Wen Ze said, “Of course! Our tribes are close to each other, so exchanging things with common supplies works just fine. But it won’t be right now; it’ll be after the autumn harvest festival. If you want to exchange, I’ll write it down for you.” 

Bai Han and Kuang Xin were stunned by the huge surprise, deeply moved and at a loss for words. 

“We want to exchange! We really want to! Wen Ze, you’re so great!” Kuang Xin said excitedly. 

Bai Han nodded firmly. “We’re truly fortunate to be neighbors with your South Mountain Tribe.” 

The two of them quietly made up their minds. Since Wen Ze had treated them so well, from now on, his affairs would be their concern. 

If the South Mountain Tribe ever needed help, they would definitely rush to offer it! 

Wen Ze felt their goodwill and sincerity. In the process of helping others, he also gained a sense of accomplishment and happiness. 

*** 

Breakfast was simple, and just after noon, Wen Ze started feeling hungry. 

It wasn’t convenient to start a fire on the grasslands, so he and Zhuo Mu grilled some of the sausages they had brought, made a meatball soup in a clay pot, and roasted the pumpkin he had exchanged for in the morning. 

Leaving Zhuo Mu to watch the fire, Wen Ze prepared a seasoning mix for the grilled sausages on the spot, using thorny powder, chili pepper powder, salt, and crushed peanuts. 

Considering that Zhuo Mu and Yin He had never eaten chili before, Wen Ze only added a little. 

Once it was done, he mixed the seasoning well and had Zhuo Mu call Yin He over. 

From a distance, Yin He called out excitedly, “Brother, what’s that smell? It’s a bit strong, but it smells so good! I’m almost drooling!” 

Wen Ze waved at him, “It’s the chili pepper that I exchanged with the Forest Glory Tribe. Come, try it.” 

“Alright!” 

Wen Ze placed the grilled sausages on a clay plate, then used a wooden spoon to sprinkle the seasoning on top. 

He coated one side, then the other. 

Once the plate was ready, everyone reached out with their chopsticks and grabbed a piece. 

“Just take a small bite first,” Wen Ze reminded them, but he himself took a big bite. 

Mmm! 

At last! The long-awaited taste of chili. It enhances the rich flavor of the meat and dances on his taste buds delightfully. His scalp tingled from the spice—it was so good, he almost wanted to cry! 

This chili pepper was incredible! 

Yin He took a deep sniff, then bit into the tip of the grilled sausage. 

As he chewed, his eyes gradually widened as he stared at Wen Ze, and with a “gulp,” he swallowed the food in his mouth. 

Wen Ze asked expectantly, “How is it?” 

Yin He said, “Hiss… The spiciness is different from scallions and garlic! My tongue stings a bit, but I want to eat more!” 

Wen Ze laughed heartily. “Then eat! There’s plenty! And eating it with grilled sausage is nothing—wait until we get home. I’ll make boiled sliced meat in water, with a handful of Sichuan pepper and chili, then drizzle hot oil over it! That will be the real deal!” 

Yin He didn’t know what boiled sliced meat was, but Wen Ze had made sour soup meat slices before, and they were amazing! Judging by his description, boiled sliced meat must be just as good! 

“Yes!!” he shouted in anticipation. 

Wen Ze turned to look at Zhuo Mu and couldn’t help but laugh at his expression. 

The man’s pale white cheek turned red, and his already red lips became even redder, plump, and quite appealing. 

Wen Ze’s eyes darkened slightly as he took a crunchy bite of the sausage. He deliberately asked, “Is the spicy grilled sausage good?” 

Zhuo Mu pressed his lips together, coughed lightly, and said, “Good.” 

Wen Ze grinned. “Should I get you another one?” 

Zhuo Mu was silent for two seconds. “…Alright.” 

Wen Ze burst into laughter, stopped teasing him, and gave him a plain one instead. 

Zhuo Mu could only smile helplessly. 

Halfway through their meal, Sang Hui came over and paused. “Wen Ze, oh, you’re eating?” 

Wen Ze put down his chopsticks. “It’s fine, go ahead.” 

“Some tribes brought soybeans and are looking for you. Would you like to go check on them later?” 

“Soybeans!” Wen Ze’s eyes lit up. “Great! I’ll finish up quickly and head over!” 

Sang Hui quickly waved his hand. “No rush, they’re over at Bai Ling’s place looking at fabrics right now.” 

Wen Ze raised an eyebrow in curiosity. He gestured for Sang Hui to sit down and handed him a grilled sausage dipped in chili. 

“I’ve been busy with my own stall all morning. How’s everyone else from our tribe doing?” Wen Ze asked. 

The grilled sausage was a bit hot, still giving off the aroma of spicy seasoning. Sang Hui glanced at it but didn’t bite into it immediately. 

“They’re all doing well,” he said. “The fabrics, pottery, jewelry, and animal hides everyone brought have been really popular. That kid Bai Ling attracted a huge crowd thanks to his metal knife and glass jewelry. I’ve been hearing people praise him all morning—he’s so pleased with himself his tail might as well be sticking up.” 

Bai Ling was a half-beastman, so of course, he couldn’t grow a tail, but Sang Hui was teasing him on purpose. 

Wen Ze could see the pride in Sang Hui’s eyes and couldn’t help but smile. 

Sang Hui’s pride wasn’t just because Bai Ling could handle things on his own now, but also out of deep gratitude toward Wen Ze. 

Because of him, the South Mountain Tribe had undergone a dramatic transformation in just a few months. 

He was the tribe’s greatest benefactor. 

At that moment, the black-haired, black-eyed half-beastman grinned warmly at him. “Uncle, try this! I sprinkled it with some chili I just exchanged for today—it’s really good.” 

A smile reached Sang Hui’s eyes. “Alright.” 

He took a bite of the spicy grilled sausage, and the flavor was truly unique! The more he ate, the more addictive it became—he couldn’t stop! 

After finishing one, Sang Hui asked seriously, “This chili really whets the appetite. Have the people from the Forest Glory Tribe left yet? I’d like to exchange for some chili, too.” 

Wen Ze replied, “They haven’t left, but they already exchanged all their chili with me. Once we’re back at the tribe, I’ll share some with you.” 

“Thanks! If you end up with too many things to carry on the way back, let Ji Sha help you carry some!” Sang Hui offered. 

Wen Ze didn’t refuse. “Alright!” 

Later, Bai Ling and the others came looking for Wen Ze. Wen Ze was in a great mood today and shared grilled sausages with all of them. 

Some people loved the chili flavor, while others couldn’t handle it, saying it burned their mouths. 

Before leaving, they gave Wen Ze various return gifts—fruits, honey chunks, and beautiful shells. 

It’s worth mentioning that the smell of the grilled sausages was so strong that it attracted people from other tribes, who came over to watch and asked if they could exchange for some. 

Wen Ze apologized, “We only brought enough for ourselves today. But if you like them, you can visit the South Mountain Tribe when the weather gets colder to exchange for some.” 

The others nodded regretfully. “Alright. That way, the sausages won’t spoil on the way back.” 

Some muttered, “It’s just sausages. It doesn’t look that complicated. Can’t we just make them ourselves?” 

But when they actually tried making them, the flavor was completely different. 

After saying goodbye to several groups of people, Wen Ze and the others had eaten their fill. 

Smiling, he turned to Zhuo Mu, who had taken the initiative to clean up the dishes. “I actually thought about making sausages and meatballs to exchange at the market, but our cave is already packed with stuff. We should clear it out first.” 

Zhuo Mu understood him. “For the next three days, let’s just enjoy ourselves. If there’s an opportunity during next year’s autumn harvest festival, we can make more sausages and meatballs.” 

Talking to him was always easy. Wen Ze nodded happily, thinking: Who knows? By next year, they might have even better things. 

Once they finished packing up, Wen Ze took Zhuo Mu and Yin He to find Sang Hui, who then led them to meet several tribe leaders who had brought beans. 

Their territories were far from the South Mountain Tribe, and they hadn’t had much contact before. 

One of the leaders said, “We heard from traveling merchants that a clever half-beastman would be bringing all sorts of good things to the Eden Grasslands and that he was specifically exchanging for seeds. Our tribe happened to have these yellow beans, so we gathered some for you to see.” 

The other tribes were in a similar situation. 

The beans they brought had already been shelled and were stored in woven baskets lined with layers of leaves. 

Wen Ze walked over to take a look. Every single bean was yellow. 

He asked, “Are your tribes warmer than ours?” 

The leaders exchanged glances, unsure how to answer. 

Zhuo Mu observed, “Yes. Look at them—they’re wearing much less than we are.” 

Wen Ze nodded. That explained it; the beans were already fully matured. 

Unlike what he had seen in his previous life, some beans were oval, some were flat, and others even had patterns on their surfaces. 

He tasted each type and found that the flavors were more or less the same. 

After inspecting them, he turned to the expectant tribe leaders. “We can exchange.” 

They all visibly relaxed. 

In the time they had waited for Wen Ze, they had heard just how rare and valuable his goods were—everyone had been scrambling over to exchange with him. 

Meanwhile, beans were something nobody in their tribes cared to eat. 

Being able to exchange them for Wen Ze’s good items was a dream come true! 

The Beast world is simple and honest. Once the exchange was confirmed, Wen Ze didn’t have to put in much effort to finalize the details with them. 

Several tribe leaders left with smiles, carrying pottery, fabric, and other goods. 

Wen Ze and Zhuo Mu packed the beans on their backs, preparing to meet up with the other members of the South Mountain Tribe. 

As he turned around, Wen Ze saw little curly-haired Qiu Lu, who had probably been waiting for a long time. His small face was pale and a bit disappointed. 

Wen Ze asked gently, “Qiu Lu, why are you here?” 

Qiu Lu bit his lip and softly said, “I heard you exchanged for beans… so, um, are we still going to look for beans?” 

Wen Ze chuckled, “So that’s what you were worried about! Of course, we’re still going to look for them!” 

Qiu Lu’s mouth fell open in surprise. 

Wen Ze walked up to him and turned around to show the basket on his back. “Look, the beans they brought are round and flat, different from the soybeans that grow in our tribe. What if these beans can’t grow in our land?” 

Qiu Lu’s sadness instantly turned to joy. He had been worried he wouldn’t be able to help Wen Ze. 

“Mm! Okay! Then let’s find more seeds and plant them one by one!” 

Wen Ze nodded. “That’s right.” 

He then asked Qiu Lu if he had fun at the market. The boy happily replied, “Everything my father and I brought got exchanged! We got a lot of supplies, and everything went so smoothly!” 

With these supplies, his father wouldn’t have to worry as much about hunting for a while. 

Wen Ze was genuinely happy for him. 

In the afternoon, Wen Ze didn’t engage in any more exchanges. 

He and Zhuo Mu wandered leisurely across the grasslands. Zhuo Mu told him about the different beast forms and habits of the various tribes, which was all very new and interesting. 

Whenever Wen Ze saw something he liked, he wasn’t stingy—after some quick bargaining, he easily exchanged for it. 

When others shared interesting stories, he noted them down in his booklet. By the end of the day, he had gathered quite a bit of information that he wants to verify later. 

The autumn harvest ritual took place in the afternoon. 

Leaders from several major tribes joined together to present offerings of beast meat, reciting ancient blessings and performing bold and powerful ritual dances. 

Everyone prayed to the Beast God: “May this autumn’s wind and rain be smooth, allowing us to store enough food for the winter.” 

After the ritual, massive bonfires were lit across the grasslands. Beastmen, half-beastmen, and even children all gathered around, singing, dancing, and playing games. 

Wen Ze was easily swept up in the festive atmosphere. By the end of the afternoon, his face hurt from smiling so much. 

Even Zhuo Mu was smiling more than usual. Every time Wen Ze looked over, he found Zhuo Mu staring at him intently. 

Wen Ze didn’t avoid it—he simply tilted his head and smiled back. 

Zhuo Mu’s red eyes grew even deeper. 

At some point, neither of them knew who grabbed whose hand first, but they ended up squeezing into the crowd, dancing a dance with a name they couldn’t recall. Even though their palms were sweaty, they didn’t let go. 

As the sun was about to set, the South Mountain Tribe’s group gathered again. 

Wen Ze and Sang Hui counted the people multiple times to ensure no one was left behind before leading the group back home. 

On the way back, everyone was still buzzing with excitement, talking non-stop. 

Beyond discussing the people they met, the goods they exchanged, and the interesting stories they heard, what they mentioned the most was how other tribes were shocked and envious of the South Mountain Tribe. 

This time, the South Mountain Tribe had truly made a name for itself! 

The sunset cast a warm glow, making everyone feel relaxed. 

Thinking no one was watching, Wen Ze gradually lay back. 

Ahh, nothing beats a real snake-skin mattress—so comfortable it makes his scalp tingle~ 

By the time they arrived home, it was already midnight. 

Wen Ze had napped on the way back, wrapped in a beast hide blanket, so he wasn’t tired at all. 

He asked Zhuo Mu to organize the things they had exchanged today and let Yin He help him with the ingredients. 

Chen Meng and Xi Lie had also come back with them. Since they weren’t familiar with the house yet, Wen Ze only had them fetch water and tend to the fire. 

He used tender beast loin, chili peppers, Sichuan peppers, peanuts, and other ingredients to make a fragrant and spicy dish of boiled meat slices! 

Of course, knowing that most of them weren’t used to spicy food, he only made it mildly numbing and slightly spicy. 

For a non-spicy dish, he sliced bamboo shoots and some of their previously smoked meat, then stir-fried them with chives to make a bamboo shoot and stir-fry meat. 

The mushrooms he had exchanged were all dried, so there wasn’t enough time to soak them, so he left them for later. 

However, they still had plenty of pumpkins left. He scooped out the seeds for planting, cut the flesh into chunks, and steamed them. 

For the fried bird eggs, he used scallions as a non-spicy pairing. 

As for the stir-fried shredded potatoes, he added slivers of meat and chili peppers. The spicy aroma made him sneeze while cooking, but it smelled so good that his mouth watered uncontrollably. 

Once the food was ready, they set up torches around the stone table and had a “delicious midnight snack.” 

These few home-style dishes were all the things Wen Ze frequently ate in the modern world. 

Now, in the ancient Beast World, being able to eat familiar dishes made him feel like he was one step closer to the days of having enough food and drink, and he felt satisfied in his heart. 

The others also couldn’t stop praising the meal Wen Ze had prepared. 

Yin He handled the spiciness quite well and especially loved the Sichuan-style boiled meat slices. Even though he kept drinking water while eating, he refused to stop. 

Zhuo Mu, on the other hand, didn’t like spicy food and kept reaching for the stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat. 

Yin He eagerly told Wen Ze, “Brother, the boiled meat slices are the most delicious and unique dish I’ve ever had! Can we make it again tomorrow?” 

Wen Ze smiled. “Sure!” 

With autumn arriving, the nights were getting cooler. 

Everyone enjoyed the steaming hot food, sweating from the spice—it was incredibly refreshing. 

Since they had returned late that night, they ended up sleeping in the next morning and didn’t wake up until almost noon. 

Wen Ze discussed with Zhuo Mu and decided to rest at home for half a day before setting off at midnight. 

Unexpectedly, the entire tribe had the same idea. 

So, on the third day of the Autumn Harvest Festival, they all went together again. 

Most of their exchanges had been completed on the first day, so their main goal today was to have fun. 

Some single beastmen and half-beastmen took the opportunity to look for potential partners, strolling around the grasslands as a kind of date. 

Those who really liked each other or felt a connection might even find a secluded spot for deeper interaction. 

For those who were already bonded as mates, there were even fewer reservations. As soon as they arrived, couples would immediately disappear together. 

Wen Ze and Zhuo Mu weren’t at that stage yet, so they simply enjoyed a leisurely walk across the grasslands. 

To the surprise of the South Mountain tribe, as soon as they arrived, a group of well-built people with bronze skin, thick eyebrows, and deep-set eyes surrounded them. 

They were dressed in high-quality animal hides, their noses were particularly prominent, and their eyes were sharp and piercing. 

Although, on average, they were shorter than the South Mountain tribe members, they still seemed to be around 1.85 meters tall and exuded an imposing presence. 

The people from the South Mountain Tribe immediately became alert, with Zhuo Mu leading a group of strong beastmen, standing at the front. 

“Wait for me!” Just as the situation was about to escalate, Chi Yu’s familiar voice rang out. 

Wen Ze saw him anxiously transform into a large red fox, quickly dashing over. Upon reaching them, he hastily changed back into his human form and positioned himself between the two groups. 

He explained to the South Mountain tribe, “Don’t worry, they’re not here to cause trouble. This is Fen Yu, the tribe leader of the Black Silver Tribe. Since I’ve had exchanges with them before, they asked me to make an introduction.” 

The Black Silver Tribe? Wen Ze looked toward the middle-aged beastman leading the group. 

He was wrapped in a black animal hide skirt, with his muscular upper body exposed. His appearance was imposing and dignified. Perhaps due to constantly frowning, there was a prominent frown mark between his brows. 

Fen Yu spoke first. “Greetings.” His voice was low and slightly hoarse, but his tone was calm. 

Chi Yu pointed to Wen Ze and said, “This is Wen Ze from the South Mountain Tribe.” 

Wen Ze blinked. Were the Black Silver Tribe members here for him? 

As it turned out, they were. 

Confirming that it was just a misunderstanding, Sang Hui left Wen Ze, Wu Ye, and Zhuo Mu behind while letting the others go have fun. 

Fen Yu also waved his hand, signaling the people of the Black Silver Tribe to disperse. 

In the end, he brought one beastman and one half-beastman with him as he approached Wen Ze. 

“Shall we find a place to talk?” he asked. 

Sang Hui and the others looked at Wen Ze, so Wen Ze made the decision, “Alright.” 

The two groups found a sun-warmed patch of grass and sat facing each other. 

Fen Yu sat cross-legged, his large, calloused hands resting on his knees. 

Looking at Wen Ze, he said, “We heard two days ago that your tribe brought some black iron knives forged by yourselves. So, we came to the Eden Grasslands early yesterday to meet you, but you didn’t show up.” 

Wen Ze smiled. “Our tribe is far away. It takes time to travel back and forth.” 

Fen Yu nodded. “I see. Can you lend us one of your black iron knives to take a look?” 

Wen Ze unfastened his knife and handed it over. 

Fen Yu and the two people beside him examined it, their expressions gradually turning to one of shock. 

After a long pause, Fen Yu reluctantly returned the black iron knife and asked, “If I’m not mistaken, the ore you smelted comes from our tribe, right?” 

Wen Ze replied, “Yes, we exchanged for it from the traveling merchants.” 

Fen Yu understood. “So it was them.” 

Pointing at the knife, he asked, “We want to learn your smelting method. How much would it take to exchange for that knowledge?” 

The two people beside him chimed in, “Our tribe is rich in black silver and forges many black silver tools every year. You must know how valuable they are. We can offer one hundred black silver tools in exchange, and you can choose what kind you want.” 

“Or if you prefer pearls, gemstones, animal hides, pottery, and so on, our tribe has a lot of those too.” 

“We also heard you’re looking for seeds. We can help you search for them.” 

Wen Ze listened quietly, then gave a calm smile. “Your offer is indeed tempting. But I’m sorry—the smelting method is the foundation of our tribe’s survival. No matter how much you offer, we won’t exchange it.” 

Fen Yu frowned, the lines between his brows deepening. He thought this young half-beastman might be holding out for more. 

So he said, “Two hundred black silver tools, plus help in finding seeds.” 

Wen Ze shook his head. “I really don’t intend to exchange it.” 

Before Fen Yu could speak, the other two grew anxious. 

“That’s two hundred black silver tools! Do you know how many pieces of pottery the Rainbow Sun Tribe has to give us just for one black silver knife?” 

“Other than our tribe, no one else can offer this much! Are you sure you won’t reconsider?” 

Wen Ze’s smile faded, and his aura grew still, matching Fen Yu’s intensity. 

“I’m sure,” he said calmly. 

Fen Yu stared at Wen Ze for over ten seconds before speaking in a deep voice. “Young man, what will it take for you to teach us the smelting method?” 

Wen Ze met his gaze without hesitation. “You’ll have to join our tribe and undergo a five-year observation period. If there’s no ill intent, we can choose a few people to teach the method.” 

Fen Yu’s expression changed sharply, and the two beside him immediately shot to their feet in anger. 

“You—!” 

Zhuo Mu and the others had been watching them warily the whole time. 

Seeing this, they quickly stood up to confront them. 

If they dared to use force, the South Mountain Tribe wasn’t to be underestimated! 

Wen Ze, however, remained seated, his dark eyes locked on Fen Yu as he curved his lips. “Leader Fen Yu, you were the one who asked me. Why are you getting angry now?” 

Fen Yu furrowed his brows tightly and scolded the two beside him. 

The two stiffened, lowered their heads, and apologized to Wen Ze. 

Then, Fen Yu also stood up and said in a low voice, “They acted impulsively. My apologies.” 

Wen Ze was a bit surprised; it seemed that Leader Fen Yu was not an unreasonable person. 

Since they gave him a way out, Wen Ze stood up as well, smiling lightly and saying, “It’s fine. Since it’s an exchange, it’s normal that the deal might not work out. Maybe if you offer something else with sincerity later, we’ll consider it.” 

The half-beastman behind Fen Yu asked, “What kind of sincerity would that be?” 

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