Chapter 165: He

The final remark made He glance at the speaking beastman, and she found a moment to reply, "Yun Li Adult says that if you want to learn, you can come find us at any time."

But before we teach you the clothing‑making technique, we have other matters to attend to. If you're unwilling to wait, you can help then, which will also lessen our burden.

Hearing that, a flash of displeasure crossed the beastman's face, but he quickly smiled again, "Oh, I see, then we'll wait after all."

At the mere mention of work they wanted to shrink back, yet they still hoped to learn the skills A Li taught them.

He felt a flash of anger in her heart, but now was not the time to quibble; she turned to the other worried beastmen and said:

"No one needs to rush about today's matter; we'll speak with Yun Li Adult. However, for the next few days, don't take bamboo baskets out to trade anything. Once this is resolved, you can resume making your bamboo baskets."

"But we've already promised others that those bamboo baskets need to be delivered tomorrow."

"Right, if we don't take baskets out to trade food, what will we eat these days?"

Seeing them get anxious again, He hurriedly soothed, "Don't be anxious; we'll solve any problem one by one."

"How can we solve it? We can't even afford meat at home; since the Yun Li family returned from Red Grass Valley, they've rarely come to help us. Do they simply not want to look after us?"

"Exactly, they're the ones living the best lives."

"Ya, you've really gone too far; have you forgotten who rescued you from Youbuluo?"

He glared at the two beastmen still shouting at this moment, "Moreover, Yun Li Adult's family lives well because their strength is sufficiently great.

If you want to live well, let your male cultivate properly; if that fails, use your own ability to find a strong male to support you."

"Just counting on others' help—if you intend to rely on others for a lifetime, they won't even want to help you for a lifetime!"

These words weren't He's own invention; they were said to He when she was with Yun Li.

The first time she heard them, He felt somewhat uneasy, but after frequently handling affairs for the Yun Li family and dealing with many beastmen, she came to understand what the words meant.

Relying on others is ultimately inferior to relying on oneself.

Otherwise Yun Li wouldn't teach them the clothing‑making technique nor have them devise ways to pass it on, because she knows she can't help them forever.

But with this, they'll have a skill in the Tribe, so they won't be left starving—unable to afford meat—if there's no Hunting Squad of beastmen led by Mu Qing, just as Ya's Beast Husband said.

Ya's complexion flushed instantly at He's words; she's never been the type of female who likes to stand out.

She only echoed a couple of lines with her Beast Husband because others were speaking, but He didn't address anyone else and singled her out to shout at.

She felt deeply wronged inside, "It's not just me who said something, why are you only targeting me?"

He glared fiercely at Ya and her Beast Husband, "Just because Yun Li Adult saved you, you still utter such words—have any shame?"

"I—"

Ya, under the strange gazes of the surrounding beastmen, clenched her dress with both hands, lowered her head, her lips trembling, and ultimately said nothing.

He, seeing this, glared fiercely at her Beast Husband; given Ya's temperament, she might have that thought but wouldn't dare show it—it's this rat beastman causing the commotion.

Clearly he has no skill at all, yet for some reason, there are always people who follow his words and do things that are disgusting yet impossible to take seriously.

Ya really must have been blind to set her eyes on such a male.

"Alright, He!"

Jiao said, patting He's shoulder lightly, and in a gentle voice, "Let's resolve the matter at hand first."

Then they'll deal with that rat beastman again; since he likes to chatter in front of others, they'll give him a few more beatings so he never dares to speak out of turn again.

Hearing that, He finally withdrew the gaze she had placed on the two of them and turned to address each beastman:

"For those already arranged with others, deliver them now and explain the situation clearly; after the matter of the Artisan Offering is resolved, you can resume making bamboo baskets."

As for the rest of you, we've formed two Hunting Squads ourselves; whenever you have time, join them on outings, so you'll never be unable to get meat.

Staying in the Tribe every day—do you intend to spend your whole lives exchanging those bamboo baskets for a meager amount of food? It's one thing if you have no offspring, but can you sustain your young this way?

Or do you want your offspring to be just like you, so weak that they won't even dare to step out of the Tribe's gate?

He began recalling Yun Li Adult's earlier words, a trace of anxiety appearing on his face, "Yun Li Adult originally said that after we master the clothing‑making technique, we should teach it to you, but this skill requires a beastman to leave the Tribe to gather giant cattail reeds.

Yet you won't even step out of the Tribe's gate; how can we teach you? We can't do everything for you while you just sit at home waiting for us to tell you what to do."

These words made the surrounding beastmen exchange puzzled looks, unsure whether to be angry that He made going out sound so easy, or to be shocked that Yun Li actually intends to teach the clothing‑making skill to everyone.

"This… Ahe, are you serious?"

A female beastman who realized asked excitedly.

He glanced at that female and nodded, "A Lian and the others know about this. However, we've been busy with Yun Li Adult's orders lately, so this has been put on hold for now.

But don't mistake it for us deliberately withholding instruction; after all, without producing that material, even if we taught you how to make cattail fibers, you couldn't turn them into clothing."

Yun Li Adult is also anxious, fearing that once she hands the clothing‑making technique over to the Tribe, our creations will become useless.

Yet this explanation prompted further questioning from the beastmen.

"What does Yun Li Adult want you to do? We can also help."

"Right, we can help too. Since Yun Li Adult intends to teach us the clothing‑making technique, you can't keep things hidden from us!"

Because they asked so many questions, He and A Lian could only pick and answer a portion.

In the end, when He and the others returned home, some beastmen still followed them, seemingly determined to set everything straight today.

…

"Who is he?"

Yun Li looked oddly at the male beside He; He had come today to discuss the Artisan Offering with Yun Li, but didn't expect the male who had previously clung to her to follow again.

She gave the male a slightly embarrassed glare and whispered to Yun Li:

"I don't know who he is; he just suddenly latched onto me."

A couple of days ago, a beastman insisted on staying at her house to learn the clothing‑making technique, and it was he who came and drove that beastman away.