Chapter 2330 The World of Yellow Sand (Part 2)
The entire equator and the Tropic of Cancer in the Atta World are covered by endless seas of sand. This is also the hottest, coldest, and deadliest area in the entire world, and is known as It is the Sea of Death, and it is this Sea of Death that cuts off the connections between different city-states and tribes. But even so, people living in this world still tenaciously explore the path across the sand sea. Occasionally there are some huge underground caves made of weathered rocks. This is an excellent place to avoid sandstorms, scorching sun and severe cold. This also makes the caravan very difficult to time. They usually go out when the cold has just subsided and the sun is shining. Set off at the rising time, walk for a short half day to reach the next shelter, and then wait until the hottest heat, the sunlight that is enough to evaporate the water in a person's body, is far away before coming out of the shelter. The heat of walking on the earth gradually dissipates and the cold is enough to turn water into ice. The time that has not yet come - that is, the early morning and evening rush.
But before that, they had to eat something as soon as possible. After all, the journey back required a lot of physical strength. Shahan beasts were used to carry cargo and water, and their physical strength also needed to be maintained. So people I can only walk.
Ricas came to the temporary kitchen, where a bald man was stirring a large pot with boiling water with a bone stick. There was a small pot next to it, with boiled Shahan in it. There is a small pile of light brown oval fruits piled on the ground. A boy about the same age as Ricas is using his dirty hands to open the crispy shells of the fruits and remove the thumb-sized pink and white granular seeds inside. Take it out, put it into a bowl and pour it into the boiling milk pot.
Ricas walked aside, squatted down, picked up a seed and put it into his mouth.
During the chewing process, a sour and astringent taste spread in his mouth, followed by a slight sweetness, and as the starch was decomposed by saliva, it turned into a special sweetness, although it also made his throat drier.
"Little chanter, you ate it secretly again."
Seeing him like this, the boy who was trying to peel the seeds complained.
“I’m still hungry.”
“I, I’ll get breakfast for my tutor.”
"You still have to wait two minutes."
The bald man interrupted him roughly, and then kicked a few breadfruit fruits over.
“You can help me too.”
Ricas had no choice but to peel the fruit along with him.
This is the most common "ration" eaten by the people of Atta World. It was also brought by the Sun Order. Before this, they had almost no planting industry and could only rely on moss, fungi and fungi collected from the underground world. Feeding on insects, the result is a sparse population and a pitifully short life span, but this has been different since the arrival of the bread tree.
This kind of plant, which is thicker than several adults put together, can not only withstand the high temperature of the ground, but also does not require much water. They can even be used as water reservoirs themselves, and its fruit yield is extremely high and can also provide People bring more calories, and more importantly, it is also a "sweet food" that very few residents of this world can eat. Soon the population of this world has grown to a certain level, which determines the wealth of a tribe and city-state. The standard of level has also become how many bread trees you have.
Everything about breadfruit is good, but it grows very slowly. It takes nearly ten years to bear fruit for the first time after planting, and the planting density is relatively low. It is also very fragile in the first five years of growth, and it is difficult to maintain growth. It still needs to consume a certain amount of precious water resources. Even Yanban City, where Ricas was born, can only support less than 300 bread trees, and this is the lifeblood of thousands of residents in the city.
Of course, with basic food and population, handicrafts and other industries will develop, which will naturally give rise to trade.
The purpose of their caravan is to carry salt slabs, a specialty of the city-state, in exchange for fabrics. That city-state has mastered the technology of domesticating a silk-spinning insect, which is almost the only source of fabrics in the world, or rather The only source Ricas knew.
Soon, the milk pot boiled, and the chef took out a small handful of squirming white worms from the small bag, kneaded them and threw them into the pot.
In this barren world, any source of protein is precious, and Shahan beasts are even more precious assets. Unless they die naturally, the city-state elders will not allow anyone to kill these beasts of burden. The way residents can supplement protein is to buy them. Expensive Shahan milk and its dairy products are either made from insects caught in underground caves.
Although Likas's stomach was growling with hunger, he still carried the hot pot and quickly walked to the mentor's tent. "Teacher, breakfast is here."
The white-bearded sutra chanter was sitting in the stall, still chanting sutras with his eyes closed, and his double-headed eagle staff was placed aside.
Seeing no response, the bent over Ricas could only put the small pot on the ground.
"Teacher, we will set off soon.?"
Finally, the chanter opened his eyes.
"Ricas, how many times have I said, don't interrupt me while chanting."
"I'm worried that it will affect your eating."
The chanter seems to He was a little impatient, but he nodded after all, picked up the spoon and started to eat slowly. At this time, the noise of people eating could be heard outside. Although Ricas was hungry, he didn't dare to eat until the teacher finished. When I went to eat, I had to bow my head and kneel on the ground.
At this time, the chanter suddenly spoke.
"You should go and eat too, otherwise you won't have the strength to walk on when the yellow sand turns white."
Likas nodded, got up and walked out, heading straight to the kitchen.
"I've saved it for you."
The chef seemed to know that he was coming, and handed him a clay bowl. Inside was a pale white viscous liquid, which can also be called porridge, which is bread. After the fruit is boiled, there are still some black spots floating inside, which are moss in the ground and one of the few things that can supplement vitamins.
Ricas took a sip, which was as sour as ever. Then he took out a thumb-sized insect chrysalis from his pocket, skewered it on his black iron dagger, and roasted it on the fire for a few times.
This dagger is his only "property" and the only thing his father left to him. There is no shortage of metal in the world of Atta. In fact, scavenger tribes often bring some strange metal fragments, but those Metal is usually very hard and very difficult to process. Only a small part can be melted and recast into production tools and weapons, and the rest can only be used as building materials or decorations.
The slightly burnt worm was stuffed into his mouth, bitten into it, and burst into pulp. This was what he found while sleeping in the shelter last night.
Good stuff, very filling. You can exchange it for a complete breadfruit at the city-state market.
The meal did not last long, time is precious, when the yellow sand turns to white, it will be impossible to walk, if they have not reached the shelter by then, many people will die on the road, this is what this world gives it The most important lesson for the people——
Try not to stay under the sun, or rather under the gaze of the Sun Emperor, for long periods of time.
(End of this chapter)