0p0 Chapter 533 Extra 2 Meeting
Chapter 533 Extra 2 Meeting
In the spacious, dry cave, several sub-orcs held booklets and counted the food in front of them one by one.
"Baiyan, we have had a bumper harvest this year. The snow season is already halfway over, and we still have so much grain left." Yangye closed the ledger in his hand, his eyes full of joy.
He had never fought such a prosperous battle before. In previous snow seasons, although his tribe did not go hungry, they were always struggling to make ends meet.
Unlike this year, with the seeds given to them by the High Priest, life in the City of Ten Thousand Beasts has become much better. The people are all strong and healthy, and they do not stop working even during the snow season. All departments are operating normally.
In the papermaking department, weapons department, weaving department, planting area, breeding area, every corner of the Beast City can be seen with the hardworking figures of the beastmen.
Even though the snow is deep during the snow season, the main roads in the city are still clean and tidy. Every day, orcs shovel the snow off the stone roads to make it easier for everyone to walk.
The beastmen are extremely satisfied with their lives nowadays. They no longer have to go hungry and can eat their fill every day. Even their cubs are chubby and adorable.
What everyone hopes for most right now is that the High Priest and the City Lord will always have a harmonious and loving relationship, and that they will forever lead their Beast City to a brighter future.
"Don't you know what everyone in the city is talking about you these days? They're praising you to the skies, practically worshipping you like beast gods." Lu Xiao winked and smiled at Lin Baiyan, while Yang Ye covered his mouth and chuckled in agreement.
Lin Baiyan sighed, "That's an exaggeration."
He looked at the neatly arranged grains inside the cave, gently twirling them between his index finger and thumb, when suddenly a brilliant idea struck him. "What do you think about us holding a lantern festival?"
"The Lantern Festival?" Yang Ye and Lu Xiao were puzzled.
Lin Baiyan turned his head and looked at them seriously. "In the past, our city only celebrated during the two hunting seasons. Everyone had too little time to rest. With so many unexpected events this year, I think it's necessary for us to hold a banquet to help everyone relax."
"Bai Yan is right. We have indeed been through a lot this year." Looking back now, Yang Ye feels it's all a bit surreal. Just two years ago, they were just a group of beastmen fleeing famine, but now they have such a large city and these trustworthy people.
"The Spirit Dog Clan, Giant Bear Clan, and Star Wolf Clan haven't been in the City of Ten Thousand Beasts for long, so this is a good opportunity to let the different clans get to know each other better."
Lin Baiyan thought about it more and more and felt that this was a good idea. It was already the end of the year, and there wasn't much to do in the city. Everyone had a lot of free time. Holding a lantern festival at this time would be just like celebrating the New Year.
Lu Xiao nodded thoughtfully, "I know about holding banquets, but what is the theme of this Lantern Festival?"
Lin Baiyan smiled mysteriously, "The Lantern Festival, of course, is themed around lanterns."
"So what exactly is a lantern?" Yang Ye asked the most crucial question.
Seeing the puzzled looks on the two sub-beastmen's faces, Lin Baiyan slapped his forehead. How could he have forgotten about the lantern?
This is an ancient handicraft that has been passed down in China to this day, and it is a very important intangible cultural heritage.
The Lantern Festival he just mentioned is actually the ancient Lantern Festival.
Having lived in the Beast World for a long time, he had gotten used to the Beastmen using torches for lighting and simply held the torch up like that.
As Lin Baiyan pondered this, his brush continued to move, and he drew a simple design of an octagonal palace lantern on his personal notebook.
He held the booklet in front of the two of them. "Here, this is one type of lantern. I will make several different styles and hang them all over the city. Then I will give a few questions, and those who answer correctly can choose their favorite lantern."
"You can write your wishes on the lantern and hang it in your room, or you can give the lantern you won to someone important, which is very meaningful."
As Lin Baiyan spoke, his hands moved swiftly, and soon the booklet displayed all sorts of lanterns: rabbit lanterns, carp lanterns, lotus lanterns...
Lu Xiao and Yang Ye exchanged a glance, their eyes growing brighter as they looked at the booklet.
"High Priest, what is your head made of? How could you come up with such an interesting thing?" Yang Ye blinked, staring at Lin Baiyan's head with some curiosity, looking like he really wanted to touch it.
Lin Baiyan was somewhat amused and exasperated. "This wasn't my idea; it's just something I copied from others."
"Eat...eat what teeth?" Lu Xiao scratched his head, looking completely puzzled.
Lin Baiyan smiled and pinched Lu Xiao's cheek. "Have you forgotten everything from your ancient culture classes because you haven't studied them in so long?"
Lu Xiao was a little embarrassed, "We've been expanding the city these past two days, haven't we? I've been quite busy, quite busy..."
Yang Ye smiled, but then, as if remembering something, her smile vanished.
Lin Baiyan nudged his shoulder. "What's wrong? Weren't you laughing quite happily just now?"
Yang Ye sighed with a worried look on her face, "At least Lu Xiao has taken some ancient culture classes, but my two kids at home are giving me a real headache."
"Hasn't Little Tiger Kong already successfully transformed into human form? What are you still worried about?" Tiger Kong transformed even faster than Rat Le, who was born a step earlier than him. As soon as he landed, he was a big, chubby boy with a tiger-like head.
Yang Ye seemed to remember something, and said through gritted teeth, "That's exactly why I'm worried."
"I don't know what Huqiu was thinking. Asking him to study ancient culture is like killing him. He takes Hukong to climb high and low every day. It's like I'm raising two cubs!"
Lin Baiyan thought of the scene as Yang Ye spoke, and couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Hu Qiu is really a clown."
You know what, he and Yang Ye are completely opposite. I don't know how Yang Ye can stand Hu Qiu's carefree attitude.
Hearing Yang Ye say that, Lu Xiao's face also showed a bit of melancholy. Lin Baiyan was a little curious, "Yang Ye is one thing, but your Xiong Xi and Lu Shu are only a few months old, what are you worried about?"
“Those two aren’t exactly peaceful either, always running around and causing trouble, and Fei is always so protective of them. He gets nervous for ages if I say anything!” Lu Xiao said indignantly. “Now I suspect he only has eyes for his cubs and doesn’t care about me as his partner at all!”
After Lu Xiao finished speaking, she and Yang Ye exchanged a glance and both saw the slight breakdown in each other's eyes.
Seeing their troubled expressions, Lin Baiyan tapped her booklet and said, "In that case, we should make sure this lantern festival is even more special."
Lu Xiao and Yang Ye tilted their heads. What do you mean by that?
Lin Baiyan said with a smile, "It's to strengthen family bonds, especially the bond between partners!"
"After having cubs, do you and your partner spend all your time revolving around the cubs?"
Yang Ye and Lu Xiao nodded in unison. Who doesn't live like this? Once you have cubs, you have to take good care of them so that they can grow up safely and healthily.
Lin Baiyan raised an eyebrow slightly and shook his head in disapproval. "The cubs are important, but we can't lose everything for them."
“You must remember that, apart from the cubs’ mother and father, you are first and foremost yourself. The cubs are not the center of your long animal life; they will grow up and leave your lives. The most important center of your life is yourself.”
He lightly flicked the booklet in his hand. "Alright, I have to go to the central square to discuss the Lantern Festival with the elders. You two should think about it carefully."
After Lin Baiyan finished speaking, he slowly left the storage cave, leaving behind two thoughtful sub-beastmen.