Because there were many streams near this tribe, and because Shang and the others were making rafts and shaping stones by the stream, this tribe was called the Stream Tribe.
The leader of the Stream Tribe finished hunting relatively early today. When he returned to the tribe and found few people inside the cave, he headed straight to the stream to look for his tribe members and also to check on the trading team from the Green Sparrow Tribe.
He didn’t think it was strange that the minors and women from his tribe often came here to the Green Sparrow trading team whenever they were free.
On the contrary, he strongly approved of this.
From the mouths of the minors and women in his tribe, he learned that whenever they ate food here, they were always given some to share with them.
This made the leader of the Stream Tribe especially happy, because if his tribe members could eat more food from the Green Sparrow trading team, it would save more of their own tribe’s food.
In his view, this was a very advantageous thing.
He even hoped the trading team could stay longer here so that the minors and some women of his tribe could eat more of the trading team’s food.
It must be said that when it comes to something as important as food to the entire tribe, the Stream Tribe’s leader was brilliant.
When he arrived, the leader appeared a bit lost in thought, not because of how Shang and the others used their methods to break stones, but because of how incredibly fast Mao and the others wielded their axes to chop trees.
During a break when the trading team rested, after some inquiries, the Stream Tribe leader picked up a bronze axe and carefully examined it for a while, then tried chopping trees with it using his experience from using stone axes.
After trying it once, his eyes immediately lit up.
Because he found this seemingly beautiful axe extremely comfortable to use, it made chopping trees incredibly fast.
After chopping for a while, the Stream Tribe leader finally couldn’t help but speak.
He asked if it was possible to trade for such an axe.
Mao gave a clear answer: such items could not be exchanged.
Han Cheng had always kept some tribe secrets closely guarded.
For example, agriculture—a talent that most known tribes hadn’t yet developed; or bow and arrow; or the technology of drilling holes in stones with wooden sticks and sand—many such things were kept secret.
Given this, let alone casting bronze tools, especially bronze weapons.
Han Cheng would never allow the tribe members to trade these items with outsiders.
Keeping the surrounding tribes relatively poor was necessary.
First, this ensured those tribes wouldn’t pose too significant a threat.
Second, maintaining a significant lead would make it easier to absorb and integrate these tribes when the time came.
Also, “exploitation” of surrounding tribes—just through non-reusable salt alone—was enough; there was no need to complicate things with other items.
After getting this clear response from Mao, the Stream Tribe leader was quite disappointed—after all, the beautiful axe was so comfortable to use.
Mao hadn’t finished speaking. Seeing the leader’s reluctance, Mao, who never forgot the Divine Child’s instructions to appeal to people and consider their needs, took the chance to say more.
He said that although the axe couldn’t be traded, if the Stream Tribe leader and his people joined the Green Sparrow Tribe, they could then use such axes.
Not only axes, but all other bronze tools could be used.
They could also enjoy ample food, live in comfortable houses, and get free salt without having to trade anything.
Listening to Mao’s words, the minors’ eyes sparkled with excitement.
Not only them, but even their leader was shaken after Mao’s explanation.
However, after some hesitation, he still placed the axe on the ground.
Giving up his tribe and joining the Green Sparrow Tribe was something he wasn’t ready to do.
Seeing the Stream Tribe leader make this choice, Shang, Mao, and the others felt somewhat disappointed.
But as someone who often dealt with outsiders, Mao embodied the excellent qualities taught by Han, the Divine Child, thinking about what others think, caring about what others care about.
He couldn’t bear to see the Stream Tribe leader and others saddened by not being able to exchange for axes.
So he quickly made another decision.
While the trading team stayed here, the Stream Tribe leader could bring the strong people from his tribe to come and use these beautiful axes.
This pleased the disheartened leader of the Stream Tribe greatly.
Although they couldn’t own the axes, they could at least touch and use them to chop trees and appreciate their sharpness.
Thus, for some time afterward, whenever free, the Stream Tribe leader would bring the strong men of his tribe to come and enjoy using the sharp axes.
Sweating profusely, their goodwill toward the Green Sparrow trading team grew rapidly.
After all, this tribe was allowing them to use such precious items—how could they not feel grateful?
Mao and the others responsible for chopping wood were also full of smiles, sometimes kindly inviting the sweaty Stream Tribe leader and others to drink a bowl of cool tea brewed with bamboo leaves.
With the free labor from the Stream Tribe joining in, they saved a lot of effort, and their speed in chopping wood and making rafts was much faster than before.
Under these circumstances, it would be strange if they didn’t welcome the Stream Tribe’s people to use the axes.
It must be said, Mao, who was full of clever ideas, had become even wiser after living for several years in the Green Sparrow Tribe and deeply feeling the significant presence of Han, the Divine Child.
Yes, it was better to say he had become wiser.
Time passed happily in such a harmonious atmosphere until the trading team untied their rafts, packed their gear, and drifted downstream.
Everyone in the Stream Tribe showed strong reluctance to see them leave.