Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off-Chapter 425: Salt Means Power: The Beast World’s Richest Queen?

Su Qinglan stood up and pointed to the shore.

"It’s called evaporation. There are two main ways to do it. The first is to dig shallow square pits in the sand and line them with smooth stones or clay. We fill them with seawater and let the hot sun cook the water away. When the water disappears into the air, the white salt crystals will stay on the bottom."

The elders leaned in, their eyes wide with greed and hope.

"The second way is faster," she continued.

"We take big stone pots of seawater and boil them over a hot fire. As the steam rises, the water leaves, and the salt thickens at the bottom. You just have to keep stirring it until you have pure, white salt." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Everyone’s expression widened until their eyes were like dinner plates. If this was true, they wouldn’t have to risk their lives diving into dangerous underwater caves to find salt rocks. They could just sit on the beach and let the sun make them the richest tribe in the beast world!

Rong Ye was the most excited of all. Having lived in a large Beast City for over a decade, he knew the true power of salt.

In a small village, salt was just for taste. But in a Great City, salt was power. If someone could control a mountain of salt, they could control kings.

"Lan Lan! If this works, we can buy an entire city!" Rong Ye shouted, his fluffy tail wagging so hard it kicked up sand. He wanted to run to the water right now and start boiling a pot.

The Merman elders were already standing up, their food forgotten. They wanted to rush to the shore and try it immediately.

The excitement was like a fever spreading through the crowd. Even the females were whispering about how they would never have to worry about bland meat again.

Uncle Tang looked at Su Qinglan with a gaze so respectful it was almost holy. "Little Fox, if this works... you are not just a guest. You are the savior of the Merman tribe."

Su Qinglan laughed, feeling a bit embarrassed by the praise. "Let’s not talk about saviors yet. Let’s just go get a pot and some water. Seeing is believing!"

On the other hand, Rong Ye really couldn’t contain himself. His white tail was whipping back and forth like a hurricane.

Without a shred of shame, he jumped up, grabbed Su Qinglan’s face, and kissed her fiercely right in front of the Merman tribe leader, the elders, and all the wide-eyed guests.

"Mmph!" Su Qinglan’s eyes widened, her muffled protest lost in his excitement.

"Lan Lan! My precious, smart Lan Lan!" Rong Ye whispered against her lips, his voice trembling with pride.

"You have no idea what you’ve done! If this works, you won’t just be a female with five husbands...you’ll be the richest, most powerful queen in the entire beast world!"

He leaned in to kiss her again, but a cold, pale hand suddenly clamped onto his shoulder.

Xuan Long didn’t look happy. With a disgusted expression, he peeled the "stinky fox" away from Su Qinglan and shoved him toward the beach.

"If you’re so excited, go and try it," Xuan Long hissed, his slit pupils narrowing. "Why are you clinging to her like a hungry cub? Have you no shame in front of all these people?"

Rong Ye stumbled back but didn’t look even a little embarrassed. He just stuck his tongue out at Xuan Long and smirked smugly.

"You’re just jealous, you slippery noodle! You’re just mad that you don’t have the guts to kiss her in front of a crowd like I do!"

Before Xuan Long could strike him with his tail, Rong Ye dashed away toward the shore. But he didn’t forget to grab the massive stone pot that Shi Feng had spent days patiently carving for Su Qinglan.

Shi Feng watched the fox run off with his masterpiece, let out a heavy, weary sigh, and rubbed his temples. He looked at the empty space where his pot used to be with a "Why is he like this?" expression.

Su Qinglan cleared her throat, trying to bring some order back to the table. She looked at Uncle Tang and the elders, who were halfway out of their seats.

"Wait! At least finish the food before you go!" she shouted, waving her hands. "I know everyone is excited, but please, don’t let this meal go to waste."

Lan Yue let out a loud, bubbly laugh, her eyes sparkling as she reached for another prawn.

"Let them go, sister! If the men go to the beach, there’s more food for us. I’ll sit here and eat for the entire day!"

Uncle Tang, who had been hovering between the shore and the table, suddenly sat back down with a thud. He looked at the steaming, fragrant fish soup and the seasoned crab.

"Lan Yue is right," the tribe leader said, picking his bone back up. "The sea isn’t running away anywhere. The water will be there an hour from now, but this food... if I leave, these greedy elders will finish it all!"

The elders, seeing the leader sit back down, immediately scrambled back to their seats. They began stuffing their mouths even faster, their eyes darting toward the beach where Rong Ye was currently shouting and splashing in the waves.

Su Qinglan shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. Between the salt discovery and her chaotic husbands, life was never boring.

"Eat, eat," she encouraged, handing a soft piece of fish to Xiao San. "Once we’re full, we’ll go show the whole tribe how to turn the sea into white salt."

After everyone had stuffed their bellies with the delicious feast, the beach became the center of the world. Uncle Tang, the elders, and Lan Yue all hurried toward the shore, their eyes filled with a mix of hope and doubt.

Hu Yan stayed back at the camp. As the most responsible husband of the group, someone had to clean up.

He sat by the fire, patiently washing the pots and bowls and feeding the small red fruits to the three cubs. Xiao Yi, Xiao Er, and Xiao San were rolling in the sand, too full to care about "white stones" or salt.