Navigator: I have a double six-story house

As soon as Li Daniu said "I can't hide it from you," Su Qing knew she had guessed correctly.

More than a hundred people, that's no small number.

Let alone a hundred, even twenty would be an astronomical number for most captains.

When they arrived in front of Brother Niu, there were only three of them, who in Brother Niu's eyes were just novice captains.

He made this request without asking about the resources on his ship, only considering his own decision.

There's only one possibility: he has a way to solve the problem of feeding, drinking, and relieving himself of these hundred-plus people.

His concern wasn't whether Su Qing had the ability to take these people away.

Rather, they feared that Su Qing would only take the forty strong and capable laborers, leaving the elderly, children, and pregnant women to die on the island.

Thinking of this, Su Qing sighed inwardly.

What kind of image do I have in Brother Niu's mind?

While he is indeed not a pushover, he's not to that extent either.

But then I thought about it again. It's been three years since we last met, and Brother Niu doesn't know his current situation, so it's normal for him to have such concerns.

Just as Su Qing was about to press for details about what that "solution" was, Li Daniu waved his hand.

"No rush."

Li Daniu plopped back down on the animal skin, crossed his legs, and the seriousness on his face had mostly disappeared.

"We'll talk business tomorrow. You've just arrived and must be tired from your journey. Get some rest tonight."

He rubbed his hands together, and transformed back into that kind and honest older brother.

"Brothers and sisters haven't seen each other for so long, shouldn't we have a good get-together?"

Wang Yao was the first to respond, stretching out his arm and putting it on Li Daniu's shoulder.

"Alright, Brother Niu, then I'll have to treat you tonight."

Su Qing nodded. "It's Brother Niu's territory, so we'll do as Brother Niu says."

"That absolutely has to be arranged!"

Li Daniu patted his chest, stood up, and walked out.

He took two steps and then stopped, turning his head to look at Selena, who was leaning against the door, and scratched the back of his head.

"And this is...?"

Selena took a step forward, bowed slightly, and smiled naturally.

"Navigator of the Sunny, Selena."

"Oh, navigator."

Li Daniu nodded and extended his right hand.

"Selena, right? Although I'm Xiaoqing's older brother, I haven't boarded the ship yet, so I'm your junior. Please take care of me in the future."

That was a polite way of putting it, but Su Qing noticed a detail.

"Not on the ship yet"

The use of the word "still" is very deliberate; it implies that boarding the ship is a done deal.

Selena shook hands with him in a very natural and generous manner.

"Brother Niu, you're too kind. We're all family from now on."

Selena paused, her tone casual.

"Since Brother Niu is Captain's good older brother, then he is also my good older brother."

Li Daniu was slightly taken aback after hearing this.

Then this burly man, who was over 1.8 meters tall, did something that left Su Qing speechless. His gaze swept back and forth between Su Qing and Selena twice, and a smile slowly spread across his face.

Su Qing was all too familiar with that kind of laughter.

When Li Daniu was a child in the orphanage, he would get this expression if any boy talked to a girl more than a few words.

"Alright, alright," Li Daniu said three times, his smile meaningful. "You guys rest here for now. I'll go arrange the banquet and come get you in a bit."

After saying that, he turned around and strode out.

Su Qing had no intention of wasting her energy on that "I understand" smile.

He was concerned about something else.

From beginning to end, Li Daniu was confident that he would get on the ship, including when he said "I haven't gotten on the ship yet," and when he shook hands with Selena, he said "Please take care of me in the future."

This confidence didn't come from nowhere.

His confidence shows that he has a really strong hand.

He was so firm that he only needed Su Qing's nod to resolve all the remaining issues.

Su Qing sat on the animal skin, crossed her hands on her knees, and her mind raced.

What is the essence of the problem regarding the food, drink, accommodation, and transportation of over a hundred people?

Resources and space.

What was the most direct source of supplies during the Age of Exploration?

Su Qing thought of the farmland she had seen on the road, with its purple crops.

He had been interested in those things for a while, but had never had the chance to take a closer look.

maybe......

"What are you thinking about?" Wang Yao's voice interrupted him.

"It's nothing." Su Qing snapped out of her thoughts. "Let's wait for Brother Niu's arrangements."

Not long after, about half an incense stick's time, Li Daniu reappeared at the door.

He had changed into a new animal skin robe and tied his hair in a bun, looking much more energetic than before.

"Let's go, everything is ready."

The three followed Li Daniu through several wooden houses and arrived at the altar.

When Su Qing arrived in the afternoon, the place was empty, but now it has completely changed.

Four bonfires burned around the altar, their light illuminating the entire open space.

In this world, there is no distinction between day and night, and a cold moon always hangs overhead, but when the warm light of the campfire shines on it, it really does have a festive feel to it.

The indigenous people sat in twos and threes around the campfire. When they saw Li Daniu leading the three of them over, they all stood up and bowed.

The leader, Agu, jogged over to greet them, and bowed to Su Qing and Wang Yao with a chest-thumping salute.

Su Qing nodded in response.

The group sat on the ground, where a whole animal hide was laid out. In front of them were roasted meat, several kinds of fruits whose names they did not know, and a purple corn.

To be precise, each person had two pieces of grilled meat in front of them, browned and still steaming, mixed in with the grilled meat and fruit, and not particularly noticeable.

Li Daniu sat down next to Su Qing and handed her a purple corn cob.

"Try this."

Su Qing took it and looked at it in her hand.

The corn cobs were a size larger than ordinary corn on Blue Star, with plump kernels, each one gleaming with a deep purple sheen.

I broke off a kernel and squeezed it between my fingertips; it felt firmer than regular corn.

"Is this what you grow in your fields?"

"Yes." Li Daniu nodded. "There used to be wild ones on the island. After I taught them how to farm, they've been growing these ever since."

Wang Yao had already broken off half a piece and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing as he mumbled something indistinctly.

"Hmm? It tastes alright, a little sweet."

Su Qing didn't rush to eat, but noticed that the state of the local residents around her was quite interesting.

These people were all full of energy, even the elderly who looked quite old had their backs straight.

Logically speaking, a primitive tribe at the Stone Age level, with scarce food and almost no medical conditions, should not have such energy and spirit.

Then he took a bite.

The moment the corn kernels burst open between your teeth, a warm sensation spreads from the tip of your tongue.

Su Qing's eyes widened suddenly.

The heat flowed down his throat, through his chest, and into his limbs and bones.

Extremely faint, but it definitely exists.

His body reacted.