Chapter 5

Ye Baizhi said, “Big Brother, you are good—don’t feel guilty or blame yourself.”

“Big Brother, when you went to the cat tribe, how did Kasai treat you at first?”

Ye Chuan hesitated for a moment but, seeing his sister’s curiosity, answered, “It wasn’t about how she treated me—I was her beast husband, so I had to take care of her. I hunted every day, helped the tribe, and at night, we slept together.”

Ye Baizhi’s expression showed doubt. But recalling the memories of her past self, she suddenly understood—this was simply how things worked in the Beast World. As long as a female beast could bear offspring, she was considered precious, even more so if she held status.

Female beasts weren’t expected to show consideration for male beasts or do anything for them. Male beasts accepted this as the natural order. They didn’t even see it as unfair.

Uh… Ye Baizhi didn’t quite know what to say.

“Then, when she gave you the beast’s blood, was there anything strange about it?”

Ye Chuan said, “She just kept urging me to drink it quickly.”

“After I drank it, I lost consciousness.”

“I never betrayed her.”

“Once I had a wife, I was loyal to her. How could I possibly do something like that? I would never disgrace the Rabbit Tribe.”

“And because of what happened to me, our family—and even our uncle’s family—were affected.”

Ye Baizhi dismissed the matter without hesitation. “Big Brother, everything will be fine.”

“You were most likely set up by Kasai.”

“She may have had a purpose for marrying you from the very start, though it’s hard to say exactly what.”

She needed to find a chance to investigate the cat tribe. Her brother’s situation could not simply be left unresolved. Anyone who schemed against her family had to pay the price. If they wanted to call her vicious, then she would show them what true viciousness looked like.

Back in the apocalypse, everyone knew she was fiercely protective—no one could touch her loved ones. Otherwise, she would wipe them out completely.

Ye Chuan’s expression changed upon hearing her words. He had vaguely suspected something before but never dared to dwell on it. Now, his once-numb mind suddenly felt sharper.

Ye Baizhi said, “Big Brother, take some time to think carefully—see if there’s anything suspicious.”

“We can’t just let the cat tribe scheme against us.”

Ye Chuan nodded. “Alright.”

Now, he truly believed his sister was incredible—he would follow her lead from now on.

As they spoke, Ye Baizhi had already finished weaving the basket and placed the eggs inside.

Ye Chuan marveled at the basket in his sister’s hands. “Sister, this thing is really useful! I never thought it could be used to carry things.”

“But what are you going to do with these eggs? They’re so small, and they don’t even taste good.”

Ye Baizhi knew that the tribe mostly ate wild beast meat—something that filled their stomachs quickly and was satisfying to devour in large chunks. To them, eggs seemed insignificant—too small to bother with, a waste of time, and most importantly, unappetizing.

She shook her head with a sigh. “Big Brother, these are actually very precious.”

“Once we get home, I’ll cook them for you. Then you’ll see how delicious they truly are.”

Ye Chuan nodded in agreement—he trusted his sister completely. If she said something was good, then it must be good.

Ye Baizhi glanced at her brother. She thought he was handsome and kind-hearted—the type who would surely take good care of his wife when he had one. So, she decided that once she helped him regain his strength, she would find him a gentle and virtuous wife. She couldn’t let him be deceived again.

“Big Brother, once you taste the food I prepare, your mood will improve.”

To Ye Baizhi, food had a magical ability—it could heal emotions and help people truly relax.

Ye Chuan nodded absentmindedly, but seeing his sister’s bright and cheerful smile, he found himself infected by her good mood. Unconsciously, a smile appeared on his face as well.

By the time they arrived home, the sun was nearly setting, but their mother, Ye Lu, had yet to return. Both siblings felt a sense of unease.

In the past, Ye Chuan could accompany their mother on hunts, but now, powerless, he could do nothing but worry.

Noticing his restless demeanor, Ye Baizhi spoke up. “Big Brother, come help me process these thorned beasts.”

By thorned beasts, she meant fish.

“Watch me first, then you can learn to prepare the rest.”

Ye Baizhi planned to turn the fish meat into meatballs for easier storage. She could also send some to their uncle’s family.

“Alright.” Having something to do helped settle Ye Chuan’s mind.

Meanwhile, Ye Baizhi started boiling water on a firewood stove. Fortunately, their home had a stone pot, which was excellent for boiling water. Although made of stone, it was well-crafted and efficient.

First, she let the collected chicken blood coagulate—it would be added to the stew later. Once the water boiled, she scalded the chicken to make plucking the feathers easier. After removing the feathers, she washed it several times and cut it into pieces. Later, she would season it using ingredients stored in her spatial ability and prepare a delicious chicken stew.

The family was physically weak—they needed proper nourishment.

Eggs were simply boiled, as the household had no oil. Producing oil suddenly would be too conspicuous.

…

By the time Ye Lu returned home, her complexion was poor. She had encountered a powerful wild beast while hunting that day and had nearly been injured. Thankfully, she had made it back unharmed.

But hunting was not always successful—she couldn’t guarantee bringing food home every day. In the past, her strength would have ensured her safety. But now…

Ye Lu sighed inwardly, feeling ashamed—returning home empty-handed meant leaving her children hungry. Yet, as she reached the house, a rich aroma drifted through the air. Her stomach rumbled loudly.

She hadn’t eaten all day, and dizziness blurred her vision—she almost thought she was hallucinating. Slowly, she pushed open the wooden door and saw her children bustling in the courtyard. The warm, homey atmosphere silenced her—she didn’t want to interrupt.

Ye Baizhi turned and smiled brightly, “Mother, you’re back!”

Ye Chuan, excited, added, “Mother, Sister prepared so much food! I never thought thorned beasts—fish—could be made into meatballs, without bones, and any bad smell.”

“And these eggs can be boiled! Sister also said beast blood can be solidified with salt to make blood cakes, which taste fine when cooked. We used to throw away beast blood because we couldn’t stand the smell—it was such a waste.”

They had always found drinking beast blood unbearable. Rumor had it that nobles never drank blood like that.

When Ye Chuan lived in the cat tribe, his wife Kasai had forced him to drink it—he had no choice.

Ye Lu was dazed. As she stepped into the courtyard, Ye Baizhi peeled a boiled egg and handed it to her. Her eyes turned red with emotion—she was overwhelmed.

“My child, you eat. Mother isn’t hungry.”

“Mother, there’s plenty of food. Eat a little to settle your stomach first. Once the chicken stew is ready, we’ll send some to Uncle, along with eggs and fish meatballs.”

“Uncle should know these bird eggs, chicken eggs, and fish can all be eaten.”

Their Rabbit Tribe lived near the river, and the waters teemed with fish. If they learned to catch them, they’d have another source of food.

Ye Baizhi always repaid kindness—since their uncle had supported them, she would ensure he was repaid in kind.