Seeing Eric's calico-cat face, Max couldn't help but chuckle, raising a hand to wipe his face for him.
Eric tilted his head up, letting him wipe away the last smudge of mud. But right after, Max keenly sensed someone watching him and his sharp gaze immediately swept over.
It was that strange Dwarf again, looking at him with an odd expression. Max couldn't help but frown.
Eric followed his gaze and saw Luban standing not far away. His own eyes lit up.
Perfect timing!
He enthusiastically waved him over: "Luban, could you help me modify this large wooden barrel into a pushcart? Using it as a barrel is too strenuous."
Once it was a pushcart, it would be much less effort for Max to haul things for him later.
"Sure thing, a small matter!" Luban replied with a laugh, his large beard hiding his embarrassed expression.
The wooden barrel was still full of limestone; it had to be emptied before it could be modified.
Just as Eric was about to roll up his sleeves and carry it, he was lifted by the collar by Max and placed to one side. He single-handedly hoisted the entire barrel himself and asked:
"Where should I put this?"
Eric pointed to an empty patch of ground, and Max easily dumped all the limestone there. After emptying it, he intended to leave immediately. The Dwarf's gaze was making him very uncomfortable.
Eric quickly ran up and clung to his arm, motioning for him to bend down, then whispered mysteriously in Max's ear:
"I'll come find you after I'm done here. I've prepared a big surprise for you."
Max's ear twitched unnaturally. He looked at the cub's expectant eyes, gave a nod, and then quickly departed.
Thinking of the pure white refined salt he had made, Eric was secretly smug. He would definitely give Thomas and Luci a good shock.
At the same time, on his way back to his tent to get his tools, Luban really couldn't resist stopping a Snow Wolf to ask:
"You Snow Wolves... is it okay for mates to be of the same gender?"
Tang, who he had stopped, said blankly: "Of course. We don't have as many rules as humans do."
Seeing the direction Luban had just come from, Tang smiled knowingly.
"Did you see Eric and Max? Is Eric chasing after Max again? Max used to really dislike it. I saw he was busy firing bricks with you guys these past few days, so I thought he had given up."
With that, Tang went about his own business, leaving Luban petrified on the spot.
Dislike? You people call that dislike? And what's more, Eric is still just a cub!
Luban suffered a major blow and staggered away, as if in a trance, to get his tools and modify the wooden barrel. This feeling was probably similar to a modern person suddenly seeing a grown man betrothed to a child bride who also happened to be a boy.
He didn't understand, but he dared not disrespect it.
After a struggle, Eric finally figured out the skill of pottery. He molded several large ceramic bowls and plates and even tried making a ceramic jar. Although his whole body was once again as filthy as a mud man, looking at the successfully formed pottery molds filled him with a great sense of accomplishment.
Finishing his work, he waved goodbye to the Dwarves, went home to get the refined salt, and carried Leo and the bamboo tube towards Max's house.
At this time, Max's family of three were all at home. Thomas and Luci were quite surprised to see him. Max looked at the bamboo tube in Eric's arms, the corners of his lips curling up in a barely perceptible smile.
"Is this the surprise you were talking about?"
Eric presented the bamboo tube as if it were a treasure and stuffed it into Max's arms: "Ta-da! Guess what this is?"
He raised his face smugly. Max couldn't resist pinching it, then immediately pulled his hand back as if he'd been burned.
Luci secretly nudged Thomas with her elbow, signaling for him to look. Thomas turned his head and couldn't help but blush.
These two kids, there are still adults here!
He put on a stern face, and just as he was about to interrupt them, Max had already used his finger to taste the white powder in the bamboo tube. His expression changed instantly, and he walked over with the tube.
Thomas took it dazedly and also dipped a finger in to taste it. In an instant, he was as if struck by a powerful bolt of lightning magic, frozen on the spot. Puzzled, Luci also tasted it.
She looked at her husband in utter shock: "My goodness, is this refined salt!"
Thomas regained his composure and looked at Eric solemnly, asking: "Where did this come from, Eric?"
Eric was a little unsettled by the three's reaction. He hadn't expected salt to be so important.
"I... I refined it myself, using coarse salt..."
The bamboo tube in Thomas's arms nearly fell; he quickly hugged it tightly. He suspected his ears were playing tricks on him.
"What? You refined it yourself?"
Eric nodded: "Not just coarse salt. If we were at the seaside, we could also use seawater directly."
One wave had not yet subsided when another arrived. The three of them had not yet digested the last piece of information when they were struck by Eric's words again.
"Seawater can also be made into refined salt?" Luci's eyes were about to pop out.
Max looked at Eric seriously: "This matter is extremely important. Can your method really be used to refine seawater into salt? Who else knows about this?"
Considering that the beastmen were completely dependent on trading with humans for their salt, Eric wasn't angered by their questioning.
He knew this matter was very important, so he quickly said:
"Besides Leo, no one knows that I can refine salt."
Max looked at Eric with approval: "That's the only way to ensure your safety. In this matter, even the Dwarves cannot be guaranteed to be completely trustworthy."
"So much refined salt."
Thomas feeling fully turned the bamboo tube over and over in his hands, his voice full of amazement.
"If we were to trade this with human merchant caravans, I'm afraid all the furs of our entire tribe wouldn't be enough."
Luci looked at Eric with pride, as if she were looking at her own son. She really hadn't been mistaken about him. This child, after that period of troublemaking, was truly becoming more and more sensible. She had thought more than once that if Eric's parents were still alive, they would be incredibly happy.
"But what if the other tribes or the Golden Kingdom find out?" Thinking of something, she said worriedly.
The Elves had always been arrogant and occupied rich territories, so they probably wouldn't start a war over a method for making salt. But other races were not so certain, especially the Golden Kingdom. If they found out, they would definitely come to seize it.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly grew heavy. Eric was also startled. Damn it, he had only thought about development and had completely forgotten that this could bring disaster upon them.
While everyone was silent, Max spoke up, his voice calm and decisive:
"In the winter, we have to go trade for food with the Ox-Head tribe. At that time, when we are close to their settlement, we will split into two teams. I will lead Eric to the coast. Bringing back salt after that won't arouse suspicion."
Thomas and Luci thought for a moment and found that this was indeed feasible: "Then I will lead them to the Ox-Head tribe's settlement. We will wait for you there."
Thomas made the decision.
Seeing that everyone had a plan, Eric also breathed a sigh of relief. Feeling that it was inconvenient for him to stay, he decided to take Leo home first.
Seeing he was about to leave, Luci quickly placed the bamboo tube of refined salt from Thomas's arms into Eric's, telling him to take it back. Fearing for his safety, she even told Max to escort him home.
What could be unsafe within the tribe?
Eric thought to himself. He was about to refuse when Max had already stood up to walk out with him. So be it. It wasn't far anyway. He didn't struggle anymore and led Leo and Max on the path home.
Behind them, Thomas was still looking longingly at the bamboo tube of salt that he hadn't even had a chance to warm in his hands. Just as he was about to exclaim how such good fortune had fallen upon their tribe, he turned his head and met his mate's strange smile.
That expression... He remembered when Eric had first entered, and Max had pinched his cheek, Luci had the exact same expression.
That's right, what was I about to say just then? Why can't I remember anything all of a sudden.
Thomas was dazed, having completely forgotten what he had intended to say.
...
Author's Note:
Vietnam has just experienced two consecutive storms and is about to face a third one, which is heading directly towards my location. If I am unable to post any updates in the next few days, please understand that I am in the storm's path, electricity and internet services have been completely cut off. But don't worry, I will be back once the storm has passed. Wishing everyone peace and safety! Love you all~