Chapter 22: Bathing

The old-fashioned waterwheel recorded in the "Guide" had to be built where there was a natural drop in the water flow. After assigning the task of constructing the waterwheel to Gulu, the system marked several suitable locations above the river. Chujou chose a “miniature canyon” closest to the Pioneer’s Cabin.

Here, the riverbed had a natural rise and fall, with a rapid current and ample water volume. Excited to receive the task, Gulu immediately set to work. Bamboo and wood flew everywhere as Gulu busily toiled. The system estimated the construction time to be 240 minutes.

During this period, Chujou had no intention of idling. He first crafted three wooden barrels of varying sizes. The largest was big enough for a toddler to swim back and forth inside; the smallest was about the size of a regular basin.

After placing the largest barrel in the prearranged spot, Chujou began making candles. The raw material was naturally the beeswax harvested from the bloodthirsty bees. Twisting cloth strips into wicks fixed at the bottom of cups, he melted the beeswax and poured it in, producing a simple candle.

This way, they no longer needed to rely on a hearth or glowing grass for lighting at night.

With the candles ready and an hour left before the waterwheel’s completion, Chujou decided to cook some stewed meat. Over the past days, the little creatures had either accompanied him on adventures or worked hard farming at home. Such hard work deserved a proper feast.

He prepared a pot of braised ribs and a pot of steamed fish for Houhou Rabbit and Little Can to feast on; and fresh-pressed grape juice for Gulu to drink his fill.

Without delay, he washed and cut the wild boar ribs, blanched them, then added ginger slices and scallions, seasoning with soy sauce, salt, and honey. Pouring in clear lake water, he covered the pot and started the stew.

For the newly caught blunt-nosed fish, he removed the head and tail, sliced it down the middle, soaked the fillets briefly in scallion-ginger water, laid them on a bed of scallion and ginger strands, then steamed it. Just before serving, he drizzled half a bowl of soy sauce.

With ribs and fish cooking, Chujou pulled from his pack the “eyeball-like sweet grapes.” These grapes didn’t grow on vines but instead clung to the trunks of the Totem Trees.

The Totem Tree’s bark naturally bore multicolored patterns arranged in an eerie way, making the tree resemble a totem pole from afar. Upon closer inspection, a chill ran down one’s spine: countless bloodshot eyeballs seemed embedded in the twisted “totems.”

Such a sight was enough to scare off any unwary wanderer.

Yet to Chujou, it was merely a somewhat peculiar grape grove.

He tossed one of the “eyeballs” into his mouth, and sure enough, it was sweet and juicy.

However, Gulu couldn’t eat the fruit directly and had to drink the juice through its tendrils.

So Chujou wrapped some grapes in gauze and squeezed out a large cup of fragrant, deep purple grape juice.

Adding a cup of clear lake water, it became Gulu’s delicious dinner.

With dinner preparations complete, Chujou received a notification:

“Congratulations, host, on successfully constructing the Old-Style Chain Waterwheel!”

“The irrigation efficiency for fields, forests, and orchards within the waterwheel’s range will increase by 5%!”

“Regional development progress has risen to 1.8%!”

Wiping his hands, Chujou opened the cabin door and stepped outside—

Wow!

Just a few dozen meters from the cabin stood a deep brown wooden water channel.

About a person’s height, the channel was supported by a wooden frame, holding a series of connected green bamboo tubes.

At the end of the bamboo tubes, clear stream water gurgled out, dripping into the giant wooden barrel Chujou had set up earlier.

Little Can perched lightly on the barrel’s rim, curiously watching the water cascade down; Houhou Rabbit peered over the edge, seemingly checking if the accumulated water reflected its own image; Gulu fluttered over, twisting its small arms together, excited but shy, asking, “It’s—it’s done! Want to come see the waterwheel?”

Naturally, they wanted to see it.

Chujou gathered the two little ones and followed the flying Gulu to the riverbank.

There, the waterwheel hung laden with bamboo tubes, standing steadily in the water. The upper current struck the water paddles, turning the wheel and causing the bamboo tubes to dip continuously into the water, scooping it up. Reaching the highest point, the water poured out from the tubes into the adjacent water channel.

Though Chujou understood the waterwheel’s principle, seeing the words on paper brought to life, watching the stream water tirelessly lifted and channeled, filled him with joy. Smiling, he praised, “This is wonderful! Gulu built an amazing waterwheel! Now we have water so much more conveniently!”

Houhou Rabbit wiggled its long ears excitedly: “Yes, yes! I won’t have to go to the river to fetch water anymore. One big barrel like this will last a whole day!”

Little Can gave a gentle “meow.”

Pleased by the praise, Gulu twisted and turned on the bank, transforming into a happily dancing tree.

“Spirit Beast No. 3 has triggered ‘Growth.’”

“Current growth level of Spirit Beast No. 3: Level 3.”

“Spirit Beast has learned a new active skill: ‘Daily Maintenance.’ Using this skill, the spirit beast can perform routine repairs on relevant facilities, significantly extending their lifespan.”

“Please continue to assign suitable work to Spirit Beast No. 3, keeping it happy and healthy to aid in its rapid growth.”

Level 3? Gulu was two levels higher than Houhou Rabbit.

It seemed the higher the spirit beast’s level, the richer its skillset.

Chujou guessed so, but unfortunately, the system had no Q&A function to answer his questions.

*

After touring the waterwheel, Chujou returned home with the little ones for dinner.

The ribs were perfectly cooked through. The newly brewed soy sauce and natural rose-colored honey glazed the ribs with an enticing caramel hue, infusing a savory, slightly sweet flavor. The ribs were tender and fragrant without being greasy; a gentle pinch with chopsticks easily tore off a juicy piece of lean meat.

Houhou Rabbit, of course, didn’t use chopsticks. This little bunny grabbed the protruding bone at the bottom of a rib with its paws and gnawed at it like any ordinary rabbit munching a carrot, crunching away.

It even swallowed the bones whole.

Not only Houhou Rabbit indulged so heartily.

In front of Little Can was a bowl of fresh, tender, juicy steamed fish. The sweet aroma of the fish blended perfectly with the rich soy sauce fragrance, accented by the unique taste of scallions and ginger, whetting the appetite. A slight prod with chopsticks revealed the moist, soft, melt-in-the-mouth white flesh.

Yet Little Can didn’t grab the fish with its paws like Houhou Rabbit.

It gestured for Chujou to pick up a piece with chopsticks, then lowered its head—

Swish!

The entire section of fish, bones and all, was gone.

Little Can lifted its face, licking the corner of its mouth stained with a bit of soup.

Chujou never even saw how it ate.

Compared to these two carnivorous spirit beasts, Gulu was much quieter.

It quietly dipped its arms into the grape juice, closed its eyes, gently swaying its head, and drank the sweet nectar in big gulps.

In less than half a minute, the cup of grape juice was empty.

A little embarrassed, it opened its eyes and looked at Chujou pitifully.

Chujou quickly refilled the cup to the brim.

Gulu resumed its swaying, happily drinking.

As for Chujou himself, besides the fish meat Little Can shared and the potato fruits stewed with the ribs, he also ate some spicy roasted pork—

Before roasting, he rubbed the pork repeatedly with food cornel leaves so the spicy flavor could infuse.

*

Though not as hot as real chili peppers, the spice was enough to make Chujou sweat profusely as he ate heartily.

After the satisfying meal, Houhou Rabbit sprawled out on the spot, rubbing its belly; Little Can curled into a drowsy ball; and the shy Gulu, seemingly drunk on grape juice, giggled nonstop.

Watching the spirit beasts stuffed and goofy, Chujou smiled as he lifted them one by one—

Then dropped them into a basin filled with warm water, washing them thoroughly from head to toe.

Houhou Rabbit and Gulu accepted the bath well. Only Little Can resisted when tossed into the water.

Chujou enforced gentle restraint.

Little Can was subdued.

By the time Chujou scooped them out and wrapped them in linen cloths, Little Can’s eyes were half-moon shapes of annoyance.

It shivered in the towel, indignantly meowing, “I can bathe myself!”

Chujou paid no mind, half-heartedly replying, “Oh, okay,” while rubbing it through the cloth.

Little Can meowed loudly in protest.

*

After tidying up the spirit beasts, Chujou poured the hot water from the pot into the medium wooden barrel, added some cool water, stripped off his clothes, and climbed in.

Ahh...

So comfortable...

Finally, a hot bath!

Until now, he had only managed to rinse off with river water. The soothing warmth relaxed his body and mind, filling him with a sense of revival.

After soaking for a long while, he noticed the moon hanging high in the treetops and climbed out of the barrel.

Still warm and flushed from the bath, he lit a candle and took out the small mirror he hadn’t used in a long time.

During expeditions, he couldn’t record videos with the mirror.

Now back at the Pioneer’s Cabin, he intended to make up for the development points he had missed earning during his travels!

*

Planet Arsa.

“On the fifth day of our journey, we met a new companion.”

In the flickering candlelight, the boy’s lips curved up, his eyes relaxed as he recounted the past ten days.

He said they found bamboo, harvested honey and beeswax, brewed soy sauce, and grew cabbage.

He said thanks to a faithful companion by his side, they caught wild boar, and now had ribs and pork...

Once the traveling merchant delivered the frying pan he ordered, he could refine oil and stir-fry; maybe even try making hotpot.

He also said that, by luck, they met another new companion who helped them build the waterwheel.

The dancing candlelight reflected off his smooth forehead and pale neck.

Perhaps because he had just bathed, his cheeks were still flushed, and droplets of water clung to his hair.

Lu Qingyan looked away.

His gaze fell on the other side of the screen—

Where the mental energy waveforms of Tu Mingyuan and Shu Yiheng pulsed.

The graphs showed both curves fluctuating densely within a narrow range, forming jagged patterns.