Transmigrated to the Beastman World as a Veterinarian – CH44

When Jian Mo expressed his desire to bring back some sand, the baskets they had brought proved insufficient. The Jin Tuo Tribe generously provided extra baskets.

Jin Shi remarked, “Don’t be so polite with us. These baskets came from other tribes and aren’t of much use here. Take as many as you need. If necessary, you can bring them back next time you visit—after all, this won’t be the last time we trade.”

Wu Jiong nodded at Jin Shi’s warm hospitality. “Alright, thank you.”

Jin Shi waved it off. “No problem at all. How much sand do you want? We’ll help you load it.”

Hearing this, everyone turned to Jian Mo, unsure how much sand he intended to take.

Jian Mo wanted to take as much as possible. Considering the distance, who knew when they’d have the opportunity to gather sand again? It made sense to stock up for future use.

After some thought, he turned to Wu Jiong. “How about we load two baskets for you to carry and two for Chirpy? Would that work?”

Before Wu Jiong could respond, Qing Kuo, standing with Di Ya, interjected, “Add two more baskets. Di Ya can carry them. It might be a while before we return, so it’s better to bring extra now and save ourselves trouble later.”

Jian Mo was touched by Qing Kuo’s consideration but reminded him, “Sand is heavy.”

Di Ya spoke up, “It’s fine. We can take breaks along the way.”

De Jiang chimed in, “Let’s load up more, as Qing Kuo said. Having extra on hand is always useful.”

He turned to Jin Shi. “I’m so sorry for troubling your tribe members.”

Jin Shi laughed heartily. “No trouble at all. The river’s full of sand.”

After a quick discussion, the group decided that each beastman would carry two extra baskets of sand back home.

The Jin Tuo Tribe readily helped fill and load the baskets.

With farewells exchanged, the two tribes parted ways, and Jian Mo’s group began their journey back to the He’an Tribe.

Once again, Ban Ming followed on Chirpy’s back, while the others ran along the ground.

The sand made their loads much heavier than on the way there, forcing the group to take frequent breaks. It took them three days to return to the tribe.

By the time they arrived, everyone had visibly lost weight, and even Chirpy flopped into its nest, too exhausted to move.

Long-distance travel was tough, and carrying heavy loads made it even more grueling.

Wu Jiong instructed everyone to rest for two days, then busied himself with tribal affairs.

Jian Mo, seeing Wu Jiong still hard at work while everyone else rested, sighed inwardly. Deciding to be productive, he went to check the fish traps in the river to see if there were any catches.

If there were, he planned to prepare fish fillets. The past few days had been rough, with nothing but dried roasted meat and tubers to eat—it was time for something fresh.

While heading to the river, a group of children and cubs playing outside spotted him and swarmed over.

“Brother Jian Mo, where are you going?” they asked.

Jian Mo smiled. “I’m checking the fish traps. How have you all been these past few days?”

Jiang Xing replied, “Alright, but it’s been boring. When we grow up, we’ll be able to go with you to trade, right?”

Jian Mo patted his head. “A few more years, and you’ll be able to.”

Ban Jiu, jealous of Jiang Xing’s attention, pushed forward and patted Jian Mo’s leg with a paw. “Meow~ Brother Jian Mo.”

Jian Mo bent down to pick him up. Although Ban Jiu’s beast form resembled a small cat, he was much larger and sturdier than a typical feline, making him a hefty handful. “Ban Jiu has grown a lot. How’ve you been?”

Ban Jiu, who had stayed with Ye Luo while his family went trading, seemed well-cared for, judging by his glossy coat.

He mewed softly. “Good.”

Surrounded by the excited children and cubs, Jian Mo made his way to the river.

Their chatter and noise attracted the attention of passersby. Most people simply smiled, but a group of young beastmen, including Ah Hu, couldn’t resist coming over to join the commotion.

“Brother Jian Mo, what brings you to the river?” Ah Hu asked.

Jian Mo repeated what he had told the children. “I’m checking if the fish traps caught anything.”

One of the younger beastmen, Xuan Se, said, “We checked for you a couple of days ago. The fish all got away.”

The beastmen started chiming in:

“Yeah, some fish died in the traps earlier. Other fish went in, ate them, and left.”

“Brother Jian Mo, if you want fish, we can catch a couple for you.”

“What kind of fish do you want? Big ones or small ones? We’ll get them for you.”

Jian Mo appreciated their enthusiasm but asked, “The river’s frozen over. Can you still catch fish?”

“Of course! We just break the ice—it’s no big deal.”

“Don’t worry, Brother Jian Mo. One paw strike in beast form, and the ice will shatter.”

“The cold slows the fish down, so they’re easier to catch than in summer.”

“Brother Jian Mo, leave it to us.”

The young beastmen eagerly prepared to enter the river, and the children grew restless, wanting to join in.

Alarmed, Jian Mo moved to stop them.

But Ah Hu acted first, scooping up Ban Jiu, who had darted ahead, and tossing him gently back onto the bank. “What are cubs doing in the middle of this?”

The other beastmen followed suit, herding the children back onto dry land.

“We’re used to being in the river,” one of them said. “Can you cubs handle the cold? Stay on the bank and don’t catch a cold.”

“Brother Jian Mo, we’ve got this covered. You just stay on the bank and sit tight,” the young beastmen called out.

“Be good and stay out of the river,” another said. “If you get swept away, we’ll have to scramble to fish you out.”

The cubs protested noisily, their voices blending into a chaotic chorus of “Awoo awoo,” “Meow meow,” and “Woof woof” along the riverbank.

The young beastmen laughed. “You haven’t even lost your baby teeth yet. Stop barking.”

This only made the cubs angrier. They argued back furiously, puffing up their chests and insisting they could help despite their small size.

Unfazed, the older beastmen simply extended their large hands, covering the cubs’ faces to silence them.

Frustrated, the cubs opened their mouths to bite, but their baby teeth couldn’t leave a mark.

Ah Hu, in particular, with his thick skin and strong build, simply raised his hand high, dangling Ban Jiu, who had clamped onto his palm with his teeth. The small cat wailed indignantly, “Meow!” before reluctantly letting go and dropping to the ground.

Jian Mo watched from the side, unable to suppress a smile.

The playful bickering between the tribe’s younger and older members was surprisingly entertaining.

After teasing the cubs for a bit, the young beastmen got to work, wading into the river to help Jian Mo catch fish.

When Jian Mo asked for large, tender fish, they pulled up several plump, carnivorous fish and even cleaned them on the spot.

The fish guts were stuffed into the traps to attract new catches.

With such a generous haul, Jian Mo felt bad and invited them to his house for a meal, but they refused.

To them, it was a simple task. Even in winter, with the river frozen over, they often bathed in the cold water.

Not only did they bathe, but they also rolled in the snow to clean their fur. Catching a few fish hardly justified mooching a meal.

The young beastmen declined the invitation, and the cubs, still annoyed at being teased, also dispersed.

In the end, Jian Mo carried several large, beautiful fish back home.

With Chirpy at home, he wasn’t worried about the fish going to waste.

Jian Mo filleted the fish, marinating the slices with spice powder, fruit wine, and starch. The bones were seared on a stone slab before being transferred to a large clay pot to simmer with water and slices of Mien Fruit cake.

When the soup was ready, Jian Mo boiled water in another pot to blanch the fish fillets. He then layered the cooked fillets over stir-fried pickled vegetables, topped them with a fragrant spice mix dominated by pepper bud powder, and poured hot oil over the dish.

The blanched fish fillets were incredibly tender, practically melting on the tongue, offering a unique flavor distinct from grilled or fried fish.

Wu Jiong, after taking a bite, said, “This fish is delicious.”

Jian Mo, savoring a piece himself, nodded with satisfaction. “Of course it is. This is called Shui Zhu Yu—a famous dish where I’m from. If only we had more spices; it would taste even better.”

“Next spring, we’ll gather more spices,” Wu Jiong promised.

Jian Mo grinned. “I’ll hold you to that. Eat up! I already sent Chirpy’s share over. This is all ours.”

Wu Jiong quickened his pace. “Alright.”

As they ate dinner, the cubs suddenly appeared again.

It was unusual for them to be out so late, as their parents rarely allowed it.

Jian Mo ushered them inside, slightly surprised. “What brings you here? Have you eaten? Do you want to join us?”

The cubs shook their heads in unison.

Jiang Xing, visibly nervous upon seeing Wu Jiong, mustered his courage and asked, “Brother Jian Mo, will you come to dig bugs with us tomorrow?”

Jian Mo blinked in surprise. “Dig bugs? What bugs?”

Jiang Xing gestured with his hands. “The ones inside trees—they’re really tasty. Normally, we don’t tell anyone about them. If you want to come, we’ll take you.”

He Feng chimed in excitedly, “We’ve scouted the area for a long time. Everything’s ready. You just need to follow us, Brother Jian Mo.”

Jian Mo, thoroughly confused, glanced at Wu Jiong for help.

Wu Jiong sat silently nearby, a faint smile on his face but offering no explanation.

Realizing he’d get no help there, Jian Mo decided it was probably fine. “Alright, what time tomorrow?”

The cubs cheered. “After breakfast, in the woods near the tribe!”

Seeing Jian Mo’s lingering uncertainty, Jiang Xing patted his chest confidently. “Brother Jian Mo, just wait at home tomorrow. We’ll come pick you up.”

Their confident, grown-up manner almost made Jian Mo laugh. Smiling, he replied, “Alright, I’ll wait.”

Relieved, the cubs assured him they’d come by in the morning, then politely said their goodbyes and headed home.

Jian Mo turned to Wu Jiong with a raised brow. “Are you going to give me any hints now?”

Wu Jiong chuckled. “You’ll find out when you go with them tomorrow.”

“You’re really letting me run off with a bunch of cubs? Isn’t that a bit risky?” Jian Mo asked.

Wu Jiong shook his head, still smiling. “No problem. We used to do the same when we were their age. It’s all within the tribe’s area—nothing will happen. If something does, just call for me, and I’ll come find you.”

Reassured, Jian Mo decided not to press further. He’d wait for the cubs to pick him up and see for himself.

The next morning, the cubs gathered outside Wu Jiong’s house.

To Jian Mo’s surprise, there were over thirty of them. Aside from the youngest still nursing, it seemed every cub in the tribe—whether they could shift forms or not—was present, all waiting eagerly.

They looked excited, like they were going on a field trip. Or rather, a winter excursion.

Jian Mo couldn’t help but find it amusing and touching. Somehow, in this new world, he’d become a leader among the children. Winning their friendship was no small feat, and it warmed his heart that they sought him out.

Stepping outside, Jian Mo said, “I’m ready. Where are we headed?”

Jiang Xing took the lead. “Just follow us, Brother Jian Mo.”

Seeing their confidence, Jian Mo chuckled. “Alright, I’ll keep up.”

Though they were called cubs, the leaders of the group were clearly Jiang Xing and He Feng, with the rest tagging along for the fun of it.

Jian Mo observed them with a smile and followed along.

The group headed toward the hills behind the tribe. Along the way, they passed other tribe members, who greeted them with laughter.

Jian Mo found the whole scene amusing, his smile never leaving his face.

Meanwhile, the cubs marched with exaggerated seriousness, chests puffed out as if embarking on an important mission.

After walking for a while, they followed a narrow path up into the back hills.

At this time, the snow had not yet melted. The trees were bare, having shed their leaves, and even the shrubs were stripped of foliage. The mountain scenery appeared desolate and barren.

Jian Mo observed the area. Aside from faint traces of bird footprints, there were no other signs of activity—likely no small animals were around.

He found it hard to imagine how they would dig bugs out of trees.

As Jian Mo pondered, Jiang Xing pulled another shell knife from his pocket. “Brother Jian Mo, here’s a knife for you. We’ll use these to dig.”

Jian Mo accepted the knife and inspected it. It appeared to be an old, discarded shell knife, its edge dulled and back smoothed from use. It seemed the adults weren’t entirely careless in preparing the children.

He nodded. “Alright.”

Jiang Xing continued seriously, “The bugs we’re digging for are inside the tree trunks. Look at this tree, Brother Jian Mo—”

The cubs led Jian Mo to a nearby tree.

Jiang Xing stood on tiptoes and pointed at a bulge on the trunk. “See this bump? There are bugs underneath. Use the shell knife to dig them out.”

Jian Mo bent down and chopped at the bump with the shell knife. After a few strikes, he peeled it open, revealing a white bug about the size of a finger curled inside. It looked somewhat like a bee larva, soft and squishy to the touch.

He picked it up and placed it in his palm. “Is this the bug you mean?”

The cubs nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! That’s it. They’re delicious!”

Seeing that Jian Mo had learned, Jiang Xing gave orders. “Everyone, spread out to dig. If anything happens, just call for help.”

Turning back to Jian Mo, Jiang Xing raised his small face and asked, “Brother Jian Mo, you got it?”

Jian Mo nodded.

Jiang Xing waved his hand. “Alright, let’s begin.”

With a chorus of “Awoo! Meow! Woof!” the cubs scattered to different trees.

The children who could take human form carried shell knives. Those still in their beast forms relied on their claws and teeth as their best tools.

Jian Mo glanced around and, seeing no apparent dangers, smiled and shook his head. Then he wandered through the woods, searching for more bumps on tree trunks.

With the leaves gone and the bare trees exposed, it was easy to spot the bumps.

Before long, Jian Mo found more than a dozen, digging out the plump white bugs and stashing them in his pouch. It quickly filled halfway, bulging with the sizeable larvae.

As he roamed through the forest, Jian Mo couldn’t help but chuckle. Rarely did he feel this light-hearted.

The cubs, meanwhile, were utterly focused on their task.

Jian Mo spotted Ban Jiu, in his small cat form, climbing a tree. The little cat was furiously scraping at the trunk with his claws and biting at it. When he couldn’t make progress on one side, he switched to the other, his round face full of serious determination. It was an adorable sight.

The group continued their search until midday, covering several patches of forest.

Their efforts paid off. Everyone had a good haul, especially the older kids, whose cloth pouches were nearly full.

Jiang Xing called everyone to regroup.

Once the cubs returned, they didn’t head back to the tribe immediately. Instead, they gathered firewood, intending to roast the bugs on-site.

Jian Mo was surprised but happily joined the cubs in building a fire.

Despite their small size, the cubs divided tasks efficiently.

Some collected firewood, while others built the fire. Soon, everyone was seated around the flames, tossing their catches into the fire to roast. Once cooked, they used sticks to pull the bugs out, dividing them among themselves.

Jian Mo joined in, sharing the roasted bugs.

Cooked, the bugs looked even more like bee larvae. They were fragrant, slightly sweet, and quite tasty.

The cubs ate with gusto, their mouths smudged with ash, yet their faces radiated joy.

Jiang Xing grinned proudly. “Brother Jian Mo, what do you think? We can do a lot, right?”

Jian Mo gave him a thumbs-up. “You’re all amazing.”

He Feng huffed. “Ah Hu and the others always say we can’t do anything. But when they were our age, they couldn’t do half as much as we can.”

Jian Mo couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s probably true.”

The cubs began chattering indignantly, complaining about how the older beastmen underestimated them.

Jian Mo stood by, smiling at their complaints.

He was reminded of his own childhood, spent climbing hills and wading rivers, catching bugs and crabs. The memories made him realize that life here wasn’t so different.

It seemed that whether beastmen, sub-beastmen, or humans, childhoods shared the same essence.

Reflecting on this, Jian Mo felt even more at ease.

Smiling, he called out to the cubs. “Just eating roasted bugs isn’t enough. Why don’t you all come to my house later for some honey tea?”

The cubs erupted in cheers. “Thank you, Brother Jian Mo!”