Parker was suspicious and looked at the surrounding pits. They were really dry.

  “The weather’s warmer now, so the ape king should be giving out seeds soon. He’ll explain how to plant them.” The beastman then returned to his piece of land to turn the soil.

  Parker rejoiced and felt at ease. The ape king’s method had always been extremely effective. With the ape king teaching them, he wouldn’t have to worry about failing to plant the seeds.

  When Parker returned home after hunting, Curtis and Bai Qingqing had just managed to find all the little snakes that had been crawling about.

  “You’re back?” Bai Qingqing waved to Parker. He quickened his footsteps and was about to speak when a long wolf howl sounded from the center of the City of Beastmen.

  “Howl—”


  Bai Qingqing also knew that this was the signal the ape king used to call out to females. She asked, “What is it again this time?”


  Bai Qingqing pursed her lips and continued, “Doesn’t matter. I’m too lazy to go, anyway.”


  Parker threw the prey on the ground with a thud and replied excitedly, “You have to go this time. He must be giving out the rice seeds.”


  Parker only realized that the seeds were given out to the females when he asked his mother before returning home. Each female was entitled to one bowl of seeds, and males weren’t able to collect any if they went alone.

  “Giving out seeds? He’s so generous?” Bai Qingqing exclaimed. “Are they free?”


  “Yes.” Parker nodded firmly. He then continued proudly, “He gives out seeds every year. Only large villages enjoy such benefits. Isn’t it great in the City of Beastmen?”


  Bai Qingqing nodded repeatedly. She couldn’t help but feel tempted even though they still had a bag mostly full of rice.

  Those were seeds, seeds that could be used to grow lots of rice. Buying rice was simply too expensive.

  Curtis was having an enjoyable time with Bai Qingqing and was extremely unhappy that Parker interrupted them. He grabbed Bai Qingqing’s hand and walked into the house. “Let’s go feed the little snakes.”


  The little snakes hissed eagerly at the mention of food.

  “Qingqing’s coming with me to collect the seeds,” Parker said as he followed behind them.

  “You can go yourself.”


  “No. The seeds can only be collected by a female.” Parker grabbed Bai Qingqing’s other hand.

  Beastmen had a lot of strength and were rough in their movements. Parker pulled on Bai Qingqing’s hand so hard that she felt like her arm was going to fall off. She gritted her teeth and hissed. “Be gentle. That hurts!”


  Parker and Curtis both stopped.

  Curtis looked at Bai Qingqing, who chuckled at him and said, “I’ll be right back.”


  Curtis controlled his temper and said with a dark look on his face, “I’ll come with you.”


  “It’s okay. You can stay at home and look after the little snakes. I promise I’ll come back after collecting the seeds and that I won’t waste time playing,” Bai Qingqing said and held up three fingers as if she was making an oath.

  Curtis insisted that she bring the little snakes with her.

  “I don’t want to run around. They’ll be hard to find if that happens. What if another beastman thinks they’re wild snakes and bite them to death?” Bai Qingqing said to Curtis worriedly.

  Curtis looked at Bai Qingqing and didn’t say a word. Bai Qingqing pulled at the hand that Curtis was holding on to. It hurt when she finally managed to pull it away, but she knew that Curtis was already giving in to her.

  “Let’s go, then. Bye.” Bai Qingqing waved to Curtis before grabbing onto Parker and leaving.

  Curtis remained where he was for a long time. When the two of them had gone far away, he suddenly and irritably threw the bamboo basket in his hand on the ground.

  “Bang!”


  When the basket landed on the ground, there was the vague sound of flesh being slapped, as well as the hissing sounds of the little snakes.

  The little snakes scrambled out of the basket, then rushed into the bedroom and squirmed into Parker’s blanket as if their lives depended on it.

  Curtis looked at the wobbling bamboo basket on the ground and suddenly panicked. He rushed to the bamboo basket and picked it up.