A New Kitchen (Continued)

Jian Mo: "We need to build a new kitchen too."

Qing Kuo: "Let's wait until the cement dries and see the effect. If the effect is good, then we'll burn another batch of lime."

Jian Mo said happily, "Great! Burn more so we can exchange more with the tribe later."

Members of the tribe cannot freely take what they need from the tribe. Apart from the portion allocated collectively, anyone else who wants to take something from the tribe must exchange it for resources.

The tribe basically only charges its own cost when exchanging items with members of its own tribe. This exchange method is very cost-effective for the people in the tribe, and everyone tends to exchange items with members of their own tribe.

Jian Mo thought this model was pretty good; it could take care of the tribe members without fostering laziness, and it was relatively fair and convenient for internal tribe management.

This time, we're building a kitchen, and we might have to use a lot of different materials, but he doesn't have any objections.

After the cement wall was built, Qing Kuo put the tools back in the bucket. "Let's go back to the tribe first, and come back to check on it in a few days. Are you going to act alone today?"

Jian Mo: "Yes, we're going to pick some rather unusual wild vegetables."

Qing Kuo looked at Wu Jiong: "Is it the shredded vegetable from the cliff?"

Wu Jiong: "Jian Mo hasn't tried it before, let's take him to try it."

Qing Kuo smiled and said, "It's good to explore on your own more often."

Jian Mo nodded calmly, "Mm."

The homemade cement with added clay and slag did seem to work quite well; it set very quickly, and by the time Jian Mo and Wu Jiong checked on it the next day, it was almost completely set.

Jian Mo scratched at it with her fingers and found it to be much harder than lime mortar.

After the lime mortar dries, you can scrape off the small particles such as sand and gravel inside. However, cement is basically impossible to scrape off, and if you try to scrape it off, it will wear out your nails.

Just as Jian Mo felt it was almost dry, Wu Jiong touched it and said, "It's not completely dry yet; it needs to wait two more days."

Jian Mo: "It does seem a bit like that. Let's split into two groups, one group will try watering it, and the other group won't."

Wu Jiong: "Why?"

Jian Mo really didn't know that. He scratched his head and said, "I've seen people pour water on dried cement before. Let's compare and see if there's any difference between pouring water on it and not."

Qing Kuo, standing nearby, said, "Let's pour it. Anyway, this batch of cement isn't really going to be used for anything."

Jian Mo: "I think so too, then I'll water it."

They divided the cement products into two groups: one group was watered, and the other group was not.

A few days later, it was discovered that the cement product that had been watered was harder after it dried, and had fewer cracks.

It seems that cement really does need to be watered.

Jian Mo is basically certain that this is cement.

He led the tribe to try making several more cement-like products, and finally discovered that no matter what kind of material they used, such as slag, clay, or even pottery powder, they could combine it with lime powder to get a cement-like substance.

The best cement requires about 70% burnt powder and 30% lime powder, and both should be ground as finely as possible.

To do this, they almost ground sparks from the stone mill and mortar.

After several rounds of experiments, Jian Mo's hands were dry and peeling, and she was exhausted. "Making this thing is just too tiring."

Wu Jiong gently patted his back. "You weren't willing to let us come."

Jian Mo sighed, "We can't leave everything to you guys. Luckily, the cement is finally ready, so we can build the kitchen now."

Wu Jiong: "We'll start building it tomorrow."

Their house was large, with no one around it, and expansion was easy.

After discussing it, the two decided to extend the kitchen to the left side of the house.

Since the expansion is going to happen, Jian Mo might as well build a kitchen parallel to the length of the house, but it doesn't need to be as wide, about half the width will be enough.

They measured the appropriate area on the side of the house and then nailed wooden stakes to the designated location for building.

There are exactly four corners, one wooden stick for each corner, and then ropes are wrapped around the four corners to enclose them.

Once the enclosure was in place, the kitchen's appearance immediately became clear.

The remaining task was to clear away the debris on the ground, dig down the soil, and prepare to lay the foundation.

When the villagers learned that they were going to build a kitchen, they all came to help.

However, since spring had finally arrived, everyone had to go out hunting and gathering during the day, and could only come to help in the mornings and evenings.

Jian Mo and the others were in the same situation; they needed to go out during the day and only had time to clean the kitchen in the morning and evening.

She does a little bit every day, and the progress is visible, so Jian Mo isn't in a hurry.

That day, Jian Mo had just returned from a gathering trip with the main group when A Hu rushed up to them and said, "Jian Mo, someone from the Dianxin Tribe broke their leg and was just brought over. They're in the small clinic. You should go and see them quickly."

Jian Mo immediately handed the basket on her back to the others. "Which way to break it?"

A Hu: "The bones are showing."

Jian Mo: "That requires a minor surgery. I'll go home and get the equipment first."

The small clinic is often unattended, Jian Mo keeps most of her surgical instruments and medications at home.

The bone is exposed, so anesthesia and a scalpel are needed.

A Hu immediately said, "I'll transform into a beast and carry you there."

Jian Mo didn't stand on ceremony with him. "Thank you for your hard work."

A Hu transformed into a long-haired orange cat, gesturing for Jian Mo to climb onto his back. Once Jian Mo was seated, he sped off like the wind towards their home.

Jian Mo found the relevant equipment and medicine at home, and was then carried to the small clinic by the long-haired orange cat.

The people of the Dianxin Tribe were relieved to see Jian Mo appear and greeted him warmly, "Doctor Jian Mo."

Jian Mo nodded. "I'll take a look at the patient."

Everyone made way for him to see. Lying on the bed in the small clinic was a tall orc with a sallow complexion. In fact, beads of sweat were constantly seeping from his forehead, and his lips were dry and cracked.

The most serious injury was to his lower leg, which was visibly deformed, with the leg bone protruding from the flesh, covered in blood, flesh, and dried tissue fluid.