I Transmigrated as a Villainess to Raise Babies, and My Beast Husbands Are Fighting Madly Over Me!-Chapter 130: Why Don’t You Wipe Me Down, Too?
Qiao Xixi remembered how they had eaten the Yellow Earth Fruits before, and she immediately understood why they thought the Red Heart Fruits tasted bad.
"These Red Heart Fruits are incredibly soft, tender, and sweet when they’re roasted. Once we dig them up and bring them back, I’ll show everyone how to prepare them."
Gu Man shot the female who had spoken a glare. "Of course they aren’t as good as meat, but when you’re starving, are you really going to care about how they taste? If you don’t want to dig, then go back and wait for your mate to feed you."
The deer female, having been called out by Gu Man in front of everyone, didn’t get angry. She just said, "I’m not going back. I’m going to dig with everyone else. I don’t want to starve."
"Alright, let’s all start digging. Try to get as many as you can."
No one paid the small incident much mind and instead started digging with all their might.
Jin Ling followed behind Qiao Xixi, carrying a bamboo basket on his back. Every time she was about to squat down, he would beat her to it and dig out a Red Heart Fruit.
"Jin Ling, I can dig too. We can get more if we work together."
Without even looking up, Jin Ling dropped a large Red Heart Fruit into the basket.
"How about I dig them up, and you gather them?"
"Okay, that works."
With that, Jin Ling shifted into his beast form, and his sharp tiger claws began to dig rapidly.
Qiao Xixi followed behind him, gathering the fruits. In no time, all the baskets they had brought were full.
She knew there would be a lot of Red Heart Fruits here, but she hadn’t expected this many. The resources in and around the Silver Tribe were truly abundant.
"They’re full. Why don’t you take these back? I’ll wait here for you."
Jin Ling frowned. Before he could say anything, Qiao Xixi whispered, "Don’t worry. Have you forgotten about my secret weapon from last night?"
The power of the Bubble Fruits came to Jin Ling’s mind, and he finally agreed.
"Alright. Don’t wander off. I’ll be right back."
"Okay."
After Jin Ling left, Qiao Xixi continued gathering the fruits, piling the ones he had just unearthed onto a clear patch of ground nearby.
Gu Man had approached her at some point, holding a blue fruit. "Xixi, do you know what kind of fruit this is? It’s really pretty."
Qiao Xixi turned around. She froze for a moment upon seeing the fruit, then her face lit up with immense delight.
A Sugar Fruit!
’The records said there was sugar in the beast world, but it was a type similar to honey, found inside a blue fruit called a Sugar Fruit.’
Qiao Xixi took the Sugar Fruit and broke it open. Inside was a pale yellow paste. She scooped a little into her mouth, and her eyes widened. ’It really is sweet!’
"Xiao Yao, take a look. Is this a Sugar Fruit?"
"Mmm? Yep, that’s right, Host! This is a Sugar Fruit, no doubt about it. It looks like it’s the right season for them to be ripe. And this type of fruit has a really high yield—they usually grow in huge patches. You should look around to see if there are more."
"Okay."
"Gu Man, this is a Sugar Fruit. It’s sweet, you should try some."
Gu Man tasted a little, looking skeptical, and her eyes widened in surprise as well.
"This is so delicious!"
"Where did you find it?"
Gu Man pointed ahead. Qiao Xixi followed her finger and saw, in the distance, rows of large trees covered in blue Sugar Fruits.
’What a wonderful surprise! An absolutely wonderful surprise!’
"We’ll go pick them after we’re done digging up the Red Heart Fruits."
Sugar wasn’t a necessity, but Qiao Xixi was still thrilled with the discovery.
As the sun began to set, they had dug up nearly all the Red Heart Fruits in the area. Everyone piled their harvest to the side, waiting for their mates to come and carry them back.
While they were waiting, Qiao Xixi gathered all the females in a clear area.
"Now, I’m going to show you all how to make these Red Heart Fruits taste delicious."
Nearby, Jin Ling had already brought over some embers and started a fire.
Qiao Xixi dug a small pit, buried the Red Heart Fruits inside, and then covered the pit with the burning firewood.
While they waited, she explained in detail how long it would take to cook.
When the time was about right, she pushed the fire aside and dug the Red Heart Fruits out of the pit.
The timing and heat were perfect.
The roasted Red Heart Fruits emanated a sweet, fragrant aroma. The moment she broke one open, many of the females were captivated by the scent.
"You can all have a taste."
Qiao Xixi placed the opened Red Heart Fruit on a large leaf and used a bone knife to cut it into small pieces for them to try.
Gu Man was the first to grab a piece of the Red Heart Fruit and pop it in her mouth.
The other females watched her curiously.
After one bite, Gu Man couldn’t hide the delight on her face. "It’s so good! Even better than the Yellow Earth Fruits."
Qiao Xixi wasn’t surprised in the least. Few females could resist a roasted Red Heart Fruit that was so fragrant, sweet, and tender.
Several other females tried it and all agreed they loved it.
"I want to go dig up some more! Qiao Xixi, do you know where we can find more? Would you be willing to take us?"
"No problem. I’m going to dig again tomorrow. If anyone else wants to come, just wait outside my home early in the morning."
"Okay."
「That night.」
Qiao Xixi and Jin Ling moved all the Red Heart Fruits back home.
There were so many Red Heart Fruits that she didn’t get a chance to go pick the Sugar Fruits.
"Mother, we’re back!"
Qiao Xixi was just picking out some Red Heart Fruits to roast for the evening when the cubs returned.
The three cubs walked into the courtyard, filthy as little mud monkeys. She had no idea what they’d been up to all day.
"Quick, come with Mother and get cleaned up."
Qiao Xixi stood and led the cubs to the backyard. She took an animal-hide cloth to wipe the dust from their faces and bodies. After they were clean, she turned to see Feiyan standing behind her.
"Young Clan Leader, what are you doing here?"
Feiyan’s gaze, which had been lingering on Qiao Xixi, suddenly darted away.
"I was just bringing the cubs home."
"Oh."
Qiao Xixi poured out the dirty water.
"Thank you for your trouble, Young Clan Leader. I hope the cubs weren’t a bother today."
The corners of Feiyan’s upturned eyes lifted. "They’re my cubs, too. It wouldn’t be a problem even if they were a bother."
"Oh."
Qiao Xixi wrung the animal-hide cloth dry and was about to hang it up when Feiyan nearly jumped out of his skin.
"I’m still dirty, you know. Why don’t you... wipe me down, too?"
Only then did Qiao Xixi look up and really study him. It was one thing not to have looked closely, but seeing him now gave her a start.
’Was this filthy fox beastman before her really the same cocky snow fox Young Clan Leader who was always immaculately clean wherever he went?’
’If she didn’t know better, she would have thought his animal-hide clothes were supposed to be gray.’
"What on earth did you all do today?"
Seeing that Qiao Xixi hadn’t refused and was even handing him an animal-hide cloth, Feiyan’s ears twitched with delight.
"The cubs and I went to reinforce the tribe’s main gate."
Repairs inside the tribe could wait, but the gate had to be fixed as quickly as possible to prevent another Mutant Beast attack.
"How long will it take to finish?"
"If we’re quick, just a few more days."
"I see. Thank you for your hard work... ACHOO!"
Feiyan’s expression changed. He tossed the animal-hide cloth aside and anxiously grabbed Qiao Xixi’s hand.
"What’s wrong? Are you cold?"
