Becoming a Leader in a Primitive Otherworld - Chapter 13

Constructing the wooden tub frame was relatively simple. Having gained experience building houses and crafting wooden beds, Gan, Zhi, and the others completed a prototype bathtub in less than a day after Xie Yu instructed them to try.

In addition to the bathtub, Xie Yu also had them make several wooden buckets for storing water.

The crudeness of the buckets was evident. Gaps of varying sizes riddled the spaces between the wooden planks, and the thick base extended outward beyond the sides. Even after sanding, they could hardly be called well-made.

Xie Yu didn’t mind the rough craftsmanship. Her primary concern was the bathtub’s size. When she sat down, she could stretch her legs comfortably without feeling cramped. Given Yun Nai’s height, he would undoubtedly find it even more comfortable.

“Chief, look at this. Is this how it’s supposed to be?” Gan stood beside Xie Yu, patting the bathtub with a puzzled expression. “What’s this thing called a bathtub for, anyway?”

“It’s for bathing,” Xie Yu waved her hand dismissively. “We don’t know if it’ll work yet. I’ll take it back and test it first. If it works, you’ll need to make many more.”

Gan’s eyes lit up at the news. “That’s wonderful!” Crafting woodenware was perfect for him. He couldn’t hunt and had feared he’d become useless. Though woodworking wasn’t easy, it meant he could eat his fill.

Deep down, what mattered most was that no one would ever look at him with the disdain reserved for the useless again.

After bringing the buckets back to the hut, Yun Nai returned with several large lotus reed leaves. These leaves were far larger than ordinary ones, each big enough to completely line the inside of a bathing bucket. They spread out three leaves, covering every gap.

“I’ll go heat the water,” Xie Yu said, moving the bathing bucket to a corner and taking one of the wooden buckets outside. The water-carrying bucket was also lined with lotus reed leaves to seal the seams, though they weren’t sure how well it would work in practice.

Heating water on the stone stove was slow. It took a while before the water warmed up. The two women used large stone bowls to scoop the hot water, watching with anticipation as it poured over the lotus reed lining in the bathing bucket.

“Perfect! The hot water didn’t damage them.”

Yun Nai breathed a sigh of relief.

Xie Yu lifted the wooden bucket, checked for leaks, and quickly carried it inside to pour the hot water into the bathtub.

The Lotus Reed itself carried a faint lotus fragrance, which intensified upon contact with the hot water, filling the entire thatched hut with its delicate aroma.

Seeing no signs of leaks in the bathtub, the two finally relaxed.

The next step was simple: one of them needed to bathe. However, there was only one bathtub, and the hut lacked even a partition.

“You go first,” Xie Yu said, fleeing as if escaping. “I have things to do. If anything happens—like the Lotus Reed tearing—just call me.”

Yun Nai was about to reply when Xie Yu vanished, even closing the door behind her.

The fleeing woman paced outside the door. Yun Nai was bathing, so she naturally had to guard the entrance. Though no one would dare intrude on her thatched hut, vigilance was still necessary.

The door needed improvements; without a lock, it would be easily breached by thieves.

The mud in front of the door had become noticeably compacted from her pacing. She occasionally glanced at the hut, though the door blocked her view.

Having one person wash while the other stood guard outside wasn’t a sustainable solution. Xie Yu stroked her chin, realizing she needed to build a simple screen to provide privacy. That way, she wouldn’t have to keep running outside, and staying inside wouldn’t be so awkward.

After a while, a clear, crisp voice rang out, its underlying joy audible to a careful listener.

“I’m done washing.” These simple words brought a smile to Xie Yu’s face, indicating that Yun Nai had washed smoothly without any issues with the Lotus Reed breaking.

Xie Yu moved the door panel aside and entered the hut. She saw Yun Nai’s long hair still dripping with water, some strands clinging damply to her shoulders.

To avoid wetting the animal hide, Yun Nai wore minimal clothing: a thin animal-skin garment draped over her body, with deerskin tied around her waist to form a makeshift skirt.

Xie Yu kept her gaze fixed directly above Yun Nai, asking, “How was it?”

“Very good,” Yun Nai replied, flicking her wet hair with her hand. She would have to wait for it to air-dry naturally.

Relieved, Xie Yu exhaled softly and turned to leave. As she stepped out the door, she cautioned, “Wait for your hair to dry before going out. It’s windy outside—don’t catch a cold.”

With Yun Nai finally finished washing, Xie Yu no longer needed to stand guard.

Xie Yu led the original team that built the huts to the designated latrine area, located at the northernmost part of the settlement. “First, dig two large pits, separate them.”

She explained the details to the team leader, noting that Gan and Zhi were truly born for this work, understanding her designs almost instinctively.

“Chief, rest assured. But… are we really going to do it this way?” Some members of the team seemed puzzled, wondering why they were just digging holes.

“Absolutely,” Xie Yu said sternly. “Each of you must set an example.”

“Set an example?” Yan blinked, gripping his stone knife tighter. “Whose head are we setting an example with?”

“No one’s head. I mean—you all must be the first to use these latrines.”

Yan’s face cleared with understanding. “Understood, Chief. We will.”

Having gained experience building the huts, the latrines posed no challenge for the team.

Two days later, the latrines were completed. To ensure separation between men and women, Xie Yu had the team build two separate structures.

The tribespeople were still getting used to using the latrines and bathing in their own huts.

“It’s the rule,” Xie Yu stated firmly in four words, making her position clear.

“This is good for your health and will help prevent illness,” Yun Nai said softly to the group of tribespeople before her. “If you keep it up, our warriors will live longer.”

Several individuals who had already been reminded by Xie Yu spoke up, taking the lead in agreeing.

The cubs watched the commotion from the sidelines, clapping and cheering.

Xie Yu smiled at the cubs, her voice slow and deliberate. “You too.”

Children are more malleable than adults, so she intended to properly guide and educate these five cubs.

Since the Tribe had begun living in separate dwellings, the cubs had been staying with their parents, no longer raised communally as before.

However, the Tribe’s traditions remained unchanged; others still looked after them.

Once she had the time, she would need to focus her efforts on the cubs.

A few days later, it was time for the tribespeople’s communal hunting expedition, leaving only a dozen or so behind at the settlement.

The hunt yielded a modest but sufficient haul. Combined with the leftovers from previous hunts, there was enough to hold a simple tribal bonfire feast.

To foster camaraderie, each tribe held gatherings from time to time. These social events didn’t always require food and drink; for instance, the Shadow Tribe often simply gathered to sing and chant together.

In the pitch-black night, bonfires blazed brightly around the settlement. Xie Yu sat in the place of honor, with Yun Nai to her left. A noticeable gap separated them from the others.

The bonfires burned fiercely, yet the tribespeople, despite their day’s labor, remained full of energy, their lively songs awakening the night.

Ke roasted meat, humming a tune. Someone nearby struck up a conversation with her, “Ke, where have you been these past few days? I haven’t seen you around much.”

“What?”

Yan was chanting loudly nearby, making it hard for Ke to hear. She leaned closer.

The person shouted into her ear, “What have you been up to lately—”

Ke chuckled, “I’m not telling you.”

Just then, Ping approached with a basket of fish on her back and poured them into the stone hearth near the campfire.

Xie Yu noticed that Ping’s interest in fish far exceeded that of the other tribespeople. Over the past few months, she had been one of the few who regularly fished from the river for food. Most of the others still relied on their traditional diet of animal meat, wild fruits, and wild vegetables.

After handing the roasted meat to Yun Nai, Ping approached and asked, “Priestess, could I borrow some seasonings? I think I’m running low.”

Yun Nai agreed and started to rise to fetch the seasonings from her hut, but Xie Yu sprang to her feet. “I’ll go, Priestess. You stay seated.” Her legs were starting to feel numb from sitting for so long, and she was eager to stretch them.

Ke finished her conversation with the person beside her and looked up to find Xie Yu gone. Her eyes suddenly curved into a mischievous smile as she leaned close to Yun Nai’s ear and whispered, “Priestess, you have no idea how much the Chief adores you. Remember that winter hunting trip when we encountered those ten wolves? It was during that time.”

“Chief, Ke was so happy thinking about you back then,” Lian said, grinning.

Yun Nai smiled, her tone playful. “Really?”

Ke nodded vigorously.

Just as Xie Yu returned to hand the ingredients to Ping, she caught Ke whispering mischievously in Yun Nai’s ear. Xie Yu’s expression darkened; she couldn’t shake the feeling that Ke was tattling.

Meanwhile, Ping thanked Xie Yu for the ingredients, prompting Xie Yu to tease, “Ping, you really love eating fish.”

“Not quite, Chief,” Lian chimed in with a chuckle. “She loves cooking fish.”

“Alright, alright, both are fine.”

Xie Yu glanced back at Yun Nai and Ke. By the time she approached them, Ke had already darted away, still laughing.

“What did Ke say?” Xie Yu asked curiously.

“She said you’re very fond of me,” Yun Nai replied, pulling her animal hide tighter around herself. “She said you smile whenever you think of me while hunting.”

Xie Yu couldn’t even remember the incident. “When was that?”

“That time in winter.”

“Anyone would smile when thinking of the Priest,” Xie Yu said dismissively, having completely forgotten the event.

Yun Nai neither confirmed nor denied this, choosing instead to enjoy the bonfire gathering.