Chapter 23: The Welcome Banquet-Jogo do Mundo das Feras: A Fêmea Malvada de Cintura Mole Provoca os Grandes Chefes a Competirem por Ela(O porco que sabe dizer "Parabéns e que você faça fortuna")

In the heart of the tribal village, before the golden statue of the Beast God, a welcoming feast had been prepared for the return of Che Fu and his wife, Bai Ling.

The party had arrived at the banquet. Che Fu, Bai Ling, and the young Master Ying sat in the central seats of honor—a position reserved for the most esteemed guests in tribal etiquette. Clearly, they were the guests of honor. Cang Qian, the clan leader Cang Lian, and the High Priest Dian Na sat to their left. Banai was occupied with matters elsewhere and was absent, though a seat had been reserved for him beside Cang Qian. The Che siblings and Che Baiyuan’s two beast-mates, Naiwa and Quan Gang, occupied the seats to the right. The remaining tribal representatives sat at the wooden tables and chairs arranged below, while those without seats stood nearby to join in the festivities.

As everyone settled in, Che Sinian turned to Cang Lian and said, "I brought back three carts of goods this time. One is for my son and daughter. The other two, I ask the clan leader to distribute among the tribespeople on behalf of my wife and me, as a small token of our gratitude."

At his words, the surrounding tribesmen broke into enthusiastic applause. Cang Lian smiled broadly. "You and your wife have been traveling for business for years, yet every time you return, you bring so much for us. We are truly grateful." He raised his wooden goblet and addressed the crowd: "Come, let us raise our cups to welcome Sinian and Bai Ling home! May the Che family caravan’s business continue to grow and prosper!"

"Thank you to the Che family! Welcome home!"
"May the caravan's business prosper!"

The tribespeople drank and offered their blessings, while Che Sinian and Bai Ling toasted in return. Once the toasts concluded, Cang Lian announced loudly, "The welcoming feast begins. Bring out the dishes!"

Ten male servants emerged with trays of delicious food, serving the head table first. Meanwhile, the nine female beasts who had participated in the Adulthood Ceremony just days prior entered, wearing beautiful dresses. Leading them was Sang Yingying.

The nine women stood in the center, facing the three main tables, and began to dance. Che Baiyuan took a cup of wine and sat in the empty seat next to Cang Qian. Glancing at Sang Yingying, who was leading the dance, she remarked to Cang Qian, "To think she stabbed herself, yet she’s dancing today. She recovered remarkably fast!"

Cang Qian, mid-bite of a piece of hog meat, replied nonchalantly, "She has the healing ability, after all. It’s normal for her to recover quickly."

Che Baiyuan noticed Sang Yingying casting a flirtatious glance at the young Master Ying at the head table. She chuckled, "No wonder she recovered so fast—she’s setting her sights on him!"

Cang Qian glanced at the mysterious Master Ying and whispered, "Sister, do you know his origins?"

"I don't," Che Baiyuan replied, leaning close. "Mother and Father didn't mention anything in their letters, only that they were bringing someone from the Green Fox Clan. They didn't reveal anything else. I asked Mother earlier, but she wouldn't say. I'm just as curious as you! He looks so dignified; I suspect he’s a noble from the Beast Palace."

"A noble from the Beast Palace?" Cang Qian frowned. "What would he be doing in our small village? Observing the common folk?"

Che Baiyuan shook her head. She watched the young master; he wasn't eating or watching the dancers, but rather nursing his drink and chatting. Yet, his gaze kept drifting toward Cang Qian. She nudged her elbow against her companion. "Xiao Qian, I’ve noticed he keeps looking at you."

Cang Qian didn't even look up, continuing to eat. "Let him look. I’m not exactly unsightly; I’m not afraid of making a fool of myself."

Che Baiyuan laughed and poked her cheek, which was puffed out with food. "Look at you, so narcissistic! Have you no shame?" She then noticed how ravenously Cang Qian had been eating since the food arrived. "It seems you really are pregnant. You’re eating exactly the way I did when I was carrying my cubs!" She reached out and snatched the fruit wine away from her. "No, if you’re pregnant, I can't let you drink."

Cang Qian protested, "It’s just fruit wine, not rice wine. It’s fine."

Che Baiyuan remained firm. "No! Drinking while pregnant is bad, even fruit wine. Listen to your sister—just eat the food and drink the soup!"

At the head table, Bai Ling caught the word "pregnant" and asked her daughter, "Yuan Yuan, what were you saying about pregnancy? Are you pregnant again?"

The eyes of the entire gathering turned toward Che Baiyuan. Even the dancers stopped in their tracks. Everyone wondered how she could be pregnant so soon after giving birth, but most were skeptical, as Che Baiyuan had been diagnosed with low fertility two years ago.

Che Baiyuan saw her chance to have the High Priest examine Cang Qian. She immediately replied, "Mother, it’s not me. It’s Xiao Qian who is pregnant, but she’s drinking fruit wine, so I was trying to stop her!"

Bai Ling exclaimed in surprise, "Xiao Qian? You mean the one who saved you and your cubs on the day you gave birth?"

Che Baiyuan nodded, speaking loudly enough for all to hear, "Yes, Clan Leader’s granddaughter, Cang Qian! She is pregnant!"

The tribe was stunned. The Adulthood Ceremony had only been days ago. Even if Cang Qian and Banai had bonded that very night, it was impossible to be pregnant so quickly! Furthermore, everyone believed Banai hated Cang Qian for the incident where his legs were broken—a misunderstanding that still persisted, as the truth about Sang Yingying had not been made public.

Cang Lian stood up abruptly, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. "Xiao Qian, are you really pregnant?"

Che Baiyuan said, "Clan Leader, if you don't believe it, just have the High Priest take her pulse."

Before Cang Lian could respond, Sang Yingying scoffed from the center of the room. "Sister Baiyuan, stop joking. It’s only been a few days since the ceremony—how could she be pregnant? You’re trying to help your cousin because of that one-month deadline, but at least make your lies plausible. You’re even daring to ask the High Priest to check? Grandfather, don't bother. It will just be a laughingstock and disgrace our family name!"