Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off - Chapter 112

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: She can only owe me
Su Qinglan sighed. She patted Xuan Long’s arm gently. “Hey, calm down. He’s just asking a question. You didn’t kidnap me, so why are you glaring at him like you’re about to eat him?”

Xuan Long didn’t say anything, just tightened his arm slightly around her.

“Alright,” she said, prying his hand off and stepping forward again. “No more hissing, no more glaring. Let me talk.”

He looked down at her but didn’t argue.

Turning back to the bull elders, Su Qinglan smiled politely. “We came to exchange goods, not to fight. He’s my… uh…” She paused, searching for the right word. They’re not family. Not lovers either… so what is he?

She cleared her throat. “He’s my relative,” she finally said with a straight face. “And he won’t harm anyone. He’s actually very gentle once you know him.”

The bulls looked at her, then at the tall man behind her who looked like he could crush boulders with one hand.

“Gentle,” one of them whispered doubtfully.

But when Su Qinglan smiled again, they decided not to argue.

She nodded quickly. “Good. Now, can we talk about the rice?”

The bulls all nodded at once, too fast, like their necks were on springs.

Su Qinglan followed the old bull beastman toward the biggest hut, and Xuan Long quietly trailed behind her like a shadow. The moment the tribe calmed down and the shouting stopped, the air finally felt lighter.

The old beast, still a little shaky but polite, gestured with a big, rough hand. “Please, please, come inside, female, my lord. Our hut is simple but strong.”

Su Qinglan smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Grandpa.” She didn’t decline. She was curious anyway…she wanted to see how these bull beastmen really lived.

When she stepped inside, though, her eyes widened a little. It wasn’t what she expected at all.

The so-called “big hut” looked more like a huge cowshed. Four thick wooden poles held up a roof made of woven leaves. There were no walls…just open sides where the wind could pass through freely. You could see everything outside…the people walking by, the fields stretching out, even a few calves playing in the mud nearby.

There was no proper floor either, only packed dirt with a few straw mats laid around. From one side, she could even see into the neighboring huts. They were all the same…simple, airy, and wide open. It must have been comfortable in the heat but freezing at night.

Still, Su Qinglan thought it was clever. At least it’s practical, she mused. If they had proper wood, they could make it more sturdy, but it’s still good for their land.

Xuan Long stayed right behind her, completely silent. Ever since she had glared at him earlier, he hadn’t spoken a word. He just followed her obediently like a big, green-eyed tail.

The old bull, however, had quickly recovered from his fear and was now trying to act like a good host. He pointed to the corner of the hut where a few large sacks were kept. “Female, please look. These are the white seeds you liked. If you want them, we can give them to you. No need for exchange.”

Su Qinglan waved her hands quickly. “No, no, we can’t just take them like that. We’ll exchange something fair for it.”

The old bull chuckled softly, rubbing his neck. “No need, no need. We don’t really eat these white seeds much. We like the green stalks better. They’re fresh and soft. The dust from the husk…we eat that too. But the seeds… ah, those are for the elders who trade them for hides or fruit.”

Su Qinglan listened carefully, almost taking notes in her head. They eat the plant, not the seed. Just like cows from my old world.

She looked around again. Everything about the tribe fit that thought…their large size, gentle eyes, and peaceful way of living. They weren’t hunters. Hunting must have been too hard for them, so they traded instead. It was a smart way to survive.

“That’s good,” she said thoughtfully. “You trade the seeds for beast hides from the Bride Tribe, right? So you can use them for clothing.”

The old bull nodded, looking pleased that she understood. “Yes, yes. It helps us a lot.”

“Then,” Su Qinglan said, “I’ll also exchange for a few sacks. How many hides do you need for two of them?”

The old bull blinked, clearly surprised. “Two sacks? Female, that’s too much. You can take them. No hides needed.”

Su Qinglan shook her head firmly. “No, we’ll trade fairly. How many hides?”

He looked embarrassed and scratched one of his horns. “Ah… we don’t really count. These seeds are not so valuable. If the bird tribe doesn’t want them, we just keep them or use them again for planting. So… maybe one hide?”

Su Qinglan laughed lightly. “One hide for two sacks? That’s too little. Let’s make it five hides. It’s fair.”

The old bull tried to protest again, but she smiled kindly and said, “Please, Grandpa, let us pay. I don’t want to owe you.”

He finally sighed, smiling a little, and nodded. “Alright, female. Two hides then. You are kind.”

Behind her, Xuan Long still said nothing…but the faintest smile touched his lips as he watched her say she did not want to owe anyone.

Yes, his female doesn’t need to owe anyone, he thought with pride rising in his chest. She was strong, smart, and unafraid to face anyone, even him. That’s what he liked about her, and let’s not forget about her maddening scent that drives him crazy.

But deep inside, his smile turned sharper. She doesn’t owe anyone… except me.

Everything she has, everything she becomes… will belong to me.

Su Qinglan, unaware, crouched beside the sacks and touched the white grains with her fingers. “Perfect,” she said softly. “We can finally make something new.”

The old bull beamed. “Female, you can come here anytime. We will keep the best seeds for you.”