Xuebao and Meizhou, this couple who just cleared up the misunderstandings and problems in their relationship had spent the time together and took a nap for the whole afternoon in Meizhou's tent. Warrior Lang who was waiting for these two to appear is now helping Tuzi's task of identifying some plants or fruits that the tribe priest couldn't recognize. For this task the tribe priest had his apprentice Xiong help Tuzi. Warrior Lang just came over to Tuzi's side, after being asked by the young leader to go home for today.
The three of them are in the largest food cold storage that the Tribe has. Thanks to the knowledge of their tribe priest, they are able to store perishable ingredients like raw meat, vegetables and fruits in this cold cave. This shed is close to the place called frozen pond. A pond that has a huge Ice rock at the center eternally frozen for some unknown reason because of this the water surrounding the small hill is ice cold. The tribe priest had asked someone to build the biggest cave near that place which is now called an ice cave.
The one showing them the directions inside the cold cave is the Apprentice Priest, Xiong.
Xiong shyly says, "P-Please follow me. It's this way." as he gestures with his hands towards Tuzi and Lang standing behind him to enter the cave.
"Sure. Thanks, Xiong. But would you remember everything I could identify?" asked Tuzi.
As he remembers that in this era, there is still no paper existing yet. But they sometimes write something on an animal skin. The characters they use can only be understood by the Tribe Priest and his apprentices. This is also the case in other tribes as in this world there is still no universal alphabet or characters that can be used. Their education is limited. Just the fact that papers don't exist made it harder to spread education in this primitive world. They can't just write everything on a stone wall or something. The space will be limited and too much force is needed to do so.
Xiong proudly answered him, "Don't worry! I can remember everything!" he said with a huge grin on his adorable face.
Seeing this a bit chubby bear male beastman, Tuzi couldn't help but remember those loyal, side characters that are usually the sworn brothers of a protagonist in a typical male lead based novel. Most close brothers of the protagonist in those kinds of novels were fat and had this cuddly type personality. Innocent and naïve but loyal.
"Hehe~ then I will leave it to our smart Xiong~" said Tuzi teasingly.
After spending a few days with Xuebao, he had seen enough of his friend's playful antics. For sure teasing someone is an enjoyable deed. He then saw this bear beastman turn red in embarrassment and joy. He looks even more cuter this time. Tuzi couldn't help but reach out his hands and slightly pinched those bulging cheeks.
Pinches~
"P-Please let go of my face." said Xiong but didn't dare to forcefully pry off the thin hands on his face afraid of hurting a weak female like Tuzi.
Xiong knew that this female is unlike their tribe's strongest female like Xuebao. Tuzi had intelligence above most females but his body is not much different from any other normal females in the tribe. According to his master, this female called Tuzi can be considered the smartest female after their Tribe's Young Leader, Xuebao. He is an important person for their tribe. In the future he might serve this person as his master instead.
It seems that Tuzi was given a task by the tribe priest because he wanted Tuzi to become his successor. Xiong, who used to be the next successor didn't mind the sudden changes. He is a simple beastman. If he could become a tribe priest then its good if he couldn't he could just help the chosen future tribe priest on the side. He is willing to move as long as he can help the tribe.
Moreover Xiong isn't completely simple. He knew that the one backing Tuzi was their Tribe's Young Leader. In short, the future tribe leader, Xuebao, wanted to have Tuzi spread his ideas with his own. Like how Xuebao guided Tuzi in making that delicious fried meat last night while allowing Tuzi to cook it. The tribe knows that if they want to learn cooking they can go to Tuzi but if there is something even Tuzi doesn't know then Tuzi can just go to the young leader and ask for his knowledge.
It's not like ordinary beastmen could approach their young leader as his protector is the strongest of their tribe, Meizhou. Instead of facing that dangerous man, it's better to ask Tuzi first. This is a fact that everyone in the tribe knows. They considered Xuebao and Meizhou as their last resort and Tuzi as their Tribe Priest proxy.
After getting his cheeks pinched for an ample duration of time. Tuzi finally let go of Xiong's cheeks which is now a bit red from squeezing.
"Let's go~ hum~" said Tuzi as he entered the cave humming.
Xiong rubs his cheeks gently while looking at Tuzi unconsciously. When he suddenly feels someone is staring at him, Xiong moves his head to look around only to meet Warrior Lang's serious expression.
"W-What's wrong, Captain Lang?" asked Xiong nervously.
Lang pats his shoulder and says, "I didn't mind if you have taken a liking to Tutu but his first male should be me. You can be the second one." he said.
In this primitive world polygamy is allowed. The talented female beastmen can have as much as male beastmen as their partner. Otherwise, the strong male beastmen can have as much as female beastman. The only condition is that everyone is willing to compromise and infighting is not allowed among families. Else the punishment is banishment.
But there are some beastman who only have one mate in their whole life. These beastmen were the ones who exchanged vows with their souls. Those who entered polygamy is not allowed to have a mating ceremony unless they had chosen to only have one person in their whole life. But they could still have a wedding of their own.
Xiong was first left dumbfounded with what his captain had said, when he saw him smiling at him, Xiong knew that his captain might have misunderstood him. He watched Lang follow Tuzi inside the food cave.
"Captain, you got it wrong!?" exclaimed Xiong as he went inside as well.
Xiong has an idol in his heart. That is their tribe's young leader. Everyone in the tribe knew that Xiong was secretly in love with Xuebao. He had fallen in love at first sight that night but that was only an event of Xuebao accidentally seducing this dense kid. Obviously in the eyes of that strongest female only the strongest male in the tribe is worthy of him. There is no need for changes, this something Xuebao had decided himself. Thought there might be skirmishes here and there. The tribe leader and the elders believe that Meizhou would become their future tribe leader's mate.
This is also the reason why they gave Meizhou errands that will allow everyone in the tribe and those outsiders to know who he is. Not only as the strongest warrior in their tribe but as well as Xuebao's future mate.
---
Ice Cave
Xiong with the help of Lang had brought most items that the priest couldn't identify. Most of these materials had bright colors like red, violet, orange and more. There are familiar looking things within the pile of things before him. Tuzi couldn't believe that the things that he thought didn't exist in this world would really exist here. His pinkish eyes sparkles in delight and excitement.
"Wow~ there's a lot of delicious things in here. Xiong could prepare three to five baskets for me. I would like to separate it according to whether it can be eaten or not. Whether it is a fruit or vegetables and such." said Tuzi.
"O-Okay. I'll get the baskets ready." said Xiong as he took off to get the baskets ready.
Lang who chose to sit near Tuzi said, "Some things in this pile are really edible?" he asked.
"Yes! Let me see... Oh! This one is ripe!" said Tuzi as he carried a bowling ball sized green thing with a weird pattern on its skin. "Lang please cut it into parts. Cut it this way."
Tuzi gestures how to properly cut the green round thing in front of him. After cutting the ball into parts, Lang was surprised to see a reddish flesh with small black seed inside. Then the scent of sweetest reached his nose. It had the type of scent that apple had before. Lang was startled for a moment.
"What is this? It smells sweet." said Lang.
Tuzi happily grabbed a piece and ate. The green round thing is what we called watermelons. It is a fruit with thick skin but juicy fruity pulp inside.
"This is a fruit called watermelon. It has more fruity sap than apples. It's more delicious to eat it when the temperature is hot as it helps in satisfying thirst when it's summer. Spit the small black seeds. Those aren't edible." explained Tuzi as he gave Lang a piece of that watermelon.
Seeing Tuzi eat the fruit without problems, Lang follows after him and eats. He was surprised that the juice from the fruit could indeed be used as a substitute for water during summer. It left him a refreshing feeling at every bite.
When Xiong returns this is the scene he had witnessed. The scene of Tuzi and Lang eating that unknown thing from within the pile. He's face ashen in fright only to be stuffed with the same thing inside his mouth by Lang. A watermelon piece was pushed inside his mouth. When Xiong thought he would be dying from poison, a refreshing sweet taste filled his mouth. He was rendered speechless as he looked at Tuzi smiling at him.
"Don't worry~ It's an edible fruit called watermelon. It's sweet and delicious. Don't swallow the black seed and spit those out as it was not edible but there is no problem swallowing a few."
"This... is called watermelon? This is a fruit!" said Xiong as he looked at the thing in his hands.
"It's sweet and refreshing, right? Don't worry I wouldn't feed you inedible and dangerous things. Is that the reason why I am here? And if there is something I don't know, Xuebao is there. We can ask him if I couldn't identify things." said Tuzi with a smile.
Xiong who was rendered speechless for a moment once again blush. He doesn't know whether it was because of embarrassment like before or because of something else instead.
"Okay~ Let's begin. We must at least finish half of it before dinner!" said Tuzi.
The three worked together in identifying and separating the things within the mountain like piles before them. It's mostly Tuzi's voice resounding inside the cave. Xiong is standing beside him trying his best to remember the things Tuzi had recognized.
"Xiong. Do you see this small around thing? This is a vegetable called tomato. It would turn bright red when ripe and green when unripe. It can be eaten as long as it has the shade of orange to red."
"Okay. So it's a vegetable."
"Wow! Found a potato and sweet potato. Hehehe~"
"Tutu stop drooling!" said Lang.
"Oh~ right. Xiong see this thing? This brown oval thing is a potato. It's a vegetable but can also be eaten either deep fried or boiled. It is delicious with a bit of salt and butter."
Lang and Xiong, "Drools~ how about that violet colored weird thing?"
"This is called sweet potato. It can be cooked in the same way as normal potatoes but it's sweeter than potatoes. This can be eaten as snacks when steamed properly. Potatoes could as well but those things are more delicious when fried."
Xiong grabbed a long orange thing from the table. "Tutu what about this thing?"
"Oh~ carrots. That is a vegetable. It can be used in cooking." replied Tuzi.
Lang raised small pointy shaped red and green things. "Is this edible? It's a bit painful on my skin when I've accidentally squeezed it."
"Ah! Peppers! Those are used for cooking. It can add another flavor to food but there are some who can't eat it raw. It's spicy and makes your skin itchy or hot. You should wash your hands first Lang!" said Tuzi.
They continued this conversation until the sun had completely set. Someone had been sent to call them to make preparations for dinner. Tonight Tuzi is tasked to help with making dinner as the tribe leader's orders. While the three were still busy with compiling things inside the cave two new people arrived in the cave. It was Xuebao who was being carried by Meizhou on his back. There's even a small basket on Meizhou's other hand. Obviously this basket is owned by the one on his back.
"Hi~ you guys seem busy~ Father and the elders say to call Tuzi for dinner preparations~" said Xuebao with his usual cunning smile on his face.
Xiong instantly blushed when he saw his crush. He unconsciously hid behind Tuzi.
"What am I supposed to cook for dinner in our tribe's evening meal?" asked Tuzi.
Xuebao, who went down from his lover's back replied nonchalantly. "Just cook the hotpot we ate this morning. Just teach them how to make the soup base and they only need to throw ingredients inside." he said while picking a few things from the big baskets full of edible things. He took some potatoes, tomatoes, onions, peppers and garlic. Some honey, salt and black peppers. Fruits like lemon, orange and berries.
They watched Xuebao take things from the big baskets and put it inside his small basket which Meizhou is carrying. They watched as the strongest of their tribe acted like a tail following Xuebao no matter where he went. Only Tuzi looked at the pair intently thinking what they would have for dinner tonight. When he saw the featherless dead chickens hanging on Meizhou, Tuzi's eyes sparkled.
"Xuebao! Are we going to have chickens tonight?" asked Tuzi.
Xuebao replied while busy collecting the ingredients he needs, "Yes. Beggar's chicken and honey roast chicken. Don't forget to bring over cooked rice for us. After you taught the other females how to cook the hotpot, you can come over to Meizhou's place for dinner."
"Okay! I'll make some cream soup for the side dish as well~" said Tuzi.
"Then we'll go ahead and cook the chicken first." said Xuebao as he once again climbed on Meizhou's back.
This time this pair left with their basket full of things before heading home. Obviously these two had no intention of joining the tribe's evening meal. They wanted to eat alone and so they would be cooking in Meizhou's place. Tuzi would be coming over after teaching the females who are tasked to make the dinner tonight how to cook an easy hotpot for dinner.
"Oh~ I need to cook rice and soup first." said Tuzi who was gathering ingredients for dinner.
Xiong and Lang helped in carrying the ingredients but they were silent the whole time. Tuzi thought they might be a problem and asked the two.
"Is there a problem? Are you both alright?" asked Tuzi worriedly.
Lang who is straightforward as always replied honestly, "Tutu I want to eat that chicken as well! Can I please?" he asked.
"Well~ you've already eaten lunch with us this morning. Xuebao should not mind Lang joining us for dinner." said Tuzi.
Lang smiled happily when heard that. Tuzi was looking at his excited friend with a helpless smile. When suddenly he felt something pulling on his sleeves, when Tuzi looked who it was. He saw Xiong looking at him with pleading eyes.
"X-Xiong? What's wrong? Were you scared when you saw Xuebao just now? Don't worry he isn't really scary unless he's angry." said Tuzi.
"Hm~ I don't think that's it, Tutu." said Lang.
Xiong shyly asked, "C-Can... Can I join?"
Lang smiled playful at Xiong, "Join where?"
Xiong glared at his captain but looked pleading at Tuzi. "Dinner. Can I join for dinner as well? I will prepare extra ingredients and some fruits too. Can I join please?" he said to Tuzi.
The cuteness in front of him is too much that Tuzi almost squealed in excitement. He couldn't stop himself from hugging the cute one in front of him while jumping around.
"You can join! I will ask Xuebao for permission. For now lets check at your food warehouse and look for things that may convince Xuebao. Ah~ so cute~~" said Tuzi.
Xiong was turning bright red as he was suddenly hugged by a female out of nowhere. He could smell Tuzi's floral oriental scent. The scent of flowers and spices. Lang who was feeling jealousy had to pull Tuzi away and give Xiong a hidden glare. The whole exchange between the two male beastmen wasn't noticed by the dense female beastman, Tuzi.