Granaries Full, Hearts Won Over
At the confluence of the Fire Tribe's stream and the external river, a bustling scene unfolds.
The 50,000 jin of grain transported back by Wang Yan's eight large boats was like a Jushi thrown into the tribe, creating Langhua. When the news reached the valley, the entire tribe was in an uproar. Under the swift organization of Qingye and Jianya, a transport team set off overnight for Xikou.
This time, thanks to more large boats and ample manpower, the transport efficiency far exceeded that of the past. The transport team used large boats for transshipment by waterway, while manpower carried goods on flat ground, forming a highly efficient transport chain. The transport task that originally took two or three days to complete was finished in less than two days!
When the last bag of grain was carefully placed into the tribe's newly built, moisture-proof stilted wooden barn, the entire valley erupted in thunderous cheers. The golden rice piled up like mountains, its heavy weight and unique aroma filling every member of the Fire Tribe with immense peace of mind and pride.
Six days later, the familiar sails reappeared on the river. Jianshi and Dali escorted the second batch of 50,000 catties of grain, which arrived at Xiaoxikou on time under the transport of two large sailboats of the Fish Tribe. Wang Yan and the transport team, who had been waiting there, transported the second batch of precious grain safely back to the tribe with the same efficiency.
When 100,000 catties of rice (although most of it was old rice) filled all the tribe's granaries to the brim, an unprecedented sense of abundance filled the hearts of every member of the Fire Tribe.
"Two hundred thousand catties... Even after removing the husks, we can still get at least one hundred thousand catties of rice!" The shaman stroked the pillar of the granary, his voice trembling with excitement. "Our ancestors have blessed us! Never before has our Fire Tribe had such a prosperous fortune!"
Wang Yan had already begun planning the subsequent processing of these grains. He instructed the clansmen in charge of processing, "First, use a rice huller to remove the husks from this rice. Store the plump grains that are selected as human food. Don't throw away the husks and unavoidable broken grains. Grind them into fine bran with a stone mill, mix them with wild vegetables and fodder, and cook them. This can be used to feed pigs, cattle, chickens, and ducks. These things will help our livestock grow fatter and stronger!"
The concept of making the most of resources has been deeply ingrained in the management of the Fire Tribe. The tribespeople strictly follow the instructions, and with the addition of more than 600 new tribespeople in two batches, as well as the natural population growth, the total population of the Fire Tribe has exceeded 1,400! This number means that the Fire Tribe has become the second largest tribe within a ten-day radius, second only to the Fish Tribe, which has nearly 2,000 people and a deeper history.
The tribe was unprecedented in size. The newly built wooden houses extended outwards in an orderly manner, with Hunting Team, Farming Team, Construction Team, and Craftsmen Team each performing their duties, busy but not chaotic. The Youth Team had also expanded to 150 people, who, under the leadership of Wang Yan and Shibang, were undergoing discipline and basic skills training. They were the future hope of the tribe.
All the new members of the tribe experienced a dreamlike transformation in just over ten days. They no longer had to worry about food as soon as they woke up each day, no longer had to risk their lives to hunt only to return empty-handed, and no longer had to watch helplessly as their children cried from hunger.
They were given enough food to fill their stomachs every day, even if it was just rice or porridge mixed with wild vegetables. But it was a stable supply that they didn't have to risk their lives for. They moved into simple but sheltered communal wooden houses and felt the warm welcome and equal treatment from the Fire Tribe people.
When the new tribespeople saw the Little Mountain of grain being transported back to the tribe in sacks, filling the huge granaries, they were utterly stunned, followed by ecstasy and immense relief.
"So much grain... I've never seen anything like it in my entire life!"
"Are we... are we really never going to go hungry again?"
"Choosing to join the Fire Tribe was the best decision our tribe ever made!"
A strong sense of belonging and security quickly took root in the hearts of these new tribespeople. They were absolutely certain that by following the Fire Tribe, and by following Chief Jianshi and the wise young man Yan, they would bid farewell to the precarious and life-threatening existence they had endured in the past.
Jianshi stood on the high platform outside the chief's house, overlooking the vibrant, bustling valley. Smoke curled from chimneys, children played, and soldiers shouted as they drilled.
"Father, we now have people, we have food, and our foundation is solid." Wang Yan stood beside him, his tone Chenwen. "In the next few years, as long as we maintain our pace, cultivate the land meticulously, expand aquaculture, improve our tools, and continue to absorb and integrate new members, surpassing the Fish Tribe is only a matter of time."
Jianshi nodded emphatically, brimming with pride. "Yes! Who could have imagined that in just over a year, our Fire Tribe could grow from a little over two hundred people to what it is today! Yan, this is all thanks to you!"
Wang Yan shook his head. "It's the result of the collective efforts of the entire tribe. What we need to do now is to truly integrate these 1,400-plus people into one, so that everyone can be proud to be a member of the Fire Tribe. At the same time, we also need to start thinking about how to get along with large tribes like the Fish Tribe, and how to make our own voice heard on this land."