Jian Mo’s boat hadn’t even touched the water yet when Yun Long of the Meng Shui Tribe arrived early in the morning, accompanied by Bei Ya and Dan Guan.
Since Bei Ya and Dan Guan came every three days for check-ups, Jian Mo was already prepared for their visit. However, Yun Long’s appearance was unexpected.
Jian Mo invited Yun Long to sit down. “Chief Yun Long, what brings you here?”
Yun Long teased, “What’s the matter? Not happy to see me?”
Having grown more familiar with Yun Long during the caravan trip, Jian Mo smiled. “Of course I am! Just a bit surprised.”
Yun Long said, “I have some matters to discuss with you. You go ahead with what you’re doing first; we’ll talk later.”
Acknowledging that Bei Ya and Dan Guan’s treatment was more urgent, Jian Mo nodded, asked Yun Long to make himself comfortable inside, and took the two patients to the courtyard to change their dressings.
Not long after, Wu Jiong returned in a hurry after hearing about Yun Long’s visit, heading straight to the house to play host.
Yun Long chuckled as Wu Jiong sat down across from him. “Was there really such a need to rush? I’ve long since lost any romantic interest in Doctor Jian Mo.”
Wu Jiong replied evenly, “It’s my home. No rushing involved.”
Yun Long smirked. “If you say so.”
Wu Jiong cut to the chase. “What brings you here?”
Propping his chin on his hand, Yun Long said, “Didn’t we talk about delivering construction materials to you? We’ve got them ready now. When do you want them?”
Wu Jiong replied, “We can take them now if it’s convenient. Thank you for your efforts.”
Yun Long waved dismissively. “It’s nothing.”
While they chatted, Jian Mo finished treating Bei Ya and Dan Guan’s wounds, washed his hands, and walked inside. “Chief Yun Long, how much construction material are you bringing this time?”
Yun Long replied, “A lot. If you need it, we can prepare at least 300 baskets of suitable stones and 150 pieces of timber.”
Jian Mo smiled. “That’s more than we need. We’ve already collected some materials, and the current shortfall isn’t that big.”
Yun Long raised an eyebrow. “I noticed. All those piles behind your house, right? When are you planning to start construction?”
Jian Mo hesitated, unsure. Qing Kuo and the others were still gathering resources and preparing lime and cement. Construction couldn’t begin until the lime and cement were ready—otherwise, the other materials would be useless.
He explained, “It might be a few more days.”
Hearing this, Yun Long fell into thought.
Jian Mo asked curiously, “What’s on your mind?”
Yun Long replied, “You’re not just building houses this time; you’re planning to build toilets too, right?”
Jian Mo nodded, exchanging a glance with Wu Jiong as they speculated about Yun Long’s intentions.
Yun Long continued, “Are you just building one for your family, or is the entire He’an Tribe building them?”
Relieved to understand the question, Jian Mo explained, “The whole tribe will eventually have them, but we’ll start with our house as a test. If it works well, others will follow.”
Yun Long frowned. “Why split it up like that? Just get it all done in one go.”
Catching the subtext, Jian Mo chuckled. “Why the sudden interest? Are you offering to help us build toilets?”
Yun Long replied, “Sure, we can help. In exchange, give us some lime and cement when we’re done.”
This was a decision Jian Mo couldn’t make alone, so he nudged Wu Jiong.
Wu Jiong responded, “That’s fine, but you’ll need to bring stones and timber for the exchange.”
Yun Long grinned. “Deal! How much for how much? Also, when you’re building, we can send some people over to assist and learn from you.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “That works.”
The two began discussing the details of exchanging materials for lime and cement.
The kiln at the He’an Tribe had been well-maintained and actively used, with techniques already mature. Given enough materials, producing lime and cement wouldn’t be too troublesome.
Having discussed this among themselves before, Wu Jiong and the others had no intention of profiteering and offered a fair exchange rate.
Yun Long remarked with a laugh, “Your He’an Tribe is getting more and more generous. Truly worthy of being a rising major tribe.”
Wu Jiong replied, “No need for flattery. As long as these things improve everyone’s lives, we won’t demand excessive materials.”
Yun Long gave a thumbs-up. “No wonder your tribe is thriving. That’s the mindset of a central tribe.”
A central tribe refers to a dominant tribe in a region, holding influence and authority among surrounding tribes. In their area, the Meng Shui Tribe currently serves as the central tribe, hosting major events and resolving significant issues.
Wu Jiong remained unfazed. “Bring the materials over first. Once we’re ready on our side, we’ll notify you to come and help.”
Yun Long agreed. “It’s a deal. I’ll have the materials delivered later today.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “We’ll tally everything when it arrives and verify the accounts later.”
Although beastmen didn’t have written language yet, accounting was already common practice among tribes. For a large tribe like the Meng Shui Tribe, keeping accurate accounts was second nature.
By noon, the Meng Shui Tribe delivered a mountain of materials, far exceeding the He’an Tribe’s expectations.
Initially, Qing Kuo thought they could simply rely on memory for the transactions. However, faced with the sheer quantity, he realized that wasn’t feasible and promptly called Jian Mo over.
Jian Mo took out his notebook and pen, drawing a crowd of onlookers.
As he jotted down figures and notes with practiced efficiency, the number of spectators swelled.
After finishing, Jian Mo handed a copy of the records to the Meng Shui Tribe. However, the lead beastman, Ya Zheng, waved it off. “No need to give us a copy. We wouldn’t understand it anyway.”
Despite his words, Ya Zheng was known for his sharp attention to detail. Even if he couldn’t read, he could tell if the records matched on both sides.
Jian Mo shot him a look. “Stop pretending. Take it. I’ll explain it to you.”
Ya Zheng immediately straightened up. “Then I’ll trouble Doctor Jian Mo.”
Jian Mo patiently explained the written records to everyone.
The materials delivered by the Meng Shui Tribe were piled nearby, making it easy to cross-check.
After listening, Ya Zheng and his team nodded in agreement with no objections.
Qing Kuo said, “Thank you for your hard work. Once the materials are ready, we’ll notify you.”
Ya Zheng grinned. “No trouble at all. We’ll be waiting.”
After some polite farewells, the Meng Shui Tribe members departed.
The members of the He’an Tribe worked quickly, moving the materials into the pottery kilns and starting the firing process.
The entire tribe was bustling with activity. Half the tribe stayed to fire lime and cement, while the other half went hunting and gathering. Even the children pitched in, helping with tasks suited to their abilities.
To share the workload, they outsourced the production of some clay pipes and bricks to the Tian Ning Tribe. Renowned for their advanced pottery techniques, the Tian Ning Tribe quickly understood what the He’an Tribe wanted and confidently assured them they could deliver.
The two tribes agreed on compensation and a timeline for the work.
The scale of the He’an Tribe’s activities didn’t go unnoticed by nearby tribes. While they were busy, the chiefs of the Zheng Chi Tribe, Xiong Ying Tribe, Hong Zhen Tribe, Dian Xin Tribe, and Yi Gu Tribe came to visit.
Old Chief Yan Dun of the Zheng Chi Tribe, with his sharp, shrewd eyes, spoke first. “Chief Wu Jiong, Doctor Jian Mo, we’ve heard you’re planning to build toilets and drainage ditches?”
Wu Jiong nodded. “That’s right. We’re currently preparing the materials.”
Yan Dun slapped his thigh. “That’s a fantastic idea! We’ve been thinking about doing the same in our tribes.”
Fire Meng, the chief of the Hong Zhen Tribe, chimed in eagerly, “Chief Wu Jiong, do you need help? We’re all available.”
Wu Jiong held his tea cup and replied politely, “Wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you?”
Li Qing, the sub-beastman chief of the Yi Gu Tribe, shook his head. “Not at all. We’re hoping to learn while helping. If we could also exchange for some of your lime and cement, that would be even better.”
Wu Jiong said, “We do need materials. Otherwise, we’d struggle to keep up with the demand.”
Yan Dun jumped in, “What materials do you need? Let’s discuss it and have our tribes deliver some. In return, we’ll take a little of your good stuff.”
Wu Jiong glanced at Jian Mo.
Jian Mo pulled out his notebook and checked the list of material shortages. “Right now, we’re mostly short on wood and stone. If we account for materials needed by your tribes, the requirements will increase even more.”
He outlined the amounts needed, and the visiting chiefs immediately agreed, assuring him that their tribes could easily gather the required materials. They even started bickering over who would contribute more.
Watching the lively scene, Jian Mo couldn’t help but marvel at their enthusiasm—something he’d never seen from the tribes before.
In the end, the chiefs divided the contributions among their tribes, with each providing a portion of the needed materials and taking turns exchanging them for lime and cement from the He’an Tribe.
Seeing their enthusiasm, Wu Jiong didn’t object.
The fervor of their neighboring tribes motivated the He’an Tribe. Qing Kuo and his team worked tirelessly, firing lime and cement almost around the clock.
Spending so much time near the pottery kilns left their hair singed and frazzled. Qing Kuo sighed to Wu Jiong, “With so many people helping, we should add two more kilns. We’re using them constantly.”
Wu Jiong replied, “Let’s wait until the tribe’s sewage system is finished. Then, we’ll set up the kilns along with the furnace in a proper, enclosed area.”
Qing Kuo nodded. “Good idea. We’ll plan it out carefully this time.”
Jian Mo, who was listening nearby, added, “If we’re moving everything, we could use water power to hammer metal. It’d save a lot of effort compared to manual labor.”
Qing Kuo asked skeptically, “How do you plan to use water for hammering? The river outside is wide and flows slowly.”
Jian Mo admitted, “I haven’t figured out the details yet. Maybe we could build a waterwheel. I’ll think about it.”
Qing Kuo shrugged. “Sure, leave it to you.”
Despite the hard work, they managed to produce enough lime and cement for their needs.
When the Tian Ning Tribe delivered the ceramic tools they’d made, Wu Jiong sent word to the visiting tribes, informing them that construction could begin.
The tribes had been waiting for this news, and as soon as they heard, they mobilized their teams.
The next morning, He’an Tribe members woke up to the sight of a large group of giant beasts carrying sub-beastmen toward them. Everyone was stunned.
When the beasts reached the tribe, they transformed into beastmen, their presence even more overwhelming.
De Jiang, tasked with organizing the labor, frowned as he saw that each tribe had brought over a hundred people. “We don’t need this many. With six tribes sending this many people, we’ll barely have room to stand.”
Yan Dun explained, “Everyone wanted to come and learn.”
De Jiang countered, “Even for learning, we don’t need this many. Thirty capable workers from each tribe are plenty.”
Fire Meng protested, “More people means more work gets done! Why not leave a few extras?”
De Jiang shook his head firmly. “Too many people will create chaos, and it’ll be harder to get things done. Thirty per tribe is enough.”
Reluctantly, the chiefs conferred and reduced their numbers as requested.
With six tribes leaving thirty workers each, combined with the He’an Tribe’s own team of over a hundred, the construction crew now numbered more than three hundred.
The crowd around Jian Mo’s courtyard was so dense there was barely room to stand.
As the chief designer, Jian Mo wiped his brow and suggested, “We’ve still got too many people. Let’s have a group start digging the drainage ditches first.”
The He’an Tribe didn’t need complex sewage systems like those in Earth’s large cities. Simple, wide trenches that allowed water to flow through and clean the area would suffice.
General wastewater could be directed straight into these ditches. For toilets, however, they needed to dig septic tanks for sedimentation and filtration before releasing the wastewater.
Jian Mo didn’t know the exact construction methods but had discussed it with the tribe over the past few days. Together, they had devised a preliminary design for the septic tanks.
The decision was made to start construction and address any issues that arose during use later.
Following Jian Mo’s suggestions, the chiefs had their tribes split off groups for trench-digging while leaving smaller teams to help build Jian Mo’s bathroom, shower, beast pen, and storage room.
When Wu Jiong lived alone, his house was no different from the ones in neighboring tribes. But with Jian Mo’s arrival, it gained new sections and divisions, sparking everyone’s curiosity about how these areas were constructed and used. Naturally, many chose to stay and learn during the process.
The first step in renovating the house was digging the foundation. Jian Mo had outlined the entire procedure in his notebook, making it easy for everyone to follow.
Wu Jiong had already built a stone foundation when he constructed the house, but now they were reinforcing it with cement.
After Jian Mo explained the requirements, everyone quickly got to work.
Both beastmen and sub-beastmen had far better manual skills than Jian Mo, and their efficiency was remarkable.
Beastmen transformed into their animal forms to transport stones and remove soil. Some, skilled at mixing cement, managed the lime, while others with craftsmanship talents helped lay bricks.
Jian Mo stood on the sidelines, finding himself entirely unnecessary.
In no time, the foundation pit, septic tank, and drainage ditch were dug, and the walls were halfway constructed. It all seemed as easy as stacking blocks.
If not for the time needed for the cement to set, the entire house might have been finished in a single day.
By mid-morning, Jian Mo’s renovations were nearly complete. The remaining work had to wait for the cement to dry.
Jian Mo suggested they move on to the next house and help build there.
The workers dispersed, assisting various households across the tribe. Most families in the He’an Tribe had already prepared their materials, and with the helpers’ practiced efficiency, the majority of the work was quickly completed. The remaining tasks could be handled by the homeowners once the cement dried.
Originally, the He’an Tribe had planned to spend about half a month renovating the village. Unexpectedly, in just three days, the work was nearly done. Even the roads within the tribe were repaved with stone, a collaborative effort between the visiting tribes. The efficiency was astounding.
The entire He’an Tribe now looked clean and orderly, with freshly painted walls, a functional drainage system, and stone-paved roads. The newly built drainage ditches were flushed with river water, attracting fish, which added a lively touch to the landscape.
Once most of the construction was completed, everyone gathered on the back mountain to admire the transformed village. The whitewashed walls, stone paths, and functional drainage system left them in awe.
Yun Long turned to Jian Mo and remarked, “The He’an Tribe has been here for thousands of years, but who would have thought it could look like this one day?”
Wu Jiong glanced at Yun Long.
Yun Long chuckled. “It’s true. Would your tribe have changed so much if Doctor Jian Mo hadn’t come?”
Fire Meng, chief of the Hong Zhen Tribe, added, “I’d bet it’s not just the He’an Tribe. All our tribes are going to change too.”
Li Qing, the sub-beastman chief of the Yi Gu Tribe, agreed. “Not going to—they already are. Our tribe has been using pottery we exchanged from the He’an Tribe, we’ve started drinking hot water, and recently, we’ve been experimenting with raising Tou Tou Beasts.”
Jian Mo had remained quiet throughout the discussion, but at the mention of hot water, he couldn’t help but interject, “Drinking boiled water is a must. In this season, water can easily become contaminated, carrying parasites. Getting sick is no small matter.”
Thanks to their robust constitutions, beastmen and sub-beastmen could fend off most bacteria and viruses. Otherwise, Jian Mo found it hard to imagine how people in this world lived such long lives.
Seeing Jian Mo’s serious expression, everyone nodded earnestly, promising to heed his advice.
Looking down at the village, Li Qing commented, “If you planted some flowers and greenery, your tribe would look even better.”
Jian Mo replied, “We plan to. Once we have some free time, we’re going to transplant a batch of pink tube flowers.”
Standing nearby, Yun Long nodded knowingly. “That’s perfect. Now that you’ve learned how to domesticate honeybirds, pink tube flowers will be great for feeding them.”
Wu Jiong shot Yun Long another glance.
Jian Mo explained, “Pink tube flowers only provide nectar in the winter. For the other seasons, we’ll need to rely on different flowers. We’ll have to plan which ones to plant.”
Yun Long asked, “Once you’ve planted them, can we come by to see and learn?”
Jian Mo smiled. “You’ll have to ask our Chief Wu Jiong about that.”
