Yan's Daily Life

Yan walked along the familiar dirt road toward the entrance of the Fire Tribe's Youth Team camp. Before he even got close, he heard a series of neat shouts from the Youth Team. It was the sound of the Fire Tribe's youths training, loud and powerful, echoing through the valley of the Fire Tribe's headquarters. Two sentries stood at the entrance of the Fire Tribe's Youth Team camp. When they saw Yan coming, they quickly straightened their backs and saluted.

"Young Master Yan!"

Yan nodded and went inside. In the Youth Team camp, hundreds of teenagers were training. They were divided into several formations. Some were practicing formations, some were practicing physical fitness, and some were practicing martial arts. Everyone was very serious. Their clothes were soaked with sweat, but no one was slacking off.

Two people stood on the sidelines, watching the teenagers with Orthodox God. One was lean and stern-faced, Yan's cousin, Daya; the other was muscular with thick eyebrows and big eyes, Yan's younger brother, Zhuangchai. Both were key members of the Fire Tribe's Youth Team and Yan's deputies. Since Gubang came of age and went to the Deer Tribe Mining Area, the Youth Team's daily training and studies had been managed by the two of them.

Daya was the first to see Yan, his eyes lit up, and he quickly went to greet him.

"Boss!"

Zhuangchai turned around, a smile on his face, and strode over.

"Boss! What brings you here?"

Yan walked over with a smile, patted the two on the shoulders, and said, "I'm done with my work, so I came over to see you."

He looked at the boys training on the field and continued, "How are the new recruits I brought back doing in the Youth Team?"

Daya scratched his head, looking distressed, and said, "Boss, you have no idea how difficult it is to manage this batch of new recruits you brought back."

Zhuangchai nodded repeatedly, his face full of worry, and said, "Yes, boss, the four thousand people you brought over this time have been settled at the Fire Tribe headquarters. The four hundred boys who met the age requirements have all joined our Fire Tribe's Youth Team, and we've been training them with all our might these past few days."

Daya continued, "But these people come from the west bank of the Fish River. Their accents are very different from ours, and their lifestyles are also different. The rules of their original tribes are very different from those of our Fire Tribe. It's really too difficult for us to manage and train them."

He sighed and continued, "Some of them can't even understand what we say very well, and we have to teach them several times. Some aren't used to our training methods, and some are homesick."

Zhuangchai sighed, "Yes, we've been exhausted these past few days. Our voices are almost hoarse from shouting, and our feet are swollen from running around, but the results are still not ideal."

Yan looked at their tired faces and felt a pang of heartache, but he didn't show it on his face.

"You've all worked hard these past few days," he said. "However, I've brought back another six thousand people this time, making a total of ten thousand. In a couple of days, I estimate that about six hundred more teenagers will join the Fire Tribe's Youth Team."

Daya and Zhuangchai both widened their eyes at the same time.

"Another six hundred people are coming in two days?" Daya exclaimed in surprise.

Zhuangchai's mouth dropped open. "Boss, this..."

Yan looked at them and said seriously, "This is a challenge for you. Training these newcomers well will be very beneficial for you when you grow up and join the Hunting Team."

Yan paused for a moment, then continued, "Look at Gubang. As soon as he came of age, he took charge of the Deer Tribe's mining area. How powerful he is now."

Daya and Zhuangchai exchanged a glance, a hint of envy flashing in their eyes. Gubang wasn't much bigger than them, but he was already the leader of the mining area, in charge of several hundred people. Every time Gubang came back, he was wearing brand-new leather armor, with a bronze knife hanging at his waist, looking incredibly proud.

Daya puffed out his chest and said loudly, "Don't worry, boss! I'll definitely take good care of these new kids!"

Zhuangchai patted his chest and said, "That's right! Boss, we guarantee we'll complete the mission!"

Yan nodded in satisfaction and said, "That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Of course, we can't rush things. Let them get familiar with the Fire Tribe family first, and spend more time teaching them theoretical knowledge before gradually increasing the intensity."

He looked at the two of them and said earnestly, "You should also keep a close eye on those promising talents; they will all become the backbone of the Fire Tribe in the future."

Daya nodded repeatedly. "Understood! I'll keep that in mind!"

Zhuangchai assured him, "Don't worry, boss, we'll be careful!"

Yan then explained some details to them, such as how to communicate with the new boys, how to help them adapt more quickly, and how to identify promising talents... The two listened attentively, nodding from time to time.

Yan left after chatting for half an hour. As he walked out of the Youth Team's camp, Yan thought of Chasing Wind and Treading Clouds. Those two horses were given to him by Qingsui and are now the best ponies in the Horse Tribe. He has always taken good care of them.

He turned and walked towards the stables of the Fire Tribe headquarters. There was a row of neat wooden sheds there, containing dozens of warhorses. Chasing Wind and Treading Clouds were in the innermost part, separated and receiving the best treatment. When they saw Yan coming, the two horses raised their heads at the same time and let out a joyful neigh. Yan smiled and walked over, grabbing a handful of fine grains from the fodder bag next to him—a mixture of roasted beans and roasted rice, specially prepared as a supplement for the warhorses.

Chasing Wind was the first to come over, nuzzling his big head against Yan's shoulder and licking his palm with his tongue. Treading Clouds was not to be outdone and squeezed in to grab some food.

"Don't rush, don't rush, there's plenty for everyone!" Yan smiled and distributed the best grains to them.

The two horses ate happily, their tails swishing back and forth. After feeding them the finest grains, Yan led them out again and took them for a stroll on the grassland outside the Fire Tribe. As the sun set, Chasing Wind and Treading Clouds galloped away. Yan rode on Chasing Wind's back, feeling the wind whistling past his ears, and a sense of exhilaration welled up in his heart.

These days, he has been busy picking up people, transporting grain, and trading... he has hardly stopped. It is rare for him to have such a moment of leisure. After running around a few times, Yan reined in the horses and let them walk slowly back to the stable. After returning to the stable, he carefully brushed the coats of the two horses and added fresh hay before leaving.

The next morning, Yan went to the workshop area again. In the pottery workshop, the craftsmen were busy. Some were mixing clay, some were throwing clay, and some were firing kilns. The kiln fire was blazing and the heat was intense. The head of the pottery workshop came up to him with a big smile on his face.

"Young Master Yan, you've arrived!"

Yan nodded. "How's the production at our pottery workshop lately?"

The leader said, "Excellent! It's another 20% more than last month. At this rate, next year's production can more than double."

Yan nodded in satisfaction and went to the fine salt production workshop. It was even more lively there. Large pots were boiling salt, steam was rising, and the salt workers were sweating profusely, but everyone was working very hard.

"How's the production at the fine salt workshop?" Yan asked.

The chieftain said, "Last year, our Fire Tribe had a good soybean harvest, and now our Fire Tribe salt production has increased significantly. We can not only meet the needs of our 100,000 people, but we will also have a surplus for another 100,000 people for the year."

Yan nodded and went to the textile workshop, which was full of women, some spinning thread and others weaving cloth. The buzzing of the spinning wheels and the clattering of the weaving machines blended together.

"Our Fire Tribe's production of linen and cotton cloth has increased in the past two years," the chief explained. "This year's production will not only meet our own needs but also have enough for about 50,000 people."

Yan made his way around and then went to the shipbuilding workshop, which was the liveliest place. The clanging of hammers, the hissing of saws, and the shouts of the craftsmen blended together. The head of the shipbuilding workshop came up to him, his face full of pride.

"Young Master Yan, look, those ships with a carrying capacity of 20,000 jin will be launched in another half month. And the model for that ship with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin has already been made. We are very confident that we can build one before the end of the year!"

Looking at the huge ship model, Yan felt a surge of pride. A ship with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin would greatly enhance the Fire Tribe's naval strength once it was built. In the afternoon, Yan went to find Yingmu and Shibang. The two stayed in a row of wooden houses in the camp to talk. Before Yan even got close, he could hear voices coming from inside.

"Shibang, don't be anxious. The boss said that our Fire Tribe won't be fighting this year."

"I know, but I just feel so stifled. I've been in the mining area for so long, my bones are practically rusting."

"Then go find the boss and ask him to give you some work to do."

"I've looked into it; the boss told me to take good care of the person first."

Yan pushed the door open and entered; the two of them quickly stood up.

"Boss!"

Yan walked in with a smile and sat down by the fire.

Shibang poured him a bowl of water and asked eagerly, "Boss, will we have many opportunities to fight this year?"

Yan took the water, took a sip, shook his head, and said, "The remnants of the Wolf Tribe shouldn't cause any trouble in the north this year, and the friction between the Bear Tribe and the Valley Tribe is also within a controllable range. Our tribe will be quite peaceful this year."

Shibang's face showed disappointment as he asked, "Then how long will it be before our Fire Tribe has another battle?"

Yan looked at him and said seriously, "The Fire Tribe needs time to develop. Temporarily stopping war is actually very beneficial to our Fire Tribe. In the next two years, our Fire Tribe needs time to strengthen its power."

He paused, then continued, "Don't worry about not having any battles. Our Fire Tribe's influence is almost on par with the Valley Tribe's. If the Tiger Tribe invades, it will be time for our Fire Tribe to strike."

Yingmu chuckled from the side, "Shibang, you're so anxious when it's your turn to fight. Next time we really get into a fight, I'll let you be the vanguard, okay?"

Shibang glared at him. "You said it yourself! Don't try to take it from me later!"

Yingmu raised his hand. "I said it! I won't take it from you!"

Shibang was finally satisfied and turned to look at Yan.

"Boss, next time there's a real fight, let me go first!"

Yan nodded. "Okay, next time if a real fight breaks out, my father and I will volunteer to let you go first."

A smile appeared on Shibang's face.

Yan added, "But during this time, you must train your men well. I want everyone under us to be elite."

Shibang puffed out his chest. "Don't worry, boss! I promise I'll take good care of him!"

Yingmu also stood up. "Boss, I promise too!"

Yan looked at them, nodded in satisfaction, chatted with them for a while, and then got up to leave. By the time Yan walked out of the wooden house, it was already getting dark in the Fire Tribe. In the distance, the shouts of the young boys could still be heard from the Fire Tribe 'Youth Team camp. Yan took a deep breath and strode towards his wooden house.