Chapter 49: The Truth About Baima

Bai Ma’s heart leapt again as she realized she had misspoken: she was, after all, a native of the tribe—how could she have ever seen straw sandals? Yet she had indeed seen them, and even knew a little about the various hairstyles the women wore. This was because she had been reborn with memories from her past life. In her previous existence, she had been a camp prostitute in the army of the Xia Dynasty, skilled in the art of pleasing and serving men.

In this life, she had been reborn as the chieftain’s wife’s daughter, a blossoming flower of the tribe from birth. Naturally, she no longer needed to curry favor with men. But having lived a reckless life before, she was unwilling to be bound to just one man like the other tribal women.

So Bai Ma now had two men she associated with, which was unique in the Chishui tribe. Even so, it did not quell her desire to pursue handsome men. Any man who was somewhat good-looking in the tribe had, to some extent, fallen under her teasing and pursuit.

Bai Ma never felt shame for this; rather, she took pride in it. She especially delighted when men fought over her or offered her various game to win her favor.

With such capital, why wouldn’t she seek more beautiful men to accompany her? Moreover, thanks to her memories from her past life, she had “invented” the stone bucket and had people dig traps around the tribe. She had even devised simple fishing tools.

Though the fish didn’t taste great due to lack of seasoning, having an additional food source was a significant contribution to the tribe!

Because of these innovations, she made life easier for the tribe’s people and earned a reputation for cleverness and wit. In truth, Bai Ma wished to change even more. After all, the primitive tribal life could not compare to the comforts she had once known in the army camp, where food and clothing were served to her.

Yet, as a mere camp prostitute in her former life, she had only learned how to please men. She knew nothing of needlework, cooking, or farming. To be frank, if presented with a poorly cooked dish, she wouldn’t even recognize it. The skills she possessed, like playing the zither or chess, found no appreciation in this primitive tribe—mainly because there was no zither to play.

Therefore, Bai Ma’s desire to enact greater change was beyond her means. After all, in her past life, she had no talents aside from flattering men. Now, seeing familiar straw sandals and hats stirred a mixture of excitement and astonishment within her.

Who was it that taught the tribe to make these things? Who had caused the people to stop going around naked?

“This was taught to us by the Divine Envoy,” said Bai Ma’s mother, Zhen, her heart filled with joy at the sight of her long-absent daughter.

“The Divine Envoy?” Bai Ma asked her mother in confusion, “What kind of thing is that?”

“Bai Ma! How dare you disdain the Divine Envoy?” A Yao, who had always disliked Bai Ma, scolded sharply. “How could you speak of the honorable Divine Envoy in such a manner?”

A Yao had long resented Bai Ma, who, relying on her status as the chieftain’s daughter and her youth and beauty, flirted with men all over the tribe. Worse, she dared to pursue her own men. If A Yao hadn’t acted quickly and, in front of the chieftain, beaten Bai Ma severely, that shameless woman might have succeeded.

A Yao cast a contemptuous glance at Bai Ma: “Now that the whole tribe embraces clothing as fashion, how dare you, shameless as you are, strut around naked and seduce men everywhere?”

Bai Ma noticed A Yao’s scornful gaze and saw several other women who disliked her doing the same. Her once proud figure now seemed unable to hold its head high in the presence of fully clothed onlookers.

Having the memories of her past life, Bai Ma knew that being naked was shameful. She used to enjoy being bare-skinned partly because everyone else was so, and partly because she prided herself on having the tribe’s most beautiful and well-formed body. Whenever a strong young man passed by, their eyes lingered on her ample chest, filling her with pride.

She often gained many benefits from these men, the price being some blush-inducing flirtations. Compared to her past life, she enjoyed this existence more—then she served men; now men vied to please her.

Though life in the tribe could not match the comfort of the army camp in food and clothing, as the tribe’s flower and the chieftain’s daughter, even if others went hungry, she would not.

Comparing the two, she naturally preferred the princess-like treatment of this life.

Having been a camp prostitute in her past life, Bai Ma’s sense of shame was limited. After briefly curling inward, she thrust her two large bosoms forward again, deliberately swaying them. “Hmph, now that you’re all dressed, shouldn’t all the men’s eyes be on me even more?”

She glanced around and, sure enough, the gazes of everyone present followed the jiggle of her chest.

“Ahem!” the shaman cleared his throat. “Basang, isn’t it time you got Bai Ma properly dressed?”

Thick Wing was angry: the Divine Envoy had said that not wearing clothes was disrespectful to the sky god! The sky god had ignored the tribe for so many years, surely because everyone had been naked before. Now that a divine messenger had come and revealed this secret to the tribe, how could he allow anyone to offend the sky god again by remaining unclothed?

Basang felt embarrassed but could not blame his children: once out the door, how would they know the Divine Envoy’s teachings?

With a stern look at Zhen and Sugua, the two hurried home and brought out clothes prepared for their daughter and son. Zhen had prepared a straw vest and shorts for Bai Ma, while Sugua had made a grass skirt for his son, Ab.

Ab’s two women, Mang and Jun, had also prepared straw sandals and hats for their men.

Bai Ma’s two men, Gongbu and Abu, were away hunting with the hunting party and thus were not present among those welcoming the salt exchange group back.

The chieftain’s family was quite special in the tribe—not only was the chI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.