"It doesn't hurt, really. This shrimp tastes great. Back in the tribe, many beastmen would catch shrimp and fish, but fish had bones that could get stuck in your throat, and shrimp were too fishy, so no one bothered eating them," Cheng Mo explained. "Besides, preparing shrimp takes time, and most beastmen would rather just hunt a wild animal, which is quicker. So, shrimp and fish were mostly ignored."
Cheng Mo grew up in the tribe, and as the future chief, he learned a lot about these things.
What he hadn't realized before was that it wasn't the shrimp or fish that were bad—it was just that they didn't know how to prepare them properly.
"Of course, I had Bai Di and Heiyao clean and prepare the shrimp.
Otherwise, it would still be really fishy. There's a black vein in the shrimp's back, called the shrimp line, and it's dirty and smelly, so it has to be removed," Si Lu explained as she ate, adding, "Also, I had them cut the shrimp open a bit so that when it's cooked, the flavors can seep in.
That's why it tastes so good and isn't fishy anymore. In fact, it's really delicious now."
"And shrimp are rich in calcium and protein, which is very nutritious and good for the body," Si Lu continued, while happily eating the shrimp Bai Di had peeled for her.
Not only was Bai Di peeling shrimp for her, but Heiyao also started peeling shrimp for her too.
Si Lu, being a delicate female, needed her shrimp peeled, while the males were more rugged—they didn't mind eating shrimp with the shell still on.
They weren't as sensitive as females, so they didn't worry about things like that.
The group nodded thoughtfully after hearing that the shrimp were nutritious. Si Lu was still young, like a child in some ways, so it was important for her to eat nutritious foods.
They all made a mental note to catch more shrimp in the coming days. The river they were by was full of shrimp, and it would be easy to stock up, especially since Si Lu had her space to store them.
Blackyao, in particular, made up his mind to catch more shrimp for her, knowing how much she enjoyed them. He wanted to gather a good supply before they left the river, just in case they didn't find another one for a while.
Besides, the shrimp in the ocean were different from these river shrimp, and he wasn't sure if Si Lu would like those as much.
Meanwhile, Song Zhan, the tiger, tossed a whole shrimp into his mouth and began crunching it. "Mmm, it's really good! So spicy, but the more I eat, the better it tastes," he said, his face flushed.
He seemed to enjoy the spice despite how hot it was. The shrimp was definitely a hit with him.
"It's delicious, Lu Lu. You're amazing!" Song Zhan exclaimed, excitedly looking at Si Lu, his face now completely red.
Whether from the excitement or the spice, it was hard to tell, but his enthusiasm was clear.
"Is it too spicy? Your face is red. If it's too much, drink some water," Si Lu suggested, concerned as she watched Song Zhan scarf down the spicy shrimp.
It was funny to see him eating so much despite the obvious heat, but she worried he might overdo it.
Song Zhan had always complained about spicy food in the past, but now, even with his face turning red, he couldn't stop eating. The crunching sound of shrimp shells filled the air as he continued.
"Hey, slow down! No one's going to take it from you. If it's too spicy, take a break and have some water," Si Lu said, genuinely concerned.
"Zhan, your face is as red as your eyes," Cheng Mo said with a mix of amusement and concern.
Was he addicted to the spice or just going a little overboard?
Even Si Lu was starting to worry about him.
"No worries! I just really like it. Seriously, I'm fine," Song Zhan said, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a big grin on his face. It was clear he loved the food, even if the spice was getting to him.
"Alright, take your time. Let's all eat," Si Lu said, turning her attention back to the food. She happily accepted another shrimp that Bai Di had peeled for her. Cheng Mo poured her a bowl of fish soup, which was milky white, like fresh cream.
"This fish soup smells amazing!" Si Lu said, opening her mouth as Cheng Mo fed her a spoonful.
With Bai Di feeding her shrimp on one side and Cheng Mo giving her fish soup on the other, Si Lu felt like she was living the life of a queen. This level of pampering was on par with royal treatment!
Heiyao watched her with a gentle smile, carefully peeling shrimp for her. Though he couldn't feed her directly, it didn't mean he couldn't prepare the food for her. He placed the peeled shrimp in a bowl by the fire to keep them warm.
He was so thoughtful.
"Don't just focus on me; you should all eat too," Si Lu said, grabbing one of the shrimp Bai Di had peeled and popping it into his mouth. Bai Di was momentarily surprised but then smiled warmly.
How could anyone not want to treat her well? She was such a kind and caring little female. He would gladly give her anything, even his life, if she needed it.
"Make sure you all eat something too. Don't just worry about me," Si Lu sighed, looking at the group.
They had been busy hunting and preparing food all day and hadn't eaten much themselves. It made her heart ache to see them so focused on her.
But they were all incredibly stubborn.
"Mo, have some fish soup. And Heiyao, you too. Don't just think about me—you've all worked hard today, and I'll feel bad if you don't eat," Si Lu said with a bit of frustration.
Cheng Mo smiled reassuringly. "When we hunt, we always eat the first catch ourselves. After that, we continue hunting and bring the rest back. It's how we beastmen work. We can eat whole wild boar in one sitting, so don't worry about us. We've already eaten."
"Usually, the first prey we catch goes into our bellies. So we're good for the rest of the day," he added with a chuckle.
"I see," Si Lu nodded, finally understanding.
Thank goodness! She had been worried they'd been going hungry while taking care of her.