Chapter 88: Chapter 88: The Fear of Being Pushed to Marry

“Chang Xia, Shan Kun wants you to help make some fish soup—”

Nan Feng suddenly remembered running into Shan Kun by White Lake. There was a lot going on in the tribe today, and Mu Qin and He Yun didn’t have time to help Shan Kun take care of Nuan Chun.

Last night, Shan Kun made fish soup for Nuan Chun, and she took one sip.

And that was the end of that.

“Shan Kun’s soup wasn’t any good?” Chang Xia asked, suspicious.

Nan Feng covered her mouth and giggled, explaining, “Nuan Chun was hungry last night, so Shan Kun took the initiative to make a pot of carp soup. After one sip, Nuan Chun said she didn’t want any more.”

Barbecuing or frying fruit pancakes, Nan Feng could help with. But making fish soup? She was at a loss.

“Chang Xia, can you make some carp soup for Nuan Chun first? We can eat later, it won’t take long,” Su Ye said.

Beside her, Lu You asked, “Sister Chang Xia, can we go to Sister Nuan Chun’s house to see the baby?” Hearing Nan Feng mention Nuan Chun, Lu You and the others immediately perked up.

He was the youngest cub in the tribe.

And as the youngest, how could he not be curious about someone even younger?

“Sure,” Chang Xia said. “Once I finish the carp soup, you can help me bring it over to Sister Nuan Chun’s house, and you can see the baby while you’re there.”

“Yay! I want to see the baby!”

“Me too, I want to see the baby.”

Several of the kids chimed in, all eager to go.

Chang Xia and Su Ye didn’t refuse—in fact, they were very supportive. The spirit of unity in the beast tribe had to be cultivated from a young age.

So—

Chang Xia asked Nan Feng to help with the barbecue.

She started making carp soup for Nuan Chun.

There were two fish in the kitchen: one grass carp and one crucian carp. The grass carp was already cooked, so the crucian carp was just right for making soup for Nuan Chun.

“Sister Chang Xia, your soup looks amazing!” Shan Que stood on tiptoe, marveling at the milky white fish soup in the stone pot.

She remembered her own mother’s fish soup was white too, looking very light and clear.

But the taste was just so-so.

Even with ginger, scallions, and garlic, it never tasted that great.

But the soup Sister Chang Xia made looked delicious, even just by appearance.

“Chang Xia, how come your fish soup looks so good?” Nan Feng squeezed over, staring in shock at the milky white soup.

Chang Xia paused, suddenly understanding.

The tribe’s way of making soup was pretty rough—even with her tips about using ginger and scallions to get rid of the fishy smell.

But they didn’t know that when making fish soup, you have to add boiling water. Only by adding boiling water does the soup turn milky white.

“After frying the fish, do you add cold water or boiling water to make the soup?” Chang Xia asked Nan Feng instead of answering right away.

Nan Feng tilted her head, confused. “Does it make a difference?”

“Of course it does! If you want milky white fish soup, you must add boiling water. If you use cold water, you’ll never get that color,” Chang Xia explained. “It’s just a little cooking tip—remember it for next time.”

“Sigh! I’m okay with barbecue and fruit pancakes, but anything else is just too hard,” Nan Feng said, frustrated.

Every time Chang Xia cooked, Nan Feng watched from the side.

It all looked simple, but to Nan Feng, it was more complicated than hunting or gathering.

She felt like she’d never be able to cook well in her life.

That’s why she built her cave house near Chang Xia’s—so she could come over for meals whenever she wanted.

“…” Chang Xia was speechless. Nan Feng had killed the conversation, and she didn’t know whether to comfort her or scold her.

“South Wind, then you should consider finding a partner who can cook,” Su Ye teased.

In private, Su Ye was very easygoing and never put on the airs of a shaman. In fact, she much preferred hanging out and chatting with the beastfolk. After all, being lofty and above everyone else was just too exhausting.

South Wind’s face stiffened, and she said aggrievedly, “Shaman, can we not talk about finding a partner?”

She had only just come of age—was there really any need to rush?!

Besides, she wasn’t the only one in the tribe who was still single.

There were plenty of single males and females!

Why did the tribe always pick on her when it came to matchmaking? Was that really fair?

“Alright, alright, I won’t bring it up,” Su Ye replied with a big smile, her expression making South Wind’s face darken again.

Chang Xia shrugged, looking helpless.

Mountain Sparrow opened her mouth to say something, but Lu You quickly covered it.

That was close—

They all still remembered the last time Mountain Sparrow angered Elder Pukang.

South Wind might not have Pukang’s “iron fist of love,” but when it came to being fierce, she was every bit his equal. In fact, whether male or female, the tribe’s adults doted on the children, but if they had to lay down the law, they could be truly scary.

“Mountain Sparrow, what did you want to say?” South Wind narrowed her eyes, staring straight at Mountain Sparrow and Lu You. Her expression was exactly like Elder Pukang’s when he was about to scold someone. Not only did Mountain Sparrow and Lu You fall silent, but even the other kids nearby were intimidated.

Mountain Sparrow gulped and didn’t dare speak.

Lu You shook his head quickly, lifted his chin, and smiled brightly at South Wind, replying cleverly, “She didn’t want to say anything—she just wanted to ask Sister Chang Xia if we can have breakfast now? After all, we need to bring fish soup to Sister Nuan Chun later…”

“Yes, yes!” Mountain Sparrow suddenly caught on and nodded vigorously in agreement. The other kids quickly chimed in, following Lu You’s lead and asking Chang Xia if they could start breakfast.

In the distance, Chang Xia and Su Ye watched this harmonious scene with smiles on their faces.

“South Wind, stop teasing them. Hurry up and bring the roasted meat and fruit cakes to the long table. I’ll slice the rice noodles and ladle out the fish soup…” Seeing that things had settled down, Chang Xia finally spoke up.

She knew that if South Wind kept teasing, Lu You would get anxious.

With Lu You’s quick mind, who knew what kind of trouble he might stir up in a panic? Never underestimate a child’s ability to cause chaos—they could make you regret it for life.

She herded the group of little ones to the long table and had South Wind serve them food. Then she brought Su Ye’s fish noodles to the table and had her sit down.

Chang Xia pulled out most of the firewood from the stove, leaving just a few sticks to keep the fish soup simmering on low heat. Then she carried her own bowl to the table, leaving portions for Shen Rong and Bai Qing on the stove for when they returned.

Thinking of their “masculine bonding,” Chang Xia decided not to call them back for breakfast. If they got hungry, they’d come home to eat—after all, they weren’t cubs anymore.

“Sister Chang Xia, aren’t you going to call Brother Shen Rong and Bai Qing back for breakfast?” Lu You asked, looking up.

Chang Xia replied, “No need. They’ll come back when they’re done. Eat up—you all need to deliver fish soup to Sister Nuan Chun after breakfast.”

After eating, she planned to take a walk through the reeds at White Lake.

Last time, she’d run into Elder Pukang and hadn’t been able to stroll around White Lake. This time, Chang Xia was determined to seize the opportunity. During the rainy season, even if she went to White Lake, she probably wouldn’t be able to get into the reeds.

At that time, the water level would rise, and most of the reeds would be submerged.

She could still go, but it wouldn’t be convenient.