Chapter 81: Chapter 81: The Menu

“Changxia, I have lots of animal skins at Kana Sacred Mountain,” Baiqing said seriously.

Baiqing didn’t realize Changxia’s family lacked animal skins, and neither did the shaman. The Heluo Tribe, the strongest beastfolk tribe in the Twilight Forest, never lacked animal skins or bones. But they forgot that just because the tribe didn’t lack them didn’t mean Changxia didn’t.

Changxia was so frail she couldn’t join the hunting team, or even do basic gathering. Everything she needed came from the tribe’s generosity. She’d married Chen Rong, who was poisoned—two weak people together. Building up their household would take time and effort from both of them.

Changxia couldn’t help but laugh, rubbing Baiqing’s cheeks. “Don’t worry, Baiqing. Lacking animal skins is just temporary. Once Chen Rong and I recover, we’ll have everything we need.”

“Changxia doesn’t lack animal skins, she’s just silly,” Nan Feng grumbled.

Fish ball recipes, fruit flour making, kiln building—any of these could be traded for animal skins. But Changxia refused, except for the white nuts and yams the tribe gave her. The only thing she accepted was pottery, and that was only because she had nothing else to store things in.

“I’m not silly,” Changxia said, pushing away Nan Feng’s hand. The tribe had raised her selflessly; how could she keep taking from them for free? She could do without animal skins—they weren’t a necessity. Besides, as Chen Rong said, once they recovered, hunting wouldn’t be hard.

After eating, Changxia had Chen Rong rest in the den. After visiting Nuanchun, they’d move into the kiln.

Suye decided to hold the hotpot feast tomorrow night. Muqin would definitely let the tribe know, so the news must have already spread. Still, Changxia wanted to ask Suye if there were any taboos. The rainy season was late this year—was that a bad sign?

“Chen Rong, you stay and rest in the den for now,” Changxia reminded him.

She didn’t let Chen Rong go to Baihu to help build the kiln, but sent him back to the beast den to rest. After working hard for a whole day and night, she didn’t want Chen Rong to wear himself out.

Chen Rong hesitated, “Will you have enough people to build the kiln?”

“We don’t need your help with that. Go back to the beast den and get some rest,” Chang Xia insisted. If the tribe really couldn’t handle it, Muqin wouldn’t have agreed with Su Ye to hold the hotpot feast tomorrow night.

“Alright, I’ll go get some sleep first.” Chen Rong didn’t argue. He listened to Chang Xia and went back to the beast den to sleep. In the Wu Lai Heluo tribe, aside from Nuan Chun’s childbirth, they were probably getting ready to detoxify Chen Rong. Before that, he needed to recover his strength to face what was coming.

Chen Rong never used to value his own life.

But now, he had Chang Xia.

Suddenly, he didn’t want to die anymore. He wanted to live—a long, long life.

“You went to visit Nuan Chun just to make space for Chen Rong to rest, didn’t you!” Nan Feng pouted, looking at Chang Xia with displeasure.

The cabbage she’d raised herself had been snatched away by a pig.

And now, she was even taking care of that pig.

No matter how she thought about it, Nan Feng felt annoyed and wanted to hit someone.

Bai Qing, on the other hand, was perfectly calm.

He followed behind the two, walking slowly, not caring where they went.

Compared to the silent, desolate Kana Sacred Mountain, the bustling Heluo tribe felt wonderful to Bai Qing.

“Yep!” Chang Xia didn’t deny it and nodded directly.

Nan Feng snorted, “You’ve got a male, but no female.”

“If you’re tired, Nan Feng, I can send you back to the cave to rest too. There’s no need to push yourself,” Chang Xia said with a smile.

“Tch!” Nan Feng reached out and gave Chang Xia’s face a good rub. “I’m not Chen Rong. This little bit of work is nothing.”

Chang Xia pursed her lips and chuckled softly.

She didn’t call Nan Feng out, choosing instead to accept her last bit of stubbornness.

The three of them laughed and joked as they headed to Nuan Chun’s house.

“Eh? Why are you back again?” Su Ye asked in surprise.

Chang Xia replied, “I sent Chen Rong to the beast den to get some sleep. I came over to chat with Granny Su Ye and discuss how we should prepare for tomorrow night’s hotpot feast...”

“As for the hotpot feast, Muqin said the tribe wants to hold it in the plaza. If you need anything, discuss it with the tribe,” Su Ye said.

She was the shaman of the beast tribe and wouldn’t interfere too much in tribal affairs.

Unless the tribe asked her directly, Su Ye usually wouldn’t butt in, let alone meddle.

“Chang Xia, can you make that... what’s it called... menu?”

“A menu?”

“Yes, a menu. If you make a menu, I’ll let the tribe know what ingredients to prepare. Baihu is busy with construction, and there’s no space to host a feast for over a thousand people. Do you think it’s okay to hold it in the tribe’s plaza?” Muqin asked, discussing it with Chang Xia.

Since the hotpot feast was Chang Xia’s idea, Muqin naturally wanted to follow her lead.

This hotpot feast was as significant as the annual harvest festival. The tribe felt the same as Chang Xia—they wanted everyone to celebrate together.

From this year on,

No one in the tribe would go hungry or freeze again.

At that thought, everyone’s breathing quickened with excitement.

The hotpot feast had to be held—no matter what.

“Alright, I’ll prepare the menu,” Chang Xia agreed.

She had to make the most of the tribe’s ingredients. With everyone’s appetite, roast meat was a must. Besides that, a few dishes made from fruit starch were essential. Chicken, duck, and fish were necessary; as for goose, that would depend on luck.

“Chang Xia, can we have the freshly-pressed rice noodles, the cold mixed starch noodles, and today’s soup noodles again?” Su Ye asked.

As soon as she said that,

Muqin and Nan Feng both perked up.

“Of course,” Chang Xia nodded. “But the fine noodles for the freshly-pressed rice noodles need the dough to ferment ahead of time. To make enough for the whole tribe, we’ll need at least several hundred jin of fruit starch. I can’t do it alone—I’ll need help.”

Last time, making enough for just a few dozen people had left Chang Xia’s arms aching. This time, with over a thousand people, she’d collapse before finishing.

Muqin said, “Come to the plaza tonight. I’ll have He Yun and the others help out.”

“I can help too,” Nan Feng said.

“Great! After dinner tonight, let’s all go to the plaza together,” Chang Xia said. Since the hotpot feast was tomorrow night, the dough needed to ferment tonight.

Similarly, things like tables, chairs, and benches should be moved to the plaza early to make things easier tomorrow night.

Today, the tribe was making maple syrup and maple sugar, so the plaza would be lively. If they prepared the dough tonight and told everyone to catch some chickens, ducks, and fish, then tomorrow night, all that would be left was to cook.

“Chang Xia, I want to go too—”

Suddenly, Nuan Chun’s voice came from inside the cave.

At her words,

Su Ye, Chang Xia, and the others all fell silent, black lines appearing on their faces.

No matter how strong beastfolk were, Nuan Chun had just given birth and already wanted to get up and work—this was too much.

Muqin said, “Nuan Chun, just stay put on your bed. Don’t get any funny ideas. Taking care of your babies is what you should be focusing on.”

“Nooo!” Nuan Chun wailed.

That meant she’d probably have to miss the hotpot feast tomorrow night too.