"Once you experience something, you become familiar with it, and after a few times, you can even teach it to others." This saying holds, especially in many situations. For instance, the ongoing integration of the Green Tribe into the Green Sparrow Tribe exemplifies this.
After dealing with the Pig Tribe and the Bone Tribe, Han Cheng, Shaman, and the others are now handling similar matters with much more organization and effectiveness. They have developed more reasonable and nuanced methods and strategies.
A series of thunderous drumbeats resonated throughout the Green Sparrow Tribe, breaking the winter’s silence and mimicking the arrival of summer thunder.
Even though they had been informed about these events in advance, the leaders and people of the Green Tribe were still filled with awe and trepidation upon witnessing such thunderous instruments.
Thunder can still invoke a sense of fear, even to those who understand it scientifically. For people in the primitive era who held a deep reverence for nature, it was even more frightening.
Some individuals dropped to their knees and trembled before Han Cheng, who was drumming, seeing him as a living deity.
With Shaman leading the ceremonial dance, Han Cheng drumming in the center, and the Eldest Senior Brother and Shang carrying the totem pole at the rear, they proceeded solemnly towards the prepared cave.
Inside the cave, the fire blazed, illuminating everyone’s faces. In the flickering light, Han Cheng and Shaman appeared even more majestic and mysterious, standing close to the fire.
Han Cheng had previously felt that Green Sparrow water wasn’t as satisfying as wine. Now that they had sour fruit wine, he didn’t hesitate to make the switch.
As soon as the ceramic Green Sparrow emerged, the tribal elders became respectful.
The Green Tribe members had been informed about the significance of these items. Although they now wore the same clothes and hairstyles as the Green Sparrow Tribe, they could not be considered part of it until they experienced this rite.
Thus, they became especially solemn, like the other members of the Green Sparrow Tribe.
Han Cheng personally broke the clay seal, then took a bamboo container of wine and poured it into the open mouth of the ceramic Green Sparrow.
The wine flowed from the Green Sparrow's mouth from high to low and dripped down into the ceramic bowl held by the Shaman.
Han Cheng and Shaman worked continuously, setting up bowls of Green Sparrow wine on the ground between the fire and the ceramic Green Sparrow.
A total of 43 bowls were prepared. The Green Tribe had 48 members, but five were too young to have their own bowls. The adults would use the wine bowls to let them taste the wine.
The Green Sparrow wine itself is more symbolic than practical.
After incorporating the Bone Tribe, the Green Sparrow Tribe has eighty-five adults. Nearly two years have passed, and Han Cheng, Bai Xue, Xiao Mei, Xiao Li, Xing, Cheng, and two others have all reached adulthood.
With one person having passed away, the Green Sparrow Tribe now has ninety-two adults.
In the past two years, twenty-nine infants have been born and survived, bringing the total population of the Green Sparrow Tribe to one hundred eighty, not including the Green Tribe members about to join. With the addition of forty-eight members from the Green Tribe, the Green Sparrow Tribe’s population will rise to two hundred twenty-eight.
Among this population are 121 adults, 9 elders, and the rest are minors. The adult population consists of 46 men and 75 women.
Although this population might be small compared to a modern elementary school, Han Cheng is still very pleased. The era's standards are different, and what might seem insignificant in later times is a considerable force in this context.
"Drinking this Green Sparrow wine means we are now one family. Anyone who harms or rebels against the tribe will face execution!"
Han Cheng addressed the Green Tribe members as they held their cups of wine. The original punishment was exile, but Han Cheng changed it to execution after recalling a news story he had seen before crossing over.
The story was about a solitary primitive man in North America who had lived alone in the forest for many years after outsiders wiped out his tribe. This realization made Han Cheng think that exile might not be the most secure method. There was a chance that someone expelled from the Green Sparrow Tribe might survive like the primitive man and pose a future threat.
Considering this, Han Cheng discussed with Shaman and the Eldest Senior Brother before the integration ceremony and decided to replace exile with execution. After all, nothing could be more reassuring than death.
After explaining the significance of the Green Sparrow wine, Han Cheng paused briefly, scanned the faces of the Green Tribe members, and then gave the command.
Over the past few days, the Green Tribe members had been thoroughly impressed by the Green Sparrow Tribe’s hospitality and were genuinely willing to become part of the tribe. They drank the Green Sparrow wine without hesitation following Han Cheng's command.
However, the taste of the wine was somewhat unexpected. Having recently enjoyed the delicious food of the Green Sparrow Tribe, they had anticipated that the ceremonial Green Sparrow wine would also be flavorful. Still, it turned out to be quite sour.
Despite this, no one dared waste even a drop, fearing that wasting the wine might prevent them from becoming true members of the Green Sparrow Tribe.
After the sour taste, a warm sensation spread from their stomachs, a different feeling from hot water or soup, which surprised the Green Tribe members who had just drunk the Green Sparrow wine.
While the other Green Tribe members drank the wine, their leader appeared hesitant.