novelraw Chapter 447 - 446: The Female Cubs at Home Have Gone Quiet?
Chapter 447 - 446: The Female Cubs at Home Have Gone Quiet?
Shi Si’s eyes flickered. Since Little Jing’s fiancé was named Feng Yu, it made sense for their little female cub to have "Huang" in her name. ’And perhaps add... Ming? For "bright and brilliant." Just hearing it makes one feel cheerful.’
"How about Ming Huang? ’Huang’ like in Phoenix, and ’Ming’ for brightness, brilliance, and a hopeful tomorrow," Shi Si said with a smile.
The little female black chicken cub, panting and hungry again after chasing her unreliable "Mothers," heard the name and gave a reluctant nod, chirping. ’I suppose it’s passable. It’s somewhat befitting of my noble bloodline.’
The male cubs pressed their lips together, trying not to burst out laughing. ’Noble bloodline? She’s either a black chicken or a crow. Whatever she is, she’s our little female cub, our childhood sweetheart.’
Xiao Cheng raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Shuoshuo, I don’t know who the other cubs take after, but the fox cub definitely takes after me. He has taste!"
Si Shuo’s lips curved into a smile. "Should I tell your brothers what you just said?"
Xiao Cheng’s expression changed, and he began to act shamelessly, hugging her waist. "Shuoshuo... when you’re with me, you’re not allowed to think about the other guys! Otherwise, I’ll feel like I’m not trying hard enough."
She pinched the tail that was about to wrap around both of them and listened to his muffled grunt, the corners of his eyes turning red. She bit her lip to keep from laughing. ’It seems like his tail gets bigger and bigger as his power grows!’
Having received her new name, Ming Huang immediately squatted on the ground and opened her mouth, demanding food.
Don’t be fooled by their palm-sized bodies; their appetites were huge. A single cub could eat an entire plump rat!
Little Jing didn’t know how to hunt, so when the male cubs fed their childhood sweethearts, they brought some food for their "brother-in-law" on the side.
In just one day, the two black chicken cubs had experienced half a month under the effects of the Time Law. They had grown from the size of a walnut to as plump as a soccer ball. They were inky-black blobs that waddled when they walked. If it weren’t for their pointy, pale-yellow beaks, Si Shuo would have thought they were fat black ducks.
Now, they no longer cared for raw food, instead craving all sorts of fruits and cooked meals. And their appetites only continued to grow.
The male cubs trained in the Southwest Forest every night, so they had plenty of supplies. They got cooking tips from their respective Fathers, and the delicious aromas drove the female cubs at home absolutely wild.
So, Si Shuo watched as Little Ye finished feeding Ming Huang a roasted squab stuffed with shiitake mushrooms and greens. The little one waddled back to its nest, completely content. Si Shuo suspected Ming Huang hadn’t even warmed the nest before it was flapping out again in a hurry, this time to ask Tuanzi for food. After eating half a steamed bamboo rat, it patted its round belly and started to head back. But just as it reached the entrance of its den, it stumbled out again, wings flapping, hungry once more, and went to ask Xueqiu for food??!!
Feng Yu, on the other hand, was very disciplined. He foraged for food every half Beast Hour like clockwork, went to play with Little Jing for a while, and then returned to his nest, which was enchanted with the Time Law, to focus on growing up.
’Even with the Time Law, Ming Huang is getting hungry far too often, isn’t she? And the little one even goes to each of the male cubs in turn to beg for food.’
Xu Chi teleported back and saw Si Shuo peeking at something. Amused, he followed her gaze, and it didn’t take him long to figure out what was going on.
He leaned close to Si Shuo’s ear and said, "A Shuo, have you noticed how quiet the other female cubs have been?"
Si Shuo froze for a second. Then she turned to look at the "Ming Huang" that emerged from the den with a different waddle each time. Suddenly, it all clicked. She buried her face in Xu Chi’s chest, shaking with silent laughter.
"So they’re brazenly taking turns getting their brothers to feed them?"
’Those poor male cubs are competing with each other, each one cooking delicious food in his own spot. And they’re all so pleased, thinking the little black chicken cub likes *their* cooking best. Every time one of them finishes a dish, "Ming Huang" follows the scent right over. Because of the timing, they’re each convinced that Ming Huang only finds *their* food delicious, so they redouble their efforts for the next meal...’
’These little female cubs are so crafty!’
Si Shuo couldn’t help but sigh. "When I had these cubs, did I give most of the brains to the girls?"
Xu Chi smiled, wrapping his arms around her. "A Shuo, all of our cubs are smart, eager to learn, and highly adaptable. When the male cubs are out training in the wild, every one of them is incredibly brave, clever, and quick-witted. There’s not a foolish bone in their bodies."
"They just don’t bother using their heads when they’re around family. Or perhaps," he added, "they see through the ruse and choose not to expose it."
"Someone like our Xu Chi, for example?" Si Shuo turned to look at him. "You survived alone in the wild as a little cub and grew up so well. It means you’re amazing—even more amazing than I imagined."
Not the gentle, endearingly clueless, and harmless man she saw him as.
Xu Chi rested his forehead against hers. "If I weren’t strong, how could I protect A Shuo and our cubs?"
Still, as Si Shuo watched the siblings Feng Yu and Ming Huang, she felt a little conflicted. It was as if her own son and daughter had brought home foreign spouses.
She couldn’t help but ask for confirmation. "Xu Chi, be honest with me. These two little ones have glossy black feathers. Are you sure they won’t have black skin when they get their human forms?"
Xu Chi shook his head, stifling a laugh. "They won’t. Didn’t you already part their feathers to check? The skin underneath isn’t dark. So when they undergo Transformation, the most that will happen is they’ll have glossy black hair."
Si Shuo’s eyes darted. "Then what about Silkie chickens—the kind with black skin? When they transform into people, is their skin dark too?"
Xu Chi nodded. "I would assume so. But most Wild Beasts have typical skin tones; it’s rare to see colors like black, red, or bright yellow. Perhaps this continent of ours isn’t very inclusive."
Si Shuo became a little curious about the world beyond their continent...
Ni Jing had been turned to ash, and the Golden Python Ni Family had tucked its tail, losing its former arrogance. With Wei Jin as the new City Lord and a complete change in the city’s leadership, the Winged Dragon Clan also became remarkably quiet and well-behaved.
This year’s Female Saint Conference was held without a hitch. Si Shuo didn’t attend this time, only gathering privately a few times with her good friends Yimei, Li Hui, and Jin Pan.
The sweltering summer was already half over, passed in a blur of activity. Supplied with good food and drink every day, and boosted by the Time Law, the two black chicken cubs could now undergo Transformation. They had normal skin tones and glossy black hair!
Si Shuo was only now realizing that thanks to the good food at home, the male cubs had shot up in height. They were now well-proportioned and as sturdy as young calves. The female cubs, on the other hand, had also grown taller, but their gluttony had made them plump. They were all chubby, fair-skinned little bundles; anyone who didn’t know better would think she was raising a litter of pink piglets. They were absolutely delightful!
Si Shuo’s hands would itch just looking at them. She’d scoop one up for a squeeze, and they felt wonderfully soft.
For the past two days, Ji Liang had come home with a hint of worry on his brow. Si Shuo leaned in to look at him, poking the space between his eyebrows. "Ji Liang, how’s business? Is it because the weather’s so hot that everyone’s lost their appetite and not many guests are coming to the hotel? That’s perfectly normal! Business has its slow seasons and peak seasons. When you look at the big picture, we’re still making a killing!"
Ji Liang smiled and took her hand. "Little Shushu, I’m fine. And our business is doing well. The chilled tofu pudding and crystal jelly are selling nicely, and all the cold dishes are very popular.
It’s just that, by this time in previous years, the Traveling Merchant Team from the Southern Continent would have already arrived, made their purchases, and started their journey back. What’s more, last year I arranged to meet with Master Xu this year.
I’ve had people asking around everywhere, and it seems the Dongzhou Merchant Team hasn’t come this year. I’m just a bit worried, that’s all."