Chapter 27 – One day we will host a Potlatch (2/2)

That was only a legend.

It’s said that there was someone in the tribe that once held a Potlatch. A Potlatch was a feast that was considered the winner of a contest between hosts to see who could feed their invited guests the most. As for the definition of “most”; there lay the interesting part. They had to feed the guests until they got so full, that they would wobble over the grass and vomit somewhere. After they threw up all the food in their bellies, guests would return to the feast and continue to eat, until they felt like they could throw up again, at least a few times, only then could the feast be considered as a successful one.

That kind of feast was the so-called Potlatch.

So based on Lang Ga’s description, Shao Xuan knew that the Potlatch aimed at giving out or even destroying more food and property than one’s competitors. Some people would even destroy their food and clothes in front of the public, and sometimes they would even burn their houses down to the ground, to build up their prestige in the tribe and humiliate their competitors. One who did that would gain the long-term admiration from his followers.

Whoever was able to do that, would be someone with considerable power and status, who was ambitious in seizing even higher power.

That was arrogant enough, conceited enough, and idiotic enough.

Then Shao Xuan noticed Lang Ga and his friends’ facial expressions when they talked about the Potlatch. There was a kind of undisguised admiration. As if they wanted to kneel before the host of a Potlatch if ever he showed his face here.

Seeing Shao Xuan’s astonishment, Lang Ga acted like an elder and claimed that, “you don’t understand it yet.”

Yes, Shao Xuan did not understand it. In his eyes, only a total moron would do such deeds and how could he be admired and respected by warriors like Lang Ga?

No, it should be said that all people in the tribe admired such deeds deeply!

Thinking that in his previous life, people would only feel honored if there were leftovers when they treated their guests, Shao Xuan finally began to understand a little. As it turned out that the tradition came from the earliest generations of men. However, that was such severe waste of things!

He had underestimated the obsession that people here had towards food. They had such unique pursuit of the concept of food.

In the past, Shao Xuan had heard a lot of discussions between the kids in the cave, about which warrior had defeated what kind of ferocious beast. Those heroes were worshiped a lot in the past, and their glorious deeds were remembered and passed on to the new generations.

However, now Shao Xuan was informed that there was another even more glorious deed.

Originally, to get followers, one did not need to beat up people, use lies, no need to lobby, or persuade, or sweeten the deal. And all plans to outwit someone were unnecessary. All that needed to be done was to host a Potlatch, and then numerous people would want to become your followers.

Shao Xuan felt that his values of life had been distorted.

Looking up at those two crescent moons in the sky, Shao Xuan sighed, “I shall be a moron someday in the future!”

“What did you say?” Lang Ga did not understand Shao Xuan’s meaning.

“Nothing. I said that, if possible, one day we shall host a Potlatch ourselves!” Shao Xuan said.

Lang Ga and his companions laughed out, and Lang Ga, having the most laughter, tapped on Shao Xuan’s shoulder. After he stopped laughing, he even praised Shao Xuan, “That’s the spirit!”

In the eyes of Lang Ga and Mai, what Shao Xuan just said was merely some childish talk after hearing a legend and they did not consider it seriously. After all, they had never seen a Potlatch held during their lifetime. Neither had their parents or their grandparents. None of them had seen a real one.

Was the legend true or not? Even the Shaman and the chief could not tell.

Perhaps Lang Ga felt that it was not appropriate to keep on discussing the Potlatch, and he changed the subject, for he wanted to show off more in front of Shao Xuan.

“You know…What is the most intimate partner of ours since we were born?” asked Lang Ga.

Shao Xuan sat still, looked down, and thought about it for a bit. Then he raised his head, and stared at Lang Ga meaningfully, as he said tentatively, “Our left hand?”