Chapter 10: Discussions and Exchanges
“Nanfeng, where did Changxia and Chen Rong go?” Gen paced back and forth, anxiously asking.
Changxia's body had just recovered, and she's already causing trouble? Chen Rong, why doesn't he advise her? I've met Chen Rong; he seems like a steady child. It seems he's still not steady enough; he needs to be disciplined.
Nanfeng, having nothing to do, helped Changxia fill the stone tank with water.
“Father, I told you. Changxia decided to go to the salt lake to get salt today and pick some white fruit along the way. Judging by the time, they should be back soon,” Nanfeng lifted her right foot and showed Gen the vine sandals, saying, “Father, go sit near the den; I'll teach you how to weave vine sandals. Later, you can weave a pair for Mother. That way, Mother won't have to worry about pebbles hurting her feet when she goes out to gather.”
Hearing Nanfeng's explanation, Gen calmed down.
He asked Nanfeng to take off the vine sandals on her feet and carefully examined them.
At the same time, he tried the vine sandals on his feet. The sandals were just the right softness and firmness, much more comfortable than the animal hide sandals and leaves.
“Changxia taught you how to make these vine sandals?” Gen happily said.
The animal hide sandals that were popular in the tribe were taught by Changxia.
“Mm!” Nanfeng nodded, sighing, “Father, Changxia is really smart. It's a pity that she's a bit weak.”
“Is she just a bit weak? If it weren't for the witch's precious medicine and her own efforts all these years, she might not have lived to adulthood, let alone transform.” Gen sighed. When the witch sent Changxia to the tribe,
Gen and the others worried that this poor child wouldn't live long.
But Changxia was indeed tenacious.
With the witch's precious medicine, she had escaped death many times and miraculously survived.
Therefore,
The tribespeople were extremely patient with Changxia.
No matter who in the tribe got something good, they would send her a share.
Like this time with Changxia building a cave dwelling; if it were anyone else, Gen would have scolded them.
“Father, don't worry; didn't the witch say that as long as Changxia successfully gets past her adulthood, she'll be able to live a peaceful life from then on?” Nanfeng picked out a few thin vines from the pile Changxia had spread out, and slowly wove them, imitating her vine sandals.
In a short while,
Nanfeng successfully wove a pair.
“Father, try them on—”
Gen took the vine sandals and took off the animal hide sandals on his feet.
He stood up and walked back and forth a few times.
“These vine sandals are really comfortable; they're better than animal hide sandals.” Gen didn't say anything else, squatted down, picked up the thin vines, and started weaving a pair for his partner. While working, he instructed Nanfeng, “Nanfeng, when you have time, cut some thin vines and take them back to the tribe. Also, teach the tribespeople how to weave vine sandals.”
“Let's ask Changxia's opinion when she gets back,” Nanfeng said.
“You're right, we should ask Changxia. I was too anxious; after all, vine sandals will have a big impact on the tribe,” Gen agreed with Nanfeng. The He Luo tribe had a simple and honest folk custom; the tribespeople were very united. The beastmen tribe practiced private ownership; even Gen, as the chief, couldn't take other people's things without reason.
Time slipped away as the two wove vine sandals.
At noon, a dark shadow approached the den.
Gen and Nanfeng quickly looked up; sensing the familiar aura, the two showed happy expressions.
“They're finally back,” Gen put down the thin vines and happily said.
“Changxia, someone's here—”
Chen Rong carried Changxia; his beast form was laden with backpacks and baskets, and he ran straight to the He Luo tribe. As soon as he arrived at the tribe, Chen Rong sensed two auras near his den.
“Who is it?” Changxia curiously asked.
Who would come here at this time?
“It seems to be the chief and Nanfeng,” Chen Rong replied. His beast eyes narrowed; he guessed that Gen's visit had something to do with Changxia. After all, she had said that she would teach the tribespeople how to make fish balls.
And also the river shrimp and stewed meat.
“The chief is still as impatient as ever,” Changxia sighed.
Chen Rong's beast form paused; in terms of impatience, did Changxia have the right to criticize others?
“Changxia, aren't the salt and white fruit you brought back a bit much?” Gen was about to wave hello but his gaze fell on the things on Chen Rong's back. Immediately, he was surprised.
“Too much? I don't think so at all,” Changxia took Nanfeng's hand and jumped off Chen Rong's back. Seeing Gen's unhappy expression, she quickly explained, “Chief, the salt is for pickling vegetables and meat; I'll store the salt properly to prevent it from getting damp. The white fruit, I plan to use it to research making it into easily stored food.”
“Fruit powder paste?” Nanfeng teased.
Changxia pinched Nanfeng's waist, arguing, “I'm not making fruit powder paste; I'm making noodles or flour. Wait; I'll tell you after I make it. Anyway, I won't waste this white fruit.”
“Okay, go ahead,” Gen didn't ask further. Confirming that Changxia wouldn't waste food, he turned to help Chen Rong unload the backpacks and baskets.
“So much!” Nanfeng put her hand to her forehead, looking at Changxia helplessly.
Gen didn't say anything else.
He believed that Changxia was sensible.
Since she had promised not to waste it, she would definitely do it.
“Spread the white fruit on the ground to dry; move the salt into the den first,” Changxia instructed Chen Rong to move the salt first. The white fruit could be dried in the sun, making it easier to grind into powder. Looking at the numerous baskets of white fruit, Changxia whispered, “There's a lot of white fruit; we need to exchange some pottery jars with the tribe. Otherwise, there's no place to store the powder after drying and grinding.”
“I can make wooden barrels,” Chen Rong said.
They didn't have anything to exchange for pottery; things like wooden barrels and vine baskets could be made by Chen Rong himself.
“You can?” Changxia was surprised.
Chen Rong nodded and replied, “Yes.”
“Then make some wooden barrels, of different sizes. Just like the woven vine baskets, they don't have to be all the same size,” Changxia instructed.
On the side, Gen and his daughter listened quietly to Changxia and Chen Rong's conversation.
They were full of emotion.
Sure enough, after getting married, the child had grown a lot.
“Changxia, if you need pottery jars, I can help you exchange them with the tribe. You've given the tribe the method of making fish balls; you've helped a lot,” Gen said seriously.
In the morning, he had Nanfeng catch some fish from the Ba River.
He had Muqin try to make delicious fish balls according to Nanfeng's method, and she succeeded. Although Nanfeng said that the taste wasn't as good as Changxia's, Gen and Muqin were already very satisfied.
The fish balls were delicious and chewy.
Besides being delicious, they were very suitable for the tribe's elders and cubs to eat.
At the same time, this meant that the tribe had a new food source. Even in the cold winter, the tribe would have another food to fill their stomachs, greatly reducing Gen's burden.
“Chief, I want to exchange some resin with the tribe using the method of making fish balls. Can I still exchange for pottery jars?” Changxia nervously rubbed her hands. She and Chen Rong couldn't participate in hunting for the time being.
Not being able to hunt meant that they couldn't get animal hides and bones.
The tribe exchanged mostly for animal hides and bones; the rest were food.
“Yes,” Gen nodded, helping Changxia pour the white fruit onto the ground, explaining, “Nanfeng said that besides fish balls, you also know how to cook river shrimp and a new method of stewing meat. If you're willing, I hope you can teach these to the tribe.”
“I'm willing,” Changxia quickly nodded. All the white fruit was poured out of the baskets, and the salt was moved into the den. She looked at Chen Rong and said, “Chen Rong, go to the lake and catch some fish and shrimp. At noon, the chief and Nanfeng will stay for dinner.”
Hearing this, Gen and Nanfeng didn't refuse.
Chen Rong nodded, washed his face, and went towards the lake with his backpack.
(End of Chapter)
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