bones apart.
Zhao Erhu extended his hand to help Lin Yue down from the carriage. Seeing that her complexion was good, he felt relieved and said, "Brother Li mentioned there aren’t any towns nearby, so we’ll have to make do with some dry food for lunch. When you’re on the road, you can’t be too picky. We will find an inn to stay at once we reach a town in the evening."
The Brother Li that Zhao Erhu spoke of was the leader of the merchant caravan sent to the Capital City by Manager Liu, named Li Xun. He was a tall and burly man with some martial arts skills, highly esteemed by the Family Head. Usually, tasks like these wouldn’t be assigned to him; the Family Head had sent him especially to accompany Zhao Erhu and his wife because he worried for their safety. Officially, it was said that he was traveling with them on his way back to the Capital City, but in reality, he was there specifically to meet them and escort them back, ensuring their safety.
The essential route from Xin’an City to the Capital City passes through a place called Longhu Mountain, where in recent years an unknown warlord claimed the mountain as his own, leading mountain bandits who roamed freely. The government had sent troops to eradicate them multiple times without success, and since no one dared to confront them, the bandits’ arrogance only grew. It wasn’t uncommon for passing merchant caravans to be robbed clean. Nevertheless, despite their audacity, the bandits didn’t harm lives, only plundering possessions. Even so, Jiang Ziqi was still worried, which was why he’d sent someone to escort Zhao Erhu and his wife to the Capital City.
By the time Lin Yue came out, Li Xun had already set up a clearance with his men. Some had gathered firewood to make a hot soup to go with the dry food. If it had been just the men, they wouldn’t have bothered; as seasoned travelers, they were used to roughing it and would eat something simple before continuing on their way. The main concern was the presence of a lady, so Li Xun had prepared some extra provisions before departure.
"Lady Zhao, is this your first time traveling? After such a long journey, are you tired?" Li Xun asked with a smile as Lin Yue approached. She was a delicate guest, and the Family Head had instructed him to take extra care of her before they left.
"I’m quite alright. Brother Li, thank you for your care along the way," Lin Yue said, not one to act frail. She went over to help and joined Zhao Erhu and others from their party.
They cooked porridge in a large pot, and Li Xun had prepared enough dry food for everyone, including a big bag of steamed buns and pancakes, with a few specially prepared buns for Lin Yue. "Lady Zhao, we don’t have much choice in these wilds, and we need to hurry to reach a town before nightfall. It’s not practical to hunt for game either, so please make do with what we have."
"Look at what Brother Li is saying. I grew up in the countryside, and it wasn’t uncommon for me to go hungry. Having buns to eat is more than good for me. I’ve also brought some food with me; let’s share with everyone," said Lin Yue, feeling a little embarrassed. Although she had prepared some dry food, it was just for their group and wasn’t as thought-out as Li Xun, who had prepared for everyone.
The type of food they carried on the road was quite standard: steamed buns, pancakes, and the like. However, the ones Lin Yue made herself were definitely tastier than those bought from outside – her buns were fragrant, soft, and delicious. Not to mention the jars of pickles, which, when eaten with the buns, were well-liked by all.