On the evening when the Western Continent’s trading caravan arrived at the Spark Tribe, a total of four teams entered the Spark Tribe.
There were still two days left until the celebration, and some teams were still on the road. For a newly-founded tribe, this number was already very considerable.
Although most of these tribes had come mainly to exchange for red salt with the Green Python Tribe, attending the celebration was just something done along the way, and also out of curiosity, wanting to see what kind of tribe it was that could annihilate the Fang Tribe.
Now, the quantity of red salt that the Green Python Tribe brought out was clearly much greater than before. Moreover, some of the red salt was of very high quality, called fine salt.
It had no bitter taste, and its saltiness was just right. It made cooked food even more delicious, and it was used more sparingly than before.
Although this fine salt was far more precious, several times the value of ordinary red salt, it still caused some wealthy tribes to flock after it.
Even though the post-harvest trading fair had not yet arrived, some tribes wished to secure goods first, to avoid finding themselves unable to obtain any later. After all, the Green Python Tribe’s past conduct had indeed given people some concern.
Therefore, taking advantage of this celebration, they deliberately sent people over to see whether they could trade for something with this new tribe.
Many tribes were also very interested in that black pottery. According to some people from the Green Python Tribe, this rising tribe had many other fascinating things as well, which further piqued their curiosity.
Those who came to the Spark Tribe were all shocked by everything about this emerging tribe. In their hearts, they felt immensely fortunate that they had come and had not turned away because of caution, arrogance, or other reasons.
As the tribes who first established contact compared to those who came later, they would certainly have more advantages.
“There are too many things here that I want to exchange for! I think the goods we brought are far too few! Surely there will be many things we won’t be able to trade for.”
This was the most common thought, and everyone lamented endlessly.
After all, the distance was not short, and there were many dangers along the way. Each time they rushed about like this, some people would be lost. Making a round trip was by no means easy.
“We couldn’t carry so many things even if we wanted to! But if we had those handcarts, then it would be no problem at all! Oh heavens, I love those handcarts so much! I just tried one out earlier. I could carry several times more goods than usual and not even feel tired!”
“Those carts also need flat ground to move on. They aren’t suitable for our tribe.”
“So what! Didn’t you hear what the people of the Spark Tribe said? To become wealthy, you build roads. If they can build roads, then so can we!”
“Exactly! And even if we can’t use carts, look, just with one thin wooden pole, they can carry two large bamboo baskets at once. That alone can hold more things than our animal-skin bundles.”
“This really is a miraculous place. How did they manage to create so many strange and novel things? Every single one of them makes me want to have it.”
“……”
Such discussions went on endlessly. Beforehand, they had worried that there might be nothing worth exchanging for in the Spark Tribe. After all, as a newly risen tribe, it would surely be rather poor.
Before they came, they had already planned that their main goal was simply to trade for salt, and at the same time, to take a look at the situation of this tribe.
But unexpectedly, before they had even traded for salt, the goods they had brought with them were already insufficient to exchange for all the items they had seen in the Spark Tribe.
And this was only upon just arriving. They did not yet know if the Spark Tribe still had even more astonishing things hidden away.
But as of now, they were already deeply torn, caught in the pain of choice, and had even begun making plans to come again next time.
“Oh, my heavens, what is it that I just saw!”
The envoys of each tribe were led by Spark Tribe’s guides to the square in front of the temple. When they approached, they were stunned by the scene before their eyes.
In the square, many rows of long tables had been set up. The long tables were completely covered with food. From afar, one could already smell the rich aromas wafting out.
The food laid out on them dazzled the eyes. Many of the dishes were ones they had never seen before, as if they had suddenly stepped into a world of food!
Qiao and En were also filled with amazement. This scene somewhat resembled the banquets of the Western Continent, where the dining tables were set with all kinds of food. If you wanted to eat something, you simply went to take it yourself.
When they saw that this tribe had tables and chairs, they would not have been surprised at this style of dining. But those delicious and enticing foods left them utterly shocked.
It should be known that for these Western Continent people who came to the Eastern Continent, one of the topics they most enjoyed talking about when they returned was describing how barren the food of the Eastern Continent people was.
Obviously, the ingredients were good, yet they somehow managed to cook them in ways that made them taste terrible—barbaric, without any sense of life’s pleasures, completely ignorant of how to enjoy living.
But what had they just seen now!
Such an abundant feast, not only in sheer quantity but also in great variety. It all looked so irresistibly tempting, sending out a rich fragrance.
And that was not all. Every dish was arranged so beautifully. Qiao and En had never thought that food could also be made to look so lovely!
Some dishes even used flowers as decorations. The food was arranged in all kinds of different shapes on the plates.
This was not food at all. These were clearly works of art!
Qiao and En had thought that the shocks they had received today were already more than enough. Never had they imagined that even in the matter of dining, which they had always taken pride in, they would be awed and overwhelmed by this group of so-called barbarians.
“Up ahead are the plates for holding food. Here are chopsticks, spoons, and forks. You can use whichever suits your own habit to assist with eating, or you may also use your hands. However, when taking food, you must use the spoons, tongs, and other utensils provided on the platters. You absolutely may not use your hands directly, so as not to dirty the food and affect others’ eating.”
As they walked, the Spark Tribe guides explained the rules of the banquet.
“Please remember: take only as much as you can eat. Wasting food is absolutely not allowed.”
On the Eastern Continent, such reminders were hardly ever necessary. No matter how wealthy a tribe was, they all cherished food dearly.
Even the overbearing chiefs and shamans of some tribes would not waste food. Even if they could not finish eating, they would share the rest with others. Throwing food away simply never happened.
But it was different with the Western Continent trading caravans. They often did not know how to cherish food.
Many tribespeople liked to do “clean-up” after the Westerners had finished eating, and often managed to fill many stomachs that way.
Of course, such things became material for mockery when the Western Continent merchants went back home.
There were always plenty of people who liked to use others’ different living habits to stir up laughter and attract attention. And indeed, they really did gain quite a lot of amusement out of it, treating it all like jokes.
En looked at those complicated dining utensils and listened to the procedures that had to be followed when eating. His feelings were extremely mixed.
Could barbarians really be this particular?
“All of this food was made by your tribe?” Qiao still could not believe what lay before his eyes.
It should be known that the ability to cook delicious food was also a symbol of civilization.
The more refined and meticulous the cooking methods, the more it represented nobility and distinction.
The Spark Tribe guide gave them a strange look. “What else would it be?”
Qiao instantly felt that he had asked a very foolish question.
“This section is the staple food area, then the vegetable area, the mixed dishes area, the meat dishes area, the soup area, and then the dessert area and the fruit area. When you’re taking food, be sure to pay attention. The dishes on the tables with chili sauce are all spicy. You can first take a little to try. Once you’re used to it, then go back for more. Otherwise, if you can’t handle the spice and end up with diarrhea, we won’t be responsible.”
“Chili?” En was very curious.
“It’s a kind of seasoning. It makes food even more delicious. It also has certain medicinal effects, such as expelling dampness from the body. Eaten in moderation, it’s good for health. Those who like it love it very much. Those who don’t can’t eat it at all.”
Qiao thought of something. “I heard before that the Green Python Tribe seemed to have gotten hold of a new kind of food. It’s very stimulating, and they really liked it.”
“That must have been chili. Back when our first big harvest of chilies came in, they traded away quite a lot. Now they’re completely unable to do without that flavor. They even reserved a large amount from us early on, leaving our own tribe with not much left.”
The Spark Tribe guide shook his head in mock annoyance, but the pride in his tone was unmistakable.
En gave a cold snort. In the Western Continent tongue, he said, “As expected, just a bunch of barbarians who’ve never seen the world. Come across a single new thing and they make such a big fuss over it.”
Qiao smiled, his earlier shock somewhat pressed down. He picked up a plate, preparing to try whether the food here really tasted as good as it looked.
Perhaps, after all, it was only for show, and in reality, the flavor would be utterly terrible.
They first walked around the staple food area. There were rice, steamed buns, stuffed buns, bread, corn, sweet potatoes, and more. Just the steamed buns alone came in several varieties, and for rice, there was dry rice, porridge, eight-treasure congee, and so on. A dazzling, plentiful row was laid out, making it hard to know what to choose.
Ye Huo and Huo Niao’s group were troubled by just such a problem. Clearly, their stomachs were growling with hunger, yet once they entered the dining area, they were dumbfounded.
Everything looked so delicious. They wanted it all!
In the end, they reached for the simplest white wheat mantou. Picking up one the size of an adult’s fist, they put it into their mouths, and at once their eyes widened.
“So delicious!”
It carried a natural, plant-like fragrance, with a soft yet chewy texture. It was especially tasty!
Most importantly, this kind of food was easier to preserve than wild fruits and the like.
Actually, what was called “white wheat mantou” here was not all that refined. With the current level of productivity, it was still far from the finely milled flour that Yang Yi had brought. Compared to mantou made from coarse flour on Earth, this was even rougher, enough that some people might feel it scraped the throat.
Yet even so, it still won over their hearts. Just gnawing on the mantou alone brought immense satisfaction. In only a few bites, one was completely gone.
Ye Huo and Huo Niao’s group wanted to reach out for more, but were stopped by Qing Tian.
“Brother, there are still so many, many other foods here. You should try something different. Staple food is just for filling the belly. If paired with dishes, that’s where the true deliciousness lies! And it’s also for balanced nutrition, to make the body healthier.”
“You eat food this good every single day?”
Ye Huo was utterly incredulous. Even though he had seen with his own eyes the abundance of the Spark Tribe, seeing so many varieties of rich food still shocked him all over again.
“More or less. But before, when we hadn’t had the big harvest yet, the daily variety was fewer, though we would change the dishes each day. Now that the great harvest has begun, with all kinds of vegetables, grains, and so on being gathered, the variety on the table each day has also increased.”
Qing Tian blinked and tried to persuade them:
“If you join the tribe, all you need to do is go to the dining hall each day to get your meals. Just like here, the food in the dining hall will be laid out, and you can serve yourself whatever you want.”
“Really? Just like now, we can take as much as we want?”
Huo Niao was extremely excited. While speaking, he casually grabbed an ear of corn, took a big bite, and immediately squinted his eyes in bliss.
What was this? It tasted so good! And there was even a hint of sweetness.
“Before, because the crops hadn’t matured yet, food was still somewhat scarce. Back then, each person could only take one serving first. If, after everyone had eaten, there was still some left, then you could go back for a second serving. The portion sizes for each serving were also distributed differently depending on whether it was for warriors, common folk, children, or the elderly, according to their actual needs.
Now that the harvest has come in, I heard things will change. The exact details will depend on the final count of the total grain harvest. We clerical workers are the ones responsible for handling such matters.”
Qing Tian’s main duty was weather forecasting, but she also helped record all kinds of data.
She studied diligently and was one of the top performers among her peers, so she was assigned quite a lot of responsibilities.
In her work, she found joy. Joy that felt far more meaningful than collecting or processing hides had ever been.
She had already completely walked out of the shadows of her past. Each day’s work now brought her happiness, and she found a sense of accomplishment in it.
Her daily life was also filled with comfort: delicious food and beautiful clothing made her truly feel the goodness of this world.
“But according to the rough numbers so far, even if it won’t be like these last few days where you can eat until you’re stuffed, you definitely won’t go hungry. At the very least, two meals a day with full stomachs can be guaranteed. Whether or not there can be three meals, or enough for everyone to eat to their heart’s content, that has yet to be determined.”
“What? Two meals a day? Even three meals?!” Huo Niao’s eyes nearly popped out. “And all of it is this kind of food?”
What kind of concept was this!
In their tribe, they often could only eat once a day. During winter, when they couldn’t go out, sometimes it would be two or three days before they could eat a single meal. If one meal could at least keep the stomach from being hungry, that was already something to be very glad about.
“Yes,” Qing Tian nodded. “Right now, we usually eat once in the morning and once in the evening, and sometimes morning, noon, and evening. The Divine Envoy said our goal is for everyone to have three meals a day. Eating until not only full, but eating well.”
Ye Huo pressed his lips together. “Is that for everyone?”
“Of course!” Qing Tian answered firmly. “The Divine Envoy said that aside from those who are lazy and do not work, everyone has the right to enjoy the fruits of their own labor.”
Qing Tian’s voice was not quiet, loud enough for those around to hear. But most people paid no attention to what they were saying, being completely absorbed in the food and unable to pull themselves away.
Ye Huo and Huo Niao also quickly lost interest in talking here. Right now, all they want is to try one dish after another!
Qiao and En, however, were unlike the others. They weren’t rushing about as if they had never seen food before.
They walked up to the dishes made with chili peppers, wanting to taste this so-called wondrous flavor.
“It really does have a pungent smell. It doesn’t seem like anything to look forward to.”
Qiao pinched his nose with his forefinger, fanning the air in front of it with the other hand.
En wore the same cold expression, completely different from the others who were immersed in the food. They looked out of place, especially conspicuous.
The two of them did not fear the gazes of others. They even used their eyes to warn the people of the trading caravan not to show any astonished, unsophisticated expressions.
Even though the fragrance made them unconsciously swallow their saliva, they still circled the place without making a move.
Qiao, being very picky, used the tongs to take the tiniest bit of a dish before him—made with giant pig meat stir-fried with chili—and put it into his mouth. His eyes instantly lit up, unable to hide it.
This taste! How could it be so unique—so good?!
“So spicy!”
The moment Qiao swallowed, he felt as though his mouth was set aflame.
Seeing his expression turn bad, En’s heart instantly sank. “Qiao, are you alright?”
A nearby Spark tribesman, very practiced in such matters, immediately handed over a bowl of soup. “Drink this. It will feel much better. The first time eating chili is always like this. If you’re not used to it, there’s no need to force yourself. There are plenty of lighter dishes over there.”
Qiao took it and gulped down a mouthful, finally easing up.
“What is this thing! That someone would actually take such a terrifying thing and make it into food.”
En was utterly displeased. As expected of barbarians. They could eat anything.
But Qiao’s eyes, now calmed, were filled with yearning. “That… I think I want to eat some more.”
“Are you insane!” En cried out in disbelief.
“Even though the spiciness made me a bit uncomfortable, it seems… the flavor really is quite good.”
Under En’s disapproving, questioning gaze, Qiao picked up another piece of meat. This time, he had adapted quite a bit. Although he still felt a little unaccustomed to it, he could also taste the deliciousness within.
So he continued with a second piece, then a third piece…
Qiao accepted it very quickly, helped by the fact that the Spark Tribe, considering that their guests had never eaten chili before, had deliberately used less of it. This way, they could also save some chili.
The dishes that the Spark Tribe people themselves ate were far spicier than what was served here.
“En, I really don’t want to say this, but I have to: this stuff really tastes good. I think we may have yet another thing we’ll need to trade for.”
As Qiao spoke, he quickly began piling other dishes onto his plate, all the while shoving mouthfuls into his mouth.
His hands moved so fast, it was as though he feared the food would be snatched away.
There was indeed plenty of food here, but there were also many people.
Just from the round they had made earlier, many dishes had already been taken by others.
Etiquette, image—all of it was thrown to the back of his mind.
How could everything taste this good! The food he had eaten before was simply garbage in comparison!
Qiao no longer cared in the slightest what En might think, completely immersed in the world of food.
When the other members of the trading caravan saw Qiao like this, they too could no longer hold back. Throwing all restraint aside, they began eating heartily.
So satisfying. Truly, so satisfying!
If possible, he never wanted to leave this place for the rest of his life. This was absolutely paradise!
En was furious, feeling as though he had been betrayed.
The more things were like this, the less he wanted to eat this food. He felt as if they were like devils, constantly tempting him, then dragging people down into the abyss.
Yet the enticing fragrance, along with the blissful expressions on others’ faces as they enjoyed the food, all tugged relentlessly at his nerves.
Eat, or not?
His willpower was firm, but his body was nearly out of control.
“Does this not suit your taste, my guest?”
A voice sounded behind En. Turning around, he saw a tall, imposing man standing there.
The aura around him was clearly different from everyone else’s. Even though they had never met, En immediately recognized that this man must be the legendary great warrior, Hei Lie.
Hei Lie had not deliberately concealed his presence, nor did he intentionally exert pressure. But that immense power still made En furrow his brows.
This man was strong, extremely strong. Stronger, it seemed, than the legends said.
Although he was still a level four warrior, it was clear he was already on the verge of breaking through to the fifth.
A warrior like this would be an absolute powerhouse, whether in the Eastern Continent or the Western Continent.
If he were in the West, he would instantly obtain immense wealth and land. No matter where one went, the strong were always respected.
Especially since the man before him was clearly not someone with only brute force. Even at first glance, one could clearly tell. This man was absolutely not someone to provoke.
En reined in his emotions, raised a smile, and spoke with great politeness:
“With so much food, it’s difficult to choose. Greetings, my respected chieftain. I am En, the leader of this caravan.”
“I am Hei Lie, chieftain of the Spark Tribe. Welcome to your arrival.”
“You’ve created a miracle,” En said with genuine sincerity. “There are so many things here that we find deeply interesting.”
“These are the blessings of the gods, the result of the efforts of everyone in our tribe,” Hei Lie said with a smile. “I believe we will have much interaction in the future.”
“I’m glad you think so. Please, you must believe that we are very sincere.”
At that moment, a young girl came over, carrying a tray with a pot and several very small cups on it.
They were all made of black pottery, exquisitely crafted.
En thought it was tea and had just opened his mouth when he heard Hei Lie say:
“Once, I drank the wine your people brought. It truly had a fine taste. Now, please try the new rice wine our tribe has brewed.”
En was utterly astonished. He never imagined that the Spark Tribe was capable of brewing wine!
How could this be possible?!
Wine was one of the most important goods for trade in the Western Continent.
Even the cheapest wine could drive the people of the West mad, willing to exchange a great many things for it.
Just a single small jar of it could be traded for hundreds of slaves!
That was sheer profiteering.
En had long considered using wine to trade for that paper. Something that, once it entered the Western Continent, would surely cause a huge sensation.
So thin and light, so convenient to use, and so easy to write on. It would undoubtedly drive people mad with desire.
Unlike these barbarians, his people had a complete writing system, with far too many things that needed to be recorded.
Paper would bring tremendous change to the Western Continent. En, being of noble birth, understood this better than anyone.
He had thought that this trade was already in the bag. After all, the joy that wine brought was something no other food could rival. Everyone would be enamored by it.
But now, they were telling him that this tribe could brew wine on their own?!
The girl filled two of the small cups. The moment one brought it close, that rich, mellow fragrance could be smelled.
This wine was not the same as the grape wine En had brought, yet it was unmistakably wine, just of a different variety.
Hei Lie picked up his cup in a gesture of invitation. En also lifted his cup, taking a sip.
That flavor!
As a lover of fine wine, En instantly fell in love with the sensation.
The taste was rich and mellow, smooth as it entered the mouth, leaving a lingering fragrance upon the lips and teeth after swallowing.
Good wine!
Although the taste was quite different from the wine he was familiar with, it was still exceptionally delicious, carrying a unique texture of its own.
En panicked. What else did he have left that was worthy of being taken out for trade?
“My honored guest, please enjoy your meal here first. After it’s over, we can have a detailed discussion. For now, I still need to go and meet with some others.”
Hei Lie’s lips curved ever so slightly. He was clearly very satisfied with En’s shock.
All their hard work in rushing to brew the first batch of wine had not been in vain. As expected, it left these Western Continent people so astonished that they doubted their very reality.
En’s mind was in complete chaos. He numbly began scooping the nearby food onto his plate.
When he finally came to his senses and grabbed some with his hands to put into his mouth, his awareness snapped back.
My heavens, what was this? Why did it taste so unbelievably good?!
Looking around again, he saw that while he had been dawdling, what had once seemed like an endless supply of food was now almost gone. Many people were already sitting there with round, stuffed bellies, hiccupping from being so full.
Even though they couldn’t possibly eat anymore, they still couldn’t bear to leave. Just one more glance at the food was already satisfying.
En dared not delay any further. Right there in this wild land, he ended up putting on a full display of the classic “True Fragrance” scene.
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