Chapter 16

It took a long time to dissolve the grease. They used tree juice to clean it repeatedly, which was a heavy workload. Even if Su Ce had just rested and was energetic, he was sweating all over during this work.

Tan Tu also helped a lot...such as moving large quantities of bowls and chopsticks, pouring buckets of dirty water, relying on him to use great effort to scrape the grease clean with hard cloth and etc..

During this period, all orders were given by Su Ce, while Tan Tu only needed one order and one action.

Tan Tu’s unremitting efforts also well removed the displeasure caused by Su Ce seeing such a dirty environment.

When everything was almost done, Tan Tu wanted to move the cleaned bowl and chopsticks back in place but his arm was caught by Su Ce. He looked back and saw his sweetheart’s face a little unsightly.

Tan Tu felt uneasy, “Ah Ce?”

Su Ce took a deep breath and said calmly, “Tan Tu, do you think...” Pause, “Is it more convenient to dismantle the kitchen and rebuilt it, or to clean it first?”

The situation in the kitchen was even worse and there was no way to stop him. He would never allow those kitchen utensils that was difficult to clean be tossed again!

Tan Tu suddenly realized, he smiled sillily, “Ah Ce, you wait for me.” He turned and ran, turned into a huge golden lion, followed a few steps back, and kicked—

Boom!

The kitchen completely collapsed.

The golden lion quickly kicked and stomped those woods farther away. Soon after was another rattling sound as if it fall into some pit and all disappeared.

Tan Tu came back with a look full of merit all over his face.

Su Ce was silent. He raised his hand and touched the lion’s head in front of him, “Change back.”

Tan Tu changed back openly.

Su Ce looked at his furry leather jacket and knee-length trousers, he wondered, “...I’ve been wanting to ask Tan Tu. Where did you go when you changed?”

Tan Tu had long been accustomed to his sweetheart’s lack of common sense and didn’t question much. He answered, “This suit is my fur. If we males do not deliberately put it away after transformation, the fur will be able to cover the body and suit us.”

It seems that not only the transformation can control itself but also the fur can be obedient like the body. Su Ce nodded, “Is that so.” Then asked, “Do you want to build the kitchen now or do it tomorrow?”

Tan Tu thought about it and said, “Now. I will take Ah Ce to the tribe tomorrow to have a good stroll.” Then he laughed, “At least if he wants to live here, he should be familiar with it earlier. I want Ah Ce to know a few females so Ah Ce will not be lonely when I’ll go hunting later.”

Su Ce was dumbfounded. He wiped his fingers on the bridge of his nose, “...Okay.”

———

Su Ce sat behind, silently adjusting the wooden bowls while watching Tan Tu work.

The Orc males are very skilled on building houses.

The first was breaking a giant tree with one’s arm violently, tear off the bark with one’s hand, used a sharp tool–he didn’t know what kind of tool–to cut off the bulged bags and particles on the trunk, cut the wood into various required shapes, and finally inlay them together to embed the four largest pillars into the ground... the whole process seems like drifting clouds and flowing water. It wasn’t long before all was done.

The newly set room has a faint scent of wood. Su Ce was pulled up from the ground by Tan Tu and entered the half-size wooden house with two floors. He finds the space much larger than before!

Tan Tu looked at Su Ce then at the empty room and asked cautiously, “Ah Ce, Is there anything else to do here?“

Su Ce watched the room seriously and walked almost half of the place. He said, “Here, build a wall to divide the space into two halves. Inside, make a stand for the pot; blocking it using stones and open a wooden window. Outside, make a table that is my waist-length and extends through the door, the width is as long as your arm. Lastly, make a cabinet standing at the corner, occupying the entire wall.”

Tan Tu listened attentively. He rushed out like a whirlwind then came back in. His tools made a ping-pong noise, he did exactly what Su Ce said.

......And finally, it looked like a kitchen.

Su Ce nodded in satisfaction. He went out with Tan Tu this time, “Let’s move all the tools in.”

This way, although Su Ce can only clean up the bowls and chopsticks one by one but it’s also a help to Tan Tu.

Tan Tu, a man with endless strength, seems to be running around happily. From time to time, according to Su Ce’s instructions, he put the kitchen utensils into different categories in the cabinets on the upper, middle and lower floors. Before that, the condiments weren’t retrieved, which makes Su Ce felt it might be a little bad for them to stay in that place for a long time. So he thought of asking Tan Tu how to get fine new ones later.

———

On the chopping board are the meat cutting tools with large and small models. Su Ce studied them. It seems a kind of sharpened bone, hardly made of some iron or some unknown materials. It also seems like the metal has been widely used in this world.

Finally all packed up. Tan Tu sweated a little while Su Ce was as exhausted as if he had been fished out of the water. But for him, it’s well worth doing something what he can.

Tan Tu looked at Su Ce, who was a little pale and very distressed.

Su Ce was happy to plan their kitchen this way...but him being exhausted made his joy fly away.

It was already dark outside. Su Ce rubbed his forehead and started walking towards the door. His feet a little soft, his legs have no strength, and his arms are more like they are not his own. That was really too much work.

Seeing Su Ce so weak right now, Tan Tu walked over him and put his arms around Su Ce’s waist hesitantly, “Ah Ce, I’ll hold you up. I’ll be very worried if you climb the ladder like this.”

Tan Tu’s straightforward concern left Su Ce at a loss. He paused and put his arm on Tan Tu’s arm, “Help me first. Go downstairs then carry me back.”

“...Okay.” Tan Tu’s face gloomed but he soon recovered as usual.

Females are unwilling to rely on males, indicating that males have not yet acquired females’ hearts... Of course Tan Tu understands there are some things that cannot be rushed.

Ah Ce does not believe him, presumably he haven’t done enough... he thought so, one day Ah Ce would be willing to be with him and would surely make Ah Ce happy then.

When he went downstairs, Su Ce stood still. Tan Tu picked him up, jumped up as soon as he crouched and then quickly put him down.

Tan Tu swept his eyes and saw the animal skin(or hide) covered with bath towel. He immediately understood the red marks on Su Ce during the day. The function of animal skin was originally for comfort, but now that it wasn’t effective, it’s better not to. He picked up the towel, take off the hide and rolled it in the corner, then spread back the bath towel on the floor. “Ah Ce, make a do with it tonight. I’ll try to get some softer fur tomorrow.”

Speaking of Su Ce’s body, Tan Tu wanted him to lie down as easily as possible, but Su Ce held him back.

Tan Tu asked him in a low voice, “What’s the matter, Ah Ce?”

Su Ce said, “...Take a bath.”

The male Orc who often forget to take a bath was transfixed.

Su Ce looked up and saw his expression. He immediately understood. He frowned slightly and said, “Tan Tu, you need to take a bath too.”

Tan Tu suddenly showed his big smile, “Ah Ce, do you want to wash with me!”

Su Ce immediately shook his head, “No, wash separately.”

......If it was on Earth, two men taking a bath together was nothing, but it’s not the same here.

Tan Tu was a little disappointed, but not particularly disappointed. Anyway, sooner or later we can wash together.

Su Ce really had no strength—even if he wasn’t so tired, he still couldn’t carry the big barrel and water, he hesitantly said, “Can you help me boil some hot water?”

Tan Tu blinked and replied happily, “Of course!”

Thinking for a moment, Su Ce added, “Don’t use the pot for cooking meat. Use a clean wooden barrel.”

Sure enough, Tan Tu made a “ha ha” while grabbing his hair and went down... It seems he was just ready to use the meat cooking pot.

Looking his back, Su Ce felt he needed to sort out the language.

After a while, Tan Tu jumped back with two large barrels; one of which was boiling hot water and the other was half a barrel of cold water. He quickly mixed it up and smiled, “Ah Ce, wash it.” Then he turned back naturally.

Su Ce was satisfied that the other party respects him. But now he’s facing another problem.

The barrel is too high, and there is no wooden ladder to climb! He also couldn’t jump in.

Waiting for a while, Tan Tu hasn’t heard the movement behind, he can’t help but shout, “Ah Ce? Ah Ce? Is everything all right?”

Su Ce’s voice came, “...I’m sorry Tan Tu, you have to do me favor.”

“But I can’t get in......”

Su Ce had already taken off his coat. He felt bad he didn’t wear a piece of silk all over his body but he also was just about to bath...

Tan Tu turned around, his eyes closed.

Seeing him like this, Su Ce breathed a sigh of relief and put his hand in Tan Tu’s arm, “...I’m here.”

Immediately after, Tan Tu’s hand slowly grasped Su Ce’s hand then dragged along with his, pressing it against his waist. Compared with ordinary people, the touch on his waist was hotter like a soldering iron. Su Ce’s body froze and felt Tan Tu’s other hand is coming. He holds him and lifts him up.

Su Ce’s hand touched the edge of the barrel, “Tan Tu, let me in.”

Tan Tu did exactly what he said, he lifted him up until Su Ce’s feet made a sound of water while entering the barrel, then slowly put him down...

When it was finished, he was sweating as if he experienced a battle. Just now, his touch and scent were much clearer than usual that made him almost intolerable. He couldn’t bear it. He didn’t want to scare Ah Ce at all.

Su Ce also heaved a sigh of relief. The warm water fells good to surround the skin. The feeling of leaving Tan Tu’s body makes him comfortable.

Tan Tu asked, “Ah Ce, can I open my eyes now?”

“...Okay.”

Su Ce stood in the barrel. The water reaching through his shoulders.

Tan Tu sat cross-legged on the ground. He looked up to talk to him.

Water vapor blurred Su Ce’s face, but it could not obscure his serious tone. “Tan Tu, I think I have something to tell you about the future.”