Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The New Kiln Is Complete

The summer sun blazed, and spring was in full bloom.

The rainy season hadn’t arrived yet, but the weather was getting hotter and drier.

Today was the final day of work on the kiln—installing doors and windows, cleaning up. Once the kiln dried out and aired, and the smell faded, they could move in any time.

With weather this good, Chang Xia figured they could move in five to seven days.

She chose five to seven days because she wanted to move in together with Nan Feng and Nuan Chun, and host a hotpot feast to invite the tribe to see the new kiln. Besides fulfilling her wish to give back to the tribe, it was also a chance to relax a bit before the rainy season.

“Nan Feng, when is the chief coming?” Nuan Chun craned her neck, looking toward Bai Lake in the distance. She’d already asked this question several times.

Shen Rong and the others installed the last wooden door, while Chang Xia wiped the dust off the doors and windows with a piece of animal hide.

In the twilight forest, a newly built courtyard-style kiln stood by Bai Lake, home of the Heluo tribe.

Under the dazzling sunlight, the pure yellow earth and the cool gray ironwood doors and windows complemented each other, weaving a dreamlike scene. It echoed the white lake in front, like a magical cave floating above the clouds, or a pearl embedded in the yellow earth forest.

It was so beautiful, it felt unreal.

Nan Feng ran excitedly from room to room in the kiln, exclaiming and squealing like a child.

Without turning around, Nan Feng waved her hand, “Don’t worry, the chief should be here soon.”

Last night, she’d gone back to the tribe to tell Gen that Chang Xia’s kiln would be finished today.

Right after that, they planned to start building a new kiln.

This was a signal: the tribe could come visit any time. After all, the rainy season was getting closer.

Chang Xia had said that building kilns in the rainy season was risky—they could collapse.

“Chang Xia, you’re amazing!”

“Chang Xia, kiln, kiln, kiln… I want to build a kiln too!”

After running around the kiln, Nan Feng grabbed Chang Xia’s hand and showered her with compliments. Her bright, handsome face was full of awe and excitement—she just wanted to sing Chang Xia’s praises to the skies.

If lying in bed for over a decade could make someone as smart as Chang Xia,

She could do it.

Chang Xia: (*^▽^*)

"Mm!"Chang Xia smiled, letting Nan Feng swing her hand back and forth. Seeing the usually steady and mature Nan Feng act so childishly made her very happy.

After all, no one is born mature and sensible—

"Once the clan leader comes to check out the cave dwelling, we’ll help Nuan Chun’s family build theirs this afternoon. Yours can start construction at the latest the day after tomorrow."She had already discussed it with Nan Feng: Nuan Chun’s family would go first.

Nuan Chun could give birth in as little as five or six days, or at most half a month.

Normally, she shouldn’t be this tired so close to her due date, but that’s just how it was. That’s also why Chang Xia hesitated last night when Chen Rong suggested she take a break from helping with the cave construction to research fruit powder with the others.

Nuan Chun’s situation was just too strange, and it worried everyone.

"Great, wonderful!"Nan Feng laughed, unable to hide her joy.

When Nuan Chun heard from Chang Xia that her family’s cave would soon be under construction, she couldn’t even bother to ask if Gen would come over. Instead, she pulled Chang Xia aside to ask all sorts of questions about building the cave.

Even though they’d talked about these things countless times, they never seemed to tire of it.

Helpless, Chang Xia looked off into the distance, silently asking Chen Rong for help.

Her palm-sized face was twisted in frustration, looking so adorably pitiful.

Seeing this, Chen Rong’s deep, reserved eyes softened into a charming smile. With the door installed, the cave dwelling was finally complete. After days of hard work, it was time to see the results. Looking at the simple yet grand cave, all the effort felt worthwhile.

"Chang Xia, the clan leader is here,"Chen Rong’s gentle voice came closer.

He stepped forward and gently took Chang Xia’s hand, rescuing her from Nan Feng and Nuan Chun.

"Nan Feng, Nuan Chun looks a bit pale. Why don’t you take her to sit down and rest for a bit? I’ll take Chang Xia to meet with the clan leader and talk about the cave."Uh, okay."Seeing the reluctant looks on Nan Feng and Nuan Chun’s faces,

Chang Xia let out a quiet sigh and wiped away imaginary sweat.

She never wanted to call Nan Feng steady and mature again!

"Chang Xia, this... cave is really beautiful."Gen was in a daze, staring at the cave, unable to snap out of it. Even Chang Xia’s rough sketch on that old piece of animal hide had been stunning and impressive—but a drawing is just a drawing.

Seeing the real thing in person—

The shock was indescribable.

"Chang Xia, Nan Feng wants to build a cave too, right?"Mu Qin asked gently.

She withdrew her amazed gaze and looked at Chang Xia with eager eyes. At this point, neither Gen nor Mu Qin needed any more excuses—they both wanted a cave dwelling.

Compared to the cave, animal dens were just too crude.

Mu Qin reached out and gently pushed open the ironwood door, walking into the main room.

It was clean and bright.

Even though the cave was empty,

Just standing inside filled you with a natural sense of comfort.

"Yes. This afternoon we’ll help Nuan Chun’s family build their cave. After that, it’ll be Nan Feng and Ya Dong’s turn. They both want to build near my cave by White Lake,"Chang Xia explained honestly.

The longing on Mu Qin’s face was almost tangible.

Chang Xia thought she would say something,

But in the end, Mu Qin stayed silent.

Gen shook his head slightly at Chang Xia, reached out to ruffle her hair, and said, "I’m the clan leader of the Heluo tribe. Even if I build a cave, I can’t do it here by White Lake."It sounded like an explanation, but also a kind of promise.

Sure enough, Mu Qin suddenly broke into a smile.

That moment

Left Chang Xia stunned, and then she understood.

Obviously,

Gen’s words weren’t for her or Chen Rong—they were for Mu Qin.

Realizing this, Chang Xia couldn’t help but envy the relationship between Gen and Mu Qin.

Gen understood Mu Qin, and Mu Qin understood Gen’s position.

That’s what it means to support each other through thick and thin!

Seeing the envy on Chang Xia’s face, Chen Rong, almost without thinking, reached out and gently took Chang Xia’s hand that was hanging by her side.

Softly, he squeezed it.

Feeling the warmth from his palm, Chang Xia turned and met Chen Rong’s gentle gaze.

For no reason at all, she slowly broke into a happy smile.

Then she squeezed his big hand back, her small hand in his, their palms connected by a gentle warmth, everything quietly growing between them without a word.

"Chang Xia, would you be willing to let the other tribe members come and take a look?"Gen asked.

Chang Xia nodded seriously and replied, "Of course. Animal dens just aren’t as safe as caves. If possible, I hope everyone in the tribe can live in a cave. I’ve checked the loess around the tribe—it’s perfect for building. And the best time to build caves is the warm autumn, right at the start of the cold season. But that’s also when the tribe needs to stockpile food..."Chang Xia calmly analyzed the pros and cons.

Gen and Mu Qin understood what she meant.

If you want to build caves, now is the best time. Once the rainy season starts, it won’t work. At other times, people are either too busy or it’s not suitable.

"Let me think about it..."Gen said seriously.

He fell into deep thought, while Mu Qin wandered around the cave, repeating Nan Feng’s earlier excitement.

"Clan leader, you don’t have to tell everyone to come see the cave right away. Once Nuan Chun and Nan Feng’s caves are finished, we’re planning to have a hotpot feast and invite everyone over."Chang Xia was confident that a few days would be enough for her to come up with a new way to use fruit powder.

Rice noodles—Chang Xia was determined to make them!

She swore!!!

"What’s a hotpot feast?"Gen looked confused. This kid Chang Xia was always coming up with new things. Why hadn’t Nan Feng mentioned it?

Chang Xia: o(*^＠^*)o Not my fault!

"A hotpot feast is like when you build a new animal den and invite your family to come eat there. It’s a way to get to know the new place and introduce it to everyone."After this explanation,

Gen understood.

He immediately agreed to Chang Xia’s suggestion.

Then he said he was going to find Mu Qin—but really, he just wanted to look around the cave himself. Once the important things were said, he quickly left Chang Xia behind and slipped away.

The long summer has now fallen out of favor with him.

The cave dwellings are his new favorite.