Su Miaomiao didn't stay idle. Seeing the two women knead dough into a ball and then tear off small pieces for dumplings, she suggested it was too troublesome. By adding water and stirring, the small dough pieces would form, making them smaller and easier to cook.
This would save firewood.
Although she couldn't cook, she had seen enough to know how.
Cai Shi and Xi Shi were both skilled cooks. Hearing Su Miaomiao's description, they tried it and succeeded, surprised by such an easy and effective method.
They kept praising Su Miaomiao, complimenting her beauty and intelligence. From the bottom of their hearts, they had grown fond of the young girl.
Before long, their children arrived to help.
Su Miaomiao was asked to leave by the two women. They said that once they started cooking, the smoke would be too heavy, and she should stay away until it was ready, and then she could come and eat.
She readily agreed.
Before leaving, she remembered something and whispered, "Aunties, since you've opened your hearts, look forward from now on. Safety is paramount. If you encounter anything else, you must endure it and not cry out. If you alert the enemy, we will all be in danger. I hope you don't mind my meddling."
Su Miaomiao, with her bright eyes and pearly teeth, stated her thoughts so directly that it seemed candid, not petty, but rather for the greater good.
Although Xi Shi was more emotional, she wasn't completely devoid of sense. With her three children to protect, she naturally understood.
She nodded repeatedly and said with some shame, "It's truly embarrassing. I'm not as sensible as you, Miaomiao. Don't worry, I'll keep your words in mind and promise not to be so boisterous anymore."
Xi Shi remembered the gruesome sight of the densely packed bodies in the river and understood what fate awaited them if they fell into the hands of enemy soldiers.
She naturally dared not cause trouble again and would strive to learn self-control.
Cai Shi had some reservations about Xi Shi's earlier shouting and was pondering how to address it. After all, they were fleeing together, and one person's emotional outburst shouldn't endanger the entire group.
Unexpectedly.
Su Miaomiao also remembered this matter and brought it up directly.
Xi Shi accepted it well and promised to change.
Cai Shi then smiled genuinely, feeling that following the Cheng family was indeed a good choice. At least for now, everyone seemed quite united.
And they were more receptive to advice.
"Alright, alright, sister, it's best that you can be like this."
Cai Shi couldn't help but say a few excited words, and the matter was put to rest.
Su Miaomiao was then satisfied. While she could understand Xi Shi's emotional outburst due to her family, she wouldn't indulge it.
Everyone's lives had to be considered, so how could she allow another uncontrolled moment?
It would cause so much delay.
Of course.
Su Miaomiao wouldn't be as cruel as her husband, beating people. She would at most knock them unconscious.
But it was clearly unnecessary now.
A potential hidden danger had been resolved.
Su Miaomiao then ambled away, continuing to patrol the camp.
Cheng Hao was also doing his best to help organize and arrange things, but a part of his mind was always on his childhood sweetheart. Every movement she made was imprinted in his eyes.
Seeing her darting around instead of resting obediently in the carriage gave him a headache. But seeing that she at least didn't run outside the camp, he reluctantly tolerated it.
He then arranged for people to gather edible wild resources nearby.
It didn't matter if it was wild vegetables or fruits; as long as it was edible, they should collect it.
Now, with a caravan of fifty people, a batch of food was consumed daily. They had to do their best to supplement it, or at least mix it with their grains. Today's noodle dumpling soup was already a rare luxury.
For the next meal, whatever they collected today would be mixed in, so their meal would depend on their own efforts.
After getting out of the carriages, the Cheng Kaichun and Cheng Fengtai families also let the carsick children rest. Those who weren't carsick were also required to participate in the work; they couldn't eat for free.
While the women and children were cooking, the two men went to collect things nearby.
As Su Miaomiao passed the first carriage, she could see Cheng Hao's father's two concubines. Poor women, they had never been outside their homes before, and the jolting of the carriage had nearly killed them.
Even so.
The two concubines were not idle. They had found needles and thread from somewhere and were altering clothes for their children, not resting.
As Su Miaomiao walked by, she casually glanced and noticed they were sewing inner pockets into the clothes to hide dry rations they were reluctant to eat.
She couldn't help but sigh. The hearts of parents are indeed tender. They were even saving these meager rations for their children to hide, likely worried about not having enough to eat later.
As concubines, their children were also illegitimate, so they would surely receive the least. Thus, they had started worrying about the future early on.
Su Miaomiao didn't disturb them, just continued to walk away. She could faintly hear the two mothers earnestly instructing, "Hide them well, and don't tell anyone. This will be life-saving food in the future." "We'll eat less, don't anger your father, or he'll sell us."
These words scared the three children into quiet sobs, and they whispered that they didn't want to leave their mothers.
Su Miaomiao's footsteps paused. Immediately, she felt that it shouldn't come to this. Being alone in chaotic times was truly dangerous. She felt that the current group was quite good and therefore needed to be consolidated.
However, it would indeed require effort, and the first step was to stabilize people's hearts.
She walked around and finally memorized everyone's faces and their identities. Now she knew who was who in the caravan.
Returning to her original spot.
Lai Fu was still shaking his legs, afraid to get down, obediently standing guard for Su Miaomiao. Seeing his young madam approach, he was as happy as a dog, almost wagging his tail. If he had one, he would have wagged it enthusiastically.
He was incredibly excited.
"Young Madam! What do you need me to do up here? Can I come down first?"
Lai Fu's face was full of nervousness. He glanced at her below, who was almost closing her eyes. He tilted his head back, afraid to look, and was close to rolling his eyes and fainting on the large stone.
Su Miaomiao saw his pale face and understood that the child was afraid of heights, so she didn't force him. Seeing movement from over there, she said, "Alright, alright, they're back, you can come down now!"
As she spoke, she grinned and asked, "Can you get down? Do you need me to help you down? Or shall I find you a ladder?"
She teased him.
Lai Fu immediately shook his head, indicating he didn't need any help. He carefully and swiftly scrambled down, his legs going weak upon landing, almost falling onto his backside.
Su Miaomiao pulled his arm, helping him stand steady. He was trembling with fear. Before she could say anything, Cheng Hao called out, "Su Miaomiao!" She looked up and saw him with a stern, unhappy expression.