Chapter 37: Sandals

Over the course of more than two hours, Qiyue not only gathered two bundles of firewood but also collected some mushrooms, wood ear, and white jelly fungus. Upon returning, she found a spot in direct sunlight to spread them out to dry.

Seeing what she held, Feng Yu asked with concern, "Are those edible? People in our tribe have eaten such things and suffered from vomiting and diarrhea, and some have even been poisoned to death."

"Well... these are not poisonous. As for mushrooms, generally, the brighter and more beautiful they look, the more toxic they are. Choosing these yellow, brown, and gray ones is usually safe. And these two types are my favorites; the black ones are called wood ear, and the white ones are white jelly fungus." Hearing that these were Qiyue's favorites, Feng Yu immediately began to identify them carefully so he could collect them during future hunts. He had seen them in the jungle before but never paid them any mind, not knowing they were edible.

The two spent the entire day boiling the meat from the four animal hides. Qiyue had Chi'er store the meat away to be processed later along with future catches. The remaining brine in the pot was kept in a separate jar to be reused for the next batch—this would serve as their "master stock."

In the evening, after washing and drying all the vegetables she had gathered, Qiyue took out three or four strands of tough grass to try her hand at weaving sandals, while Feng Yu began cleaning and tanning the four animal hides.

"Feng Yu, shall we go hunting together tomorrow? I don't have the right tools on hand, and there are some things I can't manage on my own. If I need something, I can tell you right away," Qiyue suggested. Now that she had gathered all the necessary seasonings, she figured working together would increase their efficiency, allowing them to collect what they needed and process it all at once.

"Alright, but you must not leave my side." Although no beastman had ever taken a female hunting before, it wasn't something Feng Yu found unacceptable; having his mate by his side made him feel more at ease.

Next came the task of making a stone mortar and pestle to husk the rice and wheat, and eventually to grind the wheat into flour. Qiyue reconsidered—perhaps she should hold off on the millstone until she had more time, as making pasta was too labor-intensive. "Let's skip the millstone for now. When we have time, we'll make a stone mortar and pestle to husk the rice. We should also hunt some wild chickens and hopefully find some eggs. Is there a bamboo forest nearby?"

"There is a purple bamboo forest to the west. Why are you looking for that?" Feng Yu wondered if there was food in the bamboo forest; he had never known of any.

"It's spring, the perfect season for digging up bamboo shoots. If we gather plenty, we can pickle them. I also want to make some bamboo tubes to hold water and the meat soup we make. I only brought thirty pieces of pottery with me this time, and it feels like it won't be enough." Qiyue lowered her head, calculating as she wove the grass sandals.

"We could store the dried, brined meat in cleaned animal hide bags. What do you think?" Feng Yu looked up at his mate.

"Is that hygienic?" Qiyue asked uncertainly.

"It's fine, we always use hide bags for jerky," Feng Yu suggested. "If you're worried, we can use the tanned, hairless cowhide, sew it into bags, and boil them first. How about that?"

Qiyue thought for a moment and compromised, "Alright, that will have to do for now."

By the time Feng Yu finished the first stage of tanning, Qiyue had already put on the sandals she had woven. She looked at her new creation on her feet from every angle, becoming more satisfied with each glance.

The sandals Qiyue wove were not traditional grass sandals; they resembled a modern version of woven vine sandals. The sole was a centimeter thick with a small wedge heel at the back. The front featured three rows of braided tough grass, connected in the middle by a decorative knot. She had even lined the heel strap with a small piece of animal hide to prevent chafing.

Seeing Qiyue’s fair, delicate feet and rounded toes, Feng Yu found them adorable. He felt a sudden urge to hold them in his hands and kiss them. *Uh, the more I think about it, the thirstier I get.* He quickly looked away, turned, and hung the four animal hides on a tree branch to dry.

After tidying up their surroundings, they returned to the cave where they were staying. Feng Yu lit a fire, and Qiyue arranged the furs for sleeping on either side of the hearth.

Although it was dark, it was still early, and neither of them could sleep. Under Qiyue’s guidance, Feng Yu began to craft the mortar and pestle. *Ah! A beastman’s claws are truly useful; they are an essential tool for any home or journey.* Within half an hour, it was finished, and the inside of the mortar was polished smooth.

Qiyue asked Chi'er to take out a small bag of rice and showed him how to husk it without using too much force. On his first attempt, Feng Yu crushed most of the rice in the mortar into powder. Qiyue collected the ruined portion in a small hide bag, noting it would be enough for a meal of rice flour. *I'll need to make a bamboo basket tomorrow to sift the rice bran. I could also make a steamer and bamboo mats, but those can wait. For now, I'll have Feng Yu collect a load of bamboo to store in his space.*

Watching Feng Yu husk the rice, Qiyue looked down at her sandals and wondered if she should make him a pair. She walked over, lifted Feng Yu’s foot, and pressed her thumb against the thick, calloused sole.

Feng Yu didn't know what she was doing. Seeing her touch his sole, he immediately grabbed her hand. "Don't touch that, it's dirty!"

He pulled her hand toward the nearby stream to wash it. "Uh, I can wash it myself," Qiyue said, feeling embarrassed. *Why does he treat me like a cub?*

"Alright, let's go back. Why were you touching my sole?" Feng Yu held her hand as they walked back, showing no intention of letting go.

"I was curious, and I was wondering if I should weave a pair of grass sandals for you, too." Qiyue felt a bit awkward being led by him.

Feng Yu was deeply moved that she wanted to make him shoes, but he declined. "No need. I transform often, so wearing those wouldn't be convenient. Besides, our pads are thick; things on the ground usually can't hurt us. And those grass sandals you mentioned are too flimsy for a beastman. You should just make them for yourself."

"Hmm, don't forget to cut some more of that tough grass for me tomorrow when you have time." Qiyue decided not to insist.

"How much do you need?" Feng Yu had been so busy boiling meat today that he hadn't helped her gather the grass, but he vowed not to forget tomorrow.

"A lot. I want to weave thick grass mats. Laying just one layer of fur on the ground is too hard; it's not comfortable to sleep on," Qiyue complained subconsciously.

*Don't all the tribespeople just sleep on a single layer of fur? It was like that in the Luyu tribe, too. Why is she so particular?* Ever since he had encountered her again, she had brought him surprise after surprise. Yet, these surprises also brought a vague sense of dread—her behavior made her feel like someone he couldn't quite grasp. *Can a female this extraordinary truly belong to me?* Feng Yu couldn't help but drift into thought.