"Yue, what is this delicious food?"

Wu Yue led him to where she kept her chickens. "The food you just ate was their eggs. You just have to boil them in water."

"I never would have thought you could eat eggs like this. I’ve eaten these eggs before when I was starving, but..."

As he spoke, he shivered as if recalling an unpleasant memory.

Wu Yue knew exactly what he meant. The last time she’d made scrambled eggs for Qingcao and Aya, the moment she cracked one open, she almost thought she’d gotten a rotten egg.

But once cooked, it had that wonderfully familiar aroma. It was quite magical.

She had Shi Lin help her make two wooden blocks as wide as the bedboard and as tall as her calf.

She dragged them back to her room, set the two blocks in place, and laid the bedboard on top. A bed was complete.

She even made herself a small barrier against the wall.

She found some fresh hay to spread on top. With a Beast Skin for a blanket, it would be very warm at night.

She also gave Shi Lin some dried, roasted taro. The Half beastman Warrior left with a brilliant smile, hugging the pile of food.

That night, lying on a real bed for the first time in ages, Wu Yue was so moved she almost cried. ’This is pure bliss.’

「The next morning.」

Wu Yue had just sat up in bed, her hair a bird’s nest, still trying to wake up, when a violent BANG BANG BANG rattled her door.

It was followed by Qingcao’s shouting: "Yue, get up! It’s a public collection day, we have to get there early!"

Her mind still fuzzy, Wu Yue snapped awake at her words. She quickly tied the Beast Skins to her feet, got dressed, and dumped the wild vegetable balls she’d made yesterday into her back-basket before opening the door.

When she and Qingcao arrived at the open clearing, the members of the various Collection Teams were already there.

The moment Grandma Hua Shu saw Wu Yue, her eyes lit up. "Yue, come over here, quickly!"

After saying goodbye to Qingcao, Wu Yue went to Grandma Hua Shu’s Collection Team.

The members of the Collection Team looked at her with eagerness and gratitude, greeting her warmly.

Wu Yue knew it was because she had taught everyone how to make dried vegetables.

Grandma Hua Shu’s earlier excitement vanished. She sighed and pointed to a group of slaves huddled in a corner. "These ones are too timid, and they don’t listen. I’m at my wit’s end."

"They’re just a little scared. I’ll take them with me in a bit, so don’t worry."

Grandma Hua Shu nodded. "I trust you to handle it."

Just then, the slaves also saw Wu Yue. They peeked at her furtively, their eyes shining.

Wu Yue walked over, and Chang Ye came forward to greet her. "Lady Wu Yue, none of us have ever been around so many tribe members before, so we’re a little overwhelmed. It’ll get better over time."

As he spoke, he cautiously watched Wu Yue’s expression, afraid she would get angry.

Wu Yue smiled. "You’ll get used to it slowly. There will be many more opportunities like this before the great rainy season."

Then she looked at Chang Ye and said, "From now on, any food you gather, aside from the portion given to the tribe, will be split in two. You’ll keep one portion for yourselves to eat during the great rainy season, and the rest you’ll give to me.

I’ll have the Half beastman Warriors from the back mountain help you dig two large cellars. Once your food is prepared, you can store it there directly."

Hearing this, Chang Ye was completely stunned. "For... for us?"

Wu Yue nodded. "I told you when I first had you start gathering with me that I would leave you with enough food to get through the great rainy season. So, you have to work hard at gathering."

Chang Ye tapped his head to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. Then, his face flushed red with excitement, he ran toward the other slaves.

A moment later, Chang Ye must have relayed what Wu Yue had said, because all the slaves knelt down in her direction in unison.

The surrounding members of the Snow Tiger Tribe watched this scene in confusion. The slaves seemed to hold Wu Yue in a state of reverence.

But they didn’t have time to dwell on it.

With a command from the Snow Tiger Tribe Leader, Wu Yue led the slaves and followed closely behind Grandma Hua Shu to today’s gathering spot.

Only... looking at the gathering spot before her, she felt a little disillusioned. The area was covered in clumps of pale-yellow, poop-shaped, unidentified objects, with many eggshells scattered around.

She couldn’t help but turn to Shui next to her and ask, "Is this some kind of wild beast’s pooping ground?"

Shui looked at her, completely baffled. "Poop? Where’s the poop?"