Chapter 29 Charcoal Burning [3 Updates] Yu Yan is a Water-Splashing Master
"Thank you all, but you don't need to bring gifts when you come to see me for treatment." Yu Yan raised her voice slightly so that everyone could hear her.
Then, he called to Zhong Hai and Meng Yun: "Zhong Hai, you stand here and press down like I am. Meng Yun, stand over there and hold his legs down."
Lan Xiu asked, "Do you need our help?"
Yu Yan: "Let me check the situation first."
After the three people were in place, Shuanghong instinctively felt nervous and wanted to hide.
Instead of taking action directly, Yu Yan smiled and talked to him, trying to distract him.
Shuanghong gradually relaxed her guard and her body became less tense.
Suddenly! Yu Yan reached out and pressed down on his injured leg, applying force decisively!
His strength wasn't great, but when applied to the wound, it caused excruciating pain.
After feeling the excruciating pain, Shuanghong couldn't help but scream and cry out, "Father, Uncle, it hurts so much! I don't want treatment anymore!" She struggled violently.
Everyone else present couldn't bear to hear his pitiful cries, let alone Zhong Hai and Meng Yun.
Mengyun's eyes reddened, and she almost loosened her grip on her hand.
Yu Yan said in a deep voice, "Hold him down!"
Mengyun jolted awake and quickly pressed down hard on Shuanghong.
Shuanghong burst into tears, and Zhong Hai and Meng Yun were heartbroken and sweating profusely with anxiety.
Yu Yan kept her eyes fixed on his injury, her hands moving without stopping, while she kept comforting him, "It'll be over soon! Just a little bit more, baby, be good."
He was experienced in treating greenstick fractures in children and his technique was quite good. He also had Shuanghong's bone condition memorized, and there were no mistakes during the entire bone setting process.
Because the fracture of the double iris was not severe, it took less time than a typical chiropractic procedure.
Even so, it still took about ten minutes.
Amidst Shuang Hong's cries, Zhong Hai and Meng Yun, this married couple, felt as if every second was an eternity.
The two of them tried to comfort Shuanghong incoherently, but to little avail.
Mengyun's tears were welling up in her eyes.
Jiang Kuo, Cang Feng, and the others also lost all interest in chatting and looked over here with heartache.
Cangfeng and Xinyu, especially those with children, felt the same way and resolved to warn their children properly when they got home not to play in dangerous places.
"Alright! It's over, it doesn't hurt anymore." After the bone setting was completed, Yu Yan picked up the splint and bandages next to her and neatly fixed Shuang Hong's broken leg.
He tried it himself, and the tension was just right.
However, after Shuanghong calmed down a bit, he asked her how she felt and made some further adjustments.
Zhong Hai and Meng Yun had already let go of Shuang Hong, and the two of them snuggled together, with Meng Yun wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingers.
Zhong Hai patted him on the back and asked with his eyes: Are you alright?
Mengyun nodded to him and continued to stare at Yu Yan.
The gentle and handsome young man was also covered in sweat from his busy work. He was so focused on his task that he didn't bother to wipe it off.
Zhong Hai and Meng Yun were very grateful for such patience and care.
"That's enough." Yu Yan put Shuang Hong's legs, which were strapped with splints, down and gently stroked his furry head all the way down to his back.
He smiled and praised, "Shuanghong is great, so brave. The doctor will give you some honey to eat in a little while."
Even after the splint was put on, my leg still hurt a little, but it was completely bearable compared to the chiropractic adjustments.
In addition, Shuanghong is a tough animal, and minor bumps and scrapes were common for it in the past.
After being comforted by Yu Yan for a while, he not only stopped crying, but also smiled.
"Parents, come here for a moment. I need to talk to you about some things to keep in mind," Yu Yan said, placing her hand on Shuang Hong's back.
They had never heard the word "parents" before, but they immediately understood its meaning and thought it was quite fitting.
"Go ahead and tell me," the two said earnestly.
Yu Yan told them to observe Shuang Hong's extremities closely for any abnormalities such as paleness, swelling, or coldness.
“Splints can restrict swelling in the limb and compress blood vessels, which can lead to limb ischemia in severe cases. This is the most serious complication of fractures. You must closely observe his condition. If any abnormalities occur, come to me immediately.”
"Also, after the splint is put on, his whole leg can't move, so you all have to keep a close eye on him. If the splint goes out of place, come find me."
Yu Yan also patiently and meticulously explained to them how to treat itchy limbs and when to have a follow-up examination.
Zhong Hai and Meng Yun nodded repeatedly and took notes carefully.
After Yu Yan finished explaining, the two of them kept thanking her.
“Yu Yan… Doctor,” they called him that after hearing Yu Yan refer to himself as “doctor,” “Thank you so much this time, you’ve gone to so much trouble.”
"If it weren't for you, Shuanghong's leg might be ruined. Thank you!"
Chief Jiang Kuo also came over and said solemnly, "Yu Yan, on behalf of the Mingyuan tribe, I also want to thank you for saving our little one."
Mengyun gently patted Shuanghong's head and said softly, "You should also thank Doctor Yuyan."
Shuanghong tilted her head back, her eyes filled with joy, "Thank you, Brother Yu Yan!"
Yu Yan smiled and shook her head: "No need to thank me. I'll go check if the medicine is ready."
The water boiled with dandelion was very bitter, but Yu Yan coaxed Shuang Hong to drink it. Then she fed him two spoonfuls of cherry jam, which he found so delicious that he exclaimed in amazement.
He hopped and skipped over to Yu Yan on three legs, saying in a sticky voice, "Brother Yu Yan, the hawthorn jam is so delicious!"
Sugar was precious, and Mengyun felt a little embarrassed. She called to him, "Shuanghong, come back quickly."
Shuanghong didn't leave. Seeing that Yu Yan liked his beast form, he kept rubbing his furry head against his leg, making soft, coquettish noises.
Yu Yan really loves it!
What a beautiful little leopard! Its ears are so soft and bouncy, they feel amazing to touch! I just can't stop touching it.
Lan Xiu stood not far away, staring at the upturned corners of his mouth, and raised an eyebrow.
Afterwards, Yu Yan sat down and discussed the medical expenses with Zhong Hai and the others.
Shuanghong lay down beside his legs, deliberately resting her head on his knees, squinting her eyes, enjoying the feeling of Yu Yan stroking her fur.
Yu Yan said, "The consultation fee and medicine fee will be charged to you for two pieces of animal hide. The main reason is that cloth was used; otherwise, we could have reduced the price further."
Zhong Hai saw the same shock in Meng Yun's eyes.
"You've gone to so much trouble to treat and save lives, isn't it a bit too little to only accept two pieces of animal hide?" Zhong Hai asked.
Yu Yan shook her head: "Quite a few."
He briefly explained his "fee schedule." Unlike trading goods like cloth, pottery, and soap with other tribes, the fee is the same whether someone from his own tribe or another tribe comes to see him for treatment.
When Shuoxing had diarrhea, he only accepted a few stems from Xinyu and the others.
"...In short, just give me two pieces of animal hide."
Zhong Hai and Meng Yun were deeply moved.
Chief Jiang Kuo was equally shocked by Yu Yan's words.
Yu Yan possesses superb medical skills, yet she is so fair in accepting supplies. This is a great blessing for the people of the nearby tribes!
In the future, if they get sick or injured, they can come to Yu Yan without worrying about not being able to afford medical treatment.
Looking at Yu Yan, Jiang Kuo felt even more admiration and respect.
He met Cangfeng's gaze across the distance, and the latter was smiling proudly, as if to say: Aren't the people of our tribe amazing?
Jiang Kuo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Cang Feng, but deep down he had to admit that it was really great that the Peninsula Tribe had a sub-beastman like Yu Yan.
After they finished discussing the twin rainbows, Jiang Kuo stood up and asked, "Yu Yan, can we take a look around under the tree in your yard?"
Yu Yan nodded: "Sure, come with me."
A restrained cheer erupted from the crowd, and everyone swarmed behind him, bombarding him with questions:
Are all these newly fired pottery pieces? Can we touch them?
"Yu Yan, your dark blue dress looks really good on you. What did you use to dye it?"
"I noticed that the orcs in your tribe wear clothes with patterns on them! Are they painted on?"
"Ah! I know this stuff, it's soap! But I've never seen anything wrapping soap like this before, is it tree bark? It doesn't seem like it..."
"What kind of seafood is being dried?"
Yu Yan: "..."
Even though these people are all adults, he still feels like he's teaching a kindergarten class.
Are you guys a walking encyclopedia of questions? He doesn't even know who to answer first.
Finally, he introduced his family's belongings to everyone in order, earning a round of praise.
When the topic of catnip came up, Jiang Kuo asked, "Is that the medicine that cured insect poisoning?"
Yu Yan turned her head, "You guys knew too?"
Jiang Kuo: "Yes. The news that you saved the drowning baby and cured the disfigurement caused by insect poisoning has spread throughout the neighborhood. Therefore, when Shuanghong was injured this time, everyone unanimously suggested that they come to you for treatment."
Lin Ye, standing behind, said admiringly, "Yu Yan, your medical skills are truly excellent."
Yu Yan said modestly, "I can't cure every disease."
Everyone still idolizes Yu Yan.
The things in Yu Yan's home also broadened their horizons, and they loved them.
On the spot, some orcs offered to provide supplies in exchange for Yu Yan.
"I'd like to exchange some soap for other bars to use."
"I want pottery! Could you give me a clay pot instead?"
"Yu Yan, I want to get some more hawthorn jam for my son."
Yu Yan said, "Our tribe can still make pottery. You can try to exchange it with Chief Cangfeng. I have all the pottery I have here that I can use. Except for the bowl that I promised to exchange for Shuanghong, I won't exchange the others."
"I can trade some of the hawthorn jam, but it contains a lot of honey and requires a lot of supplies. I only have a little bit of oyster oil, so I won't trade it for any amount of supplies."
"I can give you more soaps. I've improved the scents, and now there are floral, herbal, and original scents."
The new soap was wrapped in paper.
When he first started making paper, everyone thought it was useless.
But after using it, everyone fell in love with it.
It can be used to wrap things, wipe hands, or as toilet paper... it has many uses.
Cangfeng and his group would take turns making paper whenever they had free time, and paper became almost ubiquitous in the peninsula tribes.
For Yu Yan, the most important use of paper is actually for recording.
He specially cut out several notebooks, bound them together with hemp rope, and then used charcoal to make pens.
Different notebooks, different contents recorded.
When he handed the unopened soap to the people of the Mingyuan tribe, they also showed interest in the paper.
Jiang Kuo frankly said, "Yu Yan, I actually led some people to try making paper from plants, but our paper is grayish-black in color, not as delicate as yours, and the surface is uneven, so it breaks at the slightest touch. Could you exchange your papermaking method with us? We are willing to exchange it for one hundred high-quality animal hides."
Cangfeng and the others looked over in surprise.
One hundred high-quality animal hides is no small amount.
Even when they had nothing, they could still exchange all the tribe's resources.
They actually want to exchange it for a piece of paper that can only be used as a daily necessity?
But when they didn't have paper, they managed to get by with leaves and grass, didn't they?
Many people don't quite understand Jiang Kuo's actions, but they haven't considered whether they would be willing to abandon paper and continue using tree leaves and grass.
After listening, Yu Yan pondered for a moment and said, "No."
Jiang Kuo's handsome face instantly darkened, but he stubbornly persisted, "Do you think it's not enough?" He gritted his teeth, "We can add more!"
Yu Yan smiled faintly: "No. I can trade away the papermaking method, but I don't need animal hides."
Jiang Kuo: "Then what do you want?"
Yu Yan: "The seeds of food, or a specific wild animal."
Jiang Kuo suddenly realized. He had also heard that Yu Yan liked to collect seeds.
When I came here today, I passed by the riverbank and could still see the fields he had cultivated in the distance.
"What kind of food seeds are used? What do the specific wild animals look like?" Jiang Kuo asked.
Yu Yan: "Let's sit down and talk."
After sitting down again, Yu Yan took out a notebook and handed it to Jiang Kuo and the others.
During this time, based on his memory, he would take some time each day to draw some of the crops, herbs, and livestock that he had seen in his previous life.
For example, rice, wheat, potatoes, isatis root, honeysuckle, pigs, cattle, sheep, etc.
He wasn't good at drawing, and his drawings weren't very good; he just tried his best to capture the characteristics of these creatures.
“These are some of the things I want. You can write down their shapes and come find me if you find something similar. If you can provide two of them, I will give you the papermaking method in return.”
"If you find other delicious and high-yield foods, or if you are unsure, you can come to me. Don't be afraid of the trouble."
Upon hearing that finding two items would allow them to exchange for papermaking technology, everyone became extremely excited, staring intently at the picture book and trying hard to recall if they had ever seen the items before.
When Jiang Kuo turned to the page about sheep, Lin Ye exclaimed, "This looks like a sheep!"
Several orcs gathered around and agreed, "Indeed. The sheep beast is much stronger than this wild beast, and its horns are longer and sharper."
Yu Yan's eyes lit up, and she asked, "Does it make a bleating sound? The meat has a strong gamey smell."
Jiang Kuo: "That's right. Because the smell of mutton is too strong, we don't hunt mutton much. A few days ago, we even saw mutton droppings in our tribe. They were small black balls."
Yu Yan clapped her hands and said happily, "That's it! This is what I've been looking for! If you find the Sheep Beast, send me a message and I'll count you one point!"
Jiang Kuo and the others became excited. They flipped through the picture book; they hadn't seen the other wild beasts, but there were several kinds of plants that they had seen similar ones in their territory.
Having gained some confidence, Jiang Kuo boldly asked, "How many kinds of seeds are needed to exchange for the weaving method and the construction method of the new pottery kiln?"
Yu Yan raised an eyebrow. Quite ambitious, huh?
“The methods of weaving cloth and building pottery kilns are different from papermaking. I need to discuss it with the people in my tribe.”
Jiang Kuo smiled and said, "As long as there's room for negotiation, we look forward to your reply. By the way, do these things have to be found in our tribe's territory?"
Yu Yan: "No need, as long as you can bring the things over, that's fine."
Jiang Kuo, full of ambition, said, "Okay, we've got it."
Yu Yan cautiously said, "To be fair, we will spread the word. If other tribes send me the seeds and wild animals I need first, then yours will not be considered new."
Jiang Kuo thought for a moment and understood what he meant.
"That's how it should be." Otherwise, what if everyone uses the same seeds to fool Yu Yan?
Jiang Kuo stroked the notebook in his hand, finding it increasingly appealing, and hesitated to return it to Yu Yan for a long time.
Yu Yan was discussing with the people of the Mingyuan tribe, while the people of the Peninsula tribe, including Chief Cangfeng, rarely spoke.
But no matter which tribe it was, no one felt there was anything wrong with it.
Yu Yan appeared calm and composed, no longer the foolish and naive woman she once was.
...
After discussing business, Jiang Kuo was completely impressed by Yu Yan's intelligence, keen insight, and erudition.
He lingered, reluctant to leave, glanced at the sky, and asked, "Yu Yan, it's still early. What are you going to do this afternoon? Do you want to go to our tribe? We'll take you to find the sheep beasts."
Cang Feng frowned, then laughed and scolded, "Jiang Kuo, are you going to take our people away like this?"
Jiang Kuo also laughed: "It's Yu Yan's freedom to go wherever he wants."
The other members of the Mingyuan tribe chimed in Jiang Kuo's defense: "Yu Yan, come with us! Our tribe has beautiful scenery."
"We can also take you to pick fruits that your tribe doesn't have."
The people of the peninsula tribe retorted, "Aren't our tribes beautiful? We have the sea!"
"The fruits from your tribe are nowhere near as delicious as those from our tribe."
Seeing that the two sides were about to start arguing, Yu Yan quickly raised her hand to stop them: "Clan Chief Jiang Kuo, I have something to do today and can't leave."
Cangfeng immediately smiled smugly at Jiang Kuo.
Jiang Kuo ignored him and asked Yu Yan, "What is it?"
Yu Yan: "My father-in-law has prepared all the timber for building the thatched shed."
Jiang Kuo: "That's easy! We're experts at building thatched huts!"
Cangfeng: "Don't you tribes all live in caves?"
Jiang Kuo: "We'll put the thatched hut outside! I have a small thatched hut myself."
Zhong Hai and his family were very grateful to Yu Yan and wanted to do something for him. They offered, "Let us help you build it. It will be finished soon."
The people of the peninsula tribes objected when they heard this.
Yu Yan is from our tribe, why are you all scrambling to help? It makes us look like we don't have anyone.
Cang Feng said, "Yu Yan, we don't need them, we can build it ourselves."
Xin Yu: "I happen to have some timber at home, I'll have Cangfeng bring it to you."
Yin Qing lifted her foot: "My claws are perfect for handling wood!"
Lan Xiu: "I can dig a hole."
Xuefei: "Then I'll braid straw ropes."
Mengyun: "We can do that too!"
As it turns out, even a group of handsome men, when they start arguing, sound like a bunch of ducks quacking, making Yu Yan's ears ring.
He said, half-laughing and half-crying, "Stop. Since you all know how to build thatched huts, then come and help me."
The people of the Mingyuan tribe were overjoyed, while the people of the Peninsula tribe were somewhat disappointed.
Yu Yan: It's so hard to keep everyone fair.
They'll definitely argue about it when we get to work later.
His solution to this was...
“Father, you stay home and keep an eye on things. Just tell them how tall or big you want to build it. Leave me a space in the shed for people to see doctors.”
Feng Gui asked, "And what about you?"
Yu Yan stood up: "I have to go out and find some things."
Lan Xiu seized the opportunity and spoke before anyone else could: "I'll go with you."
Yu Yan thought for a moment and said, "Okay."
Others wanted to go with Yu Yan, but she refused.
"You Lanxiu can help me move it all by yourself. You guys focus on building the thatched shed. I'm off now."
Yu Yan smiled triumphantly, waved her sleeves, conjured wings, and flew into the sky.
Lan Xiu transformed into a large white tiger and ran along the ground.
The two quickly disappeared from sight.
The air was silent for a moment before everyone came to their senses and began to beat their chests in frustration.
Yu Yan didn't just carry water; he practically spilled it!
And then there's Lanxiu, who's usually lazy and doesn't talk much, but he really knows how to seize opportunities when it matters!
Damn it, he got off easy!
Yu Yan flapped her wings and flew in the sky, looking around with her eyes.
A large, white tiger with glossy fur ran on the ground, looked up at him and asked, "Yu Yan, what are you looking for?"
After transforming into his beast form, his voice was very penetrating, so Yu Yan could hear it clearly even in mid-air.
"I need to find out what kind of hardwood we have in our territory, the kind that's hard and has a fine grain. They have large leaves and shed their leaves in autumn. Lanxiu, you're always out in the wild, you must have seen hardwood before, right?"
Lan Xiu pondered for a moment, then nodded at the furry tiger's head: "I've seen quite a lot of this kind of wood; it's over there."
"Ah, I see it!" Yu Yan turned around and flew over.
This is a forest of elm trees, the trees are thick, tall and lush.
Lan Xiu also ran over and asked, "Do you want this piece of wood?"
Yu Yan: "Yes! Help me cut one down."
Lan Xiu: "Okay."
He didn't need to transform into human form at all; he simply pointed his large head at an elm tree in front of him and rammed it forward!
With a loud "crack," the tree snapped in two!
Yu Yan touched her forehead and felt a little pain.
"Does it hurt?" he asked, staring at his hairy forehead.
Lan Xiu turned to look at him, completely unharmed: "It doesn't hurt."
"That's good." Yu Yan said enviously.
"Wait a moment." He took out his tools and stepped forward to trim the branches, then had Lanxiu carry the elm wood on his back.
He then noted down the location and made a mark before flying back into the sky.
The two wandered around the tribe for several hours and found many kinds of hardwood.
Yu Yan recognizes some hardwoods, such as elm, birch, and teak, which is suitable for making decks.
More often than not, they were trees that fit the characteristics of hardwood, but whose names he couldn't recall.
He made Lan Xiu break one of each of them and carry them back to his territory.
As the sun set, the clouds on the horizon were dyed a brilliant red.
Flocks of birds flew to their nests.
Yu Yan and Lan Xiu said, "That's enough, let's go back."
"good."
After flying all afternoon, Yu Yan's shoulder blades and arms were sore and achy.
He unconsciously frowned, stretched his shoulders a couple of times, and was just about to conjure wings when he heard Lan Xiu ask:
"Want to ride on my back back?"
Yu Yan was taken aback, meeting his calm and serious gaze.
The cat-shaped car is great, Yu Yan still remembers it fondly after riding in it last time.
But beastmen usually only carry their own family and mates; isn't it inappropriate for him to sit on Lan Xiu's lap...?
Lan Xiu seemed to see through his thoughts, and a slight smile appeared on his beautifully curved lips: "To prevent the wood from rolling down."
She had even come up with a reason for him, so Yu Yan didn't refuse anymore and said with a smile, "Okay, thank you, Lan Xiu."
"You're welcome."
So, Yu Yan sat on his back once again, close to his neck.
There was a slight slope here, and he leaned back, feeling just like he was leaning on a leather sofa—it was incredibly comfortable.
Yu Yan squinted her eyes and thought to herself with delight: It's quite ergonomic, haha.
On the way back to the tribe, Lan Xiu ran fast and steadily, and the natural scenery of the beast world rushed forward in Yu Yan's eyes.
As they passed the riverbank, Yu Yan called out to Lan Xiu, "Let's go take a look over at the fields."
"good."
The tiger quickly ran to the edge of the field. On the rows of ridges, there were still traces of their planting from the previous day.
In addition, Lan Xiu keenly said, "Yu Yan, look there, has it been rummaged through?"
He drove Yu Yan over, and she jumped down, looked down to check, and sure enough, it was her.
There are small holes on the ridge.
Yu Yan frowned and walked a little further.
Several cucumber seeds were dug up.
"Lanxiu, could you call for the patrolling orcs?"
Soon, Wen Lie, who was on patrol today, flew over.
Wen Lie's beast form is a kestrel, with light brownish-red wings and a head covered in misty blue down.
After transforming into human form, his short hair remained misty blue, and he had a handsome appearance with sharp features.
"Yu Yan, Lan Xiu," Wen Lie greeted them.
"Do you know what came into the field?" Yu Yan asked, pointing to the marks on the ground.
Wen Lie replied, "I know, they are birds. They are small and feed on grass seeds and other seeds. My companions and I have already come over today to drive them away several groups. We were originally planning to come and talk to you about this after our patrol."
"That's about what I guessed."
Lanxiu asked, "How badly was the field damaged?"
Wen Lie: "It shouldn't be too serious. We've been keeping an eye on it."
Lan Xiu knew that Yu Yan valued this land highly and was afraid that he would be anxious, so he comforted him, "It's alright, just have the patrolling beastmen keep an eye on it more often, and it will be fine once the plants grow."
Yu Yan hummed in agreement, seemingly lost in thought.
After saying goodbye to Wen Lie, the two of them returned to the ginkgo tree.
They could see the thatched hut after some distance.
The roof is about 2.5 meters off the ground. It is supported by six wooden pillars at the front and back. The whole structure is long and narrow. The top is covered with wooden planks tied with straw ropes and a thick layer of dry grass.
There were a few people sitting in the thatched hut.
They heard the noise and looked over; Jiang Kuo was among them.
"We're back!" Yu Yan exclaimed.
Everyone stood up and came to greet them.
Feng Gui: "You're back. What do you think of this thatched hut?"
Cang Feng was more interested in what Lan Xiu was carrying: "Is this what you were looking for? Every piece of wood is different?"
Jiang Kuochong nodded to Yu Yan in a friendly manner: "Yu Yan."
As Yu Yan walked, he said, "It feels pretty good." He touched the pillars of the thatched shed; they must have been buried very deep, as they wouldn't wobble even with a little force.
Unless there is a particularly strong wind or rain, it shouldn't be able to overturn.
As for its appearance, it can be simple, since it's just a temporary measure anyway.
The pottery, wooden stools, baskets, and other items in the house have been moved into the thatched shed.
Because there was enough cloth, the looms had long been lent to the tribe.
Therefore, when other people came to Yu Yan, they couldn't see the loom.
There was an empty space in the thatched shed, which was probably reserved for Yu Yan to see a doctor.
There was also a straw curtain hanging in front for blocking the view.
Yu Yan withdrew her gaze with satisfaction and thanked everyone: "It was really well done, thank you all."
Jiang Kuo: "It's good that it can be used."
Yu Yan: "Is Chief Jiang Kuo waiting for us?"
Jiang Kuo: "Yes, I was thinking of waiting for you to come back before I left. After the other tribesmen changed their things, I let them go back first."
Yu Yan inquired about Shuang Hong's condition and, upon learning that she was doing well, felt relieved.
"Thank you so much for your help today."
Jiang Kuo immediately waved his hand: "Compared to what you helped us, this is nothing. It's getting late, I'll head back now. You're welcome to visit our tribe."
Yu Yan: "Would you like to eat something before you leave?"
Jiang Kuo looked regretful: "I heard you're a great cook, but I have to go back today."
Yu Yan smiled and said, "Then I'll treat you next time you come."
Jiang Kuo: "Great!!"
He said goodbye to everyone, ran forward for a while, and transformed into a majestic gray wolf with a fluffy tail swaying back and forth.
"Awoo~" He looked over with his silver-gray eyes, let out a long howl, turned his head and ran away quickly.
Cang Feng and Xin Yu stayed a while longer and asked, "Yu Yan, what are you going to do with all this wood?"
Jiang Kuo was there just now, so it wasn't convenient for them to ask.
Yu Yan: "I want to burn charcoal."
Xin Yu: "Charcoal? The kind we use to cook with fire?"
Yu Yan: "Yes. But I want to try burning a lot of charcoal, and burning higher quality charcoal."
Realizing that Yu Yan was up to something again, Cang Feng immediately said, "Then we'll bring some people to help!"
Yu Yan smiled and said, "I really can't do this by myself."
Cangfeng made an appointment with him to meet at the altar square the next morning with his men, then transform into beast form and carry Xinyu away.
Inside the thatched hut, only Yu Yan, Feng Gui, and Lan Xiu remained.
Yu Yan strolled around the consultation area for a few steps, his stomach growling. He blushed and covered his stomach with his hand.
Feng Gui smiled and said, "Are you hungry? I've already steamed the stems and marinated the meat with hawthorn jam. We'll be roasting it soon. Go wash up, and we'll eat quickly."
Yu Yan smiled brightly: "Alright!"
After washing up and returning, he saw that the pot was empty, so he took some wild vegetables from the basket, washed them, and blanched them.
Then, put oil in the pot, sauté the ginger slices until fragrant, and then add the wild vegetables and stir-fry.
In addition to salt, he also added oyster sauce as a seasoning.
Stir-frying wild vegetables is quick; in the time it takes Lan Xiu to set up a table, Yu Yan has finished cooking.
He placed the still-steaming vegetables in a ceramic plate, went into the thatched shed, and put them on a stone slab.
Beneath the stone slab was a sturdy wooden block, which served as their "table" for meals.
"Come and try it, how does it taste?" Yu Yan greeted everyone with a smile.
After he sat down, both Feng Gui and Lan Xiu reached for the wild vegetables with their chopsticks.
He picked up a piece, put it in his mouth, chewed it, and Feng Gui's eyes lit up slightly: "Delicious. Besides the taste of the root of the hand, there is a special umami flavor, but it is not entirely the taste of seafood."
Lan Xiu also tasted it carefully and said, "The flavor is richer now, even better than before."
Yu Yan smiled contentedly: "As long as it tastes good! All our efforts were worthwhile."
He also picked up a piece of wild vegetable with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and chewed it with relish.
The cooking time was just right; the wild vegetables had a slight crispness, a refreshing taste, and the umami flavor was fully infused.
Swallowing what was in her mouth, Yu Yan said, "Father, it's hot now, and oyster sauce spoils easily. Let's add some oyster sauce when we stir-fry shredded stems or meat in the future."
Feng Gui: "Hmm. It would be such a waste if it broke."
He ate a couple more bites of the stir-fried wild vegetables and said sincerely, "Oyster sauce is really a good thing."
After the meal, it grew even darker.
Lan Xiu returned to his own bird's nest to rest, while Yu Yan and Feng Gui sat in the thatched hut, listening to the wind rustling through the woods and the faint chirping of birds.
Thinking of how the fields had almost been destroyed by birds today, Yu Yan asked, "Father, is there any hay left at home?"
"Yes, when we were building the thatched shed, everyone brought us a lot of dry grass. I piled up the leftover grass behind the trees."
"I would like to ask you to make a straw effigy for me."
"Straw man?"
Yu Yan ran over and brought the hay over, then described the appearance of the straw man to Feng Gui.
"Just make it look like a human body from a distance."
Feng Gui: "That shouldn't be too difficult, I'll give it a try."
The straw baskets, winnowing baskets, carrying baskets, and even delicate items like straw sandals in the house were all woven by Feng Gui.
He was very skillful; after a little research, he could quickly tie it up.
Yu Yan lit a torch to provide light and assisted Feng Gui.
In less than half an hour, Feng Gui had made a decent-looking straw man.
Yu Yan exclaimed, "Father, you're amazing!"
Feng Gui smiled sheepishly: "It's nothing, most of the sub-orcs in the tribe can do it."
He made the next straw figures better and faster, implying that Yan had finished much earlier than expected.
Yu Yan inserted a wooden stick into the middle of the straw figure, stood it up, and examined it for a moment.
As for clothes... fabric is precious these days, so we won't give them any.
His head is completely bald; it would be nice if he had a hat.
A thought suddenly struck him, and he asked, "Father, could you help me weave a straw hat?"
Feng Gui was puzzled: "I've only ever made animal hide hats for winter. What about straw hats...?"
Yu Yan took out her notebook and charcoal pencil, turned to a new page, and drew the shape of a straw hat.
Feng Gui huddled up to him, listening to his explanation: "It's round here, with a large brim around it..."
After pondering for a while, Feng Gui took another bundle of grass and began to weave it little by little...
The next morning, Yu Yan first took several newly made scarecrows to the fields.
He set up the scarecrow, then flew away to check it, confirming that it was enough to fool the birds.
As they flew towards the tribe, they encountered Yin Qing and her group.
"Yu Yan, what's that thing you're wearing on your head in the field?"
A group of sub-orcs flew over and surrounded Yu Yan from all sides, staring curiously at his straw hat.
Yu Yan chuckled, moved her head, and said, "This is a straw hat that my father knitted for me to shield me from the sun."
She raised her chin again, "I also tied a rope to it, so I won't be afraid of it being blown away by the wind."
A straw hat is the simplest shape; once the brim covers your face, it casts a shadow.
"It looks really good! And it's beautiful too!" Yin Qing exclaimed enviously, completely forgetting what he was originally going to say.
The other sub-beastmen kept flapping their wings, causing Yu Yan's clothes to flutter.
"Yu Yan, land quickly and take off your straw hat so we can have a good look at you!"
Yu Yan said helplessly, "I also want to land, but you all hold me up."
Everyone then realized what had happened and let go with embarrassed smiles.
They flew to the altar square, and after landing, Yu Yan took off her hat and handed it to them.
"You can try them on."
The beastmen passed his hat around, marveling at it: "So smooth and even, it really is Feng Gui's craftsmanship."
"So this is what it looks like inside. It's really beautiful."
"The brim of the hat was originally stiff."
Yin Qing eagerly put the straw hat on her head, proudly showing it off: "How is it? Doesn't it look good?"
"It's so beautiful! I want to wear it too!"
Wow, it feels so cool wearing it!
"Wearing a straw hat while collecting herbs keeps you from getting sunburned!"
"Yu Yan, can we make straw hats too?"
Yu Yan smiled and said, "Of course. You should be able to figure out how to make it up just by looking at it, right?"
Yin Qing: "It's very simple! There shouldn't be anyone in the tribe who can't learn it."
Yu Yan: "..."
Yin Qing chuckled: "Okay, I won't count you. Your cooking is so bad it makes me wonder if you're even a sub-beastman."
Yu Yan: "Shut up."
This caused everyone to burst into laughter.
"What are you saying, you seem so happy." Cangfeng and the others also came over.
Yin Qing: "You mean Yu Yan's straw hat?"
The newcomers curiously took the straw hats, looked them over, and all said that they were both beautiful and practical.
Cang Feng stared at Yu Yan's head for what felt like the umpteenth time, thinking to himself that she had just too many ideas.
Everyone loves straw hats and says they'll start weaving them once they finish their work.
Some orcs who weren't skilled enough placed orders with the sub-orcs on the spot.
Xin Yu asked, "When we flew over, we saw several people in the field. Who were they?"
Yin Qing: "Oh right! We were thinking of asking that too." She forgot as soon as she saw the hat.
Yu Yan explained, "That's not a real person. It's a straw effigy that my adoptive father made to scare away birds."
Everyone: "So that's how it is..."
After taking a headcount, Jinxia and Yinqing will lead the sub-beastmen to gather resources today, while Wenlie and Senbai will lead the beastmen to hunt.
Cangfeng, Xinyu, Moye, Lanxiu, and others followed Yu Yan to burn charcoal.
The location they chose was very close to the new pottery kiln; it was a cleared, high-lying, well-ventilated mountain area.
Before we started, Yu Yan said to everyone, "You've probably heard that I'm going to make charcoal. Actually, I'm not very clear on how to make charcoal, so I can only figure it out step by step. Maybe I'll succeed on the first try, or maybe I'll fail many times. If you don't have patience, you can leave now."
They looked at each other, and Cangfeng spoke up: "It's normal to fail when creating something new. We're not afraid of failure."
The others also looked resolute.
Yu Yan smiled and said, "Then let's begin!"
He had only a vague understanding of the specific steps involved in burning charcoal, but he knew the principle behind it: wood undergoes incomplete combustion under oxygen-deficient conditions, leading to carbonization.
Conversely, we need to create an "oxygen-deficient" environment for the wood.
After much thought, I decided that digging an earthen kiln would be the most suitable solution.
He waved his hand and said to everyone, "We need to dig some charcoal pits in this area first."
"Understood. How big should we dig?"
Yu Yan thought for a moment. If the wood was too big, it might not burn properly; if it was too small, it would produce too little charcoal at once. Two meters by two meters should be about right.
The beast world has no concept of rice. He picked up a twig and drew on the ground, saying, "Dig this long and this deep first."
The beastmen transformed into their beast forms, while the sub-beastmen took out tools, conjured claws, and immediately began work.
Yu Yan observed the situation back and forth, adjusting the spacing between the pits as needed.
When digging the pit, the intake and exhaust of air had to be taken into account, so he had someone leave a space for an air vent at the bottom of the pit, and a chimney was to be built on top.
When they had dug almost finished, Yu Yan told the sub-beastmen to continue repairing the kiln pit, while he led them to see the wood he had collected the day before.
“You need hardwood like this for making charcoal. Let Lanxiu take you to cut the wood; he knows where it is. After you’ve cut the wood, you can also dig up some clay.”
Everyone nodded, indicating that they understood.
Lan Xiu quickly led the beastmen away. Yu Yan and the others repaired the air vents and chimneys together.
After finishing the repairs, he led his men to find some dry branches and grass nearby to use as kindling later.
Around noon, Lanxiu and the others returned with their belongings.
Everyone worked together, some pruning branches and leaves, peeling bark, and splitting wood; others fetching water, mixing mud, and pounding clay to make it finer.
These are all jobs that everyone does regularly and is very skilled at.
Under the blazing sun, the atmosphere was bustling with activity.
With more people, the atmosphere became lively, and people chatted and laughed, making it anything but boring.
Everything is ready, and it's time to start the fire.
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