“Xi Yao, I’ve put the beast skins and hot water you wanted right here.”
Xi Yao saw that the beast skins were new, and the water in the basin was still steaming.
Xi Yao nodded.
“You can go out first.
Come back in when I’m done.”
The Beastman had wanted to stay and watch, but hearing her words, he was afraid of making her angry, so he nodded and left.
“Bo Ya, I’m going to treat your wound now.
It might hurt a little, so try to bear with it.”
As she spoke, Xi Yao began to carefully clean the blood and dirt from around the wound.
Once it was clean, she took out a medical scalpel and disinfected it with alcohol.
She cut open the wound, disinfected it, wiped away the blood, and used tweezers to remove the bone fragments.
Bo Ya clenched his jaw, enduring the intense pain without making a single sound.
Xi Yao’s hands were steady as she removed the bone fragments from the wound one by one.
The cave was so quiet only Bo Ya’s heavy breathing could be heard.
After what felt like a long time, she had finally removed all the bone fragments.
Bo Ya was drenched in a cold sweat from the pain, his face a frightening shade of white.
Xi Yao meticulously cleaned the wound, sutured it, and sprayed on a medicine to promote healing.
She bandaged it with clean cloth strips.
Finally, she secured his leg with a wooden splint.
“I’ve just set the bone.
Remember, you can’t get out of bed for the next two days.
You’ll have to eat and drink in bed.
When you need to relieve yourself, have your brother help you.
Your injured leg can’t touch the ground.”
Bo Ya nodded weakly.
His younger brother, Boen, heard the sounds and came in.
He looked at Bo Ya’s tightly wrapped leg.
“Xi Yao, is my brother all better now?”
Xi Yao repeated the aftercare instructions to him.
Boen carefully committed her words to memory.
“From now on, as long as you change the dressing on time, his leg will slowly heal.
Remember, his leg can’t touch the ground, and he mustn’t move it around.”
Xi Yao repeated, still feeling concerned.
Bo Ya looked at her, his eyes full of gratitude.
“Thank you, Xi Yao.
If it weren’t for you, this leg of mine might have been a lost cause.”
Xi Yao waved her hand dismissively.
“Don’t mention it.
We’re all part of the same tribe; it’s only right that we help each other.
You get some rest.
I’ll be back tomorrow to change your dressing.”
With that, Xi Yao got up and left.
She didn’t head straight back to her cave.
Instead, she took a detour to the riverbank to collect the beast skin blanket and mat.
The hides weren’t completely dry, but they weren’t as heavy as when they were waterlogged, and she could carry them.
She carried the hides back to the cave and tossed them over the fence to finish drying.
When she entered the cave, she discovered it was filled with many new things.
Before she could even ask, Xi Nan spoke up to explain, “The tribespeople brought these.
They said it’s an apology.”
Xi Yao froze for a moment, her eyes scanning the items piled in the cave.
There were beast skins, fresh meat, brightly colored wild fruits, some rather exquisitely polished bone tools, and surprisingly, a large amount of salt.
‘They really spared no expense.’
“Did they say anything else?” Xi Yao asked, crouching down to gently stroke Xi Nan’s head.
Xi Bei jumped in first.
“They said they were wrong to treat us badly before and that it won’t happen again.
They also said you’re amazing, Mother, for being able to heal Uncle Bo Ya’s leg.
And if anyone else in the tribe gets hurt, they want you to help them, too.”
Xi Yao looked at Xi Nan, who snorted softly.
“It’s just like Xi Bei said.”
Xi Yao lifted him onto her lap, meeting his gaze.
“You don’t want their things, do you, Xiao Nan?”
Normally, Xi Nan would have put away anything new in the cave, but this time, he had left the pile on the floor untouched.
Xi Nan huffed and turned his head, avoiding her gaze.
‘After they bullied us for so many years, how could a few trinkets make up for it?’
Xi Yao gently turned his head back to face her, her palm rubbing his back soothingly.
“Xiao Nan, these are all good things.
We can keep them.
This is what they owe us.”
“But I don’t want to forgive them.”
Xi Yao looked at the stubborn Xi Nan and sighed softly.
She hugged him a little tighter and began to speak slowly.
“Mother knows you feel wronged, Xiao Nan.
They’ve treated us poorly for so many years.
A few words of apology and some gifts can’t make up for that.”
Xi Nan looked up at Xi Yao, tears welling in his eyes.
“If that’s the case, why are we accepting their things?”
“We’re not accepting these things because we forgive them, but because they’re useful to us.
Now that we have this meat, wild fruit, and bone tools, we’ll have an easier time during the cold season.”
Xi Nan didn’t say anything, so Xi Yao continued to reason with him.
“We can use their offerings to grow stronger.
Once we’re powerful enough, they’ll never dare to bully us again.”
Xi Nan gave a sullen “oh.”
Xi Bei padded over and pawed at Xi Nan’s tail.
“Brother, can we put this stuff away?
I see lots of yummy-looking fruit.”
Xi Nan turned and shot Xi Bei a glare.
“All you ever think about is eating.”
Despite his words, he hopped off Xi Yao’s lap and began to put the things away with Xi Bei.
Xi Yao knew it wouldn’t be so easy to completely erase the resentment in her Zaizai’s heart.
It would take a very long time.
Xi Moye ran over to help as well.
Xi Yao watched the three little ones bustling about.
‘I should help,’ she thought, pulling a faux-wood shelf out of her storage space for them to use.
The three little ones were already used to her pulling things out of thin air.
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached from outside the cave.
Xi Yao looked warily toward the entrance and saw Ni Duo walk in, cradling a few what looked to be very soft beast skins.
“Xi Yao, I’ve come to bring you something.”
Xi Yao hadn’t expected Ni Duo to bring a gift as well.
“I’ve already accepted the tribe’s apology gifts.
This isn’t necessary.”
“This is to atone for what I did to the Zaizai.
I said so many awful things in the past.
I’m truly sorry.
We traded for these hides in Central City.
They’re very soft, perfect for making Beast Skin Clothes for the cubs.
You have to accept them.”
She had originally planned to save these hides for her own cub, but unfortunately, she didn’t have one yet.
Ni Duo had indeed said many hurtful things in the past.
Now that she was apologizing so sincerely and even bringing a gift, Xi Yao was hesitant to accept.
Seeing Xi Yao’s hesitation, Ni Duo stepped closer and pressed the hides into her arms.
“Please, Xi Yao, just accept them.
It’s a small token of my sincerity.
I know I was wrong in the past, and I hope you’ll give me a chance to make up for it.”
Xi Yao looked up at Ni Duo.
“Alright.
Since you’ve put it that way, I’ll accept them.
Let’s let the past be the past.
From now on, let’s just try to get along.”
A joyful smile spread across Ni Duo’s face.
“Thank you, Xi Yao.
If you need any help in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask me.”
With that, she glanced at the three Zaizai who were tidying up, her gaze softening.
“Your Zaizai are so well-behaved.”
Xi Yao just smiled.
Seeing that she had accepted the gift and that the sky had already grown completely dark, Ni Duo didn’t stay any longer.
“Well, I’ll be heading back now.”
After Ni Duo left, Xi Yao closed the entrance to the cave.
She extinguished the torch and turned on the solar-powered lamp.
She began to make the bed.
As soon as it was ready, the three little ones eagerly jumped onto the bed and started rolling around.
“Mother, this hide is so soft and comfy!”
The comforter was very light, yet incredibly warm.
…
Early the next morning, Xi Yao got up and made a simple breakfast for the children.
“Mother is going to Uncle Bo Ya’s place to change his dressing.
You all be good at home and don’t run off, okay?”
Xi Yao admonished the three Zaizai.
“We know!
Come back soon, Mother!”