Bab 40: Epoch 40
Epoch 40: Hou's first love?
"Good morning." Tang Tang greeted Zmei, who was sitting on a big rock in front of their temporary shelter.
Zmei stood up. "What should we do today?" He asked without even looking at him.
Tang Tang didn't mind. He stopped the man who started walking and handed him the things he was carrying. "Before anything else, eat this."
Zmei was about to say no, but then he saw the bowl and cup that were covered with leaves and remembered how good the food he had tasted the night before.
Reluctantly, he accepted it and took a seat on the rock once more to eat.
"It is a leftover from last night, but braised meat gets tastier the longer it is soaked in the sauce, and the one in the cup is fresh-made soy milk," Tang Tang explained with a smile.
"Hmm." Zmei just hummed and started eating, not giving anymore attention to the sub-beast standing besides him.
Tang Tang, just let the man finish his breakfast quietly. He only speaks if some passersby greet him.
Tang Tang agreed to personally teach Zmei last night, despite the strong objections of the twins. It was because he couldn't let an easy quest just pass.
In just three days, he will have 50 points, more than enough to buy a knife in the system's shop.
The problem were the twins; coaxing the two was a great ordeal. He worked really hard and was pushed to the limit last night. That is why Tang Tang needed to continue wearing his old clothes to cover those passionate marks.
Hou and Xue even want to accompany him today to meet Zmei, but after convincing them that it is better to start building their house to lessen the days that they need to sleep separately, they unwillingly agreed.
But what Tang Tang didn't know is that even though he is wearing clothes to cover the marks, everyone will still knows what they did because he is walking around covered with the twin's pheromones.
The reason why Zmei is trying to distance himself from the sub-beast is because he can't take the strong smell of the two pheromones.
This is a way to ward off other beasts.
After eating, Zmei returned the bowl and cup to him and asked. "What do you think I should learn first, Tang Tang?"
The way Zmei calls his name in a flirtatious way makes Tang Tang have goosebumps. He acts like he didn't notice and contemplate.
The quest didn't specify what he should teach Zmei, but considering the incoming winter, there are two most important things the tribe leader should learn and focus on.
"Hmm.. I think we need to start on the farm and house," Tang Tang answered.
Zmei suppressed his smile and asked, "Why?"
"In farming, it will help the tribe sustain the food, even without going to the forest, not only during the winter but also in the long run. And the house is the most needed to protect the children and elderly from the cold," Tang Tang explained. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that it was the right choice.
"Let me show you the farm first, then we will go to the hill. There I will show you how to make bricks that are used in making the house," he added.
Zmei smiled. "Then lead the way, Tang Tang."
Tang Tang shivers as he walks ahead of the man.
Zmei had already known what he wanted to learn from God's Messenger since last night—knowledge that would greatly benefit his tribe. He was just trying to test the sub-beast, and he was not disappointed because their thoughts were aligned.
_______________
"Tang Tang, did that Zmei bastard do anything to you?" Hou suddenly asked while they were eating.
Pen and Tang Tang were already eating dinner when Hou and Xue barged in and joined them.
The twins don't want to waste a single moment staying with their beloved sub-beast. They even reasoned that they would lose appetite if they did not eat with Tang Tang.
It makes Pen very infuriated. If only he didn't want to look brutish in front of Tang Tang, he would love to throw the twins out of his tent.
Tang Tang slightly shakes his head. "No, he didn't do anything."
Today, other than cooking for those who volunteered to help, the only thing he does is teach Zmei while touring him around the tribe.
They first visited the newly improved and expanded farm. If before only root crops and vegetables were planted, now there are also different fruit saplings, with a small part dedicated to herbs and medicinal plants.
Tang Tang taught Zmei how to dig out the roots of plants, how to transplant them, and when to water them.
He actually doesn't know if what he taught was the proper way of planting since it was not his area of expertise when he was on Earth.
But this is also the method he taught to Elder Khu and Pen, and so far all of the plants on the farm are growing fine.
He even showed Zmei the DIY tools that he asked the elderly beasts to make that would help in farming, like the watering can, rake, shovel, and hoe.
Zmei listens attentively and gives his insight from time to time. The man didn't say or do anything unnecessary; Tang Tang feels that he is only talking to Xue.
"That's good, but still, don't let your guard down around him. That snake is scheming," Hou said with gritted teeth.
"Did he do something to you before Hou?" Tang Tang asked. He is not a nosy person, but this is the first time he has seen Hou angry at someone other than Xue. That's why he can't help but become curious.
Hou was stunned. He wanted to say that it was nothing and that he just simply hated Zmei, but seeing the probing gaze of the sub-beast, he tried to swallow the lump in his throat and start explaining.
"T-there was this sub-beast before, and we are planning to get... m-married," he said, choosing his every word.
Hou is now regretting why he showed so much hostility towards Zmei, now he needs to recall the past that he wanted to forget badly.
It's not that he still cares about the said sub-beast, but he just doesn't want Tang Tang to misunderstand.
"And?"
"H-he left with Zmei when their tribe last visited." Hou was looking at Tang Tang's reaction, and when he saw the sub-beast smiling, he heaved a sigh of relief.
But his face immediately paled when he heard Tang Tang's next questions. "Do you still like this sub-beast? Is he your first love?"
"No!" Hou shouted. "H-he is not my first love. I didn't like anyone other than you, Tang Tang, believe me!" he explained in panic.
Hou scurries over and holds his hand with trembling hands. "Tang Tang, believe me, okay?" His eyes slightly reddened, and he was on the verge of crying while continuing to explain.
"S-sia used to be a friend. Together with Cai, we used to play when we were kids. He asked me to marry him when we came of age, and I agreed."
"B-but it doesn't mean I love him, I just thought that it was better to marry him than someone I didn't completely know."
Tang Tang felt guilty. He just wanted to slightly tease Hou but ended up touching his past trauma.
Even though Hou says that he doesn't like the sub-beast, being left behind for another man is a great blow, especially to an emotionally unstable person like Hou.
Hou still has a lot of trauma he didn't know about. He needed to be mindful when talking about the past, or he could ask Xue when they were alone.
"Hou, I'm sorry. I didn't mean—"
"It's okay, Tang Tang. I don't care about those things anymore. I just don't want you to misunderstand because you were the only one I love this much."
Tang Tang sighed and wiped the tears flowing down from the man's cheeks. "Let's just think about it in a positive way. If Sia didn't leave and the two of you got married, then I wouldn't meet you and be together like this."
Hou observes Tang Tang, and when he confirms that the sub-beast really didn't have any misunderstandings, his face brightens, and he starts grinning with a face still full of tears. "Yes! I'm very happy that I met you because you are the best thing that happened to me."
Pen, disgusted by Hou's childlike attitude, gives the man a side-eye. But then he realizes that Tang Tang is quite soft-hearted when he sees someone crying.
Now that Hou calmed down, they resumed eating. Tang Tang also didn't forget about Xue, he picked up some of the man's favorite dishes and put them on his plate while inquiring about their first day doing the foundation of their house.
Xue was very thorough and immediately noticed the things lacking in the design that Tang Tang showed him, where the sub-beast painstakingly drew on the ground with a branch.
After eating, they just rested for a while, accompanied Tang Tang in the stream to wash, and then reluctantly returned to Hou's tent, where Yul and Toa were already sleeping.
For the twins who have already gotten used to sleeping with Tang Tang, this will surely be a sleepless night.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
OnceUponATime
OnceUponATime "The best portion of a good man's life is his little nameless, unencumbered acts of kindness and of love." — Wordsworth
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone