I am a Primitive Man
Chapter 54 – The Green Sparrow Tribe starts to brush teeth
In addition to this benefit, the wood used to block mud during the wall construction has also found a purpose.
By simply collecting more branches and arranging them together, weaving them with rope or other sturdy vines, a structure similar to bamboo mats can be created.
In the past, Han Cheng might have worried about obtaining materials, but now, with trees lying all around, he no longer needs to worry about this issue.
The best material for constructing walls is wooden boards, but Han Cheng cannot skillfully cut large tree trunks into wooden boards since there are no saws. Instead, he uses wooden planks made by weaving together branches.
The walls produced this way will leave some traces of tree sticks on the surface over time, unlike the smooth finish achieved with wooden boards. However, this doesn’t matter to Han Cheng. He needs sturdiness, not aesthetics.
Besides being used to build walls, these trees also have larger purposes.
After the walls are constructed, Han Cheng plans to build houses. Living in the cave is not a long-term solution.
These wooden materials will be very useful when it’s time to build houses.
A lot of wood is needed based on five beams per house.
With this generous gift from nature, he doesn’t have to worry about obtaining the most difficult-to-get wood.
As for those large and immovable tree trunks, cutting off a section and hollowing it out to make a canoe is a good use for them.
Of course, they are also useful for making charcoal.
As for the remaining small branches and leaves, some can be collected as fuel for the tribe, while others can be stacked and burned in the area where Han Cheng plans to cultivate farmland.
The storm that knocked down large stretches of trees near the tribe was truly a great help to Han Cheng. It can be rightfully called a gift from nature.
Shaman and Elder Senior Brother stared wide-eyed, quietly watching the Divine Child. Their eyes widened in surprise. No matter how hard they tried, they could not have anticipated that such a calamity, akin to a demonic curse, would turn into a tremendous blessing when spoken by their Divine Child.
They always felt that something was not quite right, but following the words of their Divine Child, they gradually understood.
Although they couldn’t comprehend terms like making charcoal, building canoes, or constructing houses, their Divine Child’s excited and hopeful expressions indicated that this was undoubtedly a tremendous blessing. They remembered that even when the miraculous fish trap was created back then, their Divine Child didn’t seem as happy as he did now.
Under the persuasion of the person enveloped in a thick layer of divine aura, coupled with Han Cheng consistently meeting their expectations and accomplishing many miraculous feats after his arrival, they had developed blind obedience to their Divine Child.
Even the Shaman, who most clearly remembered the legend of the cursed land, began to waver.
The good times had just begun, and he didn’t want to leave. Starting anew in a new place would be too much effort, and unfamiliar surroundings could easily lead to danger.
After much hesitation, the Shaman decided to wait and see. If someone fell ill, the entire tribe would relocate immediately.
After hearing the Shaman’s thoughts, Han Cheng immediately agreed with the Shaman’s decision. To prevent any mishaps, he reiterated the rule against drinking untreated water and instructed the tribe members to wash their faces, brush their teeth, and bathe every day.
You did not read it wrong. It’s about brushing your teeth.
Nowadays, in the Green Sparrow Tribe, such a scene occurs every morning. Along the ditch where the Divine Child had people dig on both sides after turning west from the cave entrance, people squat in two rows, holding ceramic cups and brushing their teeth with tree sticks in the other.
Since the production of salt and having a certain amount stored, Han Cheng has vigorously promoted the practice of tooth brushing in the tribe.
Han Cheng even led Hei Wa and others to fire a batch of cups with small tadpoles or frogs painted on them to increase everyone’s interest in brushing their teeth.
Initially, everyone rejected such a troublesome task. They couldn’t understand why the Divine Child was willing to waste such delicious salt on such a useless and troublesome activity.
However, reluctantly, they endured it, considering the exquisite cups.
Strangely enough, after continuing this practice for some time, people couldn’t do without it. If they didn’t brush their teeth one day, they felt uncomfortable, and even their meals wouldn’t taste good.
As it developed, without Han Cheng’s reminder, when everyone woke up in the morning, they would first pick up a ceramic basin, take their cups, walk to the water tank, scoop water out with a special ladle, and then go outside to brush their teeth and wash their faces.
As for the ceramic basin used as a washbasin, each person can’t have one, so households distribute them. Families with many members have two, while those with fewer members have one.
Han Cheng is an exception as a single. Being the Divine Child, he has two ceramic basins, one for washing his face and the other for washing his feet at night. Soaking his feet in hot water at night is incredibly comfortable.
Brushing teeth is a very necessary thing, not only for hygiene but, more importantly, for maintaining dental health.
In this era, if you don’t have good oral hygiene, it means you can’t be strong. Because if your dental health is poor, you can’t even eat delicious food.
Now that Han Cheng has fired the ceramics and invented the method of cooking food in ceramic pots, it’s much better than before when there was only one way of grilling. People without teeth suffered.
The two elderly primitive people in the tribe often had bleeding gums.
Now that the new cooking method of boiling soup has appeared, those two are the happiest. After these few months, they have noticeably gained weight and are in much better spirits.
Shaman also likes cooked food because he has lost about half his teeth. He eats slowly, not because he’s refined but because he can’t eat quickly with fewer teeth.
Confucius said, “Food is not tiresome when it is finely chopped and sliced.” It’s not directly related to teeth, but the principle is somewhat similar.
After a brief pause in the heavy rain outside, Han Cheng did not immediately start the grand project of repairing the walls. Instead, he instructed people to tidy up the cave ravaged by the storm.
The fire was also reignited. To ignite it, the Elder Senior brother, as the firemaker, almost smoked his hands while rubbing wood for fire.
The little wolf cub had recognized Han Cheng and always wanted to find him for milk, constantly whining.
Animals are very intelligent; they can sense people’s goodwill or malice.
The little wolf cub always clings to Han Cheng, not only because Han Cheng was the first person it saw when he pulled it out from under its dead mother’s belly but also because in the tribe, apart from Han Cheng, there are far more people who want to skin it for meat than those who find it amusing.
Cheng, who lost half of his ear and almost died under the wolf’s mouth, was particularly agitated when he saw the little wolf cub. He pantingly gasped, wishing to pounce on it and take a few bites to vent his anger.
Everyone has received their tickets, and it doesn’t hurt when using their faces to catch them. Really, if you don’t believe it, try smashing two more and secretly rejoice in upholding the rules.