Going to say here that MC, like every modern person from what we'd call "First world" countries or "affluent countries" would/was being a little arrogant. He spent all that time with them and never figured out they likely got up at a certain time daily, likely could figure out that they were losing daylight (tell time from sky per the man's statement), etc. This story, so far, has gone into exploring the difference between living in an affluent modern world where MC's power and status came from wealth and position in a company where he was able to decide the fates of others. In a world without that, where you have to claw everyday to survive, MC is going through culture shock. Have to remember he just woke up to this world a few days ago. That's like taking any city person and throwing them in the jungle and telling them to survive without electricity, a phone, a stove, a microwave, a car to travel in, nor even a bike, etc. The problem is that it's taking him too long to figure this out. Long before this, he should've asked them to teach him how to hunt, how to track, how to do the things that they're doing rather than trying to teach them how to do things he did and worry too much about being seen as their equal. He's not their equal until he can do what they do. He has to first learn how to do that. If he wanted to use knowledge he had from the past/modern world, he should've long ago sought out herbs, spices, etc. he was familiar with in the wilderness to show he could do something.