I am a Primitive Man
Chapter 308 – We are one family after you drink our Green Sparrow Water
At Han Cheng’s signal, the Eldest Senior Brother and Shang went out, accompanied by the Third Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother.
It didn’t take long for them to return with something.
Eldest Senior Brother and Shang led the way, carrying the most mysterious and eye-catching item covered with a large animal hide, concealing its true contents.
Everyone speculated in their minds what could be hidden under the hide.
Being treated with solemnity in this situation indicated that it was no ordinary object.
Eldest Senior Brother and Shang carefully placed the rather large object they were carrying onto the stone platform in front of the totem pole, then stepped back to their original positions.
The second and third senior brothers also arrived, carrying two pottery jars and two large pottery bowls.
After placing these items down, they also returned to their original positions.
Under everyone’s gaze, Han Cheng approached the stone platform with an extremely solemn expression. With both hands grasping the edge of the fur, he slowly lifted it.
All the people in the cave focused on this moment, eager to know what lay beneath the hide.
As the hide was completely lifted, the object underneath appeared before everyone.
What is this?
Everyone widened their eyes in astonishment.
Han Cheng looked at the abstract object before him and felt a bit perplexed. However, he maintained a solemn expression.
It was a pottery figurine, a bird made of pottery.
With a head, two wings, and two claws, it had all the features of a bird, but when combined, it looked somewhat unrecognizable as a bird.
This object was Hei Wa’s handiwork under Han Cheng’s instructions.
Four clay prototypes were made, one of which broke before being fired. The remaining three were fired into two pieces, and this one was the best-looking among them.
Han Cheng did not explain the purpose of this abstract bird to the crowd. Instead, he proceeded directly.
In such a solemn atmosphere, further explanation would have disrupted the mood.
He glanced at the Divine Child, who had already received the message. The Divine Child bent down and took out a bowl from one of the large pottery bowls, using his hands to place the bowl under the outstretched claw of the pottery bird.
Han Cheng then picked up a long-handled pottery spoon from one of the pottery jars brought by the Third Senior Brother and scooped out some colored water.
He poured it into the mouth of the abstract pottery bird, which was slightly tilted upwards.
Soon, water flowed out from its claw, forming a thin stream that fell into the bowl held by the Divine Child.
Initially, Han Cheng had intended for the water to flow out from the bird’s rear, which would have been more in line with the bird’s actual situation. However, he later felt it was inappropriate and changed it to this location.
Everyone appeared quite intrigued watching this pottery bird that could both drink and spit water.
The Divine Child placed the bowl filled with water to the side and picked up another bowl to continue collecting water. Han Cheng continued to scoop water into it.
Under everyone’s gaze, more bowls filled with colored water were placed on the ground, forming a large array.
After filling all the bowls with water, Han Cheng sighed imperceptibly and shook his slightly sore arms.
Being short in stature, continuously scooping water into the relatively tall pottery bird was not easy.
After completing these tasks, Han Cheng instructed everyone to come forward individually, each carrying a bowl of water like this.
When everyone had a bowl in their hands, Han Cheng, who also held a bowl, spoke up.
“This is Green Sparrow Water,” he declared. “After drinking Green Sparrow Water, you are considered members of the Green Sparrow Tribe. No one is allowed to rebel. Any act of betrayal will not only incur punishment from the gods but also result in expulsion from the tribe, wandering forever in the wilderness, never to return.”
As Han Cheng spoke, his gaze slowly swept across everyone in the cave.
To integrate the Bone Tribe, it was necessary to attract them with food and shelter and instill fear and discipline.
With grace and severity, one could better prevent rebellion and actions harmful to the tribe.
The people of the Bone Tribe had no idea what Han Cheng was saying. Holding their bowls, they were influenced by the solemn atmosphere and wore expressions of confusion.
Han Cheng naturally understood this but paid no mind to it. Those who didn’t understand now would have it explained to them after the ceremony, helping them grasp its significance.
“Drink,” he commanded, leading by example and raising the bowl filled with colored water to his lips, then gulping it down.
Understanding his words, the people of the Green Sparrow Tribe also began to drink.
Although the people of the Bone Tribe didn’t comprehend what the Divine Child was saying, they imitated the action of drinking from the bowls. Even those holding infants symbolically offered them a sip.
The taste of Green Sparrow Water wasn’t pleasant, and it was different from the water they were accustomed to drinking.
However, there were no objections from the crowd; different tastes were normal, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for the Green Sparrow Water, symbolizing the tribe, to taste the same as ordinary water.
Milk Tea Girl held her empty bowl, pursing her lips. The taste of Green Sparrow Water felt familiar to her, reminiscent of the medicinal water Cheng Ge had given her when she was ill. However, it was slightly different; the color of the Green Sparrow Water wasn’t as deep as that of the medicinal water, and its taste wasn’t as strong.
This was water boiled from Chai Hu roots.
In such a situation, alcohol would have been preferable, but the tribe had none. Han Cheng came up with the idea of using Chai Hu roots to differentiate Green Sparrow Water from regular water.
A small amount of Chai Hu roots boiled to make water would not harm anyone.
After drinking Green Sparrow Water, the ceremony for the Bone Tribe to integrate into the Green Sparrow Tribe was finally complete.
The elders of the Green Sparrow Tribe also drank Green Sparrow Water, a ritual devised by Han Cheng that previous generations had not experienced. To reinforce the concept that those who drank Green Sparrow Water were members of the Green Sparrow Tribe, Han Cheng had everyone drink it.
In the future, when others join, those who have already drunk Green Sparrow Water will not need to do so again.
Of course, only the water flowing from the toes of the pottery Green Sparrow during this ceremony counted. Any other water did not have the same significance.
After the ceremony concluded and everything was cleared away, the original members of the Bone Tribe, who had never experienced anything like this before, felt profoundly shaken.
Today’s experiences once again left them deeply impacted.
After someone came to explain the significance of Green Sparrow Water and the words spoken by the Divine Child, those who had previously not understood felt more connected to the people of the Green Sparrow Tribe.
Even the elders of the Green Sparrow Tribe felt this way.
As for the Bone Tribe leader bound in the courtyard, his face was ashen.