"We don't know the exact weight," Yan Jiao said, shaking his head.
"This unit is set by the Spotted Deer Tribe. We'd only know for sure once we go there and compare."
After all, last time they traded at the Spotted Deer Tribe, he wasn't leading the team, so he wasn't clear on the details.
"What about the size of a shi of meat? You should know that, right?" Su Bai pressed, needing to calculate the value and how much to prepare for the trade.
"One shi is about as big as Cang Shi's body," Yan Jiao said, glancing around and using his hands to measure from Cang Shi's neck to his belly.
"That's roughly two hundred jin," Su Bai calculated.
"And a roll of hemp cloth, how long is that?" he asked next.
"It's four rope knots long, and one knot wide," Yan Jiao answered.
Seeing Su Bai's interest in the hemp cloth, Yan Jiao elaborated:
"The Spotted Deer Tribe measures length with knotted grass ropes. One knot is roughly a step long."
"So that's about four steps, roughly two meters long, and fifty centimeters wide," Su Bai figured out clearly.
He was a bit surprised. A two-meter roll of hemp cloth could trade for six hundred jin of meat? That was ridiculous. Monopoly profits were huge.
"Seems we'll need to quietly make a fortune without drawing the attention of the big tribes," Su Bai muttered to himself.
The Flame Dragon Tribe was still too weak; they had to develop strategically. At the very least, they had to be able to stand against a large tribe before showing their hand.
"Shaman, what should we do next?" Yan Jiao repeated the question.
Totem Warriors couldn't idle—they waited for the shaman's instructions, whether to hunt or to search for materials for the shaman's bone talismans.
"How long will our remaining dried meat last for the tribe?" Su Bai asked, his deep black eyes fixed on them.
Yan Jiao shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, as if his thoughts were being read, and lowered his head to think for a moment.
"If we ration it carefully, it could last fifteen days for everyone."
"Fifteen days… that's sufficient for now," Su Bai said with a sigh of relief, then turned serious:
"Cang Shi, just in case of unexpected changes, take the hunting team and go on another hunt."
"Yes," Cang Shi said, relieved to have something to do.
Yan Jiao's face changed slightly, and he hurriedly asked,
"Shaman, are you planning something?"
"I know how to weave hemp cloth," Su Bai said calmly.
"How is that possible?" Yan Jiao's red eyes widened in disbelief, trying to see any hint of joking in the young shaman's face.
"Weaving hemp cloth?"
Cang Shi was half a beat behind, muttering, and then his purple eyes widened in awe.
"Shaman… you're not joking, are you?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Su Bai rolled his eyes, annoyed.
"I don't have time to play with you."
He had just taken over as shaman and had a long list of things to handle—especially since he knew almost nothing about the tribe yet.
"Shaman, you really can make hemp cloth?" Yan Jiao stepped closer, breathing heavier, red eyes wide, hands slightly trembling.
"Yeah, it's not difficult," Su Bai nodded.
He had originally planned a different specialty product, but since today's aid package included a manual on hemp weaving, he changed his plan.
"Not difficult???" Yan Jiao and Cang Shi both twitched, hearts pounding.
This young shaman was totally unrestrained. On his very first day in the position, he was already messing with their expectations.
Excited thoughts ran through Yan Jiao's mind, then he exclaimed,
"Great! With hemp cloth, we can grow into a large tribe like the Leaf Hemp Tribe!"
"Leaf Hemp Tribe? That's where the hemp comes from?" Su Bai asked curiously.
"Eh? Shaman, you don't know the Leaf Hemp Tribe? Then where did your method of making hemp cloth come from?" Yan Jiao asked in surprise.
"Who said my method came from the Leaf Hemp Tribe?" Su Bai noticed the chief was overthinking.
"Could it be… you invented it yourself?" Cang Shi stared at Su Bai in awe, purple eyes sparkling with admiration.
"Something like that," Su Bai said nonchalantly.
"Then four days ago, when you fainted… did someone find out you could make hemp cloth and try to chase you?"
Yan Jiao's imagination ran wild, and he warned,
"Shaman, don't let anyone know you can make hemp cloth."
"I know," Su Bai said, his eye twitching slightly.
This chief really liked to overthink.
"Shaman, should we start making hemp cloth now?" Cang Shi asked impatiently.
"Don't rush," Su Bai said, scanning the tent.
There were no chairs, no tables—nowhere to set up.
"Shaman, we only have eight days before the market at the Spotted Deer Tribe, and three days on the road. That leaves us five days," Yan Jiao said, immediately thinking about exchanging hemp cloth for dried meat.
"Rushing won't help. We don't have the materials yet," Su Bai said.
Even though the plan was ready, the materials to make hemp threads were the key.
This was also why he had Cang Shi continue hunting—if they couldn't find the plants needed to make hemp, at least they'd have a backup plan.
Probably due to being a novelist, Su Bai habitually planned ahead, including contingencies.
"What materials do we need? We'll find them immediately!" Cang Shi shouted impatiently.
"No need. Just take your team hunting," Su Bai shook his head.
"But…" Cang Shi hesitated, wanting to see the hemp cloth being made—it was too mysterious.
"Cang Shi," Yan Jiao interrupted in a low voice.
"The tribe is still here. Follow the shaman's orders."
"I'm just too excited," Cang Shi muttered, lowering his head sheepishly
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