The Fruit Had No Effect

--Don't worry, I won't lie to you. After all, I need your fruit in the long run, and it won't take you long to verify the authenticity of the message. If you find out that the message is fake and you're unwilling to exchange anymore, I won't bother you again.

Tao Qiu stared intently at the Red Fox and asked, "Chirp, chirp, chirp?"

--You're saying this thing concerns whether humanity can rise again? Aren't you afraid that if humanity actually succeeds, the mutated monsters will once again become humanity's defeated foe?

Red Fox said, "Uh-huh."

--The item is important, but who says humanity will definitely succeed? Besides, my fox cubs are all dying right now. Keeping that item won't save their lives. Why not take it out and exchange it for the fruit I need?

To save his people, the Red Fox was willing to be a gambler, just as he had given up the glowing fruit before for the same reason.

Red Fox was also certain that Snow Bird was definitely on the side of humans, and that he would accept the proposal.

Sure enough, Tao Qiu sighed, "Chirp, chirp, chirp."

--Okay, you wait here, I'll go get you some fruit.

Tao Qiu called out to the Green Python, asking her to guard the valley entrance, and then flew back into the valley.

Red Fox nodded to White Fox, signifying a temporary agreement to cooperate.

"Waaaaah!"

The foxes cried out happily; they knew that as long as their Fox Clan, was involved, there was nothing they couldn't accomplish.

The Green Python looked at the excited foxes, wanting to curse them but having no right to do so.

The fruit wasn't hers, was it? Besides, she had tried to steal the fruit in the first place.

A few minutes later, Tao Qiu came out with two tomatoes in her mouth and tossed them to Red Fox.

Tao Qiu actually wanted to choose the smaller, uglier ones for Red Fox, but the tomatoes he grew were all so uniformly good that he couldn't find a single bad one no matter how hard he picked.

Tao Qiu couldn't help but sigh, "Sometimes perfection is a mistake."

"Mmm?"

--Just two?

"Chirp chirp?" Tao Qiu chirped angrily.

"How many more do you want? I didn't willingly make this exchange with you. Besides, do you know how much attention you've attracted and how much potential danger you've brought by bringing so many foxes to me tonight? I'm already being generous with two of you; if you think it's not enough, give them back."

The Red Fox looked at the two round, red berries, smelled the familiar scent, and was certain that the Snow Bird hadn't tried to fool him with ordinary berries. In the end, he didn't ask for more.

Two fruits should be enough for now, whether given to the old clan chief to see if they have any effect, or used to stabilize the fox cubs' condition.

Once the Snow Bird confirm the importance of that item, they will naturally be able to exchange it for more.

Chapter 46 The Fruit Had No Effect

The Red Fox stepped back, as if genuinely afraid the Snow Bird would snatch the fruit back.

"Mmm..." He also comforted the Snow Bird.

Don't worry, if any other mutated monsters come looking for you, I'll help you.

Tao Qiu's eyes? Numb and resentful. "Chirp, chirp."

--The Green Python came to help, and you still got the fruit, didn't you?

Red Fox: "..."

That makes a lot of sense.

However, he couldn't agree with the Snow Bird, otherwise he'd have to return the fruit.

"Mmm..."

--That's different. There are many foxes in the Fox Clan. If you are really in trouble, I will mobilize the entire clan to help you.

Tao Qiu: Hehe.

With a heart filled with unbearable sorrow and despair, he cried out, "Chirp, chirp, chirp."

--Oh well, it's already like this, whatever.

Tao Qiu wasn't trying to give up; he was truly out of options.

Red Fox led the foxes away, telling Tao Qiu before they left that they would bring the prey over the next morning and that he should remember to come out and collect it on time.

"Chirp, chirp."

--Go away, seeing you is annoying.

Tao Qiu turned away and didn't look at the Red Fox again.

Red Fox understood that he was in a bad mood, so she didn't say anything more. She just quickened her pace to get back, thinking that she could make sure the old chieftain and the little fox cubs ate the fruit tonight.

After the foxes had all gone far away, the Green Python stepped forward and said apologetically, "Hiss..."

--Sorry I couldn't help.

Tao Qiu didn't intend to tell the Green Python that the Little Snake had exposed the fruit, and since the Little Snake hadn't done it on purpose, why make the child feel guilty?

Tao Qiu comforted her.

--How could I not have been of any help? If you hadn't come, I would have been fighting all alone. If the Red Fox had gotten me entangled, the other foxes would have gone to the valley to steal the fruit. Not only would I have lost all my fruit, but my baby birds might have also been discovered.

Tao Qiu wasn't lying to comfort Green Python; that's truly what he thought.

Although he complained to Red Fox that he was forced to take out the fruit because of Green Python, Red Fox's attitude would definitely have been even tougher if Green Python hadn't been there.

Given Red Fox's fierce protectiveness, he would never truly send his own kind to their deaths unless absolutely necessary.

Given Tao Qiu and the Green Python's strength, apart from the Red Fox White Fox, the other foxes would certainly not escape death.

Using fruit to treat illness is a long process; is the Red Fox really willing to let the Fox Clan die time and time again?

So both he and the Red Fox compromised. He gave the Red Fox two fruits in advance as a backup, and the Red Fox agreed to wait until he went to ask the humans for clarification before considering whether they agreed to exchange them.

The Green Python visibly relaxed. "Hiss..."

--Did this help you? Good.

After spending these days together, she and Tao Qiu had become friends.

Even disregarding the fruit exchange, considering her friendship with Tao Qiu, the Little Snake, and the baby birds, she couldn't possibly stand by and watch the Snow Bird be in danger.

Tao Qiu thanked her profusely.

--Thank you so much for tonight. Little Snake must be worried about her being home alone. Let me pick some fruit for you to take home and calm her nerves. Don't refuse; you've helped me so much, how can I set a good example for my child if I don't give you a gift?

The Green Python did want to refuse, but since the Snow Bird had already said so, she had no choice but to accept.

Tao Qiu gave the Green Python some radishes and sweet potatoes, and after seeing the Green Python off, he let out a long sigh.

Sure enough, a dark and windy night is prone to trouble.

As soon as Tao Qiu returned to the cave, the three baby birds surrounded him.

They had been hiding at the cave entrance when they saw Tao Qiu go back and forth twice, taking crops out with him.

"Chirp chirp? Chirp chirp?"

--Did some bad guys come to steal the fruit again? Dad, are you hurt?

The Second Cub flapped its wings and circled around Tao Qiu, observing her closely.

Tao Qiu, worried that they might be concerned, quickly explained, "There were some bad guys trying to forcibly exchange our fruit, but their terms were pretty good, so I agreed to temporarily make the exchange. Don't be afraid, kids, there was no fighting today, and Daddy isn't hurt."

The Third Cub flew to Tao Qiu's shoulder, nuzzled his cheek, and chirped sullenly.

--Are there so many bad guys? They all want to steal our fruit.

The Eldest Cub said in a deep voice, "Chirp, chirp."

--If only we could grow up faster, then they wouldn't dare come.

The three chicks knew very well that Tao Qiu had made many compromises to protect them.

Tao Qiu sat down at the table with his three children in his arms and said earnestly, "Dad knows you care about me. As family members, it's good to be responsible, but you can't take on too much responsibility. Do you remember the story I told you about 'pulling up seedlings to help them grow'? Children are like seedlings; they need time to grow. You have to take it one step at a time, carefully experiencing the process of growth, so that you can eventually grow into healthy children, both physically and mentally."

"Chirp chirp..." The Third Cub looked dejected, with his head hanging low.

--We understand...

They understand the reasoning behind it, but they still can't help feeling frustrated by their own powerlessness.

Tao Qiu hugged them and gently comforted them, "This time, with Green Python helping to oversee things, the result was already quite good. Don't always think the worst. This time, Dad exchanged two tomatoes for what seemed to be very important information. Tomatoes aren't hard to come by right now, so to be honest, Dad got the better deal."

Children's brains are like single-core processors; as soon as Tao Qiu finished speaking, their attention shifted.

The Eldest Cub asked, "Chirp chirp?"

--What important news?

Tao Qiu said, "It's related to humans. I'll tell you the specifics after Dad finds out. This news will most likely allow us to trade with humans for a lot of delicious food."

The Second Cub smacked his lips, "Chirp, chirp, chirp."

--I like delicious food, could you give me some of those dried fruit snacks instead? They're sweet, soft, and especially delicious.

Third Cub: "Chirp, chirp, chirp...?"

--Pickled eggs are delicious too! The cartoon says eggs are laid by chickens. Dad, can we go catch a chicken and get some eggs for us to eat?

Eldest Cub: "Chirp chirp?"

--There don't seem to be any [unclear] near our house?

Tao Qiu: "There aren't any near our house, but maybe there are some in the mountains. I'll ask the Fox Clan when they come tomorrow; foxes love to eat chicken. Oh, and I haven't told you yet, the bad guys who tried to steal the fruit tonight were from the Fox Clan. Just now, as soon as I went out, they..."

Tao Qiu vividly described what had just happened to the three cubs.

The family of four chatted about this and that until late at night when they finally felt sleepy and slowly went to bed.

Meanwhile, on the Fox Clan's way back with the two fruits, the Red Fox had already decided how to divide them.

Back on the mountain, he shared his thoughts with all the foxes.

"Mmm..."

--Currently, only one fox cub is in a truly urgent situation; the others are relatively stable. Since things have come to this point, I won't hide it from you anymore. The old chieftain's illness has dragged on for too long, and he's nearing his end. Moreover, the reason we were able to obtain the red fruit without fighting this time was because of the old chieftain's advice. From now on, the items used to exchange for the fruit will also have to be provided by the old chieftain. Therefore, I'd like to give one of these two fruits to the old chieftain. Does everyone agree?