When Sha Yi woke up, the sky was just beginning to lighten. The night before, Xi Yi had held her as she fell asleep, but now he was no longer by her side. The animal hide was entirely covering her, while the spot where he had lain was cold to the touch—it seemed he had been up for a while.
She dozed a little longer before finally getting up.
The early morning air carried a slight dampness, perhaps a sign that the rainy season was approaching. A cool breeze brushed past, sending shivers down her spine. After sitting for a while, Sha Yi felt goosebumps rise all over her body. Unfortunately, her skirt had been used as a bandage for Xi Yi, leaving her no choice but to drape the hide she had been using as a blanket over herself.
While squeezing toothpaste onto her toothbrush, she also prepared Xi Yi’s. Then, holding a plastic cup, she leisurely made her way to the lakeside.
Xi Yi was crouched by the small lake, washing the animal meat that Xigu Marui had delivered the night before. Beside him lay a small bundle of wild greens resembling vegetables. He looked slightly surprised when he noticed her approach. Sha Yi smiled at him before moving to the other side to fetch water for brushing her teeth.
After quickly finishing her morning routine, she gathered her long hair by the lake. Ever since giving Xi Yi the beaded chain to use as a belt, managing her hair had become quite troublesome. Leaving it loose was inconvenient, and while modern braiding techniques kept it neat, they were overly complicated and time-consuming. Doing it occasionally was fine, but doing it every day was simply impractical.
Sha Yi recalled the thin vines she had used the night before to bind Xi Yi’s chest—they were elastic and durable, much like modern rubber bands. They would probably work well for tying hair. With that thought, she stood up to search for those vines.
Xi Yi didn’t say anything, merely glancing at her with a smile before returning his attention to preparing the food.
Thanks to the brightening sky, Sha Yi easily found the pale yellow vines—and in much greater abundance than before. They had been hidden behind a curtain of wisteria with purple-green gradient hues. The night before, in the dim light, she had only spotted two, but now she returned with a full harvest. The vines hung limply behind the wisteria, and it took considerable effort to gather them all.
By the time she returned to the lake, Xi Yi had already started cleaning the wild greens. The animal meat had been neatly sliced with a bone knife and placed on a large leaf. Seeing that the greens were almost done, Sha Yi quickly set down the vines and picked up the toothbrush resting on the plastic cup to help him brush his teeth.
Xi Yi wasn’t particularly fond of toothbrushes or toothpaste, but since it was her offering, he obediently opened his mouth.
As she brushed his teeth, Sha Yi gestured for him not to swallow the toothpaste foam—though with little success. Unaccustomed to brushing, he ended up swallowing quite a bit. The cool, minty foam irritated his throat, twisting his face into a grimace.
Once the greens were washed and his teeth brushed, the fresh taste after rinsing finally smoothed the frown from Xi Yi’s brow. He wrapped the meat and greens in large leaves before washing his hands. Sha Yi noticed that halfway through, he plucked a small but thick leaf to wipe his hands, then rinsed them again in the water—a process somewhat reminiscent of using soap to remove grease in modern times.
Curious, she picked up the remaining part of the leaf to examine it.
It resembled the leaf of a succulent—long and plump, with a thick, fleshy texture. The sap felt slightly astringent on her hands and had an unpleasant taste. But when she washed her hands afterward, she realized the leaf functioned much like soap. Though slightly less effective, it was readily available and convenient.
The thought of having a soap substitute thrilled Sha Yi. After all, life without soap was nearly unbearable for a modern person. Now that she had discovered this plant, her worries were eased. She turned to Xi Yi, using gestures to ask about the plant’s name and where it grew.
After watching her movements a few times, Xi Yi understood. He said, “Zao,” then pointed to several spots around them, indicating that it was plentiful.
Sha Yi grasped his meaning—they called this plant “Zao,” a name similar to “soap” in both function and pronunciation, making it easy to remember. Moreover, judging by Xi Yi’s gestures, the plant was abundant. Given the lifestyle of ancient times, it was likely an inexhaustible resource.
Completely reassured, Sha Yi’s spirits lifted. Xi Yi didn’t understand the reason for her sudden joy, but as long as she was happy, so was he.
Glancing at the rising sun, Xi Yi took her hand and led her back.
Upon returning to the large circular leaf where they slept, Xi Yi proceeded to start a fire by friction, as usual. Though he had grown familiar with the lighter’s convenience, he still hadn’t developed a reliance on it. Perhaps he was simply someone who preferred to achieve things through his own efforts.
Sha Yi, however, was different. Starting a fire by friction was too laborious, and after spending so much time with him, she couldn’t bear to see him exhaust himself. Just as he always cherished her and spared her from hardship, she felt the same way about him.
Unfortunately, after turning the stainless steel basin upside down, she found neither the lighter nor any matches—they must have been left in the bathtub. And while Xigu and the others had witnessed the lighter’s marvels, their understanding of it remained limited, so they hadn’t thought to bring it over.
Xi Yi knew exactly what she was searching for and understood that the miraculous fire-producing tool wasn’t there. He placed a hand on her shoulder, signaling her to stop.
Sha Yi relented and sat beside him, watching as he worked to start the fire. Xi Yi affectionately stroked her cheek before vigorously drilling the wood.
The firewood had been gathered the night before when Xi Yi was searching for branches to dry her clothes. Stored beneath dense vines, it had remained dry despite the night’s dew. The friction quickly produced a wisp of smoke, and beads of sweat formed on Xi Yi’s forehead.
Sha Yi thought to herself—once the fire was lit, she would make sure Xi Yi rested. Overexertion was already taking a toll on him, and she couldn’t let him suffer from lack of sleep too!
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