No wonder they walk slowly.
Back in Western Qin, they initially sought refuge from refugees and government troops; now, they are facing bandits and outlaws along the way.
Moreover, they went the wrong way many times, wandering around and taking many detours, before finally finding this place by asking around.
They got lost several times along the way, and relied on asking for directions to get here. Heaven knows how hard they worked.
They asked the villagers in the villages they passed through if they knew where the State of Lu Shi was.
They asked several pedestrians, but most of them couldn't communicate at all because they couldn't understand what they were saying.
Fortunately, some business people can understand their language.
An elderly man wearing a woolen felt hat, with a long beard, and dressed in a brown, diagonally colored robe introduced the two to each other:
“Beautiful Central Plains girl, you still have to travel further west from Lu Shi Kingdom. It will be about a five-day journey from here. However, this route is deserted, so you should prepare enough food and water before you go.”
Also, to get to the Kingdom of Lu, we need to cross a desert, which is about a three-day journey. That desert is not easy to traverse, so the two young ladies need to be careful.”
His words carried a strong foreign flavor, leaving Qin Susu stunned.
"Thank you, sir." Qiu Yan thanked him sincerely. Hearing him say that the next five days would be a journey by horse, two days in the desert, three days in the sand dunes, and still a journey by horse, she inquired:
"I wonder if you have any food at home, sir?"
As she spoke, she took out some loose silver coins, saying, "We want to buy some to eat on the way."
"Come on, I have beef and lamb legs at home."
The old man was very hospitable, and Qiu Yan was very grateful.
She traded silver with the old man for beef and lamb legs, and filled her water bag with clean water as well.
Not only that, they also brought two full bundles of grapes.
These were all given to me for free by my kind uncle.
Because their family owns a large vineyard.
The old man's grapes were delicious, better than any they had ever eaten before.
Qiu Yan did not refuse because she knew that the road ahead would be even more difficult. They had water bags when they were thirsty, but what about the horses?
Their horses followed them through countless hardships and wanderings; they may not have done anything particularly meritorious, but they certainly endured a lot of hardship.
She still paid the old man the money, and didn't forget to ask him for two large sacks.
She and Qin Susu continued westward.
Leaving the village, ahead indeed stretched a vast desert.
"How did the old man know we were girls from the Central Plains?" Qin Susu asked, somewhat puzzled.
Qiu Yan: "Different appearances, different clothes." That's such an obvious problem.
Qin Susu: "Why is it getting stranger and stranger? The people here dress so strangely, and they talk so strangely too..."
Qiu Yan: "Due to different ethnic customs, they may even find us strange."
“You’re right. Then, Xiaoyan, why don’t we go change into some ethnic clothing?” Qin Susu imagined what she would look like in different clothes. And to be honest, the women’s clothes here are quite beautiful.
"That will have to wait until we pass through the next town," Qiu Yan thought to herself.
Didn't that old man just say that they still have a day to walk through the desert?
If you're going to stay overnight there, you'll definitely need to bring some warm clothes.
Although each of them had a set of clothes in their bundles, they were too thin.
However, further ahead, there was still only desert; there were no shops or markets, and now even villages were nowhere to be seen.
As dusk approached, Qiu Yan and Qin Susu dismounted and took out a burlap sack they had prepared beforehand, storing some hay for the horses in case of emergency.
Tonight, they use the sky as their blanket, burlap sacks as their pillows, and straw as their mattress. In the quiet night, only the chirping of insects can be heard.
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