Chapter 055: The Calendar Enigma

Whisking his fingers across the characters etched on the cave walls, the Shaman from the Black Rat Tribe bombarded Luo Chong with questions about each symbol. Patiently, Luo Chong elucidated each character's pronunciation and meaning. When the Shaman pointed at the character for "wood," Luo Chong demonstrated its sound and then gestured towards a log outside and the Shaman's wooden staff, repeating the word for emphasis. Astonished, the Shaman realized that these symbols, each distinct, represented specific objects, seemingly leaving no concept unexpressible by these Han characters.

Luo Chong then introduced the character for "cart," pronouncing it first, then pointing to a small pushcart outside. The Shaman mimicked him, slowly grasping that these symbols formed another mode of expression for the Han tribe's language—a language that could be spoken aloud or painted in silence on the walls.

Unlike the Han, the Black Rat Tribe had no such symbols, and their rudimentary language lacked specific names for many items, often resorting to vague gestures and terms like "this" or "that," which muddled communication.

As the Shaman pondered the utility of these symbols, he envisioned a world where everyone could write down these symbols to express thoughts, transcending the need for direct speech. Unbeknownst to Luo Chong, the Shaman was on the brink of realizing that writing could serve to convey messages across time and space—a concept Luo Chong would have celebrated as genius.

Luo Chong was somewhat disheartened that his own tribe had not yet fully contemplated the broader applications of written language, fixated only on rote learning. Faced daily with reluctant learners, the sudden appearance of an eager, thoughtful elder delighted him. Grateful for the intellectual engagement, Luo Chong invited the Shaman and his leader to stay the night, an offer they eagerly accepted.

Thus, the visitors from the Black Rat Tribe settled in as guests. To accommodate everyone within the cave, Luo Chong decided to relocate the rabbit enclosure outside, freeing up much-needed space inside the cave.

The new rabbit pen was quickly constructed in a corner of the livestock area, its floor laid with bricks to prevent the burrowing rabbits from escaping. The walls, assembled from stacked bricks without mortar, rose sturdily. Wooden beams topped with straw formed the roof, weighted down with more wood and bricks.

As the women of the tribe moved the rabbits into their new home, filling it with straw and wood for gnawing, Luo Chong noted with satisfaction the numerous pregnant does among them. His calculation of potential offspring brought a smile to his face, anticipating a significant increase in their numbers.

The members of the Black Rat Tribe toured the livestock area, marveling at the Han's methods of animal husbandry. The Shaman, intrigued by Luo Chong's approach, queried why he chose not to consume the rabbits immediately. Before Luo Chong could respond, Big Tree eagerly explained the concept of breeding for sustainability, a practice that had proven its worth in just a few generations.

Later, pulling Luo Chong aside, the Shaman whispered a question that had been weighing on him: "Who taught you all this? Does your tribe have a god? Are you a shaman?" Luo Chong, puzzled by the old man's question, hesitated. The existence of gods was a complex topic, one that he felt unsure about despite his previous life's skepticism.

After some thought, Luo Chong answered, "I am not a shaman, and we do not have one. I was born with this knowledge. Perhaps there are gods in this world, but I have never seen them." The Shaman, trying to comprehend, was left to wonder if Luo Chong himself might be divine.

Distracted by the Shaman's intense gaze, Luo Chong deflected by asking about the Shaman's own divine encounters and how he knew to predict a longer winter, leading to a rare admission from the Shaman: he had never seen a god nor received divine guidance.

Their conversation deepened, touching on traditions and predictions, until Luo Chong, intrigued by patterns in the Shaman's descriptions, asked, "Do you have a calendar?" His question, highlighting a potential shared understanding between their cultures, hung between them, ripe with possibility.