Epoch 31: The flesh eating tree.
It's been a week since they started making bricks. Tang Tang thought that creating bricks was as easy as 123; all you had to do was take some clay and mold it, and voila! Bricks would be formed. Unfortunately, it's not.
On the first day, Xue found a red clay near the river and a yellow clay near the lake. The brick recipe he learned didn't specify what type of clay should be used. That's why, on the second day, he tried to experiment to see which of the two was better.
The result was that the red brick is hard but too rough, while the yellow brick is smooth but too soft.
As per Ude, the red clay contains a lot of iron oxide that helps the brick become hard, while the yellow clay contains a lot of lime that causes the bricks to melt.
That was when Tang Tang had the idea to mix the two clays, and he didn't expect the result. It has not only resulted in a beautiful orange-colored brick; it also has the perfect combination of hardness and smoothness.
The ashes collected by Hou were also used in making bricks. It will help the bricks reduce water absorption and increase their resistance to weathering and erosion.
Tang Tang also added some dried grass to the mixture to add stability and reinforce the bricks.
The brick molders that Hou and Cai made have a length of 30 cm, a depth of 13 cm, and a width of 15 cm. On the third day, they molded more than a hundred bricks.
The final step is to dry it in the sun. They chose to dry it at the top of a small hill near the farm. This large place allows sunlight to shine directly on the bricks because there are no trees in the area.
Their work once again garnered attention from the tribesmen, but since they didn't have any idea what they were doing, not many people were willing to help. Only a few beasts offered to get the clay from the river and lake. Tang Tang also didn't spare a moment to explain; it is better to show them the result.
In the first three days, Tang Tang, Xue, and Hou were the only ones making the bricks, while Pen and Cai helped from time to time since Pen still needed to tend to the farm and Cai needed to hunt and patrol.
On the fourth day Hou brought Toa and Yul, Hou said that he caught the two sleeping on his tent.
Toa said that they had an argument with Gio and were kicked out of the tent. They offered to help with their work in exchange for letting them stay in Hou's tent for a few more days.
Tang Tang didn't fully believe that it was just a simple argument because it had been days since he last saw Gio, but even though he didn't trust the two, he still persuaded Hou to let them stay for a few more days.
At present, they have already made hundreds of bricks, enough to make the foundation of their house, and there are still hundreds more in the process of drying.
"Guys, let's eat first," Tang Tang called.
Together with Pen, they were carrying a basket full of food they had cooked for them to eat for lunch.
"Ahhh! Food! Tang Tang food is always the best." Cai immediately stopped his work and ran towards Tang Tang to help him carry the basket.
"Bastard! Do you think Tang Tang is your wife, huh?" Hou angrily shouted and took the basket forcefully from Cai.
Tang Tang ignores the bickering of the two and calls Xue, Toa, and Yul again, who are still doing their work.
"Wash your hands first before eating," Pen reminded the men while laying a monster's fur on the ground.
The seven of them ate together like they were having a picnic. The atmosphere is very lively because of Toa's funny jokes, Cai and Hou's banter, and Pen's nagging toward the two beasts. Xue and Yul are also having a serious conversation on the side, which adds to the peaceful ambiance.
Everything looks perfect, if only Tang Tang didn't have a big problem right now.
Making bricks was successful, and they already have enough bricks to build the foundation for their house, but to start the construction, they need cement or an adhesive to bind the bricks together. The problem is that there is still no cement in this world, and he doesn't have any idea how to make one.
Tang Tang was so immersed in his thoughts that his food started getting cold. Xue noticed this and asked. "Tang Tang, is there a problem?"
This question gathers everyone's attention towards him. They stopped what they were doing and looked at him, waiting for his response.
"Are you feeling unwell, Tang Tang?" Hou asked worriedly.
Pen moved closer to him as well, and his worried expression was clear.
Tang Tang felt awkward and smiled. "I'm fine. I'm just thinking something," he thought for a while, then asked them. "Do you guys know a substance that can be used to stick objects together? It is mostly a liquid, soft and sticky, or with water, but when it dried, it became firm and hard to take off."
'Ahh! I wish I had widened my vocabulary before. It is hard to explain some things without using the names I was used to.'
[You have been doing great so far, Tang Tang. ⁽⁽ଘ( ˊᵕˋ )ଓ⁾⁾]
Everyone fell into deep contemplation; the lively atmosphere became quiet all of a sudden.
Tang Tang feels bad for ruining the mood, but his knowledge of this world is limited, and the best ones to ask if you need to know more are the natives of this place.
Until Toa broke the silence, he sighed and scratched his head. "Sorry, Tang Tang. I am really useless. I can't think of anything," he said, full of self-deprecating.
Tang Tang was taken aback and hurriedly said. "Hey! Don't call yourself like that. You've been a great help to us."
Toa was stunned for a while, then he laughed heartily. "I'm happy that I can be of any help. Hahaha."
They continue their brainstorming until Yul suddenly asks. "Where do you plan to use it?"
"I want to use it to put the bricks together. In my previous place, there was something we called cement. It is used in building houses, but there is no cement here, so I am looking for an alternative," Tang Tang explained.
Tang Tang saw that Yul had something to say but was hesitating, so he asked. "Do you know something similar?"
Yul looked at Xue first, then at Tang Tang. "I don't think it was similar, but it is sticky and impossible to take off when it dries," he answered.
"Really?" Tang Tang's face brightened when he learned that there was really such a thing. "Tell me, where can we find it?" he excitedly asks while coming closer to the beast, but before he can even get near Yul, someone pulls him in the waist.
"Ah!"
Xue settled the oblivious sub-beast on his lap and hugged his waist. "You can listen from here," he expressionlessly said.
"Oh! okay," he said, pretending to look puzzled by the man's action.
'OMG! Xue is quite possessive.'
[I know you like it, Tang Tang.]
'I didn't say I hate it.'
Yul snickered as he said. "I think Xue also thought about it but didn't want to say."
"Eh? Why?" Tang Tang tried to look at the man hugging him from behind. "Xue?"
"It's dangerous," Xue replied.
Knowing that Xue didn't want to explain further, Tang Tang asked Yul instead. "Can you tell me about this sticky thing you mentioned, Yul?"
Seeing the sub-beast's determination, Yul didn't hesitate anymore. "There is a place in the east forest where particular trees were growing. The trees were growing so densely that no sunlight could even pass through."
The faces of all the beasts present change after realizing the place Yul is describing. Even Pen, who only heard about this place, has a frightened expression, except for Tang Tang, who doesn't have any idea and is listening attentively to Yul.
"There are no other plants growing there other than those trees. Even monsters were afraid to settle there," Yul continued.
"Why?"
"It's because of the trees. It is also said that cries can always be heard at that part of the forest, and if someone comes to check it, that person will be found dead the next day. Do you know what those trees were called?" Yul asked the curious sub-beast.
"What? Ahh, the suspense is killing me. Tell me faster!" Tang Tang started to feel goosebumps and said impatiently.
Yul chuckled at the cute sub-beast reaction and cut to the chase. "It is called the flesh-eating tree because all the bodies found always have torn flesh, as if it were ripped off."
"Are the trees kind of a monster?" Tang Tang asked.
"No, they were just normal trees." Yul, for the first time, enjoyed talking to a sub-beast. He has been trying to scare Tang Tang since earlier, but the sub-beast only showed excitement, curiosity, and confusion.
That's when Toa nudged Yul and pointed to Pen. Pen's face was pale, and he was slightly trembling, but he kept sitting and listening to his story.
After seeing Tang Tang's expressions, Yul forgot that sub-beasts are emotional and can be easily scared.
"Ahem, sorry," Yul said to Pen.
Pen just nodded. He was really scared, but how can he stay by Tang Tang's side if he can easily be scared of a mere story? Looking at Tang Tang, who didn't get frightened even a little, Pen firmed his resolve.
Tang Tang, who was still oblivious to his surroundings, asked again. "What is the connection between the flesh-eating tree and the sticky substance?"
"The flesh-eating tree is producing a clear sticky substance that once got into your skin and dried, the only option to take it off is to cut your own flesh," Yul explained.
If what Yul said is true, then his problem with the cement will be solved. Tang Tang stood up from Xue's lap and announced. "I want to see the flesh-eating tree now!"