The Survival of the Wild Tribe

76

Clearly, people in this world, even pregnant women, have much better physique than Luo Zhen imagined. Acao's body showed no signs of discomfort after a day's physical work, nor did her slight belly bulge affect her movements. If Luo Zhen hadn't heard from Lu Zhan that she was pregnant, just observing Acao's movements wouldn't reveal her pregnancy.

"Witch, it's late. What brings you here?" Acao was crafting wooden heels. In winter, shoes were made by sewing animal skins together and tying them with a rope. But as spring approached, these leather boots became unwearable, so Luo Zhen drew shoe design sketches and discussed suitable materials with Acao. Hence, these wooden clogs made by Acao, though suitable for indoor wear, were inconvenient outdoors.

Beside Acao was a pot of diluted mud glue. Ahua, being young, had fallen asleep by the fire. Acao's mother-in-law held two sharpened wooden sticks and wove them with weed fiber. Luo Zhen had explained the loom's principle to Heiya for a long time, but they hadn't managed a usable one yet. Therefore, Luo Zhen taught Acao's mother-in-law how to knit a sweater, using a simple weaving technique.

However, Luo Zhen only knew basic weaving. As a child, he watched his grandmother knit and later attempted to knit scarves during junior high, a fad at the time. His attempt failed due to poor knitting skills, despite a semester of practice in the dormitory.

During the idle winter, Luo Zhen remembered his rudimentary weaving skills and taught Acao's mother-in-law. For people accustomed to using animal skins for everything, this fiber cloth was a rarity. Since Luo Zhen provided some to young women in the tribe, they smiled more often each month.

Though Luo Zhen only discussed the cloth's potential, the tribe's young women quickly grasped its uses. Now, besides Acao's mother-in-law, many in the tribe could weave. Luo Zhen had even caught Lu Zhan practicing weaving with wooden sticks several times.

Unfortunately, not everyone had a knack for weaving, as Lu Zhan found out. Moreover, the tribe stored most fibers for tanning into ropes, so there weren't many left for weaving. Consequently, Lu Zhan abandoned the endeavor.

Luo Zhen sat by the fire, holding a plate of Xueguo. Lu Zhan, seated next to him, ladled out some broth from the fire and filled Luo Zhen's bowl.

Though their wooden houses were close, Luo Zhen always insisted on returning to drink something warm after being outside to stave off chills. This winter, he had been impressed by Luo Zhen's cooking skills. Besides his own creations, he rarely ate food made by others, finding them unsatisfactory.

"I heard from A Zhan that you're pregnant?" Luo Zhen asked directly.

Acao, bundled up in thick animal skin, appeared slightly afraid of the cold. She unbuttoned her coat slightly, revealing her swollen belly to Luo Zhen with a smile. Acao then sat down next to Luo Zhen. "I intended to seek the great witch's blessing when the child is due, but since the great witch is here, could you bless my child?"

Hei Kun, Acao's partner, joined them and hugged her shoulders. Hei Kun was usually silent but hardworking. He seemed slightly embarrassed now, stumbling over his words. "We don't need to pray to the beast god. Just a few words from the great witch will suffice."

Luo Zhen observed them. In the Black Panther tribe, they wouldn't have asked the black witch for such a favor. But after a winter of interaction, everyone knew Luo Zhen was easygoing. If asked, he generally agreed to help.

Indeed, when Hei Kun saw Luo Zhen's smile, his worries vanished. "Of course."

Luo Zhen, now aware of his role as the great witch, placed his hand gently on Acao's belly. Even through the layers of animal skin, he felt a small kick. Sensing the child's vitality, Luo Zhen blessed them.

Like speaking to anyone else, he addressed Acao's belly, "Acao and Heikun's child, may you come into this world safely and grow up happily."

Acao and Heikun exchanged glances and smiled.

Luo Zhen handed the plate of Xueguo to Acao. "You should eat more wild fruits during pregnancy and avoid heavy physical labor. Your priority is the safe delivery of the child."

Their tribe lacked doctors and medicine. This was Luo Zhen's first encounter with childbirth in such a primitive setting, and he was concerned.

But Acao had already given birth once; she should be fine, right?

"Da Wu, it's not necessary. I picked many snow fruits myself, enough for Acao," Hei Kun declined.

"Yes, you should keep these snow fruits for yourself. The leader just found them, and I'm due to give birth soon. I can't eat too many snow fruits now. If the witch starts eating now, there may not be any left when I give birth," Acao explained.

Luo Zhen raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "What are these snow fruits for?"

Acao looked surprised, then glanced at Lu Zhan. Apparently, she didn't expect such a simple question from Luo Zhen. Snow fruits' purpose wasn't common knowledge among ordinary folks.

"Of course, they aid in childbirth," Acao paused. Feeling unqualified to ask the tribe's great witch, she continued, "Though no one in our tribe has any now, it's customary for strong fighters to collect snow fruits for their partners in their first year together. It's believed to facilitate childbirth. And, given our tribe's small size and familiarity with the great witch, we thought we'd ask for a blessing."

Seeing Lu Zhan's nod, Acao smiled. She then looked at Luo Zhen. "There are no snow fruit trees nearby. When A Kun and I became partners, we couldn't find any. It almost ended badly when I gave birth to Ahua. The Black Panther tribe was overcrowded, and everyone wanted snow fruits for their partners. But since Hei Kun couldn't find any, it was quite normal."

Hei Kun squeezed Acao's hand tightly, his eyes filled with remorse. Acao returned the gesture indifferently, and Hei Kun loosened his grip.

"So, Da Wu, it's perfect for you to eat them now."

After Acao's jumbled explanation, Luo Zhen felt the plate of Xueguo in his hand had become as heavy as gold. Eventually, he left Acao's house, unsure of how he managed it.

But Lu Zhan, before leaving, took the plate of Xueguo that Luo Zhen had left behind, and reminded him about Hei Kun's hunting trip the next day.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Lu Zhan noticed Luo Zhen sitting silently after returning from Acao's house. He offered the snow fruit. Freshly picked snow fruits were delicious, but their taste deteriorated quickly, and they would rot within three days.

Upon hearing about Xueguo, Luo Zhen felt a surge of anger, wishing he could pry open Lu Zhan's head to see what

lay inside. Ever since he learned about Xueguo's effects, Luo Zhen felt his stomach swell, as if harboring a lively being inside.

Imagining his stomach bloating like Acao's, Luo Zhen's hairs stood on end.

In a fit of anger, Luo Zhen stuffed a snow fruit into Lu Zhan's mouth. "Eat it yourself."

Lu Zhan didn't spit out the snow fruit but chewed and swallowed, his face puzzled. "It's not unpleasant. Don't you like it?"

"No, I don't like it at all," Luo Zhen said through gritted teeth.

Could he, as a man, benefit from foods aiding childbirth? No, a small life wouldn't emerge from his stomach in this lifetime. Luo Zhen was furious, speaking his mind directly.

"So, you don't like children," Lu Zhan looked puzzled. But that didn't make sense; Luo Zhen treated the tribe's boys well, making Lu Zhan slightly jealous.

Since Luo Zhen didn't like it, Lu Zhan wouldn't force him. Instead, he ate a snow fruit with a smile. "Since you don't like children, we won't have any. Raising them is troublesome. Remember how Ah Shui cried incessantly when he was born? We almost expelled him from the tribe."

Rolling his eyes, Luo Zhen replied, "A Zhan, have you forgotten? We're not partners yet."

Wasn't it too early to ponder such distant matters?