Chapter 027: Trading Dyes

“Brother, I’ve traveled all the way from Zhang’an to Danyang, visiting the seven tribes along both banks of the Hanjiang River. Your tribe is unquestionably the most impressive,” Wu Fan said, gazing out over the layout of Yanhuang Tribe before turning to Li Zhan.

Li Zhan smiled and replied, “You flatter me, Wu. My tribe was among the last to be completed—already left behind by the others. How could it possibly be considered the best?”

Wu Fan’s expression turned earnest. “I speak only the truth—there’s no question of flattery here. In terms of size, your tribe may not be the largest, but when it comes to potential for development, not one of the seven can compare with yours.”

As he spoke, Wu Fan gestured with his hand. “Timber is always closely tied to a tribe’s growth. Your tribe lies embraced by two vast forests, with an inexhaustible supply of wood at your disposal.”

“Grain is vital to the well-being of the people. The land here is fertile, and your yields are among the highest in all of China. Moreover, you have both oxen and plows, which have greatly boosted your production. As far as I know, very few tribes possess both oxen and plows at the same time. In terms of grain yield per acre, yours stands alone in all of China.”

“The river abounds with aquatic resources. When my fishing boat entered the bay, the hull kept thudding as though we’d struck rocks, but upon inspection, it was just the constant churning of fish. The sheer abundance of fish here is almost terrifying—just selling them could make you a fortune.”

“And then there’s your strategic position. Your tribe sits on the riverbank, where the water is deep and gentle—perfect for developing a strong navy. This bay is naturally deep and wide, forming a safe harbor from storms—a perfect site for a future naval base with endless potential.”

With each point, Wu Fan detailed the advantages of Li Zhan’s Yanhuang Tribe, leaving Li Zhan quietly delighted, as though he had finally found a kindred spirit.

After a time, their conversation turned to the true purpose of Wu Fan’s visit: the dye trade.

Wu Fan’s two fishermen carried out five large earthenware jars from the hold (each containing ten units of dye), their mouths sealed with thick hemp cloth. Wu Fan casually unsealed one for Li Zhan to inspect.

Li Zhan approached, pinched a bit between his thumb and forefinger, and rubbed it gently. It felt smooth and fine, with not a trace of graininess. As he spread his fingers, the tips were already stained a bright blue. Even after several vigorous wipes with the sealing cloth, the color wouldn’t come off.

Recalling the “dye quality standards” listed on the official site, Li Zhan was certain this was top-grade dye. Pleased, he led Wu Fan from the dock to the sandy shore to inspect his tribe’s dried fish fillets.

At that moment, Zhang Chong appeared with a bone knife, slicing open several dried fillets to reveal the tender, jade-white flesh inside. He removed several from their drying ropes and handed them to Wu Fan, who saw that apart from the scales and bones, the fish were spotless—even the residue left from gutting had been thoroughly cleaned away.

Wu Fan nodded in satisfaction. He, too, had checked the quality standards for dried fish on the official site and was convinced these were indeed premium fillets. Since this was their first trade, both Li Zhan and Wu Fan insisted on verifying each other’s goods—a customary and necessary step. With trust established through future trades, such procedures could be shortened or omitted altogether.

Satisfied with the quality, they moved on to the exchange itself. Zheng Jun had already summoned five villagers from the center of the tribe to carry the five jars of dye back. Li Zhan told Zhang Chong and the others to help load fifty units of dried fish into the fishermen’s boat, filling the hold to capacity.

Wu Fan thanked Li Zhan warmly for his help, and the two discussed terms for future trades, agreeing on the following:

1. As long as the market prices for fish and dye remained stable, they would always trade at the current rate.
2. Only premium dyes and fish fillets would be exchanged; inferior goods would not be part of the trade.
3. Lingyun Tribe’s premium dyes would be supplied first to Yanhuang Tribe, and Yanhuang’s premium dried fish would be supplied first to Lingyun.
4. Whenever Lingyun Tribe cultivated a new dye plant and refined a new premium dye, Yanhuang Tribe would be informed immediately to determine if they had urgent need of it.
5. Yanhuang’s dried fish would be processed to the highest possible standard, ensuring only the best quality—never passing off inferior goods. The same standard would apply to Lingyun’s dyes.

The trade was a great success, leaving both Li Zhan and Wu Fan pleased and marking the start of a promising partnership. As Wu Fan departed, he invited Li Zhan to visit Lingyun Tribe whenever he had the chance. Li Zhan agreed with a smile, and together with Zheng Jun and Zhang Chong, watched from the dock as the fishing boat sailed off until it all but disappeared from sight. Only then did Li Zhan hurry back to the tribe’s center.

The new dye shed was built on a vacant lot seventy meters south of the tribe’s center, covering around five hundred square meters. Inside were dye vats and the five jars of dye. The villagers gathered around the new equipment, inspecting it with curiosity and chattering animatedly.

When Li Zhan and Zheng Jun arrived, the crowd quickly parted to let them through. Seeing the villagers more interested in watching than working, Zheng Jun put on a stern face and scolded, “What are you all staring at? Get back to your work!”

Li Zhan waved his hand with a smile. “Let them look. Satisfy your curiosity now, so you won’t be distracted by it later.”

With Li Zhan’s permission, Zheng Jun fell silent, and the villagers returned, laughing and joking as they clustered around the two leaders.

“Our chief is the best,” someone said.

“Exactly! Who doesn’t have a bit of curiosity? Not like a certain someone, always so fierce,” another chimed in.

“Oh, lay off the ‘certain someone,’ will you? He’s still our assistant. Don’t treat him like he’s expendable!”

Laughter rippled through the group.

Since the last bonfire festival, the villagers’ loyalty had soared, and they now considered the tribe their true home, treating each other as close as brothers. To them, Li Zhan and Zheng Jun were like elder and younger siblings—Li Zhan, the “big brother,” was held in deep respect and admiration, while Zheng Jun, the “little brother,” was the object of much good-natured teasing.

Zheng Jun’s face flushed red, and he made a show of chasing the villager who had mocked him. The man darted through the crowd, playing hide-and-seek, while everyone burst into laughter. Even Li Zhan couldn’t help but shake his head with a wry smile.