Chapter 5: The Happy Life of the Tiger Cub

In front of and behind the houses in the walled village, the clan members also plant a few stalks of hemp or beans, using bamboo poles or branches for the vines to climb and grow. These are primarily for daily consumption. The forest outside the village serves as a large-scale gathering area. The houses in the village are generally arranged in a concentric distribution, with their backs facing the walls and their doors facing the open ground in the center of the village.

In the walled village, regardless of where the chickens lay their eggs, the villagers will collect them into a designated bamboo basket and then distribute them uniformly. Those who are ill, those preparing to go hunting, or those who need to do heavy labor often receive a larger share, while the children who are growing up typically receive the most eggs. A month without the delicious taste of eggs is considered a "severe punishment" for the greedy children

The old woman smiled again and nodded slightly, saying, "That is true; otherwise, why would it walk like that?"

The adults have long been accustomed to such chaotic scenes, merely attending to their own tasks, whether it be twisting hemp fibers or mending tools. The children in the tribe do not understand what it means to read and write, nor do they possess any lofty ambitions about what they want to do when they grow up. In their early years, they strengthen their bodies through play and chase, and as they grow a little older, they learn various survival skills and assist the adults with various chores. The children in the tribe do not understand what it means to read and write, nor do they possess any lofty ambitions about what they want to do when they grow up. In their early years, they strengthen their bodies through play and chase, and as they grow a little older, they learn various survival skills and assist the adults with various chores

Pan Hu curled his front legs against his chest, straightened his two hind legs, and took small steps to the edge of the stone platform. Drooping his head, he imitated the posture of the tiger cub and lay down on it, letting his tail hang down and raising his rear. Ruo Shan, with a stern expression, said: "Why shout so loudly when there's nothing going on? Does it show off your voice? Your shout not only scared away the chickens but also startled the people in the back mountain! Nan Hua's A Jin fell from the tree; if I hadn't caught him quickly, he might have been injured. In the future, do not shout randomly when there's nothing happening!"

Old Lady Shui: "The origin of the dog Panhu is quite remarkable. From its appearance, it might very well become a spiritual beast. You and I both know that such things exist in this world"

The little tiger boy wrapped himself in a leather garment with his small hands, honestly sticking out his bottom and lying on the stone platform. Amidst the laughter of the onlookers, Ruo Shan swung a rattan stick and struck down; the sound was loud, but it didn't hurt much. Then the clan leader said, "I punish you by forbidding you to eat eggs for a month"

The pods are already plump, and when opened, the juicy green beans are both crisp and tender, yet they have caused fatalities. When the villagers first planted the beans, someone picked the green beans to eat raw. At the time, it seemed fine, but upon returning home, they experienced severe vomiting and diarrhea, drenched in sweat. Realizing something was wrong, they called for the water lady, but she shook her head and said, "It is too late"

As the chicken was driven to the corner of the wall, Tiger Boy stretched out his arms and lunged forward with all his might, but he just missed catching it and instead fell face-first into the dirt. The flower-tailed dog was displeased and, with all four legs on the ground, let out a bark at the chicken. Startled, the chicken flapped its wings and surprisingly flew over the wall.

Not only do humans love to eat beans, but many birds and animals in the mountains also enjoy them. For instance, monkeys often come to pick beans, and if they venture into the village, they may harm children. Hemp is not only rarely infested with pests, but its green stems and leaves are covered with fuzzy white spines and emit a special odor. If one gets scratched, it feels intensely painful, which deters many wild animals from entering the densely growing hemp fields. This serves as a form of natural protection.

Many people did not react in time, and the Water Woman and the Book Woman standing beside Ruoshan laughed: "This time we wear clothes to fight, if there is a next time, we will take off our clothes to fight!"

The clansmen do not hunt every day; hunting is often solely the responsibility of the men and is conducted with great solemnity. First, the chief of the Ruoshans decides when and in which direction to go, and they must also offer sacrifices to the mountain deity to seek protection. Only after making all necessary preparations do they set out collectively, and sometimes it takes several days for them to return

Upon hearing this, Tiger Boy quickly ran back to his little hut and wrapped a thick and soft animal skin around his waist to cover his bottom. "Clothes" refer to garments worn on the upper body, while "skirt" pertains to attire that covers the lower body, which is why Tiger Boy asked if he should wear a skirt. In fact, children aged three or four in the tribe do not pay much attention to clothing; usually, Tiger Boy just ties a belly band. At this moment, his appearance made everyone laugh.

The immobile and silent Li Qing Shui has been sitting there for several years, as if he is destined to remain in that position forever, ultimately merging completely with the mountain peak. However, he has been attentive to the various happenings within a radius of nearly two hundred miles, harboring a glimmer of hope that he himself cannot fully articulate. Today, upon hearing that roar, it was the first time Li Qing Shui was moved.

The village of Lu originally had no chickens, and the Lu people did not raise chickens either. This group of chickens was first brought from the fortress of the Qingshui clan. On that day, the group of marauders from outside the mountains left not a single survivor in the fortress, whether human or animal; every living creature that could breathe was slaughtered. The Qingshui clan raised chickens, but all the chickens perished, and their remains turned to ashes.

On the opposite side of the cliff are still the mountains, with the narrowest distance between the cliff tops on both sides being approximately seven zhang apart, and looking down reveals an unfathomable depth. The chicken flew past, but the dog could not jump over. Panhu, unwilling to accept this, barked towards the other side. Huwa ran over, panting, and said: "This is bad, we're going to get spanked!"

In the treacherous wilderness, they need to act collectively and cooperate with one another in order to survive for a long time. On dry days when it does not rain, the adults often leave the village to gather resources or hunt, leaving behind a group of the elderly, the weak, women, and children. The elderly sit at the door engaged in various tasks while also watching over the children running around the village, among whom is Tiger Boy.

When Panhu was running on all fours, he was extremely fast, and the chicken, in a panic, was hopping and flapping its wings to glide, heading straight towards the cliff. Huwawa shouted from behind: "Don't fall off!"

Nowadays, a new entrance has been opened on the back wall of the stockade, located just behind the stone house where Granny Water lives, leading to the higher mountain forest. On the hillside near the stockade, there are clusters of Quercus glauca and old elm trees, whose acorns and elm seeds can be ground into flour for consumption, providing sustenance during times of scarce game. Every year, the village organizes its clansmen to gather and store these resources.

Upon closer inspection, this extensive style of planting exhibits a certain regularity. The beans are sown among the shrubs, while the surrounding areas outside the Quercus glauca forest and the old elm grove have been cleared of weeds and trees, encircled by large patches of hemp forest that act as a barrier. Within the hemp forest, there is a small path leading to the back gate of the lower settlement

Ruo Shan: "That dog is quite intelligent, but to say it can become a spiritual beast is probably an exaggeration. The ability of animals to communicate spiritually is comparable to humans reaching a transcendent state, which is not so easily achieved! You find it special, and the reason is simple: it doesn't even realize it is a dog; it has always considered itself to be a person."

The Tiger Boy and the Flower-tailed Dog were "brought back" by the tribe members, right next to the stone platform in the center of the hetushu.com.com village where the mountain god is usually worshipped. The tribe leader, Ruoshan, held a rattan stick and said: "Tiger Boy, how could you chase the chickens over the cliff? Aren't you usually forbidden from going over there? Now look what you've done, the whole village loses at least ten eggs every month. Do you think you deserve a spanking?"