Behind an unnamed grassy knoll in the forest, a little female with porcelain-white skin and cherry-red lips looked at the tall, young male opposite her, her sparkling eyes brimming with smiles.
Looking at the little female's tender white cheeks, the male's ears quietly turned red.
"Alright, let's grab the baskets and head to the trading market."
As soon as Miche stepped into the trading market, she keenly noticed that it was unusually crowded today. Moreover, everyone's gazes kept darting toward the market entrance. Having learned their lesson from last time, the two of them hadn't brought Amy.
"Loki, what's going on here?"
"I don't know either."
At this moment, a Fox Clan male leaned in. "Loki, I heard your little female is bringing out a hundred pounds of rice for trade today. We know each other well—can you put in a good word for me and have her save two bags for me?
"You know my little female just had cubs and really needs rice right now. With so many people here today, I'm worried I won't be able to get any."
After speaking, he winked at Miche, who was standing nearby. "Miche, we're both from the Fox Clan. Please help me out."
"What? Ophelia is bringing a hundred pounds of rice to trade today? Impossible. Where would she get so much rice in this season?" Miche blurted out.
When Ophelia had brought fifty pounds of rice last time, Miche simply assumed it was from her frugal savings. But to claim she still had a hundred pounds on hand? Miche absolutely didn't believe it.
"Loki, you're her mate. Do you not know about this either?" the Fox Clan male asked in confusion.
Loki forced a calm facade and cleared his throat. "I'm usually busy with clan affairs and the hunting team, so I'm not too clear on her business.
"But since you've asked, I'll have her save two bags of rice for you."
He finally believed his father's words. If Ophelia could produce fifty pounds of rice, she could produce five hundred pounds, or even five thousand pounds. No matter where she got it from, the amount would only be more, not less. Otherwise, she wouldn't have dared to bring it to the trading market for exchange.
Amidst everyone's anticipation, Ophelia and Tyler finally arrived.
"Little female, you're finally here! We've been waiting for you for a long time."
"Yeah, exactly! I thought you were just making empty promises the other day. I can't believe you actually brought a hundred pounds of rice."
The males' eyes lit up as they looked at the heavy baskets strapped to Tyler's back and the ones he carried in his hands.
"Don't worry, I keep my word," Ophelia announced. "Everyone, line up, and we'll start trading immediately. The exchange rates remain the same. Everyone must maintain order, follow the rules, and absolutely no cutting in line.
"There is a limit of two bags of rice per person. If you don't get to buy any today, don't worry. I will be coming to the trading market regularly, so everyone will get their share in the future."
Because of the large crowd today, Ophelia implemented a purchase limit to ensure that more people could buy rice, thereby spreading her reputation even further.
Looking at the crooked line and the males trying to cut in, Ophelia felt a headache coming on. She was just about to call Tyler over to maintain order when two males voluntarily walked up. It was Sail and Lam, her favored future business partners.
"Ophelia, we'll help you keep order. You and Tyler take your time; there's no need to rush," Sail said.
"Alright. The rates are the same as before: ten prey animals for one bag of rice, fifteen animal hides for one bag, or one Red Crystal Stone for one bag."
"Understood," Sail said, nodding, his brown eyes filled with a smile.
Lam suggested, "We can collect the prey first. That way, you only have to focus on bagging the rice."
Ophelia nodded in satisfaction. Lam was already showing a budding mindset for business.
With the two males helping out, the order of the line improved dramatically. The males at the very back, who wouldn't be able to get any rice today, were also gently persuaded to leave by the duo.
The Fox Clan male was too far back in the line to get a share of this batch of rice, so he once again turned his attention to Loki. "Loki, look at this..."
Seeing the mountain of prey and animal hides piling up beside Ophelia, Miche's eyes grew red with envy. She gently tugged on Loki's arm and said softly, "Loki, just help Kriv out."
Kriv, the Fox Clan male, also had a look full of longing in his eyes.
"Alright, follow me." He straightened his back and marched triumphantly to the very front of the line, leading the other two.
"Princess," Tyler called out in a low voice, his hands pausing in the middle of bagging rice.
Ophelia had been smiling and chatting with an Ape Clan male in the line, asking him to help spread the word in his tribe. Hearing Tyler's words, she turned her head, only to see two incredibly displeasing faces. Her expression instantly darkened.
"If you want rice, go to the back of the line. I don't allow line-cutting here."
Loki's expression shifted slightly, but not wanting to lose face in front of Kriv, he bit the bullet and said, "Ophelia, Kriv has a little female in her postpartum recovery at home who needs rice. Pack two bags for him first."
"Hey, what are you doing? Are you blatantly trying to cut in line?"
"Yeah, what makes you so special? You think you can just cut in whenever you want?"
Before Ophelia could even speak, the males in the line began firing off complaints. If they allowed someone to cut in now, would there be any rice left for the rest of them?
"Because I'm her mate! If I tell her to give it, she has to give it," Loki snapped, his fists clenched in anger.
"No matter who it is, no one gets special privileges here! Either line up obediently, or get lost!" Seeing how self-righteous he acted, Ophelia slammed the Stone Bowl in her hands down heavily.
Seeing this, Sail proactively picked up the Stone Bowl to continue bagging rice for the males in line.
"Ophelia, even if you're angry with Loki, you shouldn't humiliate him in public like this. He's going to be the Clan Leader in the future. How is he supposed to command respect if you treat him this way?" Miche said, her face fraught with supposed difficulty. She kept her voice low, but it was just loud enough for Loki to hear clearly.
Sure enough, Loki's already poor complexion darkened like clouds obscuring the sun. "If you don't give the rice to Kriv today, then you don't need to return to the Snow Wolf Clan."
"Fine, I won't go back," Ophelia retorted. "What's so great about the mere Snow Wolf Clan anyway?"
"Yeah! Little female, come back with me to the Tiger Clan Tribe. I'll introduce you to the bravest males in our Tiger Clan. You don't need such an arrogant male!" a bystander chimed in.
"Exactly, our Elephant Clan is a great choice too!" another added.
Loki's expression was ice-cold. "Ophelia, you better think carefully before you speak, or I will never forgive you."
Ophelia only found him incredibly noisy. "Do you not understand basic language? Either line up, or get lost!"
Seeing that the situation was turning sour, Kriv laughed awkwardly. "Actually, I'm not in that much of a rush. It's fine if I trade for it next time."
"Kriv, you..." The fact that his own friend backed down first made Loki lose even more face. His expression turned livid.
Miche reassuringly grabbed his hand. "Loki, we still need to bring some fruit back for Amy. Let's go quickly, otherwise there won't be any fresh fruit left if we're late."
With those annoying 'flies' no longer buzzing around her ears, the work of selling rice proceeded exceptionally smoothly. Before the sun even set, the hundred pounds of rice were completely sold out.
"Don't be discouraged if you didn't get to buy any," Ophelia announced. "In three days, I'll bring another batch of rice. By the way, I'll also be bringing fresh fruit. Quantities will be limited, so it's first-come, first-served."
In just three more days, fruits like apples, peaches, tangerines, dragon fruits, Shine Muscat grapes, watermelons, bananas, and lychees would all be ripe.