Su Qinglan shoved the troubling thoughts to the back of her mind and set to work. She cleaned the pork intestine carefully, rinsing it until the smell was gone.
She chopped the few vegetables she had—a small bunch of wild greens and some onion and she smashed a bit of ginger to chase away the strong scent. A dash of salt, a little water, and the pot began to sing over the fire.
Steam rose, warm and plain, carrying the smell of ginger and onion. Su Qinglan stirred the pot with steady hands, tasting and humming to herself.
The meat softened, the vegetables wilted, and the soup turned rich and fragrant. When she finally ladled a spoonful into a bowl, the flavor was just wow; it was simple and good enough for a feast.
Just then, a shadow fell over her. Rong Ye had come. He sat down in front of her with a large stone basin...his own eating bowl and pretended he was being casual but couldn’t hide the greedy look in his eyes. His violet eyes shone with hunger.
Su Qinglan’s nerves twitched. She lifted the spatula like a small weapon and pointed it at him. "This is not for you," she said with a stern expression. "You are not allowed to touch it."
Rong Ye’s grin died down. He opened his mouth to argue, to make some snarky remark, and to claim a piece of delicious meat, but the sight of Su Qinglan brandishing the spatula stopped him. His mouth shut. The grin disappeared, and, for a moment, he looked almost pitiful.
Su Qinglan didn’t lower the spatula. She turned to Hu Yan. "Watch him," she ordered simply. "Don’t let him touch the food."
Hu Yan nodded once, grave and steady. His golden eyes fixed on Rong Ye like two blades. Rong Ye huffed but sat back down, folding his tail around him with exaggerated calm. Making strange drawings in the ground.
He doesn’t want to talk to these people. How dare he guard the food from him? Does he look like a thief to them? Hmph! He doesn’t want their stinky food.
Su Qinglan didn’t waste time. She darted into the cave and pulled out a bundle of hide clothes. the rough but clean garments she had made and tucked the freshly sewn underwear inside. She held them up, a little proud.
"I’m going to the river," she called over her shoulder, trying to sound casual, though her cheeks were warm with embarrassment.
Before Hu Yan could ask what she planned to do at the river, she was already a few steps away. Only then did Hu Yan realize: she was going to bathe.
A shadow crossed his face. The river would be crowded this time. All the beastmen who had returned from the salt trade would be there, washing and laughing and making a mess of the water.
If Su Qinglan bathed in the open, she would be seen in a place full of males with sharp eyes and sharper tongues. It would be simply bad.
Was she going to bathe? Or was she going to peek at others? Hu Yan felt conflicted. Either reason made his chest tight. He didn’t like the idea of strangers staring at her. He also didn’t like the thought of her peeking at the other males.
His gaze slid to Rong Ye. The fox was watching them both with a lazy, amused look. He seemed to understand the worry in Hu Yan’s eyes. With a dramatic sigh, Rong Ye stood and stretched like he had been offended by the very idea of being suspected.
"Don’t worry about me," Rong Ye said, voice light but carrying a hint of challenge. "I will guard the food with my life. No one will touch a single piece while I am here."
Hu Yan’s mouth twitched. "Bastard," he thought, but his tone was calm when he answered. "We are guarding the food from you, not for you." His golden eyes flashed once with warning.
Rong Ye’s ears flicked. He smirked. "Is that so? Then I shall guard it from you too." He wagged a tail in mock salute.
Hu Yan’s expression hardened a little. He leaned forward, lowering his voice into something low and dangerous. "If even one piece of meat is missing when I return, I will pluck your tails out one by one. Do not test me."
Rong Ye blinked. For a second his swagger wavered, then he laughed softly, but it was tinged with anger. "Pluck my tails? Oh please. You would need a whole season for that." He tossed his head and settled down again, but his eyes kept darting toward the cave as if he expected trouble.
Hu Yan gave one last nod, then turned on his heel and ran. His long strides took him toward the river, urgency in every step. He would go first and make sure the place was safe. He would not let anything happen to Su Qinglan.
Su Qinglan trotted ahead, a bundle of hides in her arms and her heart a little lighter. She had work to do...cook for her father, bathe, and maybe think of small ways to increase her reputation in the tribe.
Su Qinglan walked quickly, clutching the bundle of hides close to her chest. But as soon as she reached the riverbank, her steps froze.
The wide river glittered under the late sun. But the quiet scene she imagined was nowhere to be found.
The entire river was crowded.
Beastmen filled the water, their tall bodies splashing and laughing as they washed away the dust of days on the road.
Some were in their beast forms, shaking off water with heavy tails and manes. Others stood in their strong human forms, their broad shoulders bare under the light.
Su Qinglan’s face turned red at once. She stood stiff on the path, clutching her clothes tighter. So many... all bathing together... Did I come at the wrong time?
She wanted to turn around, but her skin prickled at the thought. She needed a bath. The last few hours of cooking and running had left her sticky and uncomfortable. She couldn’t keep putting it off.
Her gaze flicked once more at the crowded waters. Her heart thumped like a drum. No way she was going in there.
So, she drew a slow breath, bit her lip, and turned away.
"I’ll just... walk further," she whispered to herself.
The river stretched far, winding like a silver snake through the trees. If she went farther upstream, maybe she could find a quieter place. A hidden bend. Somewhere the crowd wouldn’t reach.
Clutching her clothes, Su Qinglan quickened her steps. The laughter and splashes behind her slowly faded as she walked along the bank.