The skinning and butchering went on until midnight, yet the tribespeople had stayed up until their eyes were red without any thought of resting. They were truly delighted—having grown up, none of them had ever seen so much meat. In the end, with no other choice, Luo Chong could only force them to rest. The meat was in the yard; it was not going to run away. What was the rush?
After arranging for several tribespeople who had already rested to take turns standing watch, Luo Chong went to sleep as well. He had not rested for two nights and a day, and he really could not hold on any longer.
At first light the next day, the tribespeople, who had rested for only half a night, scrambled up full of energy. Luo Chong was helpless and could only assign them new tasks.
First, he had Lame take Big Mouth and Monkey to fire up the furnace and smelt copper, making forty-two Nose Rings first. Then he had the men dig two small pools, line them with Blue Bricks, and pour in lye water to tan the hides. Cowhide, pigskin, deerskin, horse-antelope hide, and wolf pelts—more than two hundred in total—were divided into fur-on hides and leather hides, then soaked separately in the two pools.
The rest continued breaking down the meat. Dashu led several people in sorting the horns and Beef Sinew, while Luo Chong called over the three adult men from the former Baldy Tribe.
"Where did the Salt Stones you used to trade with us come from? The salt we eat now, that is."
"Chieftain, the Salt Stones are in our cave, but I have never seen them," one of the men answered.
"Never seen them? Didn't you say they were in the cave? You live there