The social hierarchy on the Yongchang Continent was strict. It was rare for a family to suddenly become rich; wealth was built up over generations. More often, a family would find itself besieged and carved up by a coalition of other powers.

Only through one’s own strength could one gain a foothold in this land. Not a single Beastman dared to rely on luck.

Looking no further than Beiping City itself, the truly powerful families resided in the city’s center. Those who made their homes on the city walls were all Beast Clans on the fringes of power.

They lived a precarious existence, constantly fearing that their clan could be annihilated at any moment, and desperately scrambled to add to their leverage.

Si Shuo’s arrival was like a ray of sunlight piercing through a dim sky, giving them a glimmer of hope in their suffocating struggle.

Si Shuo hadn’t expected them to be so emotional, which made her hesitant to just hand over the recipes casually. She needed to at least weigh her options a bit.

’There was plenty of street food back in her time. Since they’d be setting up shop on the stone walls of the East Gate, the food had to be delicious, inexpensive, easy to make, and a classic!’

She chuckled softly and took out a brush and three sheets of paper. On the first sheet, she wrote about Meat Flatbreads. Donkey Meat Flatbreads were crispy on the outside and savory on the inside. Paired with green peppers, they were fragrant without being greasy and had a wonderfully complex texture. However, the Beast World Continent had many types of meat, so she left out the "donkey" part and instead listed several local beasts she felt would be good substitutes. In addition to the flatbreads, she also included Bo City Meat Pastries and wontons. They provided both food and drink, were very filling, and were superb in both flavor and texture. It would surely be the best choice for a Beastman’s breakfast or dinner.

On the second sheet were Braised Meat Noodles. Northerners in Xiahua Country couldn’t live without noodles; some even had to eat them for breakfast and dinner. Noodles alone could be prepared in over a thousand different ways. Si Shuo simply listed noodle soup, fried noodles, and fried rice.

The third sheet listed various types of steamed buns: shiitake mushroom and meat, wild onion and meat, dried vegetable and meat, red bean paste, cabbage and meat, poultry blood and vermicelli buns, and so on. There was also Sá Soup—a broth made from simmering bones, poured over delicate egg ribbons—as well as various rice porridges and soy milk.

These were all foods that Si Shuo herself loved and could eat over and over without getting tired of them. ’While helping others make money and expand their businesses, she also gets to enjoy delicious food. Killing several birds with one stone!’

After she finished writing, she folded the papers, put them in a Beast Skin Bag, and shook it a few times with dramatic flair. She chuckled, "Here you go, ladies. Inside are your secret recipes for getting rich.

I’ve already written them out. As for which recipe you choose, that’s up to your luck. But every one of them is quite good; it just comes down to personal preference."

The three females were thrilled, but none of them reached out. They had given their assurances earlier, but as the daughters of Clan Leaders or elders, they understood better than anyone just how important a secret recipe was.

"Si Shuo, we can’t just take your recipes for free," Ning Han said, shyly tugging at the corner of her clothes.

Si Shuo smiled and said, "You’re not taking them for free. Being willing to trade caves with us is already a great help. Think of this as a thank-you gift.

Besides, our clans are on good terms now. If we can consult and help each other when we run into trouble in the future, isn’t that better than anything?"

The three females exchanged a look and didn’t protest any further, just smiled and nodded vigorously.

"Alright! Si Shuo, from now on, your problems are our problems! Even though you’re outsiders, you want to join the Guanping Beast Country and you have the identity marks on your heads, so you’re one of us in the Beast Country."

"That’s right. The Black Fox Clan tends to keep a low profile, but we’re not afraid of trouble..."

Miao Ling also smiled, letting out a soft HISS. "We of the Ball Python Clan may be Snake Beasts, but we are not cold-hearted. We know how to show gratitude. The Ball Python Clan will remember this debt!"

Si Shuo held out the Beast Skin Bag a little further.

Ning Han reached in first and pulled out a folded paper without opening it, then looked to her side. Xuan Huan took a deep breath and also reached in to draw a slip of paper. Miao Ling took the one that was left.

The Beastmen of the Yongchang Continent valued education. Although the study of Beast Text was not widespread, it had become a status symbol. Anyone who could read Beast Text would never go hungry, no matter where they were, as they could use this skill to earn Crystal Stones.

These females also knew a bit of it.

At Si Shuo’s nod, they excitedly unfolded the slips of paper. They were covered in dense lines of Beast Text, which made their heads spin, but their joy wasn’t the least bit diminished.

’The fact that they couldn’t quite understand it was their own problem. It just went to show how amazing the recipes were!’

With the recipes in hand, they couldn’t sit still, fidgeting as if they had ants in their pants.

Si Shuo smiled, her lips pressed together. "Alright, ladies, I won’t keep you. Hurry back and ask which Beastmen in your clans want to learn how to make these dishes.

Even with the recipes, without me there to guide them, it would probably take them weeks of trial and error to figure things out."

"Okay, we’re going right now!" The females dashed outside with their males following close behind, urgently calling after them to slow down.

Si Shuo watched them go and raised an eyebrow. ’Why do the males treat the females like a mother hen watching her chicks?’ 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

As for the males in her own home, aside from Xu Chi, who periodically had to take Wild Beast carcasses out of his Sumeru Space, there was Ji Liang leading them to and from the Bamboo Forest Maze.

The rest of the time, they were all diligently absorbing Crystal Stones to advance their Cultivation. They had always known that there were bigger fish in the sea, and right now, they were merely on the outskirts of Beiping City in the Guanping Beast Country.

They hadn’t been in the city for long, yet they had already offended several groups of people. It couldn’t be helped; their group was too outstanding, attracting envy and plots. Other than improving their strength, they had no other choice.

Once their cultivation levels had risen a bit and the harsh winter passed, they could make other plans.

Before long, a large group consisting of the Clan Leaders, elders, and young males from the several clans came swarming over, completely blocking the entrance to their cave.

"Lady Si Shuo, thank you for generously gifting us these food recipes. From now on, we will give you a thirty percent share of all the Crystal Stones the Red-bellied Eagle Clan earns!"

The other two clans expressed the same intention. Their thinking was clear: without Si Shuo, they wouldn’t be able to earn these Crystal Stones at all. So, giving away a thirty percent share was the price for earning the other seventy percent.

Moreover, this ratio was very reasonable—not too much, and not too little. They were hoping for a long-term partnership.

’There’s a big difference between something being offered and having to ask for it.’ Si Shuo felt that these families from the East Gate were very sensible and knew how to strike the right balance.

That was a rare quality among Beastmen. Their awareness, attitude, and foresight put her at ease.

"How about this: you give me half of the Crystal Stones you earn for the first three months. We can consider that the price for which I’ve sold you the recipes. After that, I’ll have no further connection to them."

’Once they start selling these dishes, others will surely try to copy them. Sooner or later, they’ll manage to replicate them. The clans were being tactful, so she couldn’t be greedy in return. Relationships are a two-way street.’

"Alright, we have a deal," the Black Fox Clan Leader said with a smiling nod.

Si Shuo smiled and checked to see what each of them had drawn. The Red-bellied Eagle Clan had gotten the recipes for steamed buns, porridge, Sá Soup, and soy milk; the Black Fox Clan had drawn the Meat Flatbreads, Meat Pastries, and wontons; and the Ball Python Clan got the Braised Meat Noodles!