Transmigrating to the BeastWorld,I Picked Up an Adorable BeastHusband!-Chapter 36: A competition for the better cook
Xiaoli gave her a knowing smile before turning back to the pot.
"Nala, did you wash the fish? And someone wash the tubers as well. The last batch was too sandy."
Nala nodded and opened a medium-sized clay pot filled with water. On a spread of palm leaves, she began washing the fish.
Ningning’s eyes widened. Well, that was certainly one way to wash fish, though she wouldn’t recommend it.
If they didn’t have a bowl, then it would be better to wash the fish at the stream.
"Xiaoli, can I take over cooking for today? If you let me, I’ll teach you something new."
Xiaoli hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She had seen Ningning’s excellent basket-making skills, and figured her cooking wouldn’t be too bad either.
"Let me just get permission from the other females..."
Xiaoli managed to get the go-ahead from Nala and another woman, but today’s head cook wasn’t keen on giving up her role.
"Why should I let some human take over today’s cooking?" the woman hissed. "She doesn’t know our tastes. Let her wait her turn." She turned back to the pot.
"Dana, don’t be like this. Ningning might have something interesting to share. We should give her a chance." Xiaoli tried to persuade Dana, but it only annoyed her even more.
She frowned and turned to look at Ningning, her lips twisting in disgust.
Because Ningning had to sit while slicing the vegetables, the folds of her stomach were plainly visible.
"This fatty probably only knows how to eat," Dana sneered. "What would she know about cooking? She’ll eat all our food before winter even comes. Weijie made a mistake."
Her words fell sharp and ugly in the middle of the cooking area.
For a moment, no one spoke.
The women washing fish and scraping tubers slowed unconsciously, their hands still moving, but their ears clearly tilted.
Even Xiaoli’s smile stiffened.
"Dana," she said quietly. "You’re going too far."
Dana snorted, as if she’d heard the greatest joke in the world.
"Too far? I’m telling the truth. Winter is coming, and food is already tight. Now we’re expected to feed another mouth that only knows how to sit and eat? If she cooks the way she looks, we’ll starve before the first frost."
A few women exchanged awkward glances.
Some wanted to laugh.
Some didn’t dare.
Ningning, however, didn’t react at all.
She simply continued slicing the tubers in her hand, as if Dana had commented on the weather.
Her expression remained calm. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
Too calm.
That, somehow, only annoyed Dana further.
"You’re pretending you didn’t hear me?" Dana folded her arms and raised her voice. "I’m talking to you, human. Or are your ears stuffed with fat too?"
"Dana," Xiaoli warned again, a deep frown on her face.
But Dana was already on a roll.
"I’ve seen plenty like her. Useless hands, huge appetite. When winter comes, people like this are always the first to cry for food. If Weijie really bonds with her, he’ll regret it. Maybe she’ll even eat his share."
A couple of the younger women giggled nervously.
Ningning finally put the knife down.
Not loudly.
Just gently.
Then she stood.
Dana thought she was going to argue. Or cry.
Instead, Ningning walked over calmly, until she stopped directly in front of her. They stood close enough that Dana had to tilt her chin up slightly.
For some reason, her heart skipped.
"...What?" Dana said, forcing her voice to sound fierce.
Ningning studied her for a long moment.
Then she smiled.
Not angry. Not embarrassed.
Just a calm, faint smirk that irritated Dana more than any insult could have.
"Are you done?" Ningning asked mildly.
Dana blinked. "What?"
"Your rant," Ningning continued. "Are you finished? You’ve been talking for quite a while."
The women around them froze.
Xiaoli covered her mouth.
Someone coughed, badly hiding a laugh.
Dana’s face flushed red. "You—!"
Ningning didn’t let her finish.
"You said I only know how to eat. You said I don’t know how to cook." She tilted her head slightly. "Then let’s not waste time arguing."
She gestured toward the fire pit and the baskets of ingredients.
"I don’t need an oracle or anyone’s words to prove anything."
Her voice remained light, but every word landed clearly.
"I’ll cook. You cook too."
Dana stared at her.
Ningning’s faint smile widened just a little. "Let’s see whose food the tribe finishes first."
Silence.
Then—
"What?" Nala gasped.
"A competition?" someone whispered.
Dana’s pride flared instantly.
"You want to compete with me?" she laughed harshly. "I’ve been cooking for this tribe since I could hold a stone knife. You think you can win?"
Ningning shrugged. "If I lose, I’ll admit I’m useless."
She met Dana’s gaze head-on.
"But if you lose..."
Dana’s throat tightened.
"...then don’t call me dead weight again."
The air between them seemed to spark.
For some reason, the other women felt a sudden rush of excitement. It was just cooking.
So why did it feel like two hunters were about to clash?
Dana scoffed loudly. "Fine! Don’t cry later when no one eats your food."
Xiaoli slapped her thigh. "Alright then! Since you both agreed, we’ll split the ingredients evenly."
She turned, already energized.
"Nala, divide the fish! You two, bring more firewood! If we’re doing this, we’re doing it properly!"
The quiet cooking area burst into life.
Women hurried about.
Someone muttered under their breath, "This is more interesting than the bonding ceremony preparations..."
Ningning looked down at the pile of ingredients placed before her and calmly rolled up her sleeves.
A cooking competition?
Please.
In her original timeline, she’d survived university dorm kitchens and budget groceries. Compared to that, this was easy mode.
Behind her head, Doudou’s lazy voice chimed in.
[Oho— look at you. Go on, girl. Crush her.]
Ningning’s lips twitched.
Yeah. She planned to.
She was going to crush Dana so thoroughly she wouldn’t dare show her face in broad daylight again.
And afterward?
She’d remind her of this loss every single time they crossed paths.
I play dirty, bitch.
You should never have crossed me.
Because now, I won’t let you off easy.
