A faint, imperceptible curve formed at the corners of Wu Liang's mouth.
He knew that Akomann, this wild mare, was only one step away from being completely reined in.
He turned around and announced to everyone:
"Tomorrow, I will teach you how to dye cloth!"
"Let's make our clothes colorful!"
The next day, Wu Liang took Eliza and some of the tribespeople into the mountain forest.
Today, they needed to gather many plants and some minerals to make pigments for dyeing cloth.
"These red berries, when crushed, can dye things a vibrant red."
"Those small blue flowers, after fermentation, can produce the purest blue."
"And that yellow earth over there, once filtered and purified, makes for an excellent yellow dye."
Eliza led the other tribespeople behind Wu Liang, listening while they gathered materials.
By the time Wu Liang and the others returned to the Tribe, several large pots had already been set up.
Under Wu Liang's guidance, the women processed the gathered dyes.
Then, they dipped rolls of woven Linen and Kudzu Cloth into dye vats of different colors.
When the first piece of cloth dyed bright red was pulled from the vat and hung to dry in the sun, all the watching women gasped in admiration.
It had a texture that animal skins lacked; they had never seen clothing material in such a color before.
Next came sky blue, grass green, bright yellow... rolls of colorful cloth were hung to dry in the Tribe's open space.
The women caressed the multicolored fabrics, unable to put them down.
A preference for beautiful colors is a woman's nature.
"From today onwards, everyone's attire in the Tribe must follow new rules."
Wu Liang stood on a high platform, his voice carrying clearly across the area.
"People of the Bloodfang Tribe, you are currently reserve members of the Tribe."
"You may also wear the newly made clothes, of course, but you can only wear undyed, natural-colored Linen clothing."
He pointed to the off-white, coarsest fabrics.
The women of the Bloodfang Tribe stirred, their faces showing looks of disappointment.
But they didn't complain; instead, because they could wear cloth clothing at all, they considered it a great gift from Wu Liang.
Wu Liang continued:
"Ordinary members of the Black Rock Tribe, you may wear dyed clothes made of Kudzu Cloth. The colors are limited to yellow and green."
Compared to the Bloodfang Tribe, the women of the Black Rock Tribe clearly had better treatment, which gave them a slight sense of superiority.
"The Tribe's warriors and the managers of various departments, such as Kaila."
"You have contributed the most, so you may wear softer cotton clothing. You can choose red and blue colors."
Kaila and the other Female Warriors and managers immediately puffed out their chests, proud expressions appearing on their faces.
This was an honor they had earned through sweat and loyalty.
Finally, Wu Liang's gaze fell upon Wei Xian and Eliza.
A hint of a smile played on his lips.
"As for the Tribe's highest leaders—myself, Wei Xian, and High Priestess Eliza—we will wear clothes made from the most precious materials."
He pulled out a small roll of fabric from behind him.
When he unfurled the roll, everyone gasped.
That was Silk!
Under the sunlight, the fabric shimmered with flowing colors as if it were alive, emitting a soft and luxurious luster.
Its texture was visibly smooth and light.
Compared to it, other cotton and Linen fabrics were practically like dirt on the ground.
"This is Silk woven from silkworm threads, the top-tier wealth of our Tribe. Only those of the highest rank are qualified to wear it."
Wu Liang's words placed the final and most solid period on this newly born class system.
No one had any objections.
In this world where the strong are respected, a strict hierarchy was only natural.
Wu Liang used food, technology, and now beautiful clothes to build a clear path for upward mobility.
If you want a good life and more beautiful clothes, then work hard and contribute to the Tribe.
This was more effective than any preaching.
Next, Wu Liang began his clothing design course.
He took charge personally, using iron scissors to design different styles of clothing for women of different ranks.
Although it was just simple cutting and sewing, it was a world of difference compared to the whole animal skins they used to wrap around themselves.
He taught the women how to tailor clothes to their measurements and how to sew using bone needles and hemp thread.
Soon, a craze for making new clothes swept through the entire Tribe.
A few days later, everyone in the Tribe had changed into new outfits.
The women of the Bloodfang Tribe wore simple Linen robes, while the ordinary women of the Black Rock Tribe wore yellow or green kudzu shirts and skirts.
Meanwhile, elite warriors like Kaila wore red or blue tight-fitting cotton martial attire, looking heroic and valiant.
The appearance of the entire Tribe was completely refreshed.
The women looked at each other's new clothes, their faces brimming with joy.
And the climax of this fashion revolution was the Silk gowns Wu Liang personally designed for Wei Xian and Eliza.
Wei Xian's gown was fiery red, with a simple yet elegant style that perfectly complemented her tall, fit figure and her fiery temperament.
Eliza's gown was moon-white with a flowing hem, making her look even more charming and enchanting, full of mysterious priestly grace.
When the two of them appeared before everyone in their new gowns, the entire Tribe fell silent.
Everyone was stunned.
They seemed not like mortals, but like goddesses stepping out of myth.
The women's eyes were filled with envy and longing; how wonderful it would be if they could wear such clothes themselves.
Wu Liang looked at his masterpieces with satisfaction.
This was exactly the effect he wanted.
Wu Liang went over to Wei Xian and Eliza.
"Take this, and come to my room tonight."
He handed a roll of top-quality Silk to the two women.
Eliza asked curiously, "Is this for us?"
Wu Liang nodded, a meaningful smile appearing on his face as he said:
"That's right. I've prepared a special, secret gift for the two of you."
Late that night, when everything was quiet.
The Tribe gradually grew still, with only the footsteps of patrolling Female Warriors and the occasional lowing of cattle and sheep from the distant pens.
Wu Liang's room was brightly lit.
This was the largest and most luxurious brick-and-tile house in the entire Tribe.
Soft animal skin rugs covered the floor, exquisite hangings adorned the walls, and a faint scent of incense filled the air.
Wei Xian and Eliza sat somewhat uneasily by the bedside.
They had already bathed and were wearing only simple cotton robes; their wet hair hung over their shoulders, emitting the fresh scent of Soapberry shampoo.
In their hands, they tightly clutched the roll of Silk Wu Liang had given them during the day.
"Wu Liang, the... secret gift you mentioned, what exactly is it?"