Favorite of the Beast-world: I Got Rich Through Farming-Chapter 31: Personal Prestige Boost

An Jin raised an eyebrow and shifted to make some room for the few males who had squeezed over. She gave the handsome, resolute man beside her a skeptical look.

’Can Ling Hong really roast meat?’

’I’m the one who’s always done the cooking at home!’

She had to admit, Ling Hong really had a talent for it. She had only done it in front of him a few times, yet he could already replicate it passably.

He even managed to perfectly copy the final steps, rubbing the roast with salt, minced garlic, and spicy sauce.

"Here, try some," he said with a slight smile, tearing off a tender piece of meat. After blowing on it to cool it down, he handed it to her.

An Jin took a skeptical bite and was utterly amazed. The flavor... it was actually no worse than her own cooking!

She had honed this skill by frequently grilling at home in her past life. To think Ling Hong had learned it just by watching a few times left An Jin feeling a little dejected.

What she didn’t know was that every time she cooked, Ling Hong would watch her without blinking.

She thought he was just drooling over the food. In reality, for a wolf like Ling Hong with a powerful spirit of inquiry, he was concentrating wholeheartedly on learning...

Seeing the little female suddenly look so downcast, Ling Hong was a bit bewildered and flustered. He quickly said, "I can handle the cooking from now on, so you won’t have to be so busy! Isn’t that great?"

His words served as a reminder for An Jin.

The little female’s mood was like a cloudy sky clearing up. She suddenly smiled, her dejection vanishing completely.

The few males who had squeezed in were studying intently. After all, cooking was a major skill for winning over a mate in the future. In just a short while, a rich aroma began to drift from their area, attracting the attention of nearly the entire tribe.

This naturally included Shana, the Clan Leader, and Manduo...

When Shana saw another female next to Ling Hong, her face immediately darkened like the bottom of a pot. She let out a heavy snort.

She had also roasted a beast leg. It was burnt black, but she had spent a long time on it, intending to give it to Ling Hong. Now, it seemed, there was no need.

Shana casually tossed the roast to a stunned Zuo Mi, who was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. Then she got up and walked toward Ling Hong.

...

Meanwhile, An Jin was comfortably warming herself by the bonfire. Seeing that the fire had burned down halfway, she was struck by the sudden idea to make beggar’s chicken.

Coincidentally, Ling Hong had brought back plenty of Wild Grass Birds. Butchering two or three would be enough for her to experiment with.

The young males nearby were exceptionally attentive. Seeing her plan, they immediately followed An Jin’s instructions to find lotus leaves and wet mud. They even gutted, cleaned, and brought over two of the birds.

After preparing the birds, she stuffed their cavities with spices and fresh fruit, wrapped them tightly in lotus leaves, and then coated the outside of the leaves with a layer of wet, black mud.

The little female’s small hands were covered in dark mud. She accidentally smudged some on her face, making it a mess, which was both endearingly clumsy and cute.

Ling Hong stared at her for a moment, suppressing a smile, then reached out and wiped the mud from her face.

Under everyone’s utterly astonished gaze, the little female tossed the prepared "black balls" onto the fire. She used a branch to turn them over and over, ensuring the mud balls heated evenly.

’What is she doing? Are we going to be gnawing on mud later?’

While they waited, Shana swaggered over to them with her hands on her hips. When she got a clear look at An Jin’s face, she was so shocked her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

’Th-this... isn’t this that Little Black Mud from last time? How has she gotten prettier?!’

But then she remembered that the males all praised her as the most beautiful female in the tribe. With that thought, the jealousy and panic that had just begun to rise in Shana’s heart were quickly suppressed.

’This female actually dares to shamelessly stick by Ling Hong’s side. Just watch, I’ll teach her a lesson.’

She glared at An Jin and roared reproachfully, "Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You’re shameless!"

Her voice was absurdly loud, and the surrounding Beastmen could all hear her, turning to look in their direction.

"The males from the Hunting Team told me everything! You actually made Ling Hong bring back these live Wild Grass Birds from outside the tribe?!"

Shana put on an act of being concerned for the tribe, looking grief-stricken as she glared viciously at An Jin, her eyes filled with an undeniable, sinister jealousy. "Not only are these big wild birds completely tasteless, but you also made Ling Hong capture them alive! Don’t you know how much space they take up and what a nuisance they are?"

"All the males in the Hunting Team know! To bring these birds back alive, Ling Hong had to give up several wild boars! Do you have any idea how wasteful that is?! You’re so selfish!"

Wild boar was the staple food of their tribe and the favorite meat of all Beastmen. Those few fat, healthy boars could have fed a family for half a month!

’Heh, Beastmen hate people who waste food. In any tribe, that’s a punishable offense. I can’t wait to see the look on Little Black Mud’s face when everyone shuns her.’

Upon hearing about wasted food, many Beastmen turned to look with angry faces. It even alerted the Clan Leader, whose Golden Eyes gazed over as he walked towards them with a grim expression.

"Don’t talk nonsense! The Wild Grass Birds are so fragrant, I think they’re way better than wild boar!" The few males who had been learning from An Jin grew anxious when they heard this. Wiping their greasy lips, they stood up to defend the little female.

The Clan Leader walked over, looked at the few Beastmen with greasy faces, and asked in a deep voice, "What are you eating?"

’I’ve never seen anything like it.’

A Beastman quickly and excitedly replied, "This is Wild Grass Bird! It’s delicious when you roast it! Ah, no, I mean, it used to taste terrible, but after learning the right method, it’s so, so good!"

Wild Grass Birds had many bones, and their numerous feathers were difficult to deal with. They also burned easily when roasted, and their meat was loose and lacked chewiness. For these reasons, the Beastmen had always shunned them. Even though the birds were plentiful, no one was willing to put in the effort to catch them.

The Clan Leader was naturally skeptical at first, just like everyone else. But when a Beastman handed him a piece of the roasted bird, his gaze flickered.

The skin was roasted to a crispy, golden-brown perfection, glistening with fat. A sprinkle of scallions and chili peppers was a masterful touch. The irresistible aroma made the Clan Leader unable to resist taking a bite. His eyes immediately lit up.

’Is... is this really a Wild Grass Bird?’

’How can it be even more delicious than wild boar?!’

Seeing the Clan Leader’s expression, Shana felt a flash of unease. Still, she continued to grumble and mock from the side. Unwilling to give up, she snatched a bird leg and took a bite.

’I refuse to believe this stupid bird could taste that good!’

’I ate one when I was little, and it was disgusting! I even got a mouthful of feathers.’

But when the crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside meat passed her lips, she froze completely, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Seeing the shocked expressions on both their faces, the other Beastmen, who were already ravenous from the aroma, couldn’t hold back any longer. After a nod from Ling Hong, they each tore off a piece of meat from the roasted birds and eagerly popped it into their mouths.

A collective gasp went through the crowd.

They all looked at each other, seeing the same incredulous ecstasy in one another’s eyes.

Beastmen were honest and direct. After truly tasting something delicious, their earlier anger and suspicion vanished in an instant, replaced by gazes of fervent adoration.

An Jin then cracked open the fully cooked beggar’s chickens. A rich fragrance that seemed to spread for miles wafted out, and she shared the meat with the famished little cubs.

"AWOO~!"

The little cubs’ eyes lit up, their fluffy ears perking up high. They finally voiced what all the adult Beastmen were thinking, "This is so delicious! Big sister, how did you make this? Can you teach us?"

"Yeah, yeah, teach us! It’s so yummy, awoo, I’m drooling!" A cub quickly wiped its mouth, the scent so good it made him want to transform into his beast form and pounce.

"There are so many Wild Grass Birds, they’re everywhere! If we can eat them, our cubs will never have to worry about starving to death again!" one Beastman exclaimed to those around him, overjoyed to the point of tears.

"That’s right! And unlike ferocious beasts, even our little cubs and females can catch Wild Grass Birds. We won’t have to worry about our food source anymore!"

At that moment, it was as if Shana had been forgotten in a corner. No one paid any attention to her stunned silence. Her spotlight had been completely stolen by An Jin; even the males who usually surrounded her had all run off.

Shana was furious and humiliated. She had wanted to make An Jin look like a fool, but in the end, she was the one who had been made a fool of!

She was so angry she started to cry. Gritting her teeth, she stared at the female surrounded by the crowd, the sight stinging her eyes.

Shana turned and ran wildly away from the crowd. Only Zuo Mi quickly shifted into his wolf form and followed close behind...

[Ding—Personal Prestige +10. Current Prestige: +10. A cumulative total of 60 is required to unlock the Tribal Territory System.]