Su Bai blinked his black eyes and solemnly asked, “I wonder if you’re interested in long term cooperation with us?”
Lu Lin’s golden pupils widened slightly as she exclaimed in surprise, “Long term cooperation? Do you have a lot of linen cloth?”
“Of course. As long as you want more, I’ll always have it,” Su Bai nodded.
“We want more, we definitely want more. We’ll take as much as you have. Bring it over in fifteen days as usual,” Lu Lin responded repeatedly.
Su Bai eyebrow raised and he shook his head. “Fifteen days is too long. I’d like to shorten it.”
Lu Lin was completely baffled and asked, puzzled, “We’ve always done it this way. We always host a market every fifteen days. How much do you want to shorten it?”
“Every eight days. The amount of linen cloth will be more than double what it is now,” Su Bai seriously stated.
“Every eight days?” Lu Lin doubted her ears and continued asking, “Such a short time, and you’ll provide even more linen cloth than now?”
Su Bai nodded and solemnly said, “That’s right. If possible, we’d like to trade on this schedule.”
“Please, go ahead.” Su Bai smiled and nodded.
The deer antlered girl turned and left the large Teepee, heading towards the inner area of the Spotted Deer Tribe.
A few minutes later, the deer antlered girl arrived at the entrance of the largest wooden house. After receiving permission, she lifted the curtain and entered.
Most of the houses in the inner area of the Spotted Deer Tribe were wooden, surrounded by wooden walls with thatched roofs.
“Ah’Lin, don’t you need to oversee the market?” A man who looked to be in his fifties spoke up.
This man was the deer antlered girl’s Father, called Lu Shan. He was a Shaman of the Spotted Deer Tribe. He had long golden hair tied back with vines, a pair of majestic antlers on his head, and a beard with weathered features on his face. All these gave him an imposing presence.
“Father, someone is requesting to change the trading schedule,” Lu Lin said word by word.
Lu Shan narrowed his eyes slightly, stroked his beard, and asked, “Who? Why do they want to change the trading time?”
“I didn’t ask which Tribe they’re from, but it should be a small Tribe. They have quite a lot of linen cloth, and they said…” Lu Lin recounted Su Bai’s words completely.
“What? Are you sure?” Lu Shan’s eyes widened as he continued asking, “Do they really have that much linen cloth for us?”
“It doesn’t seem to be a lie. The linen cloth they brought this time is of excellent quality, different from what the other Tribes bring to trade. It feels more comfortable to touch,” Lu Lin said seriously.
Lu Shan thought carefully and then looked up, saying, “Agree to their terms. Eight days it is.”
Getting a lot of linen cloth every eight days, and still having other Tribes come to trade linen cloth when the fifteen days were up. These were all beneficiary for them. There was no downside for the Spotted Deer Tribe.
“Father, should we ask which Tribe they’re from? Or secretly have someone follow them? To see where this linen cloth comes from?” Lu Lin suggested.
“Have you forgotten our rules?” Lu Shan sternly warned.
“No, I’m sorry, Father. I’ll go tell them now,” Lu Lin lowered her golden eyes.
As the initiators of the market, the Spotted Deer Tribe always kept their word, no matter what. Regardless of what other Tribes brought in, they would never pry into their sources.
“Go then. Make sure to give them better quality dried meat this time,” Lu Shan nodded.
“Yes, Father,” Lu Lin turned and left the Teepee, heading back to the large Teepee in the outer area.
*Tap tap tap……* About ten minutes later, the deer antlered girl returned to the large Teepee, bringing the exchanged dried meat, salt, Beast Bones, and other items.
“How did it go?” Su Bai asked.
Lu Lin had people place everything on the table and said, “My Father has agreed. From now on, we’ll trade every eight days. You’ll bring twice as much linen cloth as now.”
“Deal, but I have one more question,” Su Bai added.
“What question?” Lu Lin curiously asked.
Su Bai scanned the surroundings and said, “Our trading schedule should be kept secret. Only you and my people should know about it.”
He did not want the Tribe to be targeted before it was fully developed, as that would be too disadvantageous.
Lu Lin thought for a moment, then nodded and said, “Alright, I can agree to that, but your linen cloth quality must remain as good as this.”
“Don’t worry. It won’t be inferior,” Su Bai confidently said.
“Then please check the dried meat, salt, and the Beast Bones you’ve requested. If there are no problems, you can take them with you,” Lu Lin blinked her golden eyes.
Su Bai jutted his chin. This signalled Da Gua, Wa Ming, and the others to come forward and check, while he asked, “Miss Lu Lin, do you know about the Lion Mane Tribe?”
“Yes, but they don’t come often. We haven’t seen them for the last two markets,” Lu Lin said, tapping her chin with her index finger.
“I see. What do they usually bring in to trade with you?” Su Bai wanted to know more about the Lion Mane Tribe.
Lu Lin lowered her hand and became cautious, seriously stating, “We’re only responsible for hosting the market for you to trade. I can’t tell you about other matters.”
Su Bai put away his curiosity and nodded, “It’s fine. Thank you.”
Da Gua and Wa Ming had finished checking all the exchanged items and reported, “There are no problems with anything.”
“Good. Take the items and let’s go. We should cover some distance before it gets dark,” Su Bai instructed.
“Yes.” Da Gua and Wa Ming each shouldered the dried meat and other items.
After walking a few steps, Su Bai turned his head and said, “Da Gua, take ten pieces of dried meat and exchange them for that stone.”
Da Gua was stunned for a moment. Although he was curious why they wanted to exchange it for that stone, he responded, “Yes.”
[noscript][/noscript]