031 House Repairs

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The atmosphere eased slightly, and Lin Yan finally understood what was happening. Just as she was about to speak, someone beat her to it.

“Shui Hua, who gave you the nerve to come here and make a scene? Go home.”

It was Shui Sheng’s great-grandmother, Water Granny—the head of the Shui household. Her words carried considerable weight.

The moment Shui Hua saw Water Granny, she wilted and no longer dared defy her mother.

But she was unwilling to leave just like that. In a timid voice, she said, “Mother, Shui Sheng refuses to hunt. He’s grown so big, yet he never goes out. Won’t he starve to death someday?”

Water Granny ignored her daughter. She first smiled at Hua Hong and Lin Yan, then said gently, “I’m sorry. Shui Hua is being thoughtless. Please don’t take it to heart. This is a gift for Lin Yan.”

Water Granny had brought a complete set of white fur clothing. At a glance, it was clearly something of excellent quality.

“Really for Lin Yan?” Hua Hong reached out to touch it, unable to believe her eyes. “Something this fine—who would be willing to give it away? Don’t you have a little girl about Lin Yan’s age? Why not keep it for your own family?”

Water Granny chuckled. “This was made especially for Lin Yan. Without her, the tribe would never have settled down. Everyone would still be busy fleeing for their lives. How could we be living as we are now?”

Water Granny was sincerely grateful to Lin Yan. She had specifically instructed her family to choose their finest hides and make this outfit for her.

Shui Hua knew nothing about this. Seeing such beautiful clothes, she protested, “Mother, Shui Duo is only a little over two years old. Give them to her instead.”

Shui Duo was Shui Sheng’s younger sister, and the entire family doted on her.

Ever since the children had begun studying, the tribal youngsters had acquired much more pleasant names. In the past, they had had no family names, but now they did. The whole family had changed their names together.

The Shui family had once gone by all sorts of names, until Water Granny decided that everyone would take Shui as their surname.

Water Granny glanced at Shui Hua. “We’ll have another set made for Shui Duo. This one was made for Lin Yan. Don’t be so unwilling. Lin Yan is the tribe’s great benefactor, and everyone is deeply grateful to her. This is our family’s way of showing our thanks. We can’t keep taking advantage of her.”

“Lin Yan, put it on and see whether it fits. If it doesn’t, I’ll alter it for you.”

Lin Yan gave Water Granny a broad smile. “Thank you, Granny. I love it. It looks like it will fit perfectly. There’s no need to alter it.”

Seeing how readily her daughter accepted the gift, Hua Hong hurriedly said, “Water Granny, that won’t do. These clothes are far too fine. We can’t accept them.”

“They’re for Lin Yan, and she’s already accepted them. Don’t refuse on her behalf.” Water Granny gazed at Lin Yan with increasing fondness, wishing she could take the girl home with her.

“Shui Hua, Shui Sheng, we’re going home.”

Before leaving, Shui Sheng said apologetically to Lin Yan, “I caused you trouble.”

Everyone watched the quarrel end in such an unexpected way that they were left speechless.

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“Water Granny was sincere,” Ye Zi said, her face filled with realization. “I thought she was only putting on a show. These clothes are so well made—the entire tribe couldn’t find a second set like them.”

“They’re precisely because they’re so fine that no one dares accept them.” Hua Hong still couldn’t believe Water Granny had simply given away such beautiful clothing.

“Only the largest households could afford hides this good.”

Hua Hong stroked the clothes, then looked at her daughter. “Are you really going to keep them?”

Lin Yan nodded. “Granny Shui gave them with good intentions. Why shouldn’t I accept them? Once I make something worthwhile, I’ll send some to her family as thanks.”

Old Black was there as well. The moment Lin Yan saw him, her eyes lit up, and she hurried over.

“When will you have time to fire a batch of bricks for me? I want to use them to renovate the house.”

“I’ll clean up the kiln today and make the brick molds with Mao Mu.”

“Good. Fire plenty, and renovate your own house while you’re at it.” Lin Yan couldn’t let Old Black work for nothing.

“I’ll help with the bricks,” Hua Hong quickly offered. Their food supply had been secured for the next few days, so she had time to do other things.

Ye Zi also hurriedly said, “I’ll help too. Mao Shi can take the two children to gather grass for our pikas. The rest of us can work together—it’ll go faster.”

“You all go help. I’ll stay behind and look after the houses,” said Granny Mao Mu, Mao Mu’s mother.

Old Lin brought his son along to help fire the bricks as well.

Living together certainly had its advantages. Several families working side by side were much faster than one family alone, and they could look after one another too.

After the meal, everyone involved in firing the bricks left. Only Mao Shi, Ye Ya, Granny Mao Mu, and Lin Yan remained at home.

Mao Shi was busy weaving baskets, his hands never stopping.

Granny Mao Mu was weaving straw sandals. Her work had improved steadily, and many people liked the sandals enough to bring things to trade for them.

Lin Yan and Ye Ya pulled weeds in the courtyard. The grass could be fed to the pikas, so none of it would be wasted.

Now that things had settled down, every household had begun raising pikas again. Earlier, everyone had been too busy building houses to care for them.

After seeing the benefits of raising pikas, no one was willing to give them up.

Pikas bred quickly, producing a litter every three months. They had become the main source of food for every family.

After more than ten days of work, the bricks were fired and brought back. Several families gathered together to listen as Lin Yan explained how to renovate their houses.

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Seeing everyone’s expectant expressions, Lin Yan no longer kept them in suspense.

“First, level the floors inside the houses. Then bring back some river sand, let it dry, and spread a layer over the ground. Lay the bricks on top, and finally fill the gaps between them with river sand. That’s all there is to it.”

“That’s wonderful. The floors will be level and clean,” Ye Zi immediately praised.

The others agreed wholeheartedly. Their houses still had bare earth floors that had never been properly leveled. They had thought them acceptable before, but after hearing Lin Yan’s explanation, they instantly saw how much better brick floors would be.

The adults took baskets and went to dig river sand. Lin Yan looked sadly at the courtyard, where only half the weeds had been cleared. This body was still too small; she lacked the strength for almost everything.

Pulling weeds every day to feed the pikas was genuinely exhausting. She needed to strengthen her body through exercise.

Three days later, everything was ready, and they began laying the floors.

Lin Yun and Mao Mu were the most skilled, so the two of them laid the bricks while everyone else assisted.

In less than two days, the three rooms in Lin Yan’s house had brick floors. The whole place looked completely different.

Lin Yun and Mao Mu had grown even more proficient, so they went on to lay the floors in Ye Zi’s house. After five days, all the families had brick floors.

They also built heated brick beds in the rooms on either side. This time, the beds were much smaller than the original one. With straw mats spread over them, they would be perfectly comfortable during the warm season.

When the cold season came, they could light the heated beds and would no longer have to fear the cold.

Lin Yan also planned to build a room along the western side of the courtyard as a kitchen. Inside, they built a stove and a table, and the floor was laid with bricks as well.

The stove had a chimney leading outside, so the smoke would not fill the house.

The table was made by arranging bricks into a square and placing a stone slab on top as the surface.

During this time, Old Black, Hua Hong, Ye Zi, and Old Lin fired another batch of bricks.

These bricks were large and square, and their color was not as red. They were intended for paving the courtyards.

The five courtyards adjoined one another. Since everyone worked together, they finished paving them in just a few days.

Five homes now stood in a row, their courtyards clean and level. The entire area had been transformed.

The other families followed Lin Yan’s example as well. A month later, they all had exactly the same layout.

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