Returning to the cave, Xi Yao took down the heavy stone pot, replacing it with a brown clay pot she took from her space.
Seeing the three little ones looking downcast, she asked while she washed, “Xi Nan, Xi Mo, Xi Bei, do you want to forgive them?”
Xi Bei rested his head by the fire, his paws unconsciously scratching at the floor as he muttered in a low voice:
“They always used to curse us and throw rocks at us.
I don’t want to just forgive them that easily.”
Xi Mo just shook his head gently, not saying a word.
Xi Nan flicked his tail and said huffily, “They’re too mean!
I’ll never forgive them!”
Xi Yao stroked their heads and comforted them softly, “It’s okay.
Whether you forgive them or not is your decision.
You don’t have to force yourselves.”
Xi Nan huffed but didn’t say anything.
“The cold season is almost here, and there isn’t enough time to find a new place to live.
We’ll stay here for now, and once the cold season is over, we’ll leave.
How does that sound?”
Xi Yao explained her idea.
“I’ll go wherever Mother goes.
My brothers will too.”
Xi Yao nodded slightly, her eyes filled with tenderness.
“Alright.
We’ll get through this cold season first.”
She placed the cleaned pot back on the stove and added some water.
Xi Yao had Xi Bei and Xi Mo stay in the cave to boil the water while she took Xi Nan to the river to fetch more, planning to also check on the animal hides she had washed earlier that day.
Xi Nan ran ahead, carrying a wooden bucket in his mouth.
Xi Yao followed behind, carrying a bamboo basket with several Chinese yams.
Today, she planned to make the Zaizais a soup with Chinese yam and bone.
The pair quickly reached the riverbank.
Xi Nan set the wooden bucket aside and ran off to check on the animal-hide blanket and mat.
They would need them for the night, and it was the only blanket they had.
The hide blanket was spread out flat on the grass by the river to dry.
But even after a full day under the sun, it was still damp.
“Xi Nan, take the water back first and get it boiling.
Come back later for the bones.”
Xi Yao filled a bucket with water and set it on the riverbank for him.
She needed to clean the bones and the Chinese yams.
Obediently, Xi Nan clamped his teeth on the bucket and headed back toward the cave.
Xi Yao squatted by the river and took out the bones to wash them carefully.
These bones had been preserved in her space, so they were as fresh as if they’d just been butchered.
She rinsed them repeatedly in the river water, cleaning out all the blood and impurities from the crevices in the bones, before placing them in the bamboo basket.
After finishing with the bones, Xi Yao picked up a Chinese yam.
The Chinese yam’s skin was a bit rough and hard, still caked with dirt.
She patiently peeled it away, bit by bit, revealing the pure white flesh beneath.
Xi Yao pondered, ‘How am I going to gather all the supplies we need for the winter in just half a month?’
‘Food and firewood for the cold season are vital.
I think I’ll go deeper into the forest tomorrow.
Maybe I can find more food that we can store.’
Just as she was thinking this, Xi Nan came running back.
She had nearly finished peeling the Chinese yam in her hands, so she told him to wait and they would go back together.
Xi Nan stood obediently to the side, his eyes curiously fixed on the Chinese yam in Xi Yao’s hands.
He wanted to get a closer look but seemed too shy to ask.
Once Xi Yao finally finished peeling the last Chinese yam and carefully placed it in the bamboo basket with the cleaned bones, the two of them returned to the cave.
As soon as they entered the cave, the warm glow of the fire washed over them.
Xi Bei and Xi Mo immediately ran up to greet them.
“Mother, you’re finally back!” Xi Bei bounced excitedly, running up to Xi Yao.
Xi Yao smiled, setting the bamboo basket aside.
She tipped the bones into the large pot, which was already steaming.
“Mother, is that the Chinese yam we dug up the other day?” Xi Bei asked, peering curiously into the bamboo basket.
“Mhm!”
Before long, the pot began to bubble, GLUG, GLUG.
A tempting, meaty aroma gradually spread, filling the entire cave.
“Mother, this soup smells so good!”
Xi Yao skimmed off the floating foam, sprinkled in some salt, and put the lid back on the pot.
“Mother, why aren’t you adding the Chinese yam yet?” Xi Bei asked, staring eagerly at the pot, his mouth watering.
“Soon.
It cooks very quickly.
If I put it in too early, it’ll turn to mush before the meat is done.”
“Oh~”
The aroma of the soup grew richer.
The three little ones sat around the pot, their eyes fixed on it without blinking.
‘It smells so, so good.’
Xi Yao poured in the Chinese yam, added more firewood, and then took out a bucket of water and began to wipe the three little ones’ paws.
After wiping them clean, she had them sit and wait on a clean animal hide.
Then, she took a foldable low table from her space and placed it in the center.
“Just a little longer and we can eat.”
Xi Yao poked a bone with her chopsticks.
The meat was cooked, but the Chinese yam was still a bit firm.
The three little ones curiously examined the folding table before them.
Unable to resist his curiosity, Xi Nan took a bite, leaving a shallow tooth mark on the table.
Xi Yao: “…”
‘I thought Xi Bei was the only one who did things like that.’
She took out the bowls they had used before to serve the soup, but after a moment’s thought, she instead pulled three basketball-sized stainless steel basins from her space and ladled a small portion into each.
She placed one in front of each of them and then served a large bowl for herself.
Xi Nan stared at the stainless steel basin in front of him, his eyes wide with wonder.
He couldn’t resist scratching it with his paw but immediately yanked it back, scalded.
He found it all very strange and new:
“What is this?
It’s completely different from the bowls we used before!”
Xi Yao explained with a smile, “This is called a stainless steel basin.
It’s stronger than stone bowls or wooden bowls and won’t break if you drop it.”
Xi Bei, already captivated by the overwhelming aroma, couldn’t wait and reached a paw in to grab something, only to yelp as he was scalded.
Xi Mo wasn’t as boisterous as Xi Bei.
He grabbed a pair of chopsticks from the side and poked around inside, successfully spearing a piece of meat.
He ate it in small, delicate bites.
Watching Xi Nan and Xi Bei get burned, Xi Yao found it a little funny, but she also felt a bit guilty.
‘I completely forgot they don’t know how to use chopsticks.’
She took out three more bowls, poured the broth into them, and left just the meat and Chinese yam for the cubs.
“Wow, yummy, so yummy!
Mother, you’re amazing!” Xi Bei, finally getting to eat the meat, waved his paws in excitement.
Watching the three Zaizais eat so happily, Xi Yao picked up her own bowl.
She took a small sip of the soup, and the rich flavor of the bone broth and the light sweetness of the Chinese yam spread across her tongue.
Even without the ginger and scallions for seasoning, the taste was unexpectedly delicious.
“Mother, can we have soup this delicious every day from now on?” Xi Bei asked, his words muffled by the food in his mouth.
Xi Yao stroked his head.
“Of course.
There’s lots of other good food in the forest.
From now on, Mother will cook it all for you.”
Hearing this, Xi Bei immediately perked up.
“Mother, I want to go to the forest with you too!
I can help you find food!”
Xi Yao refused with a smile.
“The deep forest is very dangerous.
You’re still too little, and Mother would worry.
When you’re bigger, you can go with Mother.”
Xi Bei was a little disappointed but still nodded sensibly.
“Okay… Mother, you have to be careful.
And bring back lots of tasty food.”
「After the meal.」
The three little ones lay on a clean animal hide, rubbing their round, full bellies.
Xi Yao cleaned up the dishes and added more wood to the fire.
There was still a lot left in the pot, which she planned to keep warm in case anyone got hungry later that night.
“You all stay here in the cave and be good.
Don’t go outside.
Mother is going to treat Uncle Bo Ya’s injuries.”
After giving her instructions, Xi Yao hurried toward Bo Ya’s cave.
Bo Ya was lying on a stone bed in his cave.
The color had returned to his face, and the blood on his leg wound had dried, but the surrounding skin was badly swollen.
When he saw Xi Yao come in, he managed to squeeze out a faint smile.