Epoch 14: Boiled Meat Soup in Gaia.
"I will go to Yan's tent to teach them to make baskets. Look for Xue for a while; I will return immediately, or you can call me if he wakes up."
"Okay."
"Don't forget to keep the fire burning; the bone needs to be boiled for a long time."
"I will leave now."
Hou can hear Tang Tang talking. He tried to open his eyes and move, but his eyelids were heavy, and his whole body was in pain.
"Nnng." He groans in pain before his consciousness fades again.
Tang Tang worriedly checked Hou's temperature when he heard him groan.
"Don't worry, mother said that he just exhausted himself and needs to rest."
After they returned to the tribe, Xue immediately called Lia to treat Cai and check on Hou. While waiting for him, Tang Tang asked Cai what happened.
Cai said that after they returned to the tribe from Mt. Nebu, Hou immediately looked for him to give him a gift. He also told him that there has been nothing wrong with Hou since the day they left the tribe, except that from time to time, Hou will become gloomy because he missed him.
Cai didn't know what happened after Hou ran off from him. The next time he saw him, he was already running towards the east forest. When Cai followed Hou, he saw him looking frantically while calling Tang Tang's name. He tried to stop Hou, but he was thrown out to a tree. He then tried to restrain Hou, but ended up in that situation.
"It's not your fault," Xue added.
"I know, but when I learned the reason why he acted like that, I couldn't help but feel guilty," he explained.
Tang Tang was aware that Hou liked him and, at the same time, hated Xue. Hou might have heard from someone that they were together when he returned. That's why he was searching for him and behaved like that.
Even though Hou's reaction was excessive and he knows that it is not his fault, he can't help but feel responsible for him.
Tang Tang sighed. "I will go now."
Xue nodded, then kissed Tang Tang on the lips. He is getting accustomed to being intimate with the sub-beast; each time they part, they will exchange a gentle kiss.
Xue glanced at his twin brother, who was unconscious, as Tang Tang exited the tent. Every time Tang Tang worries about his brother, he still feels uneasy in his heart, even though it is not visible on his face.
After three hours, Tang Tang finished teaching the Yan trio how to make baskets while Hou was still unconscious, and Tei picked up the skill more quickly than the other two. Tang Tang left them in charge of instructing the other females and sub-beasts after ensuring that their basket was sufficiently large and sturdy.
While Xue becomes responsible for the distribution of prey with the excuse that Cai and Hou were both injured after playing around in the forest, no one questions this because this is not the first time it has happened. The two always enjoyed pulling practical jokes on one another, which would sometimes result in a fight.
As soon as Tang Tang returned from Yan's tent, he started cooking for dinner. The bone soup is already cooked, and he intends to use it as the broth.
He will prepare a big meal because he plans to invite Lia and the tribe leader, Bei. This is how he will show them the cookware and cutlery that Xue makes while also allowing them to sample different foods. He had to start with the leaders if he wanted the clan to change for the better.
In addition to the boiled meat soup, he will make fried chili meat and stir-fried veggies. Thus, he requested that Xue prepare additional bowls, plates, and cutlery.
Tang Tang was chopping the vegetables when someone hugged him from the back.
"Tang Tang.."
"Hou? Is there something wrong? Does anything hurt?"
Even though Tang Tang can't see him, Hou nodded. "My whole body hurts."
"Rest first. I will make delicious food for you. Your mother said he will make medicine for exhaustion later."
Hou did not reply but instead buried his head in the sub-beast's nape as his embrace grew closer.
The warm breath tickled Tang Tang's neck, making him shudder. "Hou?"
"I miss you so much."
Setting down the bone knife, he turned to look at him.
Tang Tang kissed the man's cheeks and said, "I miss you too."
Tears stream down Hou's face.
Tang Tang froze. "Hey, why are you crying? Does your body hurt so much? Tell me where it hurts," he asked.
Hou chuckled. "Being with you like this, my body doesn't hurt anymore."
He pinched his cheeks and exclaimed, "Tsss. Don't scare me like that!"
"I'm sorry." Hou's laughed even more and planted kisses on his face.
Then a stern voice said, "If you are already so energetic, why don't you visit Cai?"
They both turned their attention to the tent's entrance. Xue stood there with several wooden plates and bowls in his hands.
Hou scowled. "What are you doing here? And why would I visit Cai?"
Confused, Tang Tang turned to face Hou. "You don't remember Hou?"
Since he woke up, his memories had become foggy, but he didn't mind too much because Tang Tang had treated him the same. "What do you mean?" he asked.
Tang Tang learned from Xue that, depending on the extent of the harm done to the tribe, beasts that went berserk would either be imprisoned or expelled.
"You went berserk," he whispered to Hou.
While Xue ignored his brother, he placed all the things he was holding in a corner and continued Tang Tang's work. He moved with familiarity.
"B—berserk?" he asked with a trembling voice. "Did I hurt you?"
As Tang Tang saw that Hou was having trouble recalling the events, he gave him a summary of what Cai had previously told them.
"You didn't hurt anyone, except for Cai, who has a slight fever and a dislocated arm because he tried to restrain you and was exposed to your pheromones," Tang Tang explained.
After a minute of silence, Hou asked. "A-are you afraid of me now?"
Hou was afraid that Tang Tang would start avoiding him after he saw him go berserk. Those beasts who went berserk were condemned by their own tribe and labeled as lunatics.
He would much rather die than be treated that way by Tang Tang.
As he wiped Hou's tears, Tang Tang joked, "Why would I? You're thinking too much. I will not be afraid of you, okay? Who will get scared of this crybaby?"
Tang Tang thought, 'How can he be afraid if he actually didn't see anything?' When he saw him, Hou was already unconscious.
"The potatoes and cabbage were already cut. What to do next?" Xue butted in to interrupt the two.
Hou glared at him, while Tang Tang smiled helplessly.
"Cut the onions next."
Because people in this world used to name fruits and vegetables based on their appearance, such as the red roots, Tang Tang named the fruits and vegetables they found based on the fruits and vegetables they had similarities with on Earth. It's fortunate that Xue was able to learn them quickly.
"Hou just waits for a while after I cook the meat stew, you can bring some to Cai."
"I want to help." Hou will not let Xue get all of Tang Tang's attention.
"No need. Lia said that since you ran out of energy, you should get more rest. We will move much more quickly if Xue assists me, as I have already taught him over the last three days." When he saw Hou's dejected expression, he added. "I can teach you as well, if you'd like. I'm sure you are capable of it, but take some rest for now. You have no idea how anxious I was earlier."
After a few seconds of contemplation, he nodded. Right now, he didn't have any idea what the sub-beast was trying to do. He wants to help Tang Tang, not be a burden.
When Hou didn't insist any more and returned to the bed made from soft grass, Tang Tang started cooking.
He first sauteed the onion in the heated oil, then added the meat, cooked it until it became light brown, and added the bone broth.
On the other side, Xue was frying meat strips.
The air was filled with the aroma of delicious food once more.
Hou can't help but comment, "It smells delicious," as his stomach rumbles.
Tang Tang laughed. "Taste this," he said as he handed a bowl of sunflower seeds to Hou.
"It is the seed of a big, colorful flower we found. I call it sunflower seeds." Tang Tang demonstrated to Hou how to eat it.
"How is it?"
"It's tasty," Hou answered, his eyes shining, like a child that was given candy.
Tang Tang smiled. "Then eat this first, but don't eat too much."
After noticing that the broth was boiling, Tang Tang made sure the meat was already tender before adding the potatoes. After a few minutes, he added the cabbage and seasoned it with salt.
When he finished the boiled meat soup, Xue also finished frying the meat strips. Set it aside, stir-fry the ginger, add the chilis, and then add back the fried meat strips.
Tang Tang can't help but admire Xue. He just explained the process abruptly, but he already cooked it on his own. Even though it is just a simple dish, it is still impressive for a first-timer.