I am a Primitive Man-Chapter 836: Deep in the Lotus Flowers, Harvesting Seed Pods Brings Endless Joy
Chapter 836 – Deep in the Lotus Flowers, Harvesting Seed Pods Brings Endless Joy
After finalizing the route from Longmen Inn to Wild Duck Lake, Han Cheng returned to Lotus Island.
He knew that the road-building team was now skilled at their work. Once the route was set, there was no need for him to worry—the tribe members could handle the construction efficiently.
While the road crew worked, Han Cheng had some of the people on Lotus Island start building houses.
The construction site was on the northern side of the island.
He avoided building on the southern side because, judging by the number of birds resting there at night, in less than two years, any houses there would likely be smeared with bird droppings.
He chose a higher spot on the north, over a hundred meters away from the closest floating debris he could find.
Building on Lotus Island required accounting for seasonal rises in the lake during summer and autumn. Without this consideration, houses might appear fine at first, but could be washed away during high water.
Han Cheng did not intend for people to live permanently on the island. The houses were temporary shelters for those digging bird guano stones, harvesting lotus roots, or fishing. Hence, the construction quality did not need to be elaborate.
Instead of rammed-earth walls, they used the same method as when building deer pens:
Clear a flat plot of land.
Outline the foundation of the house.
Drive wooden stakes, each about the thickness of an arm and over a meter high, with one end sharpened, along the outline at thirty-centimeter intervals.
Weave flexible branches in and out around the stakes, up to the top.
Apply clay to both sides of the woven fence to form walls.
Compared with rammed-earth walls, this method was much faster and less labor-intensive.
Roofs were tiled rather than thatched, saving effort. As long as they weren’t hit by heavy objects or blown away by strong winds, tiles lasted a long time. Thatch, however, would leak over time and need repairs.
The tiles themselves were not an issue. Since the construction of Longmen Inn began, Hei Wa and a few skilled workers had been making kilns near the inn and producing tiles, already amassing a supply.
However, Longmen Inn had yet to reach the roofing stage, and some workers had been reassigned to road and house construction, delaying the tile installation. Even if the current batch of tiles were used, future production would still suffice.
Wood for the island houses came from outside the island, except for a few trees cut earlier for road construction. Even firewood for cooking was transported in. Han Cheng set strict rules: no using island wood except fallen branches for fuel.
The trees and wildlife on Lotus Island were to be protected. When collecting bird guano or other materials at the southern end, people were instructed not to make loud noises and to avoid early morning and evening, when birds were most active. Hunting near the island was forbidden.
Han Cheng explained the reasoning behind these rules. When people understood the purpose and benefits of the tribe, they would comply voluntarily rather than requiring constant supervision.
This approach proved effective. The tribe became more cohesive, motivated, and self-disciplined, all striving toward shared goals.
With everyone’s effort, after the road from Longmen Inn to Wild Duck Lake was completed, the ten or so houses on Lotus Island were finished.
No walls were built around these houses; only one-meter-high fences of stakes encircled them. There were no poisonous animals or predators on the island. The fiercest creatures encountered were birds that occasionally dropped excrement, and the old turtles captured for food.
Once the houses were done, workers digging and transporting bird guano stones piled a large heap at the edge of Wild Duck Lake. Han Cheng then had the bridge builders and Longmen Inn team continue their work while he joined those transporting guano stones to load them onto donkey carts and wheelbarrows, heading toward Green Sparrow’s main tribe.
The day before transporting lotus roots, Han Cheng instructed the team to sort them: edible ones were eaten, plantable ones sent back to Green Sparrow Tribe and Copper Mountain Residential Area for cultivation.
He gave Third Senior Brother half a tiger tally to pass to Shang, authorizing some Copper Mountain people to help transport guano stones. This tally was slightly larger than those used in military alliances to emphasize Copper Mountain’s superiority.
Formality aside, any orders from Han Cheng would be respected, but he maintained these protocols for habit-building and long-term management.
Those remaining in the tribe continued their usual duties: weeding, tending sheep, and feeding rabbits. The Green Sparrow Tribe, now developed, always had many tasks.
In some yellowing, weak millet fields, people bent over pulling weeds. Some carried large baskets of broken bird guano stones from Lotus Island, distributing the fertilizer evenly across the soil—top-dressing the crops.
These stones, now crushed into granular form, acted much like modern chemical fertilizer. Top-dressing helped the crops absorb nutrients quickly, increasing yield. People followed with hoes to cover the fertilizer with soil, ensuring maximum effect.
This method mirrored later practices where farmers fertilize during light rain so the nutrients dissolve and reach the roots without burning the leaves.
Farming, vital for tribal survival and development, required skill and care—not as simple as it seemed.
Amid this busy work, there were moments of leisure.
Among the swaying lotus leaves, a small wooden boat appeared.
“Brother Cheng! Here! Here!” shouted Bai Xue excitedly, pointing toward a large lotus seed pod hidden under the leaves.
“Alright!” Han Cheng responded, steering the boat closer.
Bai Xue grasped the pod and its stem, pulling it into the boat. White sap oozed from the stem as if protesting, but she was too happy to care. She continued searching for more seed pods.
Han Cheng enjoyed using the pole to maneuver the boat through dense lotus leaves with his joyful wife aboard. It was far more satisfying than standing on shore, wistfully watching the picker and reciting poems.
Whole lotus seeds were best cooked into porridge after removing the outer shell and the bitter lotus heart; smaller seeds could be eaten directly for their sweet fragrance.
Thanks to Han Cheng’s leadership and the delicious lotus seeds, picking seed pods became the favorite pastime on Lotus Island.
Meanwhile, Longmen Inn was built, its plaque engraved with a green sparrow and “Longmen Inn,” giving it a commanding presence. Nearby, bridges were constructed toward the Copper Mountain Residential Area.
Pits remained where guano stones were excavated, and paths were leveled from these pits to the temporary docks. Donkey carts and wheelbarrows transported the guano stones to Green Sparrow’s main tribe and Copper Mountain fields.
Once crushed, workers hand-spread them over the crops.
Time passed quietly. After a rain, temperatures cooled, and nights became comfortable.
The previously pale leaves of many trees turned deep green. Crops that had looked weak now thrived under guano fertilizer.
Standing beside the millet fields, Han Cheng, Shaman, and others saw vigorous, dark-green plants. The crushed guano had revived previously undernourished crops, surpassing fields that hadn’t received fertilizer. Ears of grain were large and full, much like those produced by using a highly effective modern fertilizer.
Sufficient guano stones could significantly boost overall food production.
Harvesting was done separately for seed preservation. Large-scale planting made individual ear selection impossible, but seed selection still occurred in smaller experimental plots.
Autumn winds caused yellow leaves to fall, and millet heads drooped modestly. After a celebratory harvest feast, the tribe launched into the main harvest.
Sickles swung, sweat dripped, and crops were gathered for threshing. The harvest season was full of joy mixed with toil.
Over a month later, after large-scale harvesting, looking out from the tribe walls, the once-full fields appeared bare, giving a sense of spaciousness and human achievement.
The workforce was divided: some continued farm labor, others collected fruits. Multiple stoves were set up in the tribe to cook fruit preserves and jams, filling the air with sweetness.
Once crops were gathered, including hemp, seeds were saved, stalks bundled, and placed in fermentation pits downstream.
After a brief rest, villagers began plowing the land with donkeys, preparing for spring sowing. This reduced labor in the spring and helped destroy pests. Others cleared land near the Bronze Highway for new fields. Some repaired damaged areas, dug or deepened ditches, and closed inappropriate channels.
One night, Han Cheng woke shivering in the cold. Initially, he thought Bai Xue had pulled the animal-hide bedding away. Checking, he found the covers in place.
Fully awake, he lit a fire striker and an oil lamp, illuminating the cold room with a dim glow.
Bai Xue still slept soundly, curled around Little Xing’er. Han Cheng shivered, dressed quickly, and covered them both for warmth.
Chapter 836: Deep in the Lotus Flowers, Harvesting Seed Pods Brings Endless Joy
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