Chapter 394, Traps in the River

Translator: Silavin

 

“Yes, when the rainy season comes, it’s the time when many creatures breed and multiply. During this time, their flesh is at its most succulent. In other words, juicy.”

 

Su Bai’s black eyes continued gazing toward the river as he spoke. “At this time, they are easy to catch, and they are especially delicious.”

 

Back on Earth, this phenomenon was not uncommon, like how salmon would grow in the ocean for three to four years. Then, in the fourth year, when they were ready to reproduce, they would return to their original river to lay eggs.

 

At this time, schools of fish would swim back, and catching them would be much faster than using bait.

 

Of course, there were also creatures in the river that would head toward the ocean, either to return to the sea to lay eggs or to mate.

 

“Shaman, with the river current so rapid, how can we fish? The float will be submerged by the river water. It would be impossible to see if fish have taken the bait.” Yan Hua expressed her concerns.

 

“Of course we won’t use fishing hooks. That would be too inefficient and risky.” Su Bai shook his head.

 

This was not what he wanted. Fishing might work normally, but it would not work during the rainy season.

 

“Does the Shaman have any methods? The river current is so rapid, it would be very dangerous to catch them.” Sha Lan said.

 

“Shaman, let me do whatever needs to be done. I’m not afraid,” Yan Hua’s adventurous spirit emerged.

 

“Fishing is indeed somewhat risky, but for the Tribe, we must take some risks. Though, the risks are not anything major,” Su Bai said.

 

“Shaman, please let me do it,” Yan Hua repeated.

 

“You don’t need to take the risk. What we need are the tools. We just need to leave this tool in the river for some time. It will do the work for us.” Su Bai said.

 

Yan Hua blinked her red eyes, ignoring the falling rain, and curiously asked. “Shaman, what kind of tool is it?”

 

“We can make a fish trap, which we’ll place in the river. We just need to wait patiently, and the fish will enter on their own.” Su Bai calmly said.

 

He was thinking of the method commonly used by fishermen back on Earth, placing fish traps in the river to trap the fish inside.

 

“Fish trap? Shaman, what’s a fish trap?” Yan Hua was hearing this term for the first time.

 

“Well… to simply put it, it’s a fishing tool made from wooden sticks and vines…” Su Bai described briefly, then added, “It’s similar to the traps that the Hunting Team sets when they go hunting.”

 

Actually, this was a trap, just one placed in water rather than on land. Though, there were some differences.

 

“I understand now, a trap…” Yan Hua immediately understood when she heard it was a trap.

 

“Let’s go back. I’ll draw a sketch for Gu Mu to make.” Su Bai turned to walk back to the Tribe.

 

*Step step step…*

*Pitter patter…*

 

Their footsteps seemed insignificant amid the storm, and after half an hour, everyone returned.

 

Yan Hua and Sha Lan had people come to replace them on guard duty, which was why they could leave.

 

Su Bai went to quickly rinse off and changed into clean linen clothes, as he had been completely soaked by the heavy rain earlier.

 

Even wearing rainwear did not help – with such heavy rain and since he had stayed out for so long, getting wet was inevitable.

 

He walked to the living room and sat down, taking out a piece of paper and pen to start designing the fish trap. He wanted to catch more food during this time.

 

After all, food was fundamental to the Tribe’s development – without food, nothing else would be possible.

 

“Shaman, how is the river?” Yu Ying worriedly asked.

 

She had not asked before, waiting until the Shaman had finished bathing and had a change of clothes. She only dared to ask after serving him hot tea.

 

Su Bai took the hot tea and smiled. “Don’t worry, there’s no problem.”

 

Yu Ying sighed in relief, having been truly worried about any potential problems for the Tribe.

 

She swayed her fox tail and asked, “Shaman, what are you drawing now?”

 

“Drawing a trap for catching fish. We might even get to eat salmon.” Su Bai joked.

 

Who knew if this era had fish similar to salmon from Earth? Maybe they did exist. If so, then the Tribe could try it.

 

He had not eaten salmon for a long time. If they really had some, he would certainly turn it into a feast.

 

“Catching fish? Salmon?” Yu Ying was completely confused, not expecting the Shaman to return from the riverside with so many unfamiliar terms.

 

Co Co, who was at the side, was also puzzled but she did not ask. She just focused on playing with Rolly, who was nestled in her arms.

 

These past two days, since encountering Rolly, she had been completely smitten, hugging and petting the cat each day, even pressing her face against it.

 

Rolly could only meow in response – what else could it do? This was what happened whenever it got caught.

 

“You’ll understand later.” Su Bai said, lowering his head to draw the fish trap.

 

He wanted to make a simple fish trap. Actually, the trap itself was not complex. It did not need any precise tools. It would just use wooden or stone posts to make a fence-like structure. Then, they just needed to enclose it, with the fish traps curling inward like mosquito coils used on Earth.

 

Some fish traps curved inward in a circular shape, while others curved inward in a square shape. Su Bai wanted to see the differences between these types.

 

These simple fish traps had their only opening facing the river’s direction, or they could make the fish trap into a pouch shape.

 

These traps were designed so that the fish that swam in would become trapped inside. Unless the fish that swam in were intelligent, generally speaking, they would not be able to escape. Thus, this trap would passively catch fishes.

 

The pencil kept rubbing against the Wolf Tail Grass Paper, and the fish trap design quickly appeared on it.

 

“Need to make it more stable. Using wood would easily be eroded due to the river water. It might also be eaten by River Ferocious Beasts, so it needs to be replaced with stone…” Su Bai muttered to himself.

 

He continued drawing on the Wolf Tail Grass Paper. This time, drawing stone pillars with vines on them.

 

After about ten minutes, Su Bai shook the Wolf Tail Grass Paper in his hand, [Done. Let’s give this to Gu Mu and Cang Shi. Let’s get them to make it together.]

 

After all, it used both vines and stone, it needed both of them to make it. Though, it should not be too difficult to make.

 

“Yes,” Yu Ying nodded, took the Wolf Tail Grass Paper, and left with an umbrella.

 

“Shaman, can this trap really catch fish?” Yan Hua asked.

 

“You’ll see when the time comes. We need to try it to know.” Su Bai calmly stated.

 

Actually, he was not entirely certain either. Given how rapid the river current was, and the presence of Ferocious Beast in the river, he truly did not know what the result would be.