Soon, the winter was over. It was now spring and the frozen river began to melt. Ye Xiaoxian went to the riverside to watch the scene with interest. The ice blocks floated on the surface and became gradually smaller as they flowed downstream. The frost on the trees flanking the river also started to thaw, with leaf-shoots sprouting on some branches. The snow over the grassland was also receding. On removing the snow, one could see tender grass poking out of the soil. Everything was thriving with new hope.
According to Dilly, after the ice and snow melted, the herdsmen would then be back. Then, herds of cows and goats would enliven the tribe again.
To earn money, Ye Xiaoxian began to make crisps again. At the same time, she asked the servant responsible for fetching firewood to hunt some game if there was any. Sometimes, she would go uphill with him and the children. As it became warmer, the potherbs began flourishing. Ye Xiaoxian had once studied potherbs in modern times, so she could recognize some edible plants.
In digging potherbs from the snow, her fingers would always become red with the cold. But she had grown tired of potatoes, cabbages and chives which she had eaten for a whole winter. In this situation, green vegetables were of great appeal to her. So, every time she went uphill, she would pick a full basket of potherbs which could be made into soup and cakes. If there were any left, she would fry them as a dish for dinner. As soon as they were served, they would be eaten up in a minute. Southern people, especially those from Qinghe county, liked vegetables very much. It would be a torture for them not to eat vegetables for over three days.
After a period, the ice was totally gone and the grassland was light green again. At this time, the herdsmen came back. There were quite a few festivals in early spring here. Among them, the Festival of Sacrifice was a big one. On this day, to obtain good fortune, each local family would kill a goat as a sacrifice to Heaven. After that, they would gather to sing, dance, ride horses and shoot arrows.
Mahal and his family were also back. Since he was the leader and had many goats, he needed to kill three to place in the middle of the altars.
One day, a tribal senior asked Mahal, “Shall we let the refugees who came last year join the ceremony?”
Mahal wanted to say “no” because they had no goats at all. But he remembered how Li Chengru had criticized him for not treating the refugees fairly and not setting a good example to the locals. He was worried that Squire Liu would complain to Li Chengru again, so he said, “They can join the ceremony. But if they don’t have goats, they should pay money. If they don’t have money, they should help kill the goats. Anyway, they can’t be freeloaders.”
It was mainly because after the ceremony, there would be a bonfire party where all the people would sit in a circle and eat roast mutton.
It was still Dati and Guri who were responsible for communicating with the refugees. They started with those nearest and moved on to those living further away. First, they informed the local farmers that the refugees could participate in the festival, as long as they helped slaughter the goats or paid money. Or the farmers could just count the refugees as their family members.
Some farmers were as mean as Mahal. The refugees had just returned from their migration, so they didn’t have any money to pay at all. Besides, each family only needed to kill one goat, which was too simple to be regarded as work. So, these farmers said the refugees working for them wouldn’t join the festival because they still needed to herd and feed goats on that day.
By comparison, some kind-hearted farmers wrote the refugees’ names into their family member list. For example, after Dilly’s husband and son got back, she took the two refugees assigned to their farm as their family members.
The Xiaos and the Lius were the last to be informed.
“Hey! Who’s in charge here? Come out!” Dati shouted.
So Squire Liu, who was responsible for negotiation, hurried out with a smile.
“Are you going to join the Festival of Sacrifice?” Dati shouted to him on horseback.
Dilly had introduced this festival to the refugees the day before, so Squire Liu knew what it was about. In fact, during last night’s dinner, the Lius and the Xiaos had agreed that they should all join the festival if they could. This way, they could more easily build friendships with the locals.
“Yes, we’ll all go there,” Squire Liu said to Dati.
Dati explained the rules impatiently. “Then you have two choices. First, pay money or sacrifice a goat. Second, help kill the goats or do some other work.”
He asked, “Pay money? How much?”
“There are many people in your two families, so at least 10 silver taels. You can eat two goats then,” said Dati.
Squire Liu gasped in surprise. Ten silver taels were enough to buy half a camel or five goats. This was not a fair deal. As he hesitated, he heard the clatter of a horse’s hoofs from the distance. Tarico was approaching. He looked very cool galloping on a brown horse across the grassland.
Seeing him, Guri blushed and tensed her thighs involuntarily, which alarmed her horse into stepping back slightly.
When Tarico came up to them, he held the reins immediately. The horse stopped steadily in front of Dati.
“Tarico, why did you come here?” Dati was unkind to him. In her view, he was just a loafer who seldom obeyed the tribal leader. How could he mix with the refugees when the tribal leader disliked them? She had heard that he even lent the refugees his boat for fishing and taught them how to catch fish in winter, a precious skill passed on by his father!
Tarico asked, “Are you inviting them to the Festival of Sacrifice? Are there any conditions? What are they?”
“What are you asking so many questions? It’s none of your business!” Dati said.
But Guri replied involuntarily, “They have to pay 10 silver taels, sacrifice a goat or help us do some work.”
“Well, they can sacrifice a goat. I have one for them.” Then, he turned to Squire Liu and said, “I have a few goats and I can sell one to you at a low price.”
“I…” Squire Liu hesitated.
Dati asked, “You sell to them? How much?”
Tarico said, “One silver tael.”
“You…” She was almost driven mad. Her original intention was to let them pay 10 silver taels for two goats. “Are you a fool?” she cursed.
“I raise the goats to eat. Now that someone wants a goat, why can’t I sell one to him?” Tarico retorted.
Then, he asked Squire Liu, “Do you want it or not? I can sell you only one goat.”
Squire Liu couldn’t make up his mind. It was said that Tarico had no parents. The goats might be an important source of income for him. Was it appropriate to take advantage of him?
“Don’t act like Little Ye’s mother,” Tarico said in the way Ye Xiaoxian had once said to him. “I’ll bring the goat to you on the day.”
