NOVEL WEB Chapter 7: Chapter 007: The Leadership Election
Luo Chong was weaving baskets with the help of several women from the foraging team, engaging in a barter of sorts. He had noticed the women using animal hides to carry fruits, which struck him as wasteful considering he was still clad in only a snake-skin loincloth. Seizing the opportunity, Luo Chong exchanged one of his newly made fish-catching baskets, fortified with extra grass ropes, for animal hides. He also agreed to teach the women how to weave their own baskets.
The advantages of Luo Chong's baskets over the traditional method of carrying fruit were immediately clear. Not only did the baskets allow for carrying more items, freeing up the women's hands for other tasks, but they also facilitated more efficient foraging. Previously, gathering fruits was cumbersome, requiring the women to lay down their hides, place fruits carefully to avoid bruising them, and often interrupt their gathering if threatened by wildlife. Now, with the baskets, they could collect fruits more quickly and defend themselves more effectively if needed.
The women were pleased with the new baskets, which were tightly woven to prevent even chestnuts from falling through. The widened grass straps were comfortable even when carrying heavier loads, and soon other women expressed envy and interest in acquiring their own.
In exchange for the baskets, the foraging women provided Luo Chong with two deer hides, which were more than enough to fashion proper clothing for himself and a few other children. Luo Chong generously shared one of the hides with mothers of young children in the tribe, who were thrilled to make warm clothes for their little ones.
As Luo Chong continued his work, integrating more deeply into the community, he noticed a shift in how the tribe viewed him. No longer just a child, but now a resourceful and contributing member of the tribe, his popularity and influence were growing.
That night, the tribe prepared for an unexpected event. With the chief's recent death and no clear successor, the elder wearing ram horns gathered the adult men at the cave entrance to discuss the election of a new leader. The elder held the chief's green-feathered headdress, symbolizing leadership, ready to be passed to the next chief.
Luo Chong, who had planned to avoid the meeting and considered himself ineligible due to his age, found himself unexpectedly involved when One-Ear, the hunter who had lost an ear to a mountain cat, dragged him to the gathering. Despite his confusion and reluctance—feeling too young and somewhat out of place among the adults—he listened as the elder spoke.
The elder explained that the tribe was in a precarious position. With only eight adult men left, including an elder, a cripple, and an intellectually challenged man, the hunting team was severely understrength. The winter was approaching, and without additional skilled hunters, the tribe's survival was at stake.
Luo Chong's successful solo hunt of the terror bird had not gone unnoticed. His bravery and skill had earned him considerable respect, and now, the tribe was considering him for leadership, an unprecedented move for someone of his age. The situation highlighted the desperate circumstances of the tribe, which was small and vulnerable in a world filled with natural and predatory challenges.
As Luo Chong stood before the tribe, feeling the weight of potential leadership on his young shoulders, he realized the gravity of his position. He was not just fighting for his survival but was becoming a pillar for the entire tribe's future.
With the first light of dawn creeping into the cave, Luo Chong reflected on his situation. His disciplined military routine had prepared him for challenges, but leading a prehistoric tribe was something entirely new. As the tribe woke and the cave buzzed with morning activity, Luo Chong prepared himself mentally for the challenges ahead, ready to embrace his role, however daunting it might be.