Chapter 55

The next day, after Zhang Fan and Ba Ke Er woke up, finished breakfast, and fed the livestock at home, they went out to check the crops in the fields. After that, they went to Lei Ya's and Di Er's houses, asked them to help look after the livestock at home, and having given instructions, Zhang Fan and Ba Ke Er set off together with Fei Er and Mo De toward the tribe's gate.

Along the way they met many tribespeople heading to the canyon outside the tribe to harvest rice. After exchanging greetings, Ba Ke Er and Mo De shifted into beast form, and Zhang Fan and Fei Er each climbed onto their backs. Once the two were seated, Ba Ke Er and Mo De spread their wings and took off.

Having learned from the previous day that Zhang Fan and Fei Er had endless things to talk about, Ba Ke Er and Mo De flew close together to make conversation easier. Indeed, shortly after leaving the tribe, the two started chatting again.

"Fan Fan, where do you think we should go play today, or should we look for something nice to see? I heard the annual tribal gathering is about to start! But this year it's not in our tribe."

Zhang Fan's eyes lit up at the mention of the tribal gathering! This is a great opportunity to openly visit other tribes—just thinking about it made him excited, and he couldn't help asking:

"Fei Er, where is this year's tribal gathering held? Also, have you ever been to a tribal gathering? Is it fun? Are there lots of strange and wondrous things?"

Fei Er heard this, rolled his eyes, and said: "Fan Fan, you're asking me so many questions at once— which should I answer first?"

"No problem! No problem! Just answer them one by one!"

"My father said this year's tribal gathering is at the Tiger Tribe, but I've never been there in all my years, so I don't know if it's fun. How about it, Fan Fan— let's go together this year! It'll be lively with lots of people! Hehe!"

"The Tiger Tribe? Great! I've never been to a tribal gathering either, so this time I'll go with you to see what it's like!"

Ba Ke Er heard that Zhang Fan wanted to go to the Tiger Tribe's gathering with Fei Er, but didn't mention inviting him, and he became a little anxious:

"Fan Fan, the Tiger Tribe is quite far— if you and Fei Er go together, how could you possibly make it? Let me take you instead! I'd also love to see the Tiger Tribe."

Zhang Fan and Fei Er both couldn't help rolling their eyes.

"Ba Ke Er, how could I possibly go with Fei Er and the two of them by myself? Of course I need you to bring me along!"

After hearing Zhang Fan's explanation, Ba Ke Er felt a bit embarrassed. He wanted to blush, but since he was in beast form his face was covered with fur and he was facing away from Zhang Fan, so Zhang Fan didn't see it. Fei Er and Mo De, however, were right beside Ba Ke Er and Zhang Fan; as soon as they turned their faces, they saw Ba Ke Er's expression. Although his fur covered his face, the two, who had grown up together, could easily tell he was embarrassed, and they burst out laughing "hahaha".

This left Ba Ke Er feeling upset, while Zhang Fan looked bewildered, not knowing what Fei Er and the two were laughing at. He then asked Ba Ke Er:

"Ba Ke Er, what's wrong with Fei Er and the two of them? Why are they suddenly laughing so exaggeratedly?"

Ba Ke Er felt even more upset at Zhang Fan's question, but facing his beloved Fan Fan, he couldn't avoid answering. So he simply told the truth:

"Fan Fan, they're actually just laughing at the expression on my face."

Now that Zhang Fan knew the truth, his curiosity was piqued. "Ba Ke Er, turn your face toward me so I can see— look at how happily they're laughing. Turn around quickly so I can see and feel happy too." Having said that, he started laughing as well. And when Zhang Fan waited for Ba Ke Er to turn his face, seeing Ba Ke Er's furry, big face with a slightly exaggerated expression, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Seeing Zhang Fan laugh just as happily made Ba Ke Er feel even more upset. How to deal with a partner who is intensely curious yet has an extremely low laugh line? Urgent! Waiting online!

Fei Er saw Zhang Fan laughing happily too and couldn't help speaking up: "Haha, Fan Fan, you have no idea— Ba Ke Er was even more of a fool as a child than he is now! I remember once when he was sick, my Am and Di Er Uncle held him down and forced him to drink bitter medicine; after finishing it he fell asleep. Then I and Mo De, seeing he was ill, ran to the back mountain to pick sweet fruit for him. When we came back he had woken up, but Di Er Uncle had confined him to the house, not letting him out, and Di Er Uncle also feared he'd infect us, so he wouldn't let us visit him. Later, after we waited for him to recover and went to see him, he actually burst into tears upon seeing us, saying we didn't want him anymore! You have no idea what a sight he was back then— utterly stupid!" Having said that, Fei Er burst into loud laughter again.

After hearing Fei Er's description, Zhang Fan began to imagine it, and then couldn't help bursting into loud laughter.

Ba Ke Er thought, "It's over! Oh no! My image— the lofty image I'd barely managed to build in front of my beloved Fan Fan— collapsed instantly in Fei Er's few words. No way! I must rebuild my image in front of Fan Fan; otherwise, if Fan Fan thinks I'm not strong enough and believes I can't protect him, what would I do?" So Ba Ke Er said, feeling a bit wronged:

"Fan Fan, um, that all happened when I was over two years old; I've grown up now and won't be as foolish as I was as a child! Fan Fan…"

Listening to Ba Ke Er's explanation, Zhang Fan found it even funnier, feeling a sense of 'the more you try to cover it up, the more obvious it becomes.' Still, comfort was due— after all, he was his most beloved person, and seeing him so distressed made him feel quite uneasy.

"Haha, Ba Ke Er, I know— young cubs are all like that! I remember back where we used to live, the young cubs were even more dependent on people than you."

Hearing Zhang Fan's comfort, Ba Ke Er felt much better inside. Meanwhile, upon hearing Zhang Fan mention his former home, Fei Er couldn't help asking: "Fan Fan, what was the place you used to live like? How many people were there? Were there more than our tribe? Was it bigger than our tribe?"

"The place I used to live! There were lots of people— the whole planet had over six billion, and just the country I lived in had a population of about fourteen billion! Speaking of size, this is indeed larger than our tribe, and actually dozens of times bigger! We no longer call it a tribe; it's been dubbed a 'nation'!"

Upon hearing Zhang Fan's answer, the three were all astonished: "Good heavens! Being called a nation? That must be incredible! And with so many people! In your cold season, did you have enough food to eat?"

"How to put it? In my former country, resources were abundant and the land vast. Although many people had starved in the past, later development proceeded rapidly, and people subsequently researched various high-yield grain crops, so our nation's people never lacked food. However, on the original planet there are still many primitive, backward places where, due to climatic conditions, grain cannot be grown, making food prices astronomically high! Many poor people starve to death because they can't afford food."

……

Afterward, Zhang Fan went on to tell the three many things about Earth, continuing until they found a place to settle.