The bird beastmen of the Bai Zhi Tribe, along with Chirpy, worked tirelessly for three days. Jian Mo joined their efforts, staying busy throughout this period.
By the afternoon of the third day, all eight teams had arrived at the He’an Tribe.
The chieftains and the invited judges gathered to evaluate the value of the resources collected by each team.
After a fair assessment, the daring bears from the Ice River Tribe managed to outshine the other tribes and secure first place.
As soon as the results were announced, the Ice River Tribe erupted in cheers. The bear beastmen reverted to their beast forms, joyfully colliding their bellies with one another in celebration.
Watching their accumulated fat jiggle as they moved, Jian Mo found their actions strangely endearing.
Next, Wu Jiong announced the second-place winners.
This year, the Meng Shui Tribe and the He’an Tribe shared the honor of being tied for second place.
The Meng Shui Tribe remained composed, while Ban Ming and his companions excitedly placed their hands on each other’s shoulders, bouncing up and down with joy.
“Second place! Dad! Father! We got second place this year!”
“Quick, quick, quick, let’s transform and run a lap!”
It was Ah Hu who initiated the call to transform.
Ah Hu’s suggestion was immediately embraced by the others. The beastmen shifted into their animal forms, carrying their sub-beastman companions as they enthusiastically ran circles nearby.
Last year, they had ranked fifth; this year, placing second was more than worthy of celebration!
Ban Ming rushed into the crowd, scooped up the small spotted cat Ban Jiu, and tossed him onto his back. Then, lowering his head, he nudged Qing Kuo with his nose. “Dad, Dad, come on, let me carry you!”
Qing Kuo laughed, grabbing the scruff of the large gray cat’s neck. “You little rascal, watch your footing.”
Ban Jiu, clinging tightly to the big gray cat’s back with all four paws and even tensing his tail, echoed loudly, “Yeah, yeah, exactly!”
The excitement spread, and some even tried to carry Jian Mo.
At the front, Wu Jiong was announcing the lower rankings when he noticed the beastmen rushing toward Jian Mo. He shot them a warning glare.
The beastmen, upon receiving their chief’s intimidating look, quickly veered off and ran toward others instead.
After declaring the rankings, Wu Jiong proceeded to announce the Special Contribution Award for the Summer Harvest Festival.
The bird beastmen and Chirpy received this special recognition. A sub-beastman stepped forward, laughing as he placed floral wreaths around their necks.
Chirpy, sensing the humans’ appreciation and affection, widened his round eyes and wagged his tail. He pawed at the wreath lightly, careful not to damage it, his claws hovering just above the flowers.
Seeing Chirpy’s adorable behavior, Jian Mo clapped his hands in approval.
The others followed suit, clapping and cheering enthusiastically.
As for Ying Ao, he didn’t receive any awards—he wasn’t even present. That aloof winged beast had no interest in beastman or sub-beastman festivities. His participation in transport and patrol duties was solely due to Jian Mo’s requests. Since Jian Mo hadn’t asked for his help today, Ying Ao had gone off to hunt for food in the wild early in the morning.
With the awards concluded, Wu Jiong declared the start of the Summer Harvest Festival banquet.
Over the past few days, everyone had gathered an abundance of food. Now was the perfect time to bring it out and feast together.
After Wu Jiong’s announcement, people split into several groups, lit bonfires, and brought out various stone slabs and clay pots to start preparing dinner.
Jian Mo contributed two large metal pots from his home and joined the food preparation efforts.
For today’s banquet, each tribe had designated individuals responsible for cooking.
The He’an Tribe had Jian Mo, Qing Kuo, Min Dang, and a dozen others as lead chefs. Others were welcome to assist or enjoy the food at their leisure.
Jian Mo and his group planned to prepare dishes like braised pork, meatball soup, roasted meat, stewed meat, and fruit tea. Each person was in charge of a different dish, ensuring that their tribe alone could offer over a dozen types of food.
These dishes were their specialties, known for their excellent taste and consistent quality, perfect for a large gathering like this.
The pre-prepared ingredients quickly turned into fragrant dishes under their skilled hands, the aroma wafting through the air and attracting the attention of others.
Jian Mo sent someone to inform Wu Jiong that their food was almost ready.
Not just their group, but dishes from the other tribes were also nearing completion.
When everything was ready, Wu Jiong gave the order to start the feast.
Everyone cheered and rushed to sample dishes from each tribe with their plates in hand.
Jian Mo grabbed a plate, first sampling two pieces of roast meat and a meatball from their tribe, before venturing to try food from other tribes.
Every tribe had unique and delicious offerings.
The dish that impressed Jian Mo the most was a stuffed stomach from the Meng Shui Tribe.
The Meng Shui Tribe had cleaned the stomach of a long-headed beast and stuffed it with equal parts fat, lean meat, cartilage, skin, and spices. It was then boiled in rich bone broth.
After boiling, the stuffed stomach was dried and deep-fried until firm and resilient. Finally, it was sliced and served with sauce.
When Jian Mo tasted it, the complex flavors were captivating, rich but not greasy. The cartilage provided a delightful crunch that was simply mesmerizing.
After finishing one piece, he couldn’t help but ask for another.
The dish was initially limited to one serving per person, but the server, recognizing Jian Mo, cheerfully gave him two extra pieces and encouraged him to return for more while it was still hot.
Aside from feasting, singing and dancing were integral parts of the celebration.
The beastmen’s dances were unrefined, devoid of complex choreography, but their enthusiasm and wild movements brought joy to everyone.
The festival was a huge success, with many revelers sneaking off into the woods for some private time after finding someone they fancied.
Watching this, Jian Mo finally understood why oils and lotions were so profitable—they were undoubtedly essentials!
After the Summer Harvest Festival concluded, the atmosphere of celebration lingered in the He’an Tribe for days.
The bird beastmen from the Bai Zhi Tribe also stayed behind, claiming they wanted to enjoy a few more days of leisure in the He’an Tribe.
The He’an Tribe welcomed them warmly and let them do as they pleased.
Every day, the bird beastmen dragged Chirpy along on their escapades.
One day, they returned from their adventures, leaving Chirpy entirely covered in mud, his feathers matted and clumped.
Jian Mo looked at Chirpy, a mess of mud from head to toe, and couldn’t help but give him a light tap on the forehead. “Where did you all play today to manage such an even coating of mud?”
The bird beastmen replied excitedly:
“We went to the Green Swamp! The swamp has so many fish! We spent the whole day catching and roasting them. It was so much fun!”
“Who’d have thought Chirpy would be bad at catching fish? Haha! Every winged beast we’ve seen before was great at fishing.”
“The mud prints on Chirpy’s face? That was from the fish slapping him! Two big smacks, and his whole face got covered in muddy water.”
“We avenged Chirpy, though. That fish? We already ate it,” the bird beastmen chimed in.
Jian Mo sighed. “Thank you.”
The bird beastmen, oblivious to Jian Mo’s exasperation, chirped cheerfully, “No problem! Tomorrow we’ll take Chirpy to pick mushrooms.”
Thinking that picking mushrooms couldn’t possibly leave Chirpy covered in mud like fishing did, Jian Mo agreed.
The bird beastmen went back to rest.
After feeding an overly excited Chirpy, Jian Mo suggested to Wu Jiong, “How about we take a bath in the river? The weather hasn’t cooled down yet, so it’s a good chance to wash Chirpy and Ying Ao. It’ll be harder once the weather turns.”
Wu Jiong glanced at Chirpy, still caked in mud. “I’ll bring two extra bars of soap.”
Jian Mo nodded, looking at Chirpy’s massive size. “Good idea. We’ll definitely need extra.”
Both Chirpy and Ying Ao were adept swimmers and didn’t mind bathing in the river.
Jian Mo initially planned to take them upstream, but it was late, the river was complicated, and the shallow water would make bathing inconvenient. He decided instead to head to White Sand Isle by the lake. Under the moonlight, they could wash and enjoy a swim, making for a more pleasant experience.
Chirpy was overly energetic and couldn’t sit still, so they decided to wash Ying Ao first. Ying Ao, being more cooperative, made it easier.
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong lathered Ying Ao up with soap, scrubbed him thoroughly, and rinsed him off with clean water. Then, they let him swim a couple of laps in the lake to wash off any lingering soap suds, ensuring no residue remained.
Once Ying Ao was clean, Jian Mo beckoned to Chirpy. “Chirpy, come on, it’s your turn.”
Eyes sparkling, Chirpy paddled over, splashing Jian Mo and Wu Jiong with water. “Chirp!”
Jian Mo wiped his face and grabbed hold of Chirpy’s wing. “Alright, alright, calm down. Sit still here.”
“Chirp!” Chirpy responded enthusiastically.
After swimming two laps in the lake, Chirpy’s wet feathers clung to his body, revealing he had slimmed down a bit. What once seemed like a solid, plump Chirpy now looked more like a hollow Chirpy. Feeling a pang of sympathy, Jian Mo murmured to Wu Jiong, “Forget it. He’s having fun. Let him enjoy himself.”
Wu Jiong, unsurprised, replied, “Wan Zheng and his group said they’d be leaving in a couple of days.”
Jian Mo was surprised. “They’re leaving? Did their chieftain say so?”
Wu Jiong nodded. “Qiu Zhi asked me through someone if they could stay in our tribe for a couple more days to attend lessons. I agreed. They came to thank me and say goodbye after hearing the news.”
Jian Mo sighed. “Figures, most people still don’t like studying.”
Noticing Chirpy’s slimmed-down frame, Jian Mo began pondering what to cook to nourish him over the next few days. After all, Chirpy had worked hard for the tribe and deserved something good.
While Jian Mo was gathering ingredients, Tu Shao, the beastman from the Yu Yao Tribe who had choked on food last time, arrived with supplies.
Startled, Jian Mo hurried forward to relieve Tu Shao of his heavy basket. “What brings you here?”
Returning to his human form and slipping on a beast-hide skirt, Tu Shao explained, “I heard you were looking for something called ginger. I asked several tribes to help search, and I think we found it. Check if this is what you wanted.”
Jian Mo had been longing to acquire some ginger. Although he’d reached out to various tribes, he hadn’t heard back and had begun to think the region didn’t have any. Tu Shao’s sudden delivery was a delightful surprise.
Eyes lighting up, Jian Mo quickly opened the basket. “Let me see.”
Inside was a basket of flat, knobby rhizomes still coated in dirt. Jian Mo rubbed off some dirt to reveal the light brown skin underneath.
Tu Shao said, “I compared it to the drawing you gave me. It seems to match—flat and bumpy, just like this.”
Jian Mo nodded, holding the rhizome to his nose for a sniff. “It does seem like it. May I taste it?”
“Of course,” Tu Shao replied.
Jian Mo wiped the dirt from the ginger with his hand but decided to wash it properly in the kitchen. After peeling it with a small knife, the ginger looked even more like what he had been searching for. Its aroma was spicy with a slight bitterness.
He sliced a small piece and gave it a taste. The flavor was somewhat like ginger, though not exactly, but it seemed suitable as a seasoning.
After rinsing his mouth, Jian Mo suddenly remembered to ask, “This ginger isn’t poisonous, is it?”
Tu Shao reassured him, “No, the tribe I got it from eats it themselves.”
“Then let’s trade. What would you like in return?” Jian Mo asked.
Tu Shao replied, “I traded five large pieces of beast hide to get this. Add two more for the effort and travel, and seven pieces will do.”
This price was generous considering the effort, but Jian Mo shook his head. “You went out of your way to help and brought it all the way here. Seven hides aren’t enough.”
Tu Shao grinned sheepishly. “It’s plenty. I have more ginger stored back home. Once you’ve tried it and others hear about it, they’ll come to trade for it, and I’ll make up the difference then.”
Jian Mo thought it over and agreed. “Alright, that works. Are you busy with anything else today? If not, stay for dinner. I’ll make stir-fried bird meat with shredded ginger.”
Tu Shao perked up. “I’m free, and dinner sounds great. I could use a night’s rest at the He’an Tribe.”
Since Jian Mo didn’t have bird meat at home, he traded some supplies with the tribe that evening. Hunting parties always returned with bird meat as a staple catch, so the tribe was happy to exchange it.
Ye Luo curiously asked, “I heard you got a food called ginger?”
Jian Mo waved the purple bird he’d just traded. “Yes, I’m going to stir-fry it with this bird tonight. Come join us for dinner.”
Intrigued by anything new, Ye Luo quickly agreed. “I’ll bring a basket of berries to share.”
Qing Kuo and a few others overheard and expressed interest in joining as well.
Jian Mo welcomed them all.
By dinner, his table was packed with about ten people, all eager to try the ginger-stirred bird meat.
The shredded ginger added a slight spiciness and a somewhat floury texture, different from the ginger Jian Mo knew from Earth but still similar in flavor. It worked wonderfully as a seasoning for the bird meat.
The dish turned out exceptionally well. The bird meat was tender and salty, blending perfectly with the ginger to create a dish that was highly appetizing.
Jian Mo himself ate three large bowls of rice.
Qing Kuo, savoring the heat of the ginger, took a sharp breath and immediately turned to Tu Shao. “Do you have more ginger? We’d like to trade for some.”
Tu Shao grinned. “I do! But I charge others more than I charge Doctor Jian Mo. He’s my lifesaver, so I only ask for the base price.”
Qing Kuo nodded readily. “How much do you want?”
“One piece of beast hide for a basket of ginger,” Tu Shao replied.
Listening from the side, Jian Mo couldn’t help but admire Tu Shao’s business sense. Using a basket as the unit of trade made transactions much easier than using a larger container like a crate.
Qing Kuo agreed without hesitation.
Drinking a chilled leaf beverage to temper the spiciness, Ye Luo chimed in, “I’ll take two baskets as well.”
Min Dang added, “I want two baskets too.”
Before Tu Shao even stepped out of Jian Mo’s house, all the ginger he had brought was traded away.
Pleased, he said, “That works. If anyone else wants some, let me know in advance, and I’ll trade for more and bring it over.”
Qing Kuo offered, “I’ll let others in the tribe know and see who’s interested.”
Tu Shao smiled. “Thanks, I’ll send you an extra basket for helping.”
After wrapping up their transactions, Jian Mo asked Tu Shao, “Are you passing by the Meng Shui Tribe tomorrow?”
“Yes,” Tu Shao replied. “I’m also planning to visit their tribe to see if anyone there wants ginger.”
“That’s perfect,” Jian Mo said. “When you get to their tribe, could you deliver a message to Dan Guan, who’s temporarily staying there, and ask him to come here?”
Tu Shao readily agreed. “I’ll let him know first thing tomorrow.”
Jian Mo added, “If you can’t find him, ask someone in the Meng Shui Tribe to pass the message along.”
Dan Guan was still residing with the Meng Shui Tribe, participating in their hunts and sharing their food. The ringworm on his body had mostly healed, but his patchy fur hadn’t fully grown back yet. Sparse and thin, the regrowth was taking its time.
Jian Mo had been searching for ginger mainly to treat Dan Guan’s bald spots. Now that he finally had some, he was determined to give it a try.
