Jian Mo clearly noticed that ever since Wu Jiong had tasted fish baked in the clay pot, he no longer disliked fish.
In fact, according to Jian Mo’s observations, not only did Wu Jiong stop disliking fish, but he even developed a preference for certain tender, low-bone varieties.
After discovering this, Jian Mo didn’t comment, merely increasing the frequency of fish dishes.
However, going out in this freezing weather to catch fish was far from a pleasant task.
Unwilling to go out himself or send Wu Jiong out unnecessarily, Jian Mo designed a few fish traps based on those from Earth and worked with Wu Jiong to weave them.
The principle of the fish trap was simple: leave an entryway for the fish but set up obstacles that made it difficult for them to leave.
Once the traps were ready, Jian Mo placed them in the river near the tribe, checking them each morning.
Today’s haul was decent. When he emptied the traps, he ended up with half a basket of fish and shrimp.
Though most of the catch was from less flavorful species, it was still a success.
Carrying the basket, Jian Mo showed Wu Jiong. “How about a mixed fish stew for breakfast?”
Wu Jiong glanced at it. “Let’s have meat patties instead.”
“Then I’ll dry these scraps for the mother Tuo Tuo beast as a supplement,” Jian Mo decided.
“Not for Chirpy?” Wu Jiong asked.
Jian Mo sighed. “That little glutton’s been eating so much fish lately that it’s starting to smell fishy itself. Let’s give it a break and feed the mother Tuo Tuo beast instead. I’m planning to try milking her today. Afterward, I’ll give Chirpy something nice to smooth things over.”
Jian Mo had been eyeing the beast milk for some time but hadn’t dared compete with the Tuo Tuo cubs for it. After all, the milk was their primary food source.
Now that the cubs’ fur had grown in fully and they had become chubby and capable of foraging for grass, they could be weaned.
It was time for Jian Mo to try milking the mother.
Raising Tuo Tuo beasts was a labor-intensive task. If not for the prospect of beast milk, Jian Mo wouldn’t have had the energy to keep it up.
He had long resolved that if the milk turned out unpalatable, he would trade the Tuo Tuo beasts to another tribe and cut his losses.
Processing the scraps for the Tuo Tuo beast was simple. A quick rinse and placement along the edge of a stone slab to dry was all it needed.
Jian Mo estimated that by the afternoon, the fish would be crispy enough to prevent the bones from getting caught in the beasts’ throats.
While preparing breakfast, Jian Mo suddenly asked, “Are we expecting visitors from other tribes today?”
Wu Jiong replied, “The Ice River Tribe is likely to visit.”
In winter, with little to do, the cold didn’t deter the energetic young beastmen and sub-beastmen. Many chose to visit other tribes.
The He’an Tribe’s higher elevation and relative remoteness didn’t make it a popular destination.
However, ever since they’d fired glazed pottery, word had spread, attracting visitors who often brought items to trade.
Whenever other tribes came, the tribe’s clearing turned into a small marketplace where anyone interested in trading could browse.
Jian Mo had recently exchanged for several useful items this way.
Hearing the Ice River Tribe was coming, Jian Mo said, “After breakfast, I’ll head over to see if there’s anything worth trading. The fabric the Dianxin Tribe brought last time was great—I wonder how the Ice River Tribe’s goods compare?”
Wu Jiong considered this. “I don’t think anyone in their tribe is skilled at weaving, but they might have something worth trading for. You should check it out.”
“Alright, I’ll take a look after breakfast,” Jian Mo agreed.
After breakfast, Jian Mo headed to the animal shed to milk the Tuo Tuo beast.
Standing next to the mother beast, he hesitated for a long time, unsure where to start.
Although he was a veterinarian, he had never milked an animal himself. Now faced with the task, he was genuinely worried the Tuo Tuo beast might bite or kick him.
The timid mother beast, feeling his intense gaze, started retreating to a corner, trembling. Her cubs huddled on her back, mirrored her fear, shivering in unison.
Man and beasts exchanged wary looks: …
Jian Mo sighed and left the shed to find Wu Jiong. “Do you know how to milk? I don’t.”
Seeing Jian Mo’s troubled expression, Wu Jiong turned and headed for the shed. “I’ve never done it, but I can try.”
Relieved, Jian Mo followed. “Great, I really didn’t know where to begin.”
Once in the shed, Wu Jiong placed a wooden bucket under the Tuo Tuo beast’s belly. “You hold her still.”
Jian Mo grabbed the mother beast’s horns, glancing at her shivering cubs piled on her back. “I’ve got her. Wait, should I move the cubs?”
“No need. They’ll be more scared if you take them down,” Wu Jiong replied.
“… You’re probably right,” Jian Mo admitted.
Wu Jiong began milking the mother beast, who surprisingly stayed still. The process went smoothly.
Pale yellow milk trickled into the bucket, quickly covering the bottom.
Jian Mo estimated there was at least two liters.
Not bad production, especially for a beast of this size.
After a while, Wu Jiong stopped. “That should be enough.”
Jian Mo rubbed his hands together. “I’ll grab some fodder for her, then take the milk back to boil.”
With an unfamiliar milk source, thorough sterilization was essential before consumption.
Jian Mo wasn’t concerned about preserving nutrients—he poured the milk into a clean clay pot, placed it over the fire, and boiled it thoroughly, letting it simmer a while longer before taking it off the heat.
When the beast milk boiled, a layer of creamy skin formed on the surface.
Jian Mo leaned in to smell it. It had a rich aroma with a slight gaminess but no unpleasant odor.
It was ready to drink!
He scooped out a small spoonful, blew on it to cool it down, and carefully tasted it.
Wu Jiong watched his expression closely. “How is it?”
“Hmm, not bad.” Jian Mo pulled out another spoon and handed it to Wu Jiong, his eyes sparkling. “Want to try?”
Wu Jiong glanced at the Tuo Tuo milk, clearly hesitant to take the spoon.
Jian Mo waved the spoon in front of him. “Come on, just a taste. Try it plain first. If you still don’t like it, I’ll add some jam to yours.”
Wu Jiong finally accepted the spoon, scooped a small amount, cooled it with a breath, and tried it.
Jian Mo’s eyes were fixed on him, waiting for a verdict.
“It’s not bad,” Wu Jiong said.
“Got it. Drinking it plain isn’t for everyone. Here, let’s try it with some jam.”
With the addition of jam, the Tuo Tuo milk transformed into a sweet and tangy drink that tasted excellent.
Both of them ended up drinking a bowl of beast milk each.
Jian Mo didn’t waste the leftovers. He picked up the jug and brought it to share with the winged beast, Chirpy.
Milk was a rare treat, and Jian Mo was sure Chirpy wouldn’t refuse.
Sure enough, when Jian Mo arrived with the milk jug, Chirpy immediately smelled it and began chirping loudly. Its round eyes darted toward the jug in Jian Mo’s hands, its eagerness obvious.
Jian Mo poured some milk into Chirpy’s water bowl. “Here, give it a try. See if you like it.”
Chirpy nudged Jian Mo with its big head before eagerly diving in to lap up the milk.
“Chirp chirp!” Chirpy’s eyes sparkled with joy as it made happy sounds. “Chirp!”
Jian Mo gently patted its head. “You like it, huh?”
“Chirp!” Chirpy responded without lifting its head.
Jian Mo chuckled. “Alright, take your time. I’ll bring you more tomorrow.”
After finishing his chores, Jian Mo headed to the tribe’s clearing to see what was available for trade.
The Ice River Tribe had already arrived, and surprisingly, the Mengshui Tribe was accompanying them.
As Jian Mo browsed, he discovered several interesting items. Unfortunately, most visitors were only interested in trading for glazed pottery, which he was reluctant to part with.
Just as he was about to leave, someone called out behind him, “Doctor Jian Mo—”
The title caught his attention, as it was rarely used except during the hunting festival. The person must have learned about him from there.
Jian Mo turned to see who it was. “You’re calling me?”
A group of sub-beastmen had approached. One of them, a curly-haired sub-beastman with flushed cheeks, nodded eagerly. “Yes, Doctor Jian Mo! We heard you really like spices, so we brought some for you.”
Jian Mo’s curiosity was piqued. “What kind of spices?”
The curly-haired sub-beastman replied, “Pepper Stamen!”
Jian Mo blinked in confusion at first, the name unfamiliar. After a moment, he realized he didn’t recognize the spice. “Can I take a look?”
“Of course!” The curly-haired sub-beastman cheerfully pulled out a bundle tightly wrapped in dry leaves and handed it to him.
Jian Mo accepted it, but before he could bring it closer to his nose, the intense, domineering scent made him want to sneeze. He pinched his nose for a while before the sensation passed.
The smell was incredibly strong and unique! Jian Mo’s eyes widened in surprise, his heart racing.
The sub-beastmen laughed. “That’s just how Pepper Stamen is—sharp and overpowering. Not everyone can handle it, but we thought you might like it.”
Once Jian Mo composed himself, he carefully unwrapped the leaves.
Inside were long, thin brown filaments, slightly thicker than a strand of hair. When he sniffed more closely, the scent reminded him of pepper—spicy, pungent, with a subtle sweetness lingering after the initial sharpness.
It was exactly the kind of flavor he loved.
Picking up a strand, Jian Mo asked hopefully, “Can I taste it?”
“Of course!” the curly-haired sub-beastman said. “But be careful—it’s very spicy.”
Taking the advice, Jian Mo scraped off a tiny bit with his nail and placed it on his tongue.
Immediately, a burst of intense flavor spread across his palate—spicy, sharp, and subtly sweet, with a complex layering that was deeply satisfying. While it wasn’t the same as chili or black pepper, it was just as delightful.
This Pepper Stamen was the perfect source of heat!
Jian Mo’s eyes lit up with excitement, his heart racing with delight. He wanted it!
Hopefully, the price would be reasonable.
Smiling at the spice bundle, he gave a modest compliment. “It smells great.”
The curly-haired sub-beastman beamed with pride. “Of course! I harvested each stamen by hand—they’re all the best ones.”
Jian Mo understood that this spice likely came from a specific flower. He made a mental note to ask Wu Jiong about it later.
“What do you want in exchange?” Jian Mo asked.
The curly-haired sub-beastman’s eyes sparkled. “Pottery! I’d like one of your smooth glazed pieces. For this bundle of Pepper Stamen, just one piece will do.”
The bundle weighed at least half a pound—a great deal!
Jian Mo quickly decided. “How about a ceramic plate?”
“I need to see it first,” the sub-beastman replied.
Jian Mo asked them to wait and hurried home to retrieve a plate. He had an empty ceramic jar as well, but he wanted to save it for fermenting alcohol and wasn’t willing to trade it.
Fortunately, the curly-haired sub-beastman loved the black-brown glazed plate. Once he held it, he was reluctant to let it go.
Both parties were satisfied with the exchange and quickly left the clearing to avoid second thoughts.
Jian Mo spent the rest of the day basking in the joy of acquiring the Pepper Stamen.
After asking Qing Kuo and others, he confirmed that Pepper Stamen was indeed the stamen of a particular flower. While the flower did grow in their tribe’s territory, it was rare and hard to find. Additionally, the yield of usable stamens was low, so no one bothered collecting it regularly.
Zhou Fu bluntly remarked, “Before you came, everyone’s grilled meat was terrible. Whether or not there were spices didn’t make a difference.”
Jian Mo smiled. “It couldn’t have been that bad.”
“It was!” Zhou Fu insisted. “For the longest time, all we could taste was salt and burnt char. No spice could change that.”
Jian Mo chuckled. “Well, that’s no longer the case. Next spring, when the Pepper Stamen flowers bloom, let me know. I want to gather as much of this spice as possible.”
Zhou Fu eagerly agreed. “Don’t worry. If you like it, we’ll help you gather them whenever we see them.”
This small bundle of Pepper Stamen hadn’t been easy to acquire.
Jian Mo decided to make the most of it.
He spent the entire day brainstorming ideas and came up with several uses. The best among them was turning it into a sauce—something like black pepper sauce!
In a world where seasonings are scarce, a good sauce could completely transform a dish.
Fortunately, the cold weather made preserving the sauce easier.
That evening, Jian Mo noticed that the mother Tuo Tuo beast was producing milk again, so he decided to try milking her once more.
The mother beast, accustomed to Jian Mo’s care, was cooperative. He successfully milked enough to fill most of a jar and happily carried it home.
Just as Jian Mo returned, Wu Jiong walked in.
Seeing him carrying the jar of milk, Wu Jiong asked, “Need help?”
Jian Mo looked up. “Yes! Let’s see if we can separate the cream—I want to make something special.”
“What is it?” Wu Jiong asked.
Jian Mo’s eyes lit up with anticipation. “Pepper Stamen sauce! I traded for some Pepper Stamen today. Let’s see if I can make it into a sauce!”
Black pepper sauce typically required butter, which they didn’t have, but Jian Mo figured cream from Tuo Tuo beast milk would work as a substitute.
As far as he knew, the cream could be separated from milk using a few methods.
The fastest was churning, which forced the fat and liquid to separate. If there was no rush, letting the milk settle for some time would cause the cream to float to the top naturally.
Since Jian Mo wanted the cream right away, he opted for churning.
Wu Jiong, always supportive of Jian Mo’s experiments, agreed to help.
Jian Mo started by demonstrating how to churn the milk with a stick, stirring vigorously.
It was tiring work. After a while, Jian Mo’s arms began to ache.
Wu Jiong, who had been observing, took the stick from him and continued churning.
Wu Jiong’s strong arms, with their defined muscles, worked quickly and efficiently.
Jian Mo, watching his movements, couldn’t help but admire them, a hint of envy in his gaze.
Noticing Jian Mo’s expression, Wu Jiong’s eyes flickered, and he churned even faster.
Thanks to their teamwork, the cream soon began to separate and rise to the surface.
Jian Mo carefully scooped the cream into a clay pot and heated it to evaporate any remaining water.
The cream turned a pale yellow, transforming into butter and releasing a rich, aromatic fragrance.
Worried about overcooking and burning it, Jian Mo quickly removed the pot from the heat. He then took the pre-ground Pepper Stamen powder and carefully added it to the butter.
Wu Jiong, watching from the side, commented, “Smells amazing.”
Jian Mo replied as he worked, “It’ll be even better once it’s a sauce. When I’m done, try it with meat patties or fish fillets. It’ll be incredible.”
Jian Mo had craved black pepper sauce for a long time. While he couldn’t make traditional black pepper sauce here, Pepper Stamen sauce promised to be an excellent substitute.
After so long in this world, he could finally enjoy a life with proper sauces.
