The Infrastructure’s Guide ☆ 20

Meng Sheng followed Zhong Kui into the Zhong family's cave. She still lived with her parents. When Zhong Yang became an adult, he moved to a separate cave, although he usually ate and drank in his family's cave.

The Chief's cave was more than double the size of his residence and was in the finest tribal region. Inside brimmed with local trinkets and had a distinct scent of smoke. Years of blazing fire had blackened the walls and ceiling.

The best part about the cave was a massive stone table next to the pot that was so wide and flat that it had to be fashioned of natural stone.

On the table, there were some berries and a huge shell with water.

Zhong Kui appeared to detect his attention and remarked, "Those shells were traded at the market; the next fair is coming up; you may go and swap them for something."

Meng Sheng nodded, "Alright."

Not only did he want these utensils, but also someone to look after them.

"The water in the stone pot is already boiling. Where is the meat? I'll show you how to simmer it with berries."

Zhong Kui smiled at this, "Yes, wait a minute, I'll go grab it."

Shuang, the chief's mate, entered the cave. "The last time he ate cooked food in your cave, he kept telling us how amazing it was and requested us to cook it for him."

"It's great that he enjoys it."

Zhong Kui soon brought out beef. Zhong Yang seemed to have told them which meat he stewed last time. The girl set the meat down and returned to get more. After all, the Zhong family was large, and Zhong Yang alone was a huge eater, unlike Meng Sheng, whose participation in the meal would have little effect on the amount of food.

Meng Sheng cut the beef into large chunks with a thinly sharpened stone tool, explaining to the two females that when the meat was in such huge chunks, it should be smashed before adding into the pot to make it taste better.

"Do you have salt?"

Zhong Kui nodded: "Yes, there is still quite a bit of it. Every time Ah Yang went to the fair, he brought back some."

Meng Sheng ground up two large pieces of salt stone and placed them in the pot.

"I would never have imagined you knew how to cook if you hadn't shown me." Zhong Kui said softly.

Meng Sheng laughed: "Living alone without much contact with others gave me a lot of time to try out new things."

"No wonder I haven't seen you much before."

As they chatted, they heard a thump outside the cave and assumed Zhong Yang had returned.

"It smells fantastic! I've been wanting to smell this for a long time! Did you make it yourself, Meng Sheng?"

Meng Sheng chuckled as he observed the male whose eyes were about to fall into the pot.

"I taught Zhong Kui and Aunt Shuang the technique, so if you want to eat it in the future, they can prepare it for you."

"Perfect!" Zhong Yang put his arm around Meng Sheng's shoulders.

When the Zhong family was having dinner together in the evening, Zhong Xin discussed with the two of them that they wanted to share only one of the three animals they had hunted this time, and save the rest for the winter, because it was still a good hunting season, and the weaker groups could still hunt some small animals. During the winter season, males will gave a harder time hunting for stockpiles.

Zhong Yang divided food while praising Meng Sheng's cooking, but also added to the conversation: "But it's still a long way till winter, and summer hasn't ended yet."

Storage was a major issue. Even if they gather enough food, some of it may spoil, resulting in the death of some of the tribe's weaker members due to starvation.

"Storage is not an issue, but it will need some work." Meng Sheng set the shell bowl down and remarked.

Zhong Xin's eyes lit up: "Do you have a solution, Meng Sheng?"

"Yes, but a lot of salt is required."

Meng Sheng explained to Zhong Xin how to smoke the meat.

Zhong Xin wondered, "Is salt really that versatile?"

"Of course."

Zhong Yang said happily, "Then we may cure and smoke the meat with all the salt we have in the cave."

"Then let's try what Meng Sheng said; when the time comes, I'll gather the help of a few strong males to split and smoke the animal meat before storing it in the collective storage cave."

After dinner at the Zhong family cave, Meng Sheng went back. It was now dark, and it was his first time walking back at night; he wasn't afraid of anything, but the night road in the primeval forest was truly dark in every sense of the word.

When he returned to the cave, he sat down by the fire and looked around. Perhaps influenced by Zhong Yang's cave, he also wanted to decorate his cave.

Qiu Juan shot him a couple of birds a few days ago. He had roasted the meat, but kept the feathers of the flower bird. He selected some long, gorgeous feathers and used them to adorn his sleeping area.

Even though there were only two days till the food-sharing gathering, he didn't want to go out hunting anymore. He rather wanted to make something. Maybe a basket? Every time he went out hunting, it seemed like he couldn't carry all the fruits and plants he discovered along the way.

So he went out the next day in search of bamboo.

He knew where he could get bamboo for water canisters, but it was too large and brittle. He needs greener ones that could still bend and were ideal for craftsmanship.

When he walked out, he didn't plan ahead of time where he was going. He simply wandered around aimlessly, with a dog's tail grass in his mouth, looking every bit leisurely and idle.

As he walked, he came to the wide-area where Qiu Juan brought him hunting before. He gazed around and noticed additional tribesmen on hunt them days before.

"Don't run, don't run!" From behind him, a little voice yelled.

When he looked around, he saw a speedy badger rushing to pass him. He swiftly pinched it against the ground.

The badger was just chased by a little kid who had witnessed his prey being seized by someone else, and his black eyes were now fixed on Meng Sheng.

Guin wanted to tell the male in front of him that this was his favorite prey, but as he lifted his head, he saw how tall the other tribesman was and didn't dare to say anything rash.

Meng Sheng looked at the scrawny boy in front of him: "Do you know who I am?"

"What if I do, what if I don't?"

"You've got a sharp tongue." Meng Sheng raised his eyebrows, "I'll give you the badger if you tell me my name."

"Really?" the child inquired, suspiciously.

"Of course."

"Your name is Meng Sheng!"

Meng Sheng blinked, recalling that this was the first time he had seen the kid. "You actually know me?"

"I saw you at the food sharing, and the chief stated you were powerful male, so I cheered for you." As he spoke, the boy's eyes burned. "When I grow up, I want to be a strong male too!"

Meng Sheng felt that this skinny kid had worth and was going to ask him his name when the little boy reached out and grabbed the badger from his grasp and ran away.

"Eh! Whose son are you?"

The little boy quickly ran away, paying no heed to him.

"His name is Guin, and he is the only son of a single male." A gentle voice answered his question.

When Meng Sheng turned around, he saw Zhong Kui.

"That's how it is. He seems like a sweet kid."

Zhong Kui threw a pitying glance at the departing figure before smiling at Meng Sheng. "Are you out hunting?"

"No, I'd want to find out where there are bamboos and chop some."

"Then you're on the wrong track; the spot with the bamboos isn't this way."

Meng Sheng pointed to the east: "You're referring to the large bamboos over there? I'm not searching for large bamboos; rather, I'm seeking for some small ones."

"The smaller ones are also over there, but a little further in. I can take you there since I have nothing else to do.

It was good to have someone to lead the way, so Meng Sheng said, "That's great, I'll have to trouble you."

"No, I'll in return ask you to arrive early tomorrow to help cook the meat for the weak."

"Alright, I'll be there early."

Zhong Kui was the tribe's legendary beauty and the chief's daughter, so she had many suitors; even the two brothers of the Tong family, who were usually the most arrogant, were respectful to her. She has never shown any interest in any male, but today, with Meng Sheng, she has piqued the interest of numerous hunters.

"Yuck! This Meng Sheng is so shameless! How dare he go hunting with Kui?"

"If you're envious, Tang Tu, you may also go by putting on a bashful face."

He sneered. "I saw him hunting with Qiu Juan the other day, and then he stated he wanted to have sex with my sister, and now he's hooking up with Kui! Such an impulsive male, I curse him for never finding a mate in his life."

"What are you on about?" Kong Jia overheard and approached.

Tang Yu said, "You're still hunting here? Don't you need to go keep an eye on your Qiu Juan...... Oh, my, I just heard from my father that you and Qiu Juan are ending your relationship."

Some of the males in Tang Yu's group burst out laughing. Kong Jia was generally so restrained and flawless that it was difficult to find an opportunity to disturb him.

"Hahahahaha, that's too bad."

"Wait, doesn't it indicate that they didn't split, but in fact, he had his partner snatched away by Meng Sheng?"

"Shut up! It's not true." Kong Jia snarled back.

The fact that both Qiu Juan and Tang Tong were associated with Meng Sheng made it difficult for him to look good in other male eyes.

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