The Beginning of Spring Planting

The spring breeze completely dispelled the lingering chill of winter, and the sunlight became warm and powerful. The valley of the Fire Tribe, like a giant just awakened from its slumber, began a new year full of vibrant activity. The air was filled with the fragrance of freshly turned soil and the fresh scent of all things sprouting, and the most important spring planting season had fully commenced.

The twenty-odd acres of paddy fields, carefully planned along the stream and fishpond, became the focus of the tribe's attention. Under the guidance of agricultural masters Suyuan and Qingmu, a farming team composed of experienced farmers and quick learners began the first step in rice cultivation—seedling raising.

"The water should just cover the soil surface, not too much, not too little." Suyuan, barefoot, stepped into the rice paddy that had been repeatedly raked and was as thick as porridge, carefully checking the water depth. This small, separately designated rice paddy had undergone exceptionally meticulous treatment.

Qingmu, along with several meticulous women, evenly scattered the soaked and germinated rice seeds, now with tiny white tips, onto the prepared seedbed. This process required patience and skill; if the seeds were sown too densely, the seedlings would not grow well; if they were sown too sparsely, precious land and seeds would be wasted.

"Keep your hands steady and your mind calm, like feeding a baby." Qingmu demonstrated and explained at the same time. The new members of the clan, especially those who had never been exposed to planting before, watched intently, trying to remember every detail.

Wang Yan spent almost every day by the fields. He watched as the golden rice seeds were carefully sown into the fertile mud beds, his heart filled with anticipation. This was not just the sowing of twenty-odd acres of land, but the seeds for hundreds of acres of fertile fields in the future. He repeatedly instructed that they must be done according to the requirements of Suyuan and Qingmu, without the slightest carelessness.

Meanwhile, the two hundred acres of dryland vegetable garden that had already been leveled were also ready for planting. The work here was led by Qingye, with the women of the Gathering Team as the main force. Unlike the intensive cultivation of rice, the planting of vegetables was more diverse and flexible.

They sowed the various wild vegetable seeds they had collected last autumn in batches, according to their different habits.

• Some fast-growing, cold-resistant leafy vegetables were sown directly on the prepared seedbeds.

• For some tuberous plants, they are planted in holes according to the spacing guidelines provided by Qingmu.

Wang Yan also specially designated a small area to try planting some peculiar seeds that he had obtained from the autumn market, seeds that even Suyuan and Qingmu couldn't name, which was full of a sense of exploration.

"Plant 'bitter lettuce' here, and 'sweet root' over there..." Qingye directed with composure, and the women worked together, sowing, covering with soil, and gently compacting it, their movements swift and efficient. The children followed behind, helping to fetch water and chase away birds that were stealing food. The vegetable garden was a scene of bustling activity. These vegetables have short growing cycles and will be an important source of supplementary food in the spring and summer.

While the sowing was in full swing in the fields, a large-scale Gathering Team led by Qingye also set off. This team included almost all the nimble women and teenagers in the tribe, and their goal was to take advantage of the springtime when everything was reviving to obtain as much wild food as possible to make up for the food shortage.

They were like skilled engineers, scattered throughout the surrounding forests, slopes, and streamsides.

Experienced women can accurately identify the freshest wild vegetables such as shepherd's purse and purslane from the newly sprouted grass, and skillfully pick them with a stone knife or bone.

The sharp-eyed children are responsible for searching for dried fruit left on the branches or on the ground last fall, or looking for the earliest ripening wild berries.

Some people specialize in digging up various edible tubers and rhizomes, which requires strength and skill.

Granny Cao also sent her apprentices to accompany the Gathering Team, on the one hand to collect urgently needed herbs, and on the other hand to guide everyone in identifying which plants were poisonous to ensure safety.

Every evening, the Gathering Team would return to the village with a bountiful harvest. Baskets of lush green wild vegetables, baskets of tubers covered in mud, and some unexpected finds such as Niaodan and mushrooms (after being confirmed to be non-toxic) would be quickly sent to the women in charge of food processing, where they would be washed, sorted, and either eaten immediately or dried and stored.

The large-scale spring plowing and gathering activities became the best catalyst for accelerating the integration of new and old clans.

On the ridges of the fields, veteran farmers from the Fire Tribe taught new members how to level the paddy fields; in the vegetable garden, everyone worked side by side, exchanging information about the habits of different plants; during the foraging trip, veteran members shared their experience in identifying wild vegetables and dangerous terrain with the new members.

Sweat flowed together, all pointing to the same goal—the survival and development of the tribe. The joy of shared labor and harvest served as the best bridge for communication. The new tribespeople repaid the tribe's kindness in taking them in with their hard work; and the older tribespeople, seeing the newcomers' efforts and integration, also let go of their last bit of resentment.

Wang Yan stood on the nascent paddy field ridge, gazing at the vibrant scene before him: in the paddy fields, rice seeds were nurturing life in the warm mud beds; in the vegetable gardens, seeds of hope had been planted in the soil; and in the distance, the figures of the Gathering Team were faintly visible amidst the greenery.

He took a deep breath of the air, thick with the scent of earth and grass. The difficulties remained, the pressure of food supplies was immense, but his heart was filled with confidence. What he had sown in spring was not just seeds, but the future granary of the Fire Tribe, the shared hope of its eight hundred people. If they could weather this most difficult time, autumn would surely bring them a golden, bountiful Fengshou! The foundation of the Fire Tribe was being strengthened this spring, with each falling seed.