After their midday meal of hand-grabbed lamb, Jade Mountain River's family got busy. Harimu rode home, then brought his family over too-everyone came except the grandmother, who stayed home to look after the place.
The gathering was held on the grass near the Winter Camp. It was late March now, and the grass on the plains had already grown, but here it was only just putting out tender green shoots.
Jade Mountain River's son and Nasen brought over wood that the floodwaters had deposited in the river gully, stacking it for the evening bonfire.
Jade Mountain River slaughtered another sheep, and his wife and Harimu's wife prepared the meat.
Harimu chose a spot and dug a long trench, cleaned it out, and used the excavated soil to build up its edges.
"Is that a trench for grilling lamb?" Li Long had watched plenty of short videos in his later life and had a guess.
"Yes," Harimu said as he worked. "Quite a few people should be coming tonight, so we need to grill more meat. Besides, Jade Mountain River will definitely want them to help build your house."
Li Long immediately felt rather overwhelmed. What had he done to deserve so many people working for him?
"Don't feel embarrassed." Seeing what was on Li Long's mind, Harimu smiled. "You brought us so much brick tea, salt, and sugar before. Did you think we ate all of it? We couldn't use that much.
"We all used to belong to one tribe, so during the winter, Jade Mountain River and I gave the extra things to the others. They can't speak Han Chinese, but they need those things even more than we do-"
Li Long understood. He looked around, thought for a moment, and said:
"Then I'll go to the County Seat