Transmigrated to the Beastman World as a Veterinarian – CH32

Apart from Wu Jiong, none of the tribe members could imagine what glass actually was or understand why Jian Mo was so excited.

Seeing their confusion, Jian Mo suggested advancing the pottery firing date. He planned to make glass alongside the pottery to show everyone.

The pottery had already dried, so it just needed a layer of glaze.

Jian Mo carefully prepared the glaze using his previous formulas and applied it to the pottery, leaving it to air dry.

The challenge lay in the glass-making—he had no experience with it.

He had only ever watched videos of glassblowing, which wasn’t the same as glass firing.

He struggled to think of a way to create flat, transparent glass.

Qing Kuo and the others offered suggestions:

“How about mixing it into a glaze and brushing it onto the pottery before firing?”

“Maybe pour it directly into the kiln?”

“Should it be air-dried first? Or like making tiles, we could make a thicker glaze paste, form it into a flat glaze plate, air-dry it, and then fire it?”

After sharing their ideas, everyone looked expectantly at Jian Mo.

Jian Mo felt overwhelmed. “How about… we try all of them?”

Having no clear direction, he decided to experiment with everyone’s ideas.

Qing Kuo laughed. “Sure, let’s try it. It’s not that troublesome anyway.”

An individual’s power was limited, but working together made things much more manageable.

They first went to the riverbank to collect sand.

The riverbank had more stones than sand, and even less of the sand was suitable for their purpose.

After sieving out the usable sand, they mixed it with alkali to form flat glaze plates, which they left in the designated pottery drying area to air dry.

Looking at the neatly arranged glaze plates, Jian Mo felt a surge of accomplishment.

He hadn’t been with the tribe for very long but had already brought significant changes.

The tribe’s decision to take him in had been worthwhile.

The glaze plates needed a few days to dry.

During this time, it snowed again. Jian Mo and the others spent their days indoors by the fire, chatting and resting.

The children of the tribe adored Jian Mo and often crowded around him. Fluffy little kittens, puppies, fox cubs, and other animal-shaped sub-beastmen liked to climb into his arms to be held.

When bored, Jian Mo would tell them stories.

Whenever he told stories, both children and adults would gather around, packing the room tightly.

When idle, thoughts tend to wander.

Jian Mo had been recalling many things lately.

One night, Jian Mo was sound asleep in the blankets, curled around the foreleg of the giant wolf.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes and sat up abruptly.

The giant wolf shifted its leg and opened its eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“I just had a dream,” Jian Mo said, his voice excited. “I dreamt that when we were making glass, we placed the glass inside pottery boxes, and it worked!”

The giant wolf gently patted his back with its paw. “You’re still thinking about that?”

“Of course!” Jian Mo replied. “But now that I think about it, it seems like it could actually work.”

“Sleep now. You can think more about it in the morning,” the wolf suggested.

Grabbing his fur coat from the foot of the bed, Jian Mo said, “No, I need to write this down before I forget.”

The giant wolf pressed him back with its paw. “No need. I’ll remember it.”

Jian Mo paused, looking into the wolf’s eyes. “Really?”

“Really. Go to sleep,” the wolf replied calmly.

Relieved, Jian Mo lay back down, wrapping himself in the blanket. “Alright. While I’m still sleepy, I’ll try to fall back asleep.”

With the leisurely pace of winter and little to do during the day, it was hard to build up sleepiness.

Jian Mo shifted positions, hugging the giant wolf’s leg again, and quickly fell asleep.

All the while, he remained blissfully unaware that if the wolf returned to human form, the “leg” he was hugging would be Wu Jiong’s left arm.

The giant wolf didn’t correct him, merely tucking the fur blanket snugly around him once he was sound asleep.

Jian Mo woke up the next morning as usual.

As soon as he woke, he remembered the glass from his dream.

Rarely one to rise early, he quickly got dressed and climbed out of bed.

Wu Jiong was busy downstairs. As soon as Jian Mo descended, he announced, “I’m going to find Qing Kuo to discuss the glass. I’ll be back to make breakfast.”

“I’ll go with you.” Wu Jiong set down the firewood he was carrying. “Are we speeding up the pottery box production?”

“Exactly! You remember?” Jian Mo asked, surprised.

“I promised, didn’t I? Let’s go.”

The two trudged through the snow to find Qing Kuo.

Qing Kuo had just woken up. Hearing Jian Mo’s idea, he yawned and said, “We can give it a try. Do the pottery boxes need to be fired first?”

“I don’t think so. As long as they’re air-dried, they should be ready,” Jian Mo replied.

“Alright, then let’s make a few today.”

Making the pottery boxes wasn’t difficult for the tribe.

Curious about glass, everyone made several boxes, intending to produce as much glass as possible.

Once the boxes had air-dried, they mixed fine sand with alkali powder, spread it evenly inside the boxes, and placed them in the kiln alongside the pottery pieces already glazed and ready for firing.

Jian Mo worried that the kiln’s temperature might not be high enough, so in addition to preparing a large quantity of charcoal, he also crafted a hand-cranked fan.

For this firing session, everyone had to work hard, continuously cranking the fan to pump air into the kiln and raise its temperature.

Since this session involved firing both glazed pottery and glass, Qing Kuo decided not to involve the entire tribe. Instead, only the tribe’s core members participated, to keep things under wraps.

Initially, Jian Mo was supposed to take the lead, but the others insisted he just supervise while they handled the labor.

Sitting to the side, Jian Mo grumbled, “I’m not that weak.”

Ye Luo smiled gently and touched his forehead. “It’s not about being weak or not. Overworking yourself could make you sick. Just rest and guide us.”

“There’s not much to guide,” Jian Mo replied. “Just keep adding charcoal and continuously pumping air, and it should work.”

Ye Luo chuckled softly, nodding while cranking the fan.

The large, upright fan resembled a hotel’s revolving door. It was heavy, and while cranking it for a short time was manageable, doing so for extended periods was exhausting.

Jian Mo had tried it and found his shoulders and elbows aching almost immediately.

Ye Luo and the others took turns cranking the fan without complaint, chatting as they worked. Their steady rhythm ensured consistent airflow into the kiln.

Watching them, Jian Mo couldn’t help but marvel at the beastmen and sub-beastmen’s incredible physical strength.

For someone like him, often plagued by the minor health woes of modern humans, their robust bodies seemed like an unattainable luxury.

After observing for a while, Jian Mo remarked, “We won’t manage it this time, but next time we fire the kiln, we could redirect river water to drive the fan.”

Ye Luo paused, his eyes lighting up. “That way, we wouldn’t need to crank it ourselves!”

“Exactly,” Jian Mo nodded. “Water power is far more efficient than manpower.”

Beastman De Jiang chimed in, “Like the large stone mill at the Mengshui Tribe?”

Recalling it, Jian Mo nodded again.

De Jiang continued, “They’ve been using water to drive that mill for years, but they don’t let outsiders see it or share the technology with other tribes. We’ve always wanted to learn, but never got the chance.”

“I understand the basic principles,” Jian Mo said. “It shouldn’t be hard to replicate with some experimentation.”

Qing Kuo laughed and clapped Jian Mo on the shoulder. “You’re truly our tribe’s… what’s the word? Oh, lucky star!”

Firing glass for the first time, Jian Mo wasn’t sure how long it would take.

Based on common sense, the longer the firing, the higher the temperature in the kiln, and the better the chances of success.

So, they started in the morning and kept the kiln burning until the night sky was dotted with stars. Once all the charcoal was used up, they finally stopped.

After a day of stoking the kiln, everyone was covered in soot and reeked of smoke.

Seeing the hopeful yet weary faces around him, Jian Mo encouraged them, “Even if we fail this time, we’ve gained valuable experience for the next attempt.”

Wu Jiong nodded in agreement. “Exactly. This is an important experiment.”

Qing Kuo glanced at Wu Jiong and, with a grin, added, “Other tribes don’t even have this chance to experiment. We’re so lucky to have found Jian Mo. It’s like we struck gold.”

The praise left Jian Mo flustered, his ears tinged with red.

They left the tribe’s patrol beastmen to guard the kiln overnight and returned to the settlement.

Back at the tribe, Qing Kuo and the others grabbed soap and headed to the river to wash up.

Jian Mo, unable to endure the cold as they could, opted to heat water and wash quickly in the fur-sheltered area behind his house.

After such a busy and intense day, Jian Mo found himself overly excited. Even after eating and cleaning up, he couldn’t fall asleep in his fur-covered bed.

The giant wolf, keeping watch by his side, listened to his restless tossing and turning. After a while, it shifted back into its human form, wrapped itself in a fur robe, and headed downstairs.

Jian Mo assumed Wu Jiong had gone to relieve himself and didn’t pay much attention.

To his surprise, Wu Jiong soon returned with a small jug of fruit wine. He set it on the brazier to warm before handing it to Jian Mo. “Drink this. It’ll help you sleep.”

The warmed fruit wine had a rich aroma, its impurities evaporated during heating.

Jian Mo sniffed it, mumbling, “It’s not like I can’t sleep at all…”

Wu Jiong pushed the wine toward him, and Jian Mo finally took a sip, drinking about half before handing the rest back. “I can’t finish it. You have the rest.”

With resources scarce, Wu Jiong didn’t waste any and downed the remaining wine in two gulps.

The alcohol relaxed Jian Mo’s mind and body. Hugging the giant wolf’s forepaw, he soon drifted into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Jian Mo woke up groggily. Blinking a few times, he asked Wu Jiong, “Has the kiln cooled down? Did anyone come by?”

Wu Jiong’s low voice rumbled, “A patrol beastman came at dawn. They said it was time to open the kiln. Everyone’s waiting for you.”

Jian Mo scrambled to his feet and quickly dressed. “Hurry, let’s go check it out!”

They rushed to the kiln.

They weren’t the only ones eager to see the results. Everyone involved in the firing process had gathered.

The group chatted around the kiln, their impatience tempered by the excitement of waiting for Jian Mo to arrive.

As soon as Jian Mo appeared, Qing Kuo called out, “Hurry! We’re waiting for you to remove the first layer of kiln mud.”

Jian Mo jogged over. “I’m here! Has the temperature dropped enough?”

Ye Luo replied, “Feels about the same as usual after a firing. Maybe the cold weather helped it cool faster. It’s just warm to the touch now, so the pottery shouldn’t be too hot either.”

With everyone’s help, they removed the kiln mud sealing the entrance. De Jiang stepped in to check the air and temperature. Finding no immediate danger, he signaled for the others to enter.

Eager and excited, Jian Mo and the others squeezed into the kiln.

The interior was warm, reminiscent of a sauna, but tolerable.

Wearing fur gloves, Jian Mo carefully retrieved the nearest piece of pottery and examined it.

The pottery had a smooth, translucent yellow-brown glaze, a stark improvement over the dull gray-white pottery from their previous firings when the temperature hadn’t been high enough.

Staring at it, Jian Mo felt it looked remarkably similar to modern pottery on Earth, with only slight aesthetic differences in shape due to cultural preferences.

Achieving this level of progress in such a short time was immensely satisfying.

Seeing him engrossed, Qing Kuo asked, “What’s wrong?”

Jian Mo replied, “The glaze turned out great. This smooth finish is a huge improvement.”

He tapped the pottery with his gloved finger, producing a dull sound. Qing Kuo, using his bare knuckles, tapped it directly, eliciting a crisp “clang.”

Satisfied, Qing Kuo nodded, patted Jian Mo’s shoulder, and urged him, “You can study the pottery later. Let’s check out that glass you’ve been talking about!”

Jian Mo glanced downward. “I can see the glaze plates—they don’t seem very successful.”

Wu Jiong picked up a small piece of glaze plate nearby.

The glaze plate was shattered into fragments, but the piece Wu Jiong picked up had successfully vitrified.

It was a semi-transparent, yellowish piece of glass about the size of a palm. Even in the dim kiln, it gleamed like a gemstone.

Qing Kuo reached out to take it, holding his breath. “This is glass? It’s beautiful!”

Jian Mo commented, “Its transparency isn’t high enough. It’d be even better if it were clearer.”

Qing Kuo passed the glass to Di Ya, remarking, “It’s already good enough!”

After examining it, Di Ya handed it to Ye Luo.

Ye Luo carefully scrutinized the glass. “This is a remarkable material. If we didn’t explain it, no other tribe would believe this glass was fired in a kiln.”

Wu Jiong reminded everyone, “Remember, keep this a secret.”

The group collectively acknowledged his words.

De Jiang said, “From now on, whenever we fire pottery or glass, we should post guards nearby.”

Ye Luo argued, “There aren’t any outsiders here, so there’s no need for that yet.”

De Jiang countered, “Even within our tribe, there are curious individuals who might spill the secret. Better to be safe and post guards.”

Everyone turned to Wu Jiong. He said, “Post guards only during production and firing. No need otherwise—it’ll save manpower.”

His decision satisfied everyone.

The glass fragment was passed around, and everyone was pleased with the results.

Qing Kuo urged, “Enough admiring it. Let’s check the glass inside the pottery boxes—that’s what really matters!”

The group cleared out the surrounding pottery and focused on the pottery boxes.

As soon as they opened the first box, Jian Mo could tell it was a successful attempt.

However, likely due to variations in placement and kiln temperature, the size of the vitrified glass varied.

In some boxes, the glass was as large as a 16-fold book page; in others, it was only palm-sized. Some boxes still contained only sand.

The difference was that the glass formed in the boxes, made purely from sand and alkali, was exceptionally clear. It resembled crystal, with little to no impurities, and only a faint yellow tint.

Staring at the familiar-looking glass, Jian Mo found his feelings complicated.

On Earth, this glass might have been considered worthless. Yet here, it represented a major technological leap.

It might even signal a new phase in the beastmen’s civilization.

He wasn’t sure if this was good or bad, but change was inevitable—no civilization could remain stagnant forever.

Standing on either side of Jian Mo, Wu Jiong and Ye Luo each patted his shoulder.

The rest of the group focused intently on the glass.

Qing Kuo stared at the pottery boxes, awe-struck. “This is amazing. It’s like a miracle.”

Di Ya leaned against him. “It really is.”

De Jiang suggested, “Next time, we should place the pottery boxes directly on the charcoal. That might yield better results. Stacking them like this wasn’t ideal.”

Qing Kuo nodded. “Next time, let’s skip the pottery and fire just the glass. Layer the charcoal and pottery boxes, and it should work even better.”

De Jiang added, “We’ll need to burn more charcoal soon. Once we have enough, we can start another firing session.”

Qing Kuo agreed enthusiastically. “Yes! The sand doesn’t need drying, so as long as we make the pottery boxes, we’ll be ready. In the meantime, let’s collect more alkali from the salt lake. Bring baskets so we can haul it out. It’s freezing out there.”

The two work-driven individuals quickly outlined the next steps, and no one objected.

Having successfully fired glass, they were eager to build on their momentum.

After eating, they cleared the pottery and glass from the kiln.

Due to technical limitations, many of the pieces had cracked, but given the sheer number of items fired, they ended up with 203 usable pottery items and 25 pieces of glass.

After consulting the group, Qing Kuo allotted five glass pieces and ten pottery items to Jian Mo.

Jian Mo happily accepted and brought them home.

Each of the five glass pieces was as large as a 16-fold book page.

Wu Jiong thought Jian Mo would use them for something simple, but Jian Mo immediately dragged him to help build wooden frames with grooves, mounting the glass to create basic windows.

Replacing the bark covering on the windows, Jian Mo carefully installed the glass panes on the upper and lower floors.

Sunlight filtered through the faintly yellow-tinted glass, brightening the room and giving it a clean, cozy appearance.

Jian Mo admired the transformed space with satisfaction. “I’ve always felt the windows were a bit off. Now it’s perfect.”

Wu Jiong watched him, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.

Noticing, Jian Mo asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t you like the glass windows? Do you think they’re not sturdy? Don’t worry. With the wooden frames secured, they won’t fall.”

Wu Jiong’s deep voice replied, “No, you’ve decorated the place beautifully.”

Jian Mo beamed. “Of course! I’ve seen a lot in my time. My sense of aesthetics isn’t too shabby.”

Though Jian Mo felt Wu Jiong seemed a little off, he couldn’t pinpoint why and was about to ask further.

Suddenly, the tribe’s child Jiang Xing burst in with a group of kids, shouting, “Brother Jian Mo, Chief, the Mengshui Tribe’s chief is here. De Jiang says he wants you to come out!”

The children noticed Jian Mo and Wu Jiong standing side by side near the glass window. Their curiosity flared, but they held their questions in light of the urgent matter.

Jian Mo froze, turning to Wu Jiong in confusion. “The Mengshui Tribe’s chief? We don’t have any connections with them. What could they want?”

Wu Jiong mused, “Maybe they’ve heard about the pottery and glass.”

Jian Mo frowned. “That news traveled fast. Could they have planted a spy in our tribe?!”

Wu Jiong replied, “We’ll know once we meet them. They’re probably not here to pick a fight.”

Jian Mo pushed him toward the door. “Let’s go, then. I’ll go with you to check it out.”