Jian Mo took Ran Shao for an examination.
Without proper instruments and limited experience, Jian Mo could only rely on asking questions while observing Ran Shao’s condition.
Ran Shao lowered his beast-skin skirt and, seeing Jian Mo’s serious expression, grew a little nervous. “Doctor Jian Mo, am I okay?”
Jian Mo replied, “You’re fine, perfectly healthy. But in your condition, you must avoid lifting heavy objects—especially people—as it’s too easy for accidents to happen.”
Ran Shao nodded vigorously like a pecking chicken. “Understood.”
Jian Mo added, “You’re a bit thin. Now that you’re expecting, you should eat more meat to build strength—but not too much. Two extra portions compared to your usual meals will suffice. If possible, I suggest you come here for a check-up every month to monitor your progress.”
Ran Shao agreed eagerly.
After the check-up, Jian Mo gave him a reassuring smile. “Just take good care of yourself, and there’s nothing else to worry about.”
Ran Shao visibly relaxed.
Jian Mo then said, “Your partner needs to stay in the clinic for observation for two days. During that time, I’ll bring your meals to you.”
Ran Shao expressed his gratitude. “Thank you, Doctor Jian Mo. You’ve been working so hard.”
Jian Mo shook his head. “It’s no trouble. I’ll just prepare a bit more while cooking.”
Ran Shao’s partner, Tu Chuan, had an injury in a sensitive area that required extra observation for a couple of days. Any issues could lead to serious long-term consequences.
Jian Mo wasn’t particularly interested in his patients’ privacy, but Zhou Fu and the others were curious.
Having discovered a new “technique,” Zhou Fu and a few other partnered sub-beastmen even came to share their findings with Jian Mo.
Listening to them gave Jian Mo a headache, and he sternly warned, “Don’t mess around! It’s dangerous!”
Zhou Fu pondered seriously. “It shouldn’t be that bad.”
Jian Mo warned gravely, “It really isn’t fine. I don’t want to have to treat you and Jiu Yin one day in this tiny clinic.”
Zhou Fu blushed deeply but relented. “Alright then.”
Jian Mo crossed his arms in disapproval. “Be serious. You wouldn’t want the entire He’an Tribe making fun of you, would you?”
Only then did Zhou Fu take him more seriously. “Got it.”
Jian Mo wiped the sweat off his forehead. Being a pet doctor was hard enough; being a general practitioner for humans was even tougher.
By evening, Jian Mo roped Wu Jiong into helping deliver meals to Ran Shao and Tu Chuan. He also planned to give them a little more education on the matter.
Before they even reached the clinic, they overheard the couple’s conversation inside.
Ran Shao: “It feels like the wind is about to pick up. I want to go back to the tribe and check.”
Tu Chuan: “No way.”
Ran Shao reassured him, “I’ll just go for half a day and come back tomorrow morning.”
Tu Chuan protested, “Absolutely not! I have a partner now. How can you leave me alone here?”
Ran Shao tried to reason, “I just want to tidy up our home. If the wind really picks up, things might get blown away.”
Tu Chuan shot back, “And what if I get blown away?”
Jian Mo coughed loudly to announce their arrival, prompting Wu Jiong to pat him on the shoulder.
Ran Shao, trying to appear calm, came out to greet them. “Doctor Jian Mo, Chief Wu Jiong.”
Jian Mo initially wanted to educate them but felt this wasn’t the right time. Instead, he asked, “Did you say the wind is picking up?”
Ran Shao nodded. “Yes, we from the Zheng Chi Tribe are especially sensitive to the wind. It will probably start tonight, and by tomorrow afternoon, it might turn into a strong wind.”
Jian Mo asked, “Is it a typhoon?”
Ran Shao looked puzzled. “What’s a typhoon? It’s just the summer wind. Once it blows through, autumn will come.”
Jian Mo had only arrived in this world last autumn and had no idea what the summer wind was like. He nodded thoughtfully and handed them their dinner. “Take care. I’ll check Tu Chuan’s injury later. If it’s healed, you can head back tomorrow morning.”
Tu Chuan’s joyful voice rang out from the clinic. “That’s great!”
Jian Mo went in to check on Tu Chuan before taking his leave.
Wu Jiong remarked, “If the summer wind is coming, our tribe needs to prepare. I’ll notify Qing Kuo and De Jiang.”
Jian Mo offered, “I’ll go with you!”
The two detoured to find Qing Kuo first.
Qing Kuo considered the timing. “It’s about time for the summer wind. I’ll let a few families know to secure their belongings.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “I’ll inform De Jiang too.”
Qing Kuo asked, “What about the crops we planted by the river?”
Jian Mo had nearly forgotten about the riverside crops. “I’ll take a look.”
Qing Kuo added, “I’ll join you later. We should harvest what we can quickly and figure out what to do with the rest.”
Jian Mo assessed the situation. “They’re not ripe yet, so harvesting isn’t an option. I’ll think of a solution.”
Initially, Jian Mo was curious about experiencing the summer wind firsthand, but the potential impact on the crops dampened his enthusiasm. Severe winds would mean reduced yields.
As dusk approached, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong checked in with De Jiang, who promised to secure the materials around the forge.
They then made a round of the tribe and returned home as night fell.
The wind had started to blow, its faint howls bringing a cool breeze.
The two tidied up the firewood stacked outside the kitchen and went to check on Chirpy and Ying Ao.
Ying Ao appeared calm and strong, exuding a reassuring presence. Even if Chirpy seemed a little timid, the two of them together should be fine.
Relieved, Jian Mo patted Chirpy and instructed them to stay in their nest without wandering around. He then went to check on the Tou Tou Beasts and the long-tailed birds.
The Tou Tou Beasts were a bit skittish. Jian Mo asked Wu Jiong worriedly, “Do you think the Tou Tou Beasts might get frightened to death if the wind picks up?”
Wu Jiong responded calmly, “Unlikely. There are Tou Tou Beasts in the wild too.”
Jian Mo countered, “Wild Tou Tou Beasts have been drenched in heavy rain and scared to death before.”
Wu Jiong remained composed. “I’d say our Tou Tou Beasts are braver than the average wild ones. They’ll be fine.”
Jian Mo sighed. “If something happens, there’s not much we can do now.”
After finishing their rounds, they locked the door and left.
The barn had only a few ventilation holes instead of proper windows, so there wasn’t anything to secure. After inspecting the barn, Jian Mo took Wu Jiong to move the fermenting fish sauce into the house.
The fish sauce couldn’t be left near the kitchen, as it might absorb the grease and spoil. They had to temporarily store it in the house.
While they worked, the wind intensified.
Jian Mo glanced toward the darkened village and remarked, “I see now why everyone builds stone houses here—they’re more wind-resistant, right?”
Wu Jiong nodded. “It’s not just that. Stone houses can last over a hundred years without deteriorating.”
Jian Mo asked, “What about the huts in the Jintuo Tribe and Baizhi Tribe? Are they windproof?”
Wu Jiong didn’t respond immediately, leaving Jian Mo to ponder the resilience of other tribes’ homes against the approaching summer wind.
Wu Jiong said, “They’re in the mountains, so the wind isn’t as strong there. Don’t worry about it. This wind comes every year—it’s nothing to be alarmed about. Come on, let’s go take a bath and get some sleep.”
As he spoke, Wu Jiong wrapped an arm around Jian Mo and nudged him inside for a bath.
It was about their usual bedtime, and Jian Mo, exhausted, fell asleep quickly despite the howling wind outside making him a bit uneasy.
The next morning, Jian Mo was awakened by a thumping noise.
The beast ears on his head twitched as he listened intently. After a while, he realized it was the wind rattling their courtyard gate.
Wu Jiong’s voice came from beside him. “It’s still early. Want to sleep a bit more?”
Jian Mo replied, “I think the gate’s been blown open. I’ll go check.”
Wu Jiong focused on his hearing as well and confirmed, “It does sound like that. I’ll go close it.”
Jian Mo quickly got up to join him. “I’m already awake—I’ll come too.”
The wind brought a noticeable chill, and Jian Mo felt the temperature had dropped significantly. Just a single layer of clothing was no longer enough; he had to put on a jacket.
Of course, that was only him.
Wu Jiong, as always, remained in his beast-skin skirt.
The sky outside was still dark, and the wind was fierce, almost as if it had a tangible presence. The world appeared blanketed in a misty white haze.
Jian Mo looked around worriedly. “Is the wind always this strong here?”
Wu Jiong held his hand firmly. “It’s not even at its strongest yet. This year’s wind seems particularly intense.”
Jian Mo asked nervously, “Not at its strongest? You mean it’ll get worse?”
Wu Jiong clarified, “No, it’s just started. It’ll only get stronger.”
Jian Mo grew concerned. “If that’s the case, I’m afraid the crops in the fields won’t hold up.”
He wasn’t the only one worried. When the sun rose, Qing Kuo and others came over to discuss the same issue.
“If the wind keeps up like this, it might strip all the leaves off the plants.”
“I’m more worried it might uproot them entirely.”
“We need to think of a way to block the wind.”
“Build walls? There’s no time. Cement takes two or three days to dry.”
“How about adding fences?”
“Fences might get blown away, too.”
“They won’t if we use wood. Bury half of it underground and leave the other half above. That should withstand even strong winds.”
Before Jian Mo could contribute to the conversation, the group had already devised a plan.
He hesitated. “Will this really work?”
Qing Kuo replied, “Why not? It’s quick and effective. We just need it to block the wind for now—it doesn’t have to last years.”
Ye Luo chimed in, “I know where to find wood perfect for fences. Let’s hurry and cut it before the wind gets too strong.”
Qing Kuo called Wu Jiong. “Shall we go chop some wood, Chief?”
Wu Jiong agreed. “Good idea. Let’s hold off on hunting and gathering today and focus on protecting the fields.”
Qing Kuo responded, “Alright. I’ll inform the beastmen and have everyone bring their axes.”
Since last autumn, the He’an Tribe’s trading activities with other tribes had significantly increased, and now almost every household had metal tools, including plenty of axes.
In no time, the tribe gathered over twenty axes. Under Ye Luo’s guidance, they headed to chop wood.
The wood Ye Luo selected was long, straight, and about the thickness of a sub-beastman’s arm.
After the logs were brought back, the ends were sharpened, branches removed, and cut to appropriate lengths.
Jian Mo, having just sent Tu Chuan and Ran Shao on their way, rushed to the fields to check on the progress.
Wu Jiong led the efforts, with most of the tribe working busily. Many beastmen had reverted to their beast forms, carrying logs in their mouths. They would plant the logs in the trenches, using their weight to press the wood halfway into the soil.
Nearby, sub-beastmen hammered the wood with stone tools to secure it in place.
One by one, the logs formed a wooden wall in the fields.
Once the wall was completed, Jian Mo noticed a significant difference. The raging wind inside the field had diminished considerably, and the crops’ leaves barely swayed.
This was especially true for the Mien Grass, which had been partially flattened before but now stood upright again thanks to the windbreak.
It seemed the wooden wall was genuinely effective.
Jian Mo had never seen such a method for wind protection before. On Earth, when typhoons or strong winds struck, people typically didn’t take such measures.
Perhaps it was because fields on Earth were much larger, wood wasn’t as easily accessible, and there weren’t giant beast forms to press logs into the soil.
The differences between the two worlds were truly stark.
As more wood was planted in the fields, the space for the beastmen to move around grew smaller.
The canine beastmen, being less agile, often stumbled and either knocked over logs or stepped on the crops.
The feline beastmen, watching this clumsiness, couldn’t take it anymore and drove most of the canines out of the fields.
“You’d better go back and sharpen the wood.”
“Be careful not to knock over the logs we just planted.”
“Leave it to us!”
Though the canine beastmen were a little disgruntled, they had no choice. Their beast forms simply weren’t as nimble.
After a while of awkwardly holding their paws in place, the canine beastmen had to retreat.
The big cats, meanwhile, swished their tails in satisfaction as they maneuvered gracefully through the narrow spaces, planting logs without disturbing a single crop or log.
Watching from afar, Jian Mo couldn’t help but admire the feline beastmen’s serpentine movements.
On Earth, cats were like liquid, moving with unparalleled agility. Here in the beastman world, the cats were a hundred times larger than domestic cats but just as nimble.
It was hard to believe that the large ginger cat, Ah Hu, with its delicate movements and dragging tail, didn’t even crush a single blade of grass. Astonishingly, this cat was considered clumsy among feline beastmen.
Aside from the feline beastmen, some canine beastmen were also quite agile.
Wu Jiong, for instance, was exceptionally graceful. Despite his massive wolf form, he moved deftly within the confined fields, carrying and planting logs without bumping into anyone or damaging any plants.
It had to be said, this kind of work required some skill.
Jian Mo watched for a while with an appreciative gaze.
The giant beasts worked quickly. Jian Mo’s family owned large fields, and many people were helping them.
When the work was done, Jian Mo invited everyone over for tea.
Nobody stood on ceremony.
Since the day was quite chilly, Jian Mo prepared not only regular tea but also ginger tea.
Some people found the spicy flavor unpleasant, while others thought it was unique.
As they munched on roasted nuts and dried fruits, sipping tea and chatting, the windy day turned warm and cozy.
After a long chat, the guests bid farewell and returned to their homes.
When Jian Mo stepped outside to see them off, a strong gust nearly knocked him over.
Qing Kuo and a few others reached out to steady him, but Wu Jiong was the fastest, wrapping an arm around Jian Mo’s waist.
Jian Mo, alarmed, said, “This wind is insane! If it were the little ones, wouldn’t they get blown away?”
Qing Kuo replied, “Exactly. That’s why we keep the little ones inside on days like this.”
Jian Mo realized he hadn’t seen any of the children today—they were likely under strict orders from their parents to stay indoors.
Then Jian Mo remembered something. “Oh no, we haven’t checked on the honey sparrows!”
Wu Jiong, still holding him, reassured, “I checked on them this morning. The wind is weaker in the forest, and the honey sparrows are fine.”
Jian Mo hesitated. “But isn’t the wind supposed to get stronger? We should bring them back.”
The cages they had used for the honey sparrows were still around, so they decided to use them to retrieve the birds.
At this point, it didn’t matter if the honey sparrows got startled. It was better to deal with that later than to risk losing them if their nests were blown away.
The two headed to the back mountain.
The wind in the forest was indeed weaker, but the honey sparrows were still huddled miserably in their nests.
The only reason they hadn’t been blown away—nests and all—was thanks to Jian Mo. He had previously used fish bladder glue to secure their nests firmly to the trees. He’d worried that mischievous children or predatory birds might snatch the nests, so he’d taken precautions.
That action proved to be a lifesaver.
The honey sparrows were nestled in their homes as the wind whipped around them, ruffling their feathers into a chaotic mess.
Many of the sparrows couldn’t even open their eyes, looking like bedraggled little creatures as they clung pitifully to their nests.
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong pried the nests loose and carefully placed them into the cages.
The honey sparrows chirped weakly but didn’t resist much.
Jian Mo murmured, “I wonder how the sparrows in the mountains are doing. The wind is so strong—what if their nests are blown away?”
Wu Jiong said, “Unlikely. The cliffs shelter them from the wind. Every year, this kind of storm happens, but their nests stay put.”
Still unconvinced, Jian Mo suggested, “How about we check on them after the wind dies down in a couple of days?”
Wu Jiong nodded. “Alright.”
They quickly secured the honey sparrows and their nests into the cages and brought them back home for safekeeping.
Jian Mo, still worried, went to check on the Tou Tou Beasts and long-tailed birds.
The long-tailed birds seemed unfazed, leisurely pacing around the animal shed.
The much larger Tou Tou Beasts, however, were huddled together, trembling pitifully. They looked utterly terrified.
Jian Mo sighed. These creatures were far more timid than the birds.
Next, he went to check on Chirpy and Ying Ao.
Both were huddled in their nest and hadn’t ventured outside.
Chirpy, in particular, sat crouched in the nest like a brooding hen, looking utterly serene.
Jian Mo rarely saw Chirpy in this position and found it odd, but he didn’t think much of it.
He patted Chirpy’s belly. “Chirpy, Ying Ao, stay put in your nest, alright? The wind is too strong outside. Especially you, Ying Ao, just make do with the food we’ve prepared for the next couple of days.”
Chirpy responded enthusiastically, “Chirp!”
Ying Ao turned to glance at Chirpy and echoed, “Chirp.”
A sudden gust of wind sent Jian Mo staggering again, but Wu Jiong caught him just in time.
Chirpy, looking concerned, nudged Jian Mo with its head. “Chirp chirp!”
Jian Mo, urged by Chirpy, quickly reassured it. “Got it. We’re going back now. You two stay safe in here.”
Chirpy chirped loudly in response, “Chirp!”
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong braced themselves against the wind as they headed home.
As they walked, Wu Jiong suddenly remarked, “There’s something off about Chirpy—it’s probably hiding something.”
Jian Mo was startled. “What?!”
