I am a Primitive Man-Chapter 835: Some Things Are Really Hard
Chapter 835 – Some Things Are Really Hard
Under Han Cheng’s encouraging words, Shaman suddenly looked much younger, full of spirit. Meanwhile, in the northern Black Stone Tribe, Shu Pi sat on a stone outside the tribe’s cave, watching the sunset slowly descend behind the hills. He appeared drained entirely, as if aged many years.
He quietly sat there, staring blankly at the reddish western sky, no longer feeling the joy he had experienced when he killed the leader of the Blue Flower Tribe and earned the trust of the Black Stone Tribe.
The reason for his gloom was apparent: his plan to obtain salt and pottery, show the Black Stone Tribe’s leader their value, and convince him to lead his people south to launch a suicidal attack on the Green Sparrow Tribe had once again failed.
It wasn’t that salt or pottery weren’t appealing; the problem was that he had no way to acquire them.
Previously, he had proposed bringing some furs and food, along with a small group of people, to head south and barter with the Green Sparrow Tribe for salt and pottery—but he had been denied permission.
All he received were several harsh slaps to the head from the Black Stone Tribe’s leader, who believed Shu Pi was attempting to lead people away from the great Black Stone Tribe.
After the two slaps, the leader sternly warned Shu Pi: if he ever attempted such a thing again, the leader and others would kill him, eat him, and display his skull alongside that of the Blue Beard Tribe leader.
The Black Stone Tribe’s leader was not making idle threats—he and his people would truly carry it out.
This is why Shu Pi appeared so troubled—he realized that, facing the Black Stone Tribe leader, he had no means to resist and was completely suppressed by this ruthless man.
At one point, he had considered sneaking away during hunts or other activities to secretly head south, find the Green Sparrow Tribe, and enlist their help in attacking the Black Stone Tribe. But this remained just a fleeting thought.
He knew that even if he tried, there was no guarantee anyone would follow him, nor was he sure he could locate the Green Sparrow Tribe. Even if he did, the Green Sparrow Tribe was wealthier and would never risk it.
Moreover, as an exile, he might not even be allowed to enter the Green Sparrow Tribe gates—and they might kill him.
He vividly remembered the expressions of his tribesmen when he was exiled. If the Divine Child had not intervened, they would have surely killed him.
Even the plan to go secretly, obtain some salt and pottery without mentioning the Black Stone Tribe, and return to try to persuade the leader, Shu Pi, had been considered—but ultimately rejected.
He knew the Black Stone Tribe leader too well.
No matter how good the salt or pottery was, if he violated the leader’s orders, the ruthless man would certainly kill and eat him as promised.
Just thinking about it filled Shu Pi with an inescapable melancholy.
He sat there for a long while, only standing to enter the cave when the aroma of food reached him.
He looked utterly drained—more fatigued than even a deer that could spar with many others in one day during spring.
That’s because he had just decided to never dwell on an impossible task again.
After staying two days at the Copper Mountain Residential Area, Han Cheng and Shaman departed, heading back along the Bronze Highway.
On the way back, Shaman insisted on walking alongside Han Cheng rather than riding, demonstrating the power of psychological influence.
Previously, Shaman had thought he was old and near death, and this constant self-suggestion had drained his spirit.
Now, having learned from the Divine Child that humans could live so long, he felt youthful again.
It’s similar to elderly parents who still have their parents alive—they feel younger. Once their parents pass, they feel older faster.
Seeing Shaman’s transformation, Han Cheng was naturally pleased. After walking for a while, he still let Shaman rest in the donkey cart, as physical limitations still constrained the body despite mental alertness.
The most delighted, however, was not Han Cheng but Shaman’s hand-warmer, Yuan, the former Half-Farming tribe priestess.
These days, Yuan was radiant and energetic, walking with a spring in her step—appearing younger than Shaman.
Truly, this was an “old yet strong twilight romance.”
Han Cheng looked at Shaman walking beside the cart and Yuan ahead, smiling—even if it appeared a little mischievous.
Watching the Divine Child, Shaman, and Yuan leave, the residents of the Copper Mountain Residential Area felt a mix of sadness and reluctance.
Gradually, this feeling faded, replaced by joy.
They recalled the gifts the Divine Child had brought:
Wild Duck Lake had islands with abundant bird guano, and also new, delicious foods.
This trip brought back some delicious treats.
Given such good fortune, how could they not be happy?
As Green Sparrow Tribe members, the more good things their tribe possessed, the happier they were.
Even newcomers knew the tribe’s history: once impoverished, the tribe’s fortune had grown day by day with the Divine Child’s guidance, transforming completely.
Setting out from Copper Mountain Residential Area in the morning, by late afternoon, they reached the under-construction Longmen Inn.
The next day, Han Cheng and his group did not continue east along the Bronze Highway toward the Green Sparrow Tribe, but stayed one day to work at Wild Duck Lake’s Lotus Island.
This visit was no longer for exploration or sightseeing, but for labor.
The group split into two: one led by Han Cheng at the island’s edge to harvest lotus roots, the other on the eastern, flatter area to excavate bird guano stones.
With their constant effort, lotus plants were trampled to reach the roots, while the guano stones, hard but breakable with bronze tools, were collected into baskets.
Both resources were intended for the main tribe—under Han Cheng’s leadership, no one returned empty-handed.
At first, harvesting lotus roots was exciting, but after a few hours, fatigue set in. Cuts from lotus stems marked arms and legs, and feet ached from the mud, which was firm beneath the surface. Lotus roots grew deep, requiring significant effort, especially from the big toes.
By afternoon, Han Cheng was exhausted, his hands and feet stained from contact with mud and lotus roots.
Though lotus roots can grow out of mud unstained, those who harvest them do not remain clean.
Yet the effort was not wasted—they harvested over a thousand catties of lotus roots.
Han Cheng sorted the roots, setting aside those with unbroken, emerging lotus sprouts for planting around the tribe.
These roots were carefully covered with mud to avoid breaking sprouts, ensuring successful growth.
By sunset, baskets of bird guano stones and lotus roots were transported by raft to the lakeshore, then to Longmen Inn.
The next morning, after breakfast, Han Cheng and others set off, with donkey carts loaded with harvested resources.
Even Shaman carried a fur-wrapped bundle of guano stones, while Panda Tuan Tuan had two packs.
Though laborious, carrying resources boosted morale—it was tangible productivity.
Returning to the main Green Sparrow Tribe, residents cheered.
This was the first time the Divine Child and Shaman left the tribe together. Though instructions were left with eldest senior brother and next-in-line leaders, the tribe felt emptiness in their absence.
During their absence, the tribe maintained strict alertness, barely sleeping.
With their return, tension dissipated, replaced with excitement over bird guano stones, lotus roots, and stories from Lotus Island.
Han Cheng smiled silently, letting others recount the adventures—he did not seek to monopolize the joy. Shaman also remained silent, smiling.
Even the eldest senior brother and Shi Tou longed to visit Wild Duck Lake and Lotus Island, to harvest lotus roots and see guano stones covering the island like rocks.
After the excitement subsided, Han Cheng took some people with bronze spades and selected lotus roots for planting around the tribe.
Shaman, still anxious, asked Shi Tou about events during their absence. Learning all was well, and that a female donkey had given birth, Shaman’s spirits soared.
Han Cheng dug shallow trenches with bronze spades, carefully placed lotus roots, and covered sprouts without breaking them—successful planting.
Long-matured lotus seeds could also be sown, but growth would be slower; Han Cheng wanted rapid propagation around the tribe.
The first lotus roots were planted along the protective moat around the tribe.
Thanks to Ba Ge’s efforts, many tree seedlings for fruit trees, mulberry trees, and even iron-fence trees were already thriving.
The moat, while narrow (3–4 meters), stretched over a large area—roughly 30–40 acres.
In addition to lotus roots, fish had been stocked over the years.
Planting lotus roots might slightly reduce the moat’s defensive function, but with the external iron-fence wall, it wasn’t crucial.
The lotus roots were planted approximately two meters apart. Even so, the seeds brought back did not fully cover the westernmost trench.
However, this wasn’t a concern—once news spread, the tribe could organize teams to harvest lotus roots and transport guano stones.
At night, after washing, Han Cheng lay on his kang, exhaling deeply—lying on his own bed felt extremely comfortable.
Though he initially planned to sleep immediately, he delayed nearly an hour to finalize some notes.
In this slow-paced, primitive society, as the tribe’s leader, he could sleep late without labor obligations.
The next day, he began having Shaman and others inspect the tribe’s boats and bamboo rafts. Once repaired, these would be transported to Wild Duck Lake.
Rafts were heavier than boats, with less buoyancy. Future transportation of guano and lotus roots would require these resources.
After three days’ rest, Han Cheng set out again. Shaman and others did not join; over half the team had not previously visited Copper Mountain Residential Area or Lotus Island.
In addition to donkey carts, they brought twenty wheelbarrows for transporting guano stones.
Upon arrival at the under-construction Longmen Inn, Han Cheng sent two people to accompany newcomers to Copper Mountain Residential Area while he and the rest transported boats, rafts, and baskets to Wild Duck Lake, then to Lotus Island.
Upon arrival, they cleared a path from the guano stone site to the island’s makeshift dock, then began excavating bird guano stones.
Excavated stones were placed in baskets, transported to the dock, then loaded onto rafts or boats for delivery to the lakeshore.
At the lakeshore, stones were temporarily stored in a spacious area away from the water before final transport to Longmen Inn, then distributed to the Green Sparrow main tribe and Copper Mountain Residential Area.
Segmented transport improved efficiency with limited manpower.
While excavating and transporting guano stones, bridge-building, and Longmen Inn construction teams temporarily paused their tasks under Han Cheng’s coordination to build a road from Longmen Inn to Wild Duck Lake.
The road was slightly lower in specification than the Bronze Highway, but was jointly constructed from both ends.
For those who had built the Bronze Highway, constructing a lower-spec road was easy. In about eleven or twelve days, the ten-li road was completed.
Chapter 835: Some Things Are Really Hard
Comments