In the last two months of the Vine Tribe's ninth year, the climate is getting colder and colder. Although there is no snow, you can occasionally see condensation of white frost on the ground in some higher-lying places, making it a little more difficult to find food.
Those large and medium-sized tribes with strong strength are okay, most of them have some food reserves, while those small tribes that usually don't have enough to eat can only rely on grass roots and bark, or rob them.
The victorious small tribes can continue to live, but the defeated small tribes have become relics. The traces of their lives will be swallowed up by the primeval forest soon. Only sporadic murals, stone tools or broken pottery remain in caves or soil.
Among them, waiting for future generations to discover.
Survival in the cracks has always been cruel, and it has always been this way.
The tenth year of the Vine Tribe, early January.
Jiang Xuan rode a purple eagle to pick up Chi Shao in the northern part of the Southern Wilderness and invited her to hold a large sacrifice in the central part.
Although the sacred vines in the central and northern parts are originally one, and it stands to reason that the sacrifices would be the same on either side, the distance between the central part and the northern part is too far, making it difficult for most tribesmen to travel freely.
Moreover, the Vine Tribe warriors in the central part already account for about half of the entire Vine Tribe, and their needs must not be ignored.
On January 15th, Jiang Xuan returned to the northern Teng tribe territory.
At this time, the ice and snow are beginning to melt, gurgling water is everywhere, the water flow of Feiyu River surges, and the water level rises rapidly.
After returning to the residence of the Teng tribe, Jiang Xuan gathered with Chi Shao, Nan Xing and others, and brought them various rare specialties from central China.
What made Jiang Xuan most happy was that he saw the old witch again, and the old witch looked quite healthy physically, but slightly tired mentally. It was obvious that he had worked hard in the Eastern Wasteland.
That night, everyone in the Teng tribe gathered together to discuss the matter of the big sacrifice.
After discussion, everyone decided that starting from this year, the central and northern parts would hold large sacrifices respectively. However, since the great witch currently only has Chi Shao, the time needs to be staggered.
The climate in the central part is warmer and the products are rich, so the time for the big sacrifice is set on the second day of February. The climate in the north is cold and the products are relatively few, so the time for the big sacrifice is set on the third day of March.
This decision made the central and northern Teng tribe territories more independent. From this year on, the northern Teng tribe territory was gradually called the ancestral land by the tribesmen in the central part.
With the support of various legends and stories passed down orally, every Teng tribe member in the central part of their lives longs to return to their ancestral land one day.
Participate in ancestral sacrifices, see the places where our ancestors once lived and struggled, and admire various legendary miracles.
Of course, this is all a story for later.
Late at night, a round bright moon hung in the sky, casting a cool moonlight. The mountain wind was still cold, causing the water vapor in the air to condense into large dewdrops, rolling around on the leaves and grass.
The Vine Tribe, which had been busy all day, gradually became quiet. Only the footsteps of the night watchmen, the occasional cry of a baby, and the gentle sound of a mother coaxing her to sleep added a touch of warmth to the night.
Jiang Xuan and Chi Shao were sitting by the fire pit in the bamboo house. Chi Shao was grinding the medicine slowly while Jiang Xuan talked about the development of the Vine Tribe in the central part of the country and all kinds of interesting things he encountered in the previous year.
The dancing firelight reflected their shadows on the wall, sometimes tall, sometimes short, sometimes very calm, sometimes like dancing, very interesting.
Jiang Xuan said a lot, and then he was half-lying on a reclining chair made in the woodworking workshop. He turned to look at Chi Shao's face, and then looked back at the roof covered with various bacon and various smoked dried herbs. He said sincerely
road:
"Sister, do you know? Although the central part is prosperous, I have to stay alert at all times there. Even when I sleep at night, I have to be ready to deal with emergencies at any time."
"Only in your little bamboo house can I really relax. I don't have to think about anything, and I don't have to worry about being suddenly attacked in the middle of the night..."
The hand that was grinding the red peony root paused for a moment, and said with a hint of distress: "Then have a good sleep here. Don't worry, with me here, you won't be in any danger."
Jiang Xuan nodded slightly, then sleepiness came over him, his eyelids struggled a few times, and he soon fell asleep on the recliner.
Chi Shao listened carefully for a while and saw that he was breathing evenly and that he was indeed fast asleep. Then he got up quietly, took a thick animal skin mattress from the bed, and covered him tightly.
Then, she sat back on her little stool, carefully finished grinding the medicine, and then found the note-taking note among the pile of animal skin rolls, and wrote down today's events with an animal hair pen.
She added more firewood to the fire pit and checked the mattress on Jiang Xuan. Finally, she lay on her bed and looked sideways at Jiang Xuan. This feeling made her very reassured.
"Sleep peacefully, Xuan, I will protect you..."
Chi Shao clenched her fists under the quilt, whispered something, and then slowly closed her eyes, falling asleep with this rare warm scene.
…
Early the next morning, while Jiang Xuan was half awake and half asleep, he smelled a strong aroma of food.
He twitched his nose a few times and suddenly woke up from his sleep. He turned around and saw that red peony root was already cooking breakfast. The animal meat and red crystal rice in the pottery tripod were tumbling in the boiling water. The aroma of meat was mixed with the fragrance of grain.
Together, they filled the whole room.
“It smells so good!”
Jiang Xuan opened up the heavy animal skin mattress, stood up from the recliner and stretched, feeling instantly refreshed. It was obvious that the quality of his sleep last night was very good.
Chi Shao smiled and said: "Go and wash up if you are hungry. We will have something to eat later."
"good!"
Jiang Xuan opened the door of the bamboo house and walked outside. A damp and cold wind mixed with the scent of various plants and trees suddenly blew in his face.
Looking around, a large number of exotic flowers and plants planted in the red peony yard are spreading their branches and leaves in the morning light. Some plants that are not afraid of the cold are even blooming, which is very magical.
Jiang Xuan walked to the pool in the corner of the yard, soaked his face with mountain spring water with a spider silk scarf, and brushed his teeth carefully with a toothbrush made of boar bristles, salt and carbon powder.
After washing up, I was completely awake.
At this time, there was already a lot of people outside. People who hunted, fished, farmed, raised, and made various handicrafts... everyone started to move.
"Kekeke..."
A colorful pheasant flew up to the wall of Chishao's yard, pacing on the wall with its head held high, but its eyes glanced into the yard from time to time, obviously without any good ideas.
"Come down!"
The Teng tribe warrior who was responsible for guarding the yard hurriedly raised his spear and drove the colorful pheasant off the wall, and came in in panic to apologize to Jiang Xuan.
Jiang Xuan waved his hand and said: "Pheasants love to fly around. It doesn't matter if they come here occasionally, as long as they don't destroy these rare herbs."
The soldier guarding the yard breathed a sigh of relief and repeatedly promised Jiang Xuan that no animals would be allowed to destroy the herbs before retreating.
Jiang Xuan walked around in the yard for a while, and when he came to the biting flower that was kept alone, Chi Shao shouted from inside the house:
"Xuan, the meal is ready, come in and eat."
"Coming."
Jiang Xuan gave up the idea of teasing Yi Dou and went into the house to eat.
After all, he mainly stays in the central part of the country now, while Chi Shao mainly stays in the north. The two of them have much less time to eat together than before. How can Dou Yaotouhua be more important than eating with her sister?