I am a Primitive Man-Chapter 647: Weng City

The people of the Green Sparrow Tribe were deeply immersed in the painting before them, but upon hearing Shitou’s words, many of them snapped back to reality.

Yes, they still had to farm, cut grass, and handle countless other tasks. How could they possibly have the energy to complete such a massive construction project?

How could they transform the tribe into what was depicted in the painting by the time the millet ripened?

Shitou’s words were like a bucket of cold water poured over their heads, instantly dampening their enthusiasm. The thought of bringing the grand vision in the painting to life now felt overwhelming and disheartening.

Han Cheng, however, had already considered the issue of construction. After the spring planting season, the tribe would have significantly more free time.

At that point, the women and children could take on relatively lighter tasks, such as weeding and loosening the soil, while the strong men could focus more on building houses.

Although the tribe was somewhat cramped at present, given how low everyone’s expectations were for living space and conditions, they could manage for another two or three years.

That would be enough time to complete the project.

Moreover, newly built houses could be used as soon as they were finished; there was no need to wait for everything to be completed before moving in.

When Han Cheng shared his plan, the previously worried crowd suddenly felt a sense of clarity.

Yes, construction could be done gradually; it didn’t have to be completed all at once.

Just like the current houses and walls of the tribe, which had all been built bit by bit over time.

Shitou, after listening to Han Cheng’s explanation, scratched his head in confusion. “If it won’t be finished by the time the millet ripens, then why did you draw golden millet fields around the walls?”

Adding golden millet and ripe fruits to the painting, of course, made it more visually appealing.

For the people of the tribe, golden grains were always far more enticing than poetry or scenic beauty.

Han Cheng, fully understanding the tribe’s mindset, had naturally tailored the painting to their preferences.

Meanwhile, Shaman, who had been trembling like a leaf, finally calmed down.

Shitou’s bucket of cold water had made him realize another issue.

The walls of the tribe.

The 1:200 scale ratio was written right next to him. As one of the tribe’s more knowledgeable elders, Shaman understood the concept of scale.

Han Cheng had previously taught them about it when he explained how to draw maps.

By roughly estimating the length of the walls depicted in the painting and performing a quick calculation—though not arriving at an exact number—Shaman could determine that the new walls were significantly larger than the current ones.

Upon closer examination, he realized that many of the new buildings extended beyond the current wall boundaries.

If they wanted to construct everything shown in the painting, the existing walls would have to be torn down.

The walls were the most time-consuming aspect of the entire tribe’s construction. Even dismantling them would take a significant amount of time.

Building new walls, especially ones even larger than the current ones, would require an even greater effort.

Setting aside the houses and other structures, just the process of tearing down and rebuilding the walls alone might not be finished by the time the millet ripened.

For such an extended period, the tribe would be left without the protection of its walls. That…

Even though the tribe was now strong and well-armed with many bronze weapons, the thought of going so long without walls made Shaman deeply uneasy.

He hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to speak up.

As soon as Shaman voiced his concern, Han Cheng felt his heart sink—how could he have overlooked this issue?

The rest of the tribe, who had been exhilarated about their bright future, also froze in place. Without a doubt, Shaman’s words were an even heavier blow than Shitou’s.

If Shitou’s warning had been a bucket of cold water, then Shaman’s was an entire barrel.

This transitional period was something Han Cheng had overlooked entirely when making his plans. Now that Shaman pointed it out, he immediately realized the flaw—how could he have left such a glaring oversight?

However, his momentary shock lasted only briefly. In just a few seconds, he had already thought of a solution.

The answer was quite simple: instead of tearing down the old wall first, they would construct the larger outer wall first. Only after the new fortifications were in place would they dismantle the existing inner wall.

It was the same principle he had followed when first initiating construction in the tribe—prioritizing the walls to ensure security before building houses within them. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

This way, the tribe’s defenses would never be compromised.

Han Cheng had overlooked this aspect before, but now that Shaman had brought it up, the solution came to him naturally.

With a smile, he explained the plan to everyone. The group, who had just been doused in cold water, quickly reignited with excitement under Han Cheng’s encouragement.

Shaman’s eyes lit up as well, realizing that this was indeed a perfect solution.

With their concerns eased and the plan confirmed to be feasible, the people of Green Sparrow Tribe once again grew exhilarated.

The design sketch that Han Cheng had painstakingly drawn became a treasured artifact among the tribe. Everyone took turns stepping forward, gazing at it with awe and anticipation, imagining what life would be like within the newly constructed settlement. Their hearts surged with excitement.

Shaman stood guard beside the painting like a miser hoarding his treasure. Anyone who so much as reached out to touch it received a firm slap on the hand—he wasn’t about to let anyone ruin it.

If not for Han Cheng’s repeated refusals, the Green Sparrow Tribe would have undoubtedly held a grand celebration that very night.

Shaman had wanted to perform a ritual to inform their revered gods of this tremendous undertaking.

The release of this single illustration had stirred the entire tribe into a frenzy, filling them with boundless enthusiasm.

For a time, the only topic anyone discussed was the grand construction project. Many began fantasizing about what it would be like to live in such a magnificent village…

As night fell, the excitement gradually simmered down. Lying on his heated brick bed, Han Cheng, however, did not share in the tribe’s elation—his mind was still occupied with thoughts about the old wall.

The solution he had proposed that afternoon—building the new wall first before dismantling the old one—still felt somewhat flawed to him.

For one, constructing walls was no easy feat. Secondly, tearing them down would also be troublesome. And finally, even though he had written the word “demolish” on the map, he wouldn’t receive any grand compensation for it.

After all, he was the leader of the tribe.

After much contemplation, Han Cheng suddenly smacked himself twice on the head.

Why was he so determined to tear the wall down?

Wouldn’t it be better to keep it and turn it into a weng city—a secondary defensive enclosure?

Translator’s notes: ‘Weng 瓮 ' refers to a pottery jar or urn in Chinese