Chapter 409 - 177: Gallows (Is There More?)_2
The natives must apply all the knowledge they learned during the day, fetch water themselves, gather firewood themselves, and cook for themselves. After cooking barley porridge to fill their stomachs and cleaning the dishes, they can rest.
The instruction they received was far less detailed than what was given to Saturday and Sunday.
But the natives had the advantage of numbers after all.
Saturday did not forbid their communication, and if they forgot any steps while cooking, the natives could still ask their companions.
Even though it was their first attempt at cooking using a new method, the process was inevitably somewhat bumpy.
After some effort, the natives eventually succeeded in cooking the barley porridge. They even imitated Saturday by taking a few grains of coarse salt from the food basket and putting them into the clay pot.
However, the "chef" in charge of cooking the porridge clearly did not understand the role of salt in the cooking process.
He added so little that it was probably difficult to taste any salt in this large clay pot of barley porridge.
But the natives did not care about this.
After a day of work and being scared for a day, they didn’t care if the food was salty or bland, as long as it could fill their stomachs. Besides, this porridge tasted much better than the food they normally ate in the tribe.
...
Having never used cooking utensils before, the natives made a joke after cooking—
The native responsible for taking down the clay pot actually forgot to use something as insulation and grabbed the hot clay pot with his bare hands.
Fortunately, he reacted quickly and pulled his hand back in time. Otherwise, a severe burn was no joking matter. Even if it didn’t threaten his life due to infection, it would take at least half a month to recover enough to resume work.
After the barley porridge cooled slightly, an incident occurred while the natives were eating with clay bowls one by one.
The natives, sharing a common hardship, all came from the same tribe and were unfortunate captives. Even as laborers, when gathered together, they could find opportunities to talk and exchange ideas.
Werner, this outsider who usually beat and scolded them, had previously been able to wield power because of the sword he held and his good relationship with the Leader.
Now, stripped of his clothes, covered in wounds, and limping, this "superior" person ended up being ostracized.
When it came to cooking, whether it was gathering firewood or cooking, Werner was not involved. After the barley porridge was cooked, Werner shamelessly took a bowl to get some food, only to be discreetly pushed aside by "zebra" guarding the clay pot.
At first, Werner thought that being pushed was just an unintentional gesture by the natives—
Everyone had worked all day and were physically exhausted. Forgetting to respect him was quite normal.
Werner considered himself not to be petty and didn’t want to put on airs as a superior to question or reprimand these disrespectful natives.
When he went up a second time to get food and was pushed away again.
Werner finally realized that in the eyes of these natives, this disheveled and bedraggled fellow probably looked no different from a "Wild Monkey."
The people usually trampled firmly underfoot dared to behave this outrageously, causing Werner to be uncontrollably furious.
He wanted nothing more than to grab these lowly natives by the neck and loudly question how they dared treat him like this!
But thinking of Saturday, who was supervising from the side, and remembering the beating he received that morning, Werner finally dismissed all his extreme thoughts.
Squatting on the edge of the wooden board, Werner could only watch, with hopeful eyes, as the natives scooped food from the clay pot again and again;
Watching the tall native who blocked him take out a piece of black, unidentified food from the bowl to share with other natives;
Seeing the expressions of shock on the faces of the natives who received food, chattering with chirps like monkeys in amazement;
Observing the campfire being extinguished...
After finally waiting for the damn "Wild Monkeys" to finish eating, Werner could at last gingerly carry his empty bowl to the clay pot, pouring out thin barley soup to soothe his hungry and thirsty stomach.
The natives had large appetites, and the thin broth left at the bottom of the wide clay pot was not enough to fill Werner’s small bowl.
Carrying the leftovers obtained through enduring humiliation, Werner had just taken a couple of sips when he saw Saturday walking over with a whip.
"The last person to eat cleans the pot, make sure it’s clean. The water’s over there."
Leaving behind one phrase, Saturday placed the cloth used for cleaning the cookware beside Werner and turned to walk towards the wood cottage, not caring if he understood.
...
Laborers had their standard meals, and naturally, Saturday and Sunday had their good food.
While Saturday was supervising the natives, Sunday had already woken up and prepared meals in the "kitchen" at the other end of the fields, bringing it over.
Though this day they didn’t do much heavy labor.
Yet supervising the natives and demonstrating for their education wasn’t easy, and ending the day with a good meal was the best way.
...
After a day of adjustment, Chen Zhou successfully regained his routine.
With renewed vigor, he could finally lend a hand, assisting Saturday and Sunday in managing and educating the natives.
At the same time, they were building defensive structures and constructing gallows for the brown-haired man.
...
On the morning of July 9, after hearing Sunday’s report, Chen Zhou made a special effort to check on the brown-haired man.
This guy, who was full of spirit upon first meeting, was plainly divided into a different team from the natives, with whip marks yet to heal, swelling into ridges, and a whip mark just beside his eye that left him unable to open that eye.
He still limped while walking, found another stick from somewhere, and, all alone, trailed behind the group to cultivate new fields, looking as pitiful as could be.