Chapter 8: Grass Seeds and Spider Silk

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The three of them chatted as they made their way toward the Trade Street, with Hu Yue following behind.

Qiyue strolled along at an unhurried pace, occasionally glancing at the goods displayed by the roadside. Trade Street was still crowded, and many females pointed at her, saying all sorts of things.

“She deserves it. Why didn’t she die out there? What a temptress.”

“She has a face made to seduce beastmen, yet she has no shame. It serves her right.”

“She relied on that face to win people’s sympathy. No wonder Lion De abandoned her.”

“She’s been disfigured, yet she still dares to flaunt herself in public. Doesn’t she feel ashamed?”

“Now that she’s ruined her face, let’s see how she seduces beastmen.”

Some females expressed sympathy and regret.

That was the general attitude of the females on the street.

A small number of males lamented the situation. The tribe’s foremost beauty had given way to Tiger Li’er, and the goddess in their hearts was about to be replaced.

Most beastmen showed no reaction at all. They simply went about their own business. What happened to someone else had nothing to do with them.

Qiyue paid no attention to these irrelevant people. As she walked, she considered what she needed to prepare. Herbs could be exchanged from Witch Doctor Deer Li when the time came. The accompanying beastmen would prepare food; they would never allow females or cubs to go hungry. As for hides, there were more than a dozen in the bundle Leopard Xue’er had given her that morning. But large hides were too heavy. How would she carry them away later? If she added any more, she would have even greater difficulty transporting them. If only she could find hemp. She could also collect seeds from various plants, keeping a little of each kind to sow after deciding where to settle.

Meanwhile, Ling’er grew angrier with every step. Tugging at Qiyue, she asked, “Big Sister Yue, aren’t you angry?”

“Why should I be angry? I haven’t done anything wrong. Their mouths belong to them, and I can’t control them. Besides, if I get angry, I’ll only be punishing myself for someone else’s mistake. I don’t see why I should be angry on their account.” Qiyue spoke with complete indifference.

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“Exactly. There’s no reason to punish yourself for someone else’s mistake. Besides, those people aren’t our relatives or friends. Why waste our breath on them? They aren’t worth it!” Leopard Xue’er wholeheartedly agreed with Qiyue.

“That’s right. That’s exactly the point. Huh? Why is this here?” Qiyue noticed a female by the roadside with half a sack of grain ears in front of her. The grain was an enlarged version of modern crops, each kernel about the size of a soybean.

“These seeds were meant to be exchanged with avian beastmen during the Luojia Festival. Some households have too much, and since they aren’t worth very much, people sell the surplus cheaply here if they can’t carry it with them,” Leopard Xue’er explained.

Qiyue grew excited. Once hulled, millet could be made from the grain, and millet porridge was good for the stomach.

“How much are these?”

“Qiyue, why are you buying this? If you need some, my family has plenty. You can use as much as you like when we get back,” Leopard Xue’er said disapprovingly.

“We can talk about what’s at home after we return. For now, help me buy these.” Qiyue figured they had to be much cheaper than at the Luojia Festival. It would be a pity not to buy them. When she left, she would take only some of the seeds and leave the rest to Leopard Xue’er. She would also teach her how to eat them, as repayment for returning her parents’ keepsakes and caring for her during this period.

Leopard Xue’er turned and gave Hu Yue a few instructions before taking Qiyue onward. Along the way, Qiyue spotted enlarged versions of rice, wheat, soybeans, and mung beans, and had Hu Yue buy them all.

“Two hours have passed. Aren’t you tired?” Ling’er complained, pounding one of her calves.

“It’s been that long? I didn’t even notice.” Qiyue glanced at the sun overhead. The people here judged the time by the sun’s position. She had been too excited to notice the passing hours. Now she had rice, white flour, soy milk, and even mung bean soup.

“That’s Lion Yu’s dress shop ahead. Why don’t we sit there for a while?” Leopard Xue’er suggested. She was getting tired as well.

“No! There will definitely be lots of females in a dress shop. Our ears will suffer again,” Ling’er objected.

“Lion Yu is my friend. She isn’t like those people. We can rest in the back, where she cuts and sews the clothes.”

“Let’s go there, Ling’er. I’m tired too. We can ask for some water while we’re there. Aren’t you thirsty?” Qiyue urged from the side.

“All right, let’s go.” Seeing that both of them agreed, Ling’er had no choice but to consent.

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Leopard Xue’er asked Hu Yue to take the things they had bought home first, then return to Lion Yu’s dress shop to pick them up.

As soon as they entered the shop, they found that it was indeed full of females. Leopard Xue’er greeted Lion Yu, then led Qiyue and Ling’er to the back sewing room to rest.

Qiyue idly examined the hides used for making clothes. Some were thin, others thick, but the garments themselves were much the same, with nothing particularly novel about them. Her interest soon faded, and she turned her attention to the threads used for sewing.

Seeing that Qiyue was interested, Leopard Xue’er explained, “This thread is separated from Emerald Vines. The fibers are soft yet durable, making them ideal for sewing. The fibers we usually twist into hemp rope are taken from palm leaves, but those are too coarse to sew clothes with. There’s another kind—the silk spun by Rainbow Spiders. This is it.”

Leopard Xue’er picked up a bundle of thread from the corner.

“It breaks too easily and isn’t sturdy enough, so it can only be used for ornaments.”

Qiyue stared at the thread in Leopard Xue’er’s hand, her eyes shining.

“Sister Xue, where can we find this rainbow spider silk? I need it.”

The intensity in Qiyue’s gaze startled Leopard Xue’er. What had happened to her? Why did her eyes suddenly look so frightening?

“There are plenty of them in the mulberry grove south of the tribe. Most people have no use for them. This is the season when they produce silk, and the grove is close to the tribe. There aren’t any large beasts nearby. If you need some, we can find time to gather it together.”

“Good. Shall we go to the mulberry grove tomorrow to collect the silk? And when Big Brother Hu Yue goes hunting, could you ask him to look for some Emerald Vines and the palm leaves you mentioned?” Qiyue requested.

Leopard Xue’er looked at Qiyue strangely. Qiyue had never been this peculiar before she disappeared. Yet she had been gone only a month. How had three years of unconsciousness changed her so completely? She seemed livelier, more confident in the way she spoke, and somehow knew things the others did not.

Noticing Leopard Xue’er’s expression, Qiyue realized she was in trouble. She had been able to attribute the seeds to the cubs’ father, but how could she explain the thread? Since there was no way to make the story add up, she decided not to bother for now. She could make the finished products after leaving.

“I’m going somewhere very far away, so I want to prepare more supplies in advance. These things can be stored for a long time without spoiling.”

“That’s true. There’s rainbow spider silk everywhere in the mulberry grove—there’s as much as anyone could want. As for the Emerald Vines and palm leaves, I’ll have Hu Yue keep an eye out for them,” Leopard Xue’er agreed, choosing not to ask further.

“I won’t take them for free. We’ll settle the full account later. It wouldn’t be right to make Big Brother Hu Yue spend his time and energy helping me without compensation,” Qiyue emphasized.

“All right! I won’t be polite with you. Just don’t accuse me of cheating you when the time comes!” Leopard Xue’er joked.