Chapter 18

In the life of Orcs in Kanda, the animal bones are an indispensable daily necessities.

This continent, in addition to the Orcs, there are also countless fierce creatures who compete with the Orcs for living resources. They regarded the Orcs as their prey, the same as the Orcs.

Therefore, most of them gathered in tribes.

The meat of the animals are the staple food for Orcs. The fur can be peeled off to make clothes, tents, carpets, bedding, and etc.. But the bones...are more widely used. Or more precisely, the oil from the bones.

As far as Su Ce found, the bones of different beasts seem to have different uses. For example, this kind of flavoring is used when cooking meat because it’s used at every meal and is the most common one, the "Black-backed Wild Boar". It’s the bones that are more oily and flammable that are ignited before each life. When brushing the fur, it’s a kind of bone oil of antelope that’s hard to catch.

In an Orcs home, there will be a deep cave similar to a cellar. Inside are all kinds of bones piled up like a mountain, all of which are hunted by the male. While the bones in the female’s house are sold by their own handicrafts, planted vegetables or presented by the pursuer. After having a partner, they will integrate their bones with the male’s storage.

The caves where the bones are placed are quite close, so Tan Tu can easily take them out.

While waiting for the water to boil, Su Ce deliberately went to see the "cellar" that belongs to Tan Tu. Inside holds all the storage of Tan Tu, there were several hills piled with grotesque bones of various colors. There were also scattered bone fragments, which made it almost impossible for people to get off their feet. This so-called cave...is really deep.

Su Ce stood in front of the entrance and glanced down, feeling a little dizzy.

“...Tan Tu, add a wooden ladder here too.”

Tan Tu jumped down, grabbed a few black bones and smiled brightly, “Okay!”

Reminded by Su Ce, Tan Tu brushed a few bones well before putting them back into the pot that had been cleaned and boiled again. It didn’t take long before a faint scent of oil came.

Then put the meat into the pot and add salty and spicy seasonings. Because the meat is thicker and harder, it’ll take longer to cook. After the water is boiled again, put the vegetables in. Lastly, cover the pot.

Finally after doing this, Su Ce heaved a sigh of relief. Looking back, he saw Tan Tu looking at him with twinkling eyes. This look suddenly reminded him of the golden lion he met when he first came to this world...

Speaking of that, the lion and Tan Tu should be one, but he doesn’t know why they can’t be combine.

No stirring is required at this time.

Su Ce thought and walked to the man sitting on the ground, “Tan Tu, how is it timed here?”

Observing the sun alone can only work on sunny days. If the sky is covered with clouds, it’ll be very troublesome to do things. However, our country has equipment that can roughly divide time in very old time. I don’t know if there will be the same here.

Tan Tu didn’t think as much as Su Ce did. He replied straightforwardly, “Use 'Dou'.”

“...Dou?” Su Ce asked, “What’s that?”

Tan Tu smiled. His figure disappeared in a flash, then rushed back quickly. He was carrying a funnel-shaped thing in his hand.

It is divided into two parts with small holes in the middle. The upper part is filled with sand-like particles. Because they are picked up vertically, those particles continuously falls down into the lower part. When Tan Tu is holding it in his hand, he didn’t turn it upside down.

Su Ce recognized this thing. In the distant ancient Europe, such a timer appeared. It’s called an "hourglass". Its appearance was similar to a square, its width gradually narrowed. There was a gap about the same thickness as the needle tip. When the sand drained out, it was the end of a period of time.

“This is the Dou?”

Tan Tu nodded, “Yes, the time is divided by the grid above.”

Su Ce held up the "Dou" in a proper position, which was a somewhat difficult due to its weigh. He reluctantly placed it in front of his eyes and observed six marks on it.

He heard Tan Tu say, “Every morning, let the Dou start to move. After each grid, eat the first to third meal. Then the Dou will stop.”

Su Ce understood that if calculated from the Earth, the work of this funnel lasts from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm., which is exactly a day time.

As the two talked, the meaty aroma in the pot began to permeate. The water vapor boiled up, the lid of the pot was lifting. Su Ce quickly went to open the lid. He pried it with a thin wooden stick. Otherwise, he would be scalded by the boiling water with his head down, even if he could open it with his own strength.

This time, he began to learn to stir like Tan Tu. And as he thought, it was really very laborious.

Tan Tu wanted to come up and help, but he refused.

The contents in the pot gradually spread out, the meat and vegetables floated on the water, feeling beautiful in color. Su Ce added pepper-like seasoning, scooped up a little soup with a wooden spoon, tasted it, and added some spicy flavor. Then cook slowly and continuously.

Su Ce looked at the scale on the hourglass and at the amount of fire under the pot. With a spectrum in his heart, he stood up and walked outside.

When Tan Tu saw this, he hurriedly followed him, “Ah Ce, wait, I’ll help you!”

Su Ce didn’t refuse Tan Tu’s attentiveness this time. He scooped out the clear water in the outer barrel and rinsed the bowls and chopsticks. At the same time, he said to Tan Tu, “In the future, before using these dishes, you should rinse them first.”

Tan Tu nodded incessantly. He thought it was a bit troublesome, but compared with Ah Ce, it’s not that important...

The two men prepared to fill the pot. But Tan Tu suddenly moved his ears and paused.

Su Ce looked up, “...What’s the matter?”

Tan Tu wailed, “Someone is coming...”

If someone comes, why is his expression suddenly so ugly... Is it an unwanted person? If it’s an enemy...it should not be in the tribe.

“Hi! Tan Tu!” As he thought about it, a familiar voice came in.

Su Ce was still identifying, when Tan Tu jumped out, “How come you are here!” He looked a little grumpy, but his voice was not that loud.

The previous voice said, “We are here to see the new member, not to see you... Besides, you aren’t partners yet. Can’t we come and play with brother Ah Ce?”

Another voice with similar timbre said in a soft to timid tone, “We...Let’s see...”

“Ah, really!“ Tan Tu seemed helpless. “I know. You guys obediently wait here, I’ll call Ah Ce over.”

Su Ce saw Tan Tu come in again and looked at him a little doubtfully. He doesn’t remember any acquaintances here...

Tan Tu shrugged, “Ah Ce, do you remember the female twins we met outside the tribe?”

So it’s them. Su Ce remembered and nodded.

Tan Tu weakly said, “They said they wanted to play with you...”

Su Ce froze. He was as boring as ever since he was young. No one ever wanted to play with him.

Tan Tu carefully looked at Su Ce’s expression, “Ah Ce, if you don’t like them, I can take them away. I’ll just send them back to their parents.”

Su Ce shook his head, “It doesn’t matter.”

Tan Tu was unsure of his sweetheart’s true feelings, “Ah Ce, although they’re indeed precious females in the tribe, and the males need to protect and humble them, but for every male, they have their own most precious person.”

Su Ce faintly guessed Tan Tu’s words.

Sure enough, Tan Tu smiled sillily and continued, “For me, you’re the most precious one. So nothing is more important than you.”

Su Ce knew Tan Tu’s words aren’t lies, because he shows this to him every minute of these days together.

Even though Su Ce did have misgivings, he had always trusted him—he had never doubted his intentions.

But this frankness still made him a little overwhelmed.

Su Ce turned his back and wiped his hands, “...No, Tan Tu,” Then turned around and looked as usual, “I don’t feel bad about them.”

Tan Tu finally saw that Su Ce was indeed not unhappy, so he laughed, “That’s good. Ah Ce, go quickly. Don’t let them wait for long.”

Su Ce nodded. Before he past the door, he turned back again, “...Tan Tu,”

Tan Tu, “Ah?”

“Let them eat here for dinner.” Su Ce moved up his mouth slightly, “Please wash two more bowls and chopsticks.” Then he turned and went out. While Tan Tu was transfixed by his sweetheart’s sweet smile.