Chapter 60

Xiao Xian jumped down from his second brother’s back, stepping into the snow without a care for the cold. He grumbled, “Second brother, Ah Da didn’t let Qiao down.”

“You’re just my little brother; I’m not your partner,” Ah Tou retorted as he transformed into his human form, taking the leather skirt from Xiao Xian’s hands to wrap it around himself. A-Yin was a peculiar fellow who disliked them not wearing skirts in front of Zhuo Yan. He muttered, “If it weren’t so boring, I’d go play with A-Yin instead of coming here.”

“Ugh, annoying,” Xiao Xian replied.

Qiao was sitting on Ah Da’s back, enjoying the brothers’ banter. She tapped Ah Da’s neck, indicating that she was ready to get down. “It’s fine, just a little snow, it’s not that cold anymore.”

Ah Da crouched down on his front limbs.

Just then, the door swung open.

The squabbling brothers and affectionate partners all turned to face the door, and after a winter of absence, Xiao Xian beamed with joy, about to shout, “Zhuo Yan, ge—” when he suddenly froze.

Everyone stood there in stunned silence.

Before them was a young man in a leather skirt, with striking silver hair, a tall frame, and pale skin. Qiao thought he resembled a male from the Peacock Clan—exceedingly beautiful.

“Qiao, Qiao, second brother, did we walk into the wrong cave?” Xiao Xian stammered, stepping back slightly, feeling overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sight.

Ah Tou was equally dumbfounded, staring at the man in front of him.

Qiao quickly reassured, “No way, we visit Zhuo Yan’s place all the time. How could we be in the wrong cave?”

A-Da shifted into human form, protecting Qiao behind him.

Then, familiar voices floated from within, “Qiao, Xiao Xian, wait a moment! I’m coming down—A-Yin, take everyone in to sit for a bit!”

“Zhuo Yan?!”

“Zhuo Yan, ge!”

Relief washed over Qiao and Xiao Xian as they realized Zhuo Yan was okay. But as they processed Zhuo Yan’s words, they turned their gaze back to the stunning man in front of them, eyes widening in unison as they exclaimed, “A-Yin?!”

A-Yin broke into a grin.

“A-A-Yin? You’ve turned into a human?!” Ah Tou exclaimed, astonished.

“Yep,” A-Yin confirmed cheerfully.

At that moment, Zhuo Yan stepped out of the cave dressed in a leather vest, looking a bit sheepish. He had been adjusting his hair and checking for any marks on his exposed skin from sleeping, worried that Qiao and Xiao Xian might misinterpret the situation.

“Hahaha!” With a nervous laugh, Zhuo Yan rushed to the entrance. “Welcome! Come in and sit! A-Yin has turned into a beastman!”

The group stood there in shock, momentarily at a loss for what to do.

A-Yin stood close to his brother, clearly enjoying the astonished expressions of his friends. He leaned in and whispered, “Ah Tou is going to scream.”

And just like that, Ah Tou let out a loud shout.

“Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!” Ah Tou exclaimed excitedly, looking at A-Yin and smacking his arm. “You really turned into a beastman!”

A-Yin smiled back. “Yep.”

“Congratulations, brother!” Ah Tou cheered.

“Thank you!” A-Yin replied.

A-Da was more reserved. “This is wonderful news. Congratulations, A-Yin.”

Xiao Xian and Qiao turned to Zhuo Yan, eager for more details. Zhuo Yan grabbed a water bucket, and before he could explain, A-Yin rushed outside to pack snow while Zhuo Yan started a fire. They had just woken up and hadn’t washed yet.

“Let me brush my teeth and freshen up first before I tell you everything,” Zhuo Yan said.

“Why do you need to wash up before you can talk?” Xiao Xian asked, puzzled.

Qiao suddenly had a realization and lightly grabbed Xiao Xian’s arm, grinning. “We came too early and interrupted Zhuo Yan and A-Yin.”

“Interrupted what? Sleeping or cleaning? Zhuo Yan can do that now!” Xiao Xian shot back.

Zhuo Yan looked at Qiao’s cheerful expression, and he knew! He just knew there would be misunderstandings. He immediately straightened up and said seriously, “I didn’t—I haven’t done anything with A-Yin! We only slept!”

“What did you do, Zhuo Yan?” Xiao Xian asked, completely bewildered.

Qiao chuckled. “Okay, okay, I get it.” Then she turned to Xiao Xian and said, “Zhuo Yan gets shy. He always changes the subject whenever Aman brings up something.”

Xiao Xian was still pondering, “What was it like before?” Even though Zhuo Yan faced Qiao’s teasing smile and felt a bit embarrassed, he decided it was best to change the subject—otherwise, the explanations could get muddled. So he shifted gears and said something more serious.

“How about lunch at my place? My hen just laid eggs, and since it’s so cold, they probably won’t hatch. I’ll treat you to scrambled eggs—”

“Ah! I just remembered what Qiao meant!” Xiao Xian’s eyes lit up as he turned to Zhuo Yan, “Zhuo Yan ge, did we interrupt you and A-Yin’s mating?!”

Zhuo Yan: …!

To make matters worse, A-Yin returned from playing in the snow, hauling a wooden bucket, accompanied by Ah Tou, who had been following along for fun. Ah Tou looked at A-Yin with a grin and exclaimed, “You little rascal! You transformed into a beastman and mated with your brother!”

Zhuo Yan: Ahhhh!!!!!

Someone, please kill him! Right now!

“I didn’t! We really didn’t!” Zhuo Yan cried, heartbroken.

A-Yin punched Ah Tou lightly, who stumbled back, still confused. He looked at Zhuo Yan, then at A-Yin, and seemed to piece something together. He turned to his brother and whispered, “Is your Zhuo Yan ge shy?”

Everyone in the cave could hear him.

Xiao Xian nodded vigorously, whispering, “Zhuo Yan ge used to get shy talking about this; let’s not bring it up anymore.”

“……” Zhuo Yan thought, Well, this is a topic that can’t be clarified.

“A-Yin and I are just washing up—” Uh-oh, that sounds like last night’s ‘evidence’. Is there a judge to clear this up?!

A-Yin seriously interjected, “Zhuo Yan and I didn’t mate; he’s not even my partner. We just slept to keep warm.”

“Please stop talking about this; my brother is getting upset.”

Zhuo Yan looked like he was about to shatter into pieces.

Zhuo Yan: Wuwuwuwu, A-Yin, you understand me.

“Okay, we won’t talk about it,” Qiao said. Xiao Xian looked at Zhuo Yan’s expression and nodded earnestly, waving his hands as if to say “let’s drop it; it’s all his second brother’s fault.” Ah Tou: ???

Finally, Zhuo Yan finished cleaning up and re-entered the cave, feeling much better upon seeing Qiao and Xiao Xian’s cheerful faces. They all chattered excitedly about past events, sharing amusing stories from their caves, the beast tide that had come, and Zhuo Yan gifting Qiao and Xiao Xian a handful of bone needles, each receiving about five.

“……You can thread the leather strips through the cave and use them to sew clothes,” Zhuo Yan explained. “This Earth Dragon’s teeth are very sharp, so sewing leather is easy.”

Qiao and Xiao Xian perked up, pA-Ying close attention as Zhuo Yan described how to make clothes, especially when he mentioned that smaller pieces of leather could be stitched together. Their eyes sparkled with interest.

Lunch was a hearty stew: taro mixed with smoked meat and bits of fish roasted on the fire.

Knowing that Zhuo Yan had gone ice skating by the river yesterday, Xiao Xian and Qiao were eager to join in on the fun. After breakfast around nine or ten, they tidied up and rushed to the river to skate.

The ice was thick, and since Zhuo Yan hadn’t made small benches today, he had just an old piece of leather tied with vines. A-Yin placed it around his neck, and Zhuo Yan hopped onto it, effortlessly gliding across the ice.

“Second brother, look at A-Yin pulling me!” Xiao Xian exclaimed.

Ah Tou wasn’t thrilled and replied, “He’s pulling his partner.”

“Well, I’m your little brother too, please!”

“Alright, alright.”

Xiao Xian’s fluffy ears perked up with excitement as Zhuo Yan lent him the leather. He turned to A-Yin, saying, “You transform into a human, and I’ll pull you!”

A-Yin’s eyes sparkled, and he instantly changed into his human form. Zhuo Yan handed A-Yin his leather skirt, and once A-Yin was dressed, they held hands and skated together. Eventually, Xiao Xian and Qiao watched, and especially Xiao Xian said with a huff, “No more pulling me, second brother; I can skate on my own now!”

Let him beg!

Ah Tou quipped, “You really change your tune quickly; I won’t carry you back home.”

“Oh come on, second brother, I was just teasing! Don’t be mad,” Xiao Xian replied.

Qiao and Zhuo Yan laughed heartily.

Everyone had been cooped up in the cave for so long. Even though Ah Tou claimed he wouldn’t play with his brother, it was clear he enjoyed himself as he slid across the ice, almost soaring with his leopard beast form, while Xiao Xian laughed joyfully behind him.

As evening approached, they all went their separate ways. Xiao Xian, reluctant to leave, said, “I want to come back tomorrow!”

“After the beast tide, it should be safer,” Ah Da mentioned, glancing at Qiao, hinting that if she wanted to come back, they could return tomorrow.

Ah Tou completely forgot his previous “threats” to his brother. “Let’s come back and play again tomorrow!”

“Sure!” Zhuo Yan eagerly agreed.

The river was wide and long, with a thick layer of ice—perfect for skating. Plus, with the resilience of beastmen and sub-beastmen, even if they fell while skating too fast, it wouldn’t hurt much—Zhuo Yan felt fine, especially since A-Yin always protected him.

So they all cheerfully agreed. Qiao said, “I’ll ask Shitou about it.”

“I’ll ask Aman,” Xiao Xian added.

Since Shitou couldn’t be carried by a beastman, he’d probably need to come out himself, but the snow was still a bit deep, making it hard to travel. Qiao said she would check, maybe Shitou’s mom could carry him out to play.

Shitou’s mom was a beastman.

After their discussions, they returned home early. Zhuo Yan sat on A-Yin’s back, braving the cold wind, feeling free and joyful after a fun afternoon, completely forgetting the winter gloom.

The next day, Aman and Shitou didn’t show up, but Qiao and Xiao Xian brought news.

Shitou’s mom was pregnant, and Aman’s mom was also expecting.

Zhuo Yan: …

Being a parent truly meant an endless supply of little ones. Zhuo Yan thought about how Shitou had to care for his little sister, even though he wasn’t particularly fond of looking after children—despite having previously said he would help with the kids; he certainly didn’t want to have any of his own!

Xiao Xian cupped his face and said, “That’s wonderful! I wonder when my older brother’s partner will have a baby.”

Ah Ri had formed a cave with a sub-beastman last autumn, but they hadn’t held any formal ceremonies.

“They were really excited to hear that A-Yin turned into a beastman and wanted me to congratulate you,” Qiao continued. “They also said they’d come by to say it in person once the snow stops.”

Zhuo Yan could only think about discussing it when they met again, marveling at the affection between Shi Tou’s parents. He was taken aback to learn that Aman’s parents were just as loving—what a surprise!

That night, as he lay under the covers with A-Yin, Zhuo Yan was on the brink of sleep when A-Yin shyly asked, “Brother, do you like cubs?”

“Cubs? Uh, yeah, I like them. They’re pretty cute…”

Zhuo Yan thought of his uncle’s little ones, Xiao Xian and Xiao Pan. They were indeed adorable. A-Yin lowered his head and gently kissed his brother, feeling that he wasn’t really ready for cubs just yet. He wanted his brother to play with him more, but if his brother liked them, that would be okay too.

The next morning, Zhuo Yan woke up with the memory of last night lingering in his mind. He wondered if it was a dream or real. That day, he and A-Yin enjoyed some fried eggs—something that had been missed when Qiao and the others visited yesterday.

“Ah, it’s too cold for the eggs to hatch,” Zhuo Yan explained, noticing that A-Yin didn’t seem too disappointed.

A-Yin happily dug into his meal. To him, it didn’t matter much; as long as his brother was happy, he was too.

Zhuo Yan watched A-Yin eat with such joy and couldn’t shake the feeling that perhaps last night had really been a dream. Most likely, it was the teasing from Qiao and Xiao Xian, along with the news of Aman and Shi Tou’s parents expecting again, that had inspired it.

Zhuo Yan was suddenly hit with a startling thought: as a sub-beastman, did he secretly wish to be with A-Yin in a way that could lead to cubs?

Was he really so in love with A-Yin?

Zhuo Yan found himself in a daze for the rest of the day.

Could it be that he loved him so deeply without even realizing it? That seemed unlikely…

Zhuo Yan didn’t consider himself to be the type to be caught up in love. Back in modern times, he was a late bloomer. In middle school, while classmates were secretly dating, he was busy enjoying sports—kicking a soccer ball, playing basketball in high school, and later cycling and playing tennis in college.

Then one day, a guy from the cycling club confessed to him, “You feel the same way, right?”

“What?” Zhuo Yan was taken aback.

“I thought you were one of us…I know people pretty well,” the boy said.

That day, Zhuo Yan felt as if he had unearthed a massive secret he had been hiding. It wasn’t that he loved soccer, basketball, or cycling; it was that he enjoyed spending time with the boys, particularly… with men.

But his family was traditional, and his personality was a bit shy. He had avoided acknowledging his orientation for a long time. The bravest moment came when he finally confessed it to his family after falling ill.

Reflecting on the past, Zhuo Yan didn’t find any signs of being love-struck—because he had never been in love. Doubtful now, he stole a glance at A-Yin. A-Yin was fit and tall, his body slim yet strong, his low body fat making him look healthy—like a model strutting down a runway, with long legs, broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a handsome face with striking features.

“Am I really that perverse?” Zhuo Yan scolded himself as his heart raced.

He had promised himself to treat A-Yin like the little cat he raised.

How could he have such thoughts about a kitten?

Zhuo Yan, you’re not human!!!

“Brother?” A-Yin leaned closer, mimicking the way Zhuo Yan would cup his face, peering into his eyes. “You look upset. Please don’t be unhappy.”

Zhuo Yan, feeling anything but human, found himself holding his breath.

“I’m not unhappy.”

“You are.”

Zhuo Yan sighed, “Alright, let go for now.” Things were getting too ambiguous between them.

A-Yin reluctantly released his hold but continued to watch Zhuo Yan with concern. Zhuo Yan realized they didn’t need to be so close. He casually said, “I was just a little down. I can’t wait for winter to end; it’s so boring staying in the cave all day.” Just a convenient excuse.

After they finished eating, A-Yin quickly tidied up the dishes, transformed into his leopard form, and playfully barked, “Brother, hop on! Let’s go play!”

Zhuo Yan felt touched to his core.

Who could resist such a big, affectionate cat? But he had to act like a responsible adult. As he climbed onto A-Yin’s back and settled in, A-Yin suddenly took off at breakneck speed, startling Zhuo Yan, who clung tightly. A-Yin teased him, saying he had done it on purpose.

Zhuo Yan was like, “Seriously?!”

But that moment of acceleration had been thrilling.

Zhuo Yan laughed heartily.

A-Yin’s joy was infectious, his tail wagging happily.

The weather had been relatively calm lately, and some beastmen were taking their sub-beastmen out for fun. They asked Zhuo Yan and A-Yin about their gear, eager to learn more. When A-Yin shifted back into human form, the tribe was astonished.

“Is A-Yin a beastman now?”

“A-Yin can turn human?!”

Zhuo Yan felt a swell of pride, as if he were announcing a family member’s acceptance into a prestigious school. “Yeah, he changed not long after the snow began. After that, he transformed back into his beast form.” He joked, “He really took his time—meaning he hadn’t transformed until now, but he finally did!”

Soon, the entire tribe learned about A-Yin’s transformation. Da Yat Ah Sen spotted Zhuo Yan and A-Yin by the river and was thrilled to see A-Yin in human form. Da Yat looked at Zhuo Yan with relief in his eyes and said, “A-Yin can transform; you’ll be just fine now.”

Zhuo Yan felt that Uncle Ah Sen truly cared for him, which made him smile as he replied, “Uncle, I’ll work hard to live well with A-Yin.”

No more worries on his part.

Ah Sen nodded.

As the snow melted a bit, it was the best time to navigate the tribe, with some snow remaining but not too deep. The air was still cold, and the snow hadn’t turned to water yet. The sub-beastmen were able to walk on the snow comfortably. In half a month, that snow would turn into water, leaving everything muddy.

Winter and spring transitioned quickly; in just a few days, the ice and snow melted, and the ground would dry up.

“Zhuo Yan!”

“Zhuo Yan, your A-Yin has turned human?”

That day, Shi Tou and Aman finally made an appearance. They were wrapped in furs, and Shi Tou was holding a big cloud under his arm, running as fast as he could. Zhuo Yan worried he might trip, but Shi Tou was steady on his feet. Once they arrived, he let the big cloud loose, who started scuttling around on the ice.

“You’re sliding on the furs,” Shi Tou said, tossing a pelt his way.

Da Yun settled onto the pelt, using his hands to play on the slippery surface.

Zhuo Yan and Aman began chatting first. “Yeah, A-Yin has transformed into his human form.”

“I heard about that from Qiao,” Shi Tou replied, excitement bubbling in his voice. “He told me not to ask about you and A-Yin mating because you’d get shy.”

“…Then why did you bring it up?”

Shi Tou scratched his head, thrilled to see Zhuo Yan again after such a long time. “I’m just so happy to see you!”

“Right? What does A-Yin look like in human form? Qiao said he resembles a beautiful male from the Peacock Clan,” Aman asked, curiosity sparkling in his eyes.

A-Yin, who was crouched behind his brother, transformed into his human form. Zhuo Yan watched as Aman and Shi Tou’s mouths fell slightly open. He handed the pelt to A-Yin, who quickly put it on.

Aman and Shi Tou were already discussing A-Yin’s appearance.

“So this is what a male from the Peacock Clan looks like! Although A-Yin is a bit lean, don’t worry, Zhuo Yan. He’s still young and will definitely bulk up by next year,” Aman reassured.

Zhuo Yan knew Aman favored a more muscular aesthetic, so he immediately replied, “A-Yin is already impressive—he can hunt, and as long as he’s healthy, that’s what matters.”

“I know you’d like A-Yin no matter what,” Aman replied cheerfully. “But the elders in the tribe say that strong beastmen and sub-beastmen will have better offspring. Didn’t you used to want little ones?”

At that, A-Yin’s ears perked up.

Zhuo Yan felt a flush of embarrassment. “I’m not—never mind.”

“Let’s drop the topic; he’s still not an adult yet.” He shifted the conversation.

Aman nodded, not fully grasping why Zhuo Yan was so concerned about A-Yin’s maturity. Although A-Yin looked young, he wasn’t exactly a mere cub, and the tribe had seen younger pairings before. But since Zhuo Yan wanted to avoid the topic, Aman didn’t press further.

Shi Tou shifted his gaze back and said happily, “Zhuo Yan, your A-Yin is really good-looking.”

“…Thanks?” Zhuo Yan hadn’t expected Shi Tou to appreciate the beauty of males. He could see that Shi Tou wasn’t fond of overly aggressive beastmen.

Soon enough, everyone was playing together. Xiao Xian, Qiao, and other tribe members joined in. Previously, they hadn’t considered ice skating on the frozen surface, but now it was common for beastmen to carry sub-beastmen out for some fresh air.

Since Zhuo Yan introduced the fun of sliding on the ice, it became a popular pastime.

After a joyful day filled with laughter, Zhuo Yan returned home, a smile still lingering on his face. A-Yin noticed his brother’s happiness and felt joy as well. Even though Zhuo Yan wasn’t particularly fond of winter, he enjoyed skating, and this winter felt just right.

“What are you so happy about, like a little puppy?” Zhuo Yan asked, observing A-Yin.

A-Yin leaned in closer and whispered, “Brother, next snowy season, let’s come out to skate together.”

“Sure!” Zhuo Yan thought A-Yin enjoyed skating, and readily agreed.

A-Yin beamed, eagerly anticipating their fun tomorrow, saying, “That way, you’ll be happy too, brother.”

Zhuo Yan paused for a moment. Was A-Yin excited because he thought his brother liked skating? His heart swelled with affection…

The joy of skating continued for about half a month, but the weather changed. The ice became thinner, and the sounds of rushing water could be heard underneath. Skating was no longer safe, but the beastmen still played, stepping on the fragile surface that would collapse into holes. Thankfully, they were beastmen, so there were no injuries.

The river’s flow became rapid, making it difficult to approach the water.

As the snow melted in the tribe, the roads became muddy. Zhuo Yan didn’t venture outside much, and no one in the tribe went hunting. The animals were thin and hungry after a long winter, their tempers frayed.

The tribe usually waited for the skies to clear and the mud to dry before hunting again. But this year, there was no need; every household still had supplies of smoked meat stored away.

Zhuo Yan checked their food supplies and realized they could last at least another month. They hadn’t even touched the dudu fruit yet. The coming days wouldn’t be too difficult. With A-Yin in human form, their consumption would decrease, allowing them to share grains together.

As the ground dried out slightly, more people gathered by the river. Many tribe members brought bone and stone knives to clean the area. Sub-beastmen carried vine baskets, tools, and their cubs, trimming their hair and washing their faces and necks.

As for the cold…

The sub-beastmen had grown accustomed to the icy river and felt that the water, now melted from the snow, was clear. Their first wash of the spring was believed to strengthen them for the year ahead.

Without the genes of beasts, one truly shouldn’t attempt such things!

Zhuo Yan released their chickens and the sharp-toothed pig-rabbits. The pig-rabbit had lost some weight but was still lively, dashing out of the den and frolicking on the slope, snuffling at the ground in search of food.

The hen clucked, leading her last two chicks in foraging for scraps, shaking her wings.

“A-Yin, tell the pig-rabbit to remember to come back,” Zhuo Yan instructed. He followed a free-range approach with the animals, primarily because he was too busy to manage them.

A-Yin glanced at the pig-rabbit, which playfully raised all four legs in the air. A-Yin nodded and said, “I’ll keep an eye on it, brother.”

“Good. Come here; we need to dry the bear pelts. It’s been warm lately, and they need to be stored properly.”

“I’m on my way, brother~”

Zhuo Yan and his friends spent several days cleaning their dens—each taking care of their own. He gave Shi Tou and Aman five teeth each from the earth dragon beasts, ensuring no one was left out. Afterward, he set about repairing the cooking stove shelter. His stove had held up well through the winter, proving to be of great quality.

By the side of the crooked-neck tree, the bubbling tree had sprouted new branches. The snow had pressed down some branches, but they had stood back up again. Zhuo Yan didn’t bother with the crooked ones, but after a few days, he noticed new bubble leaves sprouting from the ground.

Aman saw this and exclaimed, “Zhuo Yan, didn’t you have just one bubbling leaf tree?”

“Yeah, the branches next to it seem to have rooted in the soil, and it looks like a second one has grown,” Zhuo Yan marveled. The plants in this world were truly resilient, able to thrive even after harsh conditions. “Do you want one? I can cut a branch for you; just stick it in the ground at home.”

Aman was still in shock.

“What were we doing all this time?” Shi Tou pondered aloud. “Clearly, the bubble-leaf tree thrives so well. Why didn’t we think to plant it back then?”

“I honestly don’t know what we were thinking,” Aman replied, lost in thought. Back then, his mind had been a jumble; he just followed whatever the other sub-beastmen were doing, never stopping to think for himself.

Xiao Xian chimed in, “I know what we were up to! We were busy picking things, chatting, playing, and arguing about which beastman was the strongest.”

The group squatted in front of the bubble-leaf tree, reminiscing about their past foolishness. They had never even considered the idea of “planting” until Zhuo Yan suggested bringing back the bubble-leaf tree.

That evening, just before leaving, Zhuo Yan trimmed some branches from the bubble-leaf tree.

He also turned over a large patch of ground at the top of the slope near his home, with A-Yin helping him. It hardly needed watering; they planted the garlic cloves they had gathered one by one, along with some wild onions.

After finishing some scattered chores, the weather warmed up. The temperature difference between morning and evening was significant, with midday hitting nearly 18 or 19 degrees Celsius. Finally, Zhuo Yan could implement the “schedule” he had arranged.

Before he got started, however, his uncle found him.

“Zhuo Yan, when are we planting potatoes this year?” His uncle’s expression was serious. “And about the pottery being made in the tribe, you’ll continue to oversee it. If there’s anything that needs to be communicated to the sub-beastmen, I’ll take care of that.”

“We can start turning the soil tomorrow. Everyone should gather their sprouted potatoes from their caves and continue planting along the banks of the river as before.”

“We can work on pottery at the same time. Let’s see which caves need replenishing this year.”

Zhuo Yan was also keen to make some soap—there were only two bars left, and unfortunately, the caves were out of fat.

After hearing this, his uncle called for the sub-beastmen to gather in the square that morning and asked Zhuo Yan to speak.

“Two things: turning the soil and firing pottery. For planting potatoes, each cave should bring out half a basket of sprouted potatoes. We’ve done this before; if anyone has forgotten, they can ask those who remember. If there’s still uncertainty, they can check with Qiao and Aman.”

“The second item is about pottery. The winter snow crushed the kiln. Shi Tou, you’ll need to gather people to repair it or build a new one. Clear the area. Before we start firing, any cave that wants ceramic pots or bowls should speak up. Xiao Xian, you and Conglv take note of these requests.”

Xiao Xian’s eyes lit up as he excitedly agreed, while Cong Lu nodded with a smile.

“There’s no rush on washing the clay for now; we’ll tackle that in a couple of days.”

The kiln area was still a mess and needed cleaning first.

The chief looked at Zhuo Yan, his eyes filled with satisfaction, and then arranged for the beastmen to start turning the soil. It was well known among the leopard tribe that hunting shouldn’t be too aggressive in early spring.

This winter, no leopard tribe member had died, an unprecedented event, especially with the beast tide that had hit this year.

Moreover, many sub-beastmen were expecting young.

This was wonderful news. The chief looked up at the heavens, then back at Zhuo Yan…

It was truly a blessing from the gods.