The return journey was much easier.
It was already late August, and although it was still very hot, the Jiang family used ice, and many people borrowed ice blocks from them on the way. When they stopped for the night, they would gather firewood to boil water.
After the ice water had mostly evaporated, they returned it to the Jiang family.
Jiang Hu specifically carried two wooden basins on the ox cart, which was used to haul things, and deliberately exposed them to the sun. It basically took two days for them to dry and reclaim the nitrate.
Because of the cooling effect of the ice blocks, it wasn't as stuffy inside the carriage, and everyone's spirits were much better.
Jiang Hu didn't charge them any money, and occasionally, he would cook mung bean soup and, after cooling it, distribute some to the fellow travelers.
Most of them were not much older than Jiang Yu and Liu Ze, and occasionally there were a few older ones who were still younger than Jiang Hu.
