A Reluctant Farewell and the Journey Home

Early on the third day, before dawn, the Fire Tribe's temporary camp was already bustling with activity. Yan's task for the day was to count and load the remaining two million catties of grain from the trade with the Valley Tribe onto the ship. The Valley Tribe's Second Elder Hefeng, and Chief Fengren Ren arrived early.

Yan dispatched Dabang, Yingmu, Jia Li, Feiyu, Bailin, leading five groups of men, to simultaneously count and load the grain. With all five groups working at once, the efficiency was much faster than before. By the afternoon, all the grain had been counted and unloaded. Bags of grain were neatly stacked in the hold, piled from the floor to the deck, like small Little Mountain or walls. The hold was filled with the aroma of grain—the smell of rice.

After that, there were only some miscellaneous tasks left: counting the number of people, checking the boats, and tidying up the camp. Jia Li others told Yan to go and rest first, and they would take care of the rest. Yan gave them some instructions, handed over the remaining tasks, and then turned around and went back to the temporary camp to wash up.

He fetched a basin of water from the river; it was a bit cold. He scooped up some water and splashed it on his face. The cold water made him shiver, but it immediately made him feel much more awake. He scooped up some more water and rubbed his face and neck, then dried himself with a burlap towel. He looked at his reflection in the copper basin; his hair was a bit messy, so he combed it a few times with his fingers, straightened his clothes, and patted his sleeves.

After washing up, Yan started preparing dinner. He went to the kitchen and looked at the ingredients. The fish had just been caught from the river that morning and was still lively, swimming around in the basin, its mouth opening and closing. The meat was what was left over from today, and there was still a large piece. The vegetables were sent by the people of the Valley Tribe; they were fresh wild vegetables, green and lush, still with dew on them and mud on their roots.

He rolled up his sleeves and got to work. First, he cleaned the fish, scaling it, gutting it, cutting it into sections, and salting it before setting it aside. Then he cut the meat into chunks, alternating between lean and fatty pieces, and stir-fried it in a wok. The stove fire roared, the wok sizzled, oil splattered, and the aroma quickly wafted out, filling the camp and making everyone's mouths water.

One by one, various dishes were served, each one a feast for the eyes and the palate, making one's mouth water just looking at them. Just as Yan finished preparing dinner, Qingsui arrived. She wore a light-colored linen dress, embroidered with small Little Flower on the hem. Her hair was tied in a simple bun, secured with a wooden hairpin, with a few stray strands falling beside her ears, shimmering in the setting sun like golden threads. A faint smile graced her face, and her eyes sparkled like two stars, like two clear springs.

The two quickly began to eat with relish. Qingsui ate heartily, without any restraint, her cheeks bulging like a starving kitten. After they were full, they went for a walk along the banks of the Fish River to digest their food. The weather had been clear and cloudless for the past few days, and it was also the time of the Manyue. The moon was round and large, like a silver plate hanging in the sky, casting a cool, clear light, like a jade plate, or like a bright lamp.

Even without torches, the road is clearly visible at night. The pebbles, weeds, and footprints on the road are all clearly visible. The river shimmers under the moonlight, its surface sparkling like countless pieces of silver dancing, like countless silver snakes swimming, or like countless stars fallen into the river. The wind blows across the river, bringing with it the moist scent of water, and the fragrance of soil and grass from the distant fields, mixed with the sweetness of flowers and the fresh scent of leaves.

The two walked slowly along the riverbank, neither wanting to hurry, neither wanting to stop first. Their hands naturally clasped together, fingers interlocked, palms pressed together, warm and reassuring, like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle put together.

Qingsui spoke first, "Now your Fire Tribe has more and more ships, and they're getting bigger and bigger. Last year, it took several trips to transport 20 million catties of grain. Now you probably only need three or four trips to transport it all. When that happens, your fleet will come to the Valley Tribe less often, and we'll meet even less."

She paused, lowered her head, looked at the road beneath her feet, and said with a hint of disappointment in her voice, "We only see each other a few times a year now. Each time you come, you only stay for a few days. When you come, I'm busy, and when I'm free, you're gone."

Yan gripped her hand tightly, his gaze distant, as if looking into the far reaches of the world, or perhaps planning something. He said, "Around the autumn harvest this year, our Fire Tribe's management center will relocate to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost. The Little Fish River Mouth Outpost was originally the Fish Tribe's camp, which is now closer to the Valley Tribe. It's about a ten-day journey downstream. Moreover, our Fire Tribe's territory is shifting northward, expanding downstream along the Fish River, extending towards the Horse Tribe Clothing Tribe. I predict that by the end of this year, our Fire Tribe's border will be adjacent to the Horse Tribe Clothing Tribe, their territory will connect with ours, and then our Fire Tribe and Valley Tribe will be even closer."

Qingsui looked up at him and said, "Your Fire Tribe has developed really fast. Your Fire Tribe must have quite a population now, right? 110,000? 120,000? Or 130,000?"

Yan nodded and answered truthfully, "Yes, our Fire Tribe now has a population of 110,000."

He paused, then continued, "When I go back this time, about 10,000 more people will join our Fire Tribe. They all come from the Little Horse River and Green Leaf River basins. They are all small tribes that couldn't make ends meet. By then, the population of our Fire Tribe will reach 120,000."

His gaze hardened as he continued, "This doesn't even include the recent population increase in our Fire Tribe. The number of newborns in the Fire Tribe is increasing year by year; if we include that, our population will only grow. Before the end of this year, our Fire Tribe will continue to absorb more people, from the Horse Tribe Clothing Tribe, and from those independent small tribes on the periphery of their territories. I estimate that our Fire Tribe will catch up with the Tiger Tribe in terms of population within the next year or two."

Qingsui sighed, her voice tinged with a mixture of emotion and helplessness, "You have quite a few people now, 120,000, far more than our Valley Tribe. Our Valley Tribe's population is only a fraction of your Fire Tribe's."

Yan shook his head, his voice heavy and weary, and said, "Actually, it's not easy for us either. With more people, we need a lot of food, so we can only keep cultivating the land and buying food from outside. These past few years haven't been easy for our Fire Tribe either. We've suffered a lot, endured a lot of hardship, and taken many detours."

Qingsui looked at him, her eyes filled with heartache and pity, and said, "Yan, you must have been exhausted these past few years, right? You had to manage the Youth Team, the Hunting Team, the workshop, the transportation, the negotiations, and the tribe's affairs. You were busy all day long, like a spinning top."

Yan smiled and said, "I'm used to it. It's not tiring at all. It'll be better in a couple of years. Once our Fire Tribe has enough food, once we build a ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, and once our population grows, we won't have to be so busy. Then I can rest more, spend more time with my family, and come see you more often."

Qingsui nodded and said, "That's good. You're going back tomorrow. Father said he'll bring people to see you off."

Yan nodded, a warm feeling welling up inside him, and said, "Okay, please Daiyue Chief Daiyue for his hospitality."

Then Yan continued, "Recently, the Wolf Tribe has been causing a lot of trouble with the Great Boulder Tribe in the north. Although the Great Boulder Tribe has many people, they are probably no match for the Wolf Tribe. After the Wolf Tribe defeats and annexes the Great Boulder Tribe, their strength will increase significantly. At that time, they may very well join forces with the Bear Tribe to attack your Valley Tribe. You must be extra careful, especially with the Little Valley Camp Outpost. That's a place the Bear Tribe has been eyeing; it's a piece of fat meat in their eyes. You need to be extra vigilant!"

Qingsui nodded, her gaze becoming serious. "Okay, I'll talk to my father about this when I have the chance. He's also worried about this and is making preparations. At Little Valley Camp, security has been strengthened and more personnel have been deployed."

Yan nodded and said, "Okay, it's getting late, you should head back soon."

Qingsui nodded, her eyes filled with reluctance, and said, "Okay, you should get some rest too, you have to get up early tomorrow."

Yan nodded and said, "Okay, you too. Go back early and get some rest."

Qingsui watched Yan nod in agreement, released his hand, turned and walked back. After a few steps, she turned back, waved to him with a smile, and Yan waved back. Her figure grew smaller and smaller in the moonlight. Yan stood by the river, looking in that direction, motionless for a long time. The moonlight shone on him, stretching his shadow long and long, all the way to the river.

The next morning, before dawn, the dock at the Valley Tribe headquarters was bustling with activity. The Fire Tribe members were all up and preparing: packing tents, packing supplies, checking boats, and counting heads. Tents were dismantled one by one, folded neatly, tied securely, and carried onto the boats. Animal hides were rolled up and tied tightly with hemp rope, and pots and pans were packed into wooden boxes, making a constant clanging sound. Soon, everyone was almost ready and waiting to set off.

At this moment, Daiyue arrived at the dock with the seven elders of the Valley Tribe to bid farewell to Yan and the others. The seven stood in a row, dressed in neat linen robes, their expressions solemn. Sunlight peeked out from behind the mountains to the east, shining on them and gilding them with a layer of gold, making them look like seven statues.

Yan quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Chief Daiyue, elders, you've gone to so much trouble, always coming to see me off with such solemnity."

Daiyue Yue laughed heartily, stepped forward, grasped Yan's hand, and said, "It's only right. We welcome your Fire Tribe anytime, and we'll give you a warm and grand welcome. We're just afraid you won't come!"

He paused, then raised his voice slightly. "If you don't come, who will we sell our grain to?"

Yan said, "We also really enjoy coming to the Valley Tribe. Every time we come, we gain something, and we always leave with a full load."

He paused, then continued, "Chief Daiyue, you can rest assured and plant plenty of grain next year. Our Fire Tribe will also have a huge demand for grain next year. If your Valley Tribe has a surplus of 20 million catties of grain next year, our Fire Tribe will want it too! We'll take as much as you have! We'll accept all comers! The more the better!"

Daiyue said happily, "Our Valley Tribe has recently added a lot of manpower, and our paddy field area will also increase. If there are no unforeseen circumstances, we will have no problem with surplus 20 million catties of grain next year!"

Yan said happily, "That's good!"

Daiyue glanced at the sky; the sun had already fully peeked over the eastern mountains, its golden rays shimmering on the river's surface. He said, "Chief Yan, it's getting late. You should set off soon. The sooner the grain arrives, the sooner your tribe will have peace of mind."

Yan nodded, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, and said, "Alright, you should all head back early too, no need to see you off."

He glanced at Qingsui in the crowd. She stood there, quietly watching him, her eyes full of reluctance. He winked at Qingsui, and she smiled and winked back. Her smile was beautiful in the sunlight. Then Yan turned around and strode onto the largest ship.

Soon, the sound of ox horns rang out, deep and long, echoing across the river in the early morning, startling a flock of birds. The Fire Tribe's more than 600 boats slowly started up, sailed away from the dock, and went upstream along the Fish River.

On the shore, Daiyue stood there with the seven elders, watching the fleet sail away. Qingsui stood in the crowd, looking at the largest ship, at the figure standing at the Chuantou, at that familiar face, until the fleet disappeared around the bend in the river, becoming a blurry dot. Only then did she turn and leave at the urging of her attendants.