Chapter 196: Chapter 196: The Great Ration Hustle and the Clingy Fox
Rong Ye and Han Jue didn’t linger in the pouring rain. Seeing the imdiate, organized panic of the tribe was a clear signal that the ti for lounging was over.
Han Jue, practical and strong, imdiately headed back to the cave to ensure Su Qinglan was covered and secured and, most importantly, to start shifting.
Rong Ye, however, had a more self-serving, yet essential, duty in mind. He imdiately bolted toward the storage area where the tribe’s rations were being distributed.
The rule was simple: the rations, consisting of smoked at, dried fruits, and the yet-to-arrive precious rice, had to be divided imdiately.
The distribution was happening now because if everyone kept their share in one central location, so greedy or less prepared families might eat theirs early and demand more, leaving others at a disadvantage by the end of the long rainy season.
So, most of the food was being distributed to each family and single beastman, with a small percentage held back for ergency use.
Rong Ye, slick with rain and determination, had arrived to oversee the proceedings.
He had to keep an eye on the distribution.
After all, his female was so delicate; she needed the absolute best to eat. And since she was carrying a cub, their assigned allotnt would naturally be larger. He had to make sure the distributor didn’t shortchange them.
The distributor was an elderly, broad-shouldered beastman nad Bo. He was soaked to the bone and trying his best to keep the distribution fair and calm amidst the downpour and the tribe’s general anxiety.
But Bo found his task nearly impossible because Rong Ye was clinging to his side like a particularly annoying beast cub.
Rong Ye’s violet eyes scanned every single piece of at that ca out of the stone bowls.
"Elder Bo," Rong Ye purred, not even attempting to hide his shalessness, "are those pieces of the neck? Lan Lan cannot chew the tough neck at! Only the soft, juicy loin, please. Look at the fat marble on that one...that’s perfect for her!"
Bo felt an almost irresistible urge to smack the fox right in his slick, smug face. "Rong Ye, your family has been assigned your share! You already have two entire bowls of smoked loin from the giant elk you hunted! Be fair!"
"Fairness is for the slow, Elder Bo," Rong Ye retorted with a loud humph, puffing out his chest.
"We hunted with our might! We deserve the best pieces! Don’t you dare give Lan Lan tough at. Look at this piece," he poked a piece of smoked at in the distribution bowl with a finger.
"It looks dry! Give us the bowl that Han Jue smoked! His at is always better sealed!"
Rong Ye was ready to fight whoever opposed him. Even though their family, thanks to Han Jue and Hu Yan, already had plenty of their own smoked at, he would still want the best pieces from the communal pool. This was for Lan Lan, and they deserved it, he thought.
Elder Bo sighed deeply, the sound barely audible over the rush of the rain. His patience was wearing thin, but he paused, carefully eyeing the clamoring fox.
Bo rembered how much at both Hu Yan and Han Jue had brought in during the last big hunt. He also rembered that Rong Ye’s mate was Su Qinglan, the tribe leader’s daughter.
Offending this particular family, or this particularly irritating fox, would not be good for his old age.
"Fine," Bo grumbled, rubbing his temples. He pointed to a large, sealed stone bowl. "This one contains three ribs from a young bison, which are the softest. Take it, and get out of my sight!"
Rong Ye’s pitiful, rain-soaked expression instantly vanished, replaced by a flash of smug victory.
He snatched the heavy bowl with astonishing speed, tucked it securely under his arm, and gave the tired Elder Bo a cheerful, yet utterly insincere, wave.
"Thank you, Elder Bo! May the heavens bless your bones for your generosity!" he called out, before sprinting off toward their cave, now utterly satisfied with his hard-won, premium rations.
On the other hand, Han Jue, with his muscular body soaked through, finally reached the mouth of the cave. Rain plastered his white hair to his forehead, and water stread down his broad shoulders.
Su Qinglan, who was starting to doze off again in the warm furs, snapped awake at the sound of his heavy, wet footsteps. Her eyes widened with imdiate worry.
"Han Jue! You’re drenched!" she exclaid, scrambling to her knees. She quickly grabbed a large, dry beast hide, one of the thickest ones, and handed it to him. "Hurry, wipe yourself! You’ll fall sick!"
Han Jue took the hide but only paused to gently squeeze so of the water from his hair. He offered her a steady, reassuring smile.
"There is nothing to worry about, Lan Lan. I will not fall sick. It is just water."
He quickly covered himself with the hide, shedding the worst of the rain. As he did, he relayed the grim news.
"The Tribe Leader has ordered us to start shifting imdiately," he said, his voice low and serious. "The entire tribe is to slowly move to the new living area."
Su Qinglan gasped, her eyes wide with surprise. "So soon?"
Han Jue nodded his head, his face tight. "The priest confird that the heavens have changed. He said, "This rain will not stop; it will only increase from here on."
That made Su Qinglan truly worried. A sudden, heavy rain could be managed, but a relentless, growing storm could lead to flooding and cold illnesses.
Han Jue saw the fear darken her eyes. He quickly took her small hands in his, holding them firmly.
"Don’t worry, Lan Lan," he said, his steady voice soothing. "We are prepared. The new hos are strong and ready. Everything will be fine."
He looked over at Hu Yan, who was resting on the stone bed.
With one look, both Han Jue and the great tiger sprang into action. They started packaging all the family’s belongings in the cave.
Su Qinglan wanted to help. She stood up and moved towards the piles of furs, but Han Jue imdiately blocked her path with his arm.
"No, Lan Lan. You rest," he instructed gently but firmly.
Hu Yan stepped in behind her, his large, calloused hand resting on her shoulder as he nudged her back towards the warm furs with a low rumble of warning in his chest.
Defeated but understanding, Su Qinglan could only sit back down. She directed them instead, pointing to items and checking things off in her mind.
"The dried herbs are all in the woven basket," she instructed. "Make sure the lids on the cooking stone bowls are sealed with clay, or the moisture will ruin the rations!"
The contents of their cave felt so few: the food stores, the dried herbs she had collected, the pile of soft furs and heavy hides, the few stone utensils, and a couple of wooden items Hu Yan had carved. This was the sum of their possessions.
But when they started gathering it all, the items quickly accumulated. The stone bowls and heavy tubs, essential for carrying water and storing food, beca surprisingly bulky and heavy.
Han Jue effortlessly lifted a massive stone tub full of smoked at and put it aside for the first trip.
Hu Yan used his strength to haul rolled hides and large wooden tubs.
The two husbands worked quickly, efficiently, and silently; their movents were so coordinated that they stunned her.
The cave was almost ready when a loud, cheerful voice suddenly echoed from the entrance.
"Lan Lan! I’m back!"
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