“It’s okay. Rest for a while, and you’ll be fine.”
Hearing this, Han Cheng’s heart sank to the bottom, but he suddenly came to his senses and gave a relieved smile. He said this to Fire Two and the others, who quickly gathered around upon hearing that Fire Two had been hurt.
The people who had been looking at Fire Two lying on the ground with concern now breathed a sigh of relief. Their tense expressions softened as they felt more at ease.
When the living environment improves and people have their basic needs met, they tend to develop a greater sense of care for others, as can be seen in the Green Sparrow Tribe now.
Before Han Cheng arrived, the tribe had been struggling on the brink of survival. Back then, they wouldn’t have cared much about someone who had lost their ability to work, much like the situation with the crippled one in the tribe. When food was scarce and they were on the verge of starvation, Han Cheng suspected that, in the past, the people of the Green Sparrow Tribe might have even resorted to cannibalism.
But that wouldn’t happen now. With a life of abundance, they began to value the lives of their fellow tribe members, even without Han Cheng guiding them.
After hearing Han Cheng’s words, the Shaman signaled to carefully carry Fire Two back to the bed, suggesting it wouldn’t do to leave her there.
Just as the others were about to act, Han Cheng quickly stopped them.
Han Cheng left a few people behind to guard, while he called on Bai Xue and a few others to quickly return to the tribe.
Once they returned, Han Cheng instructed Bai Xue and the others to gather some sturdy sticks, while he worked with Bai Xue to prepare some animal skins.
After a short while, they had made a simple stretcher.
The stretcher was carefully placed on the slope. At Han Cheng’s insistence, the others gently lifted Fire Two and placed her on the stretcher.
Though they had been cautious, the movement still disturbed Fire Two’s broken leg…
“Divine Child, Fire Two’s leg…”
Once Fire Two was settled back in the tribe, and most people had dispersed, the Shaman leaned in and asked Han Cheng in a low voice.
Han Cheng had wanted to keep it hidden, but seeing the Shaman’s intelligent gaze, he knew the old man had likely figured out something was wrong.
After a moment of thought, Han Cheng didn’t hide it anymore: “Her leg won’t heal, but with proper care, she will survive.”
Hearing this, the Shaman didn’t show much sadness. After a brief silence, he pointed to several rows of grain storage and said, “We have plenty of food! And meat. Fire Two will be well-fed even without working!”
He said this with a sense of pride and determination.
Han Cheng understood his meaning. He reached out and grasped the Shaman’s hand, squeezing it tightly.
“Even if she can’t work, she will never go hungry.”
After saying this, Han Cheng went to cook fish soup for Fire Two.
Over their time together, Han Cheng developed a deep bond with these people, especially with the small group that had existed since the beginning of the Green Sparrow Tribe. They were like family to him.
Fire One had passed away two years ago, and now Fire Two had suffered an injury. Watching his familiar people leave one by one, Han Cheng couldn’t help but feel heartache.
In the room, Fire Two lay quietly on the soft bed.
The pain in her leg came in waves, causing her heart to clench in agony.
By now, she knew her leg hadn’t just been struck by a stone, but was broken at the root.
Fire Two felt that this time, she wouldn’t be able to recover and might never walk again.
Although Divine Child had said she would be fine.
If it had been before, she would have fully trusted Divine Child’s words, but she felt it was hopeless this time.
She could tell from the expression on Divine Child’s face when he spoke that something was wrong.
The old woman, who had not been very sharp in the past, seemed unusually perceptive now, seeing through things.
She would have to lie on the bed if her leg couldn’t heal. And lying there meant she couldn’t tend to the fire or gather fruits for the tribe.
Apart from eating, she wouldn’t be able to do anything…
Lying there, Fire Two thought slowly.
After a while, the fruit from the slope appeared in her mind.
She didn’t regret going for that fruit, but she regretted that she couldn’t pick it.
After some time, it would start to rot…
Han Cheng walked in holding a bowl of fish soup. The pale white broth was topped with a sprinkling of green onions, giving off a fragrant aroma.
Rather than letting anyone else serve her, Han Cheng propped Fire Two up carefully and sat beside her on the bed. He gently blew on a spoonful of fish soup to cool it and carefully fed it to her.
A warm, sour feeling surged in Fire Two’s chest, and tears welled up in her cloudy eyes, flowing down her wrinkled face.
“It’s okay, rest a little longer, and you’ll be able to walk again…”
Han Cheng placed the spoon back in the bowl and wiped the tears from her face, speaking softly to comfort her, but the tears only seemed to increase.
After a long while, Fire Two finally managed to stop crying. She drank the fish soup Han Cheng had made for her and ate some of the fish as well.
There was no worry about her choking, as Han Cheng had carefully picked the bones out…
As night fell, Han Cheng carefully prepared millet porridge for Fire Two.
He used the newly harvested millet and added finely minced meat to it. After a slow simmer, it became fragrant, thick porridge, perfect for elderly people with weak teeth.
“Divine Child, I’m not hungry,” Fire Two said softly.
“Even if you’re not hungry, you must eat a little. ” Han Cheng replied softly, almost as if coaxing a child.
“I’m not hungry; it’ll make me uncomfortable,” Fire Two said, gently shaking her head.
Seeing her response, Han Cheng didn’t insist on feeding her. He thought momentarily and said, “Then I’ll put it aside for now. When you’re hungry, I’ll heat it for you.”
Han Cheng sat with her longer, saying comforting words before finally leaving with the bowl.
Once he was sure no one was around, Fire Two couldn’t help but lick her lips, struggling to swallow some saliva.
She was already very hungry, but she couldn’t eat…