Transmigrated to Raise Panther Cubs novel Chapter 255

Transmigrated to Raise Panther Cubs

Chapter 255 Lunch Under the Midday Sun

+5 Pearls.

That night, after they lay down, Matthew stayed pressed close to Zachary. Every now and then, he guided Zachary’s hand toward his beast ears or pushed his tail into his palm. “Fouch them. Please.”

The next morning, Matthew woke before the sky had fully brightened. He remained on his side, one arm tucked beneath his head, watching his mate sleep for a long while before he finally sat up.

Zachary stirred and opened his eyes halfway. He was still asleep, and his voice came out soft and lazy. “Why are you awake so early?”

Matthew brushed his cheek with his fingertips. “Sleep a little longer.”

“Mm…” Zachary rubbed his face against Matthew’s warm palm and soon slipped back into sleep.

Matthew made himself a simple breakfast. After eating, he headed toward the center of the tribe. By the time he arrived, many therians had already gathered there to work.

Since the last trading gathering, more tribes had started coming to the Black Panther Tribe for exchanges. The number of visitors kept growing, and whenever they gathered around the entrance, the path became crowded and difficult to manage.

Because of that, the chief had chosen several caves near the entrance and arranged for them to be cleared out. Those caves would be used to store fired clay vessels, woven baskets, fish traps, tooth powder, toothbrushes, candles, seasonings, and other trade goods.

A large shade canopy had also been built nearby. Visitors from other tribes could trade there or rest for a while without entering the tribe’s living area. It made things easier to manage and kept unnecessary trouble away from the tribe.

Zachary was not idle that morning either.

He found a pile of treated vines and two large pieces of cowhide, then settled down to work. He wove, stitched, pulled, and knotted until he finished a strong hammock. Once he tied it between two trees outside the cave, it hung there firmly enough for someone to sit or lie in.

When Jaden and Taylor returned from the creek with small fish and shrimp, they spotted the hammock right away. The two cubs went over and touched it curiously.

Taylor looked up. “Zachary, what is this?”

“A hammock.” Zachary picked them up and placed one child on each end. “Hold on tight.”

“Whoa!”

“This is fun!”

The hammock swayed from side to side. Each swing rose a little higher than the last. Taylor sat upright, laughing so hard that his little curls bounced with him.

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Chapter 255 tunch Under the Midday Sum

+5 Prants

Jaden was clearly enjoying himself, too. His beast ears popped out before he realized it, and a small smile appeared on his face. His eyes were bright with happiness.

Zachary let the two cubs play while he went back into the cave to prepare lunch.

Before long, the cubs followed him inside.

Everyone had already grown used to three meals a day. With enough food at home, no one wanted to skip

one.

Zachary minced some meat and mixed it with scallion–ginger water, pepper, and a few other seasonings. He then added several egg whites. With no starch on hand, he used flour to help bind the mixture. Once everything was smooth, he shaped it into small meatballs and dropped them into boiling water.

After the meatballs cooked through, he added a generous handful of fresh pea shoots. They only needed a short blanch before the soup turned clear, light, and fragrant. It tasted fresh without being greasy.

He also blanched the wild spicewood shoots, cooled them in water, chopped them finely, and scrambled them with eggs. The fragrance of the shoots mixed beautifully with the eggs.

The remaining spicewood shoots were washed and left to dry slightly. Zachary sprinkled them with salt, rubbed them firmly, and packed them into a clay vessel to pickle.

The small fish and shrimp that Jaden and Taylor had caught were fried until crisp. They came out golden, crunchy, and fragrant, the kind of food that disappeared one piece at a time before anyone noticed.

For the last dish, Zachary made stir–fried beef.

He marinated the beef first, then fried it quickly until the color changed. In another splash of hot oil, he brought out the aroma of scallions, ginger, garlic, and chili.

After tossing everything together, he added a large handful of cilantro. The dish was spicy, savory, and perfect with rice.

The two cubs played until their cheeks turned red. As soon as the smell of lunch drifted out, they hurried over to help carry the dishes.

They were growing fast, so Zachary filled their bowls, generously and packed the rice high.

After lunch, Zachary wrapped a large bundle of dried plum snacks in leaves and asked Taylor and Jaden to bring it to Elias. Then he packed another basket with food and carried it toward the tribe’s construction

area.

The midday sun was harsh. The therians had spent the whole morning doing heavy labor. Even with their

upper

bodies bare, sweat still covered their foreheads, shoulders, and chests.

Zachary lived on the far western side of the tribe, so he had to cross almost the entire settlement to reach the worksite.

By the time he arrived, the workers were on break. Some sat in the shade, some lay flat on the ground, and all of them looked drained from the heat.

There were too many people around. Zachary felt a little awkward walking straight in, so he stopped at a

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Chapter 255 tuach Under the Midday Sun

distance and searched carefully for Matthew.

+5 Pears

Yael was rolling his stiff neck when the noticed Zachary. He immediately nudged Matthew with his elbow, his tone full of teasing Look. The one you have been missing is here

Matthew lifted his head.

Their eyes met across the crowd. For a brief moment, surprise softened Matthew’s usually calm expression.

Zachary smiled and waved at him.

Matthew stood up at once and walked over.

“Why did you come?” Matthew noticed the thin layer of sweat on Zachary’s forehead and instinctively reached out. Then he saw the dust on his own palm and stopped himself.

“I brought you lunch.” Zachary felt a little bad seeing him so tired. He pulled Matthew into the shade and handed him a bamboo tube. “Drink some water first.”

Inside was chilled lemon, plum, and honey water. It was cool, sweet, and refreshing.

Matthew was truly thirsty. He drank several large mouthfuls, and the heat in his body eased almost at

once.

Zachary opened the basket and took out the dishes one by one.

There were scrambled eggs with wild spicewood shoots, crispy little fish and shrimp, stir–fried beef with cilantro, and a large bowl of meatball soup with pea shoots.

As for the rice, Zachary had packed a whole basin.

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