Chapter 063: The Dilemma of Preservation

As dusk settled and the frantic energy of the day began to ebb, Luo Chong surveyed the bustling scene with a mixture of satisfaction and concern. The community had worked together to secure a massive bounty of meat and other resources from the chaos of the previous night's battle. Yet, as he watched his people jubilantly prepare the meats, crafting tools from animal parts, and fortifying their encampment, a critical issue weighed heavily on his mind—preservation.

In the coolness of winter, they had a brief respite; the cold temperatures served as a natural preservative for their stockpiles of meat. However, with spring looming just a month away, Luo Chong knew that the warmth would bring decomposition and waste if they didn't find a way to properly preserve their surplus.

The Han tribe had traditional methods like drying and smoking meat, but the sheer quantity they now faced was unprecedented. Luo Chong considered their options. Drying was effective but slow and labor-intensive. They needed a solution that could handle large volumes of meat quickly.

As the night deepened, Luo Chong gathered the elders and skilled workers around the central fire for a council. He presented the problem straightforwardly. "We have enough food to feed us many times over," he began, his voice tinged with urgency. "But if we don't manage this bounty wisely, most of it will rot come spring. We need a solution that can preserve not just the quantity but the quality of the meat."

Ideas were tossed around—the most popular being an expansion of their smoking pits and the creation of new, larger drying racks. Some suggested burying the meat in the permafrost at the edge of the forest, a method used in emergencies but with mixed results in the past.

Luo Chong listened, nodding thoughtfully as each suggestion was aired. Then, a young woman named Mei, known for her inventiveness, stepped forward with a proposal. "What if we use the river?" she suggested. "We could create a series of cooling cellars near the water. The earth there stays cold longer into the spring, and if we insulate them well, it could extend the life of our stores significantly."

Intrigued, Luo Chong considered the logistics of such an endeavor. It would require digging several large pits near the riverbank, lining them with straw and leaves for insulation, and covering them with earth and stones to maintain the low temperatures. It was a large-scale project, but it had potential.

Deciding to take action, Luo Chong directed the tribe to begin preparations at first light. Teams were organized to dig the cellars, gather insulating materials, and transport the meat. As they worked, Luo Chong couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. The tribe was not just surviving; they were adapting, innovating, and thriving against the odds.

Over the next weeks, as the pits took shape and were gradually filled with smoked and salted meats, Luo Chong's plan seemed to be a success. The cellars were tested, adjusted, and monitored closely. As the season warmed and the earth around them thawed, the cellars remained cool, their contents safe from decay.

Spring arrived with a flourish of green, and the Han tribe celebrated not only the new season but also their triumph over a challenge that had once seemed insurmountable. The success of the cooling cellars was heralded as a milestone in the tribe's history, a testament to their ability to harness nature and foresight in their ongoing struggle for survival.

As the festivities died down and Luo Chong looked out over the thriving settlement, he felt a renewed sense of determination. There were always new challenges on the horizon, but with ingenuity and the collective will of his people, he was confident they would face each one with the same vigor and resolve. The journey was long, the future uncertain, but the Han tribe would meet it head-on, ready for whatever came next.