Chapter 777 – Honoring Heroes and the Sports Meet
The reason Han Cheng had such a thought was that earlier, he saw the enthusiasm everyone had for sparring and competition.
When people have been suppressed for a long time, they need a release. Whether it’s emotions or other things, it’s the same.
The people of the Green Sparrow Tribe had no shut-ins. Their long-standing habit of often going out to hunt had made them more accustomed to physical activity. The “advanced-level” sedentary lifestyle skills that modern-day shut-ins cultivated were far beyond anything they could imagine.
However, the tribe had now largely transitioned into an agricultural lifestyle. This change in their way of living would inevitably have an impact, making some feel somewhat uncomfortable.
In the past, Han Cheng had been too busy with other matters to notice this. Now that the tribe had essentially settled down, it was time to undertake some spiritual and cultural development.
And at present, the tribe still had very few festivals.
Other than the year-end festival in winter and the harvest feast in autumn, there were no fixed annual holidays.
The rest were just occasional rituals—such as farewell banquets before an expedition or gatherings when welcoming a new tribe into the fold.
A tribe needed not only mental strength, but also physical robustness.
As someone from the later ages, Han Cheng had a deep memory of that period of humiliating history—terms like “the sick man of East Asia” could truly pierce one’s soul. The most update n0vels are published on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⚫𝙣𝙚𝙩
He absolutely did not want something similar to happen to his own tribe.
If he wanted his people to be strong and martial, simply wishing for it wasn’t enough—he had to take action.
And among all possible actions, the most effective and impactful would undoubtedly be holding a sports meet.
Hosting a sports meet could, in every respect, inspire the tribe’s martial spirit—so that while the Green Sparrow Tribe developed farming and swung hoes, they would not forget how to wield long spears.
Once this idea arose and gradually solidified in his mind, the next step was to determine the date for the event.
The sports meet obviously couldn’t be held during the busy farming season, as that would delay agricultural work.
This meant that nearly half the time in both spring and autumn was ruled out.
Winter and summer were more suitable. The weather might be harsher, but as the saying went, train in the bitter cold of winter and the scorching heat of summer—that was the norm for soldiers.
Han Cheng’s envisioned sports meet wouldn’t be the same as military drills in later generations, but there were lessons he could borrow from them.
The whole point of a sports meet was to strive for faster! And stronger!
Challenging environmental conditions could be used to increase the difficulty of training.
Thinking about all this, Han Cheng squatted down in the shade with a small twig, sketching and scribbling while considering the event’s timing.
After a long while, he still hadn’t made a decision.
His legs had gone numb from squatting, so Han Cheng tossed aside the twig, grabbed the tree beside him to stand, and felt the tingling numbness spread through his legs. With that sharp, sour sensation, he took a couple of steps before freezing in place, bending slightly to wait for the soul-piercing feeling to fade.
Just then, Little Pea came running over, yelling at the top of his lungs, with a big goose flapping its bald wings and stretching its neck in hot pursuit.
Little Pea shouted as he dashed toward Han Cheng, making Han Cheng’s face turn green.
I’m not your daddy! Go away!
Han Cheng really wanted to yell that, to disown the boy outright, but Little Pea didn’t give him the chance—he crashed straight into him at full speed.
To protect his legs from an even harder impact, Han Cheng gritted his teeth, bent down, and scooped Little Pea up.
But the significant movement still pulled on his legs, which at this moment absolutely could not be touched.
A feeling that made him want to laugh and cry at the same time shot up from his legs, making him suck in a sharp breath while holding Little Pea. He almost groaned out loud—this sensation was way too stimulating!
The big goose stopped, flapped its shabby wings, honked in triumph, and then, with the poise of a victor, swaggered off to join the little female goose waiting nearby.
Leaving behind the “father and son” to savor the sour sting of its chase.
Watching the goose stroll away, Han Cheng suddenly had the thought of adding an extra dish to dinner tonight.
Little Pea, who had been fleeing in a panic moments ago, immediately returned to his mischievous self once the goose was gone, wriggling to get down.
Fortunately, Han Cheng’s legs had recovered somewhat during the brief pause—otherwise, he might have really given up on this child.
Once on the ground, Little Pea picked up a stick and kept sneaking glances at the goose.
Han Cheng could only rub his forehead helplessly.
This boy was truly impossible. Ever since Han Cheng had once tricked him into challenging the goose—and he’d gotten his backside pinched purple—the boy had been wary of it for a while. But then he began to build up his courage again, constantly testing the limits of danger.
He’d even found joy in being chased and forced to sprint for his life by the goose. This truly was… talent of a special kind.
“Is this karma?” Han Cheng muttered, rubbing his still slightly numb legs.
After a while, he walked out of the courtyard and, after only a few steps, saw the Green Sparrow Tribe’s Heroes’ Cemetery.
The tall stone stele glinted brilliantly under the sunlight.
Han Cheng squinted at it for a while, and suddenly, inspiration struck.
He stood there silently for a moment, looking at the sunlit cemetery and towering monument, before slowly walking over.
Could the tribe’s sports meet be tied to the commemoration of our heroes?
While honoring the tribe’s heroes, they could also hold events like archery, donkey riding, foot races, throwing contests, and military formation drills.
Linking the two would have many benefits.
Because of past propaganda, holding a sports meet during the hero memorial would naturally evoke feelings of resisting foreign humiliation and striving forward, without Han Cheng having to promote it deliberately.
It would easily inspire people to train hard and protect the tribe.
And it would keep the hero memorial from becoming too monotonous or purely ceremonial.
It truly was an excellent idea.
Looking at the words carved into the stele—“Heroes of Green Sparrow, Forever Remembered”—Han Cheng thought so to himself…