Beauty and the Beasts

The sight of the snake scale made Parker feel a sense of displeasure. He grabbed the snake scale from Bai Qingqing’s hand and said, “Let me do the cutting. Just go and sit down by the side.”

Bai Qingqing didn’t stand on ceremony with Parker, revealing a vibrant smile at him. “Thank you, then.”

Bai Qingqing had large eyes with black pupils, and the corners of her eyes were slightly drooping. Because of this, she would unknowingly reveal a child-like innocence. Right now, her smile caused her eyes to narrow slightly, to appear clear, and look as though they contained a tiny droplet.

The green bamboo grove rustled and rattled amidst the wind. A fragrance of bamboo could be smelled in the air, like the scent of a female in the forest.

Parker’s heart abruptly skipped a beat, then it started thumping wildly. He felt that even the freckles on this female’s face were unbelievably adorable.

Seeing Parker’s blank stare, Bai Qingqing touched her face and asked, “Why are you looking at me? Hurry up and cut the bamboo.”

“Ah?… Oh.” Parker quickly lowered his head and started cutting the bamboo speedily.

After he finished cutting the bamboo, he chopped them into slices at Bai Qingqing’s request. Bai Qingqing then sat on the ground and started weaving them into round baskets.

She was planning to weave a few baskets to catch fish. Although she had only seen such fish baskets in her hometown before, she knew how to weave the Chinese Knot, so she easily managed to weave the bamboo slices into a long tube.

The long tube was approximately one arm’s length, and the width was like that of a bowl. One end was completely sealed, whereas the other end was open.

Next would be the most crucial trap.

Bai Qingqing sharpened more than ten bamboo sticks on one end, then fixed the trumpet-shaped bamboo sticks inside the bamboo basket.

The bamboo sticks had some elasticity, so the fish could easily squeeze in to eat the bait. But those fish wouldn’t be able to come out subsequently, and if they tried to force their way out, they would be pricked to death by the bamboo sticks.

However, such fish baskets could only be used to capture small fishes. If she was to make the fish basket bigger, the thin bamboo sticks wouldn’t be able to withstand the weight and movement of big fishes.

“Finally done!” Bai Qingqing stretched out her arms, feeling sore all over.

Parker picked up a fish basket and looked at it in amazement. “You actually managed to weave those bamboos into such a shape, and what’s more, it doesn’t fall apart. Qingqing, you have such deft hands.”

But, what can this thing be used for?

Parker scratched his back with the fish basket and nodded. “Mm, it’s pretty good for relieving an itch.”

Bai Qingqing shot Parker a you’re-such-an-idiot look. “This is used to capture fish. Are there fish in the river outside our house? Let’s go and try it out.”

Peering into the interior design of the bamboo basket, his expression froze. He reached inside and poked at the interior.

Brilliant!

“Eh, be careful.” Bai Qingqing quickly stopped Parker, fearing his hand might get pinched by the trap.

Parker retracted his hand and instantly felt the painful sensation caused by the pricking of the bamboo sticks. He suddenly asked, “Are you planning to place food to attract the fishes inside?”

Bai Qingqing looked at Parker, surprised. She commented with a smile. “You’re pretty quick-thinking eh.”

Even in the modern ages, people who had never seen this before might not be able to guess how to use it. It was incredible that a primitive beastman like Parker could figure it out all by himself.

“Then let’s hurry and go try it,” Parker said enthusiastically. He moved his hand inside the bamboo basket for a bit, then retracted it.

After all, Parker’s hand didn’t go in entirely. With a proper application of strength to pry apart the bamboo, he could retract his hand. But even then, it made several cuts on the back of his hand.

When they got home, under Bai Qingqing’s instructions, Parker captured several frogs. After killing them, they were placed into the fish basket, which was in turn placed at the bottom of the river under the shade of a tree.

Bai Qingqing squatted down by the river, watching the murky river water with anticipation. She said, “I wonder when the fish will get into the baskets.”

The reflections of Bai Qingqing’s face as well as Parker, who had an adoring expression on his face, were seen in the river.

Parker stroked Bai Qingqing’s hair. “I’m sure the fishes will come.”