Chapter 5: Miracle of Soil
The morning mist had not yet dissipated when Lin Chen found Canglan checking his hunting tools.
"I want to find a special kind of clay," Lin Chen said straight to the point, "a clay that can harden after being fired, so that I can use it to make a better container than a stone pot."
Canglan put down the stone axe in his hand, his silver-gray eyes full of curiosity: "The soil can be hardened by fire? This sounds like magic."
"It's not magic, it's science." Lin Chen explained with a smile, "When suitable clay is fired at high temperatures, it undergoes chemical changes, becoming hard and durable, and can be made into containers of various shapes."
Even though he didn't understand the unfamiliar words "science" and "chemistry", Canglan nodded without hesitation: "I'll take you to the river, where the soil is the richest."
On the way, Lin Chen described in detail the characteristics of the clay he needed: fine, sticky, and malleable. Canglan listened attentively, asking questions from time to time, demonstrating his strong learning ability.
There were many different types of clay along the riverbank, and Lin Chen took samples and tested them one by one. He taught Canglan how to judge the quality of clay by feel: take a small piece of clay, add water and knead it. The clay that stretches without breaking easily is good clay.
"Look at this," Canglan suddenly pointed to a section of the riverbank. "The soil here is darker in color and feels finer."
Lin Chen went forward to inspect it, and indeed, it was a layer of high-quality clay. He removed a piece, added water, and kneaded it. The clay became soft and elastic in his hands, and could be easily shaped.
"That's it!" Lin Chen was very excited. "Canglan, you are amazing. You found the best clay at first sight!"
Canglan raised his chin slightly, a subtle smugness flashing in his eyes. "Hunting requires observing details. The color and texture of the soil, the depth of animal footprints... these are all clues."
The two brought back a large amount of clay, and the tribe gathered around curiously. Yunshan was the first to run forward and asked, "What magical thing are you going to make this time?"
"Pottery." Lin Chen placed the clay on a flat stone slab. "It's a container that's lighter and easier to shape than a stone pot."
As everyone watched, Lin Chen began demonstrating the first step in pottery making: refining the clay. He spread the clay out, carefully picking out the pebbles and impurities, then added water and kneaded it repeatedly, like kneading dough, until the clay became uniform and fine.
"Why do we do this?" the young sub-orc Chen Lu asked curiously. "To remove impurities and bubbles, otherwise it will easily crack during firing," Lin Chen explained patiently.
Next came shaping. Lin Chen took out a piece of clay and slowly rolled it into strips on the stone slab. He then coiled it up in circles, using his hands dipped in water to carefully smooth the seams, gradually forming a simple bowl shape.
"It's like weaving a basket!" exclaimed Wanxia.
"This is the coiling method, the most primitive yet effective pottery-making method." Lin Chen continued to work, his fingers deftly shaping the clay. "You can also do this..." He took a round stone ball, covered it with the clay sheet, and gently patted it to shape it. "This is the molding method, which can produce more regular shapes."
Berry couldn't help but step forward. "Can these clay containers really withstand the heat of fire? Won't they crack?"
"It needs to be slowly dried in the shade, and then go through the proper firing process." Lin Chen nodded, "I will teach you every step."
For the next three days, the entire Silver Moon Tribe was immersed in a pottery-making frenzy. Lin Chen guided everyone in making various pottery items: deep pots for stewing, shallow plates for baking, small bowls for personal use, and containers with lids for storing food.
Canglan unexpectedly displayed a talent for pottery making. The pottery he made had a regular shape and uniform thickness. When Lin Chen praised him, the tips of his ears turned slightly red: "A steady hand is a basic requirement for hunting."
Yunshan is quite creative, carving simple fish and wolf patterns on the surface of the pottery: "This way, each piece of pottery has a unique mark!"
Elder Shi Yan looked at the clay pottery displayed in the tribe with a mixture of anticipation and doubt: "Can these clay objects really be made into better vessels than stone tools?"
The shade-drying process requires patience. Lin Chen teaches everyone to gently cover the wet pottery with leaves to prevent direct sunlight from causing cracks. Every day, he inspects each piece of pottery and carefully repairs any minor cracks.
Finally, the day of firing arrived. Lin Chen designed a simple pottery kiln: he dug a pit in the ground, lined it with stones, and left a vent for ventilation and a slot for firewood. He carefully placed the completely dried pottery into the kiln, surrounding it with firewood and hay.
When the fire was lit, the entire tribe held their breath and concentrated. As the flames gradually heated up, Lin Chen kept adding firewood to keep the temperature stable.
"How long will it take?" Canglan stood guard by the kiln, his silver hair turning golden in the flames.
"At least until sunset." Lin Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead. "When the temperature is high enough, the clay will undergo a magical transformation and become as hard as stone."
During the long firing process, Lin Chen constantly observed the color of the flame to judge the temperature. As the sun set, he finally announced, "You can turn off the flame now. But you can't open it until it's completely cooled."
Few slept well that night, as everyone looked forward to opening the kiln the next morning.
When the first rays of sunlight fell, Lin Chen and Canglan carefully removed the stones from the kiln roof. Inside the kiln, the yellowish clay had transformed into solid orange-red pottery!
Lin Chen carefully took out a ceramic bowl and tapped it gently, producing a crisp sound. He handed the bowl to Elder Shi Yan and said, "Success!"
The elder took the bowl with trembling hands, tears streaming down his face. "Miracle! What a miracle! This mud has really turned into stone!"
People gathered around, cheering, each wanting to touch the magical pottery. Meiguo held a clay pot and examined it in disbelief, "So light, yet so strong! Much more useful than a stone pot!"
Yunshan found his pottery bowl with a wolf pattern and jumped up excitedly: "Look! My bowl! It's really hardened!"
Canglan stood silently beside Lin Chen and said softly, "You have changed our lives again."
Lin Chen turned to look at him and found that Canglan's eyes were unusually gentle. That focused look made his heart beat faster.
"It's the result of everyone's joint efforts." Lin Chen responded in a low voice, feeling inexplicably embarrassed.
That evening, the Silver Moon tribe used the new pottery to cook a stew of potatoes and meat with salt. The food tasted even better because the pottery heated it evenly, and everyone's face was filled with happy smiles.
Sitting around the campfire, Elder Shi Yan solemnly announced, "From today on, pottery making will become an important skill of the Silver Moon Tribe. Lin Chen, thank you for bringing us another gift."
In the night where the stars and firelight intertwined, Lin Chen felt an unprecedented sense of belonging. And when he looked up, he would always meet Canglan's silver-gray eyes, looking at him quietly and intently, as if guarding the most precious treasure.
The success of the pottery not only brought practical containers, but also ignited the Silver Moon Tribe's passion for creation and change. What Lin Chen didn't know was that in Canglan's heart, feelings for this mysterious sub-orc were quietly taking root, like soil baptized by fire, gradually becoming solid and eternal.
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