Chapter 61: New Year Market
When leaving Douglas’s house, Chu Jiu encountered some unfamiliar faces, all tall, well-built, and courteous men.
Douglas explained that these were the “affordable and useful craftsmen” he had found.
According to the agreement just made with Douglas, human craftsmen and dwarf beastmen would later build the “blacksmith shop” together.
These craftsmen were actually all former teammates of Douglas.
Like Douglas, they suffered greatly from “ability fading” and resolutely refused to take the medication provided by the association.
Later, they received some of the “cough syrup” made by Chu Jiu from Douglas.
After taking the medicine only twice, these ability users who had been coughing so badly that they couldn’t stand up or get out of bed could breathe smoothly, eat well, and sleep soundly, completely returning to normal.
With such an experience, when Douglas asked them, “Are you willing to go to Bean Village to reclaim land and farm together?” “That village is now magical, they’ve artificially raised bees, and they’re about to open a dwarf beastman’s blacksmith shop,” “I heard that next year they’ll even grow wool that grows on the ground,” “Oh, the pioneer who made the cough syrup for you is the one leading everyone in all this,” they readily agreed.
Firstly, they currently had no abilities and needed to find other work anyway; secondly, since Bean Village sounded so magical, why not give it a try; furthermore, Douglas had once been their captain, and everyone knew his character and strength.
So, the craftsmen happily devoured the big picture Douglas painted and moved into Bean Village, a place “even field mice were too lazy to burrow into,” driving horse-drawn carriages. In the more than half a month since moving in, they had repaired leaky roofs and built up drafty walls for the villagers, and now they were just waiting for the “big jobs” before enjoying a good winter rest.
*
After everything was arranged, Chu Jiu took the little squirrels to the empty house where the blacksmith squirrel had temporarily stayed.
The house had been tidied up in advance. It had three large rooms, two of which could be bedrooms, and the other had a stove and could be used as a kitchen and living room in winter.
The conditions were already much better than Chu Jiu’s initial “pioneer hut.”
However, when the little squirrels entered the room, they were far from as excited as they had been when they first jumped onto the Bodo’s back or stepped onto the raft.
They walked around the room and finally returned to Chu Jiu’s side.
The axe squirrel looked up at Chu Jiu, its small eyes blinking, looking almost tearful: “You, going?”
The pickaxe squirrel and the shovel squirrel also gathered around, wanting to reach out and grab Chu Jiu’s trouser legs, but then felt the action was too childish and both retracted their paws.
The bow-tie squirrel looked much calmer. But her drooping big tail still betrayed her low spirits.
Chu Jiu knew that this was their first real “departure from home,” away from their familiar way of life, and they would have to rely on their own abilities to open a shop and live in a village of a different race.
Such a transition would be difficult even for adults, let alone four young ones?
Chu Jiu squatted down, thought for a moment, and said, “Today… how about Little Can and I have dinner at your new home with you?”
The four little squirrels tilted their heads at the same angle: “Together, dinner?”
Chu Jiu said, “Yes.”
“In our place, there’s a custom that for the first meal after moving, you invite good friends to eat together to celebrate the ‘joy of moving.’ Everyone eats a lively meal together, and everything in the new home will go smoothly.”
Hearing this, the little squirrels’ originally drooping tails immediately perked up: “Then, eat!”
Chu Jiu smiled slightly: “Yes, have a big meal!”
Chu Jiu did as he said.
That night, around the dining table of the dwarf beastman’s small house, sat a cat, a rabbit, a sapling, a capybara, four squirrels, and a human.
On the table were fresh grape juice and orange juice, chestnuts roasted with honey, five-spice sunflower seeds stir-fried with spices, short-snouted lizard ribs stewed with corn, vegetable salad with chopped “plant eggs,” and three-leaf fish brushed with a secret sauce…
Everyone, or rather, human, beast, beastman, and plant, raised their bamboo cups and clinked them together:
“Cheers!”
“Congratulations on moving!”
“Everything goes smoothly!”
Although the spirit beasts’ language sounded like “meow meow meow” or “roar roar roar” to the dwarf beastmen, it didn’t hinder their mutual understanding at all.
The little squirrels who received the blessings had bright and spirited eyes again, and their little paws were raised high: “We, can!”
Chu Jiu smiled slightly: “Yes, you can!”
After eating, the little squirrels took out their treasured super-large chestnuts, carefully put them into the stove to make a “crackling” sound as they roasted, and then took them out;
They gave them to Chu Jiu: “Roasted chestnuts, crack crack crack, drive away bad things!”
Chu Jiu guessed that in the dwarf beastmen’s culture, just like the Han Chinese setting off firecrackers, they used festive sounds to drive away bad luck and bring good fortune.
He smiled and carefully put away the roasted chestnuts, unable to help but think:
Hmm… actually, other things can also be “popped” and eaten like this.
The New Year at the end of December was coming soon. Could these cheerful popping sounds be utilized?
*
That night, after Roar Roar Rabbit and the others were all breathing evenly in their sleep, Little Can gently patted Chu Jiu’s face.
Chu Jiu: “Hmm?”
What’s wrong, little guy?
Little Can: “You wanted to encourage the little squirrels, so you made us all go to dinner, right?”
Chu Jiu stroked its little head: “Ah, that’s part of it. If everyone gets together and has fun, making them feel like their friends are by their side, they should adapt faster, right?”
Little Can rubbed against Chu Jiu’s palm: “You, you think of everything so thoroughly too.”
Chu Jiu: “Hmm? Why ‘too’?”
Little Can didn’t say anything.
It thought silently in its heart: Why else? It’s compared to that “Lu Qingyan” you constantly mention and praise.
Everyone praises that Lu Qingyan, but in my opinion, you do just as well.
No, you do even better than him.
And—
Hmph, I’m slowly growing stronger.
One day, I will become a reliable spirit beast who thinks even more thoroughly than that Lu Qingyan and makes you even more at ease!
*
The next day.
Chu Jiu, who usually woke up early, stayed wrapped in his quilt and slept in a bit longer.
After running around outside for more than a month, Chu Jiu really missed his warm nest.
Even though his task list was full of pending items, he couldn’t help but relax a little and couldn’t help but want to stay in bed…
Ah, just sleep a little longer… just a little bit…
Huff…
Urgent knocking on the door woke him up.
…Knocking…?
Chu Jiu was stunned for a second, subconsciously looking out the window first: Eh, it’s not snowing.
Since it wasn’t snowing, then it couldn’t be that person, right?
…What am I even thinking about?
He shook his head vigorously to clear his mind, jumped out of bed, and rushed downstairs.
Standing outside the door were the four little squirrels.
The bow-tie squirrel had an angry look on her face, and the three Axe brothers had expressions of “Oh no, what have we done?”
Chu Jiu was completely confused, wondering what had happened.
The bow-tie squirrel pointed at the three brothers: “They, caused trouble!”
Chu Jiu: …Ah? What could be such a big deal?
It couldn’t be that they threw away the Earthfire Primordial Stone, right?
The three brothers: “Wuwu, wuwuwu…”
Chu Jiu rubbed his temples and first let the four little ones into the house.
Ten minutes later.
Chu Jiu stared blankly at the things on the table, only one thought in his mind: These three little squirrels can really cause trouble…
What the little squirrels had placed on the table were two “eggs” that looked somewhat like nuts.
Both eggs had just cracked open.
Inside the broken shells were two…
Two baby dinosaurs with their eyes still closed, chirping “cheep cheep.”
Real, genuine dinosaurs.
According to the three little ones’ “confession,” they had picked up these “nuts” in the “Land of the Past.”
Such large and patterned nuts must be very delicious!
They had happily put the nuts in their travel bags and brought them all the way back to the underground city, and then all the way to Bean Village.
Yesterday, after giving all the roasted chestnuts to Chu Jiu, they decided to roast these precious nuts themselves and eat them.
As a result, no matter how much they roasted them, the nuts never cracked open.
So they put the nuts in the stove and used the residual heat to warm them overnight.
Until this morning…
The nut shells did crack open. But what popped out wasn’t delicious nutmeat.
After panicking and scurrying around the room, the three little ones were finally brought to Chu Jiu by Little Bow-tie—along with the “evidence” of their mischief.
Chu Jiu rubbed his temples again and drank a large glass of ice juice that Gluglu had just brought, trying hard to calm down.
He sighed, looked at the two miniature dinosaurs that were about the same size as Gluglu, and opened [Enemy Detection].
[Detecting….]
[These are two juvenile Velociraptor Triceratops that were abandoned by their parents and then brought to another world by a different race.
Velociraptor Triceratops are omnivorous ancient beasts. Their temperament is usually determined by the temperament of their caregivers.
Due to congenital defects, they could not adapt to the air of the Land of the Past, so their parents abandoned them before hatching, destined to perish as eggs.
However, they unexpectedly obtained suitable temperature and air, and miraculously hatched.]
[Note: The two Velociraptors were hatched by dwarf beastmen inside the village. They will not identify signposts as “demons” and will not have their movement range restricted by signposts.]
After reading the prompt, Chu Jiu rested his chin in his hands and thought for a long time.
Seeing Chu Jiu fall into silent contemplation, the axe squirrel mustered its courage: “We, send back?”
Chu Jiu sighed deeply: “No, sending them back would also mean they’d die.”
Little Butterfly widened her eyes: “Then?”
At this moment, Kakaba hopped over and craned its small head to look at the two mini-triceratops on the table.
“Dang dang dang, so cute! Can I raise them?”
Chu Jiu rubbed his temples again: “…Raise them then.”
Since the prompt said, “Their temperament is usually determined by the temperament of their caregivers,” that meant they might grow into gentle triceratops.
Since that was the case, it was better to raise them and see.
Anyway, with Kakaba around, raising little triceratops shouldn’t be too difficult, right?
Kakaba cheered and picked up the little guys, spinning around three times—
“Dang dang dang! Chu Jiu, the little triceratops need milk! Where can we get milk?”
“Dang dang dang! The little triceratops will be cold, I want to wrap them in cotton cloth, do we have any cotton cloth at home?”
“Dang dang dang! The little triceratops need a soft little bed, the little beds at home are all too hard, can we make another bed?”
Chu Jiu: …
When I saw the three little squirrels picking up nuts all over the ground, why didn’t I stop them?!
Look at what a moment of carelessness has brought!
*
The little squirrels who had delivered the triceratops to Chu Jiu’s house went to work building the blacksmith shop that day.
And Chu Jiu and his spirit beasts…
Fell into the fear of being dominated by baby triceratops.
On the first day, Chu Jiu used [Monster Enticer] to catch cows and chickens all over the forest, finally bringing back [Black and White Spotted Giant Aphids] that could be milked and [Cockatrice Snakes] that laid eggs regularly, which Kakaba raised in the monster ranch.
On the second day, Chu Jiu used the remaining cotton and the [Cotton Cloth Recipe] to make soft, skin-friendly cotton cloth… which instantly turned into diapers.
On the third day, Chu Jiu searched through his backpack but couldn’t find any softer materials, so he could only use [Mountain Eagle Feathers] to make a “special little bed for baby triceratops.”
During this time, Glup-Glup used its tentacles to hold various small wooden toys in turn to coax the cubs, but still couldn’t stop them from wailing;
Rawr Rawr Rabbit volunteered to push the cradle, but pushed it too fast, making the cubs wail even louder;
Kakaba gently spoke to them by their side, only receiving wet diapers and dry sobs;
Little Can… Little Can, on the other hand, could make them stop crying just by looking at them. The problem was that while they weren’t crying, they wouldn’t even blink—clearly terrified.
In the end, it was Chu Jiu sitting down and humming out-of-tune songs that made the baby triceratops fall soundly asleep with their claws in their mouths.
Fortunately, before Chu Jiu was exhausted, all the special baby supplies the triceratops needed were finally prepared, and Kakaba also found a way to soothe the babies and figured out how to feed them milk.
Only then did the pioneer hut regain its peace.
*
While Chu Jiu’s side had been chaotic for several days, the little squirrels’ blacksmith shop was progressing smoothly.
By the end of December, the blacksmith shop was officially completed.
The blacksmith shop was located in a deserted area some distance from the current residential area. A water channel was dug beside it, and [Bucket Waterwheels] continuously brought water from the river to the blacksmith shop to ensure the furnace wouldn’t overheat.
The blueprint for the blacksmith shop was provided by the blacksmith squirrel, the design of the water channel was by the human craftsmen, and the blueprint and materials for the [Bucket Waterwheels] were provided by Chu Jiu.
On the day the blacksmith shop was declared open, Chu Jiu received a system notification that the development level had increased by 17% due to [New Residents Added] and [Leading the Construction of Important New Facilities].
Considering that only about one-ninth of the current mission time had passed, Chu Jiu was already very satisfied with this development level.
However, Chu Jiu didn’t relax at all because of the “smooth progress.”
On the contrary, he decided to strike while the iron was hot.
He found Douglas and the old village chief, and they carefully planned how to use the “New Year” and the “opening of the blacksmith shop” to build popularity for Bean Village.
*
“Sigh, if it weren’t for the legendary ‘dwarf beastman blacksmith shop,’ I really wouldn’t want to run to Bean Village,” said the ability user Joey, jumping off the carriage and stretching as he complained to his companions.
It was the New Year holiday on the continent of Carrot.
During this time, larger towns would hold some celebratory activities.
Sea Moon City, a metropolis, went without saying, and even Emerald Town would have a livelier market than usual. Everyone crowded together to sell, sing, and perform, and the streets were filled with the sweet smell of candied fruit and wine.
Bean Village… what could Bean Village possibly have?
In the heart of Joey, who was in his early twenties, Bean Village, although it had a new product called “tofu” last year, was still a poor, remote, small village that lacked everything.
No, Captain Douglas and even a resident had run off to settle in the village, and even spread rumors that the village was magical.
The current captain, Lauren, was as happy as if he had just proposed successfully that day, saying that he had a newly forged iron sword in the “dwarf beastman blacksmith shop” that was incredibly sharp.
…Dwarf beastman? Weren’t those just oversized squirrels? He really couldn’t understand why Captain Lauren was so obsessed with dwarf beastmen.
Speaking of which, if it really was the legendary “dwarf beastman blacksmith shop,” then perhaps it was worth a look.
The captain also suggested that everyone take advantage of the New Year holiday to quickly go to the blacksmith shop to upgrade their equipment. Otherwise, as the blacksmith shop’s reputation grew, ability users who didn’t have much money would probably have to wait in line for a year.
Joey thought about his own large iron sword with its blunted edge and decided to sacrifice the wonderful plans of “holiday lie-ins” and “holiday feasting” to make a trip to Bean Village.
“Is that the Bean Village road sign… This village is so poor that even its road signs are more dilapidated than other villages…” Joey muttered softly, looking at the old road sign at the village entrance that read “Direction: Bean Village.”
He also couldn’t figure out why the dwarf beastmen would choose such a place to open a blacksmith shop.
Was it just because the place was poor enough, remote enough, and close enough to the wasteland?
Joey stepped into the village, perplexed.
“Ouch—hey, kid, are you alright?” Just as they entered the village, Joey’s companion almost bumped into a small boy running around.
The little boy smiled at them and said “I’m fine” before running off again.
Joey and his companions were ability users who rarely visited such places, and at this moment, they were mostly quite surprised:
In such cold weather, in this kind of village, would there actually be children running around outside?
And this child had a clean face and neat clothes, not like a homeless wanderer with nowhere to go…
You had to know that it was freezing outside, and the people in this kind of village couldn’t afford wool clothes. Most people stayed huddled around the stove like cats all day long. How could there be children running around?
At this moment, Joey’s companion said doubtfully, “I think that child… was wearing quite thick clothes.”
“That dark blue outfit he had on definitely wasn’t wool.”
Joey was also a little strange.
He slowed down to look around and found that this village was really quite different from other equally poor and dilapidated villages.
Firstly, there weren’t few people active in the village.
Moreover, these people moved quickly and didn’t have that shivering, hunchbacked look caused by the cold.
Furthermore, the people in the village all wore dark blue clothes made of a strange fabric.
The clothes looked thick, not like they were just stuffed with some dry grass for warmth.
While the two discussed these peculiarities, they walked towards the location of the “dwarf beastman blacksmith shop.”
“Hello.” Just as they entered the door, a crisp, sweet girl’s voice rang out.
Joey and his companion followed the sound and looked over, instantly freezing in place.
Ah, ah, ah!
They were too cute!
Triangular, furry little ears! Dark, shiny little eyes! And that incredibly fluffy big tail!
The little squirrel blinked its eyes: “Price list, on wall.”
“Bring materials, charge processing fee.”
“Buy materials, charge processing fee, material fee.”
Ahhh, the little squirrel spoke again! The way the little squirrel spoke was one word at a time! The little squirrel could also forge iron! The little squirrel could also do business with them! How could the little squirrel be so cute!
In an instant, Joey and his companion suddenly understood Captain Lauren.
How could anyone in the world not understand Captain Lauren? They must all be heretics!
*
The “dwarf beastman blacksmith shop” charged three times the fee of a human blacksmith.
Joey and his companion willingly paid the money.
The little squirrel said that the forging time would take half a day.
During this time, they could go to the small square in Bean Village to take a look. There, Bean Village had its own market.
The little squirrel said, “Market, interesting.”
Yes, what the little squirrel said must be true!
Joey and his companion grinned foolishly and walked towards the small square.
They hadn’t even reached the edge of the square when the two first heard a “bang” sound, as if someone had set off thunder in place!
Could someone be abusing their abilities?!
The two men’s expressions suddenly changed, and they immediately ran towards the square.
Reaching the edge of the square, they indeed saw a cloud of smoke!
Just as the two were about to immediately organize the crowd to leave, they discovered…
Why were all the old people present smiling happily?
Also, why was there a sweet fragrance in the air?
The two were very puzzled and squeezed into the crowd to take a look—
In the center of the square, they saw a young man with fair skin and delicate features sitting.
The young man had a stove fire in front of him, and on the stove was a black “gourd.” The young man put some ordinary corn kernels into the “gourd,” and then some light brown, translucent granules. Next, the young man shook a handle, causing the “gourd” to rotate continuously.
After a moment, the young man aimed the “gourd” at a cage, and stepped on something at his feet—
“Bang!”
After the thunderous sound, the cage was filled with large and small golden yellow particles, and the air was filled with a sweet fragrance that made people’s mouths water!
The seven or eight-year-old children nearby all clapped and cheered, “It popped! It popped! The bad things have all been scared away!”
The young man smiled and raised the cage to gesture: “Here, eat it while it’s hot!”
The people around, old and young, all smiled and grabbed a handful of the golden yellow particles from the cage, happily putting them into their mouths.
Joey and his companion looked at the people next to them and also tried grabbing a handful.
This thing… judging by the color, could it be the corn kernels from just now?
But how could corn kernels be so big and so crispy?
Joey carefully took a bite.
Ah, the taste!
So crispy, so fragrant, and so sweet!
That unique sweetness was even more unforgettable than honey or candied fruit!
Once this kind of thing entered the mouth, it was impossible to stop eating!
Joey unknowingly finished the handful in his hand.
At this moment, the young man holding the gourd looked at him with a smile: “Delicious?”
Joey nodded hurriedly: “Delicious, delicious!”
Just… is there any more?
The young man pointed to the side again: “The others are also delicious.”
Joey followed the young man’s hand and looked around:
One stall had a charcoal grill with rows of golden-brown, crispy small fish on it;
One stall had a row of small pottery pots filled with… golden-red cabbage?
And another stall had a boiling large pot with sliced fish and radishes and other things next to it, as well as several small plates filled with a dark brown liquid;
Each stall was emitting an aroma that attracted passersby and made them linger.
Each stall made people couldn’t help but want to take a bite, and then another bite.
Joey and his companion couldn’t stop wiping their mouths.
Just at this moment, a familiar person walked out of the crowd.
“Captain Douglas!”
“Old Captain!”
Joey and his companion exclaimed in surprise.
Douglas nodded to them: “Happy New Year.”
“How is Bean Village’s ‘New Year Market’?”
Joey, a twenty-year-old who had traveled to many places and seen many lively scenes, showed an expression of “I’ve really never seen this”:
“Too, too unimaginable!”
“So delicious—no, no, so interesting!”
Douglas smiled: “It is indeed interesting, and also delicious.”
“That thing that made the ‘bang bang’ sound just now made ‘popcorn’.”
“I dare say that in the entire continent of Carrot, only Bean Village has it.”
Joey looked at the black “gourd,” swallowed his saliva, and said, “It’s a pity I have to go back later.”
“I’ll… I’ll bring Mika and the others here tomorrow!”
“Such delicious—no, no, such an interesting place, it’s definitely worth a trip!”
Thank you for the chapter