Tea eggs can be eaten at night without any problem, and corn cakes are so dry that they have no moisture at all, just like fried noodles, they can be stored for a long time, so no one touched them.
The cucumbers were picked this morning, and they should last for another two days without any problem. We still have three days of travel left, so we'll save them to eat tomorrow and the day after.
Hu Wenhua tidied up the remaining food, placed it in a safe place, and then directed everyone to extinguish the fire by pouring water on it and checking that nothing had been left behind.
Bai Manshan's eyes subtly observed him.
A moment later, Hu Wenhua came over and said, "Dad, give me your gourd, I'll fill it with water."
Brother Bai, where's your water pouch? I'll go fill it up so I can have some water this afternoon.
Rich people used to make water bags out of cowhide, which poor people couldn't afford. But gourds were planted every year and produced many fruits. The gourds with good shapes were kept until they matured, then they were picked, the tops were sawed off, and a wooden stopper was used to make a water bottle that could be used to carry water when going out.
It's cheap, lightweight, and works very well.
Butcher Hu immediately took off the gourd hanging from his belt, handed it to his son, and said to Bai Manshan, "It's too hot. We need to prepare plenty of water. Tell Wenhua to fill it up for you so we can travel this afternoon."
Bai Manshan also knew the importance of water.
The river and lake water looked clear, but we didn't know if there was anything rotten inside, so it might not be safe to drink it directly.
He considered it carefully and said, "The water probably needs to be boiled first."
Hu Wenhua laughed heartily, "I know! Before I left, my sister repeatedly told me that the water must be boiled, and it should be boiled for a while before it's ready!"
I remember it. I just told the others that our fried noodles are made by boiling water and pouring it into each person's bowl to drink. After the iron pot is taken out, water is boiled continuously, and after it is boiled, it is poured into a wooden bucket to cool.
Brother Bai, look, the water in that wooden bucket is for our afternoon drinking, and the water in the big iron pot is for our midday break. This way, it won't cause any delays."
Bai Manshan looked up in surprise. He remembered that the boy only looked older than his age, but was actually only sixteen years old this year.
Moreover, contrary to his rugged appearance, he is extremely meticulous.
He listened attentively—he didn't take Shui Qing's instructions lightly, but strictly followed them.
Putting the overall situation first—not only did they follow the food instructions for their own small team, but they also went to other small teams to say hello.
He even considered details such as water, food, and fire for midday and afternoon. This child is very suitable to be a leader!
Bai Manshan then turned his attention to the other two teams.
One was the team that Li Wu and Li Gang were in, with about the same number of people as them. Although their food preparations were not as numerous or of as good as those prepared by Shui Qing, they were still plentiful and there was no problem with them eating their fill.
After Hu Wenhua went to say hello, they also started boiling water and letting it cool, only a little slower than the rest of them.
The other team, which included Fan Dazhu and Fan Erzhu, was quite lively at the moment.
No, it's not lively, it's arguing!
"Why do others get two bowls of fried noodle soup, while we brothers only get one? Aren't you looking down on us!"
"Yes, do you even know who selected you? How dare you bully his nephew like this!"
"What makes you think you're superior? Two people scooped a bowl of fried noodles for each other, and you two only got half a bowl. So it's like they got two bowls and you only got one. What does this have to do with whether you respect someone or not!"
"We know who selected us, and we appreciate their help! As for the rest of us, don't even bother getting involved."
Bai Manshan leaped up and rushed toward the source of the argument.
It's human nature to love watching a spectacle, and men are no exception. They crowded together, three or four deep, constantly whispering and commenting.
So Bai Manshan didn't manage to squeeze in at first.
"And this water! We brothers aren't tired from gathering firewood, so why do we need to boil water? Why be so particular when we're traveling? It's just adding unnecessary trouble!"
"Yeah, we can still drink well water at home! Why can't we drink lake water when we go out? What, has it become precious?"
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