Chapter 069: Even Landlords Run Short of Grain

Luo Chong regarded Shu Da and the ten feeble boys behind him without any displeasure. As long as they weren't disabled, their weakness mattered little; the Han tribe had plenty of food. Even the malnourished, if fed well and set to work daily, would soon become robust young men.

As per usual, weapons were surrendered before entering the enclosure. Once Shu Da and his group were inside, the trade commenced.

"I've come to trade pottery. These boys are with me, and this time, we're only trading for pottery pots," Shu Da explained, gesturing towards the ten boys while sizing up the changes within the Han tribe.

"No problem. Beast Fang, Stone, fetch five pottery pots. Heh, I didn't realize your tribe had so many boys to spare," Luo Chong responded as he directed his men to retrieve the pots, eyeing Shu Da curiously.

Shu Da was not well-versed in the Han tribe's language, catching only bits and pieces of the conversation. Feeling guilty, he feared Luo Chong would discover the boys were not from the Black Rat tribe and refuse the trade. Even understanding, he pretended ignorance, busying himself with looking around.

Unbeknownst to him, Luo Chong would not have objected even if he knew; he was more than willing to receive more people.

A child takes years to grow, but crafting a pottery pot takes far less time; by any calculation, it was a worthwhile trade. Where the people came from was of no concern to him.

Beast Fang and Stone soon brought out five pottery pots and handed them to Shu Da. The trade was straightforward: ten boys for five pots, no complications. As evening approached and nightfall was imminent, with wolf packs known to be in the area, Luo Chong prepared to offer Shu Da overnight hospitality.

A reliable customer like him was worth keeping alive longer, lest he be eaten by wolves en route.

"It's getting dark. You should stay till tomorrow. There have been many wolves around these days," Luo Chong said, gesturing and pointing at the wolf skins.

Many wolves? Damn, no wonder there are so many wolf skins. It couldn't be one of those large packs of hundreds, could it?

Shu Da was startled; he had seen a massive pack of wolves in his youth, a memory that left a deep impression, as the Black Rat tribe had lost many people. Although he had grown up and killed a few wolves himself, it was nothing compared to a pack of hundreds. Originally planning to return overnight, he now dared not leave.

"But, but we didn't bring much food," Shu Da said, awkwardly rubbing his hands.

"No worries, you've traded with us, so you're our friends now. You can eat with us," Luo Chong replied generously.

What's a meal when he regularly sends people my way?

"That's very kind of you, thank you," Shu Da expressed his gratitude.

"Alright, no more work today. Let's prepare some good food to welcome our guests. We're having stew today."

Luo Chong called out, leading Shu Da into the cave, while the children cheered in anticipation of their meal.

The ten boys from the Chestnut tribe watched bewildered as Shu Da and Luo Chong completed the trade. They understood nothing and were confused about being sold to the Han tribe for five pottery pots.

It turned out that those red stone basins weren't crafted by the Black Rat tribe…

Though they didn't fully grasp what was happening, the new tribe they joined appeared very strong. Despite the long past winter, there was an abundance of food, especially meat, which seemed miraculous.

What astounded them even more was the sight of the massive wild bison, elk, and terror birds—all alive and well. It was all meat, and they hoped this would be their final home after days of travel, not wanting to be traded again.

However, their worries were unfounded. Luo Chong quickly had the elders lead them into the cave for personal hygiene. They changed into clean, sturdy animal skins, got new hairstyles, learned to recognize key figures like the chief and elders, and were shown where they would live.

These newcomers wouldn't be assigned any work yet. Their first task was to learn the Han language and characters, familiarize themselves with everything in the tribe, and, most importantly, eat—without limits. The Han tribe was not short of food…

The boys felt an unprecedented joy. In the Chestnut tribe, due to scarce food, adult men were prioritized, followed by women, with children and then the elderly and disabled last.

Furthermore, even among the children, there was a hierarchy based on health; stronger children received more food because they had a higher chance of survival.

It was like a cruel game of survival where the weaker were pushed aside, unable to compete for nourishment, weakening them further.

This was a brutal cycle of natural selection, which had made them tradable goods. But now, fortune had smiled upon them, and their fate had taken a favorable turn.

Around the central fire pit in the cave, a circle of pottery pots bubbled with meat stew, seasoned with salt and chili, filling the cave with its tantalizing aroma. Everyone was eagerly awaiting their turn, especially the ten new boys from the Chestnut tribe, who had never seen such a feast. They usually only ate roasted chestnuts. Roasted meat was a rare luxury for them.

About an hour later, the stew was ready. Everyone lined up with a bowl in hand, a sight that surprised the ten boys—men, women, and children alike each received a bowl of meaty stew.

Could it be that there's no preferential treatment during meals here?!

Not just them, even Shu Da had never seen such a practice where everyone enjoyed large portions of meat and hearty bowls of soup. He thought to himself: This is extravagantly luxurious…

The ten boys ate their fill, eyes glued to the pots as they hoped to lick their bowls clean.

Seeing some go for second and third helpings, they followed suit, stuffing themselves until they nearly passed out, unlike Shu Da and the Black Rat tribe members who ate more reservedly.

Unsure if this treatment was just for newcomers or how long such feasts would last, they decided to indulge while they could, even if it meant dying from overeating.

Luo Chong, watching amusedly, eventually had to intervene to prevent them from literally eating themselves to death.

"Don't overeat to the point of bursting. There will be two meals like this every day, unlimited, but never waste. We have plenty, but not to the extent of squandering. Don't force yourself beyond your capacity, risking your life for a meal. There's still a long life of eating ahead," Luo Chong explained, using gestures to emphasize his point.