Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Hotpot Feast

“Wow!”

Suye exclaimed, staring at the hollow.

“Changxia, you’ve really got an eye for things!”

The hollow was so well hidden that you’d never find it unless you came here on purpose.

Changxia said proudly, “Of course! I spent a long time choosing before I asked the tribe for this animal den. From now on, I declare this hollow my family’s vegetable garden.”

Besides the ginkgo trees, the hollow was full of wild vegetables, growing thickly but not crowded.

As they chatted, the two of them walked into the hollow, then returned to the cave house through the cellar’s back door, saving more than half the journey.

As soon as they got back, they heard Shanque and the others making a racket in the yard.

“Nanfeng, how’s Nuanchun?” Changxia put down her basket and placed the eggs in the kitchen. She thought she’d collect more eggs from the reeds during the rainy season—maybe she could pickle some?

But the temperature was high.

She worried the eggs might spoil if she tried to pickle them.

Plus, it was spring, when everything was coming back to life. The animals were in their breeding season, so it wasn’t a good time for heavy hunting.

Nanfeng shook her empty vine basket and replied, “Nuanchun drank all the crucian carp soup in one go, and even finished the fish.”

While eating, Nuanchun kept complaining that Shankun’s soup-making skills were nowhere near as good as Changxia’s, and told him he should learn from her.

After a few more comments, she started thinking about getting out of bed.

Unfortunately, as soon as she had the thought, Shankun stopped her.

He bluntly told Nuanchun that she wouldn’t be able to join tonight’s hotpot feast. At most, he’d pack some up for her—yes, “packing up” was something Changxia had taught them.

“As long as she’s happy,” Changxia said with a smile.

As they chatted, someone from the tribe came over with a barrel of red maple sap for Changxia’s family—a hundred-pound wooden barrel, filled to the brim.

Last night, the tribe had boiled all the red maple sap collected from Red Leaf Ridge into maple syrup and maple sugar. From now on, the sap would be distributed directly to the clanspeople to drink, instead of being boiled down.

Changxia’s family got a barrel, probably because the tribe was looking out for Suye and Baiqing.

“Shanque, do you all want to drink some sweet tree sap?” Changxia asked.

Shanque and the others all shook their heads. “We want to eat steamed prawns—”

Changxia sighed.

Baiqing’s prawns had become the talk of the tribe.

Wait—

Where were Shenrong and Baiqing?

“Alright, I’ll make steamed prawns for you later,” Changxia agreed. Then she asked, “Nanfeng, did you see where Shenrong and Baiqing went?”

“They’re catching prawns at White Lake,” Nanfeng said.

Actually, she wanted to go too, but she had to watch over the little beast cubs.

Hearing this, Changxia wasn’t surprised.

It looked like they’d definitely be having steamed prawns for lunch.

But she worried that there might not be enough ginger, scallions, and garlic from her little vegetable patch.

Just then, Shenrong came back carrying a big basket, with Baiqing following behind. Baiqing was holding a big green-shelled prawn, just like the one he’d caught before.

Wow—

Baiqing really had good luck!

Had he caught all the big prawns in White Lake?

“Baiqing, did you catch this big prawn too?” Changxia looked at him in delight. White Lake really was full of surprises.

Baiqing nodded happily. “Yes! Changxia, let’s have steamed prawns for lunch. This one’s for you.”

At that, Shenrong, who was dragging the big basket, paused.

He looked up, giving Baiqing a subtle look.

Baiqing quickly noticed Shenrong’s gaze.

He turned and gave Shenrong a meaningful look in return. He saw Changxia as family. Since she’d always been frail and it was hard for her to find a mate, and the tribe couldn’t take care of her forever, Baiqing had thought about looking after her himself. After all, most shamans didn’t marry and were supported by their own kind.

So, Baiqing thought it would be fine for him to look after Changxia.

But—

He hadn’t expected that after one trip to the Normandy market, Changxia would bring back a male.

Meeting Baiqing’s gaze, Shenrong’s eyes narrowed slightly. Tsk! There was a hidden wolf here after all—his Changxia really was the best.

Ever since he’d come to the Heluo tribe, he’d been targeted by others.

Privately, he’d gotten into dozens of fights.

The most ridiculous time, he and Changxia were already asleep when they were suddenly woken up and dragged into the deep mountains in the middle of the night for a fight.

During that period, Shenrong’s injuries never fully healed, making Changxia ask him again and again if he was overexerting himself.

He’s not tired—he’s just drained.

No matter how tough you are, you can’t handle being dragged into fights all day long.

“Thank you, Bai Qing!”

Chang Xia happily took the big prawn.

She leaned in close to Bai Qing and gave him a quick kiss.

On the side, Shen Rong once again showed his gentle, refined smile.

Next to him, Bai Qing, usually stone-faced, tilted his head up and broke into a smile just like Shen Rong’s.

One big, one small; one tall, one short.

As the sunlight shifted, their faces gradually merged into one.

“What are you all standing around for? Come over here and help me devein the shrimp—we’re steaming them now.”

Chang Xia called out, snapping the two out of their daze. With a huge basket of shrimp—probably thousands—it would take a lot of time to prepare, so Chang Xia wanted to get started right away.

“Chang Xia-jie, we’ll help too!”

Shan Que and Lu You quickly chimed in, running over to Chang Xia. Compared to staying in the tribe, things were definitely more fun and interesting with her.

“Alright, I’ll go get some wooden skewers,” said Chang Xia.

Wooden skewers made deveining shrimp much easier.

With the young beasts joining in, Baihu became lively and bustling. At the same time, the tribe’s plaza was just as busy and full of energy.

And so—

Amid all this noise and excitement, the Heluo Tribe held its very first hotpot feast. The once-empty plaza was packed to the brim, bonfires blazing all around, lighting up the night sky over the whole tribe.

Standing on a high platform, Chang Xia oversaw everything—checking the stoves, reminding people to season with salt, to stir-fry at the right times, to watch the heat and avoid burning the pots.

“Chang Xia, here… have some water.” Shen Rong brought over a bowl of cool boiled water, urging her to take a break and have a drink.

Chang Xia finished the bowl in one go, holding onto Shen Rong’s arm. Her parched throat finally felt soothed. She hadn’t really done that much, but she was still exhausted.

“Shen Rong, can you keep an eye on the barbecue and the freshly pressed rice noodles?”

The barbecue needed Shen Rong’s help with seasoning. The rice noodle press looked simple, but actually using it required a delicate touch—otherwise, too much force could break it.

“Don’t worry, the chief and elders are all watching. Nothing will go wrong,” Shen Rong said softly.

Shen Rong had never seen a tribe as united and warm as the Heluo Tribe, not even in the Western Lands. Now that he’d found it, he couldn’t help but yearn for it.

Maybe…

He should thank certain people from the Yuan family.

If not for their scheming, Shen Rong wouldn’t have left the Western Lands so decisively, returned to the East, or had the chance to meet Chang Xia and come to the Heluo Tribe.

“Shen Rong, I’m really happy today!”

Chang Xia looked up, gently leaning against Shen Rong’s shoulder, her face glowing with happiness.