Chapter 68
The stone the sub-adults had dug out was none other than the limestone they needed right now.
After they had coal, the tribe had also fired some bricks in between pottery firings. However, aside from being used to build stoves and countertops for food, the rest of the bricks were all piled in a corner.
Was it that Lang Shuo did not want to use them? Of course not. It was because the upcoming growing season often brought rain. Whether mud bricks or fired bricks, using soil as adhesive to build houses was unsafe. Under soaking rainwater, there was a high chance they would collapse. Even using them to make defensive facilities was not good either. After all, this was the primitive era, without the convenient materials of modern times.
The most convenient adhesive Lang Shuo could think of was cement, but with their current technical level, they definitely could not produce it. The temperature could not reach that high. Without cement, lime would also work. However, whether cement or lime, both required limestone.
Lang Shuo had even specifically asked the gathering team to bring back stones of different textures when they went out gathering, including the gathering team from the Black Wolf Tribe, but they had found nothing.
Because limestone could not be found, many plans had been put on pause.
In the end, even Lang Shuo had not expected that the material he had spent so long unable to find was right beside him.
With limestone, they could burn lime, and then use lime to make rammed earth mortar to build houses.
Counting the time, if things went smoothly, they could build a few rooms before this year’s snow season. This way, not everyone would have to crowd into the same cave. The cave was indeed large, and the members’ resting areas had also been partitioned, but the privacy and ventilation were not very good.
After being happy, Lang Shuo finally heard the sub-adults calling him. He looked up and told them, “This is a good thing. Dig as usual. We need both the coal and this kind of stone.”
Hearing Lang Shuo’s words, the group of sub-adult black wolves completely felt at ease.
Wonderful! They would not be driven back to the tribe to eat those awful foods just because they had no work!
The excited sub-adult black wolves saw Lang Shuo picking the broken stones on the ground into one pile. With a grand wave of his hand, Lang Yong said very boldly, “Shuo, don’t pick them up. We’ll help you dig big pieces!”
Lang Shuo found it both funny and speechless for a moment. “No matter how big the pieces you dig are, these ones mixed with coal still have to be separated out. Otherwise, how are we supposed to use the coal?”
The sub-adults looked at the stones they had just tossed up messily and felt very guilty.
However, Lang Shuo did not squat there and keep picking either. He picked out a small pile, packed it into a back basket, and clapped his hands. “Go work. I’ll call people over to sort them later. Pay attention to safety. Whether it’s stone or coal, you can’t throw it around. Got it?”
“Got it!” the sub-adults from both tribes answered together.
Lang Shuo refused Lang Nuo’s suggestion to send him back and left carrying the back basket.
His strength was indeed not as great as the sub-adults’, but carrying a back basket was still no problem. After all, every day, he carried dozens of cubs in and out. The cubs’ weight, added to the basket’s weight, and the cubs’ toys inside, did not amount to anything light. Besides, cooking usually also required strength. Even if he could not move a heavy stone pot, he was not at the point where he had to call someone to help just because he was carrying something.
After returning to the foot of the mountain, Lang Yun and Lang Lan immediately gathered around and asked what had happened.
Lang Shuo said, “It’s nothing. They dug out some stones. Yong and the others thought they had dug everything out, but there’s still more below. They just need to dig away the stones.”
Hearing that this was the reason, both of them let out a breath of relief by tacit agreement. No matter what they said, when facing unreliable sub-adults, the members of the tribe always had an extra measure of concern. Even if they usually disliked them, they would not be lacking in distress when it was time to feel sorry for them.
Lang Shuo divided the limestone in the back basket into two portions and gave one portion to Lang Lan. “After you go back, give this to the gathering team and hunting party. If they encounter this kind of stone in the future, pick some up and bring it back.” The remaining half, naturally, was left for their tribe’s hunting party and gathering team.
Although there was limestone in the coal mine, generally speaking, the gangue between coal seams would not be too thick. In the future, aside from public facilities like toilets, kitchens, and storage rooms, he also needed covered houses. He even wanted to use bricks and rammed earth mortar for the pens where prey lived.
So many buildings would definitely require even more limestone. What was between the coal seams probably would not be enough. After all, he could not dig out all the surrounding coal just because he needed limestone. Not to mention how much manpower that would require, even if they dug it out, there would be nowhere to put it.
Right now, aside from the coal behind the mountain, only two or three days’ worth was kept in front. This way, whether black wolf members who did not know the inside story saw it, or members of other tribes came over, they would think it had been given by the Black Wolf Tribe and would not think in other directions. But if too much coal was dug out and piled all over the back mountain or below the mountain, one glance would reveal the problem.
So Lang Shuo’s plan was to ride the donkey while looking for a horse. For now, they would use the limestone dug out from the coal mine to burn lime and build the urgently needed rooms, such as the kitchen and toilet. The other buildings would be slowly arranged according to the remaining materials. If they could find a larger limestone deposit during this period, then they could burn it in large quantities and build more.
Lang Lan agreed. This matter was not difficult. After returning, she would tell Lang Yan, and Lang Yan could arrange it properly.
Lang Shuo was quite reassured with both siblings. After spending time together for a while, he had already figured out Lang Lan’s true personality. She was far from as quiet as she had acted on the first day, and sometimes she was even somewhat impatient. However, unlike the unreliable impatience of the sub-adults, Lang Lan worked very efficiently. Even when she was angry, it did not affect what needed to be done.
There was even less need to mention Lang Yan. A few days ago, he had come to have medicine applied every other day. Once the injury improved, he immediately resumed hunting, preparing to get lactating curved-horned beasts ready before the cubs returned.
Lang Shuo’s original arrangement had been to give them half of the curved-horned beasts in their tribe. After all, live curved-horned beasts were hard to catch, and the few in their tribe were now much more obedient than when they had first been caught. It was only when they wanted to change the curved-horned beasts’ location that they discovered curved-horned beasts were indeed quieter in familiar places than when they had just arrived, but once moved elsewhere, they refused to let anyone touch them again. Fortunately, the cubs had not gone back yet, so catching new ones in time was still possible.
After handing the matter of finding limestone to Lang Lan, Lang Shuo washed his hands, went to check the cubs, then sat beside them and thought about the next work.
Just now, from the back mountain to the foot of the mountain, he had already arranged the recent work in his mind. It was just that some details still needed refinement.
If they dug out a lot of limestone today, they could start burning lime tonight. After all, the fuel and earth kiln were both ready-made. In the early part of the rainy season, the rain was relatively gentle, basically a fine drizzle, and would not affect work much. Taking this opportunity, they could wait for the lime to slake, then build a kitchen, so that they would not have nowhere to cook when heavy rain came.
As for personnel arrangements, the work of burning lime would be handed to the members who fired pottery. Later, building the kitchen could wait until the hunting party was resting.
Lang Shuo calculated these matters in his heart, and the large stone weighing on him finally fell.
There was a lot of food during growing season, but it was not very friendly to beastmen. There was too much rain. Cooking inside the cave made the temperature high and would be hot. Cooking outside the cave not only got them wet, but the fire would also be extinguished by rainwater.
Previously, in their old territory, they had chosen to cook at the cave entrance. Ideally, if the angle of the rain was not too slanted, the food could be roasted before the fire went out. But the reality was exactly the opposite. The branches were wet, and without dry branches, most of the time, the fire pile only produced smoke and no flame. The meat they ate was either half-cooked or pre-prepared roasted jerky.
Everyone had been used to it before. After all, the food in other seasons did not taste much better either. They could accept eating like that. This year definitely would not work. After becoming used to meals and dishes of different flavors, no one would agree to go back to eating awful roasted meat.
Lang Shuo had previously still been considering building a few stoves in a nearby cave. If the rain was truly too heavy, they could cook in that small cave. Hot was hot, but it was still better than eating food mixed with rainwater. Now, he completely did not need to worry anymore. With bricks and lime, they could build the kitchen wherever they wanted.
However, some rainproof work still needed to be done during the early light rain. Lang Shuo considered it for a while and decided to build a few simple grass sheds.
They would insert several thick logs into the ground, fix bamboo and rope on the top and three sides, make the middle of the roof high and the surrounding areas low, and spread large leaves on top. Rainwater would flow along the leaves to the surroundings. The leeward side, still facing the mountain, would be left open for convenient entry and exit.
Imagining it from thin air was a little mentally tiring, and it was not easy to calculate exactly how much wood and bamboo poles would be needed. Lang Shuo took a stick and directly drew the grass shed on the ground, then calculated the materials.
As he wrote, Lang Shuo discovered several strange, four-not-quite-alike scribbles had appeared on the right.
A tender, fair little chubby hand was stretching out its index finger and imitating his addition and subtraction.
Lang Shuo: “!!!”
Lang Shuo turned his head. A snow-haired chubby baby with a bare bottom was crouching in the large basket. One hand held the edge of the basket, and the other hand was seriously drawing the numbers he had written on the ground.
It was just that from the cub’s angle, he could only see the last few numbers. Added to the fact that he had never learned them before, the numbers he wrote looked more like drawings.
For a moment, Lang Shuo did not know whether to be shocked that the cub had suddenly transformed into human form or to be shocked that he was this eager to learn on the first day of transforming into human form.
The messy thoughts only lasted an instant. Lang Shuo suddenly reacted and immediately picked the cub up from the basket.
The bottom of the basket had been padded with bricks, causing its position to be slightly higher than the surroundings. The cub had squatted down to draw messily on the ground, and his posture was actually very dangerous. This cub was rather smart and knew to hold the edge of the basket with his other hand, though with his weight, if he really fell down, the basket edge probably would not be able to stop him.
“When did you transform? Why didn’t you call me?” Lang Shuo knew that cubs about to transform into human form could understand speech. When they transformed into human form, they were basically about as smart as three-year-old children, so he directly asked.
“Helping.” The cub said seriously. He hugged Lang Shuo’s neck, gave him a loud kiss on the face, and once again answered loudly, “Helping Shuo!”
In the cub’s heart, when Lang Shuo was focused on doing one thing, it meant he was very busy, and he should not disturb him. But he wanted to play with Lang Shuo, so he would help fill the side with drawings. This way, Lang Shuo would turn his head.
Lang Shuo weighed the cub in his arms. “I don’t need your help yet. Next time you transform, you must call me, understand? And all of you too.” The last sentence was said to the remaining cubs in the large basket.
“Okay,” the cub agreed.
The cubs in the basket awooed twice to show they understood.
“I’ll take you to put on clothes.” Lang Shuo wiped the cub’s hands and called to Lang Yun not far away. “Yun, come watch the cubs.”
Lang Yun had originally been explaining some cooking tips to Lang Lan. Hearing the voice, the two of them looked toward Lang Shuo together and also discovered the cub in his arms, who was wearing nothing.
“He transformed into human form?” Lang Yun was surprised, but more than that, she was happy. Before, they had always been worried about this matter. Even though the cubs had shown signs of transforming into human form, they could not be one hundred percent certain they would succeed. Now, seeing a healthy cub, they could finally feel reassured.
With one successful cub, the time for the other cubs to transform into human form was also close.
At a time like this, someone had to stay beside the cubs and watch them at all times. Maybe the next one would transform soon too.
Lang Yun did not dare delay and ran over to help. Lang Lan and the other two black wolf members followed closely behind. Even though the first to transform was not a black wolf cub, at a time like this, no matter which tribe’s cub it was, they were equally happy.
After handing the other cubs to Lang Yun, Lang Shuo wrapped the cub with the animal hide on his own body and carried him toward the cave. As he walked, he asked, “Why didn’t you put on an animal hide?”
When beastmen changed forms, they generally wore animal hides. Just like when the sub-adults went to the river to bathe before, they would only take off the animal hide worn outside. Only under special circumstances would they not wear any, such as during breeding season when being intimate with a partner.
Most cubs did not carry animal hides when they transformed for the first time. Only after seeing it more would they develop the awareness of wearing animal hides. But there were also cubs naturally strong in learning ability. This cub could even follow him and scribble on the ground, so Lang Shuo felt he should know how.
The cub looked left and right. “Mm…”
Lang Shuo patted his bottom through the animal hide. “I’m asking you a question. Don’t pretend you don’t understand.” Other cubs were one thing, but this one was the smartest among his peers. Whether or not he could transform with an animal hide, it was impossible for him not to understand.
Seeing that fooling him had failed, the cub sighed. “Too hot.”
Lang Shuo: “…”
Lang Shuo said, “Then won’t wearing clothes later be even hotter? Hurry and transform it.”
When beastmen transformed from beast form to human form in different seasons, the animal hides they carried were different. During snow season, the animal hide was a thick layer. During breeding season, it became thinner. Close to growing season, the animal hide became lighter and thinner. Although it felt fluffy to the touch, perhaps because the animal hide originally belonged to them, wearing it was not very hot. It was much more comfortable than animal hides made from prey fur.
In fact, if speaking purely from the perspective of warmth, in this weather, wearing it or not was fine. But cubs had just transformed from beast form into human form and were not yet adapted to their new bodies. They needed some time to get used to it and might bump into things. If they had not a single piece of clothing on their bodies, they could easily be injured.
The cub also knew this. He had just been thinking he could delay a little if he could.
Under Lang Shuo’s urging, the cub changed back into beast form, then changed back again. This time, he was wearing an animal hide.
Lang Shuo said, “You’re not allowed to be lazy next time.”
The cub said, “Mm, okay.”
Although the cub already had an animal hide, Lang Shuo still went back to the cave, taking out the back basket where cub clothes were kept.
Seeing the clothes, the cub immediately tugged at the animal hide on his body to show Lang Shuo. “I have one. Not wearing two.”
The cub still liked wearing nothing the most. That was the most comfortable. Having an animal hide on his body was already uncomfortable enough. There was actually more!
Lang Shuo said, “Not for you. They’re for the other cubs.” These animal hides had been prepared long ago, just waiting for the cubs to wear when they transformed into human form.
Holding the cub with one hand and carrying the back basket with the other, when he returned near the group of cubs, he heard Lang Lan’s surprised voice.
Lang Shuo walked closer. A cub about the same size as the one in his arms was sitting in the basket, blankly looking around.
This was the second one.
Lang Shuo pointed at the back basket. “There are clothes inside. Put them on the cubs who can’t transform with animal hides.”
Lang Yun took out one piece, looked at the front and back, and put it on the cub.
The cubs’ clothes were relatively simple. They were a narrower version of adult beastmen’s tops, also somewhat like little dresses. They were directly pulled over the body and were very convenient.
The cub wearing the clothes stood up and looked left and right. Finally, his gaze settled on Lang Shuo and the snow wolf cub he was holding. He opened his arms. “Want hug.”
Lang Shuo: “…All right.” Holding one was holding, and holding two was also holding. It was fine.
Lang Shuo sat down and placed one cub on each leg.
The three cubs who had transformed into human form the first time before had liked staying beside the cradle. Lang Shuo knew that cubs at this time were rather sensitive and did not mind holding them a little longer to coax them. In any case, there were only two.
This thought had just arisen when Lang Shuo heard Lang Lan lightly cry out. He could not help looking over.
In the basket where the cubs had just been carried out, there were now two more cubs who had transformed into human form.
Very quickly, the remaining cubs changed form one after another like chicks breaking out of shells.
Lang Shuo: “…”
He had thought it would be fast, but he had not thought it would be this fast.
The two cubs on him saw this scene. The snow wolf cub hugged Lang Shuo’s neck with his back facing the other cubs. After a while, seeming worried, he whooshed back into beast form, huffed and puffed as he climbed onto Lang Shuo’s shoulder, and still wanted to climb higher, but Lang Shuo stopped him.
Lang Shuo said, “You’re not allowed to climb onto my head.” What hairstyle could withstand this kind of torment?
The cub had no choice but to give up the highest point. He found a comfortable spot on Lang Shuo’s shoulder, curled up, and lowered his head to look down at the other cubs.
If one ignored his palm-sized body, he really did have a bit of the imposing manner of looking down on all heroes.
All The Furry Creatures In The Beast World Are Farming With Me
