“Guess what I brought for you?”
Hei Lie burst in, looking thrilled, his hands hidden behind his back with an air of mystery.
Yang Yi put down the pen in his hand, lifted his head from the pile of data before him, and rubbed his eyes. “I can’t guess. What is it?”
“Here. What you’ve been waiting for.” Hei Lie, like a magician performing a trick, pulled out a tray from behind his back.
On the tray lay a bunch of grapes so dark they were almost purple-black, each one shiny and nearly the size of a ping-pong ball, glistening like black pearls. It was absolutely mouthwatering.
“Th-this is… grapes?” Yang Yi was almost unsure if he was seeing it right. They were just too big!
Hei Lie plucked one off, peeled it, and held it up to Yang Yi’s lips. Yang Yi took a bite. The sweet juice instantly filled his mouth, refreshing and delicious.
“The taste is incredible!”
Yang Yi’s eyes lit up. This was one of his favorite fruits. He had even gone all the way to Xinjiang once just to eat grapes, and had been astonished by how good they were there.
He never imagined that the grapes here would be just as good as Xinjiang’s finest. It is even larger and more enticing to look at.
“Didn’t you say they wouldn’t bear fruit this year? How do you have such a big bunch already?”
Yang Yi had brought grape seeds, not vines, so they were slower to grow. It had only been three years. It was perfectly normal that they hadn’t borne fruit yet.
He had asked Qing about it before. Qing had estimated that it would take until next year. So Yang Yi hadn’t paid it any more attention.
Of all the fruit seeds Yang Yi had brought, only a few, like strawberries and passionfruit, had started bearing edible fruit. Others, such as mangoes and apples, had yet to reach the harvest stage.
Even so, Yang Yi was already very satisfied.
He cared especially about the grapes. Not only because he loved eating them, but also because they could be used to make wine, which would bring great profit.
At present, the wine produced by the Spark Tribe is considered a luxury, whether sold externally or consumed internally, since it was brewed from grain.
In a world where food was still a major issue, using grain to make alcohol was an extremely costly endeavor.
Although they had started brewing wine from other fruits, the result still couldn’t compare to grape wine. Some types even required soaking in white liquor to improve the flavor.
Now that the grapes had begun to ripen, it meant grape wine would soon be possible. Back on Earth, wine had been beloved all over the world. Anyone who enjoyed drinking had a fondness for it.
That was why, among all the fruit crops, Yang Yi had ordered the largest number of grape plants to be grown.
“This is your surprise,” Hei Lie said. “Actually, some of them have already started producing fruit this time, but the yield isn’t large yet. Qing said that by next year, things should stabilize, and we’ll have a proper vineyard full of grapes.”
Hei Lie popped the other half of the grape Yang Yi had bitten into his mouth, clearly enjoying the fruit as much as Yang Yi did.
On the Western Continent, grape wine was very famous. Even though Spark Tribe’s grain-based liquor had undercut their business by being cheaper and tastier, grape wine still sold very well.
Different wines had different flavors, and everyone had their own preferences.
Besides, grape wine had such a beautiful color, especially when poured into a crystal glass. It looked exquisite.
“You guys really can keep a secret! I didn’t hear a single word about this,” Yang Yi said with delight. He picked another large grape and popped it into his mouth without even bothering to peel it.
Since Hei Lie had surely washed them already and there were no pesticides here, it didn’t matter if he swallowed the grape skin directly.
To his surprise, even the grape skin tasted pretty good! It didn’t have that usual astringent bite, just a bit tough to chew.
The only issue was that the grapes were so big, it was hard to eat them neatly. One bite and juice would spill all over his hand.
Hei Lie picked another grape, quickly and skillfully peeled it, then handed it to Yang Yi.
“The yield is too low for now, and we weren’t sure how they’d taste. We didn’t want you to be disappointed.”
Yang Yi took it without hesitation, biting into it in one go. It took him a while to finish chewing before he could speak again. “I’m not that fragile. It was bound to happen sooner or later anyway.”
“By the way, how’s the harvest this time? Don’t tell me this is all we got?”
“According to Qing’s estimate, each mu should yield around a thousand catties or so. The better plots might reach over two thousand.”
Yang Yi’s eyes lit up with excitement. “That much? Then we can make wine!”
Although this yield couldn’t compare to large vineyards back on Earth, considering how big each grape was and the overall quality of the fruit, it was still quite impressive.
And most importantly, they had planted a lot.
“Everyone’s thinking the same,” Hei Lie said. “I was planning to pick some to share so everyone could taste them, but aside from the children, no one wanted any. They all said to save it for winemaking.”
Yang Yi laughed. “Winemaking is important, sure, but we can’t shortchange everyone. There’ll be more next year anyway. Let everyone at least try what grapes taste like first. We can talk about wine when there’s extra.”
Though he was eager to start making wine, he wasn’t that impatient.
“Besides, you didn’t even give me a heads-up. The wine barrels and cellars aren’t built or dug out yet.”
The type of wood used for wine barrels was also important, and the storage temperature had to be carefully controlled. Otherwise, the flavor wouldn’t turn out as good.
These days, the carpenters were already skilled enough to assemble watertight buckets from wooden planks, so making barrels for wine wouldn’t be a problem. They just needed to prepare the right wood in advance.
Hei Lie chuckled. “Don’t worry about that. As soon as the grapes started ripening, people were already on it. There are plenty in the tribe who crave wine even more than you do.”
“So enthusiastic?” Yang Yi couldn’t help but laugh. “In that case, the first batch of wine we make this year shouldn’t be used for trade. Let’s keep it all for ourselves. We can’t always trade away the good stuff. Life isn’t that hard anymore. It’s about time we enjoyed some of the finer things.”
Hei Lie had no objections. They had plenty of goods to trade already. Missing out on a little grape wine wouldn’t matter.
Knowing the grapes had ripened, Yang Yi couldn’t resist going to see them for himself.
When he got there, he found himself unable to move his feet.
He loved this feeling of abundance. Every time the crops ripened, he liked to stand among the fields and orchards, savoring the joy of harvest.
That sense of fulfillment was indescribable. It was simply pure satisfaction.
“I really want to live here,” he said.
Standing beneath the trellis, he only had to tilt his head a little to bite into a plump, ripe grape. The feeling was absolutely delightful.
“I’ll build you a bamboo bed here later,” Hei Lie said, already thinking about where to put it.
Yang Yi laughed and shook his head. “I was just saying that. Lying out here in the fields would feel too strange. Doing that in my own courtyard would make more sense.”
At that moment, Yang Yi felt a rare bit of regret about living in a tall building. It lacked a courtyard where he could plant all kinds of things.
Hei Lie frowned slightly, lost in thought. Yang Yi, sensing his train of thought, smoothly interrupted, “Don’t think about it anymore. I’m fine living where I am now. Speaking of which, the grape skins can be saved for dyeing fabric. The purple color is really beautiful. It’s another way to make use of them.”
At present, the tribe’s dyeing and printing techniques are still rather primitive. They mainly relied on minerals like cinnabar and plants such as indigo root, producing mostly red and blue hues.
Now, there was someone dedicated to improving this craft. A student of Han Bing’s, who had a sharp sense for color.
Starting from ancient dyeing methods, they studied traditional techniques, then combined them with modern color-fixing knowledge from books. The fusion of both made the colors brighter, more vibrant, and much longer-lasting.
Most of the designs were created using tie-dye methods, resulting in patterns that were both varied and beautiful.
Silk with vivid colors and intricate patterns sold for far higher prices than plain white silk.
Driven by economic interest and by people’s growing appreciation for beauty, this craft, though it had started late, was developing rapidly.
Most of the grapes hadn’t yet fully ripened. The ones Yang Yi had eaten were the earliest batch to mature. The true harvest would come in about half a month.
When that time arrived, the vineyards were bursting with fruit. Grapes were picked basket after basket. Apart from those set aside for everyone to eat, the rest were all used for winemaking.
The day the wine-making officially began, the whole place was lively. Crowds filled the temple square, where huge wooden barrels were set up. Inside them, groups of beautiful young women danced and sang merrily.
Under their feet were piles of grapes, being crushed into pulp as they danced. It was a part of the traditional winemaking process.
Yang Yi stared at the jubilant scene, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Was this wine… something he should even be drinking?
“Did they really have to learn this part, too?” he muttered. “You can actually just mash the grapes with wooden sticks, you know.”
In the past, the first step of winemaking had always been done this way, by stomping the grapes with bare feet. It was lively and fun, and the young women chosen for it had been carefully selected. They even washed their feet thoroughly before stepping in, yet Yang Yi still couldn’t quite bring himself to watch.
“Everyone just enjoys the excitement. Let them have their fun. If you really can’t handle it, I’ll grab some grapes later, and we can make our own wine to drink.”
Yang Yi thought for a moment. “Alright. I might as well give it a try, too. My dad used to make his own wine from wild grapes. I even helped him with it. It actually turned out pretty good.”
If he hadn’t seen this scene, he might’ve been fine drinking it. But now that he had seen it clearly, he couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable.
“This time, we’ll make something even better,” Hei Lie said naturally. “Then you can store it away and take it with you when you leave.”
Yang Yi was taken aback. “You…”
Ever since he had come clean with Hei Lie, he hadn’t hidden anything. He had told him about his plan to return and all the conditions he needed to meet for that to happen.
Although his spatial storage had been nearly emptied, it still existed. It hadn’t disappeared.
The space could not only take things out but also store new items inside, functioning as a kind of storage dimension.
When the time came for him to leave, he would have to store items of equal value to what he had once taken out to go back.
As for how that value was calculated, Yang Yi wasn’t entirely sure. That uncertainty was one of the reasons he had doubted the whole thing in the first place.
“I just want to see what the world you live in looks like,” Hei Lie said with an easy smile. “Or… do you not want me to come with you?”
As he spoke, his eyes narrowed slightly, carrying a hint of threat.
“Of course not,” Yang Yi replied quickly. “It’s just that…”
Hei Lie cut him off mid-sentence. “Then that’s settled. Don’t overthink it. I’ll go get the grapes and barrels right now. We’ll make plenty, and we’ll make it good!”
With that, he left in a whirlwind, not giving Yang Yi a chance to say another word.
Yang Yi couldn’t help but smile faintly, though a ripple of unease stirred in his heart.
No one knew if the future would unfold as smoothly as they hoped. He understood that Hei Lie wasn’t avoiding the topic. He simply didn’t want to waste energy worrying about uncertain things.
Hei Lie’s way was to seize the present moment. As for the future, he would do his best when it came, face whatever outcome awaited him calmly, and never let himself be consumed by fear before the time arrived.
News of Spark Tribe’s winemaking soon reached the Green Python Tribe. Jin Huan came storming over without hesitation.
“I don’t care what you say. There’s no way I’m leaving empty-handed today!”
Jin Huan was still as dazzlingly beautiful and domineering as ever. She looked every bit the goddess, yet her attitude and behavior were more like that of a bandit.
Yang Yi chuckled. He had already expected her to show up and was well accustomed to her brash manner by now.
People like her could be overbearing at times, but they made excellent neighbors. They were never the type to scheme behind one’s back.
“We don’t have much ourselves this year, and we’re not selling to outsiders,” Yang Yi said with a smile. “But you’re different. No matter what, I can’t let you go without a taste. The barrel that was allotted to me, I’ll give that one to you.”
Yang Yi’s generosity was impressive. That single barrel wasn’t small and was quite valuable.
Jin Huan accepted it without the slightest hesitation. “As expected of the divine envoy. So generous! Not like some people…”
The “some people” she mentioned shot her a sidelong glare and huffed in annoyance.
Jin Huan blinked playfully at Yang Yi. “Divine Envoy, if you ever decide to change your chieftain partner someday, I’m the best candidate.”
“Then I can only say I’m very sorry. There will never be such a day,” Yang Yi replied firmly.
At that, Hei Lie’s face immediately broke into a wide grin. If he’d had a tail, it surely would’ve been wagging proudly by now.
Jin Huan sighed with exaggerated regret. “What a heartbreaking truth.”
“You’ve got what you came for. You can leave now,” Hei Lie said flatly, his tone devoid of emotion, as if he were trying to chase her out.
Jin Huan was long used to his cold and indifferent demeanor. She didn’t mind in the least. Before leaving, she helped herself to several bottles of essential oil and other goods.
At present, the essential oils produced by Spark Tribe have become extremely popular. Whenever the Western Continent’s merchant caravans came to Spark, they would always sweep through and buy up everything they could before departing.
No matter how much the Spark Tribe produced, the merchants always managed to carry it all away. It was proof of just how obsessed people were with it.
For those from the Western Continent, these essential oils were wonderfully versatile. They weren’t just effective for various uses, but also left the body fragrant. It is a quality they adored.
The main sources of flowers for Spark’s essential oils came not only from their own cultivation, but also largely from the Green Python Tribe.
The flowers grown there were of exceptional quality, sometimes even better than those of Spark Tribe. The flowers there are blooming more vibrantly and releasing a richer scent.
Though they were of the same species, subtle differences still existed, likely due to geographical factors and the Green Python Tribe’s deep affection for flowers, which made them exceptionally attentive in their care.
Even though the two tribes were neighbors, their environments were noticeably distinct.
The Green Python Tribe didn’t want anything else in trade, only essential oils and hydrosols.
In fact, the Spark Tribe could expand the planting of flowers to reduce costs. However, since their relationship with others was based on mutual benefit and because someone was willing to provide so many flowers, they didn’t need to spend too much labor tending to them.
Although there were quite a lot of people in the tribe, once everything was divided up, the manpower still wasn’t abundant.
Because supply couldn’t meet demand, every industry needed a large number of people. It wasn’t that they were deliberately creating scarcity to drive up demand. They truly were too busy to handle it all.
News that the Spark Tribe had begun brewing wine from grapes spread quickly.
At the grand trade fair, many tribes approached the Spark Tribe to ask about the details.
“What’s the big deal about sharing a little with us? We’re such good friends. Don’t be so stingy!”
“Exactly! Don’t tell me your tribe doesn’t have enough. I’ve seen your grape mountain myself. It’s huge! Even what leaks through your fingernails would be plenty for us!”
“You’re really being unfair! Since you can already brew it, why not trade some with us?”
“……”
A group of “drunkards” surrounded Hei Lie, all talking at once, trying to beg for wine.
Hei Lie remained unmoved, replying calmly, “There really isn’t any this year. Next year, we’ll bring some out for trade.”
“You have to save me a bit! I always miss out every time!”
The chief of a tribe that lived farther away was especially frustrated. The Spark Tribe’s goods had never had trouble selling. Those who came late often couldn’t get anything.
“Hei Lie, our tribe has always had a good relationship with the Spark Tribe. Can’t you save some for us?”
The others chimed in one after another in agreement.
“We honestly have no other way. We can’t refuse to sell when others want to buy and then try to hoard it ourselves. That would be such a hassle. But starting this year, we’ll adopt a reservation policy so everyone has some guarantee.”
“What’s a reservation policy?” Those present all looked puzzled.
Hei Lie explained, “At the next trade fair, if you want to trade for something from us, you can reserve it in advance. We’ll set a time and agree on the quantity to be traded.”
“That’s a great idea! Should’ve done this long ago!”
Everyone present expressed strong approval.
After everyone calmed down, Hei Lie continued, “Reservations require paying part of the deposit in advance. Otherwise, if you break the agreement and we produce more than can be traded, it will harm our interests.”
At those words, the crowd instantly fell silent.
Although not all of them were that shrewd, they clearly understood the risk involved.
They were used to trading on the spot and had never heard of doing it this way.
“If you don’t trust us, you don’t have to do it. We’re not forcing anyone.”
Hei Lie was not surprised by the reaction. In any case, there was no loss for the Spark Tribe.
Adopting this measure was simply a convenience for everyone. It is a trial for the tribe’s future development.
After a moment of silence, the tribe that had always been on good terms with Hei Lie finally gritted their teeth and said, “Fine! Our tribe is willing to try. Tell us how to do it.”
Hei Lie explained the details to everyone. The method was pretty much the same as on Earth.
A portion of the deposit would be paid in advance. The trade would be carried out according to the time and quantity specified in the contract. If either side breached the agreement, compensation would be required accordingly.
If the Spark Tribe failed to deliver the goods, they would have to compensate with a deposit of equal value, or the other party could choose to receive the same goods at a 10% discount during the next transaction.
If the other party failed to complete the trade as agreed, the deposit would belong entirely to the Spark Tribe and would not be returned. Furthermore, for the next five years, the Spark Tribe would no longer engage in such contracts with that tribe.
The contract appeared fairly balanced, but everything ultimately depended on trust.
Otherwise, once something went wrong, both goods and deposits could vanish without a trace. This also served as a test of the Spark Tribe’s current credibility.
“Some tribes actually agreed to make reservations?” Yang Yi was quite surprised.
Although their reputation wasn’t bad, in this world where resources were scarce, giving away materials in advance without receiving anything in return, something common on Earth, was extremely rare here.
To put it bluntly, no one could even say for sure whether a tribe would still exist the following year.
“The quantity isn’t large, but it’s more than we expected.”
“That’s still a good sign. It shows that we’re considered trustworthy.” Yang Yi then thought of a key point. “What’s the reaction from the Western Continent about us being able to brew wine?”
This move by the Spark Tribe undoubtedly cut off an important source of profit for the Western Continent.
Their grape wine was cheaper and tasted even better. Unless there was truly no alternative, even a fool would know which to choose.
“Of course, they have no objections,” Hei Lie said with a cheerful smile.
Yang Yi didn’t believe that for a second. The people of the Western Continent were professional merchants. Having their profits taken away like this, there was no way they didn’t resent them deeply.
They simply had no way to deal with the situation, so they could only endure it.
“We have goods they want, especially once I put our tea on the market. Anyone with a bit of sense wouldn’t dare say much.”
As the grapes were being harvested, the tea leaves had also reached the picking stage.
Just like the grapes, this wasn’t yet the best harvest season. By next year, they would have a truly abundant yield.
This time, they were only picking a little to test the flavor. Even someone like Yang Yi, who wasn’t particularly particular about tea, could taste how good it was.
What they had harvested wasn’t even the delicate spring tea, but the later autumn tea, whose taste was slightly inferior.
“Still, we need to be cautious. They’re suffering such a huge loss. There’s no way they’ll just let it go.”
Hei Lie nodded, fully aware of that himself.
Though confident, he wasn’t careless. He knew that even the weakest creature, when pushed too far, could bite back hard enough to wound.
“Morri sent someone with a letter for us.”
Yang Yi froze for a moment, then quickly reacted. “Morri? I thought that kid had vanished.”
Since their last meeting, after Morri left, there had been no further news.
The Eastern and Western Continents were so far apart that communication was difficult. And since Morri wasn’t someone particularly close or important, Yang Yi had gradually stopped thinking about him. He didn’t expect the kid to suddenly resurface now.
“He’s actually become quite impressive. In a short time, he managed to unite a group of slaves to start a rebellion, and they won. He’s no longer a slave.”
The messenger didn’t describe the situation in much detail, but one thing was certain. Morri was indeed acting according to his own will and had achieved tangible results.
To have come this far in such a short amount of time was truly remarkable.
“This guy really proves you can’t judge a book by its cover. He looked so quiet, small, even a bit dazed. Who would’ve thought he was capable of such big things?” Yang Yi was full of amazement.
It might sound easy when put into words, but Yang Yi knew just how difficult it must have been.
He had been a slave. This meant he was challenging the entire system itself.
And in such a short time, that young boy had managed to stir up such a huge movement!
“Would the rulers of the Western Continent really tolerate something like this?”
Yang Yi found it hard to believe. He had never expected a single person to be able to overthrow the whole institution of slavery.
Hei Lie chuckled. “He’s still using the banner of being a noble, claiming he was framed and turned into a slave by inferior people. Their battle is supposedly to ensure that other slave owners won’t suffer the same kind of betrayal.”
The Western Continent was a tangled web of factions. Each city wanted to swallow another, and they were enemies and allies all at once.
“Uh…” Yang Yi was momentarily speechless, then, after a long pause, said:
“No matter how you look at it, he’s still quite impressive.”
There weren’t many people who could rise above their social environment. Acting from one’s own standpoint was nothing unusual.
“To speak about change, one must first gain power,” Hei Lie analyzed rationally.
“What does he want from us?”
Hei Lie’s eyes darkened slightly. “Resources. He hopes we can support him.”
