Parting at the Dock

Qingsui accompanied Yan on a casual stroll through the tribe, visiting several public areas that did not involve classified information—such as some neatly arranged ordinary houses, a public threshing ground, and some open paddy field irrigation canals. Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was noon.

Yan noticed that Qingsui's gaze would occasionally drift towards the dock, where her mounts, Chasing Wind and Treading Clouds, were tethered. He understood that the girl was still reluctant to part with them. He thought for a moment and invited, "It's almost lunchtime. Although our camp at the dock is simple, we still have some food. How about... we go and have a simple meal together? If we're free this afternoon, we can go let the horses roam around and get some fresh air."

Qingsui's eyes lit up, and she immediately nodded happily. "Great!" She couldn't be happier to be able to spend more time with the two horses and spend more time with Yan.

The Fire Tribe's temporary camp near the dock wasn't luxurious; it was just a cleared area with some simple shacks and straw sheds for storing goods, and a hearth made of stones in the center. But in recent years, Yan, as the tribe's "technical director" and one of the de facto deputy leaders, had put a lot of effort into improving their quality of life, especially focusing on collecting various spices and trying new ingredients. This time, he also brought some "treasures."

He personally prepared the dishes, using fine salt (which tastes much better than coarse salt) and powdered dried herbs and fruit peels as seasonings. He roasted two plump chickens, their skin golden and crispy, the inside tender and juicy, exuding a wonderful aroma. He also cooked a pot of large crabs he had caught from the river earlier in an earthenware pot, adding only a little salt and ginger, making them incredibly delicious. The staple food was rice cooked with the "refined rice" that the Fire Tribe had harvested this year and had undergone preliminary selection; each grain was distinct and carried a unique aroma of grains. Finally, he blanched a small bowl of tender wild vegetables he had picked nearby to cleanse the palate and cut through the richness.

When the food was placed on the makeshift "table" pieced together from wooden planks, Qingsui's eyes widened in astonishment. Although the Valley Tribe was wealthy, their diet focused more on portion control and satiety, with relatively simple cooking methods, mostly boiling and roasting, and seasoning relying heavily on animal fat and coarse salt. She had never heard of or seen a meal like this, which was so colorful, fragrant, and delicious, so carefully prepared, and even used precious seasonings!

"You... you did all of this?" Qingsui looked at Yan in surprise.

Yan smiled and handed her a pair of sharpened wooden chopsticks, "Try it and see if it suits your taste."

Qingsui's appetite was already whetted. She carefully picked up a piece of roast chicken and put it in her mouth. The salty and crispy skin, mixed with the tender chicken meat with a hint of herbs, instantly conquered her taste buds. "Mmm! So delicious!" she couldn't help but exclaim, no longer caring about her ladylike image, and began to eat heartily. The freshness of the crab, the soft and sticky rice, the refreshing wild vegetables... she couldn't stop eating everything.

She ate until her stomach was slightly bulging and she couldn't eat anymore, then reluctantly put down her chopsticks. Looking at the mostly empty plate and bowl in front of her, she blushed with embarrassment, but the satisfaction and admiration in her eyes were undisguised. "Yan, your cooking is so delicious... I've never eaten anything so good before! Does your Fire Tribe usually eat this?"

Yan chuckled at her reaction and shook his head, "No, these were all prepared on purpose. However, we are indeed trying to make the food taste better and more nutritious. After all, only when we are well-fed can we have the strength to work and fight."

Chief Jianshi Shi was still busy at the dock and hadn't returned. After the two finished eating and tidied up briefly, they found a shady spot near the camp to rest. By the time the servants Qingsui had brought returned from the Valley Tribe's own canteen, it was already afternoon.

"Let's go graze the horses," Yan suggested, getting up.

"Good!"

The two, accompanied by their attendants and leading Chasing Wind and Treading Clouds by the hand, headed towards a lush, Water Grass sloping area on the outskirts of the tribe. Far from the dense houses and bustling docks, the view was expansive, and a gentle breeze was blowing.

The two walked side by side, chatting. Qingsui was no longer as reserved as when they first met, and she became more talkative. Yan suddenly remembered what happened yesterday and asked, "Qingsui, yesterday you were riding a horse, why did the horse suddenly get startled? It seemed like it knew you quite well."

Mentioning this, Qingsui blushed again, and said somewhat regretfully, "I don't know either... Chasing Wind, Treading Clouds, and ' Galloping Thunder,' which my father often rides, are actually very familiar with me! I often sneak into the stable to see them, feed them beans, and have secretly ridden them many times, and nothing ever happened. But yesterday, I don't know what happened, ' Galloping Thunder ' suddenly became agitated, and I couldn't hold it back no matter what I did..." She paused, then added softly, "Actually... my riding skills are pretty good, otherwise I would have been thrown off yesterday."

Yan nodded. He had noticed it yesterday; although Qingsui was flustered on horseback, she had basic balance and grip skills, and wasn't a complete novice. "I can tell you ride well," he praised, then asked, "Do you like horseback riding?"

At this, Qingsui's eyes immediately lit up, as if they held stars. "Of course I love it! When I ride a horse, I feel like the wind is rushing backward, it's so liberating! It's a pity..." Her eyes dimmed slightly, "After what happened yesterday, my father probably won't let me ride a horse for a long time."

Seeing her disappointed look, Yan felt a slight stirring in his heart and said, "Then... while we're at it, would you like to ride again? Just take a slow ride around here, don't go any faster."

Upon hearing this, Qingsui looked up in surprise. "Really?"

"Of course, just be careful."

The attendants nearby exchanged worried glances. One of the older attendants advised, "Miss Qingsui, it was just yesterday... it would be best to be careful."

Qingsui quickly assured him, "Uncle Gu, don't worry! I'll just ride it slowly for a bit, I definitely won't run away! And Yan's here!" She looked at Yan, her eyes filled with trust.

The servants knew this young lady's temperament and knew they couldn't stop her. Seeing that she had made a promise and that Yan, who seemed reliable, was by her side, they could only repeatedly remind her to be careful.

The two mounted their horses. Yan rode the Chasing Wind, and Qingsui rode the Treading Clouds. The Ma'an were specially made leather saddles by the Valley Tribe, and they were quite comfortable. They rode side by side, slowly strolling across the open grassland. The sun shone on their bodies, a gentle breeze caressed their faces, and in the distance were vast fields and the shimmering Fish River, a truly pleasant sight.

Sitting on horseback, Qingsui felt the familiar swaying, and her mood instantly soared. She chatted with Yan about the interesting things that happened in the Valley Tribe, and Yan also shared some of his experiences in the Fire Tribe's mountains and forests, as well as his insights into raising animals (such as pigs and chickens). Time passed quietly in their pleasant conversation.

Soon, the sun began to set, and it was dinnertime again. Qingsui almost naturally followed Yan back to the Fire Tribe's camp to "mooch a meal." Yan was generous and prepared several different dishes, making Qingsui eat to her heart's content.

The next two days followed a fairly fixed pattern. During the day, Qingsui would come to the dock to find Yan. After Yan finished the final work of the handover, they would walk and chat together around the outskirts of the tribe, occasionally riding horses. Qingsui also kept her promise and helped Yan obtain some crop seeds that the Fire Tribe did not have or were rare in—such as sesame, mung beans, and some fruit tree seeds that the Fire Tribe did not have. These things were not uncommon in the Valley Tribe, and nearby small tribes also grew them, but they were very valuable for the Fire Tribe to enrich its crop varieties and understand the habits of these crops. Yan also exchanged some small pottery items or special sauces made by the Fire Tribe with him.

Within two days, the two young people, who were of similar age and shared similar interests, quickly became acquainted. Qingsui discovered that Yan was not only brave and intelligent, but also knowledgeable, witty, and sincere. He was completely unlike the arrogance often seen in young masters of large tribes, or the reserved nature of the boys from the Valley Tribe. Yan also felt that although Qingsui was a little willful, she was kind-hearted, lively, cheerful, and full of curiosity about new things, quite different from the pampered "aristocratic" girls he remembered.

However, happy times are always short-lived. On the morning of the third day, before the mist over the Fish River had completely dissipated, the dock was already bustling with activity. The eight 50,000-jin giant ships and forty 5,000-jin large boats that the Valley Tribe had assisted in the transportation were ready, forming an unprecedentedly large joint fleet with the ships of the Fire Tribe and the Fish Tribe. The grain had been loaded onto the ships, and they were just waiting to set sail.

Qingsui arrived at the dock early and, seeing Yan making his final checks, felt a strong pang of reluctance. She walked to Yan's side, her voice slightly low, "Yan... are you leaving today?"

Yan turned around and saw her slightly red eyes. Feeling a pang of pity, he nodded and said, "Yes, the grain delivery is complete, and the ships are ready. It's time to go back."

"Then... will you come again in the fall?" Qingsui asked expectantly.

Yan thought for a moment. This transaction was just the beginning; several more batches of grain needed to be transported, and the cooperation between the Fire Tribe and the Valley Tribe had only just been established. He was very likely to return in the autumn. However, he didn't make any definitive statements, only smiling slightly, "I don't know yet; it depends on the tribe's arrangements. But," he paused, looking into Qingsui's eyes, "If you have time, you can also come visit our Fire Tribe. Although our place isn't as prosperous as the Valley Tribe, it has its own unique scenery. I'll definitely treat you well then."

Hearing the invitation, Qingsui's eyes lit up instantly. She thought of Yan's delicious cooking, her beloved Chasing Wind and Treading Clouds (though they now belonged to Yan), and all the little moments they had shared these past two days. She nodded firmly, a smile returning to her face, "Yes! It's a promise! I'll definitely go if I have the chance!"

Not far away, Daiyue, the chief of the Valley Tribe, also arrived at the dock. He had been extremely busy these past few days, not only keeping an eye on this major transaction but also handling countless internal affairs of the tribe, only occasionally managing to squeeze in a quick look at the progress at the dock. At this moment, he was speaking quietly with Fengren.

Fengren watched Qingsui and Yan saying goodbye at the dock and whispered to Daiyue, "Chief, have you noticed? Qingsui seems like a different person these past few days. She's no longer like before, always wanting to run around outside, dressed in men's clothing and wielding swords and spears. These past few days she's been wearing women's clothes, running to the dock every day, chatting and laughing with that young chief of the Fire Tribe, Yan. She seems quite happy."

Daiyue followed his gaze and saw his daughter looking up at Yan, her face radiating a bright, girlish smile that he hadn't seen in a long time. Yan, in turn, lowered his head slightly, listening with a gentle expression. The atmosphere between the two was harmonious and warm.

Daiyue's brows furrowed involuntarily. His daughter had grown up and had her own thoughts, which was a good thing. He had also taken notice of this young man named Yan; he was indeed a rare and outstanding talent. Brave, intelligent, Chenwen, and possessing crucial pottery-making skills, Daiyue was very envious. Judging from Jianshi's cultivation and reliance on him, this young man named Yan was undoubtedly the future successor of the Fire Tribe.

But... that's the problem. If Qingsui is interested in Yan and wants Yan to come to the Valley Tribe... Daiyue almost immediately dismissed the possibility. Given Yan's status and importance in the Fire Tribe, the Fire Tribe would never release him, and Jianshi would be the first to object.

So, to send Qingsui to marry into the Fire Tribe? Daiyue's heart sank. He only had this one daughter, the most precious treasure his deceased wife left him, and his spiritual anchor. To send her to marry so far upstream, separated by a waterway of ten or twenty days, making it difficult to even see her again... Emotionally, he was a thousand times, a million times unwilling. What would become of the Valley Tribe's future? Although his health was still good, he had difficulty conceiving, Qingsui was his only bloodline. Sending her away in marriage would be tantamount to giving away a certain possibility of the Valley Tribe's future as well.

Moreover, although the Fire Tribe is currently cooperating well with the Valley Tribe, its rapid development raises the question of whether it will become a competitor or even a threat to the Valley Tribe in the future. Who can say for sure? Will sending their daughter to marry into that tribe lead to a dilemma in the future?

Thinking about these intricate relationships and the deep-seated father-daughter bond, Daiyue's brows furrowed even more, and his eyes became complex and unreadable. He felt a sense of relief that his daughter seemed to have found a companion she admired, but he was also deeply worried and resistant to the potential troubles and uncertainties that might follow.

Daiyue said to Fengren, "You go ahead and get busy, I understand."

Fengren nodded and left to carry out the order. Not long after, the horn of departure sounded at the dock. The massive fleet began to move slowly, embarking on its return journey along the Fish River. Qingsui stood on the bank, waving vigorously, and lingered there until the sails of the fleet disappeared around the bend in the river.