Chapter 103: Preparations

That day, Zhang Fan slept the whole afternoon, and only after waking up did he notice that the sky outside had already darkened; looking at his watch, he found it was already 6:30 p. m. Moreover, he had actually slept in the room instead of on the lounge chair in the courtyard. Thinking: It must be Ba Ke Er! With that thought, Zhang Fan got dressed and got up.

"Goo~goo~goo~" Zhang Fan's stomach started making an untimely sound. Zhang Fan gloomily covered his stomach with both hands, lowered his head and said to his stomach: "All right! Don't call! Little master will feed you to eat later~!"

Not only did his stomach understand his words, but also because his action of covering his stomach worked, it actually stopped making noise! So, to prevent it from continuing, Zhang Fan hurried out of the room.

As soon as Zhang Fan came out, he smelled a rich aroma of food; just then, Ba Ke Er came out of the kitchen carrying a wooden basket full of white rice.

Upon seeing Zhang Fan, Ba Ke Er smiled and spoke softly: "Fan Fan, you're awake! Perfect, I was just about to come call you to get up and eat. You slept the whole afternoon, you must be hungry, right? Come, sit down quickly, I'll go bring out the dishes and then we can eat."

Zhang Fan enjoyed Ba Ke Er's thoughtfulness and gentleness, giving him a slight smile, and said: "All right, Ba Ke Er, you've been busy for so long too—sit down first, I'll go bring out the dishes."

After saying that, Zhang Fan directly pressed Ba Ke Er into the seat, then went into the kitchen to fetch the dishes.

As soon as Zhang Fan entered the kitchen, he saw a large pot of sweet and sour spare ribs and a large ceramic jar of corn bone soup that Ba Ke Er had placed on the stove. Upon seeing the food and soup, Zhang Fan headed straight for the stove, and at that moment his stomach started singing again, the sound countless times louder than when he just woke up.

In response, Zhang Fan did not cover his stomach again but directly reached out and carried the sweet and spare ribs into the main hall. As Zhang Fan set down the ribs, Ba Ke Er, smiling, said to him: "All right, Fan Fan, you eat first; the soup is still hot—I'll go bring it."

After saying that, Ba Ke Er didn't wait for Zhang Fan's reply, went straight to the kitchen, and shortly brought out the large ceramic jar of hot soup. After placing the soup on the table, Ba Ke Er discovered that Zhang Fan had not yet eaten any rice.

This is unacceptable! "Fan Fan! Didn't I just tell you to eat first? Why are you so disobedient? You must be starving by now! All right, stop looking at me—looking at me won't fill you. Hurry up and eat!"

After saying that, Ba Ke Er immediately served Zhang Fan a bowl of rice and personally picked up some vegetables to feed him.

Zhang Fan rolled his eyes, snatched the chopsticks from Ba Ke Er's hands. Suddenly feeling like teasing Ba Ke Er, he gave him a flirtatious glance, then scanned Ba Ke Er's body up and down with his gaze. He stuck out his tongue, licked his lips, and said: "I think, looking at you indeed can't fill me, but your body can definitely fill me~!"

After saying that, Zhang Fan also reached out to touch Ba Ke Er's cheek and gave him a flying kiss. Yet after doing those things, Zhang Fan immediately sat down as if nothing had happened and began eating heartily.

Ba Ke Er, having been flirted with until his face turned red, could do nothing else but silently rub his nose, sit opposite Zhang Fan, and eat quietly.

……

After the meal, the two tacitly cleared the dishes, then went to the kitchen to wash and tidy up. After finishing that, they took turns showering.

Because they had slept the whole afternoon, Zhang Fan felt no drowsiness at the moment; likewise, Ba Ke Er, having accompanied Zhang Fan in sleeping that afternoon, also felt no sleepiness. So they simply took a thin blanket to the lounge chair in the courtyard to enjoy the cool.

At that moment, Zhang Fan suddenly recalled the matter he had been pondering for a long time. Thinking that if it wasn't acted upon soon, it would likely have to wait until after the corn harvest.

Thinking that, he realized it would probably delay many other things! After all, once the corn is harvested, the cold season is not far off, and there is still plenty to do in that remaining time! Food for the cold season cannot be careless—it must be abundant, not scarce.

Having made up his mind, Zhang Fan turned his head and began to say to Ba Ke Er: "Ba Ke Er, you see the water by the nearby river is getting increasingly murky! Every day we have to draw the next day's water in advance; this period there's not much to do, but that's fine. However, in about ten days or so, at most half a month, the corn in the fields will be ready for harvest. After that, there are still the vegetables in the fields…"

Having said that, Zhang Fan suddenly paused, stroked his chin, then continued: "In short, after calculating, we won't be able to spare time to fetch water later! I thought, since we still have some free time during this period, we might as well do something meaningful instead!"

Upon hearing that, Ba Ke Er instantly perked up, a bit excitedly asking: "Fan Fan, quickly tell me what meaningful thing it is! Have you decided you want to have a baby? Hey! That's good! That's good! If that's the case, next year we could become parents! Hahaha…"

Zhang Fan heard this, a black line appeared on his head, his expression suddenly became dazed. Indeed, the child is still more important… but unfortunately, that's something I cannot give you. I only hope that after I muster the courage to tell you the truth, you will still pamper, love, cherish, and care for me as you do now…

Ba Ke Er, sensing that Zhang Fan had fallen silent after saying those words, also lost the mood to tease. He silently raised both hands in a surrender gesture toward Zhang Fan and said: "All right, Fan Fan! I was just joking with you! We're still young; I don't want to have a child so early. In my heart you will always be the most important! Even I have to step aside!"

Zhang Fan didn't know why, but he ended up being amused by him. After laughing, Zhang Fan then told Ba Ke Er all of his plans one by one. After hearing them, Ba Ke Er became very excited and slapped his thigh hard, saying:

"Great! Fan Fan! If we really dig a well, wouldn't that let everyone have water without leaving home? That way, even when the Beast Tide Month arrives, we wouldn't need to risk our lives fetching water from the river! Then, after we survive the Beast Tide Month, many beastmen could live safely! After all, we already have plenty of food now! This has never happened before!"

Upon saying that, Ba Ke Er felt immensely proud! Haha! This female who, in just half a year, has brought about a tremendous change to the entire tribe is his companion! She is the Divine Envoy personally selected by the Beast God!

Seeing Ba Ke Er's face suddenly turn proud like a parent whose child just ranked first in the whole school, Zhang Fan found it somewhat unbearable!

"All right, Ba Ke Er! Knowing this is enough! The main thing is for you to realize we don't have much time left to waste! This matter must be implemented quickly! By the way, tomorrow we'll go tell Tribal Chief Uncle about this, and also find a few people to get some stones! When the time comes, we'll need plenty for lining the well walls and the well platform! We'll also need to make a big long ladder!"

Regarding the matters Zhang Fan mentioned, Ba Ke Er adeptly committed each one firmly to memory. Only after dawn could he begin to put them into practice one by one!

After all, as an outstanding male beastman, Ba Ke Er has always obeyed his companion's words without question! Moreover, what is being discussed now is a major matter that could change the drinking water and lifestyle of the entire tribe's people! Even if Zhang Fan ordered him to die immediately, he would likely not ask why, and would gladly rush to the underworld.

After the two had discussed all these matters thoroughly, it was already around 11:50 p. m., nearing midnight. They also gradually grew sleepy, so they returned to their room to sleep.

The next morning, when the unnamed birds outside the window began to sing softly, Zhang Fan slowly woke up, reached out to feel beside his bed, and found it empty. Zhang Fan also had no drowsiness, so he hurriedly got up, dressed, and left the room.

Upon arriving in the main hall, Zhang Fan saw the plain congee and small dishes on the table, smiled slightly, went to the bathroom to wash up, then walked toward the dining table, served himself a bowl, and began to eat leisurely. At that moment, Ba Ke Er, after feeding the livestock raised in the backyard, also washed his hands and came in.

"Fan Fan, good morning!"

"Ba Ke Er, good morning!"

After exchanging morning greetings, they shared a tacit smile. Zhang Fan thought Ba Ke Er hadn't eaten yet, so he gave him a large bowl of congee.

Ba Ke Er took the congee that Zhang Fan had served, took a big gulp, and then began to pick vegetables for Zhang Fan.

……

After the meal, Zhang Fan and Ba Ke Er, both preoccupied with the well matter, didn't even bother washing the dishes. They simply closed the room and courtyard doors and headed straight for the Tribal Office.

When the two arrived, they only then realized it was still too early—the Tribal Chief and the Elders had not yet arrived! They hadn't expected this situation. However, since the well matter was truly important, they also had no patience to wait idly here.

After making up their minds, they simply headed straight for the Tribal Chief's house. Coincidentally, while they were halfway there, they encountered the Tribal Chief on his way to the office. On the road, Ba Ke Er and Zhang Fan briefly explained the well matter to the Tribal Chief.

Upon hearing it, the Tribal Chief immediately clapped and praised! He didn't care about his current image, delighted to the point of almost jumping up! This would certainly intrigue passing tribespeople! Is it the Divine Envoy thinking up another good thing? Otherwise, why would the Tribal Chief disregard his image on the main street, clapping at times, singing, dancing?

Of course, there were also people standing nearby who caught only fragments; those tribespeople, after hearing them, told everyone what they had heard. 'Eh?' everyone thought, making it seem even more possible!

Then, before the well matter was settled, this affair had already stirred up a huge uproar throughout the whole tribe—but at this time Ba Ke Er and his wife, as well as the chieftain, still didn't know! They have only just arrived at the Tribal Office now, and are currently discussing with the Elders the related matters of this affair!