Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Mischievous Beast Cubs

“Long Xia, how wide should the roads be?”

“How should we build toilets in the long summer?”

“We’ll need to lay pipes for the sewers. But what kind of pipes should we use?”

Gen fired off a string of questions, not holding back as she peppered Changxia with inquiries. At the same time, she carefully took notes, planning to discuss everything with the elders once she returned to the tribe.

The elders might not take responsibility, but Gen still had to show them respect.

Besides, any construction in the tribe would need the elders’ support and help.

“Six meters. Beastfolk are big, so the road needs to be wide enough for them to walk comfortably. If it’s too narrow, it’ll be inconvenient. As for the toilets, we’ll build public restrooms in each direction—east, south, west, and north—so that visiting outsiders can use them easily.” Changxia considered carefully, whispering with Chenrong to confirm Gen’s questions.

But when it came to the sewer pipes, Changxia hesitated. She wasn’t sure how to handle it.

Chenrong suggested, “How about we try using resin to glue together ironwood planks?”

There was no green bamboo or similar plants in the Heluo tribe’s area. Most hollow plants around here weren’t suitable. Even at Changxia’s own home, the sewer was just a simple ditch, not a buried pipe.

With the rainy season approaching, digging ditches was a must.

Otherwise, backflow could easily flood the cave dwellings and cause them to collapse.

Even if they didn’t collapse, the rain would definitely make a mess of things.

“Hmm.” Changxia rubbed her chin, hesitating, then nodded. “Let’s give it a try—”

“I’ll take care of it when I get back to the tribe. I’ll arrange for people to start making the pipes,” Gen said, taking over the pipe-making task. As she ate, she kept pestering Changxia with questions about every little thing.

Finally, Gen left, satisfied.

By the time Gen returned to the tribe, the sun was already high in the sky.

“Changxia, are we still going to Bai Lake?” Chenrong asked softly.

Changxia replied, “Yes. Nan Feng hasn’t come by today, so she’s probably out hunting or gathering. I just wonder how Nuanchun is doing?”

The shaman had said Nuanchun shouldn’t be left alone.

Changxia had also promised to look after Nuanchun.

But today, neither Nan Feng nor Nuanchun had shown up.

“Let’s wait for Nuanchun, then—” Chenrong started tidying up the long table, while Changxia used Gen’s leftover paper and pen to sketch whatever came to mind. The plants and animals in this world were similar to those in her previous life, but not exactly the same.

The sketches were mostly to encourage the tribe to actively collect things.

Of course, if they actually found something useful, that would be even better.

“Chenrong, why are you waiting for Nuanchun?”

Just as they mentioned Nan Feng, she arrived—with Nuanchun in tow. Shankun wasn’t with them; he must have gone hunting with the hunting party. The tribe was planning to build kilns, so this hunting trip was probably the last one before the rainy season. After that, everyone would focus on building.

“We’re planning to visit Bai Lake, just waiting for you two,” Chenrong said.

Changxia put down her pen and waved to Nan Feng and Nuanchun.

Nan Feng said, “Don’t worry, we’re ready to go anytime.”

“Alright, let’s head out!” Changxia packed up the paper and pen, took the basket Chenrong had prepared, and started walking toward Bai Lake at the foot of the hill.

Because of Nuanchun, the group walked slowly, stopping often. It didn’t look like they were out gathering—it felt more like a spring picnic.

“Where’s Shankun and the others?”

“The chief just got back to the tribe and talked with the elders. Then, except for the patrol, the entire hunting party left to hunt.”

“Changxia—”

Nuanchun strolled along, chatting idly with Changxia.

As they reached Bai Lake, the group planned to explore the reeds upstream. Suddenly, several childish voices called out, getting closer.

At the sound, Changxia was startled.

“Shanque, Wuliu…” Nan Feng’s mouth dropped open as she stared at the beast cubs running toward them.

Changxia’s expression changed as she looked behind Shanque and the others.

“Shanque, why did you leave the tribe on your own? How many times have I told you—never leave the tribe without an adult!”

The three cubs stopped in their tracks, guilt flashing across their faces.

Changxia frowned, pointing at the oldest girl. “Shanque, you explain.”

“Bai Lake is part of the tribe, so we didn’t really leave,” Shanque argued in her clear voice. Then she accused, “You said you’d come back for me in a couple of days, but it’s been ages! Hmph! I knew you’d forget about us once you had a mate.”

Changxia froze, embarrassed.

She really had forgotten her promise to Shanque and the others, being so busy with kiln-building and researching fruit powder lately.

Ahem—

Changxia cleared her throat and gently said, “Shanque, I’m sorry! I’ve just been so busy lately that I forgot our promise. But Bai Lake isn’t fully within the tribe’s patrol area yet. You mustn’t leave the tribe without an adult.”

Even within the tribe, accidents could happen.

Changxia used to wander the tribe with a string of little ones trailing behind her.

Beastfolk were generally easygoing, both careful and careless in raising their cubs.

Changxia couldn’t stand it, so she’d regularly gather the cubs to teach them about safety and danger. That’s how she earned the nickname “the kids’ leader.”

Shanque was the oldest among the cubs, a girl, eight years old.

Wuliu and Luyou were boys, a year younger than her.

Usually, when beastfolk cubs turned ten, elders would start teaching them hunting skills. Those under ten spent their days wandering the tribe—though “doing nothing” was relative.

Most cubs started training at five.

They’d train for half a day, not by force, mainly learning to shift between human and beast forms and some basic hunting skills.

“Changxia, we understand now,” Shanque and the other two admitted obediently after her lecture.

Luyou, the youngest and most lively, blinked his pretty eyes and asked, “Changxia, my amu said you can make delicious fruit porridge. Is that true?”

“It’s true!” Chang Xia said. “If you want to eat… I can make it for you. But right now, I want to take a walk around White Lake. Do you want to come with me?”

While Chang Xia was chatting with the three beast cubs, Nan Feng ran back to the tribe in a hurry. With three cubs suddenly leaving the tribe, the people there were bound to panic. Nan Feng had to go back and report, so the tribe wouldn’t worry.

“We want to go!”

“Hunting? I can help!”

As soon as they heard Chang Xia invite them to explore White Lake together, they got so excited they started jumping up and down, overjoyed.

“Mountain Sparrow, how did you sneak out of the tribe?” Nuan Chun asked curiously.

The tribe had people specifically assigned to watch over the cubs, to prevent the mischievous and daring ones from running out and getting into danger.

Mountain Sparrow tilted her head, looked around, and stayed silent.

Wu Liu was startled. He stepped forward to shield Lu You behind him and said, “Sister Chang Xia, I brought them out. We found a small hole on the west side of the tribe…”

At that, it was obvious to Chang Xia and the others what had happened.

Wu Liu must have discovered the hole. But it was definitely Mountain Sparrow and Lu You who encouraged everyone to sneak out. Wu Liu was a bit slow-witted, Mountain Sparrow was just bold, and Lu You—among all the tribe’s cubs—was the most cunning. Every time there was trouble, he was always involved.

What’s more, Lu You was good-looking and sweet-talking, the one who resembled Chang Xia the most. Whenever he got into trouble, the tribe members couldn’t bring themselves to scold him too harshly.