Chapter 28: Home at Last

After lunch that day, Zhang Fan and Ba Ke Er packed up their things and headed home. Ba Ke Er carried all the grains he had shaken off the straw on his back, leaving the straw behind mainly because it took up space and, aside from being used for firewood, had no other use.

Ba Ke Er and Zhang Fan were both in a hurry, because they needed to harvest all the rice stalks before the rain, otherwise they would sprout in the field. These rice stalks were meant for rations—how could they be wasted?

They finally made it back to the Tribe by 3:30 in the afternoon.

After arriving at the Tribe, Zhang Fan and Ba Ke Er did not rush home but went first to the chieftain's house. Zhang Fan told the chieftain all about how to use the rice as food, even brought out samples to show him, indicating where it could be found and making clear his intention to plant rice. Incidentally, he asked the chieftain for a plot of land. Then he went home with Ba Ke Er. After that, matters such as arranging personnel to harvest the rice were no longer his concern; he only needed to return and discuss with Ba Ke Er how to make a tool for husking the rice.

After getting home, Ba Ke Er and Zhang Fan began organizing the things they had brought back. Then Ba Ke Er prepared to go out hunting; before he left, Zhang Fan said to him:

"Ba Ke Er, while you're out hunting, please also look nearby for any elongated, relatively hard stones; if you find any, bring them back."

"Alright, you rest at home; I'll go hunting now." Ba Ke Er said, then gave Zhang Fan a hug and a light kiss on the lips before rushing off.

"Is Ba Ke Er openly courting me now? Holy shit! I'd saved my first kiss for over twenty years, and it's just gone like that? Thinking back, last time he only dared kiss my cheek, but this time he went straight for the lips—so what's next..." Zhang Fan thought, then shuddered, feeling a bit unnatural. "Forget it! I won't think about it; I'll just take things one step at a time."

Having gathered his thoughts, Zhang Fan took out the remaining barbecue sauce and various seasonings at home. Seeing that more than half of the seasoning packets were gone, he felt a pang of regret, still having found no substitute. These supplies would have to be rationed, especially the chili peppers—being someone who can't eat without spice, otherwise meals would be terribly bland without them!

While Zhang Fan was still feeling regret, Ba Ke Er on the other side had also finished processing today's game, though it was a pity he hadn't found the stone Zhang Fan mentioned that would be suitable for a husking tool; instead he found plenty of chili peppers. Knowing Zhang Fan could grow things and that the seasonings Zhang Fan had brought earlier were running low, Ba Ke Er uprooted several chili plants with their roots, wrapped the roots in old soil, placed the soil‑bearing parts in a hide bag, then shouldered the game and headed home, thinking, "Fan Fan will surely be delighted when he sees this!"

"Fan Fan, look what I brought back!" Ba Ke Er's voice came from outside the door before he even appeared, and Zhang Fan's spirits lifted instantly.

"Ba Ke Er, did you find the stone? I'm coming right away."

"It's not a stone, Fan Fan; I didn't find a stone, but I found something else useful."

Hearing Ba Ke Er's cheerful voice, Zhang Fan wondered what could make him so happy; stepping outside, he saw that Ba Ke Er had brought back several chili plants laden with glossy green fruits—now he truly had no worry about lacking chili peppers! It's like having someone feed you when you're hungry and hand you a pillow when you're sleepy!

Zhang Fan lovingly stroked the chili plants, thinking they should be planted beside the plot of land he had obtained from the chieftain, where he and Ba Ke Er could later build a house. He already knew from Ba Ke Er that the house they currently lived in was Ba Ke Er's parents' home, so he had no intention of planting the chilies here. Moreover, the plot was not far—just a fifteen‑minute walk for Zhang Fan.

Having decided, Zhang Fan immediately pulled Ba Ke Er along and hurried to the field. There he had Ba Ke Er dig a few holes, planted the chilies, then rushed back home to fetch a bucket of water, watered the plants, and only then returned with Ba Ke Er to prepare dinner.