Becoming a Leader in a Primitive Otherworld - Chapter 29

Most of the pottery fired in the kiln came out as redware, adorned with intricate patterns. Beyond their daily use, these vessels were also used in sacrificial rituals to honor tribal totems. As a result, the tribespeople began crafting them into various shapes, moving beyond simple bowls and basins.

The pottery-making process proceeded smoothly. Except for rainy days when firing was impossible, they could produce around sixty pieces on clear or overcast days. However, roughly one-third of these were flawed, leaving only thirty to forty usable pieces.

After several experiments, Xie Yu added bone meal and gravel to the pottery clay to enhance the vessels’ hardness and reduce the risk of cracking.

Xie Yu never discarded the flawed pieces. Instead, she had them carefully stacked. While not as good as the intact pottery, these imperfect vessels could still hold a considerable amount. She planned to sell them at the Great Market, where their pre-existing flaws meant there was no need to worry about breakage during transport.

After all, these novelties were unlike anything others had seen before. Even flawed, they were likely to attract plenty of buyers.

The flaws in the imperfect pieces would only highlight the quality of the perfect ones, allowing them to trade for even more goods.

The remaining pottery was divided among the tribespeople, with the rest stored in the warehouse for later use.

Around the two horizontal cave kilns, four wooden racks had been erected. Currently empty and lacking waterproof wooden planks, the tribespeople would simply lift two nearby planks bound with bundles of thatch to shield the pottery from rain.

The most abundant pottery items were still pottery bowls and pottery jars. While the Tribe needed pottery jars, these required lids—preferably airtight ones.

No one in the Tribe knew how to make such lids. A few days prior, Yun Nai had attempted to mold one, creating a rough prototype that now sat on the edge of the room.

Xie Yu recalled Yun Nai’s nimble hands, spreading her own fingers to compare. She had tried making one herself, but it had cracked during firing.

Today, with many tribespeople unusually free, they gathered to work on ceramic blanks together.

“This is a pottery jar,” Xie Yu gestured to the ceramic blank Yun Nai had molded earlier. “And this is a pottery jar lid.”

“Pottery jars and lids?” A man rubbed his eyes, trying to grasp Xie Yu’s idea. “I get it—we’re sealing them up.”

“Make more of these with lids,” Xie Yu instructed. “Later, when we trade for more salt, we can use them to preserve meat.”

“Dip the meat in lots of salt?” Yan swallowed hard. “Wouldn’t that taste amazing?”

Heaven knew their tribe had always used salt sparingly—each piece of meat was seasoned with a grain no larger than a speck of sand, leaving every meal bland. That was before, of course. Now, the Priest had discovered various herbs and spices to improve the flavor. But the thought of a piece of meat coated in abundant salt made Yan’s chest heave with excitement.

“I like that too!” Ke Meng hugged a freshly fired pottery jar, lost in daydreams.

“We’ll need to drink plenty of water with this meat.”

“This meat won’t spoil easily. Once we trade these jars for salt, we can save it for winter.”

“Then we won’t have to hunt during the winter anymore!” The other tribespeople, who had been working quietly, suddenly erupted in cheers.

Safely surviving the winter had always been their most cherished dream. Now, that dream was about to come true.

Xie Yu said, “Then we’ll need to hunt even more this autumn. And we’ll have to see how much salt these pottery jars can fetch.”

“They’ll definitely fetch a lot, Chief,” Ke replied. “Other tribes will need plenty of these jars. The Fish Tribe, used to eating fish, trades for animal hides, meat, and other trinkets at the Great Market every year. We can use these jars to trade for salt with other tribes first.”

As Xie Yu listened to Ke’s explanation, she felt a headache coming on. But for now, there was no other choice; their tribe lacked the authority to issue its own currency.

“The Fish Tribe is so lucky,” Yan said, shaking his head in admiration. “They have an endless supply of fish and can trade for all the salt they need.” He paused, then added, “But we’re lucky too!”

The Fish Tribe was actually a collective term for two large and three small tribes living along the coast.

“Actually, they’re not that lucky,” Ke countered. “They fought for ages to divide the coastline properly. Living by the sea is tough, and I’ve heard many warriors die fishing.”

The others nodded in agreement. It was true; the sea’s unpredictable weather made accidents all too common.

Besides, if it were them, they probably wouldn’t be used to living by the sea.

“They’re fighting so fiercely,” Li, who had been silent the whole time, slowly remarked.

“The last time, the Fish Tribes fought terribly.”

“If they keep fighting like this, it’s a good thing it hasn’t affected us.”

The group chattered as they worked, when someone suddenly asked, “There’s another tribe near our territory. What should we do?”

Lian shook the clay from his hands, recalling, “I overheard some of them talking. Their tribe doesn’t seem particularly aggressive.”

As Xie Yu listened to their discussion, she began to consider their next move. It seemed they should proactively learn more about this tribe.

Soon, they would be setting out for the Great Market. If this tribe had the capability to raid their camp while they were away, they would need to redefine the relationship between their two tribes.

Every tribe would send a delegation to the Great Market, so this tribe likely would too.

The Shadow Tribe couldn’t send everyone to the market; otherwise, the enemy could easily seize their camp without breaking a sweat.

If that were the case, it would be a devastating loss for the Shadow Tribe.

Moreover, they needed to secure that bamboo forest as soon as possible. Bamboo wasn’t just a minor resource; it had countless uses.

With its high strength, flexibility, smoothness, and durability, bamboo was invaluable as a building material alone. Perhaps they could even upgrade their hastily constructed thatched huts to bamboo houses in the future.

Now that summer had arrived, bamboo shoots were already sprouting. Even if they transplanted them, it would take a considerable time for them to mature. Xie Yu didn’t want to wait that long, so she decided to scout the area first.

The Tribespeople had just been discussing winter preparations. Bamboo could even be used to make bamboo fire cages, providing better warmth and protection against the cold during the winter months.

“Chief, shouldn’t we assess their strength?” Ke suggested first. “Otherwise, our Tribe will be vulnerable when we leave for the Great Market.”

Xie Yu nodded slightly. “Agreed. But before that, let’s finish shaping the Pottery quickly. We’ll need to go hunting again in a few days.”

The group gradually fell silent, their conversation coming to an end.

Yun Nai smiled warmly as she finished reviewing the cubs’ crookedly written Arabic numerals.

Seeing her smile, the cubs immediately puffed out their chests like proud little chicks, having worked hard to earn a word of praise from the beautiful Priest.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Yun Nai patted Lin on the head and told them to go rest. She then turned to walk toward Zhi’s hut.

Lin didn’t leave. Instead, she followed Yun Nai, boldly taking her hand and gazing up with wide, fluttering eyes. “Priest, where are you going?”

“To see Zhi. Do you want to come too, Lin?”

“Yes!”

“Then let’s go together.” Yun Nai led Lin around rows of thatched huts to Zhi’s door and knocked with her knuckles.

A moment later, the door opened. Zhi stepped forward, cradling several slender bamboo stalks in her arms, and smiled warmly as she respectfully handed them to Yun Nai.

Yun Nai thanked her. Zhi waved dismissively, insisting it was nothing, and reached out to pinch Lin’s cheek, but the girl dodged away.

“I’m grown up now!” Lin hid behind Yun Nai, peeking out with only half her face visible.

“Alright, alright,” Zhi said, acting like a mature adult who wouldn’t argue with a cub playing in the mud.

After saying goodbye, Lin proactively offered to help carry the bamboo stalks. Yun Nai selected two for her.

“Priest, what are you going to make? These bamboo strips are from such beautiful bamboo, and they smell so fragrant!”

“I want to make a flute.”

“Just one?” Lin’s focus always drifted to peculiar details, even though she didn’t yet know what a flute was. “Is it for yourself, or for the Chief?”

Yun Nai looked at the mischievous little figure beside her. “That’s a secret.”

“A secret? Because you haven’t given it away yet? Once you do, it won’t be a secret anymore!” Lin asked sweetly, “Do you need my help? I can help the Priest.”

“How did Lin know I needed help?” Yun Nai asked. Cubs in their growth phase needed validation of their personal value and a sense of accomplishment, so she didn’t refuse Lin’s kind offer.

“Because there are six bamboo strips here, but the Priest only said she’s making one flute! Maybe you’re not very good at it yet!” she exclaimed excitedly, proud of her deduction.

“You’re so clever.”

As they talked, they reached an open space. They pulled out two small stools and sat down.

Crafting a bamboo flute with accurate pitch was an especially challenging task under these circumstances. Yun Nai stole moments from her busy days over several days, finally producing a barely acceptable flute just as she was about to discard the last piece of bamboo.

The flute was elegant and refined, its delicate bamboo grain covering nearly the entire body.

“Priest, why are you secretly making this behind the Chief’s back?” Lin asked, genuinely puzzled. For days, the Priest had been secretly carving the flute, and just yesterday, when the Chief nearly caught them, she had even asked Lin to cover for her.

Lin looked up as Yun Nai brought the meticulously crafted flute to her lips, producing a melodious, soaring sound.

She finally realized this was likely something similar to a bone whistle, probably used for communication.

Bone whistles were commonly used by Tribespeople who had lost their way in the wilderness to signal each other and determine their location. But this flute was far too long and impractical to carry around.

Seeing that the result was satisfactory, Yun Nai relaxed and answered the cub’s question, “Because this is still a secret she can’t know yet. But the Chief will find out soon enough.”

“Alright, if the Chief asks me, I’ll keep my lips sealed.”

Xie Yu had indeed asked Lin what she and Yun Nai had been doing these past few days, but when Lin said it was a secret, she didn’t press further.

Everyone has their secrets, she told herself.

So when Yun Nai placed the flute in her palm, Xie Yu’s hand instantly burned hot, the heat surging through her veins straight to her heart. She stepped forward, cradling the bamboo flute. “Is this for me?”

Without waiting for an answer, Xie Yu reverently kissed the flute’s mouthpiece. “It must be for me! So this is what the Priest has been busy with these past few days.”

“No,” Yun Nai said, her heart softening at Xie Yu’s smug expression, though her words remained sharp. “I was going to make a bamboo rod to strike people’s palms, but I accidentally drilled a few extra holes.”

“What a wonderful accident! I’ll play for you,” Xie Yu said, holding the flute sideways and blowing a chaotic tune.

“On a scale of ten, Priest, how would you rate my playing?”

“Less than ten.”

“Looks like I still have room for improvement.”

“Perhaps.”

Xie Yu leaned closer, taking Yun Nai’s hand and pressing it around the flute. She tapped her own palm with it, chuckling softly. “This tap perfectly fulfills the original purpose of the bamboo rod.”

Yun Nai bit her lip, unsure how to respond. Then Xie Yu added, “After the hunt, I plan to find that tribe. Otherwise, I’ll have to leave soon, and I won’t be able to rest easy.”