Chapter 1045, A Visual Feast

Translator: Silavin

 

He blinked his blue eyes and said with a cheerful smile, “Shaman, having this rain shelter really is very convenient.”

 

As the manager of the farmland, it was only natural that he spent most of his time there.

 

The High Tower standing at the centre of the farmland was where he lived, and from that vantage point the surrounding scenery spread out in its entirety before him, making it undeniably the most manageable position of all.

 

“What does this place look like during the rainy season?” Su Bai asked.

 

He felt a touch of regret. He ought to have made time to come and see it during the rainy season, so that he might have judged for himself just how effective the rain shelter truly was.

 

“In response to the Shaman, when the rains came during the rainy season, the rain shelter perfectly redirected all the rainwater to other areas without a single leak anywhere, so there was no waterlogging on the farmland surface.”

 

He waved his arms with great enthusiasm. “Because the farmland’s drainage measures were properly in place, any water that flowed in from elsewhere was channelled straight out, preventing any accumulation of water…”

 

The more he spoke, the happier he became, the more animated he grew. Had it been possible to recreate the scene on the spot, he would have leapt at the chance.

 

“It seems the rain shelter is truly useful. So, during the rainy season, how did the farmland crops grow?” Su Bai asked.

 

“The corn and rice grew very quickly. As the Shaman said, they both enjoy plenty of water, so they are rather well-suited to the rainy season, though their growth speed was still somewhat limited,” He explained.

 

The corn planted during the rainy season had come entirely from the Giant Bear Tribe.

 

Back then, they had brought corn seeds to exchange for ceramics. Although the seeds were few at the time, Su Bai had the Growth Acceleration Skill, and now many seeds had been stockpiled.

 

The rice had been drawn from the System, and when it first appeared, it had made Su Bai genuinely overjoyed.

 

Because with this, the Tribe would no longer rely solely on wheat. Rice was the grain he was most accustomed to eating.

 

Plump, full grains of rice cooked into a meal or simmered into porridge, no matter how it was prepared, it produced a flavour that was impossible to forget.

 

“It does not matter. So long as the farmland is not left empty during the rainy season, a slower growth rate is not an issue,” Su Bai said calmly.

 

This, too, had fallen within the range of his expectations. When rain falls, the soil becomes extremely wet, which makes it difficult for most crops to thrive.

 

Rice fared well under such conditions, given its longstanding affinity for water, but corn was another matter entirely.

 

And so, during the rainy season, the centre of the farmland was planted with corn while the surrounding area was given over entirely to rice. The central ground was also raised slightly higher, all in order to keep the soil as dry as possible.

 

“Yes, Shaman. I shall continue to manage the farmland well,” He responded with immediate and respectful courtesy.

 

Though he had received no direct praise, merely seeing that the Shaman appeared to be in good spirits was enough to make him glad.

 

“By the way, during the rainy season, was the farmland often disturbed by Ferocious Beasts or wild beasts?” Su Bai asked.

 

He had never heard anyone mention this aspect of things before, so since he was here, he may as well ask about it all at once.

 

Though he also understood why these matters had never reached his ears. Many things were handled directly by Yan Jiao.

 

As Chieftain, it was natural for him to manage a great number of affairs himself, so that the more straightforward matters would not all need to be escalated to the Yong’an Building.

 

This, too, was a right Su Bai had conferred upon Yan Jiao, namely the authority to not report every single matter to him.

 

“Very rarely. Because among the Ferocious Beasts and wild beasts anticipated to appear, most prefer areas with greater rainfall. Since the farmland has a rain shelter, the rainfall here may not be as abundant as elsewhere, so fewer Ferocious Beasts come near to this place.”

 

He thought carefully back over the entire rainy season. “And even when they did come, they were manageable enough and were dealt with quickly, without affecting the farmland in the slightest.”

 

The farmland was now fenced in on all sides with wooden palisades. Though these were little more than an ornament where Ferocious Beasts were concerned, they at least served as a boundary, and gave the whole place a tidier appearance.

 

They also afforded the managers enough time to respond, and the farmland was not home to him alone.

 

Some of the Tribe’s Warrior Trainees were also stationed there, their purpose being to guard the farmland.

 

Beyond the threat of Ferocious Beasts, people from other Tribes also had to be guarded against. People of the Primitive Era were capable of anything.

 

“That is good to hear. I had been worried you would not be able to cope. Things will gradually improve. The number of people allocated to you will only grow, and that will make defending the farmland easier.”

 

Su Bai clasped his hands behind his back and began walking around the perimeter of the farmland, a desire to carry out further improvements already taking shape in his mind.

 

“Thank you, Shaman.” He replied happily, then fell in behind him with great deference.

 

Yu Ying, seeing how well the farmland was being defended and how a new round of crop planting was now being organised, felt her spirits lift.

 

The crops currently in the possession of the Flame Dragon Tribe were corn, rice, and wheat, as well as potatoes, sweet potatoes, chillies, and cabbage, among others.

 

All of these crops needed to be planted evenly across the farmland, and managing them all was no simple matter.

 

“Shaman, just over there is the farmland currently being cleared. Once it is ready, we shall have two plots of farmland,” Yu Ying said, stepping carefully along the narrow path between the fields.

 

“Yeah. One plot of farmland is already enough to feed everyone in our Tribe. With a second plot, we shall have it as a surplus, and we can take that to the Central Market for trade.” Su Bai said with a satisfied nod.

 

The current state of the Tribe was as follows. The main gate of the Tribe was under construction, positioned near the great river.

 

To the rear lay the forest, and a short distance into the forest on the left-hand side was the farmland already under cultivation, with the second plot currently being cleared lying parallel on the right.

 

Around all of this, using these landmarks as a centre point, the construction of a perimeter wall was now underway, which would eventually form a complete enclosure.

 

From the rear gate of the Tribe, a cement road had already been laid all the way to the existing farmland, so Tribe members travelling to the fields could go directly by carriage.

 

“Shaman, will the second farmland also need a rain shelter?” Yu Ying asked curiously.

 

“Of course. I have come today precisely to take care of both shelters at once.” Su Bai nodded.

 

“Wow, that is going to look amazing.” Yu Ying exclaimed.

 

“Ha ha ha ha… it may well become one of our Tribe’s landmarks.” Su Bai said with a quiet smile.

 

Just imagine it. Two enormous mushroom-cloud-like formations rising up from the middle of the forest, with crops growing beneath them. Could anything be more striking?

 

“It certainly will,” Yu Ying said with complete conviction.

 

Su Bai exchanged a few more words with Yu Ying before stepping to one side and beginning to use the Growth Acceleration Skill.

 

The process unfolded exactly as before. The trees on all sides began to put forth new branches, which then immediately began to interlock and weave together.

 

This was entirely the plants acting of their own accord, and simply watching it was a visual feast in itself.