Little Family Treasure of the Apocalyptic Boss

Chapter 9: A Fresh Start

An Nuo earnestly apologized for his previous doubts.

It turns out there really is a beastman who can cook exceptionally well!

An Nuo cradled a small bowl, savoring the last sip of creamy and delicious fish soup, contentedly patting his full belly. Suddenly, he realized his actions, blushing shyly as he covertly assessed the opposite figure of Ye Ze.

Good, Ye Zi didn’t notice!

The tip of the little snake sub-beast’s tail perked up a bit again.

Maybe when he gets a bit chubby, he’ll be even cuter.

Ye Ze concealed the smile that reached his lips, thinking so.

After the reconnaissance on the first day, Ye Ze had a general understanding of the surrounding environment. In any case, as long as it was within this vicinity, there was no threat to his existence.

Today, he could probably venture farther and hunt larger prey. This would not only replenish their household supplies but also contribute to the items for the interdimensional marketplace.

And there was the merchant caravan from this world that would arrive soon. Perhaps he could exchange for some interesting things.

Lost in thought, Ye Ze suddenly paused. He looked at the lively little snake sub-beast across from him, surprised and, at the same time, somewhat expectant.

Despite only spending a few days in this world, he had already naturally come to regard this humble little cave as “home.”

The Overlord of the Apocalypse revealed a gentle smile. The last remnants of the icy gaze melted away in the lively chatter of the small snake sub-beast.

The little snake sub-beast’s handmade items were indeed popular.

In just one day, not only were the handmade goods sold out, but the stocks of meat and plants in the other two trading slots were significantly reduced.

Especially the luminous mushrooms.

Thanks to the ingenious ideas of the little snake sub-beast, these cute, dreamy, and relatively affordable natural light bulbs surprisingly captured the favor of interdimensional customers. It brought a considerable influx of traffic to the store.

On the morning of the second day, after logging back in, Ye Ze glanced at the increasing points. After some thought, he decided not to expand the number of trading slots for now. Instead, he headed to the interdimensional marketplace to buy some things for the little snake sub-beast.

Otherwise, he suspected the approaching winter would make the little snake sub-beast anxious to the point of shedding his tail.

Late at night, the “dedicated person” sighed for who knows how many times as he brought back the “rebellious child” to the bed, then started browsing through reliable stores.

Coral fleece blankets, pajamas; down comforters, down jackets, down mattresses; buckwheat pillows, bed sheets, duvet covers; plush earmuffs, scarves, gloves; non-stick pans, grills, soup pots, spatulas, ladles, porcelain bowls, porcelain plates, chopsticks, spoons, stainless steel knives, cutting boards, bone knives, various condiments…

[“By the way, can the porcelain bowls and plates be customized with a cartoon image of a little snake sub-beast?”] [“Of course, dear! Do you have the original image? I guarantee a 100% faithful reproduction, and it won’t cost you a penny~!”] Ye Ze glanced at the gender information above, then looked at the undulating tilde at the end, and said, “…”

In the end, considering the other party’s background as an advanced porcelain plane, with a deadpan expression, he sent a freshly baked Q-version little snake sub-beast to the other side.

When An Nuo woke up, he almost thought he was still dreaming.

Were these brightly colored and beautiful fabrics in front of him real?

“Nuo Nuo is awake. Come over and try the size.”

Hearing Ye Ze’s call, the little snake sub-beast walked up in a daze. Taking the coral fleece clothes handed by Ye Ze, he was instantly captivated by the soft and silky texture.

Fabric even more comfortable than the softest fur.

With gorgeous patterns and pure colors.

Such good clothes, were they really for him?

The little snake sub-beast lowered his head and saw the rough, dusty coarse cloth on his body, suddenly realizing. Like being shocked by electricity, he pushed the clothes back into Ye Ze’s hands, shaking his head anxiously, “No, no. This clothing is too precious; Nuo Nuo can’t accept it!”

“If it’s given to you, just take it.” Ye Ze resolutely stuffed the clothes into the little snake sub-beast’s arms, looking at the anxious little snake sub-beast, he explained gently, “Nuo Nuo didn’t get these for free. Remember the doll you gave me yesterday? These resources were obtained by trading that doll.”

Indeed, when it came to his own labor income, the little snake sub-beast’s dolls were only a small part. The bulk of the points came from the large amount of meat Ye Ze hunted in the afternoon and the unique plants he spawned (including the glowing little mushrooms).

After all, the production capacity of these items was there.

But the little snake sub-beast’s dolls played an excellent role in attracting customers, and the unit price was also high. So, it wasn’t wrong to say that the resources were obtained by trading the dolls.

“Really?” The little snake sub-beast tightened his arms around the coral fleece.

Ye Ze smiled, “Really, I’m not lying to you. I’m even counting on you to help me stock the next batch of goods.”

The little snake sub-beast’s eyes lit up. Holding the plush clothes against his face, he joyfully and tenderly rubbed against them.

He had never worn such comfortable clothes before.

Moreover, the style and color were even more appealing than the clothes worn by the wealthiest sub-beastmen in the tribe.

Ye Ze dressed the little snake sub-beast in the new clothes.

The little snake sub-beast already had a very pleasant appearance. With a little grooming, he became as delicate and cute as a porcelain doll.

Ye Ze nodded in satisfaction. He felt a bit proud of his ability to choose clothes: see, both the color and style complement the little snake sub-beast well!

With a large supply of winter resources for both of them, the entire morning was spent busily renovating the cave.

Soft bedding was laid out on the stone bed; a transparent heating mat covered the floor.

In the newly opened stone wardrobe, warm and fluffy down jackets, sweaters, and plush coats were neatly hung; the removed hooks were replaced with cold-resistant protective gear and fluffy towels…

It wasn’t winter yet, but it felt like the entire winter had already warmed up.

An Nuo rubbed his eyes, hardly believing that this beautiful cave was now his home.

“There’s also a little gift for you, Nuo Nuo.”

“Huh?”

After arranging their daily clothing, the small mountain of goods outside the cave was significantly reduced, yet there were still a few neatly organized brown boxes left.

Ye Ze opened one of them, taking out a light and brightly colored small bowl.

It had a translucent light blue color, fresh and elegant, with an outer drawing of a chubby little snake sub-beast sleeping with its tail curled up.

White hair, white tail.

“It’s Nuo Nuo!” The little snake sub-beast exclaimed joyfully. The usually docile tuft of hair on his head even stood up a bit.

Ye Ze looked at the sparkling golden eyes of the little snake sub-beast and nodded with a smile. “Yes, it’s Nuo Nuo.”

The little snake sub-beast eagerly took the small bowl, lovingly admiring the cartoon pattern on it.

Ye Ze’s gaze softened as he opened the cardboard box. “From now on, we’ll use this to eat and serve dishes. We can see it every day.”

The soft and cute little snake sub-beast.

His appetite was sure to improve.

An Nuo held the small bowl and eagerly poked his little head out, inspecting the porcelain yet to be taken out from the box.

Equally exquisite colors he had never seen before.

Each one depicted a little snake sub-beast—sleeping, playing, yawning, blinking, and even with teary eyes…

Hmm. All of them were Nuo Nuo!

The little snake sub-beast was both delighted and shy, curling up in front of the box, blushing.

The Snake Steamed Buns lived up to their name!

Ye Ze chuckled lightly, taking out the large plates and bowls custom-made for them, handing them to the vines to place in the kitchen.

The rack for placing bowls and plates was also taken care of by the vines.

Then, he held the hand of the little snake sub-beast, opening the box of kitchen utensils.

Inside, there was the energy stone flame cover that he bought. From now on, the little snake sub-beast wouldn’t have to chop wood and light a fire so laboriously. The regulator would make it easier to control the flame temperature.

There was also a non-stick pan lighter and more portable than the stone slab, a stainless steel kitchen knife sharper than the stone knife, a bamboo-scented cutting board, and fine, pure salt, seasonings, and more.

An Nuo had never known that there were so many tools in the world, so miraculously convenient.

There was also salt, cooking oil, chicken essence, oyster sauce, vinegar, green onions, garlic… Each one had a pure and wonderful taste that An Nuo had never experienced before.

All of these brand-new ingredients were used on the freshly hunted meat.

When the first dish came out of the pot, its fragrant aroma and enticing color, piled on the gem-like beautiful porcelain plates, made An Nuo almost unable to believe that such a delicacy came from his own hands.

Oh, and there was steamed rice in the steamer!

Each grain was full and snowy white. Soft and chewy, not mushy, with a slight bite and a hint of sweetness aftertaste. Bite by bite, paired with the fragrant meat and vegetables, it was almost irresistible.

This time, without Ye Ze putting in extra effort to feed him, the little snake sub-beast couldn’t help but eat until he was full.

“Ye Zi,” the little snake sub-beast rubbed his slightly bulging belly, snuggling into the soft coral fleece of his clothes, and earnestly asked Ye Ze, “How many dolls do you need for your shop? About how often do you need to restock? Or are there any other specific requirements for making them?”

“No rush,” Ye Ze reassured him. “Exquisite handmade items are true luxury. As long as Nuo Nuo ensures the quality, there’s no worry about sales. Having fewer in quantity will even motivate them more.”

He had seen how the little snake sub-beast crafted handmade items. It was too tiring and consuming.

Since he had the ability to let both of them live an easy and prosperous life, there was no need to let the little snake sub-beast strain himself.

To reassure the little snake sub-beast, Ye Ze continued to explain.

“Nuo Nuo’s dolls are mainly used to attract customers. What I really manage is the meat of fierce beasts.” And the plant materials generated by supernatural abilities (similar to spirit plants). However, this involved too many things, so it wasn’t convenient to let the little snake sub-beast know for now.

“In the future, we will add the hides and bones we select. The profits will be even higher.”

“Fierce beasts?” An Nuo tilted his head in confusion. “Ye Zi, did you accidentally misspeak? If it’s a business involving meat, wouldn’t caravans and buyers prefer magic beast materials?”

This ignited a subtle idea in the mind of the overlord of Apocalypse. He maintained a calm expression. “Speaking of which, does Nuo Nuo know where there are more magic beast resources nearby?”

The little snake sub-beast, without a hint of suspicion, meticulously introduced to Ye Zi, striving to help Ye Zi in his “business.”

“Actually, beyond the safe zone, it’s the area where magic beasts are active.”

“Their blood contains abundant energy, very suitable for the cultivation of beastmen practitioners. The materials on their bodies are often quite magical and have extraordinary effects. I heard that high-quality magic beast materials have always been sought after in large cities and can be sold at high prices.”

“However, magic beasts have a violent temperament, very dangerous, and the harm they cause is far more terrifying than fierce beasts. Therefore, the tribe has a wider range of expulsion for them. If they find the traces of magic beasts that they can’t match, they will seek assistance from more powerful affiliated tribes. They are very difficult to hunt!”

Hearing the little snake sub-beast’s subtle reminder again, Ye Ze chuckled and said, “Don’t worry, I have discretion.”

Now that he was determined to lead a calm life, he certainly wouldn’t act recklessly or engage in fighting and killing as before.

Before taking action, he would first probe a target.