85: Chapter 85: Ceramics 85: Chapter 85: Ceramics Liu Ye nodded fervently.
Yuanyuan curiously asked, “What Aloe Vera?
Was it this that removed the thing on Liu Ye’s face?”
Su Tang nodded, explaining as simply as she could, “Yes!
When I was picking herbs with Ni Bo, I found a single plant, so I gave it to Liu Ye to apply on her face!”
“Aloe Vera is a plant with large, broad leaves that contain a clear gel-like substance.
Applying this substance to your face can make you more beautiful!”
Qing Guo looked thoughtfully at Su Tang, “So you’re so beautiful and fair-skinned because you’ve been using Aloe Vera?”
Upon hearing this, Yuanyuan’s interest was piqued!
“Is that true?
Su Tang, I want to try Aloe Vera too!
Please!”
Su Tang was both amused and at a loss of what to do.
“Aloe Vera does have brightening properties, but you need to use it consistently for it to work!
And I only found that single plant.
Liu Ye needed it more, so I gave it to her.
If I find more later on, I’ll get some for you, okay?”
Yuanyuan nodded somewhat dejectedly, “Alright then!”
Liu Ye was so excited she didn’t know what to say, her smile never leaving her face!
While the four were conversing, they had already reached the dirt path.
Su Tang squatted down, scooped up a handful of the Yellow Earth, which was as smooth as powder, an excellent type of soil indeed!
“We are here.
This is the soil.
We need to line our baskets with large green leaves first so that the soil does not fall through the gaps!”
The others nodded, arranging their baskets as Su Tang had demonstrated before beginning to fill them with soil.
Su Tang’s basket was small, once filled over halfway, it was already quite heavy.
Qing Guo had the most soil, estimated to be around sixty pounds, followed by Yuanyuan with about fifty pounds.
Even Liu Ye, who was not much taller than Su Tang, carried more than forty pounds!
Carrying her twenty-something pound of Yellow Earth, Su Tang couldn’t help but cringe!
…
When they returned to the cave, Huang Guo was already there waiting with a group of older women!
Seeing the four return, she huffed and puffed, running over, “Where did you guys go?
Why didn’t you wait for me?”
Su Tang consoled her gently, “Don’t be upset, we brought back some Yellow Earth, I thought I’d teach you how to make a Mud Embryo, weren’t you interested?”
Huang Guo was instantly distracted and she exclaimed happily, “Yes, yes, that sounds great!”
Qing Guo shook his head helplessly, putting down his basket and pouring all the Yellow Earth onto the ground.
As the floor of the cave was smooth rock with no debris, it was ideal for kneading soil.
After the soil was piled together, Su Tang dug a hole in the centre of the pile.
Huang Guo and the others brought over water with large green leaves and poured it into the hole.
Slowly, bit by bit, as if kneading dough, Su Tang mixed the dirt and water, kneading it into a smooth large Mud Ball!
Once that was done, she divided the large Mud Ball into many small pieces, one for each of the women in the cave.
The remaining soil was covered with large green leaves to prevent the moisture from evaporating and drying the soil.
The group sat down in a circle, cross-legged on the ground.
Su Tang held up the Mud Ball in her hands, “The first step to making pottery is kneading the clay.
We need to squeeze out all the little air bubbles in the Mud Ball.
This way, the Mud Ball will be finer and the finished pottery will be less likely to explode in the kiln.”