Chapter 194: Chieftain, I Don’t Want Axi
The men flushed with embarrassment as they watched, then couldn’t help cheering together. The women on the outer ring laughed as well.
The pile of wood was lit, and the bonfire blazed fiercely. The tribespeople set their prey over the fire to roast, and while the meat cooked, both men and women gathered around the huge bonfire, singing and dancing.
The tune was very simple—just two or three lines—but it sounded cheerful. The dance steps were easy to learn, and before long, Nan Xun had picked them up and happily joined in.
Nan Xun noticed her fellow townsman crouched alone in a corner, looking lonely. She strode over, grabbed her hand, and pulled her up, smiling with crescent eyes. “Come on, big sis will take you dancing.”
From afar, A-Yu, who had been watching closely, changed expression immediately and wanted to stop them—but A-Shi beside him grabbed his arm.
A-Shi looked displeased. “A-Yu, you’re my sister’s man. That woman will be assigned to another tribesman later, so don’t think about her. A man can only have one woman—that’s the tribe’s rule. What, do you want two?”
A-Yu frowned slightly. When he looked again, A-Xi was already pulling the female captive into the dance, which surprised both A-Yu and A-Shi.
A-Shi laughed. “See? A-Xi treats her well. My sister is the most beautiful woman in the tribe—you’re a lucky brat.”
Nan Xun dragged the little beauty along, singing and dancing with boundless enthusiasm.
At first, the woman watched her warily. Once she was sure Nan Xun meant no harm, she gradually relaxed and returned a friendly smile.
Nan Xun pointed at herself and slowly said her name in the native tongue. “I’m A-Xi. A-Xi…”
The other woman repeated it a bit awkwardly. “A-Xi?”
Nan Xun nodded happily, then immediately pointed at her.
Understanding, the woman replied in Mandarin, “I’m Gu Chuxue. Chuxue…”
Nan Xun called her “Chuxue,” and Chuxue’s eyes lit up instantly.
She had never imagined that these prehistoric people could pronounce her name so clearly! And this woman was the only one who also wrapped her upper body in animal hide.
The hunch-beast meat—similar to venison—and the deer meat were almost done. The chieftain chose two strong men to start distributing the roast. Nan Xun received a huge hunch-beast thigh and a piece of deer meat—the tenderest, meatiest cuts. The others got their portions too, with the bravest warriors receiving more.
The fruits the women had gathered during the day were also handed out one by one.
Eating roast meat and gnawing on wild fruit had its own unique flavor.
Nan Xun glanced at Chuxue and saw that A-Yu was taking care of her and that she wasn’t going hungry. Reassured, Nan Xun dug in herself, eating with gusto.
Halfway through the meal, the chieftain suddenly tapped a stone with his wooden staff. The crisp knocking sound quieted everyone.
“This year, five warriors in our tribe should start families. There aren’t many women of age. Including the three with A-Xi, and the one A-Yu brought back from outside, that makes four women. All five warriors, step forward. The women will choose for themselves. Any warrior not chosen needn’t worry—when the leaves turn yellow, we’ll use our surplus food to trade with other tribes for women. Every warrior will have a woman!”
The old chieftain’s words set the men cheering.
Four warriors of age stepped forward. A-Yu hesitated, then stepped out as well.
Next, several women came forward, including the bewildered female captive.
A-Shi patted Nan Xun, whose mouth was greasy from eating, wiped her lips with animal hide, and whispered, “Sister, at a time like this you’re still eating? Go watch your man!”
With that, he shoved Nan Xun forward—right in front of A-Yu.
A-Yu’s face was expressionless. He didn’t look at A-Xi, instead glancing at Chuxue from time to time.
Chuxue quickly understood what these savages meant. Her pretty face turned deathly pale. Panicked, she ran behind Nan Xun and grabbed her hand tightly.
Nan Xun felt a little shy. “Hey, Little Eight, don’t tell me Chuxue likes women? Look—she ignores all those men and grabs my hand instead.”
Little Eight: “Having a face is a good thing. Please get one.”
Nan Xun patted the back of Chuxue’s hand, silently comforting her. She had plenty of inspirational pep talks ready—but she could only speak the native tongue, and the little beauty wouldn’t understand.
While the two were dawdling, two men had already been chosen. Three remained—among them the tribe’s number-one warrior, A-Yu.
Nan Xun was surprised. No one chose the top warrior?
She looked at her brother A-Shi, then at her chieftain father, and suddenly understood.
Holy crap—this couldn’t be what she thought, right?
Nan Xun opened her mouth to speak, but the warrior in front of her—A-Yu—moved first. He pulled the woman behind Nan Xun to his own side and said to the chieftain, “Chieftain, I don’t want A-Xi. I want this woman.”
The whole place erupted.
The chieftain and A-Shi were furious. Nan Xun was completely dumbfounded.
“A-Yu! What’s wrong with my sister? She hurt her head some time ago and did become a bit foolish—that did make her unworthy of you. But she’s recovered now! She even bravely hunted a hunch-beast! And you’d rather have an outsider captive than my sister? That’s too much!” A-Shi roared.
In his heart, only the tribe’s top warrior was worthy of his sister—and everyone thought the same. A-Xi was the most beautiful woman in the tribe!
Nan Xun tugged A-Shi’s arm and looked straight at the man who had rejected her before she even had the chance to refuse. “A-Yu, can I take a look at your ear?”
Her words stunned everyone.
Shouldn’t A-Xi be angrily cursing in humiliation? Why was she so calm—and asking something so strange?
“Hey, are you stupid?” Nan Xun said. “I just want to look at your ear. Once I’m done, Chuxue is yours.” She smiled.
A-Yu eyed her suspiciously for a long moment, then slowly bent down and brought his ear to her.
Nan Xun examined his right earlobe up and down, left and right. Then she grinned and patted his shoulder like a buddy. “Good brother. Be gentler with Chuxue in the future. She doesn’t like rough men.”
Then she turned to the chieftain and A-Shi and shrugged casually. “Dad, Brother, A-Yu doesn’t seem to like me. That’s fine. I’m your daughter and also a female warrior of the tribe. I’ll definitely meet a better man someday. Besides, I don’t want to have babies so early. I want to go hunting with the warriors and help guard our home!”
A-Xi had been rejected—but no one mocked her. Men and women alike were fired up by her words.
Little Eight suddenly chimed in, “My dear, the way you flexed just now—I give it full marks.”
