It seems that they really followed what Nathan had said to get a lot of the useful things that they might use from the mansion, as they probably couldn't get a lot of things while they're going to the south base, and the south base certainly wouldn't provide them with things that they could use aside from a place to stay at.
Ferman and the others were just ordinary people without outstanding skills that might make them an exception in the times that they were in.
They were good at their jobs, like being cooks and others, but their skills weren't that exceptional in the times that they were in, where survival is the priority, so they certainly wouldn't get any special treatment and would be treated just like the others.
Of course, if they have enough supplies or other things that they could offer to the south base, the south base would probably treat them better aside from the basic help that they could provide.
