In the cave of the Huang Guo Tribe, the flames continued to burn steadily.
They would do everything possible to ensure the fire never went out during such times.
A group of people gathered around the fire.
These people were barely wrapped in animal skins, and much of their skin was exposed to the cold air.
Despite the severe cold, they dressed as if it were summer.
They would not want to dress so lightly if they had a choice.
In the past, the tribe never lacked animal skins. Everyone wrapped themselves in thick furs during winter, and there were still extras.
But this has changed in recent years. The surplus animal skins had been traded for delicious salt and fine pottery.
Now, the tribe’s leader had to lead the stronger members out into the cold to find food, so they had to give their animal skins to the leader and others.
Some of the young ones, who were very hungry, frequently ran to the blocked cave entrance and peered through the gaps, eagerly awaiting the return of the leader and others with food.
Their stomachs were aching with hunger, and several of the youths had thin limbs, making their bellies appear even more bloated and protruding.
This "empty belly" was a bad sign, the result of long-term malnutrition.
Some of the younger ones were crying from hunger.
However, the tribe’s food supply was pitifully small. If everyone ate their fill, a quarter of the tribe could consume all the food.
And with the leader absent, no one dared to touch the little food that remained.
They could gather snow, boil it in a clay pot, and give it to the younger ones to drink. Though it did little to stave off hunger, it could temporarily fill their stomachs and help them bear the cold.
The people left behind in the tribe, including Huang Guo, looked at the steaming clay pots with relief.
Fortunately, they had exchanged for these clay pots from a kind tribe, or life would have been even more difficult.
Many, like Huang Guo, looked at the pots and thought of the mysterious, friendly, and strong tribe.
They remembered the ample food they carried, the precious pottery, and salt. They remembered the offer made not long ago to live with them if they couldn’t survive.
Now, it seemed their tribe was on the brink of collapse.
Many thought how wonderful it would be to live in that strong tribe.
They had heard that food was abundant in that tribe, and under the wise guidance of their god, no one there went hungry...
Three meals a day without hunger... The mere thought of it made them envious.
A group of starving people thought back to the words from that tribe, and the more they thought, the more they longed to join that admirable tribe.
But what made them feel worse was that not long ago, their leader had rejected that tribe’s invitation without a second thought.
Now, the people of that tribe had long since left for other tribes.
Even if they wanted to join, they could not find them.
They didn’t even know where to go to reach that prosperous tribe.
With their increasing hunger, these thoughts began to lead them in new directions.
For example, even Huang Guo, who had shared more than one night with the leader, began to blame the leader silently in her heart.
If the leader had not rejected the invitation from that tribe, they would likely have been living there by now.
Eating delicious food, wearing soft clothes made of animal skins...
Now, there was a real possibility that someone in their tribe would die from hunger and cold, and they might have to resort to eating them.
If the cold lasts longer, perhaps more than one person will be eaten.
Huang Guo had experienced such things before.
He couldn't help but shiver at the thought of being the one to be eaten.
A young one, lying by the cave entrance, suddenly shouted excitedly.
The others, lost in hunger and daydreams, were startled and then ran toward the entrance, filled with excitement.
The closest to the entrance, Huang Guo was the first to reach it.
She moved aside the stone blocking the cave entrance, and the sight before her stunned her and the others who saw it.
It was not the leader returning with the people who had gone out searching for food, but rather the very tribe they had longed for.
As Huang Guo and the others were stunned, Shang and Mao, along with the trade team, were also caught off guard by the sight of the people dressed in little more than barely any clothing.
Looking at the bare skin exposed by the scant clothing, Huang Guo and the others exchanged glances with Shang and Mao.
While the adults stood frozen, the young ones, not bothered by the cold, jumped and cheered, more excited than when they saw their leader return with prey.
Every time these people visit, they bring them delicious treats.
Sour-sweet fruits, fruit juice, and small bowls of delicious meat porridge...
Just thinking about these things made the young ones' mouths water.
It could be said that the young ones were the most eager in the tribe for the arrival of the Green Sparrow Tribe’s trade team.
They cheered loudly, no longer fearing the cold wind, and quickly ran out of the cave toward the trade team.
After spending so much time together, they knew that the people in front of them were kind-hearted and would never harm them.
Shang and Mao, who were ahead, each picked up one of the young ones as they ran toward them, laughing heartily as though they were holding their children.
While watching this, Huang Guo and the others couldn't help but smile.
Inside the Huang Guo Tribe's cave, the flames grew more prominent. The large vats brought by the Green Sparrow Tribe's trade team emitted white steam, and the smell of food spread throughout the cave.
Around the vat, a circle of young ones stared hungrily at it.
Even the adults, who were dressed so lightly, kept swallowing saliva.
After several rounds of trade, whenever the stronger males of the Huang Guo Tribe went out, the Green Sparrow Tribe’s trade team could quickly enter the tribe.
Finally, the food in the clay pots was ready. Shang took a bowl, filled it with porridge, and handed it to Huang Guo.
Huang Guo hesitated, repeatedly shaking her head and muttering something.
Shang understood that she was saying their leader had not yet returned, and she did not dare eat, asking him to give the food to the young ones instead.
"This is the food we’ve brought for you. You can eat it, and there is no need to wait for the leader. When the leader comes back, we’ll cook more. Eat, you’ve all been very hungry..." With his warm-hearted nature, Shang spoke to Huang Guo while gesturing toward the large pot, indicating there was still plenty of food.
His eyes lit up once Huang Guo understood some of Shang’s words.
Indeed, this was food from the kind tribe, different from what his tribe usually had...
She smiled gratefully at Shang, then took the food from his hands. Not afraid of it being too hot, he quickly started eating.
Shang and Mao served more food, watching the others eat with such greed, their faces full of smiles.
The porridge this time had half the amount of food compared to what they usually ate, but for the people of the Huang Guo Tribe, who had been eating thin broths for so long, it was still a rare and delicious treat...
In the distance, in the snowy wilderness, the leader of the Huang Guo Tribe and his group continued walking through the snow.
He was nearly frozen stiff.
He longed to return, to drink a hot soup and cuddle with the women in the tribe to warm up, but when he looked at the meager harvest, he forcefully suppressed that thought...