Chapter 377: The Tribe Has Wheat Seeds
If this wheat could be planted on a large scale in the Ying Tribe, that would be wonderful.
This winter finally has something to do.
Just plant this wheat.
Thinking of this, she became ecstatic; now that they have wheat and rice, there will be more food to eat in the future—how wonderful.
The size of the tribe doesn't matter; as long as there is food, it will keep increasing. In the future, people from other tribes will envy them and come to seek refuge. She thinks this is a good thing—if they can conquer other tribes without fighting, just by having people come to settle, the prospects here are incalculable.
"Qinghuan, can these little things be eaten? Why are you so happy?"
Axi, watching from the side, was bewildered: why is Qinghuan so delighted by these little things? In her view, those tribe members have nothing impressive to show.
Why must Qinghuan and Ying have them? From Axi's perspective, those people come to compete for food and have nowhere to live; the Tulou is already full, so there's no need to shelter these tribe members.
Nan Qinghuan heard Axi's glance at her and thought, this girl really knows nothing.
"Look, this is wheat. I know you aren't familiar with it, but it's a good thing—it's a staple food like rice. When ground into powder it becomes flour, which can make steamed buns, baozi, bread, and many other things you've seen—soft, fragrant, and delicious."
Hearing this, Axi's eyes widened. She had thought that having rice was already great and they were content, but there is something even tastier than rice? She was truly… overjoyed.
"Qinghuan, then tell me how to make the baozi you mentioned from this."
Nan Qinghuan reached out and patted her little head, "Silly girl, of course I know how. But these cannot be eaten now; we must keep them as seed."
"Seed?"
Axi still wanted to try it with her tongue, but it turned out she couldn't eat it.
"Of course, seed—once eaten it's gone. In a few days, when senior brother's house is repaired, I'll have Ying prepare to sow this wheat for the tribe; by next spring it will be wheat seedlings, lush and green."
"But this winter…"
"Winter is no problem; snow doesn't scare us. By next year the wheat will have grown into seedlings, and then we can harvest the wheat. We can rotate planting—wheat one season, rice the next; then why would we fear not having enough to eat?"
These words made Axi even more hopeful—could it really be that good? "Then Qinghuan, these tribe members really came at the right time."
"Of course. Go fetch a basket so I can prepare some. I want to give some to senior brother and also let them plant wheat, so everyone can afford a meal."
"Alright, I'm going right now."
Here, Nan Qinghuan and Axi prepared the wheat; over there, Dashan rushed over.
"Om."
"Dashan, what's wrong?"
Dashan looked at Axi, "Where are you all going?"
"Dashan, we want to go to the Rongdi Tribe and deliver this wheat to them. Qinghuan said the wheat can be made into delicious baozi, and I want to eat baozi."
"Wheat, these things aren't tasty, Om."
"Do you know what? These are good things. Wheat once fed the northern families of China; it can't fail to sustain you. So, go prepare a carriage; I'm going to Rongdi."
"You and your senior brother are really in sync. Here's how it is: your senior brother sent someone to inform you that he's repairing the Treehouse and hopes you can attend the ceremony. Their custom says whoever builds the Treehouse gets to be the first to live in it, making that person the most honored. Om, it seems Li Xiang regards you as the most respected."
Nan Qinghuan was naturally delighted; she hadn't expected Li Xiang to think of having her go see their Treehouse.
It just so happened she had never seen how these primitives built a Treehouse, so this time she could get a glimpse.
"Alright, I'll go right now."
"Qinghuan, let Ying go with you; you should tell him, you still have a big belly."
"It's fine; Ying letting Dashan come is already an implicit approval. With so many tribe members now, he surely has no time to look after me. We'll go on our own, just be careful. Senior brother repairing his house is a good thing; I need to think about what to give him."
"Om, you aren't planning to give a Great Beast, are you? That beast is sitting there and no one dares to move it; the tribe members go to gawk at it, all thinking how strange it is."
"Is that so?"
She drove the Excavator back and parked it at the tribe. After a few days of handling these matters, she will personally hand it over to Ying; then they can chop mountains and dig stones.
The tribe still needs to expand further.
With more people, there's not enough housing.
"Of course, everyone says that thing is amazing—such huge stones can be moved, it's incredible."
"Whenever I have free time, I'll teach you all. Enough idle chatter—go prepare the carriage; I'm going to senior brother's place to see how the Ancient People built the Treehouse."
Dashan quickly went to prepare the carriage. Then Nan Qinghuan gathered her things and set off with Axi. They had just boarded the carriage when Ying strode forward from behind.
"Qinghuan."
"Ying?"
She lifted the hemp curtain and poked out a head, "What's up?"
Ying, seeing her stance, was about to go see Li Xiang but felt a bit worried, "How about we don't go? You stay home and rest; when I'm done with my duties, I'll go with you."
"No need, I'll go and come right back. I also want to see how the Treehouse is built; don't worry, I'll just look and not disturb anything."
Ying frowned slightly; originally he intended to go with Qinghuan, but now he can't leave.
The tribe members arrived and need to settle, yet another problem arose.
Where to live? Building a Tulou now isn't possible; they'll have to wait until next year.
The Clan Leader now oversees more people, so he becomes increasingly busy.
The time he spends with women also dwindles.
Ying didn't want Nan Qinghuan to go alone; what to do? Nan Qinghuan had to act coy, gently slipping her arm around his, and whispered a word in front of the tribe members. Upon hearing it, Ying's ears flushed red and his eyes lit up.
He was delighted, grabbed Nan Qinghuan's arm, "Qinghuan, you didn't lie to me?"
??
End of Chapter
