The clam soup smelled fine, but the stir-fried clam meat at noon had given Yin He such a bad experience that he didn’t dare to try it. 

So, he could only rely on Zhuo Mu. 

Zhuo Mu had taken a bath and changed into a clean hemp robe. His silver hair was still damp, slightly covering his eyebrows. 

He calmly glanced at the clam meat in the bowl and said to Yin He, “Thank you.” 

Yin He, feeling guilty, avoided looking at him. “You’re welcome.” 

Wen Ze brought in the last dish, which was lotus root stew with the ribs of a fluffy beast. 

The bones were hard to cut, so they were stewed whole. The meat was tender and nearly falling off the bone, and it also shook slightly in the bowl as he moved it. 

He hadn’t cleaned off all the fat from the ribs, so the soup had a tempting sheen of oil, and the rich aroma of the meat made it smell mouthwatering. 

But instead of introducing this “new dish” to Zhuo Mu, he focused on the clam soup he’d made. 

“I cleaned out the innards, added some vegetables, and boiled it for a while. I didn’t get a chance to taste it before Yin He rushed in to take it,” Wen Ze said, looking hopeful. “Try it. If it’s too bland, I’ll add more salt.” 

Zhuo Mu: “Alright.” 

He wasn’t afraid of the heat. With his large hand, he directly picked up the clay bowl, brought it to his mouth, and blew on it a couple of times. 

After taking a sip of the milky white soup, his expression remained calm. 

Yin He couldn’t wait to ask, “How is it?” 

Zhuo Mu: “It’s okay.” 

Yin He’s eyes lit up, feeling relieved. “Brother, let me bring two bowls. We can drink together!” 

The soup pot was warming on the fire not far away. He ran over quickly and soon returned with a bowl. 

He handed one bowl to Wen Ze and, before sitting down, eagerly took a sip. 

The moment the taste touched his tongue, his joyful expression instantly turned into one of discomfort. 

“Ugh…” He held the soup in his mouth, his face scrunched up in displeasure as he glared at Zhuo Mu. 

How can you say this soup is okay when it tastes so bad! 

“What’s wrong? Still bad?” Wen Ze noticed his reaction and asked. 

Yin He struggled internally but finally, with determination, swallowed the soup. 

“Umm… how should I put it…” He avoided eye contact, stumbling over his words. 

Wen Ze: “…You don’t need to say anything. I get it.” 

With that, he took a sip of the clam soup himself, and indeed, it didn’t taste good. 

After failing twice, he was a bit annoyed. He clicked his tongue and placed the soup to the side. 

“At least it only used up some firewood. Let’s just pour the rest out. I’ll think of a way to improve it,” Wen Ze said. 

Yin He felt even more embarrassed and desperately searched for the right words. 

“Brother, actually, the fishy taste is much less than at noon. It’s just that it doesn’t taste great compared to the other dishes. But I can still drink it.” 

Zhuo Mu added, “I can drink it too.” 

Their efforts to cheer him up made Wen Ze finally crack a smile. 

“With so many tasty dishes, don’t make it harder on yourself. Anyway, this was just an attempt. Failure is the mother of success, so it’s all good. Come on, hand me the bowl, I’ll pour it out.”

Seeing that he was determined, the other two reluctantly agreed and let him pour the soup away. 

While cleaning the pot, Wen Ze thought about how many giant clams there were in the valley’s lakes. Seeing them but not being able to eat them made him feel a bit of regret. 

But at the moment, he really couldn’t think of a better way to cook them. 

Once he found more seasonings, he wasn’t going to give up. The beast world was vast; surely he could figure something out for these little clams. Hmph. 

After the meal, it was still early, so the three of them processed the beast meat that Zhuo Mu had brought back. They sat by the fire and talked about what had happened today. 

Wen Ze: “You came back late today. Did you walk a lot?” 

Zhuo Mu: “Mm, I walked three gathering routes before I found traces of the long-haired, curved-horned beasts. After chasing them, we hunted one down.” 

Wen Ze: “I saw. You got two hind legs. There’s too much meat at home now; even the fluffy beast is starting to spoil. I’m thinking of turning the leftovers into salted meat and drying it for storage.” 

Zhuo Mu: “Sounds good. That’s how we’ve preserved meat before. Is there enough salt?” 

Wen Ze: “That’s exactly what I was about to say—there’s not enough. When should we get more?” 

Zhuo Mu: “How about in a day or two?” 

Wen Ze: “Sure.” 

He then brought up how he and Yin He had spent the day planting lotus roots, making soap, and washing starch. 

“By tomorrow morning, the soap will be ready to cut into pieces. I need someone to help me send a message to the Rainbow Sun Tribe so they can come pick it up.” 

Zhuo Mu said, “No need to go through all that trouble. When we patrol the territory and get near the Rainbow Sun Tribe, we can just shout a couple of times.” 

Wen Ze laughed. “Being able to change into beast form is so convenient.” 

Zhuo Mu smiled faintly, watching him as the firelight cast shadows over his handsome face. 

Yin He sat between them, glancing back and forth between the two but didn’t join the conversation. 

He felt that when they talked, it was similar to the conversations between the couples in the tribe—kind of affectionate, and he enjoyed it. 

The next day, to Wen Ze’s surprise, the people from the Rainbow Sun Tribe arrived shortly after Zhuo Mu had left. 

He set down the soap he was holding, wiped his hands, and walked out of the straw shelter. “Did you see Zhuo Mu?” 

Chi Yu grinned and waved. “Yes, we saw him. When we entered the tribe, he was just heading out with his group. What’s up?” 

Wen Ze shook his head. “It’s nothing. I was going to ask him to let you know to come pick up the soap.” 

“Oh, oh! We were thinking about that too!” 

Chi Yu hurried over, eagerly pulling out something wrapped in a hemp cloth bag. Handing it to Wen Ze, he said proudly, “But the main reason we came is to give you this!” 

The outline appeared on the bag, and Wen Ze felt a bit of joy inside. He asked eagerly, “Could it be the chili peppers I talked about?” 

Chi Yu didn’t tease him and said loudly, “It’s the peppers! We searched the territory for a long time, but we finally found them!” 

Huo Lan, who had come along with him, shot him a disapproving glance, then turned to Wen Ze and explained, “Don’t get too excited. It looks like what you described, but the taste… well, you’ll understand once you try it.” 

Wen Ze’s excitement cooled a little. 

“I’ll take a look first.” 

He took the cloth bag, opened it, and, as expected, it was filled with chili peppers. 

He pulled out two and examined them closely. 

Fruits in the Beast World were usually quite large, but these brownish-yellow peppers were only about the size of his pinky, with wrinkled skins that looked malnourished. 

He sniffed them, but there was hardly any spicy scent at all. 

“Can I break one open and take a look?” he asked Chi Yu and the others. 

“Of course, we brought them for you.” 

Wen Ze snapped one open, stuck out his tongue, and licked it. As expected, there was no heat, just bitterness. 

The seeds inside were shriveled and dry. 

These seeds probably wouldn’t survive if planted. 

Wen Ze then asked about the pepper plants, and Huo Lan described them to him. He nodded as if understanding. 

“I think I know what it is. This is a type of tree pepper.” 

“Tree pepper?” The people of the Rainbow Sun Tribe looked at him curiously. 

“Yes. This type of tree pepper is very particular about its growing conditions—climate, light, temperature, everything. It only grows well in specific environments.” 

He had researched this variety in his past life and found that even if they recreated the original conditions in a lab, the peppers still wouldn’t grow. 

Even the power of science couldn’t make it work, let alone casually planting the seeds in other regions. 

Because of its limited growing area, this variety of tree pepper was more expensive than regular peppers. 

Wen Ze estimated, “The pepper trees in your territory were probably brought by birds. They’ve sprouted and grown, but it’s hard for them to produce good fruit.” 

Chi Yu understood. “If you want the kind of spicy pepper you’re talking about, you’ll have to ask around in other territories.” 

Wen Ze: “Mm.” 

It was frustrating to go through all the trouble without finding what he wanted, but Wen Ze wouldn’t say he wasn’t disappointed. 

He held up the cloth bag and asked, “So should I just take these peppers and try growing them?” 

Chi Yu nodded repeatedly. “They’re all yours. Don’t rush, though. We’ll keep helping you look.” 

“Thank you,” Wen Ze said, thinking about the suitable environment for growing these tree peppers. He suggested, “You might want to try looking in the southern area of your tribe.” 

“Got it.” 

Seeing that Wen Ze was uncomfortable, Huo Lan patted Chi Yu’s arm and scolded him, “Leader, why aren’t you taking out the other thing?” 

Chi Yu: “Hiss, why are you in such a rush? You’re squeezing my arm so hard.” 

Wen Ze looked at the two, confused. “There’s more?” 

Huo Lan quickly said, “Yes! When we found the peppers, we realized they might not meet your expectations. So, we couldn’t come back empty-handed! We brought you something special from our Rainbow Sun Tribe. I think you’ll like it.” 

When Wen Ze heard that, he immediately felt hopeful. 

“Is it something to eat?” 

“Kind of? The older beastmen in the tribe say it’s a good thing. We tried it, and it tastes a bit like scallions.” 

Wen Ze quickly thought of several kinds of onions and eagerly led them into the straw shelter. 

“Come on, everyone, stop standing. Let’s sit down and talk.” 

Yin He was very attentive, bringing each of them a bowl of water. 

After sitting down, Chi Yu smiled with his fox-like eyes, watching Wen Ze. 

Wen Ze was truly curious now, his dark eyes filled with anticipation. “Leader Chi Yu, stop teasing me already. What is it?” 

“Hahaha,” Chi Yu laughed and pulled out a large bundle of green leafy vegetables with roots, handing them to Wen Ze. “This is it. We call it Yangyang Grass in our tribe.” 

Wen Ze stared at the flat, long stems and leaves, sniffed the familiar spicy scent, and slowly widened his eyes. 

Isn’t this chive? It was a common food in his past life! 

He eagerly took the bundle from Chi Yu, weighing it in his hands—wow, it was really heavy. 

He broke off a stalk and tasted it. Mmm! The flavor was intense! 

These chives must have been freshly picked by Chi Yu and his group before they left; they were still tender. 

And this was the right size for plants in the beast world! One stalk was as long as his arm! 

Many people don’t like the taste of chives, but Wen Ze actually liked them when he didn’t have to go out and meet others. 

Stir-fried eggs with chives, stir-fried squid with chives, chive pockets, chive pies, roasted chives… 

Chives are great for stir-frying or as a seasoning, and most importantly, they keep growing, making them easy to get! 

What a wonderful food! He loved it so much! 

The way he cherished the chives made Chi Yu and the others very pleased, knowing they had chosen the right gift. 

Not worrying about whether Wen Ze was too caught up in his joy to hear him, Chi Yu said, “This plant grows easily in our area. We brought one with the roots still attached. Just bury the roots in the soil and water it. If it doesn’t grow, it’s okay—our two tribes are close, so we can just cut some more and bring it to you.” 

“If it grows, when you eat it, just cut the leaves off and leave the roots. It’ll keep growing, which is very convenient.” 

Wen Ze was a little slow to respond but finally looked up with a smile and nodded. “Mm.” 

Although he didn’t get the desired peppers, discovering the existence of peppers in the beast world and receiving such a wonderful food like chives felt like a light at the end of the tunnel. 

He genuinely expressed his gratitude: “Thank you so much for the Yangyang Grass! I really needed this! That reminds me, why did you give it such a name? It doesn’t seem to match the taste or appearance.” 

It was just a casual question, but a few of the older members immediately showed subtle expressions. 

Huo Lan, who was younger, didn’t notice the change in the others’ expressions and eagerly responded to Wen Ze. 

“I’m not really sure why it’s called that. A lot of the Beastmen in the tribe make funny faces when they talk about Yangyang Grass, but they can’t explain it. After eating it, the taste lingers in your mouth for a long time, and it’s too strong, so my friends and I don’t really like it. If it weren’t for the fact that it kind of tastes like scallions, we wouldn’t have thought to dig it up for you.” 

Wen Ze asked, “So you don’t eat Yangyang Grass very often?” 

Huo Lan nodded. “Right.” 

Wen Ze suggested, “You could try stir-frying Yangyang Grass with bird eggs or beast meat. I think it tastes pretty good.” 

Huo Lan looked as if he had learned something new. “It really is similar to the way we use scallions.” 

He then glanced at Chi Yu. “You still haven’t told us—why is it called Yangyang Grass?” 

Although Chi Yu didn’t have a mate, as the leader of the tribe, he knew a lot. A slight hint of embarrassment flashed in his fox-like eyes as he raised a hand to scratch his face, then hesitated before replying, “Well… how should I put this… Hmm, I heard from some elders that Yangyang Grass is good for our bodies…” 

Huo Lan tilted his head, feeling confused, but Wen Ze immediately understood. 

He had heard about the medicinal benefits of chives in modern times, like their supposed ability to boost vitality. 

In this Beast world, where all the people are men, eating chives could be seen as a way to strengthen one’s body. 

“Calling it ‘Yangyang Grass’ is quite fitting,” he chuckled. 

One of the Beastmen behind Chi Yu teased Huo Lan, “Anyway, you haven’t found a mate yet, so it’s useless to you.” 

Huo Lan frowned. “What does that have to do with having a partner?” 

Wen Ze burst out laughing. 

Huo Lan glanced at his companions, then at Wen Ze, and finally got it, his pale face turning a little red. 

“What’s that supposed to mean? I don’t need to eat that.” 

Wen Ze wisely changed the subject and thanked Chi Yu and the others again. “How much did you bring over in total?” 

Chi Yu pulled out half a basket of chives and placed it on the ground. “Is this enough? The Yangyang Grass in the territory grows scattered, so we only pulled this much this morning. If it’s not enough, I’ll get more sent over when I return.” 

Wen Ze quickly waved his hands. “This is enough. I’ll plant it and see. When your Yangyang Grass produces seeds, save me some.” 

Chi Yu agreed. 

He offered to pay with supplies, but they insisted on not accepting. 

When Wen Ze was exchanging soaps, he added a little extra for them. 

Chi Yu and the others kept thanking him, and they couldn’t stop admiring the new batch of soap he made. 

The soap was cut into neat square pieces and wrapped in clean leaves. Now that there was no shortage of hemp thread, Wen Ze tied a bow with silver-colored thread on each leaf. 

Although the packaging was still simple, it looked much better than a bare block of soap. 

Everyone unwrapped the soap and complimented it: “This color is really nice, the texture is delicate and unique, and it has a light scent of oil. I like it.” 

Wen Ze seriously reminded them, “The regular soap is safe, but the sulfur soap must never be ingested or get in your eyes. If it accidentally does, rinse it off immediately with plenty of water.” 

Chi Yu and the others nodded seriously. “We will keep an eye on the little ones when we get back.” 

Wen Ze said, “That’s exactly what I meant.” 

Then, they brought out the supplies to exchange for the soap. 

Not only did they bring the agreed food and wood, but also quite a few stones! 

Chi Yu smiled and said, “We heard you’re using stones for the foundation of the house. These are stones we picked up along the way. Take them—you don’t need to exchange soap for them.” 

Wen Ze said in surprise, “Thank you, your information is really accurate.” 

Chi Yu smiled generously and didn’t deny it. 

Making soap was a lengthy process, and with Wen Ze’s exclusive recipe, he was already receiving quite a few supplies from exchanges with other tribes. 

Chi Yu and the others not only brought news about the chili peppers but also sent him leeks and stones, so Wen Ze gave them some extra soap again as a gift. 

But this time, they stubbornly refused. 

Unable to persuade them, Wen Ze had to ask Yin He to bring over a big basket of lotus roots. 

“Take this basket of lotus roots back with you. They’re delicious whether stir-fried or stewed in soup.” 

Chi Yu and the others tried to refuse, but Wen Ze insisted, “Our tribe had a big harvest of lotus roots. It’s really no big deal. Don’t feel pressured. Besides, I want to discuss a couple more exchanges with you.” 

“What exchanges? Just tell us.” 

Wen Ze said, “First, I’d like to order another batch of spinning wheels from you. The twenty I brought back aren’t enough, and now everyone in the tribe is renting them from me.” 

After they understood what “renting” meant, Chi Yu and the others were amazed. “So there’s a way to distribute things like this? Wen Ze, you’re brilliant!” 

Huo Lan added, “Our tribe has more people, so even twenty-plus spinning machines aren’t enough. The leader’s cave is about to be overrun with people wanting to use them. It’s a real headache.” 

Chi Yu agreed, “Exactly. I have no choice but to distribute them based on who has made the greatest contribution to the tribe. Those families get priority, but a lot of people are unhappy about it.” 

Wen Ze thought this distribution method was good and suited him as the leader of his tribe. 

It seemed that while the Beast World was behind in conditions, the Beastmen were by no means stupid. 

Chi Yu continued, “I’ve asked the people who made the spinning wheels with you to hurry up and make new ones. But they aren’t as skilled as you, so they can’t make too many in a day. Once we get back, I’ll have them make the ones you need first.” 

Wen Ze waved his hand and said, “No need, I can manage for now. Focus on your tribe first. I just wanted to mention it—just keep it in mind.” 

Chi Yu nodded seriously. “I’ll remember.” 

Wen Ze added, “As for being beginners, don’t worry. They’ll get better with practice.” 

Chi Yu replied, “Got it. What’s the second exchange?” 

Wen Ze said he wanted to place an order for soap molds. 

He gestured, “It would be great if you could make something like this, about this big. They don’t have to be too fancy, just a simple square shape.” 

True to their reputation as a tribe skilled in pottery, Chi Yu and the others quickly came up with an idea. 

“Alright, this is easy. We’ll fire them in the kiln and bring them to you.” 

“Great.” 

After talking for a while, Chi Yu and the others left some supplies, took some soap and lotus roots, and got ready to leave. 

Several Beastmen changed into their beast forms in the open space in front of the cave, while the half-beastmen climbed onto their backs. 

The big red fox, Chi Yu, lowered his head, his fluffy tail swaying gently. 

He looked at Wen Ze with a friendly smile and said, “Wen Ze, where are you building your house? We can help you carry these stones and wood over so you don’t have to move them yourself.” 

Wen Ze didn’t stand on ceremony with them. “No need to bring the wood; I plan to store it in the cave. As for the stones, wait a moment. Yin He!” 

“Brother, I’m here.” 

“Can you change into your beast form and carry me there?” 

“Okay!” 

Wen Ze climbed onto Yin He’s back, and they headed out. 

It wasn’t far, just over a thousand meters, so they arrived quickly. 

After Chi Yu and the others placed the stones down, facing the rising sun, they bid Wen Ze farewell. “You’re welcome to visit our tribe anytime.” 

Wen Ze waved and smiled. “I’ll definitely come by if I have the chance.” 

Yin He also said goodbye to them. 

After sending off the Rainbow Sun Tribe, Wen Ze didn’t rush back. Instead, he slid off Yin He’s back and started counting the stones. 

That night, during the feast, when he exchanged the black-armored beast meat with the tribe, he had told them that once he found the right stones, he’d have them delivered directly here. 

But now, counting the stones, he noticed there were way more than they had agreed on. 

Confused, he saw an unfamiliar Beastman running over with a basket of stones. 

Wen Ze thought for a moment and said, “Zhong Chu? Are you delivering stones for someone?” 

Zhong Chu was a fully grown brown bear, almost ten meters tall when standing, with an enormous frame. 

He had been there when they were digging up lotus roots and at the feast, but he was quiet and didn’t talk much with Wen Ze. 

Wen Ze only remembered how he hungrily ate, and before long, he had consumed half a pot of stewed beast meat. 

Before getting too close, Zhong Chu changed into his human form; his dark gray hemp clothes were unable to cover his strong, sun-kissed chest. His long, powerful legs were full of power. 

He switched to holding the basket with his hands, walking and shaking his head as he said, “These are the ones I collected myself.” 

Wen Ze was surprised. “I don’t think we made any exchange?” 

Zhong Chu emptied the stones he brought onto the pile and mumbled, “Hmm, I just picked them up when I saw some that looked good.” 

Wen Ze was taken aback and couldn’t help but feel a bit moved. “Thank you for your help. Do you know if anyone else helped me pick up stones besides you?” 

Zhong Chu thought for a moment. “I saw Bai Xia and Ji Sha come by. As for others, I’m not sure.” 

These people were doing good deeds without seeking recognition. 

And since Zhong Chu had seen the others, it meant he had come more than once. 

Wen Ze sincerely thanked him again. “Thank you so much.” 

Yin He also added, “Thank you, Brother Zhong Chu!” 

Zhong Chu looked a bit embarrassed, and his face probably turned red, but it wasn’t very noticeable because of his skin tone. 

He looked away. “No need to thank me. I’ll be going now.” 

With that, he didn’t give Wen Ze a chance to stop him. He changed into his beast form and quickly ran away. 

Wen Ze chuckled and shook his head. He walked around the stone pile, thinking to himself: At this rate, he’d have enough stones for the foundation in just a few days. 

Noticing a pile of smaller stones that were uneven in shape and not very hard, Wen Ze paused. 

Yin He followed his gaze and laughed. “Brother, these might be from Qin Shu and the others. I heard them say they wanted to help you too.” 

Wen Ze smiled, feeling warmed by the gesture. “Such good kids.” 

Pleased by the compliment, Yin He puffed out his chest, smiling proudly. “If they heard you say that, they’d be over the moon.” 

Wen Ze turned to look at him. “You’re quite capable too. You’ve been working hard recently. Tonight, I’ll make stir-fried clam meat to reward you!” 

Yin He stopped smiling immediately. 

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