Thriving and Flourishing
Summer sunlight bathed the valley, and the Fire Tribe was brimming with vitality. After two years of development, the tribe had undergone a dramatic transformation and was no longer the small tribe that worried about having enough to eat.
Upon entering the breeding area, the first thing you hear is the continuous barking of livestock.
Inside the cattle pen, nearly a hundred cattle of various sizes were grazing leisurely. Shidun, the elderly clansman in charge of raising the cattle, was leading several young men in cleaning the pen.
"Be careful, this cow is about to give birth," Shidun said, pointing to a cow with a swollen belly. "Give her more food."
A young man smiled and said, "Uncle Shidun, don't worry. Our cattle are treasures now, they're fed better than people!"
Indeed, these cattle are the tribe's most important source of labor, and each one is well cared for and kept strong.
The pigsty was even more lively, with over five hundred pigs huddled together, grunting and squealing. Several women were carrying wooden buckets to feed them, the buckets filled with a mixture of ground rice husks and wild vegetables.
"These piglets are growing really fast," a woman said. "They'll be ready for market in another two months."
"That's right," another chimed in, "Our tribe can now slaughter a pig every three days, something we never even dreamed of before."
Inside the sheepfold, nearly two hundred goats were grazing on the grass. Several children were learning how to milk goats, their careful movements making the adults laugh.
"Gently, yes, just like that," the woman in charge of raising the sheep patiently instructed. "The goat's milk should be given to the youngest children and the elderly in the tribe; it will make them stronger."
The deer park is built in a wooded area, where more than a hundred deer stand alertly with their ears pricked up. They are not as docile as other livestock and require special care.
"These deer are very precious," said the deer park manager. "But deer blood is highly nutritious; we'll collect some for the Hunting Team's warriors to drink in the winter."
The most spectacular sight is the rabbit farm. More than 5,000 rabbits are kept in separate pens, white, gray, and black, a dazzling sight.
"Rabbits are easy to raise and grow quickly," said the rabbit farmer. "We eat dozens every day now, otherwise they would multiply too fast."
The chicken coop and duck shed are even more impressive in scale, each with more than 10,000 birds. Every day, just collecting eggs takes more than a dozen people working for most of the day.
"These chickens and ducks eat so much!" one of the tribespeople responsible for feeding them said with a laugh. "They've almost eaten all the insects around our tribe to extinction. The other day I went to the stream and it was hard to even find a frog."
The shipbuilding workshops by the river were bustling with activity.
Wang Yan is instructing his people on how to make a new Muzhou. The one they've chosen is a giant tree that would require three people to encircle, and it has been laid down and left to dry in the shade for more than half a year.
"Start by burning it slowly over a low flame," Wang Yan demonstrated. "Don't rush it. Burn it layer by layer, hollowing out the middle."
Several young people watched intently; this was one of the most important crafts in the tribe.
These two shipbuilders from the Fish Tribe have now fully integrated into the Fire Tribe. They are currently refining the design of the Muzhou.
"Look, with the balance beams added," one of them said, pointing to the newly built Muzhou, "It won't easily capsize even on a river with bigger waves."
One person added, "We've also improved the sails, so now we can use the wind even when facing headwinds."
The leader of Jianshi came today specifically to watch the trial run of the new boat. A newly completed Muzhou was pushed into the river, loaded with two thousand catties of Shitou, and it still floated steadily on the water.
"Excellent! Excellent!" Jianshi exclaimed repeatedly. "Let's build fifty more like this! Then our fleet will be one of the best in this river region!"
Wang Yan said from the side, "Father, although we can't build big ships like the Fish Tribe right now, these Muzhou are enough. When we find better materials and tools in the future, we can build big ships too."
As expected of an experienced leader, Jianshi considered the potential challenges even as the tribe flourished.
"Yan, come and see," Jianshi, leading Wang Yan to inspect the tribe's fortifications. "This earthen wall is already three meters high, but I still feel it's not enough."
Indeed, after more than a year of construction, the earthen wall surrounding the tribal residential area has reached a considerable scale. The foundation is thick, the surface is smooth, and observation ports are set up at intervals.
"I'm thinking," Jianshi said, "We should dig another deep ditch outside the wall, so that if necessary, we can divert the stream water in to form a water barrier."
Wang Yan nodded in agreement. "That's a good idea. Also, I suggest building beacon towers at the valley entrance and on the surrounding high ground."
Without further ado, the next day, Jianshi organized a team to begin digging the moat. This was no easy task, but hearing that it would strengthen the tribe's defenses, everyone worked extra hard.
"Keep it up!" Dali patrolled the construction site. "Dig the trench deeper and wider, so that no one who wants to invade our territory can get through!"
Meanwhile, construction began on several beacon towers on the high ground. The sturdiest timber was selected to build the platforms, and dried cow dung and firewood were prepared to be piled on top.
"These beacon towers need to be built high," Wang Yan instructed, "And the smoke needs to be thick so that they can be seen from a great distance."
What's most touching is the work of building new shelters. Although the tribe's current housing is sufficient, Jianshi insists on continuing to expand.
"After this year's Fengshou harvest," Jianshi explained to everyone, "There will definitely be more tribes coming to seek refuge with us. We need to prepare in advance so that they will have a place to stay when they arrive."
Today, everyone in the Fire Tribe wears a hopeful smile.
At dawn, as the first rays of sunlight stream into the valley, people begin their busy day:
Some of the men went to reclaim wasteland, some to build ships, and some to construct walls;
The women were busy cooking, weaving, and tending to the livestock;
The children herded livestock and gathered firewood, learning to read during breaks from work;
The elderly are not idle either; they weave baskets and twist ropes, passing on their life's experience to the young people.
As evening fell, wisps of smoke rose from chimneys throughout the valley, filling the air with the aroma of food. Today's main dish was millet rice, accompanied by stewed pork, roasted rabbit, and fresh wild vegetable soup.
The newly arrived tribesman, Shangen, holding his rice bowl, remarked with emotion, "In our original tribe, we only got to eat a few meals like this a year."
His companion nodded. "Only after coming to the Fire Tribe did I realize what a good life is."
After dinner, it's the most relaxing time for people. Children play in the open space, reciting the words they learned during the day; adults sit in twos and threes, discussing tomorrow's work; and occasionally, bursts of singing can be heard, young people singing newly composed work songs.
Wang Yan stood on the newly built beacon tower, gazing at the vibrant valley. The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the fields, houses, and livestock in a golden light, and everyone's face radiated a love for life.
From the precarious existence of their small tribe when they first arrived in this world to their current prosperity, Wang Yan feels a great sense of accomplishment. Although there are still many difficulties ahead—the tools are still outdated and there is always a shortage of manpower—he believes that as long as everyone is united, the Fire Tribe's future will be even brighter.