Si Yan’s stewed meat was selling like hotcakes.
The females of the Silver Wolf Tribe, along with the fortunate males who managed to get a share, ate with great relish, their mouths curved in wide smiles.
"So delicious! My goodness, meat can taste this good!"
"Oh heavens, Si Yan, how did you make this meat?"
Si Yan fished out some meat from the pot and said, "It’s a secret recipe, not for sharing."
There aren’t enough seasonings yet. If I had cinnamon, star anise, mugwort, and so on, it would taste even better.
Si Yan had traded for a great number of ice blocks, which she then put into an insulated bucket in her space.
The temperature in her space was very low, around 4 degrees Celsius. Combined with the insulation layer Si Yan had prepared, the ice blocks melted very slowly after being placed inside.
When Wang saw Si Yan’s stewed meat selling so well, he once again doubted life itself.
Cooked meat... actually tastes better than raw meat?
Seeing that Si Yan’s meat was about to sell out, Wang once again set out for the forest.
By evening, Lang Dan’s males had used their day’s labor points to trade for ice blocks and came to Si Yan to exchange them for meat.
Si Yan smiled as she accepted the ice blocks, then scooped out the last large piece of meat for Lang Dan.
"Dan Dan, this is the last piece of meat."
Lang Dan was overjoyed. "Great, I made it just in time!"
Lang Dan took the meat. Looking at the delicious dish, vibrant with color, aroma, and flavor, she said to her males, "You’ve all worked hard. Let’s divide the meat and eat together."
The males’ expressions turned excited.
Lang Dan had her Zheng Xiong take charge of dividing the meat while she herself ran up to Si Yan. "Si Yan, are you going to make more meat tomorrow?"
Si Yan shook her head. "No, I’m not."
Lang Dan was very disappointed. "Ah?"
Si Yan had collected enough ice blocks in her space, so there was no need to keep collecting them. If she obtained more food, she would stockpile it.
Si Yan said with a smile, "You ate more pieces than any of them, didn’t you?"
Hearing that Si Yan wouldn’t make any more, the females in the Silver Wolf Tribe who were waiting to eat meat all became anxious.
"Please don’t, Si Yan! Don’t stop making it!"
Yin Hong and Yin Qiu, who had tasted the stewed meat, were especially worried. "Si Yan, this stew is so delicious. You can’t stop making it. If you stop, we’ll never taste this again."
Si Yan said helplessly, "I can’t empty out all your ice cellars. Besides, my family also needs to stockpile food."
Since Si Yan had put it that way, no one could press her further.
Still, that taste of meat was truly delicious.
What a pity they wouldn’t be able to eat it anymore.
Si Yan wouldn’t let her cubs go without food.
The cubs ate the tastiest parts from the pot.
After a satisfying meal, Si Yan took her two cubs for a walk around the Silver Wolf Tribe to aid their digestion.
Si Yan felt that her second cub Nan Mo’s defensiveness towards her seemed to be slowly lessening.
Nan Mo hung his head low. Ever since he was little, he’d always felt overlooked. Mother could see Big Brother, Xi Qing, and Bei Ji, yet she always found it hard to notice him. He, too, would feel heartache and jealousy. He would also feel awkward and throw tantrums. But he never showed any of it. Even now, he didn’t know how to express himself. He was too introverted; he just kept his head down.
Si Yan looked at this cub who showed little emotion.
He looks a little aggrieved. I really want to hug him.
She hesitated for a short while, then reached out and quickly took Nan Mo’s small hand.
Nan Mo looked up in surprise, his eyes meeting Si Yan’s face.
Si Yan was smiling at him.
Nan Mo’s cheeks flushed red, and he quickly looked down again.
Just as an awkward silence was about to descend, Dongchi said, "Let’s go check out that way."
As Si Yan led Nan Mo past a cave, an indistinct feeling made her stop.
Inside the cave, Tai Seng abruptly looked up.
The totem on his chest seemed to stir.
Si Yan? Has Si Yan come looking for me?
Tai Seng stood up to go out but was stopped by the Beastman males guarding him in the cave.
"Young Master, you cannot go out right now."
Feeling Si Yan’s presence just outside, Tai Seng grew anxious. "I’ve told you everything! I can’t join the Silver Wolf Tribe; I already have a Mistress! Let me go!"
"Young Master... you are our tribe’s Young Master. We cannot let you out until you agree to return to the tribe," they replied.
Tai Seng was furious.
The Guardian Totem’s senses are so strong! Si Yan is outside; she must be! I have to find a way. I have to find a way to get out!
Si Yan stared at the cave and asked a nearby working male, "Excuse me, what’s in that cave?"
The male wiped sweat from his brow and laughed heartily. "Si Yan, our Young Master lives in that cave. The Young Master is very important, so the Shaman and the Priest have placed a ward outside the cave to protect him. You’re an outsider, so don’t get curious and try to enter."
Si Yan nodded and thanked him, "Thank you."
The Silver Wolf male returned to his work. Si Yan remained fixated on the cave, lost in thought for a long time.
Dongchi tugged Si Yan’s hand.
Si Yan smiled and took Dongchi’s small hand. "Let’s go. We’re going home."