Building a wooden house requires a lot of wood. Luckily, there was a forest right behind the house. If anything was in abundance, it was wood.

Behind the forest lay a steep cliff. If any wild animals fell from there, they’d be smashed to pieces, so there was no fear of beast invasions.

Hu Jiao Jiao pulled out a saw from her space and went into the forest to cut down some trees. She trimmed off the extra branches, shaping the trunks into cylindrical logs. After several trips back and forth, by the time the sun had risen, there was already a neat pile of long wooden logs stacked outside the yard.

Glancing at the time, Hu Jiao Jiao put the saw back in her space and began fetching water to prepare breakfast.

For breakfast, she made vegetable porridge and cumin-grilled meat, with a boiled egg for each person.

She also remembered her promise to make a diet meal for Hou Xiang, so she prepared a vegetable and fruit salad mixed with boiled chicken breast, added two boiled eggs, and served it alongside a bowl of vegetable porridge.

Orcs have large appetites, so Hu Jiao Jiao made big portions, using the only wooden basin in the house to serve the meal, covering it with a piece of stiff, sun-dried animal hide that she had ruined earlier.

When the children came out, they saw Hu Jiao Jiao busy in the yard.

An unusual feeling passed through their hearts.

Before, the vicious female would sleep in until they had finished all the chores and the food was ready. But now, they were waking up after her, well-fed and well-rested. It felt embarrassing.

The children instinctively wanted to help, but Hu Jiao Jiao saw them and set down her work. Smiling warmly, she said, “You’re up! Come have breakfast.”

As she distributed the breakfast, she reminded them, “Later, I’ll be heading over to Hou Xiang’s house. You can play outside, but don’t wander too far. I’ll worry if I can’t find you when I get back.”

Long Yu nodded calmly. “We’ll wait at home for you.”

Long Xiu and Long Zhong didn’t say anything, silently agreeing.

However, Long Ling’er looked at Hu Jiao Jiao with eager eyes. “Mother, can I go with you?”

She had never gone out with her mother before.

Hu Jiao Jiao thought for a moment. Since there was no rush, she could take Long Ling’er with her to build their mother-daughter bond. She nodded. “Sure. After breakfast, you can come with me.”

“Yay! You’re the best, Mother!” Long Ling’er smiled so brightly her eyes disappeared into little crescents.

Long Yao, on the other hand, was entirely focused on his food, eating quickly and paying no attention to the conversation.

After breakfast, Hu Jiao Jiao picked up the wooden basin and set off with Long Ling’er.

Long Ling’er walked lightly ahead, attracting many admiring glances from the beastmen along the way.

A few of them whispered among themselves.

“Whose little female is that? She’s so pretty.”

“How come I didn’t know there was such a cute little female in the tribe?”

“I don’t know whose child she is, but if my son could marry her someday, that’d be great.”

Some of the orcs wanted to ask, but when they noticed Hu Jiao Jiao walking behind Long Ling’er, they froze. Looking closely, they realized that the delicate little female bore a resemblance to Hu Jiao Jiao.

Just then, Long Ling’er ran back to Hu Jiao Jiao and cheerfully called out, “Mother, we’re almost at Aunt Hou Xiang’s house!”

“Yes, are you tired, Ling’er?” Hu Jiao Jiao asked gently, smiling as she looked at her.

“No, not at all,” Long Ling’er quickly shook her head. If she were taller and strong enough to carry the basin, she would have helped her mother with it.

Hu Jiao Jiao chuckled. She noticed the beastmen watching them from a distance but paid no attention and continued walking.

Although the original owner had a bad temper, she was incredibly beautiful. In the book, the male villain was described as a gloomy yet handsome beastmen. With such strong genes, it was no wonder all five children had inherited their parents’ best features, each one more attractive than the last.

But before, the children had been neglected, dirty, and starving, which had hidden their natural beauty. Now that they were cared for and well-fed, it was only natural that the tribe was shocked by Long Ling’er’s transformation.

When they heard Long Ling’er’s voice, the beastmen widened their eyes in disbelief.

Did they hear that right?

The delicate little female had called Hu Jiao Jiao “Mother”!

Was this the same skinny, dark little female from Hu Jiao Jiao’s family? How had she transformed so dramatically in just a few days?

And Hu Jiao Jiao was speaking so kindly to her children? It was like the sun was rising from the west.

Still stunned, the beastmen watched Hu Jiao Jiao and Long Ling’er walk away.

Soon, the mother and daughter arrived at Hou Xiao Tiao’s house.

Hou Xiao Tiao had already gone out hunting, leaving Hou Xiang at home with their two cubs, preparing breakfast. Since food was scarce, Hou Xiao Tiao only ate dinner, saving the rest for Hou Xiang and the kids.

When Hou Xiang looked up, she saw Hu Jiao Jiao standing at the door. She was delighted.

“Hu Jiao Jiao, what brings you here? Do you need help with something?”

Whether out of guilt or because she had eaten Hu Jiao Jiao’s food the day before, she greeted her warmly.

Hu Jiao Jiao smiled and shook her head. “Didn’t I say I’d make you some lighter food? I made it while cooking this morning, so I brought it over.”

Hou Xiang’s eyes lit up.

She couldn’t help but rub her hands together and glance at the wooden basin in Hu Jiao Jiao’s arms. “How can I accept this? You even went through the trouble of bringing it to me personally…”

Then, realizing it wasn’t appropriate, she quickly shook her head. “No, no. I ate your food yesterday. I can’t take more today!”

She already felt bad for keeping the meat that Long Mo had hunted before. Taking more would be too much.

Hu Jiao Jiao chuckled. “I’ve already brought it. You can’t expect me to take it back now, can you?”

Hou Xiang swallowed, but she still shook her head.

If Hu Jiao Jiao had been as bad as the rumors, Hou Xiang would have shamelessly accepted. But now that she knew Hu Jiao Jiao was a kind-hearted female with five children to care for, she couldn’t take advantage of her.

“How about this,” Hu Jiao Jiao suggested, “I need help with a few things, but I can’t find anyone to assist me. If Hou Xiao Tiao can help, these food will be his reward.”

She had originally planned to ask for help, but most beastmen in the tribe avoided her, and she didn’t want to trouble her family. Hou Xiao Tiao seemed like the perfect solution.

Hearing this, Hou Xiang finally nodded. “Alright, whatever you need, just let Hou Xiao Tiao know. He’s really skilled!”

Hu Jiao Jiao smiled and agreed.

When she opened the basin to reveal the colorful meal inside, Hou Xiang froze. “Hu Jiao Jiao… why are you giving me grass to eat? Can grass really help me lose weight? And even if it could, isn’t this a bit too little?”

Grass?

Hu Jiao Jiao glanced at the vegetable and fruit salad in the basin, which contained broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes, and apples. There wasn’t a single blade of grass in sight.

After a brief pause, she remembered something and couldn’t help but laugh.

Beastmen didn’t eat vegetables. To them, anything green was just “grass.”

“This isn’t grass. It’s edible. Go ahead, give it a try.”