Beauty and the Beasts

“I’ve traded with them using things of equivalent value. There’s only about half a basin in total. After we grow them out next year, you can try some, leaving the rest for sowing the year after. You’ll be able to have all you want, then.”

Bai Qingqing slurped her saliva and nodded vigorously. “En!”

The sun in the hot season rose and the temperature became scorching. After having her breakfast, Bai Qingqing was already covered in perspiration.

Many children’s cries rang out from the courtyard. Bai Qingqing quickly took a large mouthful of soup, wiped her mouth, and wanted to get up.

Parker instantly pulled his face. “You’re going to tell those children stories again?”

“Mmm, because they like it. I have nothing to do, anyway, and it’s a good way to pass time,” Bai Qingqing said nonchalantly.

She was unable to refuse the children when she thought of the suffering they had been through. Moreover, they were really adorable.

The leopard cubs were all jubilant, but when their father looked over at them, they lowered their heads disappointedly.

Bai Qingqing smiled and stroked the children’s heads, saying, “You guys have grown up and have to train during the day. Mommy will tell you stories at night.”

Only then did the leopard cubs calm down a little. All of them got close to their mommy and rubbed against her intimately.

Bai Qingqing carried An’an and walked out, leading a group of young children into the courtyard. She sat down under a big tree, and the children sat down in groups of three to five, all staring brightly at Bai Qingqing. The scene gave off the feeling of a school.

Bai Qingqing smiled gently and started to tell the first story.

She had more or less finished the stories she could tell, but the children didn’t get sick of them at all and would listen happily even if she were to repeat the stories over and over again.

Under such an environment, Bai Qingqing was even considering if she should impart writing to the beastmen.

However, she gave up on it. Because she couldn’t communicate with any male child at all, and their furry paws couldn’t write well either. It was fine if she taught one or two of them, but it was too difficult to teach a large group.

Bai Qingqing thought of only teaching her children, but the leopard cubs had to train their bodies every day, accumulating from now. If they spent a large amount of time learning words, it’d probably seriously affect the children’s strength after they matured.

The many factors caused Bai Qingqing to give up completely. She looked forward to teaching An’an after she got a little older. Of course, it’d also include the other females of the same age in the village.

It didn’t seem bad for the males to be learning to fight while the females learned literary skills.

…

New males were joining them every day, and the village grew stronger by the day. Amidst the prosperity, the heavy rainy season, which represented reproduction, came under all the beastmen’s great anticipation.

The heavy rain poured down, smashing densely-packed small cavities on the ground. The tree leaves in the courtyard were moistened by the water and became lusher. The morning glory flowers on the walls had withered, but the vines grew lusher and were filled with vitality.

There weren’t any other entertainment activities in the world of the beastmen. Bai Qingqing started to like to watch and listen to the rain. When she closed her eyes, even the air she breathed in was filled with water vapor, as if it could cleanse her completely from inside out.

Bai Qingqing brought a stool out and sat at the door, quietly watching the rain in the courtyard. She didn’t mind even when the mud splattered and dirtied her dress.

An’an was already nine months old and had strength in her legs. She kicked out now and then.

Bai Qingqing was called back to her senses. She smiled and carried An’an vertically, allowing her to step on her legs to learn to walk.

However, An’an was extremely lazy. Every time Bai Qingqing did that, she’d immediately fall limp. Bai Qingqing smiled helplessly and could only sit An’an down again.

Light footsteps came from behind her. She didn’t have to turn to know that it was Parker.