Chapter 943: Public Bathhouse

Su Bai sat in his seat, taking out paper and pen to write.

After his morning check-in, a sudden idea came to him. Once the idea arrived, he immediately took out paper and pen to begin sketching.

"What is the Shaman doing?" Yu Ying obediently handed over a cup of tea.

"I plan to build a large bathhouse," Su Bai accepted the freshly brewed tea.

Indeed, he had wanted to implement this idea for a long time, but many matters had obstructed it, so it remained unrealised.

The Tribe’s people had problems bathing. Currently, the Tribe only has a few toilets.

Although the Tribe did not lack water now, everyone hadn’t developed the habit of bathing daily.

Of course, it was summer now. Everyone would directly take cold baths without needing to heat water.

But this only applied to Totem Warriors or relatively strong males. It was more difficult for the old, weak, sick, disabled, and women.

For women and children, only hot baths were truly enjoyable. Otherwise, they would rather not bathe than suffer through cold water baths.

Moreover, everyone’s current thinking was that water was meant for drinking, not for bathing. If they could save on water, they would.

"Shaman, what is a large bathhouse?" Yu Ying organised the scattered papers on the table.

"A large bathhouse is a place where everyone can bathe, except it’s public," Su Bai explained.

"Public means everyone uses it together? Does that mean everyone bathes together?" Yu Ying’s hands stopped organising documents. Her pink fox tail became very tense.

Yu Ying felt this was far too embarrassing. She could not even imagine the scene of everyone bathing together.

"Hahaha, it’s not what you’re thinking. Although it’s a public bathhouse, everyone will be separated." Su Bai laughed heartily. "At least, the men and women are separated."

People from the primitive era were simply too innocent. They would still blush when discussing such matters.

"I see. This separation the Shaman mentioned should be like the toilets, all enclosed, right?"

Yu Ying stood obediently beside the table. "But, everyone doesn’t come to bathe, so this bathhouse might be somewhat wasted."

Yu Ying understood the Tribe’s current situation. There were still quite a number of people who disliked bathing.

"They simply find heating water for bathing troublesome, and they have no awareness of it at all."

Su Bai stopped his quill pen. "Once the public bathhouse is built, I believe everyone will come to love it."

"Does the Shaman’s public bathhouse have something special about it?" Yu Ying looked innocent.

"All the bathing water in the public bathhouse will be warm. Moreover, bathing once requires two labour value points. You can stay inside as long as you want."

Su Bai picked up the blueprint, saying thoughtfully, "Furthermore, the bathing supplies inside are available for everyone to use freely. After bathing, your whole body will be fragrant. Do you think they can resist?"

"I understand the Shaman’s meaning. Once their bodies are fragrant…" Yu Ying happily swished her pink fox tail. "Those who haven’t bathed and smell bad will feel embarrassed, which will motivate them to go to the public bathhouse too."

"You could say that. Moreover, the bathing supplies inside are all free. This point will definitely attract everyone." Su Bai set down the blueprint with satisfaction. "A few good friends going together to the public bathhouse, being able to gather and chat. This is also a form of relaxation."

To change everyone’s concept of not bathing, one had to start from this point.

Making a person obediently stay in one place to bathe was clearly quite difficult. But if a few good friends could go together, bathing would not be so boring.

Moreover, washing away accumulated grime meant others wouldn’t avoid you anymore.

The Flame Dragon Tribe currently had these two situations. Those few who bathed would show disgusted expressions towards those who didn’t.

Sometimes they would even curse loudly, because passing by or spending time together, that sourness was truly unbearable.

"The Shaman is really clever. But where will this public bathhouse be built?" Yu Ying looked left and right. The contents of the blueprint were somewhat difficult to understand.

"Build it in the middle of the Tribe, and the area should be large. The scale should also be impressive." Su Bai thought carefully. "Eventually, more and more people will go to the bathhouse. This will also be a significant business."

He did not think charging only two labour value points per bath was too cheap.

After all, it was a public bathhouse. If the fee was too high, no one would want to go. Small profits with high volume was more workable.

"Understood. I’ll give the blueprint to Ah’Lan later. She’s more familiar with these matters." Yu Ying helplessly lowered her pink fox tail. She couldn’t help with this aspect.

"En, I’ll leave this matter to you." Su Bai tapped her nose. "Have her gather the manpower and build according to the blueprint."

"Shaman, I still have one question I don’t quite understand." Yu Ying received the blueprint with both hands.

"Go ahead," Su Bai interlaced his hands.

"You just said the bathing water in the public bathhouse is all hot. Do we need to heat bucket after bucket of water and pour it in?"

Yu Ying blinked her large pink eyes innocently, eager for an answer.

"The water will have a heating device underneath. We just need to periodically add fuel." Su Bai blinked his black eyes. "Of course, mostly, we’ll place charcoal inside. This will maintain the hot water’s temperature."

Since the Tribe was currently building a steam engine, and the steam engine was not completely finished yet. Therefore, the public bathhouse would use charcoal for now. Under each bathing pool would be a place to store charcoal.

"I see. Just like how we heated tea water last winter, right?" Yu Ying nodded in understanding.

Last year at the Yong’an Building, during winter they would take a small brazier with burning charcoal inside, not active firewood.

Rather, some red-hot charcoal. A small ceramic teapot placed on top would keep the water inside continuously hot.

This was also why Su Bai could constantly drink hot tea last year. Of course, water could also be heated directly over the fire pit.

However, that was more troublesome. Each time one wanted hot water, it had to be heated.

"That’s the principle." Su Bai laughed heartily.

"But, the rainy season is approaching. Shaman, the public bathhouse probably can’t be completed before the rainy season arrives," Yu Ying said regretfully.

"It doesn’t matter. Prepare everything first. Once the rainy season ends, begin construction immediately," Su Bai said calmly.

"Understood." Yu Ying smiled slightly.