Ma Lin knew he had to control his temper.
These people are all primitives.
You must maintain your patience when dealing with them.
He said, "But I need to find them for something. I am preparing to suggest that these tribes merge in pairs and live together. In the future, the southern tribes might merge into villages of more than eighty people. If you have a conflict with them now, they will cause you trouble later."
The leader of the Southern Village said, "We have bows and arrows, we make better spears, and we are braver."
Ma Lin said, "But they will soon have bows and arrows and spears as well, and have a larger population. By then, they will certainly demand that you return the women and make reparations. If you fight them, several of your relatives and family members will die or be injured."
The leader said, "What business is it of yours? I just want to be happy now."
He glanced at a woman he had snatched for himself, then had two men drive Ma Lin away.
