The food brought by the Bone Tribe wasn't particularly surprising; it consisted of meat, wild fruits, and some roots and tubers, making for a balanced meal.

They brought quite a lot, nearly half more than what the Green Tribe brought, but it wasn't as extravagant as what the Sheep Tribe would offer.

After bargaining, the Bone Tribe exchanged food for a large clay pot, a jar, and twelve clay bowls.

Once the trade was complete, the Bone Tribe didn't leave immediately. Firstly, it was already dark, and secondly, they were persuaded by the Senior Brother.

The previously stingy Green Tribe, when faced with the Green Sparrow Tribe, now appeared generous and hospitable once again.

They wanted to cook food to treat the visiting tribes.

The white mist illuminated by the red firelight looked somewhat splendid.

It was like adding salt to a tasteless soup; it immediately became much more delicious.

Thinking about the instructions the Divine Child had given him before, he greeted the Bone Tribe while holding the salt jar, looking mysterious and proud, like a wealthy landowner.

The leader of the Bone Tribe looked carefully at the contents of the jar, called "salt," hoping everyone in the tribe could enjoy salted food. Pursuing good things was human nature, especially since salt could instantly enhance food taste. It was normal for the Bone Tribe's leader to want salt, just like people from other tribes.

The leader of the Bone Tribe had mixed feelings. On one hand, he wanted to own this magical thing, but on the other, he was worried about its cost.

Although the tribe had stored a lot of food this year, it would be difficult to spare more food for salt after exchanging it for pottery once.

Eldest Senior Brother, at this moment, was understanding and tactful, like a very experienced salesperson.

He carefully recalled what Divine Child had told him before and, in his way, emphasized the preciousness of salt and their status in the Green Sparrow Tribe to the Bone Tribe's leader.

After understanding Eldest Senior Brother's intention, the leader of the Bone Tribe, first in disbelief, then suddenly jumped up from the ground, hugged Eldest Senior Brother tightly, and pressed his forehead against Eldest Senior Brother's shoulder, showing gratitude.

The other members of the Bone Tribe who received the news were also extremely excited, constantly marveling at the friendliness and generosity of the nearby tribes.

However, friendly tribes soon became less friendly. After having their fill and discussing matters, the Bone Tribe asked if they could spend the night outside the Green Sparrow Tribe's courtyard.

The Green Sparrow Tribe had decided, during the Joyous Gathering, that they wouldn't allow other tribes to spend the night inside their courtyard.

They believed that one couldn't sleep soundly with others beside their bed. If they let other tribes rest inside the walls, the Green Sparrow Tribe wouldn't sleep well either. At least Han Cheng often imagined himself being roasted over a fire by other tribes.

It's dark now, and it's suicidal for the Bone Tribe to travel through the night.

They rest outside the Green Sparrow Tribe's walls, which are tall enough to block the wind from the north. They stay here, making a fire, so it's not too cold.

Some envy the Green Sparrow Tribe's tall walls and fantasize about when their tribe might have such defenses.

Tonight, the Green Sparrow Tribe's guard duty shifts from two rotations to four, as instructed by Han Cheng.

With long shifts, people doze off, especially with the Bone Tribe outside the walls.

While the primitives are generally simple, it doesn't hurt to be cautious.

Late into the night, Han Cheng isn't asleep. A small fire flickers in the room, casting uncertain shadows on his face.

He sits on a stool not far from the nest made for Fu Jiang, padded with dry grass.

Under Han Cheng's guidance, Fu Jiang is clean and never relieves himself in the den or the room, mostly going outside like others in the tribe, though sometimes to where the deer reside.

So, the nest is quiet and without any particularly foul odor.

Han Cheng can't help but sniffle. This guy, who often annoyed him when he was around, now fills him with an unstoppable longing in his absence.

He collects, pulling his gaze away from Fu Jiang's dog bed. Unable to find a place to rest his gaze in the room, his eyes settle on a wooden stick.

The stick is wedged onto a wooden peg on the wall, with two small silkworm cocoons hanging from it, the same stick Han Cheng brought back from the mulberry tree.

Because of Fu Jiang, this stick, which should have been cherished, has been neglected by Han Cheng and left lying around.

To shift his focus, Han Cheng stands up, takes the stick from the wall, and examines it closely in the lamplight.

With his fingers, he flattens and then reshapes the empty cocoons repeatedly.

Feeling some roughness in his right hand as he grips the stick, Han Cheng initially thinks it's just small knots on the mulberry stick, not paying much attention, just gently rubbing his hand over it.

After a while, he senses something amiss because these small knots aren't singular; they form a small patch and feel somewhat smooth.

Han Cheng turns the stick around, removes his hand, and sees what he touched moments ago.

A small patch, about two square centimeters, of small black knots appears before him. These knots are smaller than mustard seeds and tightly connected, resembling dried snot stuck to the stick like oilseed rape seeds.

"This… silkworm eggs?"

Han Cheng didn't realize it at first, only making the connection after a while.