Chapter 8: Young Chieftain, You've Really Misunderstood
A group of raggedy kids, their hair disheveled, gathered around in tattered animal skins, their bellies swollen from drinking soup. They felt so full, they hadn't felt this satisfied in a long time.
Zhuang Yu was a bit worried, but the kids seemed perfectly fine.
Not far from the cave, a kid wearing a small leather cap was salivating incessantly. Whatever they were drinking seemed really delicious, and even from a distance, he could smell the aroma.
The kid with the leather cap licked a shell continuously, as if that would help him determine the taste. He also wanted some soup, but it was from Yu, whom he detested...
The kid with the leather cap struggled internally. When he saw everyone else drinking bowl after bowl, it seemed they were almost finished.
"Forget it." The kid with the leather cap gritted his teeth, then hid his cap, rolling around in the dirt until he was all dirty. Now, he was also one of the kids from the collective cave.
He ran towards the cave with his shell in hand.
Zhuang Yu watched as the dirty kid, with his head down and holding a shell, approached for soup. Zhuang Yu couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth. Did he think getting dirty would make Zhuang Yu not recognize him? Wasn't he the kid who had passed by his cave thirteen times riding a deer today?
The kid with the leather cap was now especially embarrassed because he had pretended to be one of the kids from the collective cave, holding a shell and waiting for Yu, whom he disliked, to give him soup.
But he didn't care anymore. For the sake of food, he was willing to do anything.
At that moment, Zhuang Yu suddenly said, "Why have you been hanging around my cave entrance all day, Kid with the Leather Cap?"
The kid with the leather cap dropped his shell, being... being recognized. Oh no, it was so embarrassing. He used to always look down on Yu, and now he was here to mooch off him.
The kid with the leather cap turned red in the face, then turned and ran away. How would Yu, whom he had always despised, look at him now? It was too embarrassing.
Zhuang Yu, who was about to serve soup to the kid with the leather cap, also froze. What was going on? Why did he suddenly not want the soup?
What a strange child indeed.
The kid with the leather cap ran far away, feeling ashamed and somewhat angry. He had been looked down upon by Yu. It was just bone broth soup, he had seen it clearly just now. Hmph, he could make it too.
So the kid with the leather cap started making bone broth soup himself. But when he took the first sip with great enthusiasm after it was done, he spat it out immediately. What devilry was this? Why was it different from Yu's? Although he hadn't tasted Yu's soup, just the smell made him drool.
Actually, what the kid with the leather cap made was just bone-washing water, barely boiled, and without salt. It was fishy and stinky. It was a miracle if it tasted good.
Meanwhile, outside Zhuang Yu's cave, a group of kids who had finished their meal hadn't left but instead were helping Zhuang Yu catch bugs in his chili field.
In this world without pesticides, there were many bugs.
Zhuang Yu watched in astonishment. Did these kids, who had drunk his soup, consider this their way of repaying him?
What an interesting group of kids. Had they formed a bug-catching team for his chili field?
Zhuang Yu ignored them, as long as they didn't step on the seedlings. Then he returned to his cave, brought out the beehive he had made, and called Feng Wen over. After some coaxing, Feng Wen finally managed to get all his bees into the beehive.
Feng Wen was able to gather so many bees because he had a fist-sized queen bee. The creatures in this world were truly amazing. A queen bee had become inseparable friends with Feng Wen, who had autism.
Reluctantly, Feng Wen guarded the beehive, refusing to leave its side.
Without Feng Wen surrounded by bees, he looked especially small and even more timid. He didn't dare to lift his head, let alone look at people. His autism had reached its extreme.
Zhuang Yu sighed and could only take it slow. He placed the beehive at the cave entrance where it wouldn't get wet from the rain and wouldn't disturb the inside of the cave.
Little Mushroom tilted his head, observing the beehive with curiosity. Holding a small stick, he poked it into the beehive, frightening Feng Wen into hugging the beehive tightly.
At this time, the kids outside started watering Zhuang Yu's chili field. With the weather getting hotter, the chili field needed to be watered morning and evening.
However...
"Yu, your family is running out of water."
Zhuang Yu was taken aback, running outside to see a row of large shells. These shells were particularly large, and he didn't know where they came from. He saw similar shells placed at the entrances of other people's caves. They were apparently used to store water.
His chili field consumed too much water, and he was also diligent in his personal hygiene. Looking at the almost empty water shells, he realized they could only last for a day or two at most. What should he do?
It seemed he had to find a way to fetch water back, otherwise, his chili seedlings would die of thirst, and they also needed continuous drinking water.
He remembered there was a big river outside the tribal area. He had seen it from afar when he was picking mushrooms on the mountain.
After sending away the diligent kids, and watching over the beehive, tearfully guarding against mischief from Little Mushroom, and unwilling to leave Feng Wen, Zhuang Yu went alone with his huge shell equipment to fetch water from the river.
Even though it was already dark, there were three moons in the sky, indicating good visibility.
Zhuang Yu quickened his pace because the temperature difference between day and night was significant, and it was very cold inside the cave at night. One can only imagine how cold it must be outside.
Guided by the moonlight, Zhuang Yu headed straight for the clear river.
Using shells to fetch water was not convenient at all, to be honest. The journey was not short, but he had no other choice now.
Arriving at the riverside, everything was silent, with only the cold moonlight.
Zhuang Yu thought he was probably the only one outside at this time. However, to his surprise, by the riverside, someone was washing their face. Their figure seemed particularly tall, likely someone from the Golden Centipede Tribe.
Zhuang Yu glanced at them but didn't pay much attention. His relationship with the people from the Golden Centipede Tribe could hardly be described as harmonious, and he had no intention of greeting them.
He ran upstream to fetch water.
However, as he approached the river and prepared to bend down to fetch water, he saw fish swimming in the water under the moonlight, as well as... some creatures resembling crocodiles, but larger.
The bloodthirsty and emotionless eyes of these beasts made Zhuang Yu's heart shrink. How could such ferocious beasts be here? Wasn't this area within the intimidating range of the ancestral beasts of the Golden Centipede Tribe?
Before he could react, there was a splash in the river, and a ferocious beast suddenly lunged out of the water.
"Oh no, this is it," was the only thought in Zhuang Yu's mind.
At the critical moment, "Boom," a fist came straight at him, and the huge beast was directly blasted back into the water.
Zhuang Yu was startled, and the shell in his hand fell to the ground. Before he could react, he felt himself being lifted into the air by someone grabbing him around the waist.
Zhuang Yu looked up and saw a very clean and young, yet ruggedly handsome face.
Zhuang Yu shook his head, trying to clear his mind. What was he thinking!
However, this face gave him a familiar feeling. Zhuang Yu thought for a moment but couldn't remember when he had seen this person before.
Zhuang Yu was placed not far from the river, and a deep voice sounded in his ears, "The beasts in the river are not intimidated by the ancestral beasts. Only when they leave the water can they feel the presence of the ancestral beasts. Don't come near the river in the future."
A deep baritone.
Zhuang Yu was stunned. He knew who this person was because he recognized the voice. It was the Young Chieftain of the Golden Centipede Tribe. Zhuang Yu couldn't help but take another look at him. It was strange; why weren't the nine golden lines on his face visible?
The voice continued, "Everyone in the Golden Centipede Tribe knows not to approach the river. Your Water Marsh Tribe has many rivers, so you should understand it even better. Why did you come here alone?"
Zhuang Yu: "..."
This topic couldn't continue. Although he came from the Water Marsh Tribe, he was no longer the same person, and how could he know that the beasts in the river could only feel the intimidation of the ancestral beasts when they came ashore?
Zhuang Yu didn't answer, and the Young Chieftain didn't continue to ask. Instead, he took out some golden dye, dipped his finger in it, and then drew his finger across his face from left to right twice. Because his pinky finger didn't touch his face the last time, only nine golden lines were left.
Zhuang Yu: "..."
Wasn't it said that the golden lines on the faces of the Golden Centipede Tribe were natural? It was the symbol of the Tribe, like a genetic trait that couldn't be faked.
Zhuang Yu's heart suddenly jumped. Could it be that the esteemed Young Chieftain of the Golden Centipede Tribe was not actually from the Golden Centipede Tribe?
But with such a big secret, the other party didn't seem to have any intention of concealing it. It was as if he wasn't afraid of anyone finding out, or perhaps, did everyone in the Golden Centipede Tribe already know?
Zhuang Yu couldn't help but smile. The people of the Golden Centipede Tribe praised the incredibly handsome nine scars on their faces, but it turned out they were painted on.
The Young Chieftain glanced at the large shell Zhuang Yu dropped on the ground by the river. "Are you here to fetch water? Didn't it just rain?"
Zhuang Yu nodded and said indifferently, "I need water faster. The rainwater collected during the rain will be used up in two or three days."
The Young Chieftain didn't seem particularly difficult to get along with. When he spoke, it was like two ordinary friends chatting. It didn't seem like the tense relationship described by the Golden Centipede Tribe.
The Young Chieftain glanced at the large shell on the ground, then walked over. With each step he took, it seemed like something suppressed was emanating from him.
In the river, the beasts that were originally ready to bite Zhuang Yu suddenly began to wander elsewhere.
Zhuang Yu: "..."
Even wild beasts know to bully the weak and fear the strong?
Shao Hao scooped up water with a shell, and casually caught a big fish, putting it in the shell. Then he walked over and handed the shell to Zhuang Yu. "I'll arrange for the ancestral beast to come to the river to drink water. You can come back to fetch water when that happens."
The Golden Centipede Tribe had two ways of storing water: waiting for rain to collect rainwater, or scaring away the beasts in the river when the ancestral beast drank water, allowing the entire Tribe to come and fetch water together. This kind of large-scale water storage activity was quite spectacular.
Shao Hao added, "As for this fish, consider it as a reward for the food Feng Wen sent me."
Zhuang Yu was stunned. When did he ask Feng Wen to send him food?
Right, Feng Wen did bring a portion of spicy chicken feet when he went out, and didn't even bring back the shell used to pack the chicken feet. Could it be... it was given to him?
Shao Hao lowered his voice and advised, "The food you made is delicious, but we really aren't suitable for each other. If this continues..."
Zhuang Yu almost laughed. The misunderstanding was getting deeper. He probably thought he was still pestering him.
Then, he frowned. It wasn't good to let this misunderstanding continue. He was basically being squeezed out in the Golden Centipede Tribe now.
Shao Hao was thinking about how to persuade the other party to wake up a bit.
Suddenly, Zhuang Yu spoke up, "Young Chieftain Shao, after experiencing so much, I find that I seem to no longer like you. Let's clarify things today. From now on, you don't need to feel burdened anymore. We'll just be like strangers, okay?"
Shao Hao: "..."
Zhuang Yu continued, "As for the food Feng Wen sent you, you may have misunderstood. I didn't ask him to do that."
Shao Hao: "..."
After Zhuang Yu finished speaking, he felt much relieved. This was something from his past life. By cutting it off now, it was one less trouble.
Zhuang Yu smiled, then left. Perhaps there wouldn't be any further interaction in the future.
Shao Hao was stunned, showing a hint of embarrassment. What was going on now? The person who used to easily get emotional and want to reconcile with him suddenly said they would be strangers from now on?
And, wasn't the food not specifically made for him?
Shao Hao suddenly felt a strange feeling. Perhaps the difference between the previous and current Zhuang Yu was too great. He couldn't help but shake his head. But wasn't this what he wanted?
Shao Hao returned to the Golden Centipede's back with a strange feeling. On the segment of the Golden Centipede where he resided, a little hood was peeking sneakily. When he saw Shao Hao returning, he hurriedly ran over.
"Young Chieftain Shao, I need to talk to you about something," the little hood said seriously.
Shao Hao came back to his senses. "What is it?"
The little hood said earnestly, "Could you reconcile with Yu for a few days? Just a few days will do."
As long as Chief Shao and Yu reconciled, he could openly mooch off food. For the sake of food, he had to endure Chief Shao for a few days.
Shao Hao twitched his mouth and picked up the little hood to throw it outside. Let's address one pot at a time. He had just been treated as a stranger without any attachment.
Shao Hao threw away the little hood who kept urging them to reconcile for several days, and walked towards the head of the Golden Centipede. Compared to the Tribe members, the Chief and the Witch had to stay up much later because of their concern for the Tribe.
Shao Hao said, "Many of our Tribe members are running out of water. Witch, arrange for the ancestral beast to go to the river to drink water."
The Witch was taken aback. "Didn't it just rain? How many of our Tribe members are running out of water? Why are they so wasteful with water?"
Shao Hao: "...Just a lot."
At this moment, Zhuang Yu was also somewhat worried. Despite his confident departure just now, he was still somewhat embarrassed.
Looking at the fish in the shell, it was the reward given to him by the Chief for catching it in the river. He had left in a hurry just now and forgot to return it.
Now, if he returned it because of a fish, others might think he had ulterior motives, causing unnecessary entanglements.
But he couldn't waste food either. Zhuang Yu smiled. He considered it as a parting gift.
Zhuang Yu began to clean the fish and sprinkle salt on it. Although the temperature was low at night, the fish would probably be fine without salt for one night. But adding salt would make it more flavorful. He could eat the fish tomorrow. This fish should weigh five or six catties, enough for him and Feng Wen to have a meal together.
After handling the fish, Zhuang Yu returned to the cave. In the corner, Feng Wen was shivering from the cold, and even Little Mushroom was cold, huddling into the fur blanket on Feng Wen's body.
Zhuang Yu had no choice. He had used all the fur skins he had. The temperature difference between day and night was really unusual.
Zhuang Yu also crawled into his own nest, feeling cold.
Seeing Zhuang Yu return, Little Mushroom shifted positions and snuggled into Zhuang Yu's blanket, covering himself well.
It was a night of hardship but also peace.