The Female Supporting Character Refuses to Be Human Again - Chapter 214.1

Most of the Yan Tribe members who were building new wooden houses chose spots near the plot of land Meng Changjin had cleared earlier. The reason was simple: if Meng Changjin picked that area, others would naturally follow suit. People tend to follow the lead of those they respect, and once a few individuals made a decision, the rest quickly followed.

Besides, humans are social creatures, so it was normal for them to want to live close together. Meng Changjin also recommended that they stick close to each other. Being too spread out would make it difficult for the patrol teams to cover all areas efficiently.

For the next month or so, the Yan Tribe was filled with the sounds of construction—hammering and chopping echoed through the settlement. The bamboo grove across the river was noticeably thinner, as large sections had been harvested to build the new homes. Initially home to a few snakes, the bamboo forest was now quiet, as the wildlife had retreated due to the constant human activity.

The winds swayed the rice plants that looked surprisingly similar to wheat, bending them in the breeze. Next to the green fields, the Yan Tribe members worked diligently, their figures moving rhythmically in the fields. Every time Meng Changjin looked up from her task of drilling holes in the wood, she saw this scene of harmony and hard work, which filled her with a deep sense of calm and satisfaction.

The combined efforts of the tribe were truly powerful. In just over a month, they had built over a hundred wooden houses beside the green fields. Although the houses weren’t perfectly aligned or particularly beautiful, they possessed a natural, rustic charm. The scene had a kind of raw, simple beauty that one could gaze at for hours without getting tired.

Even though there were now over a hundred wooden houses, it still wasn’t enough for everyone in the Yan Tribe. For now, the wooden houses served mainly as places to sleep at night, safe from insect bites. But Meng Changjin was confident that once they experienced the comfort of these new homes, no one would want to go back to living in the caves.

And she was right. Although the wooden houses were a bit warm in the summer, especially with the doors and windows sealed tight to keep out bugs, the clever tribe members saw the bigger picture. They realized that if the houses stayed warm with the doors shut, they would also be warmer in winter, protecting them from the cold.

This new realization sparked a wave of enthusiasm for building more wooden houses before the winter. They had four to five months before the first snowfall, and everyone was determined to make the most of it to ensure that by winter, they all had a warm, bug-free place to sleep.

However, life wasn’t just about building wooden houses. They also had to focus on hunting, the autumn harvest, and preserving food. With the newfound technique of drying vegetables, the tribe began this process well ahead of time to ensure they had plenty of provisions for the winter.

This year, the Yan Tribe was busier than ever, but their happiness seemed to grow silently alongside their hard work. The rice that looked like wheat began to turn golden, marking the start of the harvest season. Around this time, the tribe welcomed its first newborn of the year, bringing joy and hope to everyone.

This event made Meng Changjin realize that the Yan Tribe was well-prepared for childbirth. The Wu had already prepared a set of herbal medicines to aid in the process. Meng Changjin inspected these herbs with her spiritual sense but couldn’t identify all the ingredients. However, the tribe members trusted these remedies wholeheartedly.

These herbal medicines, called “Wu’s Medicine,” were used to help the women during labor and recovery. Meng Changjin also prepared some of her own energy-boosting pills, just in case they were needed. After all, the survival and growth of the tribe depended on its people, and she wanted to ensure that each birth had the best possible chance of success.

Population growth was critical for the development of the Yan Tribe. Expanding the tribe meant either bringing in more people from the outside or increasing their own birth rate. For now, Meng Changjin wasn’t in a rush to recruit outsiders. She preferred to focus on strengthening the tribe from within before opening their doors to newcomers.

The autumn was filled with harvests, hunting, building, and the joyful cries of newborns. Even the most serious tribe members couldn’t help but smile at the cheerful atmosphere that filled the Yan Tribe during this period.

During the harvest, Meng Changjin was astonished to find that the rice she had planted had actually grown well in the dry soil. Though the plant looked like wheat on the outside, the grains inside were unmistakably rice. The sense of achievement she felt was overwhelming as she looked at the fruits of her labor.

Meng Changjin relished this feeling of satisfaction. For the first time, she began to think about her life after completing the mission. She imagined settling down on a mountainside, building a simple thatched house, and cultivating a small garden. She could picture herself sipping tea, occasionally hunting in the forest, and living a peaceful, contented life.

The thrill of the nomadic life as a wandering cultivator had its appeal, but she was beginning to see the joy in a quieter, more stable existence. As she thought about this future, Meng Changjin couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the thought of someone accusing her of being “bored with life” and her calmly nodding in agreement.

As she laughed, a passerby caught sight of her joyful expression and couldn’t help but smile as well. The tribe’s happiness was contagious, and it was clear that the community’s spirit was stronger than ever.

Winter was still two months away, but unlike previous years, the Yan Tribe wasn’t desperately rushing to stock up on food. The hunting teams were now going out mainly to maintain their skills and train the younger members. There was no urgent need for food, thanks to the hard work they had already put in.

Meng Changjin now hunted separately from the main group. No one worried about her safety anymore. As they often joked, if Meng Changjin ever got into trouble, it would mean facing a truly terrifying beast. But the tribe members had faith that no such beast existed.

This year, winter arrived a little earlier than usual, but it didn’t worry the Yan Tribe. They were well-prepared, with plenty of food and newly built wooden houses that kept them warm and comfortable.

🍵 Tea Break with Kliraz: From Bamboo Groves to Wooden Homes (≧▽≦)

Meng Changjin’s wooden house revolution is transforming the Yan Tribe! Did you know that in traditional Chinese culture, bamboo is considered a symbol of resilience and flexibility? It’s often used in everything from housing to crafts due to its strength and sustainability (Zhou, Q. (2012). The Role of Bamboo in Chinese Architecture. China Architecture Press, p. 34-36). Looks like our Yan Tribe has taken that bamboo grove and put it to some pretty epic use!

And let’s not forget the concept of community spirit! The tribe’s shift from living in individual caves to building a neighborhood of wooden houses is reminiscent of ancient village structures in cultures like the Mayans or even medieval Europe. Villages were always built around central resources like water or fertile land to foster unity and protection (Coe, M. D. (1999). The Maya. Thames & Hudson, p. 58-61). It’s like the Yan Tribe is building their own little medieval town right here in the wilderness!

With Meng Changjin’s guidance and the tribe’s collective effort, their transition from stone-age living to a cozy wooden village is nothing short of inspiring. Who knew that building a home could be the spark that lights up the whole tribe’s spirit? (¬‿¬)