Chapter 498, Firearm Alternatives

Translator: Silavin

 

“Shaman, that barbecue shop is incredibly popular,” Yu Ying remarked in surprise.

 

Although Yu Ying also found the barbecued meat quite delicious, she had not expected it to become so popular so quickly. It was worth noting that the small shop had people queuing outside its door, with the interior already full and a continuous stream of people still waiting in line.

 

What was even more unexpected was that people were willing to offer goods or even additional labour in exchange for this food.

 

Because they distributed food after work each day, she had not anticipated that people would still want to eat barbecue despite already having food.

 

“Being popular is good; this way we can attract more people to our Flame Dragon Tribe,” Su Bai said calmly.

 

This was precisely the effect he wanted. Only by having delicious food and accommodations within the Tribe could they continuously attract more people.

 

Although it would not be very likely before the end of the snow season, they could begin expanding the Tribe’s population in the new year.

 

“Shaman, but if this continues, won’t we be at a disadvantage?” Yu Ying asked curiously.

 

Yu Ying felt that those people were merely bringing items to exchange, or offering to do more work.

 

But those items were not particularly useful to Su Bai, as he already possessed things far superior to theirs.

 

As for labour, their daily working hours were already quite saturated. How would they have extra time to work?

 

“You think they don’t have additional time to work, so essentially we’re giving them free food. Right?” Su Bai asked with a smile.

 

How could he not know what Yu Ying was thinking? He had considered this long ago.

 

As the Shaman of a Tribe, he certainly would not engage in a loss-making venture, nor would he give food to those people for nothing. After all, the rules of the Flame Dragon Tribe were inviolable: only those who worked would have food to eat.

 

“Shaman, since you already know this, why give them food?” Yu Ying asked, tilting her head.

 

“Although their daytime working hours are completely full, that doesn’t mean they’re busy in the evening,” Su Bai said with a smile.

 

Their work typically lasted from when they woke up in the morning until dinnertime. Generally, they had nothing to do after dinner.

 

This would be the perfect time to have them do other tasks. They would not need to work too long in the evening; four hours would be sufficient.

 

“But Shaman, once evening comes, it gets dark. How can they work?” Yu Ying asked, puzzled.

 

“There are many jobs that can be done in the evening; work isn’t limited to daylight hours,” Su Bai said softly.

 

“Shaman, what can be done at night? Have them continue building houses?” Yu Ying asked curiously.

 

“No, they can do handicraft work in the evening. Those tasks are not difficult, just like during the rainy season, making winnowing baskets and wooden baskets. Those items are consumables, being that they will eventually break and need to be replaced, so it’s good to make more in preparation.” Su Bai explained.

 

People from the Tribe often took these items into the forest to gather mushrooms or berries. Since they were made from vines or small wood pieces, they wore out quite quickly.

 

“I see. This way we don’t need to distribute extra food to them.” Yu Ying also thought this was a good idea.

 

“Once the snow season arrives, many people in the Tribe won’t be able to work, right? At that time, we would also need to give them a different job, one in which they can still do while it snows.” Su Bai continued.

 

“What can be done during the snow season?” Yu Ying asked, puzzled.

 

Because when the snow season came, it was the time of closures due to the heavy snow, with everywhere covered in vast whiteness.

 

How could one work in such an environment? The farmland would certainly be inaccessible, building houses would be even more impossible, and they could not enter the forest. So, what else could be done?

 

“During the snow season, won’t snow cover all the roads in the Tribe? And won’t snow accumulate on the roofs of houses?” Su Bai asked in return.

 

“Yes, Shaman, that’s why we can’t work,” Yu Ying nodded innocently.

 

“At that time, we can have the Tribe’s people clear all the snow from the roads and clean the snow from the rooftops.” Su Bai said.

 

He did not want the entire Tribe to enter ‘hibernation’ once the snow season arrived. Even with the snow season’s arrival, the ‘farming plan’ would still need to be implemented as usual. Although they could not build houses or roads as they normally would.

 

But there were still many things that could be done, such as in the workshops and greenhouses. Moreover, fishing in the river would still be possible during the snow season; they would just need to dig a hole in the frozen river surface.

 

In short, the snow season would not be an obstacle preventing the Flame Dragon Tribe from moving forward. On the contrary, it would allow the Tribe to rest and reorganise.

 

“Shaman, what else can be done during the snow season?” Yu Ying became curious seeing his confident expression.

 

“There will still be many things to do when the time comes. You’ll know when the snow season arrives,” Su Bai said with a slight smile.

 

He had been planning many things recently, not just one or two items, but an extensive plan. However, this plan still needed further refinement.

 

So, he was not willing to speak of it lightly before it was properly refined. After all, he could not let others have excessive expectations, as the disappointment would be greater if it failed.

 

“I understand. I wonder if Ah’Hua and the others can find the iron ore?” Yu Ying began to worry.

 

The sudden mention of the snow season brought with it a sense of danger and urgency.

 

Yu Ying had previously witnessed how the Tribe confronted those frenzied Ferocious Beasts. That scene was still quite bloody and vivid; it would be impossible not to worry now.

 

Moreover, she had seen the Tribe’s wooden walls being pushed down by two Ferocious Beasts, and some Totem Warriors had not even reacted before dying under their claws.

 

“They’ve been searching for iron ore these past few days. They should have some news, more or less,” Su Bai comforted.

 

He did not want Yu Ying to worry too much, so he could only offer these words of comfort.

 

However, he also began to feel nervous inside, thinking that if they could not find iron ore, they would definitely need to find alternative weapons.

 

“Shaman, apart from making firearms, do we have any other options?” Yu Ying asked curiously.

 

“Besides manufacturing firearms, we can also produce gunpowder.” Su Bai suddenly said.

 

This was something he had been pondering for a while. If they could produce gunpowder here, it could temporarily substitute for firearms.