"Qingli! Look at Lanlan!" she said excitedly.
"She built such wonderful stone houses for herself and her family. Even the entire Fox Tribe has already completely transitioned to stone houses under her guidance. They’re unbelievably warm, they’re sturdy, and they don’t fear heavy snow or strong winds at all! Why don’t we issue an official order for the people of Dragon Beast City to build them too?"
Mo Qingli looked at her enthusiastic face and smiled bitterly, a trace of regret in his eyes.
"It’s not that I never suggested it, Mulan. I did," he shook his head helplessly, remembering past council meetings.
"But the people of this city are simply too stubborn and set in their ways. They don’t like sudden changes. In the beginning, they even looked down heavily on the Fox Tribe, viewing them as weak. They didn’t want to associate with them, and they certainly didn’t want to humble themselves to learn their building techniques."
He sighed again, staring back out at the freezing dark.
"Looking back now... I should have been firmer. I should have insisted. Even if they complained and resisted, I should have forced them to build at least a few large communal stone shelters before the ground froze."
Wang Mulan’s excitement dimmed, and she too let out a sympathetic sigh. "The beastmen of Dragon Beast City really are too old-fashioned. They always refuse to accept anything new until it’s staring them in the face. But things are different now."
A faint, proud smile touched her lips. "Ever since Lanlan arrived, she has helped everyone so much. The females of the city especially have received so much care and warmth from her. Now, many people have started looking at the Fox Tribe with respect. They’re much friendlier than before."
But then, her eyes drifted back to the heavy snow piling up on the window sill.
"But... it’s already too late for regrets. Winter has already arrived in full force. The ground is frozen solid. What are we supposed to do right now?"
At that exact moment, the heavy wooden door clicked open.
Su Mingxuan walked into the room, carefully carrying a large tray filled with several steaming, fragrant dishes.
Although he had never been a great cook in his youth, he had taken his role as a mate seriously and had learned quite a bit of culinary skill from his talented sons-in-law over the past few months.
The rich, delicious aroma of roasted meat and seasoned broth instantly filled every corner of the chilly room.
Wang Mulan’s eyes immediately brightened, her somber mood instantly evaporating at the scent.
"Food!" she cheered. Without another thought, she slipped right out of Mo Qingli’s warm embrace and happily ran toward the dining table like a hungry cub.
Mo Qingli blinked, staring blankly at his suddenly empty arms. "..."
He could only shake his head helplessly at his mate’s adorable antics. Then, a doting, affectionate smile broke across his face as he turned and followed closely behind her.
Su Mingxuan carefully placed the hot stone dishes onto the low table and sat on the floor. "What were you two discussing so seriously by the window?"
Wang Mulan quickly explained her anxieties about the snowstorm and the fragile wooden houses while eagerly grabbing her chopsticks.
After listening quietly to her worries, Su Mingxuan offered a reassuring, warm smile.
"Don’t worry yourselves to illness over this. If some houses really do collapse under the snow, there are still many empty, newly built stone houses over in the Fox Tribe’s territory. They can temporarily move the displaced families there. And if that’s still not enough, we can also take some families into our own spacious homes. The Fox Tribe certainly won’t refuse to help."

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off