Quick mission: We don't make trouble

Because they were going down the mountain, the speed was very fast. They arrived at the post station at the foot of the mountain before the sun set.

The post station was quite small, with only two floors. The upper floor was for living, while the lower floor was used to raise horses and yaks. A few households were scattered around the post station.

Seeing the caravan coming, some Tibetans ran out of their homes to watch and shouted something in Tibetan at Team Leader Yang. Team Leader Yang said a few words to them and they made way.

Team leader Yang said to Zhu Qingqing, "Madam Zhu, you and your family can stay at the post station tonight and get some rest. After all, the conditions in the carriage and tent are not very comfortable. Tomorrow we still need to cross a higher mountain before we can reach the border town of Tubo."

The rooms upstairs in the post station were only available to Tibetan chiefs, officials and their families. Ordinary people and slaves had no right to even think about it.

The Zhu family also got two rooms because the chief steward had informed Team Leader Yang, and Team Leader Yang, under the chief steward's name, told the manager of the post station that these were distinguished guests from the headman's family, so the manager of the post station vacated two rooms.

Zhu Qingqing responded: "Okay, we will follow Team Leader Yang's arrangements."

So, Team Leader Yang had Yang Wu and Yang Jiu drive the carriage straight to the post station, and then arranged for the Zhu family to stay upstairs. He also took out some money and gave it to the staff at the post station, asking them to prepare hot water for the masters and ladies.

Zhu Qingqing and her family, led by the postmaster, walked up the stairs. They reached the second floor and saw two adjacent rooms. The interior was quite spacious. The floor was covered with soft carpet. There were no traditional beds, but there was a large low couch that could easily accommodate four or five people to rest.

After some discussion, Zhu Qingqing decided to have the female relatives live in one room, while Zhu's father, Wang Xiangdong, and Yu Bo would stay in the next room. This arrangement ensured mutual care and made the best use of existing resources.

Due to the limited space at the post station, the other members of the caravan chose to camp outside instead of staying inside. Therefore, Wang Xiangdong and Yu Bo did not need to participate in the night watch tonight and could stay upstairs to shoulder the responsibility of protecting the Zhu family.

After the family had settled in, the postmaster sent a servant to bring them steaming hot butter tea and asked if they would like dinner service. Zhu Qingqing politely thanked him and declined, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, but it's not necessary. We've already prepared the food ourselves, and we'll let you know if there are any other requests."

The station manager smiled and nodded, then left the room.

Zhu Qingqing smiled and said to her parents and sister, "Mom, Dad, Yingying, Didi, there is hot water today. You can wash up and relax. I will help prepare dinner so that everyone can enjoy a delicious meal."

Zhu Yingying responded sensibly: "Sister, don't worry, I will take care of Didi." After that, she gently touched Didi's head to comfort him.

Wu Di also said, "Don't worry, Mom, I will be a good boy and I promise not to cause any more trouble.

At this time, the caravan had already set up camp outside the post station, and everyone was busy and orderly, each doing their own job. However, team leader Yang was surrounded by a group of Tibetans. He was opening a package of goods and distributing them to the people around him.

Every Tibetan who received something beamed with joy, as if they had received a precious gift. Seeing Zhu Qingqing's puzzled look, Yang Wu stepped forward and explained, "These are the items we brought to them from the Tibetan capital. Some were bought on their behalf, and some were brought to us by their relatives and friends... When we leave Great Zhou again next year, we'll bring back some of Great Zhou's specialty products. Second Brother will have to write down what everyone needs one by one. Hehe, he'll have a lot of work to do now!"

Zhu Qingqing nodded, her understanding dawning. She had a deeper understanding of the role and appeal of caravans. Isn't this exactly the purpose of caravans? Through trade and exchange, they not only meet mutual needs but also foster understanding and friendship between people from different regions.

Then she went to find Yang San. The caravan still chose to prepare dinner by themselves, and Zhu Qingqing also came to help as usual.

Yang San said with a smile, "Master Zhu, you've worked hard all day. Why don't you take a break? It's still early today! I plan to send Yang Jiu and the others to the woods to hunt some game to change everyone's taste and improve their meals. When the time comes, I'll have to rely on your superb culinary skills!"

Zhu Qingqing raised the corner of her mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile: "Okay. Then let's wait for them to come back. I'll go to the stream first to see if I can find some wild vegetables or something, and pick some more by the way."

Yang San nodded in understanding, a look of sudden enlightenment appearing on his face. "I know, I know. It's just about supplementing nutrition. And what's that thing called... Oh, right! Vitamins!"

Seeing this, Zhu Qingqing gave him a thumbs up to express her appreciation.

Yang San said with a smile, "Hehe, that's right. Thanks to Master Zhu's careful teaching, I have learned a lot!"

Then, Yang San turned around and told the two people who were helping him to start a fire and boil water, and fill all the caravan's water bags.

This is actually the advice given by Zhu Qingqing. If possible, try to avoid drinking raw water.

As for the reason, his father and mother, both doctors, had already explained it to him in detail.

Although he didn't quite understand what was said at the time, Yang San was still very afraid that worms would grow in his stomach, so he just did as he was told. Besides, he didn't have to boil water or fill it himself.

After making all the arrangements, he picked up a bamboo basket and followed Zhu Qingqing closely to the stream to collect wild vegetables. Later, Zhu's father and mother also came.

Although it is the beginning of autumn, there are still wild vegetables. They only pick the tender tips, so they are quite quick.

Yang San: "Come to think of it, if Master Zhu hadn't come along this time, I wouldn't have eaten wild vegetables in a long time."

Father Zhu: "You've eaten it before, but that was probably when you were a child."

Yang San nodded. "Yes, there was a war going on at that time, and there was no peace. We were short of food, so the adults at home took us to dig wild vegetables and cooked them with rice bran. They were bitter and sore in the throat that it was simply difficult to swallow..."

Zhu Qingqing: "That means you are living a good life now."

Yang San: "It's just average. Our Yang family has fought hard for what we have today."

Zhu Qingqing: "Yes, wealth and glory don't just fall from the sky. You have to work hard to get rewards."

Yang San: "I really like listening to Master Zhu talk. He always speaks to my heart."

Zhu Qingqing: "That means we are all the same people. Back then, our Zhu family went to the West to make a living."

Yang San: "Yes, yes, it's just like our journey to Tibet today. But you've gone further. It's more admirable."