Chapter 96: Teaching the Tribe to Steam Sweet Potatoes

When this was said, Abu looked at her with great delight, "Chief, this method is really good. Our tribe indeed can't hunt; we only know how to raise this big lump. Since we are now together with the Ying Tribe, we won't even talk about swapping food. So whenever the big lump is harvested, I'll have the tribe send it to the Ying Tribe. Chief, what do you think?"

Hearing this, Nan Qinghuan was naturally pleased, but she thought it unfair to the tribe. "If we don't swap, that's fine. I will have Ying send people regularly to bring you meat. Since they are my tribe's people, they should be well fed. Next, I will make everyone clothed warmly, and then we can live in clean, bright houses."

Upon hearing these words, the tribe members all rejoiced; the new chief's words filled everyone with anticipation.

Seeing the tribe so happy, Ji Lei and Dashan grew worried. "Um, how do we eat this thing that's so hard?"

Abu quickly smiled, "We just gnaw it like this. If your teeth aren't as good as ours, you can eat separately; it tastes good."

"Tasty?"

Dashan and Ji Lei had never seen this big lump, so they naturally didn't know its flavor. Nan Qinghuan acted on the spot, "Alright, Ying, we won't leave today. Tonight let Abu set up a Bonfire party; I'll teach everyone how to eat this sweet potato so they can taste something different."

Hearing this, Ying felt even more admiration for her, but his damned pride kept him from showing it. He merely turned a cold face, coughed once, and said, "It's getting late, so let's rest for the night and return tomorrow."

Because Nan Qinghuan arrived, the war that would have required three tribes to fight to the death was now, surprisingly, two peoples drinking together, merrily gathering, waiting for the Nushouling to make them a different big lump.

Twilight hung low, and the Bonfire blazed in the Forest.

Nan Qinghuan was teaching Ashu and a few women how to prepare sweet potatoes. Tonight she divided the sweet potatoes into several methods; raw, of course, doesn't bring out the flavor. With primitive conditions she couldn't get fancy, so she made steamed sweet potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, and a plate of sweet potato fries.

These are fried by her, using goat oil, of course. The women were hearing this for the first time—that the big lump could be turned into so many variations, and it tasted even sweeter and more fragrant.

"Sweet potatoes are ready, everyone try them."

Tonight Nan Qinghuan made a lot of sweet potatoes; almost every tribe member got one. When they tasted the fragrant, soft sweet potato, they could hardly imagine that the big lump could be so delicious.

"Chief, this big lump turned out really tasty—soft, sweet, and fragrant."

"Indeed, chief, I've never eaten anything this good."

Seeing the tribe satisfied, Nan Qinghuan smiled, "From now on remember, sweet potatoes should be eaten like this—delicious and healthy, and this way you won't get hungry easily. Abu, Ashu, you both try as well."

Abu, with a wound on his leg, sat there; seeing the big lump in her hand, he reached out and took it. After tasting it, he liked it even more, "Chief, this is the best thing I've ever eaten."

"Eat more; we made a lot tonight. From now on everyone should eat like this. I've already taught the women in the tribe how to make it."

"Chief, stay with us; our tribe needs you."

An elderly person wanted Nan Qinghuan to stay; Nan Qinghuan was about to refuse, when suddenly Ying stepped forward, grabbed her waist, and held her tightly in his arms, "She is my female, she must return to my tribe."

When those words were spoken, everyone fell silent. Everyone feared Ying; his voice was cold, and he was fierce—today he almost killed Abu.

The tribe still feared Ying; Abu, seeing this, quickly smiled, "Stop talking nonsense. The Goddess is Ying's female, so she naturally must return to the Ying Tribe."

"Um…"

Dashan whispered softly to her, and Nan Qinghuan turned her head to look, "What is it?"

"Ying is looking for you."

Nan Qinghuan saw Ying standing not far away; everyone was eating here, and only he stood there, his gaze sharp on her. What was this man up to? "Got it, go check where Jingang is."

She grabbed a sweet potato to tease the man, but as she approached, Ying suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her into a grass pile behind him.

Nan Qinghuan let out an "Ah" and was about to ask what he was doing, when Ying's breath grew hot and unstable; he cupped her lips and kissed her forcefully, as if trying to swallow her whole.

"Whew…"

Nan Qinghuan tried to reach out and punch his chest, but that little force was like a mere tickle to Ying; dissatisfied that she pushed him away, he suddenly shoved her, and she fell completely into the grass pile.

"Whew, let go, what are you doing?"

She didn't expect the man to be so impatient; with so many people there, what did he want? Ying's breath was uneven as he pressed against her; his eyes shone unusually, his breathing unstable. "Don't get too close to those people, Huaner, I'm uncomfortable here."

He pointed a finger to his chest. Nan Qinghuan stared at him, thinking, why is this man getting jealous again? She felt a bit embarrassed, feeling something pressing against her, annoyed, she tried to push him away, "Stand up first, can we speak properly?"

Ying gave her a deep look; under the moonlight, Nan Qinghuan's face was especially enchanting, and he was drunk with it.

"Huaner, you are truly beautiful."

His eyes glittered, and he couldn't help gently stroking her cheek. Nan Qinghuan took a deep breath to calm his desire, "You stand up first; with so many people, it's impolite for us to stay here. Stand up."

Although Ying didn't catch her words, he understood, and hurriedly stood, scooped her into his arms, holding tightly, "I don't want you to have anyone else in your eyes."

Today Rongdi's words made him utterly furious; he never expected Rongdi to, in front of him, demand that Nan Qinghuan leave with him. Rongdi just couldn't tolerate it.

Nan Qinghuan knew he was clingy, but hadn't expected him to be this clingy; she gently patted Ying's shoulder, "Don't worry, I'm yours, forever."

Hearing this, Ying seemed instantly pleased, "Let's go; I'll take you to sleep, and we'll leave here first thing tomorrow."

Although he was glad Nan Qinghuan had found edible sweet potatoes, solving the Ying Tribe's food problem, the thought of her interacting with those men made him uneasy. If he could, he'd lock her in a Cave to prevent her from dealing with so many males, but he knew that would make Huaner hate him even more.

Caught in conflict, Ying didn't know how to treat her, but… Nan Qinghuan was about to tell him to try the sweet potato's taste; the man had been jealous all day and hadn't eaten anything, "Ying, wait, you're hungry, right? I'll go get you a sweet potato to try."

She was about to leave, but then saw… "Ying, I brought you a sweet potato, steamed by my own hands—try it?"