Chapter 6

If the water could heal, everyone in the village, men and women, young and old, would seek Ruoshui's help when they fell ill. Her treatment process was often very mysterious, like an ancient ritual. If viewed from the perspective of the large clans and nations that had long established cities and territories in the Bapian region, Ruoshan and Ruoshui would naturally be the village's priests and shamans. However, there were no such titles here; they were simply known as Grandpa Mountain and Grandma Water.

The infant that Ruoshan carried back from the ruins of the Qingshui clan's fortress lived in Luchun. When people found him, a胭脂虎 (a type of tiger) seemed to be nursing him, so everyone called him Huhua, hoping he would grow up strong and healthy like a fierce tiger.

In such a tribal village, not only the parents but the entire tribe took care of the children. The food they gathered and hunted was often shared, and private property was rare. Precious tools and items belonged to the entire tribe.

In the perilous wilderness, they needed to act collectively and cooperate to survive for a long time. On sunny days, when the adults went out to gather or hunt, only the elderly, women, and children remained in the village. The elders sat at the door, doing various tasks while also looking after the children running around the village, including Huhua.

When Huhua first arrived in Luchun, he might have stayed at any family's home, and whoever could conveniently take care of the infant would take him in. By the time he was three and could run around, a warm and sturdy little house was built for him next to the stone house of Chief Ruoshan. The walls were made of stacked stones, and the roof was covered with thick, soft grass. His sleeping hammock was filled with soft animal skins. The food and clothing of the children in the tribe, of course, included a share for him, and over the years, Grandpa Mountain and Grandma Water had taken the most care of him.

Huhua was strong and sturdy, but he looked different from most of the other children, who had rough and tough skin. His skin was smooth and fair, and he always wore a vine ring around his ankle. The adults in the village liked to pick him up, touch him, and pat him.

The villagers did not hunt every day, and hunting expeditions were usually a matter for the men, and they were very solemn and serious. First, Chief Ruoshan would decide the time and direction, then they would worship the mountain god for protection, and only after making all the necessary preparations would they set out together, sometimes taking several days to return.

In the years since Huhua came to Luchun, the frequency of long-distance hunting trips by the villagers had significantly decreased, and the appearance of the village had changed greatly.

Around the fortress, there was a wall made of sturdy stones, with only one entrance on the front side. A hidden water channel under the wall on the side led mountain spring water into the village, flowing into two ponds, one for drinking and the other for washing.

Now, an entrance has also been opened on the back wall, behind Grandma Water's stone house, leading to the higher mountain forest. On the slopes near the fortress, there were large areas of oak and old elm trees, whose acorns and pods could be ground into flour for food during times of scarce game. The village organized the tribe to collect and store these annually.

In the shrubs among the oak and old elm trees, large areas of soybeans were sown. Soybeans grow easily, with vines entwining the shrubs everywhere. The beans can be eaten when they are green and tender, and when they dry and turn yellow, they can be stored for a long time, lasting until the next year.

A closer look at this extensive planting reveals a pattern. The beans are sown in the shrubs, and around the oak and old elm forests, the weeds and trees have been cleared, surrounded by a dense hemp forest. A path runs through the hemp forest, leading to the back gate of the fortress below.

Not only do people love to eat beans, but many birds and animals in the mountains also enjoy them. For example, monkeys often come to pick beans, and if they enter the village, they might hurt the children. Hemp rarely has pests, and its green stems and leaves are covered with white, bristly spines, emitting a special odor. If scratched, it feels very painful, so many wild animals do not enter the dense hemp forest, providing a natural protection.

In front of and behind the houses in the fortress, the villagers also planted a few hemp or soybean plants, using bamboo poles or branches to support the bean vines. These were usually picked for daily consumption, while the forest outside the village was the main place for large-scale collection. The houses in the village were mostly arranged in a centripetal pattern, with their backs to the walls and doors facing the central open area.

The large open area in the center of the village was where the tribe gathered for meetings and discussions, and it was also where the children played.

It was late spring and early summer, the soybeans were still green, and the hemp was not yet ripe, but the round elm pods on the trees had already turned white and dry. When the wind was strong, they would flutter down like snowflakes, signaling the time for harvest. On this day, under the leadership of the chief, most of the villagers went to the mountain forest behind the village, surrounded by hemp, to collect elm pods. Some used long poles to knock the elm branches, while others laid mats under the trees to collect the pods, then placed them in bamboo baskets.

Only some of the elderly and a few young adults remained in the village, watching the playing children. The slightly older children had run to the mountain forest to help pick elm pods and watch the commotion, leaving only the smallest children running around. The fortress was usually safe and did not require special protection, but the very young children still needed to be watched, for example, not to let them near the ponds or eat the soybeans planted around the houses.

The pods were already plump, and when peeled, the green beans inside were juicy, crisp, and tender, but they had caused deaths. When the village first planted soybeans, someone ate the green soybeans raw, and at first, it seemed fine, but after returning home, they vomited, had diarrhea, and sweated profusely. When Grandma Water was called, she shook her head and said, "It's too late!"

Later, Chief Ruoshan remembered an ancient saying: "Green soybeans should not be eaten raw, as they may be highly toxic." This was said to have been left by Emperor Shennong long ago. But the Luchun people did not know this, as they had never seen green beans before, and the chief had only heard about it occasionally from outside the mountains, without paying much attention. As a result, such an incident occurred shortly after the village started planting soybeans.

Strangely, many people in the village had eaten the green beans raw, but only one strong man died from poisoning, while the others were fine. Was there a bean god who controlled the life and death of those who ate beans, requiring offerings for planting and eating beans? Regardless, it was better to be cautious, and the villagers no longer ate raw green beans and watched the children to prevent them from eating them by mistake.

The weather was warm but not yet hot, and the children were running around the open area, with a spotted dog bouncing around. The dog followed Huhua, who was chasing a group of chickens. The chickens scattered around the houses, and Huhua could never catch them. Later, he realized that running in circles wouldn't work, so he focused on one hen.

The adults were used to the commotion of chickens and dogs, and they continued with their tasks, either weaving hemp threads or repairing tools. The children in the tribe did not know what reading and writing were, nor did they have grand aspirations for their future. In their early years, they exercised their bodies through play, and as they grew older, they learned various survival skills and helped the adults with various tasks.

Huhua finally succeeded in chasing the hen out of the flock, running along the stone wall behind the houses, almost catching it several times with his small hands. The dog wagged its tail as if cheering for Huhua. The dog could easily catch the chicken, but it ran in a strange way, standing on its hind legs and running with its front paws held in front of its chest.

As they approached the corner of the wall, Huhua spread his arms and lunged forward, but he missed and fell face-first into the dirt. The spotted dog, unhappy, barked at the chicken. The chicken, startled, flapped its wings and flew over the wall.

Domesticated poultry have reduced flying abilities, but in emergencies, chickens can still fly a short distance. Huhua, seeing the chicken fly over the wall, felt he had caused trouble and called out in a baby voice, "Panhu, catch it quickly!"

Panhu, the spotted dog's name, leaped and kicked off the wall with its hind legs, also jumping out. Huhua tried to jump over the wall but couldn't, so he ran along the wall to the front gate of the fortress to chase the chicken and the dog.

Outside the front gate of the fortress was an open area, cleared of thorns and rocks, with only low grass growing. A naturally raised rock had been flattened, where the villagers dried various things. Beyond that was a steep cliff, like a deep fissure in the highland mountains.

Panhu ran very fast on all fours, and the chicken, chased urgently, hopped and flapped its wings, heading directly toward the cliff. Huhua shouted, "Don't fall off!"

As they approached the edge of the cliff, Panhu leaped but missed the chicken, which flew up again, and Panhu barked. This bark was different from usual, loud and resonant, echoing far into the mountains. The chicken, greatly frightened, flew to the other side of the cliff. In emergencies, people and chickens alike can burst with potential, and it was rare to see a chicken fly so far.

On the other side of the cliff was a mountain, with the narrowest point between the two cliff tops about seven zhang (about 23 meters) apart, and the depth was unfathomable. The chicken flew over, but the dog couldn't jump that far. Panhu barked angrily at the other side, and Huhua, panting, said, "Trouble, I'll get a spanking!"

Luchun originally had no chickens, and the Luchun people did not know how to raise them. The chickens were first brought from the Qingshui clan's fortress. On that day, the fierce outsiders left no living thing in the fortress, whether human or animal, and everything that could breathe was killed. The Qingshui clan raised chickens, but they all died, and their bodies turned to ashes.

The chicken coop in the fortress was not burned, and there were still eggs in the nests, covered with dry grass, which were hard to see at night. The killers probably didn't bother to kill the eggs. After the killers left, the eggs hatched, and the chicks chirped in the hay, discovered by the Luchun people who arrived later.

The chicks were carefully brought back by the Luchun people. They didn't know how to raise them, but fortunately, there were knowledgeable Grandpa Mountain and Grandma Water in the village, who guided the tribe to build chicken coops and try to feed the chicks. Some of the chickens grew up, started laying eggs, and hatching more chicks, and the Luchun people gradually learned how to raise chickens.

In fact, this was almost free-range. Chickens pecked at insects, and the relatively humid and warm mountain areas had various insects. The fortress, including the stone houses where people lived, had insects. The Luchun people especially liked these chickens and often drove them into their stone houses to peck at the annoying small insects, including centipedes that could sting.

The Luchun people observed for a long time before truly learning how to raise chickens. Some of the eggs could hatch chicks, while others could not. Later, they found that only eggs laid by hens after mating with roosters could hatch chicks. However, hens would lay eggs regardless of whether there were roosters, and the best hens could lay an egg every one or two days, which should be carefully bred to hatch more chicks.

These chickens were treasures of the tribe. They could be driven into houses to peck at poisonous insects, their meat was delicious, and they laid eggs continuously. Although chickens were delicious, they could not be eaten casually. They should be kept to lay eggs, and only old hens that no longer laid eggs or excess roosters were regularly slaughtered for meat, and each time chickens were killed, it was a festival in the village.

The hen that Huhua and Panhu chased out of the fortress and over the cliff was one that laid many eggs, and this was a serious mistake!

Before Huhua and Panhu returned, Chief Ruoshan led the villagers with weapons to the fortress. Panhu's last bark was so loud that even the people collecting elm pods on the back mountain were alarmed. Everyone thought something had happened and quickly ran back to the village, picked up sticks, and rushed out the front gate, only to find this ridiculous situation.

Huhua and the spotted dog were "escorted" back to the stone platform in the center of the fortress, where the mountain god was usually worshipped. Chief Ruoshan, holding a vine whip, said, "Huhua, why did you chase the chicken over the cliff? We don't allow you to go there on your own. Now, the whole village will lose at least ten eggs a month. Should you get a spanking?"

A three- or four-year-old child's logic is different from adults. Huhua looked very scared and asked in a clear voice, "Will you spank me with my clothes on?"

Many people didn't understand, but Grandma Water, standing next to Ruoshan, laughed, "This time, we'll spank you with your clothes on, but next time, we'll spank you without them!"

Huhua, curious, asked, "What about the next time?"

Chief Ruoshan, almost laughing, tried to keep a serious face and said, "There won't be a next time, or your bottom will be bruised!"

Huhua quickly ran back to his little house, took a thick, soft animal skin, and wrapped it around his waist to cover his bottom. "Clothes" were worn on the upper body, while "pants" were worn on the lower body, so Huhua asked if he would be spanked with his pants on. In the tribe, three- or four-year-olds didn't care much about clothes, and Huhua usually just wore a belly band. His appearance made everyone laugh.

Huhua wrapped the animal skin around his waist, poked out his bottom, and lay on the stone platform. Amid the laughter of the onlookers, Ruoshan raised the vine whip and struck, making a loud sound but not causing much pain. Then the chief said, "You are forbidden to eat eggs for a month!"

The eggs laid by the chickens in the fortress, wherever they were, were collected in a designated bamboo basket and distributed. Sick people, those going hunting, or those doing heavy work often got more, and the children, who were growing, usually got the most eggs. For a child with a sweet tooth, not being allowed to eat eggs for a month was a severe punishment.

After punishing Huhua, Ruoshan called out to the spotted dog hiding in the crowd, "Panhu, come here!"

Panhu, with its front paws held in front of its chest, stood on its hind legs and walked in small steps, lowering its head and lying on the stone platform, just like Huhua, with its tail down and bottom up. Ruoshan, with a serious face, said, "Why did you bark so loudly for no reason? Just to show off your loud voice? Your bark not only scared the chicken away but also startled the people on the back mountain. Nanhua's Ajin fell from a tree, and if I hadn't caught him quickly, he might have been injured. No more random barking!"

Panhu lay there without speaking, unable to speak human language, looking very aggrieved. Ruoshan raised the vine whip and struck its bottom. Panhu shuddered and whimpered, clearly in pain.

The villagers laughed and dispersed, and Panhu, with teary eyes, looked at Huhua, as if to say, "Why can you wear a skin and get spanked, but I have to be spanked bare-bottomed?"

The villagers went out the back gate of the fortress to continue collecting elm pods. Grandpa Mountain, walking and laughing, said, "Huhua usually looks silly, but at such a young age, he learned to be cunning, asking if he could be spanked with his pants on and even wrapping a diaper around his bottom!"

Grandma Water also laughed, "This isn't cunning; it's the simplest childlike innocence! He is growing up, learning about the world, and understanding the simplest truths. He knows what clothes are and that being spanked with clothes on is less painful than being spanked bare-bottomed. This child is very interesting, and I like him very much."

Grandpa Mountain, thoughtful, said, "That's true. We all grew up from children, wondering what the world is like, what secrets it holds, and what will happen. Huhua is a child, and a tribe like Luchun is also like a child, growing up slowly."

Grandma Water said, "Panhu, the dog, has a very unusual background. From its appearance, it might become a spirit animal. We both know such things exist."

Ruoshan said, "The dog is very smart, but saying it can become a spirit animal is an exaggeration. **Spirit animals are comparable to humans reaching a high level of cultivation, which is not easy! You think it's special because it doesn't know it's a dog and considers itself a human."

Grandma Water laughed and nodded, "That's true. Otherwise, why would it walk like that?"

Panhu, like the chickens, was found by the Luchun people in the ruins of the Qingshui clan's fortress. They were searching for remaining tools and found a small dog curled up in a gourd. The order from Bai Sha was to leave no living thing, but the dog, the chickens, and even Huhua, the infant, were left behind.

The gourd was made from a wild gourd shell, split in half, and the two halves fit together like a whole gourd. The dog was very young, only the size of a palm, and was curled up in the gourd, hidden and thus lucky to escape. It was brought back by the Luchun people and named Panhu.

The Luchun people had never raised a dog and didn't know how to do it, but the little dog was very resilient and grew quickly with simple care. It had probably met Huhua in the Qingshui clan's fortress and remembered his scent, so it was particularly close to Huhua.

The village had many chickens but only one dog. Panhu, having never seen other dogs, only interacted with humans, and all its actions were imitating humans. It probably considered itself a human. It usually stood on its hind legs and walked, only using all four legs when it needed to run fast.

...

Panhu's bark not only alarmed the entire tribe but also reached Lishuizhi, who was on a distant hill. From