Chapter 239

The setting sun sank in the west, and dusk gradually enveloped the land.

The beastmen of the three tribes crowded around various display stalls, listening to the Heishan tribespeople explain these things they had never seen before.

At this moment, everyone was somewhat reluctant to leave. They hadn't seen enough yet; how could it already be getting dark?

But just then, a small team of young horned beastman children holding torches, arranged in a long line, entered the long street of the trade day.

If it were just a small patrol team, it wouldn't have caused such a stir. After all, the Northern Wastelands also had similar torches made of bark and tattered animal hides.

What truly made the beastmen of the three tribes gasp in astonishment was the next action of this small team.

They saw Hu Meng, Niu Yong, and several other young horned beastmen, holding torches in one hand and gripping the pillars in the middle of the trade day stalls with the other, climb to the top in just a few moves.

They placed the torches into the straw ropes tied to the pillars. With a "whoosh" sound, bright flames suddenly "leaped" up from the top of the pillars.

The beastmen of the three tribes standing near the pillars couldn't help but take a step back at the sight of the flames shooting high into the air, watching the scene nervously.

It's on fire!

Wait, this seemed to be a fire set by the Heishan tribespeople themselves. But such a large flame – weren't they afraid it would ignite the wooden pillars?

However, soon, the beastmen of the three tribes discovered these pillars weren't as simple as they had imagined.

It turned out the places tied with straw ropes were meant to secure the stone blocks with grooves in the middle. These blocks held wood chips soaked in oil tree resin.

Only then did the beastmen of the three tribes finally understand that these pillars, whose purpose they hadn't known and which the Heishan tribespeople called "street lamps," were actually tools for illumination.

"Roar roar~" "Roar~"

The beastmen cheered. With the street lamps lighting the way, their trade day could continue.

Two rows of flames flickered in the air, like a sudden river of stars fallen onto the plains, illuminating the night sky and also brightening the beastmen's eyes.

"The chief is back." "The priest is back."

The chiefs and priests of the three tribes waved to their people. After just half a day, returning to the trade day, the (xīnjìng) - state of mind, mood of the six had undergone earth-shaking changes.

If, when they first arrived at Heishan in the morning, they viewed these things with awe at Heishan's strength, now, facing the same supplies, they actually felt a sense of shared pride.

Yun Tan looked at the young beastwoman who was now wearing a completely different outfit: "What things did you all exchange?"

Yun An was Yun Jing's younger sister. Yun Jing and Yun An, who lost their parents very young, had been raised by their grandfather Yun Tan.

Yun An giggled and draped a cloak in her hands over Yun Tan's shoulders: "We exchanged so many things! This cloak was swapped at that stall up ahead (zhuānmén)  (specializing in, dedicated to) selling clothes."

After saying this, Yun An spread out the cloak she was wearing. Dressed in a (mǐ báisè)  (cream-colored) sweater, she spun around in place: "This sweater is so warm. We got one for Grandpa too. You must try it on later."

The clothing stall personally overseen by Hu Xue was one of the most popular booths at the entire trade day.

The animal skin clothes made by Xiong Nuan and Lu Ming, (mófǎng)  (imitating) Qi Bai's designs, had already been (liàngxiàng)  (make an appearance, debut) by the Xishui River. The warm and beautiful animal skin clothes quickly became liked by all the beastmen.

In a way, Qi Bai had already done a round of advertising for Heishan's animal skin clothes.

However, the animal skin clothes made by Xiong Nuan and Lu Ming couldn't possibly be as nice as the Heishan Tribe's, let alone compare to the sweaters they had never seen before.

So, even though the prices weren't cheap, in less than half a day, the nearly hundred animal skin clothes and sweaters Hu Xue had prepared were already sold out.

Yun Jing nearby seemed less interested in the animal skin clothes; she preferred the leather armor worn by the Heishan warriors. But the female beastman in charge of the stall said the leather armor was the uniform of the Heishan patrol team and wouldn't be sold to outsiders.

Yun Tan just smiled without saying a word. Don't worry, child. As long as you perform well, you'll get to wear that leather armor sooner or later.

Just then, a commotion suddenly arose from behind.

"What's happening?"

Yun An stood on tiptoe to look outside: "It seems like someone brought something over... Huh? Yun Jing, is there a new stall set up over there? I don't think I saw that horned beastman before."

Yun Jing followed the sound and immediately recognized the horned beastman at the front: "It's the horned beastman Xiong Feng. He (quèshí)  (indeed) wasn't here this afternoon."

Yun Tan straightened the animal skin cloak on his body: "Let's go take a look."

Seeing the chief of the Yungu Tribe approach, the beastmen of the three tribe (fēnfēn)  (one after another) stepped back, making room at the front near the display stall.

Soon, Xiong Han and Lu Yan were also drawn over by the excitement here.

"Is this stone?" "It's stone, but can stone be exchanged for supplies too?"

As before, the things on the Heishan Tribe's display stall remained incomprehensible to the beastmen of the three tribes.

It's just that while they didn't understand the previous items, at least those were processed. What lay before Xiong Feng now were two pieces of what looked like the most ordinary stone and mud.

If one had to point out a difference, it was that this stone and mud had been chiseled very smooth.

The beastmen of the three tribes discussed for a long time from the outer circle without figuring out their purpose. But having experienced this many times throughout the afternoon, a beastman now asked familiarly: "What are these used for?"

From behind the tall Xiong Feng, a (qīngxiù) (delicate and pretty) looking beastwoman emerged.

Having received the news that the three tribes were joining Heiyao City, Shu Lin and Xiong Feng hurriedly moved the prepared items over.

Shu Lin said enthusiastically: "These are stone bricks and adobe blocks. We can use them to build houses and heated beds (Kang)."

"Wow, you can build houses with this stuff?" "No wonder those stone houses of Heishan are so smooth."

While everyone was marveling, they suddenly discovered a blind spot.

This was a trade day stall. These two beastmen placing stones and adobe blocks on the display stall meant they intended to trade them. But this beastwoman had just said this was just stone and mud. How could the Heishan Tribe even sell this stuff?

Xiong Han and Lu Yan had the same doubt.

Because back in the meeting hall, everyone had already settled on the house construction plan. Tomorrow morning, Qi Bai would take them to inspect the planned city site, and then the High Priest would teach them how to build houses.

Moreover, from Qi Bai's words, Xiong Han and Lu Yan vaguely sensed that the houses the High Priest would teach them to build in the future would be even more refined than the houses within the Heishan Tribe.

Yun Tan inconspicuously rubbed his staff and suddenly asked: "How many such stone blocks and adobe blocks do you have?"

Shu Lin smiled at Yun Tan and held up one finger: "Enough stone houses for workers... we can build one hundred... ten times ten rooms."

Afraid that the Northern Wastelands might not understand the concept of one hundred, Shu Lin specifically broke it down into ten tens to make it easier for Yun Tan to understand.

Yun Tan shook his head: "We don't want stone houses for workers."

Shu Lin was prepared. He took out a bamboo scroll from his bosom, unrolled it, and on it were clearly several patterns: "You've seen the sand table, right? I have blueprints for five types of houses here. However, the difficulty of building different houses varies, so the required price is also different."

What sand table? What blueprints?

The beastmen on the periphery couldn't understand the riddle-like conversation between Yun Tan and Shu Lin, but Xiong Han and Lu Yan, who had also seen the sand table, looked thoughtful.

However, before the two could figure it out clearly, Yun Tan had already taken the lead.

Yun Tan simply glanced at the blueprints and immediately said: "Alright, then we, the Yungu Tribe, will take all your stone blocks and adobe blocks."

The blueprints on the bamboo scroll, Yun Tan couldn't understand. But as long as it was confirmed these people could build houses like those on the sand table, that was enough.

The tribespeople of the Yungu Tribe were dumbfounded. No, Chief, you exchange for so many (pò)  (worthless, broken) stones? They are expensive, and the key is, how are we supposed to move them back?

Yet, just as the Yungu beastmen were putting on pained expressions, Xiong Han and Lu Yan anxiously interrupted: "Hey, wait, isn't it inappropriate for the Yungu Tribe to buy everything?"

They finally understood what the key point was.

What Xiong Feng and Shu Lin were selling wasn't just stone blocks and adobe blocks; it included the construction process. Rather than saying they were selling materials, it was more accurate to say they were selling the entire house.

Shu Lin also looked at Yun Tan and inquired: "This is not a small amount. Are you sure you want all of it?"

The materials for a hundred stone houses, if built into standalone houses with small courtyards, could probably build seventy or eighty units. Plus the manpower involved, this really wasn't a small project that could be completed with just one or two carts of beast meat.

Yun Tan said laughingly: "Although our Yungu Tribe can't compare to the Heishan Tribe, we do have that much beast meat. It's just that those supplies are still by the Xishui River; it might take a couple of days to deliver them to you."

Shu Lin's eyes narrowed into smiling slits: "No hurry. We certainly trust the Yungu Tribe."

Shu Lin wasn't worried at all about Yungu reneging on payment. Dare to owe Heishan construction payment? Does Yungu still want to join Heiyao City?

Shu Lin happily bumped Xiong Feng's arm. This business deal was really made!

When Qi Bai first asked him and Xiong Feng to set up a stall for this turnkey construction business, Shu Lin had felt unsure.

After all, as everyone could see, these stones were simply quarried directly from the quarry and then (jīngguò)  (undergone) simple processing.

Although collecting them was troublesome, beastmen were never short on strength. Once the Zhanxiong, Yungu, and Julu tribes arrived at Heishan, they could just send their own people to quarry stones; there was absolutely no need to exchange them for food.

However, Shu Lin had still underestimated the (tǔháo)  (nouveau riche, extravagantly wealthy) (chéngdù)  (extent, degree) of the major Northern Wasteland tribes and the importance of the Heishan construction team's building technology.

Although Qi Bai said he would arrange for Heishan tribespeople to come teach each tribe how to build houses, he also made it clear that the Heishan Tribe would only assign one construction team to each tribe to help them build five houses.

After all, the Heishan Tribe itself also needed to build houses within the city and couldn't stay with them indefinitely.

This way, if they could get an experienced construction team like Xiong Feng's to help Yungu, the Yungu beastmen would definitely master the construction techniques quickly.

Of course, more importantly, with such a large (chǔbèi)  (reserve, stockpile) of materials, not to mention the Heishan Tribe, just among the other four tribes, Yun Tan believed their Yungu Tribe would definitely be the first to complete house construction.

Completing the houses one day earlier meant the Yungu tribespeople would have a place to live one day sooner. Plus, it would let him show off among the four tribes. What a (huásuàn)  (cost-effective, worthwhile) thing!

Looking at Yun Tan's old fox smile, Xiong Han and Lu Yan could only remain speechless.

Qi Bai, secretly observing the situation here, couldn't help but chuckle quietly.

This was probably the advantage of having a beastwoman as chief. Compared to horned beastman chiefs who easily died in battle, beastwoman chiefs lived longer.

People, the older they get, the more cunning they become. Xiong Han and Lu Yan were still too young.