After a few days of proper rest, Jian Mo’s body had fully recovered.
Choosing a quiet, moonless night, he decided to test the new balm he had traded for, together with Wu Jiong.
This time, they didn’t use up the whole jar—only about half.
The experience was excellent, and it reminded Jian Mo that life without intimate moments was truly lacking.
As he massaged his slightly sore waist, he thought to himself that they really needed to work harder at gathering supplies. Otherwise, they wouldn’t even be able to afford balm.
The balm from the Meng Shui Tribe was ridiculously expensive, but for good reason—it was surprisingly effective, given the tribe’s otherwise limited production capabilities. Truly, human innovation in pursuit of personal enjoyment knew no bounds.
That day, freezing rain began to fall, mixing with snow and leaving everything outside cold and damp.
With nothing else to do, Jian Mo invited Qing Kuo and others over to help make sausages.
Qing Kuo asked, “Already finished the last batch?”
Jian Mo replied, “There’s not much left. Wu Jiong said it’s almost spring, and the weather’s warming up. Meat won’t stay frozen as easily, so we figured we’d make another batch. Before spring fully arrives, we can take it to the Qin Hai Tribe to trade for more flour.”
Qing Kuo nodded. “Makes sense.”
Jian Mo smiled. “We’re also running low on casings. Do any of you have extra at home? I’d like to trade for some.”
Before Jian Mo arrived in the tribe, offal was considered the least desirable part of an animal. When distributing meat, it was always given as an add-on to the choice cuts.
But since Jian Mo had introduced new ways to cook it, including smoked and cured meats, intestine, and casings had become increasingly popular. Now, whenever someone processed beast intestines, they’d clean them thoroughly and freeze them for later use.
So when Jian Mo mentioned trading for casings, it wasn’t long before Qing Kuo and Zhou Fu both offered what they had at home.
Zhou Fu scratched his head in embarrassment. “I’m not great at making these foods, so I’ve just been holding onto them.”
Jian Mo reassured him, “No problem. Everyone has things they’re good at and things they aren’t. Just take some sausages home later to eat.”
The kids who had gathered to watch immediately volunteered to help fetch the casings, eager to be part of the action.
Jian Mo didn’t refuse but made a special point of instructing Jiang Xing, the ringleader, “Use your hands to carry them—don’t let Ban Jiu or the others grab them with their mouths!”
Ban Jiu and the others, still unable to shift into human form, were a bunch of energetic little cats, dogs, and foxes. While they were eager to help, their only option was to carry things in their mouths.
Jiang Xing nodded seriously, “Don’t worry Jian Mo, we’ve got this.”
“Well, no ‘Brother’ today, I see,” Jian Mo joked. But before he could say more, the group of kids dashed off during a lull in the rain.
Having made sausages before, everyone knew the process well.
This time, Jian Mo adjusted the recipe slightly, changing the fat-to-lean ratio from 3:7 to 3.5:6.5. Since beast meat was tougher and more fibrous than farmed livestock, increasing the fat content made the sausages juicier and more flavorful.
Additionally, Jian Mo added more fruit wine and garlic powder to the mix, enhancing the aroma and masking any gaminess.
As the group chatted and worked, they quickly churned out a new batch of sausages.
The freshly stuffed sausages were firm and elastic.
When the first batch was ready, Jian Mo boiled them on the spot and handed them out for everyone to taste.
The boiled sausages were delicious—aromatic and springy, with even more juice than before.
On a rainy day like this, eating a hot sausage felt especially comforting.
Qing Kuo took a bite and immediately noticed the flavor of garlic powder. “That garlic powder was definitely worth trading for—it’s incredible.”
The others nodded in agreement.
Jian Mo said, “I think so too. On our next trip to the Qin Hai Tribe, we’ll trade for more. Once spring comes, maybe we can try planting some around here.”
Qing Kuo agreed, “Good idea. I’ll have some land cleared for it.”
Jian Mo nodded enthusiastically. “Great. The land across the river looks promising—fertile and easy to water.”
He had originally planned to cultivate the riverbank this year, where silt and sediment had accumulated, making it ideal for planting.
But after asking around, he learned the river marked the boundary of their tribe’s patrol zone. Beyond it was wild territory where beasts could wander in. To avoid unnecessary trouble, he abandoned the idea and instead focused on building terraced fields on the mountain behind the tribe.
Now that he and Wu Jiong were officially partners, they shared household responsibilities. A little extra effort to secure resources for the family was worth it.
Once the sausages were made and the rain had stopped, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong packed them into baskets, loaded them onto Chirpy, and set off for another trip to the Qin Hai Tribe.
The patrol beastmen at the Qin Hai Tribe recognized them immediately and led them to their previous lodging without question. They even fetched Shu Guang, the tribe chief, to meet them.
After exchanging greetings, Jian Mo explained to Shu Guang, “We’ve brought some sausages to trade for more flour. We’d also like to gather more garlic roots if possible.”
Jian Mo described flour to Shu Guang, who replied, “Flour’s easy to find. Plenty of families here probably have some. You can just ask around.”
At that moment, Kuang Ning arrived and squeezed to the front. “Chief, I know who has some. I’ll take them to ask.”
Shu Guang, knowing Kuang Ning and Jian Mo were on good terms, nodded. “You handle it for the next couple of days. If you need any help, come find me.”
This time, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong had come as individuals, not representing the He’an Tribe, so Shu Guang’s willingness to meet them was already a generous gesture—especially since winter left the bear beastmen constantly sleepy.
Jian Mo was grateful for Shu Guang’s consideration but even more thankful for Kuang Ning and his partner Jin Ping.
Perhaps having a local accompany them helped, because trading for flour went exceptionally smoothly. In just half a day, they had two full baskets of flour.
Some people arrived late and only got to taste the sample sausages Jian Mo had brought. They left disappointed, asking when he would bring more sausages for trade.
Jian Mo couldn’t give them a definite answer.
Spring was coming, and the He’an Tribe would soon be busy with planting and other tasks. Their next trip would likely be much later.
Because the trip had gone so well, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong had more free time than expected. With permission from the Qin Hai Tribe, they collected more garlic roots before deciding to ask Kuang Ning about the plant used to make flour.
That evening, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong hosted Kuang Ning and his partner for dinner at their temporary cave residence, even bringing out fruit wine to share.
Jian Mo raised his cup. “Thank you both for your help this time.”
Kuang Ning waved it off. “It was nothing. Everyone here likes you. The moment they heard it was you trading, they just brought their things over. I didn’t do much.”
Jian Mo smiled. “But you took care of us. Without you, it would’ve been chaos today.”
Kuang Ning agreed with a laugh. “I thought you’d be good at trading, but you seem like you have no experience at all.”
Jian Mo sighed. “Our trading success comes purely from goodwill, not skill.”
Kuang Ning smirked. “Earning goodwill is a skill in itself. As long as you have your own way of doing things, you’re a proper trader.”
Jian Mo found Kuang Ning’s perspective refreshingly modern and nodded in admiration. “You’re absolutely right.”
After finishing their meal, Jian Mo brought up the subject of the grass used for flour with Kuang Ning.
Kuang Ning listened attentively and replied, “There should still be some growing wild. It’s a hardy plant, so even in winter, most of it should still be there. But I’ll need to check with the tribe chief and see what the others think. I’ll let you know tomorrow.”
Jian Mo nodded. “That’s completely reasonable.”
Afraid Jian Mo might be displeased, Kuang Ning explained, “The chief probably won’t mind, but I want to be cautious. After all, we’re from different tribes, and it’s better to avoid unnecessary trouble.”
Jian Mo agreed, nodding again. “That’s fair.”
Kuang Ning grinned. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring you good news.”
After dinner, Kuang Ning and his partner Jin Ping said their goodbyes, promising to deliver an update the next day. Jian Mo and Wu Jiong stayed in the temporary cave, patiently waiting.
Kuang Ning was incredibly efficient. The next morning, just as Jian Mo finished washing up, Kuang Ning arrived at their door.
“I spoke with the chief,” Kuang Ning said enthusiastically. “He said we’re free to go check it out.”
Jian Mo, still drowsy, rubbed his eyes. “Go where?”
“To see the grass for flour, of course!” Kuang Ning replied, as if it was obvious.
Jian Mo glanced out the window. “But isn’t everything covered in snow?”
Kuang Ning chuckled. “I’ll take you to the mountain slopes where there’s no snow. Hurry up and eat breakfast—we’ll leave right after.”
Jian Mo quickly agreed. “Got it. Give us a moment.”
Since they were in a rush, Jian Mo opted for a quick meal. He used a large ceramic pot to stew some meat, kneaded flour into dough, and cooked flatbreads to go with the stew.
The simple cooking method saved time, and soon breakfast was ready.
Jian Mo invited Kuang Ning and Jin Ping to join them. After eating, they set out to find the flour grass without delay.
The location of the grass was a fair distance from the Qin Hai Tribe. They traveled for a long time, finally reaching the edge of the grassland just before noon.
The grass grew on a slope, likely facing the sun, as it was free of snow. Instead, the hillside was filled with dry grass swaying in the cold wind.
Kuang Ning, sitting atop a giant bear in its beast form, pointed ahead. “There it is—that’s the grass you’re looking for.”
Jian Mo dismounted from Wu Jiong, who was in his giant wolf form, and approached the patch of grass.
It looked nothing like what he had imagined. It was just ordinary wild grass.
The dried grass stalks were capped with single spikes of seeds, resembling strings of tiny sesame seeds—so small and thin that it was almost laughable.
Jian Mo crouched down and measured the spikes against his hand, finding them shorter than his palm.
His emotions were complicated.
As a child, he’d seen weeds in farmland with seeds larger and fuller than these spikes. No wonder the Qin Hai Tribe didn’t care about it and allowed them to harvest freely. With such tiny yields, it would take backbreaking labor to gather enough for even a modest supply of flour.
Noticing Jian Mo’s disappointment, Kuang Ning asked, “Do you still want it?”
Jian Mo snapped out of his thoughts and nodded. “Yes. Since we’ve come all this way, we might as well bring some back.”
Kuang Ning laughed heartily. “That’s the spirit! I like your attitude. Besides, don’t let the size fool you—these spikes are actually quite dense.”
Jian Mo ran his fingers along a stalk, dislodging some seeds. Despite their small size, the seeds were indeed plump and dry, as hard as tiny pebbles, and stubbornly clung to the stalk.
Kuang Ning asked, “How do you want to harvest them?”
Jian Mo looked out over the vast field of grass. “Let’s cut the spikes and process them later.”
Kuang Ning nodded. “Alright, just the spikes then? Let’s start.”
Jian Mo had initially thought of cutting the entire plant, like harvesting rice. But Kuang Ning’s suggestion made him realize that it was unnecessary—the spikes alone were enough, and cutting the whole grass would only take up more space.
With so much grass around, everyone spread out and began cutting spikes from their respective areas.
Using his freshly forged knife, Jian Mo slowly worked on trimming the seed spikes.
The spikes may have seemed small, but as they accumulated, his basket quickly filled up halfway.
Reflecting on it, he realized that gathering wild tubers often took just as much time, especially when the soil was hard and the tubers were small. By comparison, cutting the spikes seemed much more efficient.
His initial disappointment faded, and he began to appreciate the simplicity of the task. Wild grains were naturally smaller, and that was perfectly normal.
By the end of the day, everyone smelled of grass.
They realized baskets weren’t the best for holding the spikes, so they transferred them to cloth sacks.
When all was said and done, they had harvested enough to fill nine sacks.
Jian Mo hefted one of the sacks, estimating its weight at 60 to 70 pounds. Nine sacks totaled around 500 to 600 pounds of seeds.
Rubbing his sore wrist, Jian Mo commented, “You’re all amazing workers.”
Kuang Ning laughed. “With four adults working all day, this much is normal. Do you want to come back tomorrow? There’s a smaller patch on the other side of the mountain—probably enough for two more sacks.”
Jian Mo thought for a moment and shook his head. “No, this is plenty for us. Let’s leave some behind.”
After all, this was the Qin Hai Tribe’s territory. While they didn’t care much for the grass, taking everything might still be seen as impolite. Better to take just enough and maintain goodwill.
Kuang Ning agreed. “Fair enough. If you’re interested, I’ll keep an eye out for more. I only know about this patch, but there might be other places where it grows.”
Jian Mo smiled. “Thank you in advance.”
Kuang Ning waved it off. “Don’t mention it.”
The nine sacks were loaded onto the backs of the giant wolf and giant bear. Their impressive strength made it easy to carry the load, even with their partners riding along.
Back at their temporary cave, Jian Mo looked at the sacks piled up and couldn’t help exclaiming, “This is the joy of a good harvest!”
Wu Jiong agreed. “It’s quite a lot.”
Jian Mo ran a hand over one of the sacks, cherishing the haul. “When we get home, I’m planting some. Two sacks should be enough to start with.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “I’ll help.”
That night, Jian Mo fell asleep in the temporary cave, resting on the giant wolf’s soft belly, surrounded by the scent of the grass.
He dreamt of improving the grass through careful cultivation. In his dream, the spikes grew large and full, yielding bountiful harvests that left them with more flour than they could ever eat.
When he woke the next morning, the dream lingered in his mind. Determined, he decided to make cultivating the grass a priority.
With his biology training, he felt confident that he could enhance the plant through crossbreeding, fertilization, and selection. It wouldn’t match the work of a professional, but he could certainly produce a better crop.
Full of enthusiasm, Jian Mo turned to Wu Jiong. “Let’s let Shu Guang and Kuang Ning know we’re heading back. I’ve been missing the He’an Tribe.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “I’ll speak to Shu Guang, and you can talk to Kuang Ning. It’ll be faster that way.”
Jian Mo grinned. “Should I bring some honey cubes for Kuang Ning? He’s been so helpful.”
Wu Jiong agreed. “Good idea.”
Jian Mo packed a small bag of honey cubes and delivered them to Kuang Ning, who was ecstatic. His round bear ears popped out in excitement.
“Honey cubes! You actually have honey cubes!” Kuang Ning exclaimed, his eyes wide and gleaming.
Jian Mo chuckled. “Of course. If you like them, I’ll bring more next time.”
“I love them!” Kuang Ning hugged Jian Mo and rubbed their heads together, his fluffy ears tickling Jian Mo. “Jin Ping loves them too. Thank you so much!”
Jian Mo, heartened by Kuang Ning’s reaction, said, “I’m glad you like them. Don’t be a stranger—see you next time.”
Back at the cave, Jian Mo saw Wu Jiong’s expression and knew Shu Guang had agreed without issue.
“Talked to Shu Guang?” Jian Mo asked, then added cheekily, “Quick, shift into your beast form so I can rub your ears.”
Wu Jiong raised an eyebrow but complied, transforming into the giant wolf.
Jian Mo climbed onto him, grabbing his thick ears with both hands and kneading them happily. With a satisfied sigh, he said, “When I gave Kuang Ning the honey cubes, he was so excited that his bear ears popped out. I was tempted to touch them, but it felt rude.”
The giant wolf rumbled lowly, “You can rub mine anytime.”
Jian Mo grinned. “Exactly what I thought. It’s rude to touch someone else’s ears.”
With everything packed up, Wu Jiong carried four sacks, while Chirpy carried five. Together, they set off for the He’an Tribe.
Wu Jiong, in his wolf form, carried Jian Mo and the sacks, running steadily along the ground while Chirpy flew overhead. Occasionally, Chirpy landed to wait for them.
As the familiar landscape of the He’an Tribe came into view, Jian Mo’s heart filled with excitement.
“We’re almost home,” he murmured, already imagining the many things he’d make with the flour—noodles, buns, pancakes, bread, cakes…
The thought alone made his mouth water.
