Chapter 203: Can This Fish Monster Be Eaten?

Gu Lang knows the chief will be angry, but still has to speak.

"They've already split up; I heard they'll have to farm and eat on their own, and Ying won't provide them with food anymore."

"Split up?"

Rongdi let out a low laugh upon hearing that, his mood suddenly brightened, as if he'd heard the funniest joke. "Ha ha, Ying has been driven mad by Nan Qinghuan; the tribe should live, eat, drink, and work together. Split up? Are they courting death?"

Ji Nü, hearing this, went along with him: "I knew Nan Qinghuan wasn't any good. Chief, if the tribe members split up, are they still tribe members? If they farm themselves, the Ying Tribe will starve to death."

"Ha ha, I didn't expect Ying to be so foolish as to want to split up and live that way. He doesn't even consider that the tribe members lack his hunting skill. Farming—farming isn't that easy; Duoluo would have already produced crops by now."

"The chief said that although the Tulou hasn't collapsed yet, a new crisis has arisen. Chief, just wait and watch the joke."

Rongdi wasn't in a good mood at first; the Tulou he'd been waiting for disappointed him. But hearing that the Ying Tribe had split, he felt their end was near.

For centuries, the Tribe's people have reproduced and lived together—sharing food, sleeping together, working together to make tools. Yet they now split apart.

Isn't that a sure loss? Unity among tribe members has been the Tribe's habit for years; now Ying has broken that habit, and his death is not far off.

Ji Nü didn't forget to blame Nan Qinghuan: "It must be Nan Qinghuan's rotten idea, chief. Luckily you didn't bring her, otherwise our Rongdi Tribe would have …"

"Shut up. Am I that kind of person? I'm not like Ying, listening to Nan Qinghuan."

Rongdi said that, but deep down he also wanted it.

Yet the meaning of his words seemed to tell everyone that he still liked that female, only he wouldn't obey Nan Qinghuan like Ying does.

Ji Nü felt very sad; Rongdi still wanted that female.

"Chief, stop saying that; Nan Qinghuan can't come to that mountain."

That made Rongdi a bit displeased, but he said nothing more, only continuing to press Gu Lang, "What else do they have?"

"I've heard that the Rainy Season has arrived; repairing the Tulou delayed the time to store food, so the tribe now lacks provisions, and Ying is looking for a solution."

"Lacking food?"

"Chief, perhaps after the Rainy Season the Ying Tribe will be gone. What do you think?"

Ji Nü's words made Rongdi very pleased; he threw his head back and laughed, "Ha ha, Ji Nü is right. When the Rainy Season passes, the Ying Tribe may vanish. Ha ha."

Suddenly Rongdi's mood became extremely good; he lunged at Ji Nü, squinting slightly, desire in his gaze, "Don't you want to be my female?"

Ji Nü was startled, then instantly felt a wild joy—yes, the Rainy Season had arrived, and Rongdi was in heat.

"Chief, I …"

"Take off everything, come in."

The Beastman was straightforward about wanting to do it; hearing that, Ji Nü didn't feel embarrassed at all, and hurried into the Treehouse, waiting for Rongdi to follow.

Seeing Ji Nü go inside, a flash of disappointment crossed Gu Lang's eyes, but it vanished quickly.

"Chief, don't you say you don't like Ji Nü?"

Rongdi snorted, "Even if I don't like her, I can still do it—it's just venting. Do you want to go in?"

Gu Lang immediately knelt, "I dare not."

Rongdi, however, saw clearly, "I know you like her. Rest assured, I'll give her to you, as long as you help me earnestly. Understand?"

The heavy rain kept pouring, and inside the Tulou, everyone stood at the rail watching the rain strike the ground, splashing into a series of deep puddles.

Tick‑tock, the rain's drumming filled the ears.

Because it was raining, the air was moist and fresh.

"Qinghuan, what are you looking at?"

Ying stepped out from behind the house, watching her stare blankly at the downpour; the tribe members were naturally the same. He knew what they feared—they were afraid of starving if there was no food.

"Don't worry, I'll go hunting tomorrow; the Rainy Season won't affect me."

"No need, Ying, I've already thought of a method; we can do it this way."

Hearing her claim to have a method surprised Ying; what method could she have when the Rainy Season renders everything impossible? Nan Qinghuan stepped close, gently stroking his handsome face, her beard a bit scruffy. One had to admit the man's beard grew quickly; she'd have to shave him again tomorrow.

"Ying, have you ever seen a fish?"

"Fish?"

Ying frowned, finding it odd—what was this? She realized she'd never seen a fish in the Tribe, let alone eaten one. She had just gone with Axi to the riverbank, where the water had risen; flooded areas usually teem with fish. The Tribe lacked food, so this Rainy Season could provide fish, and the season also brings abundant wild vegetables and mushrooms in the mountains—there'd be no way to starve.

"Never seen?"

Ying nodded, "Qinghuan said I haven't seen it; what is it?"

"Come with me."

Nan Qinghuan was delighted, grabbing his arm and pulling him downstairs. She ignored the rain, wanting to get Ying out, but Ying worried she'd get soaked, so he specially picked a large leaf to place on her head. "Come, climb onto my back; I'll carry you."

One must admit, the man couldn't bear to see her suffer; her shoes were about to wear out, yet Ying still didn't want her walking on the soggy mud. She clung to his back, letting him carry her out.

Seeing his feet drenched in mud, treading the soggy path, the old scars reopened.

At that moment, she felt extremely sad inside.

She had to make a pair of shoes for Ying to wear.

The space could exchange for some small tools, but it couldn't produce a new pair of shoes; she had to craft them herself, vowing to make a pair for her.

Soon, Ying carried her to the riverbank. Sure enough, many people were still digging ditches to drain water; the heavy rain gave them no rest. To prevent the flood from washing away their shared home, the Tulou, the tribe members worked day and night.

"Ying, what are you doing here?"

Ji Lei wiped the rain from her face, drenched through. Nan Qinghuan saw the fish leaping in the water and immediately jumped down, looking at Dashan and the others. "Dashan, quick, help me catch all these fish."

"Oumu, you want to catch these River Monsters?"

Those fish resembled Mekong River fish, with sharp teeth. Such fish live in great rivers and large streams, while the tribe lives in the mountains; this little creek doesn't normally have them.

Thus, the tribe called them River Monsters.

"Stop asking, just catch them all. If we want meat, it's all on these fish. Hurry."

Oumu himself led the charge, catching those River Monsters, and Dashan and the others quickly joined. The flooded fish darted everywhere; soon they had caught so many that the bamboo baskets they brought could no longer hold them.

Ying, seeing the River Monsters' teeth, still felt uneasy. "Qinghuan, are these River Monsters edible?"

"Alright, help me quickly."

Hearing her say that, Ying also threw his arms up and started catching the River Monster.

That day they harvested a lot; Nan Qinghuan used the oldest fish‑catching method, diverting water from the riverbank to dig a Ditch, so the fish were swept into the shallow Ditch, making each catch certain.

Soon, by the time night fell, all the fish had been caught and brought back.

As night fell, that night Nan Qinghuan kept the tribe's women in her own house; she intended to teach them the art of grilling fish, and with that, Ying's home became overcrowded.

Everyone squatted on the ground watching Nan Qinghuan grill fish; under the blazing Bonfire, the fish meat sizzled fragrant, sprinkled with pepper and brushed with chili sauce, and the flavor emerged.

Fragrant, spicy and tasty.

"How fragrant, Qinghuan, so this monster fish can actually be eaten?"

Axi and some women were stunned; they were terrified of the River Monster, yet it could be eaten? Nan Qinghuan smiled brightly, "Of course it can be eaten; it's a fine thing—lots of meat, almost no bones, and no worry of choking. Once you master this skill, make it for your men when you go home. Tomorrow, everyone get up early; we'll go into the Forest to look for mushrooms and wild vegetables."

Everyone was bewildered, exchanging glances, and A Mu was also puzzled, "Qinghuan, what are wild vegetables?"

Axi blinked, with a hundred thousand whys, asking, "Qinghuan, I know what mushrooms are, but what exactly are wild vegetables?"