I Became The Chief Of A Primitive Village

Chapter 1093, Piece Work

Translator: Silavin

Tan led the farmhands in collecting Kapok Fruits en masse. In less than half an hour they had filled several large baskets.

The baskets had all been woven at home, household by household, during the rainy season.

Anyone could learn to weave them. Once the rainy season ended, the Central Market would collect them all together.

Naturally, weaving baskets came with compensation. People could take currency notes or food, whichever they preferred.

Everyone had been at a loose end during the rainy season anyway, so there was nothing remotely disagreeable about the work.

And it showed. With little else to occupy their days, the baskets they wove turned out to be remarkably sturdy.

Tan organised everyone to pick up the Kapok Fruits and had them sent back to the Tribe. He stayed on, keeping watch from the High Tower.

When the Kapok Fruits arrived at the Tribe, they were taken straight to the Chieftain.

At that moment, Yan Jiao was still inside the Yong’an Building, studying. The expression on his face was quite earnest.

“Once you split the Kapok Fruit open, pick out every single seed from inside. The Kapok Fluff is all I want.”

Su Bai demonstrated as he spoke, then added: “The shells can be used as firewood. The Kapok Seeds must not be thrown away.”

He explained everything patiently to the Chieftain. Only then could send him to instruct the workers at the workshop.

Su Bai had other matters to attend to just then, and not enough time to teach large numbers of people himself.

“Understood.” Yan Jiao nodded and began working alongside him.

“Have you got it?” Su Bai asked.

“I’ve got it, Shaman.” Yan Jiao answered without hesitation, and he was indeed picking with great precision.

“Send the sorted fluff directly to the Linen Workshop and have them spin it into cotton thread, then weave a length of cloth and bring it to me.” Su Bai instructed.

“Yes.” Yan Jiao answered and turned to leave.

*Step step step…*

He moved quickly across the plaza, casting a glance at the Kapok Fruits the farmhands had sent over.

There were more than a dozen large baskets, every one of them packed full.

Each basket was woven solidly. They stood about a metre and twenty centimetres tall, close to a metre wide, and held a very respectable amount.

“Anyone idling in the Tribe is welcome to come and help. This work pays the same as other jobs, goods or currency notes.” Yan Jiao stood before the baskets and called out in a clear, carrying voice. The Tribe had no shortage of general labourers.

They had no fixed work. They took whatever came their way, so long as it meant earning something and having food to eat.

*Step step step…*

Once Yan Jiao had spoken, people began drifting toward the plaza in ones and twos.

Most of them were women. Their options within the Tribe were more limited, and they had rather more free time on their hands.

“Everything in these baskets is your responsibility to sort. Everything that comes out of them must be kept. Nothing is to be discarded.”

Yan Jiao bent down and picked up a Kapok Fruit, working as he explained: “Split the whole fruit open. Set the fluff to one side, the seeds to another, and keep the shells as well.”

He split several in quick succession, wanting them to see it clearly enough to be certain.

Ten minutes later, Yan Jiao dusted off his hands and asked, “Do you all know how to sort them now?”

“We do.” The crowd on the plaza answered as one.

“Right then, get started. This work is counted by the piece. The more you open, the more you earn, whether you want currency notes or meat.” Yan Jiao called out encouragingly.

The incentive scheme had been Su Bai’s idea. He could have simply told them to do it without reward, and they would have complied. But there would have been no real drive behind it.

The moment money and food entered the picture, though, those people could not have been more eager.

Besides, Su Bai had said it plainly before: work and they would eat. Now that he was asking people to work, the promise had to be honoured.

Men, women, old and young alike, everyone on the plaza set to it at once. Each person grabbed up a great armful of Kapok Fruits without hesitation.

As though the fruits might be gone if they paused for even a moment. The energy was unmistakable.

Some had come as whole Families. Their division of labour was that much cleaner for it.

Some split the fruits open. Some picked the seeds from the fluff. Some cleared away the impurities and gathered the clean fluff together.

The plaza grew lively in an instant. Everyone’s face was bright.

More than a thousand Kapok Fruits were processed within the hour, every part sorted and accounted for without a single bit wasted.

The shells were sent to the various food shops to be used as fuel. The Kapok Seeds were collected together and sent to the Yong’an Building. The fluff went to the workshop.

“Shaman, what are we collecting the seeds for?” Yu Ying looked at the Animal Hide Bag filled with Kapok Seeds.

“They can be pressed for oil and used to make soap. Both are things our Tribe needs.” Su Bai explained.

“Shaman, how do you make soap from these? They don’t look like they have anything to do with soap.” Yu Ying asked with open curiosity.

The soap for bathing in the Yong’an Building was something Su Bai had drawn from the System.

Rectangular bars, pleasantly fragrant, lathering generously when wet, and leaving the body smelling clean afterward.

Yu Ying simply could not see how these seeds had anything to do with that. She even leaned in and sniffed one to be sure. It had none of that clean, sweet scent at all.

“These can be made into soap. But first we need to press them into oil.” Su Bai said, scooping up a large handful of Kapok Seeds.

“Hmm… Shaman, can the oil pressed from these seeds be used for cooking? We use wild boar lard now, don’t we?” Yu Ying tilted her head and began turning the Kapok Seeds over in her fingers. “You always said lard gives the best flavour. Are we changing oils now?”

“Nope. The oil pressed from Kapok Seeds isn’t for cooking. It has medicinal value.” Su Bai said with a smile.

“Oil can be used as medicine?” Yu Ying looked more confused than ever.

“Much like the Kapok Flower itself, it can clear heat, detoxify, dispel dampness, and stop bleeding. It is a great ingredient for many things.” Su Bai blinked his dark eyes and continued. “It can be added in small amounts when cooking rice porridge or soup. A decent medicinal dish.”

“I see. So, the soap you mentioned also requires the oil first, is that right?” Yu Ying asked.

“That’s right. Once we have everything prepared, we press the oil first and make the soap after.” Su Bai said calmly.

“Yes, Shaman.” Yu Ying turned and ran off, already bright with anticipation.