Chapter 37: Boxes and Baskets

Before the three of them could even begin their meal, a crowd drawn by the appetizing aroma arrived. In the tribe, it was customary to have three meals a day, and since Ah Yu’s household was cooking at noon, the scent had long been wafting across the settlement.

Aside from their neighbors, Ah Ku’s family of three, the tribal chief, the shaman, and everyone else who hadn't gone out to hunt or forage—dozens of people, young and old—had almost all gathered. Seeing the new way the purple rice was prepared, along with green beans paired with braised rabbit meat, everyone gasped in surprise: they had never realized these ingredients could be cooked this way.

Ah Yu handed a pair of chopsticks to both the chief and the shaman. The two eagerly picked up a mouthful of the braised rabbit with green beans, followed by a bite of the dry purple rice. After savoring the flavors for a long moment, they exclaimed in unison, "Delicious! Truly delicious!"

A cheer erupted from the crowd, followed by a barrage of questions: "How is this made, Divine Messenger?" "Can I have a taste?" "Purple rice can be eaten dry like this?"

"Alright, everyone, you can all have a taste. As for how these dishes are prepared, I’ll have Ah Yu explain it to you in a bit," Mu Tong said quickly to calm the tribe, fearing they might otherwise start snatching the food. She was only half-joking—this was her lunch, and she hadn't even eaten yet!

With everyone taking a small portion of rice and meat, the pot was soon nearly empty, certainly not enough to satisfy the big appetites of Ah Yu and Duo Ji. Fortunately, both men were used to skipping lunch, so eating a little less didn't bother them. Once Ah Yu finished his bowl in a few gulps, he began explaining the process to the group: how the rice was cooked, how the dish was prepared, and of course, he mentioned the seasonings—the ones Mu Tong had brought from the home of the gods.

Faced with ingredients they had never seen before, the tribespeople were even more intrigued. Could these seasonings really create such tasty food? But the tribe lacked these spices, and the amount the Divine Messenger had brought was so small that they felt embarrassed to ask for them. Yet, could one truly make such delicious food without them? The crowd grew happy, then quickly fell into a state of worry.

Mu Tong swallowed her mouthful of food and waved her hand. "Don't worry. The Twilight Forest is vast; surely we can find seasonings with similar flavors there?"

Hou Yi asked in surprise, "Divine Messenger, are you saying there are such seasonings in the Twilight Forest?" If that were true, they could cook delicious meals in the future.

"Of course there are. Though they might look a bit different from these." Mu Tong was certain the forest held its own unique seasonings, even if they differed from those on Earth. Moreover, she knew it would take time to find them. "Rest assured, I will look for them in the forest when I have the time." By taking on this task, Mu Tong was acting not just for the tribe, but for herself as well. Although her storage ring held a decent supply of seasonings, they wouldn't last a lifetime if used daily. Finding new ingredients was inevitable, so she might as well start early.

"That is truly kind of you, Divine Messenger," the shaman said, deeply moved. She was indeed an envoy sent by the gods to save the tribe, always thinking of them.

The shaman’s eyes wandered around the room. "Oh? Why does Ah Yu’s home have so many new items? What are these used for?"

At the shaman's inquiry, Ah Yu, having finished his meal, began another round of explanations. "These are rattan baskets and rattan crates. My A-Tong said they are for storing things." Currently, those two rattan crates held the remaining purple rice, and the baskets held the leftover green beans. Beyond those, there were four empty carrying baskets of varying sizes.

"How wonderful, how convenient," the crowd murmured. Looking at the crates and baskets, they realized that storing the wild fruits and vegetables they gathered would be much easier, and far cleaner than leaving them on the muddy ground.

"How are these crates made?" asked Ah Ku’s father, curious. He wanted to learn so he could make some to store his own belongings.

"They are made from rattan vines. Why don't you all go cut some vines this afternoon? After dinner, come back, and I will teach you," Ah Yu offered enthusiastically. He had to make more for his own home anyway, so teaching while working would be perfect.

"Agreed!" The crowd immediately left Ah Yu's home, heading toward the forest. They needed to cut plenty of vines to make crates and baskets.

The chief and the shaman also departed to prepare for their vine-gathering. Once everyone had left, Mu Tong and Duo Ji finished their meal. After washing the dishes, the three divided their tasks: Ah Yu went to the forest to hunt, while Duo Ji and Mu Tong headed to the edge of the forest outside the valley to forage.

As Ah Yu left with his stone spear and Duo Ji strapped on his carrying basket, Mu Tong realized she had overlooked something: Duo Ji was completely naked. Since she had "partnered up" with Ah Yu, she would be living in this home for the foreseeable future. Ah Yu, whether he was Shen Kai or not, at least wore the loincloth she had provided, but this half-grown lad, Duo Ji, was still bare. Despite being a "half-grown lad," he was already taller than her, and living together like this was quite awkward.

Thinking of this, Mu Tong went back inside and emerged a moment later with two pairs of cotton shorts and two cotton undershirts. "Duo Ji, put these on." She beckoned him over, had him set down his basket, and showed him how to wear the shorts and shirt.

Duo Ji had actually envied his brother for having clothes but had been too shy to ask. Now, with Mu Tong giving him not only shorts but also this novel "undershirt," he couldn't stop grinning.

"Keep these safe, and change into them when the ones you're wearing get dirty," Mu Tong instructed, having him store the spare set in an empty basket inside his room. Only then did they head out.

Duo Ji led Mu Tong out of the valley to the nearest patch of woods. This small grove held no large beasts, and there were very few wild vegetables or game. Duo Ji had brought her here primarily for her safety; his brother had specifically instructed him to ensure her well-being no matter what.

It didn't matter if the yield was small; it was better than nothing. Duo Ji planned to gather just enough for the evening meal. If they wanted to forage more, he would take her out early the next morning with the main gathering team to the deeper forests. However, those woods were far more dangerous. Because the groups were large and vigilant, with scouts specifically assigned to watch for predators, they could retreat in time, making the risk manageable.