Hou Xiang hesitantly took a bite of the broccoli.

“Hmm… the taste is a bit odd, not as good as meat.”

After tasting everything in the salad, Hou Xiang gave an honest assessment.

These foods were simply boiled with a little salt, so they naturally didn’t taste as good as dishes with added seasoning.

Hu Jiao Jiao had already anticipated this reaction and patiently explained, “The reason you’re gaining weight is because you eat too much fatty meat. Fatty meat is rich in fat. If you eat more vegetables and fruits, reduce your intake of fatty meat, and walk more, you’ll lose weight easily.”

“How did you know I like fatty meat?”

Hou Xiang was stunned, turning to reveal a large skewer of fatty meat roasting over the fire. The oil was sizzling, dripping bit by bit, making the scene feel greasy just by looking at it.

Hu Jiao Jiao couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth. She was right.

Most female in this world started gaining weight after having children, largely because they consumed too much fatty meat and rarely moved around. Even after giving birth, they only stayed around the house watching over the cubs, while all the household chores were left to the males. Gaining weight was inevitable under such circumstances.

Reluctantly glancing at the tempting sizzling meat, Hou Xiang gritted her teeth. “Alright, I’ll listen to you. No more fatty meat from now on!”

Her expression of anguish made it look like she was giving up something incredibly important, making Hu Jiao Jiao amused.

After delivering the diet meal, Hu Jiao Jiao described the design of tables and chairs to Hou Xiang, who quickly assured her by patting her chest, “Come by in a couple of days, and I’ll have them ready for you.”

Carrying the empty wooden basin and bowls back home, Hu Jiao Jiao was about to reach the house when Long Ling’er suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “Mom, there’s someone in the yard!”

After so many beastmen had come to cause trouble in recent days, Long Ling’er had developed a sense of fear. The moment she saw an unfamiliar figure in the yard, she immediately became alert.

Upon hearing this, Hu Jiao Jiao looked up. Sure enough, there was a stranger standing in the yard.

“Don’t worry, I’m here,” she reassured, gently patting Long Ling’er’s head as she quickened her pace toward the house. Long Ling’er followed closely behind.

The cubs were all standing in the yard. Seeing Hu Jiao Jiao and Long Ling’er return, Long Yu led the younger ones to greet them.

Long Yu’s expression was serious as he addressed Hu Jiao Jiao, “A beastman is looking for you.”

It didn’t seem like he was here to cause trouble, so Hu Jiao Jiao nodded and approached quickly.

The beastman in the yard, with a sour look on his face, came forward as soon as Hu Jiao Jiao arrived. “Hu Jiao Jiao, the Tribe leader sent me to get you to the picking team. Hurry up, everyone’s waiting.”

So that’s what it was.

Hu Jiao Jiao recalled her conversation with the Tribe leader about joining the Picking team and nodded. “Alright, I’ll be ready in a moment.”

She handed the wooden basin to Long Ling’er and instructed the cubs not to wander off until she returned.

The beastman, seeing her take her time, grew impatient. “Are you ready? If you don’t want to go, don’t waste everyone’s time.”

Hu Jiao Jiao furrowed her brow slightly, thinking that her delay had caused some inconvenience. “I’m ready, let’s go.”

The beastman, mistaking her politeness for weakness, snorted and strode off without waiting for her. Hu Jiao Jiao had to jog to keep up with the tall and fast beastman.

After about twenty minutes, they arrived at the entrance of the tribe.

Three male beastmen stood at the entrance, including the Tribe leader along with five or six females. The beastman who brought Hu Jiao Jiao immediately distanced himself from her, as if being seen together was disgraceful.

Hu Jiao Jiao walked up to greet the Tribe leader, “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”

The Tribe leader waved it off, “No worries, some of the females are still not here.”

Internally, he was surprised that Hu Jiao Jiao had actually shown up. He thought she was only saying it on a whim and wouldn’t really come.

Hu Jiao Jiao, realizing the previous beastman was deliberately rushing her out of spite, didn’t take it to heart and stood quietly with the other females.

Seeing her approach, the other females shifted aside, as if avoiding something dirty, not wanting to be associated with her.

Hu Jiao Jiao had grown accustomed to this and stood unfazed, waiting for the others to arrive.

After about ten more minutes, another group of females arrived, including Lu Mian’er, Hu Jing, and Lu Cui Cui.

Ying Yuan, who had escorted Lu Mian’er, noticed Hu Jiao Jiao and immediately glared at her, “Why are you here?!”

Hu Jiao Jiao glanced at him and chose not to respond.

Feeling ignored, Ying Yuan’s expression darkened as he stepped closer and lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear, “Hu Jiao Jiao, don’t even think about pulling any tricks. I’ve already told you, I’ll never fall for you. If you dare harm Mian’er, I’ll kill you.”

Hu Jiao Jiao glanced at him like he was a fool.

Was this guy suffering from delusions of persecution?

All she did was stand here, yet he always seemed to conjure up some elaborate drama where she was plotting to ruin his and Lu Mian’er’s relationship.

With a roll of her eyes, she turned away from him, sparing herself the trouble of dealing with him any longer.

Honestly, she couldn’t understand why the original Hu Jiao Jiao had treated this narcissistic guy like a prized possession. What was the appeal? His arrogance? His sour face? His awful personality?

Ying Yuan was fuming, his face darkening.

“Ah Yuan, what’s wrong?” Lu Mian’er approached, worriedly clinging to his arm.

The moment Ying Yuan saw Lu Mian’er, his expression softened instantly, his voice becoming gentle. “It’s nothing. I’m going hunting today, so I can’t stay with you. Stay close to Hu Jing and be careful. If anyone bothers you, let me know.”

As he spoke, he shot a cold glance at Hu Jiao Jiao.

Lu Mian’er, ever understanding, nodded. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

Lu Cui Cui, not wanting to be left out, chimed in, “Brother Ying Yuan, don’t worry. Sister Hu Jing and I will take good care of Mian’er.”

But Ying Yuan didn’t spare her a glance, his eyes reluctantly lingering on Lu Mian’er before he left to join the hunting team.

Lu Cui Cui, being ignored, felt embarrassed. She pressed her lips together, suppressing the jealousy in her eyes, before linking arms with Lu Mian’er again with a forced smile.

“Mian’er, you’re so lucky. Brother Ying Yuan even delayed his hunt just to see you off. Unlike certain females, who don’t have a single male at home, and the only partner she had is useless…”

Her words instantly drew envious and jealous glances from the surrounding females.

Everyone in the tribe knew that Lu Mian’er was the least favored in the Lu family, her status in the family was not as high as her younger brother Lu Ligao. However, she was favored by Ying Yuan, the strongest male in the tribe. From then on, her status rose rapidly and she became the most enviable female in the tribe.

The males who wanted to mate with her lined up from the south to the north of the tribe.

Upon hearing Lu Cui Cui’s remarks, the other females cast disdainful glances at Hu Jiao Jiao.

Hu Jiao Jiao joining the picking team?

She probably knew that Ying Yuan would pick up Lu Mian’er, so she deliberately came to see him.”