The tofu Jian Mo made was warmly received by everyone, and the tribe began paying more attention to beans. However, as they had mentioned, the beans came from wild plants and weren’t highly productive.
Even after scouring several nearby mountains, they only managed to gather about twenty baskets of pods. Once the beans were shelled, only six baskets of beans remained.
Jian Mo taught the tribe how to make tofu, and they allocated three baskets of beans to him.
Feeling a bit uneasy, Jian Mo asked Qing Kuo, “Isn’t this too much?”
Qing Kuo replied, “The tribe discussed it and agreed on this. It’s only three baskets. Honestly, I think it’s too little, but there are only so many beans out there. It’ll take another twenty to thirty days before we can find the next batch.”
“So, beans grow slowly,” Jian Mo mused.
“Big-fruited plants like these always grow slowly,” Qing Kuo explained.
After delivering the beans, Qing Kuo left. Jian Mo spent some time spreading the beans out under the sun, planning to dry them for storage. When needed, he could steam, boil, and soak them again.
He wanted to try making soy sauce or bean paste but lacked experience with such sauces. He vaguely recalled people making them in the autumn or winter. Attempting it in the current heat seemed risky, as it might spoil. He decided to wait for cooler weather to give it a shot.
Though soy sauce was off the table for now, the fish sauce they had been making was coming along nicely. Jian Mo would occasionally open the jar to air it out and stir the contents, ensuring the fish fermented properly. After a period of high-salt fermentation, the fish sauce had begun to develop. Its light color resembled pale soy sauce, and it smelled promising. By next year, it should be fully ready.
After sun-drying the beans, Jian Mo went to check the fish traps in the river.
They kept traps in the water year-round, usually checking them every two to three days. There was always a catch. Larger fish were prepared as usual, while smaller fish were cleaned and dried on residual stove heat after meals and cleanup.
The sun had just risen when Jian Mo walked along the river toward home. From a distance, he spotted a group of younglings fishing by the water.
Fishing was something Jian Mo had taught them, using an improved version of the fishing rod design from the Qin Hai Tribe. The addition of feathered floats made it more efficient. Unlike diving into the river to catch fish, fishing relied on patience and luck, making it a relaxing activity. The younglings had taken a liking to it over the past few days.
Jian Mo’s gaze focused on Chirpy, squatting behind the children with its wings folded. From afar, it resembled a large, fluffy triangular rice dumpling. Up close, its expectant look made it more like a hopeful puppy waiting for food.
Before Jian Mo got close, Chirpy heard the sound of his approach. It turned its head and chirped excitedly, “Chirp—”
This startled the younglings, who all turned around and glared at him with serious faces.
Jiang Xing whispered earnestly, “Brother Jian Mo, don’t talk to Chirpy! You might scare the fish away.”
Jian Mo chuckled and nodded. “Alright, I’ll leave.”
Chirpy looked from Jian Mo to the younglings, shuffled its feet, and hesitated for a while before deciding to stay. It couldn’t bear to part with the fish they were catching.
Amused, Jian Mo returned home to prepare breakfast.
Wu Jiong had been out on patrol last night and hadn’t yet finished his shift. Jian Mo decided to make a hearty meal so Wu Jiong could rest properly afterward.
Humming a tune, Jian Mo worked at the stove. The flames burned bright beneath the pot as slices of meat sizzled and curled, releasing the mouthwatering aroma of stir-fried pork.
He added a splash of fruit wine, letting the steam rise and intensify the fragrance.
Amidst the rhythmic clash of spatula and pot, a voice called out from outside, “Doctor Jian Mo—”
Surprised by the title, Jian Mo paused. Only visitors from other tribes called him “Doctor Jian Mo.”
Pouring some water into the pot to let the dish simmer, he called back, “Coming—”
Stepping outside, Jian Mo saw it was Peng Xi from the Tian Ning Tribe, known for their pottery skills. Peng Xi was riding a lean, winged beast, which landed in front of Jian Mo’s home.
“Doctor Jian Mo—” Peng Xi called again.
“What brings you here? Come inside,” Jian Mo said.
The winged beast flapped its wings excitedly upon seeing Jian Mo.
Jian Mo took its reins and helped Peng Xi dismount. “What’s the matter?”
Sliding down from the beast, Peng Xi explained hurriedly, “Our tribe heard you successfully treated the Qin Hai Tribe chief and that you’ve been helping pregnant sub-beastmen—”
“Yes,” Jian Mo interrupted. “Is there a pregnant sub-beastman in your tribe?”
Peng Xi nodded. “Yes! Shan Yan, our sub-beastman who’s expecting, is due soon. His partner is a beastman from the Xiong Ying Tribe, and their tribe’s beast forms are large. We’re worried the fetus takes after the Xiong Ying Tribe’s beast form, which could make the birth difficult. We’d like you to come and help—”
Peng Xi was visibly nervous, spilling out his words in a rush.
Jian Mo recalled the Xiong Ying Tribe’s beast form—a muscular, massive unicorn with a long, sharp horn. Giving birth to such a form, even in smaller proportions, would undoubtedly be challenging.
Adopting a serious tone, Jian Mo asked, “Has his water broken yet?”
“No, but our elders think it’ll happen soon,” Peng Xi replied anxiously.
“Alright,” Jian Mo said. “Take a seat. I’ll inform Wu Jiong, and we’ll head over immediately.”
Peng Xi exhaled in relief. “Alright, thank you.”
Jian Mo patted Peng Xi’s shoulder and hurried to the kitchen. He plated the stir-fry and added water to the pot to prevent it from burning before stepping outside.
In the courtyard, the winged beast, Dara, flapped its wings and looked at Jian Mo with large, expectant eyes. “Chirp.”
Realizing what it wanted, Jian Mo smacked his forehead and returned to the kitchen. He brought out a bucket of bean pulp and a bowl of minced meat soup, calling out to Peng Xi, “Feed Dara before we leave. It’ll need the energy to carry you back.”
Peng Xi came out promptly. “You even prepared food for Dara? That’s so thoughtful.”
Jian Mo explained, “It was meant for Chirpy, but Dara can have some.”
He poured the soup into the bean pulp and mixed it thoroughly, creating a fragrant blend of minced meat soup and bean pulp.
The aroma was so enticing that Peng Xi couldn’t help but swallow involuntarily. Dara, even more excited, flapped its wings and chirped loudly, “Chirp! Chirp!”
Jian Mo gave Dara a gentle pat. “You two stay here. I’m going to find Wu Jiong and bring Chirpy back.”
Peng Xi nodded. “Alright!”
As Jian Mo hurried off, Peng Xi watched his retreating figure. Then, with quick reflexes, he pushed Dara’s head aside and whispered conspiratorially, “Alright, Dara, let me try a bite first.”
Dara tilted its head, chirping in confusion, “Chirp?”
Peng Xi scooped up a small handful of the bean pulp mash, shaped it into a ball, and took a bite. “Delicious!”
Dara glanced at him, then graciously stepped aside to share.
Peng Xi eyed the bowl of food, hesitated, then sighed. “Just one bite for me. The rest is all yours.”
Inwardly, Peng Xi couldn’t help but admire how clean and tasty everything was at Doctor Jian Mo’s house. That lucky winged beast, Chirpy, had it so good!
Satisfied with Peng Xi’s restraint, Dara chirped again, plunged its head into the bowl, and began devouring the bean pulp and minced meat soup.
It ate enthusiastically, gulping down the food in large mouthfuls and even licking the bottom of the bowl clean.
Just as Dara finished, Chirpy returned, spotting the empty bowl. Immediately, it jumped in protest and turned to Jian Mo, chirping indignantly, “Chirp chirp chirp!”
Jian Mo swatted Chirpy’s rear playfully. “Stop being so stingy. We’re heading out on a long trip, and Dara needs to eat enough to have the strength to carry Peng Xi.”
Chirpy refused to back down. “Chirp chirp chirp!”
Jian Mo sighed. “Your food is still in the kitchen. I even made you a special serving with big chunks of meat today.”
Still, Chirpy wouldn’t relent. “Chirp chirp chirp!”
Seeing that Chirpy was genuinely upset, Jian Mo hurriedly brought out its prepared meal—a bowl of bean pulp mash mixed with minced meat soup, along with an extra serving of braised beast meat.
At the sight of the additional food, Chirpy finally calmed down. “Chirp.”
Jian Mo raised an eyebrow. “Happy now?”
“Chirp!” Chirpy chirped gleefully and began eating.
From a distance, Dara watched enviously, then turned to its owner, Peng Xi.
Peng Xi, too, was watching Chirpy’s feast with barely concealed jealousy. His envy seemed even more intense than Dara’s.
Jian Mo chuckled and invited Peng Xi inside for breakfast. “Wu Jiong is organizing things in the tribe. Once we’ve eaten, we’ll pack the necessary medicine and surgical tools and leave. If Chirpy and Dara fly quickly, we won’t lose much time.”
Peng Xi nodded eagerly.
After breakfast, Jian Mo gathered the medicines and tools they might need. Reuniting with Wu Jiong, who had returned from his patrol, they prepared to head to the Tian Ning Tribe.
Peng Xi flew ahead on Dara, while Jian Mo and Wu Jiong followed on Chirpy. The winged beasts flew swiftly, their pace brisk as time was of the essence.
Jian Mo initially worried about Chirpy tiring, but the winged beast easily kept pace while carrying both him and Wu Jiong, even showing signs of excess energy. Relieved, Jian Mo thought to himself, Chirpy really is a strong one.
Thanks to the efforts of the two winged beasts, they reached the Tian Ning Tribe by late afternoon, just as the sun began to set.
Peng Xi’s father, Huan Yu, greeted them warmly with several others upon their arrival.
Jian Mo, familiar with the group, got straight to the point. “Has Shan Yan gone into labor yet?”
Huan Yu shook his head. “Not yet. We’re still waiting.”
Jian Mo sighed in relief, his focus shifting slightly to take in the surroundings.
The Tian Ning Tribe, like the Meng Shui Tribe, was part of the same region. The architecture here had decorative flourishes along the window edges, and the neatly built stone houses gave the village a prosperous and orderly appearance. Walking through, Jian Mo couldn’t help but sense an air of wealth.
The tribe’s leader, Huan Yu’s partner and Peng Xi’s father, was a serious-looking beastman. After brief introductions, Huan Yu offered to let Jian Mo and his group rest and have dinner first.
Jian Mo politely declined. “We’ll have dinner later. I’d like to check on Shan Yan first. As for the winged beasts, don’t worry about feeding them. Let them rest. We’ll take care of their food later.”
Peng Xi chimed in, “You’re too polite! We should help with their feeding.”
Jian Mo waved off the suggestion. “It’s really fine. By the way, where is Shan Yan’s home? Is he there now?”
“I’ll take you,” Huan Yu offered.
After settling Chirpy and Dara, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong followed Huan Yu and the others to visit Shan Yan.
Shan Yan was waiting for them at home.
The sub-beastman was tall and slim, with a gentle and refined appearance. His demeanor was calm, though he looked visibly tired, his belly prominently swollen.
His partner, Ba Tong, stayed close by, sharp-eyed and visibly worried, his furrowed brows betraying his concern.
Having heard of Jian Mo’s reputation, the pair were cooperative and trusting, answering all his questions and allowing him to conduct a thorough examination.
Ba Tong expressed his concern. “The fetuses in the Xiong Ying Tribe tend to be larger than those of other tribes, but this size seems unusual. I suspect Shan Yan might be carrying twins.”
Jian Mo examined Shan Yan closely, then glanced at the others. “I’ll need to check to confirm. Can I ask everyone else to step out for a moment?”
Wu Jiong, as a beastman, nodded at Jian Mo and led the others outside.
Once they left, Jian Mo used his stethoscope to listen carefully to Shan Yan’s belly. Sure enough, he detected three heartbeats—one belonging to Shan Yan and two distinct fetal heartbeats. The two fetal heartbeats were slightly overlapping, a subtle detail Jian Mo could discern thanks to his heightened hearing as he slowly adapted to the sub-beastman physiology.
With confirmation, Jian Mo’s expression grew serious.
Carrying twins in this era was no small matter. If complications arose, both Shan Yan and the babies could be at risk. Premature labor would only compound the dangers.
Ba Tong, understanding the risks of twins, instinctively pulled Shan Yan into a protective embrace when he saw Jian Mo nod grimly.
Shan Yan, however, appeared surprisingly composed. Offering a reassuring smile, he said, “Twins aren’t necessarily more difficult to deliver. Both our tribe and the Xiong Ying Tribe have had sub-beastmen successfully deliver twins before. It might not be a big problem.”
Ba Tong let out a quiet, “Mm,” acknowledging the situation.
Jian Mo spoke firmly, “I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
Shan Yan’s body had already begun producing discharge, a sign that labor was imminent.
Jian Mo instructed the others to prepare plenty of boiling water and called for experienced sub-beastmen to assist in overseeing the delivery. Only after organizing everything did he return to his temporary lodging.
Wu Jiong had already prepared a meal and fed Chirpy.
After eating, Jian Mo lay down to rest, determined to gather his strength for any emergencies.
Their precautions proved necessary. In the middle of the night, Ba Tong’s neighbor knocked urgently on the door, saying Shan Yan had gone into labor and asking Jian Mo to come quickly.
Jian Mo immediately opened his eyes, sitting up in bed.
Wu Jiong patted his back with one hand while handing him his clothes with the other. “I’ll go ahead and check things out. I’ll meet you there.”
Jian Mo nodded and quickly dressed.
With the medical tools and medicines already prepared, Jian Mo grabbed the kit and left with Wu Jiong.
When they arrived at Shan Yan’s house, they found that his water had indeed broken, and he was already struggling through labor.
Though Jian Mo had extensive experience delivering kittens, puppies, and other common animals, this was his first time assisting a sub-beastman in childbirth.
Calming himself, Jian Mo worked alongside the sub-beastmen assisting to assess Shan Yan’s condition.
Shan Yan, going through his first labor, cried out in pain.
Outside the house, Ba Tong paced anxiously. Unable to contain himself, he transformed into his beast form and began running back and forth, his hooves thudding loudly.
Labor required time, and the doctors could only do so much. Jian Mo and the assisting sub-beastman focused on monitoring Shan Yan’s progress and offering encouragement.
“I can’t do it,” Shan Yan groaned in agony, clutching the fur blanket. “I can’t give birth!”
The sub-beastman assisting began to panic and turned to Jian Mo. “What should we do? Should we help him stand and walk? We could hold him up—”
Jian Mo quickly stopped him. “Will walking help?”
The sub-beastman hesitated. “It might? When someone can’t deliver, we usually have them try walking. If that doesn’t work, we… we remove the baby manually.”
Manually extracting the baby, however, would leave it no chance of survival.
Shan Yan, already disoriented, was jolted by the words. Mumbling, he said, “No… don’t. I’ll try again.”
After rechecking Shan Yan’s condition, Jian Mo made a swift decision. “This isn’t working. The baby’s been stuck too long, which is dangerous for both of you. Let me try forceps.”
Jian Mo had brought several sterilized forceps just in case.
Shan Yan grimaced with worry. “Will that hurt the baby?”
Jian Mo explained, “Injuries are rare. Using forceps is less risky than continuing like this.”
Shan Yan processed the words, and outside, Ba Tong shouted hoarsely, “Doctor Jian Mo, prioritize Shan Yan’s safety!”
Shan Yan, however, grabbed Jian Mo’s hand and whispered, “No, save the baby. I can endure this.”
Jian Mo glanced at Shan Yan, nodded, and said, “Let me try.”
Jian Mo had already observed that Shan Yan’s babies were in beast form and resembled mongoose pups rather than foals.
While Shan Yan was in human form, the mongoose-like shape was one Jian Mo was very familiar with, having delivered many similar litters.
Feeling more assured, Jian Mo adjusted the forceps carefully, gently inserting them into Shan Yan’s body. After a meticulous examination, he secured the head of one of the babies.
Shan Yan was carrying twins, and the two fetuses were tightly wedged in the birth canal.
Patiently and with precision, Jian Mo used the forceps to rotate the baby, adjusting its position.
Shan Yan’s face twisted in pain as he gripped the fur tightly. The assisting sub-beastman held him steady, trying to comfort him.
Jian Mo’s hands, steady even in normal situations, were now exceptionally calm and controlled. His demeanor remained composed.
“Don’t be afraid,” Jian Mo reassured Shan Yan softly. “I’ve secured the baby. Just need to adjust its position a little more.”
Shan Yan, overwhelmed by the pain, could barely hear him.
The sub-beastman assisting looked on nervously, clearly afraid but unwilling to interrupt.
Finally, Jian Mo finished adjusting the position. “Alright, take a deep breath. That’s it. One more deep breath.”
It took a moment, but Shan Yan followed Jian Mo’s instructions. Gradually, his body relaxed.
Unlike delivering animals, assisting sub-beastmen had the advantage of guiding them to cooperate during childbirth.
As Shan Yan relaxed again, Jian Mo seized the opportunity. With a gentle but firm motion, he used the forceps to guide the baby forward. The combined effort of Jian Mo and Shan Yan allowed the baby to slide out.
The mongoose-like baby curled up tightly, its eyes shut, and its fur damp.
Jian Mo immediately cradled the baby in his gloved hands, checking its warm body for signs of life. Feeling its breath, he announced, “The first one’s out! One more to go!”
Shan Yan opened his eyes to see the baby, tears streaming down his face.
The assisting sub-beastman examined the baby and tugged gently at its tail, declaring, “It’s a sub-beastman baby.”
Shan Yan’s tears flowed even more freely.
Outside, Ba Tong’s hoarse voice called, “How is Shan Yan? Is he alright?”
The assisting sub-beastman replied, “Still delivering!”
Jian Mo quickly cut and tied the umbilical cord, wrapped the newborn securely, and turned back to Shan Yan. “There’s still one more baby. Follow my instructions, and you should be able to deliver this one yourself.”
Reinvigorated, Shan Yan gritted his teeth and began breathing in rhythm with Jian Mo’s guidance.
With one baby already delivered, the process for the second went much smoother.
Before dawn, Shan Yan gave birth to the second baby.
The assisting sub-beastman confirmed once more, “It’s another sub-beastman baby.”
Jian Mo tended to the second newborn, ensuring both babies were healthy, then helped Shan Yan deliver the placenta.
By the time dawn broke, Jian Mo had finished tending to Shan Yan and the twins.
Exhausted, Shan Yan fell into a deep sleep without even glancing at the babies.
Jian Mo turned his attention to the two newborns.
Both had beast forms similar to Shan Yan’s, resembling mongoose pups but with longer fur.
Their large tails were tucked tightly between their hind legs, resting against their little bellies, making them look irresistibly adorable.
Even more endearing were their grey-blue eyes, which opened and darted around without a single cry or fuss. They seemed remarkably easy to care for.
Looking at the two calm, wide-eyed babies, Jian Mo couldn’t help but think, Such well-behaved little ones. Their cuteness is on another level.
