But the regulars weren't having it. Bai Rong planted her hands on her hips and shot back, "You've got no taste! Boss Yu's food is worth every copper coin. If you're not buying, then scram. No one's forcing you!"
'So what if she's ugly? A female who can bear cubs is a good female. One who can make delicious food and earn a fortune is the best of the best!'
"That's right! Scram if you're not buying, and stop bad-mouthing people here!"
The young cubs, who had been won over by the food, spat at the complainers. Their Female Mothers and Beast Fathers brandished their weapons with menacing expressions.
Some scurried away in disgrace, while others stayed but fell silent. Even those who still thought it was overpriced only whispered amongst their companions. The scene quickly returned to its usual harmony.
Yu An's lips curved into a slight smile. She gestured toward the crowd with her chin. "See, Mo Yan? We don't have to say a thing. My fans will fight my battles for me."
Mo Yan's expression softened. Looking at Yu An's radiant smile, he found his own lips turning up in a slight smile as well.
With a loud SIZZLE, the chicken hit the hot oil, releasing an aroma a hundred times more overpowering than the steamed buns.
Even the whispering Beastmen fell silent, their eyes and minds completely captivated by the golden fried chicken sizzling in the hot oil.
At the very front of the line was the old Clan Leader from the neighboring Qingyan Tribe. The day before yesterday, his young granddaughter had eagerly brought him one of the steamed buns. After a single bite, the old Clan Leader felt like he hadn't truly lived until that moment!
When he found out Yu An wasn't selling buns anymore, the old Clan Leader was so heartbroken he couldn't sleep for nights on end. Last night was no different. Upon hearing that Yu An would be at her stall today selling something new, he had gotten up in the middle of the night just to get in line.
The old Clan Leader hesitated for a moment, but thinking of his large family, he gritted his teeth and bought two portions.
"Here you go. It's best eaten hot."
Holding the fried chicken, the old Clan Leader was in a daze—partly from the incredible aroma, and partly from the sting of the price.
'132 copper coins! How many hunts would it take to earn that much!'
But what was bought was bought; there was no way he was returning it now. The old Clan Leader found a less crowded spot to sit and opened one of the portions.
He took out a large chicken cutlet, golden-brown and bigger than his own face. Inhaling the tempting, greasy aroma, the old Clan Leader took a tentative bite.
CRUNCH—
The skin was perfectly crisp, while the meat inside was tender and succulent. An incredibly bold, unfamiliar blend of spices flooded his senses, and for a second, the old Clan Leader was stunned.
The next moment, he devoured the entire chicken cutlet like a whirlwind.
He moved so fast it was a blur, and he even licked every last crumb from his fingers.
A Beastman from the Qingyan Tribe, having witnessed the entire spectacle, couldn't help but ask, "Clan Leader, is the fried chicken really that good?"
The old Clan Leader, savoring the lingering aroma on his tongue, nodded vigorously. "It's *that* good!"
'No more talk.' He had to hurry back to the tribe and let the little ones at home taste the most delicious food on the continent while it was still hot!
The Clan Leader's live demonstration spurred on many onlookers. Still, many who found it too expensive, or for other reasons, only bought a single portion. The moment they tasted it, they were filled with regret.
But it was too late to get back in line now!
Bai Rong was still waiting in line, and watching the supply of fried chicken dwindle, she stomped her foot in anxiety.
She wasn't the only one; the Beastmen behind her were just as anxious.
Finally, one male Beastman couldn't help but shout, "Hey, folks up front, have a heart! Leave some for the rest of us!"
"Yeah, that's right! My Female Master only eats food from Boss Yu now. If I don't bring any back, I can forget about being let into the cave tonight!"
"I'm buying this for my Female Mother and Beast Father! They're getting on in years, and every meal is precious. I'm begging you, please have mercy..."
The Giant Stone Tribe was rarely this lively. Before, the Beastmen had mostly kept to themselves, but now they were laughing and chatting, growing much closer.
The family-sized fried chicken bucket was large and expensive—too much for a single person to finish or afford. So, some of the single Beastmen started pooling their money to buy one to share.
By a stroke of luck, this even led to a few males catching the eye of some females, sparking several new romances.
Yu An watched the fun unfold as she cooked. The new couples even brought prey from their caves, insisting on giving it to Yu An as a thank-you gift.
She tried to refuse for a long time, and it was only when the people in line started getting impatient that the couples reluctantly departed.
A world away from the lively scene was the witch doctor's secluded cave.
The delicious aroma made her swallow repeatedly, but remembering what happened with Xiong Li, the witch doctor didn't go to seek her own humiliation.
"What do you want me to do?" she asked. "Just get it done and get out of my cave. I don't want to live in constant fear."
Xiong Li's son was already ten years old, but thanks to his mother's coddling, he was more pampered than a newborn cub.
He remained in his beast form, unable to transform even at the age of ten. He only shifted into his human form on the day Xiong Li and her Beast Husband died.
The dark, heavyset male stared out of the cave, a vicious glint in his eyes. "What's the rush? I already have a plan."
'That ugly female values her cubs more than anything. If those cubs were in trouble, she would definitely go to save them... even if it meant going to the treacherous Snow Mountain!'
The exiled land had four distinct seasons just like anywhere else, but it was also home to the Snow Mountain, which was perpetually covered in snow and treacherous year-round.
Especially at this time of year, the slightest disturbance could trigger a massive avalanche.
'A fragile female and her cubs, buried under all that snow... they wouldn't stand a chance!'
As Yu An wiped the sweat from her brow, she suddenly felt an intensely malicious gaze on her. She looked up, but it vanished.
There was nothing there. Yu An frowned, thinking she must have imagined it.
As she dropped the last two portions of chicken into the fryer, Yu An called out, "That's it, folks! Only two portions left!"
Bai Rong was next in line, with Ma Shu right behind her. Ma Shu immediately grew tense. "Bai Rong, my girl, just buy one portion and let me have the other!"
Bai Rong deliberately put on a pensive look. "Hmm, my Beast Father and my brothers are all coming home today. I don't think one portion will be enough to share..."
Ma Shu immediately countered, "I can't finish a whole one by myself! I'll bring it over to your cave, and we can all share."
Only then did Bai Rong nod. "Alright then, one each. But Uncle Ma... can you afford it?"
It wasn't that she was looking down on him, but before Yu An's arrival, Ma Shu had been a male without a single copper coin to his name.
Ma Shu snorted. "Don't underestimate me."
Ever since he'd found something to look forward to in life, he had been secretly working hard to earn money.
Seeing they had reached an agreement, Yu An handed them each a portion.
The Beastmen who missed out let out a collective wail of despair. If not for the propriety between males and females, they would have thrown themselves at Yu An's feet, begging her to fry just a little more.
Yu An held up her hands helplessly. "This is all I prepared for today. Please come back tomorrow."
With that, she mercilessly packed up her things and left, leaving behind a crowd of utterly heartbroken Beastmen.
Mo Yan drove while Yu An sat beside him, rubbing her wrists and feeling sore all over.
Da Hu thumped her back while Xiao Yu kneaded her shoulders, and Yu An began to feel much better.
Mo Yan remarked casually, "You should think about hiring some help. After I'm gone, you won't be able to manage all this by yourself."
Yu An froze. "You have a point," she said, troubled. "I'll have to think about hiring some people. After you go, it'll just be me and the Zaizai, so I can probably only hire females."
'In two days, at most, I'll have my human form and my spiritual power back,' Han Li, who was massaging Yu An's legs, snorted quietly. 'Then, I'll be the one to shoulder this family's burdens.'
'As for Mo Yan... he can go wherever he pleases. I'll soon replace him in the little female's heart, and in the hearts of the Zaizai!'
Hearing how matter-of-fact she was, Mo Yan felt a sense of relief, but at the same time, a dull ache spread through his chest.
'We've lived together for months, and she won't even ask me to stay?'
An awkward silence fell over the cart. Mo Yan drove on, sulking. It was a good thing there was no other traffic, or he would have crashed for sure.
There were no other vehicles in the forest, but there were plenty of beasts that weighed as much as trucks. Suddenly, a dozen of them emerged from the trees, blocking the path directly in front of the cart.
Mo Yan slammed on the brakes, barely avoiding a collision with the lead fox's head!
But the shocking thing was, despite not being hit, the beasts all collapsed in a heap as if they'd been grievously injured!
Yu An stared, dumbfounded. "Are... are they trying to pull a scam?"