Transmigrated to the Beastman World as a Veterinarian – CH60

Cured meat sizzled on the stone slab, its fatty parts curling slightly and turning translucent, while the lean sections browned and crisped. The aroma of grilled meat filled the air, rich and mouthwatering.

Jian Mo gazed at the sizzling meat before him and couldn’t help taking a deep breath—it smelled amazing.

Kuang Ning, though not very adept, used chopsticks to distribute the meat to everyone. “These chopsticks of yours are great! They save us from burning our fingers. Quick, dip the meat in some garlic powder while it’s hot—it tastes even better that way.”

Jian Mo smiled. “Then we won’t hold back.”

Kuang Ning urged enthusiastically, “Go ahead, try it!”

Wary of the meat being too salty, Jian Mo dipped it lightly in the garlic powder.

The powder clung evenly to the grilled meat, its oil binding it in place. Jian Mo took a bite, and instantly, the flavors of meat juices, oil, and garlic powder erupted in his mouth like a symphony.

The heat made him hiss slightly as he exhaled. “So good! So flavorful!”

Kuang Ning laughed. “This is my favorite way to eat it. Have a couple more pieces, then finish it off with a cold cup of sweet-leaf tea—it’s the best feeling ever.”

Jian Mo agreed, “Yes, your sweet-leaf tea is excellent. I’ll bring some back with me when we leave.”

Kuang Ning immediately offered, “I have some at home. I’ll pack some up for you later.”

Jian Mo gave him a thumbs-up. “You’ve made me so happy—completely satisfied.”

Kuang Ning, ever the hospitable friend, indeed gathered all the sweet-leaf tea he had at home and stuffed it into a large basket for Jian Mo and Wu Jiong to take back.

Jian Mo asked, “If you give me all this, what about your own stock?”

Kuang Ning shrugged casually. “What’s the big deal? The tribe’s full of people—I can always trade for more later.”

Jian Mo laughed. “Then I won’t hold back. By the way, here’s a knife for you.”

He pulled out a metal knife he carried and offered it to Kuang Ning. “Thanks for your hospitality.”

Kuang Ning was stunned at the sight of the knife and hesitated to accept it. “This is too valuable…”

Jian Mo gently pressed the knife into his hand, smiling. “It’s fine. I can make another one when I’m back at the tribe. Don’t be too polite with me.”

After a brief moment of resistance, Kuang Ning finally accepted the knife, his eyes sparkling. “Next time you visit our tribe, I’ll share more delicacies with you!”

Jian Mo grinned. “Definitely! See you next time!”

Jian Mo and Wu Jiong spent four days and three nights in the Qin Hai Tribe and took two days and one night to return.

The entire trip lasted about ten days.

Upon their return to the He’an Tribe, half the tribe came out to see them.

Qing Kuo joked, “We thought you wouldn’t be back until spring.”

For once, Jian Mo detected a hint of sarcasm and laughed, throwing an arm around Qing Kuo’s shoulders. “No way. If we stayed away any longer, we’d miss the tribe so much we wouldn’t be able to sleep!”

Ban Jiu, a fluffy long-haired cat, let out a soft “meow” from nearby, wrapping its long tail around Jian Mo’s leg. “Brother Jian Mo, we missed you too.”

Jian Mo bent down to pick up the slightly bigger feline and chuckled. “Then come and see what treasures we brought back.”

Ban Jiu chirped, “Meow, I want to!”

Jian Mo and Wu Jiong had brought back two large baskets of garlic roots, a basket of sweet leaves, and several bolts of fabric, hides, cured meat, and stones.

Thankfully, the roots and sweet leaves were light; otherwise, poor Chirpy wouldn’t have made it back from such a distant journey.

Jian Mo laid out their haul for everyone to see and even opened the jar of fried and powdered garlic root to share its aroma. “This is the spice we were looking for. Smells amazing, doesn’t it?”

The gathered crowd sniffed and exclaimed in unison, “It’s fragrant!”

Ye Luo commented, “It really does smell great. That trip was worth it.”

Jian Mo nodded. “I think so too.”

After chatting with the tribe for a while, everyone gradually dispersed, leaving Jian Mo to invite Qing Kuo’s family, Min Dang’s family, and Ye Luo over for grilled meat. The garlic powder’s aroma would fade over time, so it was best to enjoy it quickly with friends.

Since Jian Mo and Wu Jiong had been away for days, their pantry was nearly empty. Their guests brought vegetables and meat to share, turning the meal into a communal barbecue.

Jian Mo, in the meantime, harvested some tendon grass from the back of the mountain and steamed some starchy wraps to pair with the grilled meat.

He also checked on Ran Wu, letting him shift back into his beast form in the courtyard.

The shedding cub had largely recovered, with fresh downy fur sprouting all over. It wouldn’t be long before he fully regrew his coat.

After examining him, Jian Mo said with satisfaction, “You’re recovering well. Keep it up, and eat a lot today.”

Ran Wu blushed shyly. “Thank you, Brother Jian Mo.”

With his health improving, Ran Wu’s emotional state had also stabilized. Aside from being a little bashful, he was no different from other young beastmen.

Min Dang expressed his gratitude to Jian Mo. “It’s all thanks to you that our days are getting better.”

Jian Mo waved his hand dismissively. “No need to say that. Let’s go eat!”

Despite having enjoyed garlic powder-grilled meat in the Qin Hai Tribe and on the journey back, Jian Mo’s enthusiasm for it hadn’t waned in the slightest.

They set a stone slab over the fire pit and sat around it as the meat cooked.

Jian Mo urged, “Quick, dig in!”

Qing Kuo teased, “We still need to wait for the meat to cook.”

Jian Mo grinned. “Not for long! Oh, by the way, during our trip to the Qin Hai Tribe, I gave away my small knife. Can the tribe forge me a new one soon?”

During the slow winter months, the tribe’s furnace remained active, managed by De Jiang, with occasional help from Qing Kuo.

Qing Kuo agreed, “Sure, but you’ll owe us a metal block the size of Ban Jiu’s paw as payment.”

With a hundred baskets of metal stored in the cave, Jian Mo didn’t care about the cost. “No problem. Take whatever you need.”

That said, he couldn’t wait any longer and started eating.

The golden, crispy grilled meat dipped in garlic powder was as delicious as ever—fragrant and savory.

Pairing the meat with tender tendon grass made it even better.

After eating two pieces of pure meat, Jian Mo grabbed a translucent starch wrap, filled it with grilled meat and tendon grass, and took a big bite. The combination offered a completely new flavor experience.

The blend of meat and starch was truly delightful, and Jian Mo’s eyes narrowed in satisfaction as he chewed.

He even made wraps for Wu Jiong, ignoring the teasing glances from others. After all, everyone knew they were a couple now. What was wrong with taking care of his partner?

Qing Kuo commented, “This garlic powder really is amazing—everything tastes better with it.”

Jian Mo agreed. “I’ll process some more and share it with you. Just sprinkle it on grilled meat or anything else—it’s fantastic.”

Though the garlic powder preparation was Kuang Ning’s family secret, Jian Mo had promised to keep it confidential. However, sharing the finished spice with others wasn’t an issue.

Qing Kuo replied, “I’ll be looking forward to it. While you were away, my family dug up some hairy roots. I’ll bring them over later.”

Jian Mo nodded. “Hairy roots are great. Once we’ve rested for a couple of days and the snow starts to melt, we should go digging for more.”

Hearing this, Min Dang suddenly mentioned, “When I was at the Meng Shui Tribe, I saw another type of flour they used to make wraps. It was delicious too.”

Jian Mo’s curiosity was piqued. “What kind of flour?”

Min Dang gestured as he explained, “I think it’s made from some very small seeds. We haven’t traded for it before, but a friend of mine did. It tastes slightly different from hairy root starch, but the texture is pretty similar.”

Jian Mo asked, “Seeds? Do we have that kind of seed in our tribe?”

Min Dang hesitated. “I’m not too sure. I could ask at the Meng Shui Tribe tomorrow?”

Jian Mo quickly waved his hands. “No, that’s too much trouble. I was just asking out of curiosity.”

Min Dang smiled. “It’s no trouble. I haven’t been to the Meng Shui Tribe in a while anyway, and it’s a good chance to visit some friends.”

Ran Wu looked up. “Dad, can I go too?”

Qing Kuo added, “How about waiting a couple of days? We’re also planning a trip to the Meng Shui Tribe to trade.”

As they talked, the group began discussing plans for the trip to the Meng Shui Tribe.

Jian Mo shook his head, deciding not to join in—he had just returned and needed some rest.

The others offered to bring things back for him instead. Jian Mo didn’t hold back and listed several items he wanted.

After dinner, the group stayed to help clean up the house and courtyard before saying their goodbyes.

Jian Mo and Wu Jiong heated water for a bath.

The Qin Hai Tribe had treated them well, but nothing compared to the comfort of their own home. A hot bath and a cozy bed were exactly what they needed after such a long journey.

However, after being away, Jian Mo realized there was plenty to do both inside and outside their home.

He and Wu Jiong quickly got busy, and before they knew it, the matter of the flour Min Dang had mentioned slipped their minds.

It wasn’t until a few days later, when Jian Mo and Wu Jiong returned from digging up hairy roots, that the subject came up again.

Jian Mo lay sprawled across the giant wolf’s back, even after they reached the tribe, idly playing with its ears.

The wolf let him have his fun, its temperament as good-natured as ever. When its ears got itchy, they’d flick back against its head with a “whoosh” or spring out of Jian Mo’s grasp.

Jian Mo delighted in the game, repeatedly catching the wolf’s ears and letting them escape, a bright smile never leaving his face. When he managed to grab one ear, he even gave it a playful kiss.

At one point, just as Jian Mo bit down gently on the wolf’s ear to stop it from moving, his peripheral vision caught sight of someone standing at the door.

Startled, Jian Mo quickly sat upright, a little embarrassed to have been caught goofing around.

It was Min Dang.

“You’re back?” Min Dang called out. “I managed to trade some of the flour we talked about from my friend. See if it’s what you were looking for.”

Jian Mo, who had nearly forgotten about the flour, felt a pang of guilt. “Thank you so much! Wait a moment—I’ll unload the hairy roots and come take a look.”

Min Dang laughed. “No rush. Take your time.”

Jian Mo slid off the wolf’s back and jogged to the door. Noticing Min Dang’s lips were turning blue from the cold, he couldn’t help but say, “It’s freezing out. Next time, don’t wait outside—just have someone tell us, and we’ll come find you.”

Min Dang replied, “It’s fine. It’s getting dark, and I figured you’d be back soon.”

Jian Mo quickly opened the door and invited him inside. “Come in and warm up. We’ll be with you shortly.”

Min Dang started helping unload the hairy roots. “Really, no need to fuss—I’m not that cold.”

Once they had finished unpacking, Jian Mo ushered Min Dang to the table by the window and poured him some tea. “It’s been such a busy day.”

“I get it,” Min Dang said, pulling a small bag from his basket. “Here’s the flour I mentioned.”

Jian Mo opened the cloth bag, revealing a fine grayish-yellow powder. It resembled flour in texture, emitting a faint plant aroma mixed with a hint of bitterness.

Most plants here were wild and unrefined, giving them unique characteristics that were hard to find elsewhere.

Jian Mo tipped a small amount into his palm and tasted it.

The flour had a flavor similar to mung bean starch. It was slightly bitter, but not unpleasant—quite promising, in fact.

Watching Jian Mo’s expression, Min Dang said, “This flour is a hassle to make, and not many people like it. My friend’s family only had this much left. If you need more, I can ask around.”

Jian Mo waved his hands quickly. “No need for that. This is more than enough for now. When we finish this bag—uh, this flour—we’ll look into it ourselves.”

Min Dang nodded. “Flour like this isn’t common, but it’s produced in the Qin Hai Tribe. If you really want more, it might be easier to go there directly.”

Jian Mo was surprised it came from the Qin Hai Tribe but, thinking of the large grasslands in their territory, it made sense.

He nodded. “Alright, if we need more, we’ll make the trip. You’ve been a great help—thank you so much.”

Min Dang smiled. “It’s no trouble at all.”

After chatting for a bit, Min Dang prepared to leave. Jian Mo, feeling indebted, insisted on giving him a large jar of garlic powder and a sizable piece of meat to take home for Ran Wu’s recovery.

After Min Dang left, Jian Mo couldn’t resist taking another look at the flour.

Wu Jiong, having stored the hairy roots, noticed Jian Mo’s fascination and asked, “Thinking of making something with it?”

Jian Mo had plenty of ideas. After mulling it over, he decided, “How about I make some noodles?”

Wu Jiong offered, “How do you make them? I’ll help.”

Not being very experienced with noodles, Jian Mo relied on his memory, mixing the flour with water while Wu Jiong kneaded the dough repeatedly.

Once the dough was ready, Jian Mo found a straight piece of wood, carved it smooth with Wu Jiong’s metal knife, and fashioned a makeshift rolling pin. He rolled the dough into thin sheets and cut it into strips.

Wu Jiong watched with fascination. “Amazing.”

The more Jian Mo worked, the more the noodles resembled those from his memories, filling him with excitement. “This is just the start. The real magic is in the sauce. Let me make something delicious to go with it.”

For a good noodle topping, meat was a must.

Tired of grilled meat, Jian Mo decided to make a stew. He chose a piece of meat with a three-to-seven fat-to-lean ratio, blanched it, then simmered it in a stone pot with spices.

To complement the meal, he stir-fried some pickled vegetables and set them aside. He even braved the cold night to gather tendon grass from the mountain as a vegetable to pair with the noodles.

Watching Jian Mo bustle about, Wu Jiong joined in, even borrowing bird eggs from a neighbor to add to the meal.

By the time dinner was ready, most of the tribe had already gone to bed.

Jian Mo brought out two large ceramic bowls. He first added beast oil, shellfish powder, pepper bud powder, and garlic powder to each, followed by two ladles of noodle broth.

He then divided the freshly boiled noodles evenly between the bowls, topping each with a generous scoop of stewed meat, pickled vegetables, a halved soft-boiled bird egg, and a handful of tender yellow tendon grass.

Carefully holding the bowls, Jian Mo announced, “Let’s eat at the table.”

Wu Jiong followed. “Alright.”

Jian Mo even brought an oil lamp and some dried flowers from the shelf to decorate the table, creating a cozy, ceremonial vibe before digging in.

The first bite of noodles was hot, slippery, and chewy, their rich flavor blending perfectly with the broth. It tasted unlike anything else he’d eaten here—almost identical to the braised meat noodles from Earth.

Steam rose from the bowl as Jian Mo blinked, and a tear dropped into his noodles.

Wu Jiong moved closer, gently placing an arm around Jian Mo’s shoulders. “Homesick?”

Jian Mo sniffled and wiped his tears with the back of his hand. “I thought I wasn’t. After all, I don’t have any family left back home. But these noodles taste so much like the ones from there.”

Not knowing what to say, Wu Jiong leaned in and pressed his forehead against Jian Mo’s.

Jian Mo steadied himself. “I’m fine. Just got a little emotional. I can’t go home, but having these noodles is pretty close. And they’re delicious.”

In a world where intricate carbs were a luxury, this meal was a pinnacle of culinary delight—more precious than any beast meat.

Jian Mo nudged Wu Jiong. “Eat—it’s really good.”

Wu Jiong placed a strand of noodles into Jian Mo’s bowl. “Alright, you have some too.”

Jian Mo smiled and sniffled again. “I’ve had enough. You try our noodles now.”

Jian Mo watched Wu Jiong expectantly as he took a bite.

After chewing thoughtfully, Wu Jiong gave his verdict. “Delicious. The noodles are smooth, the braised meat tender, the tendon grass refreshing, and the pickled vegetables add just the right tang. It’s a unique combination.”

Jian Mo encouraged, “Now sip the broth. Eating noodles and drinking broth together is the best.”

Wu Jiong took a sip of the hot noodle broth, swallowing it with a satisfied sigh. “That’s comforting.”

Jian Mo smiled. “Right? Food really is the best way to heal the soul.”

He took a sip of the broth himself and murmured, “This was worth all the effort.”