The military doctor was stunned, "Using pig feet to practice? Is that okay?"

"Of course it is," Zhou Liru said, "Both my little aunt and I use pig feet to practice. After practicing, we can chop them up and stew them, so they don’t go to waste. By the way, I have a recipe for stewed pig feet. Do you want it?"

The military doctor hesitated, "Want it?"

Zhou Liru didn’t write it down, she just recited a string of instructions for him, which made Manbao glance at her several times. When they left the military doctor, Manbao couldn’t help but ask, "Why do you memorize recipes?"

Zhou Liru sighed, "What can I do? Every time our dorm supervisor buys pig legs to practice, they all have efficient ways to deal with the aftermath, except for me. When I say I want to stew pig feet, they all think it’s beneath them. I can’t win against them in firewood or water tasks, so I can only find recipes for them to consider it a contribution. Otherwise, I’d feel embarrassed to join them in buying pig legs."

Zhou Liru was their dorm supervisor and the youngest in the entire Imperial Medical Office. Even the youngest above her was a few months older. Since she was Zhou Man’s niece, everyone inevitably took extra care of her.

However, she had a good temper and got along with everyone. In the Imperial Medical Office to practice stitching, rabbits were hard to find, and each live-stitching practice required live creatures. Young girls were too afraid to work directly on live animals, so they started with pig legs.

After practicing with these things, they were unwilling to discard them, so they ate them.

The Imperial Medical Office had a kitchen, but it wouldn’t provide private handling for students. These items had to be handled by the students themselves.

Manbao asked, "Who did you get the recipe from? It seems a bit different from the one our big sister-in-law usually makes."

"I got it from the chief steward," Zhou Liru said, "Little aunt, you forgot? When you were at Jishi Hall, Senior Brothers learned stitching with you. The pig feet we ate then were made this way."

Manbao showed disdain, "It’s not as good as our sister-in-law’s. It’s too bland."

Pig feet, bland...

Zhou Liru said nothing, though she agreed internally; her big aunt made soy-flavored pig feet which were particularly delicious.

Zhou Liru suddenly felt hungry, and Manbao also said quietly, "I’m hungry."

Even if they were hungry, Governor Duan only provided them with biscuits to eat and a big pot of lamb soup.

Because they were going to part ways tomorrow, Governor Duan received quite a few spoils, generously spent two ingots of silver to buy several sheep from the neighboring tribe, slaughtering them, leaving one for themselves, and distributing the rest to the soldiers.

Everyone celebrated warmly for half the night, then went to rest. Early the next morning, they took down the tents, packed up, and stood on both sides of the official road to say goodbye.

Governor Duan glanced at the path disappearing into the mountains, "Travel safely on your journey."

Bai Shan thanked Governor Duan with a smile, and everyone wished Governor Duan a smooth journey as well. When the sun rose, they went their separate ways, moving forward back to back, one group towards Liangzhou, the other towards the Western Regions.

Manbao looked back while riding her horse, saying to her companions, "I wonder when the letter Lord Duan is sending back will arrive at the capital."

She had written a letter to Director Xiao about official business, handing it directly to the official post station for delivery. However, most of the post stations in Liangzhou had closed, even mail carriers were gone. This matter could only rely on Governor Duan.

Manbao also enclosed personal letters to her family, and Yin Huo and several others did the same.

Governor Duan was also riding his horse, glanced at the package on his guards’ backs, and shook his head slightly. This group of young people could be surprisingly smart and capable for their age, yet at times lively and playful like children.

The steward caught up on horseback from behind, "Sir, our people saw them safely crossing the mountains."

Governor Duan nodded contentedly, and the steward couldn’t help but ask, "Sir, did you exchange the cat’s eye stone for them just like that?"

Governor Duan sighed, "True talent shows in youth. Young Master Bai wasn’t wrong; the stone is only valuable when sold. Otherwise, it’s just a stone. Do you think you or I can find a more suitable buyer than them?"

The steward thought for a while and really couldn’t.

Among those Governor Duan knew, there were people who would spend a fortune on a horse but definitely not on a stone—oh no, a gemstone.

Remembering how he had been persuaded, Governor Duan couldn’t help but sigh again, "True talent shows in youth."

The young ones galloped toward the rising sun, even Yin Huo let his horse take a brisk pace, following them freely.

Mr. Zhuang also relaxed, having worried for several days, leaned against the carriage wall and drifted into sleep.

The two travelers sat in the carriage, counting the spoils they received. They hadn’t contributed much, but their participation meant they also got a share.

To their surprise, just one portion was worth more than their yearly salary, making this venture worthwhile. When they returned to Beijing and bought things from the Western Regions to sell, they wouldn’t regret it.

Thinking like this, the leisurely travel pace didn’t seem bad.

But this time, their traveling speed wasn’t slow; in just one day, they entered a Small County Town, a Small County Town without even a city gate. After a brief rest, they immediately set off again, eventually entering the desert.

Old Master You traveled with them, familiar with this route which he had traversed three times before, so he couldn’t help but act as their guide.

Because of the numerous treasures found, Governor Duan generously returned most of Old Master You’s goods, without requiring him to go back to Liangzhou for registration. As governor, he took care of it directly.

Although he lost a batch of goods and several workers died, Old Master You still found the spirit to continue towards Yumen Pass.

Only by reaching Yumen Pass, selling these goods, and buying popular items in the Central Plains to resell, could he have the means to start over and pay respects to the families of the deceased workers.

This time, he dared not go ahead alone; he followed Zhou Man’s convoy, looking for companionship and conversation with Mr. Zhuang almost daily.

Manbao and the others saw the desert for the first time. Initially, they didn’t notice, but as the plants decreased, and when they suddenly realized everything was a landscape of yellow sand, Manbao realized this wasn’t the lush grassland anymore.

So those riding horses dismounted and moved into the carriage. Manbao rummaged through the carriage for items, quickly finding veiled hats, and handing one to Zhou Liru, "Luckily, we prepared this ahead of time."

Zhou Liru touched the light fabric on top, curiously asked, "Little aunt, who prepared these? I didn’t see them when I packed our luggage."

Manbao replied, "Second Sister Fu gave them to me. She also gave me two cloaks."

The two put on the cloaks and leaned out to look at the sand. After a while, they found it inconvenient and lifted the veils up. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Although not completely obscured, the haze was uncomfortable.

Manbao stared with big eyes at the far distance, "So this is the great desert, really yellow sand everywhere."