Chapter 54: There’s No Currency in Primitive Society
Chapter 54: There’s No Currency in Primitive Society
After finishing the grilled meat, Su Bai began inspecting the Tribe, to prevent anyone from making the threads of uneven thickness. It could not be too thick or too thin. Such inconsistency would result in hideous linen.
Linen would become the Flame Dragon Tribe’s future specialty product. Its reputation could not be ruined when they were just starting out.
For a Tribe to develop and grow stronger, it needs an economic source. In primitive society, there was no currency. Trade was done solely through barter, so each Tribe’s specialty products serve as currency.
“Shaman, we already have dozens of thread shuttles,” Yan Jiao rushed over. Thread wound around wooden sticks was called a shuttle.
Behind him was a cow horned girl, along with Da Gua, Wa Ming, and several other Totem Warriors. They were all carrying thread shuttles.
“Then, let’s go, I’ll teach you how to weave linen,” Su Bai nodded.
The group hurriedly arrived at the classroom. Everyone gathered around Su Bai to watch.
“Weaving linen requires patience. You might not be able to weave a roll of linen in a day… If you make a mistake halfway through, that roll of linen would become partially wasted,” Su Bai warned with a serious expression.
He was not going to allow defective goods to be traded, as this concerned the Flame Dragon Tribe’s reputation. If their reputation was ruined now, it would become an obstacle to expanding the Tribe in the future.
“I’ll keep an eye on everyone,” Yan Jiao quickly promised.“The loom needs to be fixed at both ends. The straight threads are called warp threads. Use sticks to tie the divided threads. The thread that goes through the warp threads is called the weft threads…”
After assembling the loom, Su Bai began to explain: “The threads cross up and down, with the weft threads needing to be shuttled through. After one loop, firmly press. This affects the density of the linen.” (Silavin: So, warp threads are | | | | and weft threads are ≡, through the warp threads. In looms, only the weft thread moves, and it moves with what is called a shuttle. Every time a new warp thread goes through, you need to push it down to compress it.)
“…”
It was already two hours later when he finished explaining, with the most time-consuming part being hands-on teaching. It was obvious that the Totem Warriors were too clumsy with handwork.
Yan Hua silently came to Su Bai’s side, glancing at her Father and the other Totem Warriors, who could even get stuck threading a shuttle.
She suggested in a tiny voice. “Shaman, I think we should find women to do these things. They’re really clumsy.”
“That makes sense,” Su Bai nodded affirmatively.
“…” As Totem Warriors, Yan Jiao, Da Gua, and the others were not that far away. With their hearing, they naturally heard the cow horned girl’s words.
To protect the secret of weaving linen from leaking, they had personally taken on the task. However, reality made them realise they were useless in the production of linen.
*Ahem, ahem…* Yan Jiao coughed awkwardly twice, glaring at the cow horned girl. He spoke with feigned calmness. “We now understand how linen is woven. Next, we should find people to come and weave linen.”
“Yes, we can’t delay any longer!” Da Gua agreed.
“Then, I’ll leave it to you,” Su Bai said with a smile.
He had taught what needed to be taught. With the enthusiasm of Yan Jiao and the others, he did not need to supervise them anymore.
“Yes!” They all responded in unison.
“Shaman, should we move out? We are occupying this classroom…” Yan Jiao quickly asked.
He remembered Su Bai said he wanted to teach children reading and writing. If they were occupying the classroom, they should move to another location to weave linen.
“Teaching writing can wait until we return from the Spotted Deer Tribe. Besides, the sun is blazing outside. Other Teepees aren’t as big as this place,” Su Bai softly said.
He needed to use his time now to make Shaman Bone Tablets. At the very least, each Totem Warrior should have one before he could focus on other things.
“Alright.” Yan Jiao nodded in response.
“Then, I’ll be going,” Su Bai softly said.
“Yes,” several people quickly responded.
Su Bai left the classroom with the fox eared girl to return back to the Main Teepee. He wanted to make Shaman Bone Tablets and prepare for the market two days later.
*Tap tap…* Yan Jiao saw Su Bai’s disappearing figure and noticed the cow horned girl standing still. Thinking of what his Daughter had just said, he immediately felt his teeth itch with rage.
He asked with a stern face. “What are you doing here?”
“Huh?” Yan Hua was a bit confused and said blankly. “I’m here to help?”
“Help? We don’t need your help here.” Yan Jiao waved his hand, as if shooing away mosquitoes, and said. “Don’t get in the way, quickly go and follow the Shaman.”
“The Shaman is making Shaman Bone Tablets, so I won’t go and disturb him,” Yan Hua said, rolling her eyes.
“What!?” Everyone’s eyes widened.
Seeing their dumbfounded expressions, Yan Hua thought of her own shocked reaction last night and said with a smirk. “The Shaman can already make Shaman Bone Tablets. He made a half-finished one on his first try last night.”
“Ah’Hua, you’re not joking, are you?” Yan Jiao frowned and asked.
Yan Hua folded her arms and said with a pout. “If you don’t believe me, go ask him.”
“Uh…” Everyone was suddenly speechless.
“If I’m not needed here, then I’ll go train,” Yan Hua waved her hand and turned to leave.
Yan Jiao watched his Daughter’s retreating figure, feeling strangely like a failure. He was no longer able to control his own Daughter.
“Chieftain, should we go ask the Shaman about the Shaman Bone Tablet?” Mai Mang asked with a frown.
“That matter isn’t urgent. Let’s settle the linen issue first,” Yan Jiao shook his head. If they were to ask, now was not the time.
“Alright, I’ll go find more people first,” Da Gua turned and left.
“I hope what she said is true…” Yan Jiao sighed, squatting down to continue studying the loom.
If they really had more Shaman Bone Tablets, then he would dare challenge a Pure Blood Ferocious Beast. He would even prepare to break through to Mid-Stage Totem Warrior.
[noscript][/noscript]