Transmigrated to the Beastman World as a Veterinarian – CH63

When Jian Mo and Wu Jiong returned, the patrol on duty was Ban Ming.

This guy, in his beast form as a big cat, was extremely excited upon seeing them. He immediately let out a resounding “Awoo!” that echoed throughout the He’an Tribe, startling more than half of the tribe members.

Jian Mo was also taken aback, nearly pulling a clump of fur off the giant wolf he was riding.

The giant wolf glanced back at him, nudging him gently with its snout as it said softly, “It’s fine.”

From afar, Jian Mo watched Ban Ming in his big cat form across the river and couldn’t resist asking again, “Why did Ban Ming inherit Qing Kuo’s beast form instead of Di Ya’s? It doesn’t make sense!”

The creature resembled a husky so much. A big cat as his beast form just seemed unscientific!

The giant wolf replied, “Qing Kuo is stronger than Di Ya.”

Jian Mo looked at the big cat and sighed regretfully. “What a pity.”

If it were different, he’d have the chance to see a giant husky.

Despite Ban Ming’s exuberance, his call summoned half the tribe to the scene.

The tribe members came over and enthusiastically helped unload the sacks of Mien Grass seeds, moving them into Jian Mo’s home. They even led Chirpy to get water and food.

When they arrived home, Jian Mo discovered that Qing Kuo had thoroughly cleaned their place. A ceramic pot on the hearth even contained boiled water, now perfectly warm and ready to drink.

Jian Mo took out cups and poured water for everyone, unable to help himself from saying, “You’re too thoughtful.”

Qing Kuo replied, “I came over this morning to help tidy up, so I boiled some water while I was at it. I figured you’d be back soon. Can I take a look at those seeds?”

“Of course,” Jian Mo said. “Take a look, taste them, and let me know what you think.”

With Jian Mo’s permission, Qing Kuo wasted no time. He opened a burlap sack and scooped out a handful of Mien Grass seeds. His nose shifted into a cat’s nose as he sniffed them, then tossed the seeds into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully.

The aroma of the seeds and their inherent sweetness mingled with a hint of bitterness. It tasted quite good.

Jian Mo watched him expectantly and asked, “Well? How is it?”

Qing Kuo commented, “This trip wasn’t in vain.”

Jian Mo beamed. “Right? I think these Mien Grass seeds are especially great.”

“How do we eat them? Like other tribes, grinding them into flour?” Qing Kuo asked.

“Yes, that’s what I’m thinking,” Jian Mo said. “I haven’t tried other ways yet, but I plan to experiment later. Grinding them into flour should be the main method since the seeds are so fine that eating them directly might be harsh on the throat.”

The seeds had a slightly tough outer shell, and eating them as-is wouldn’t be very comfortable. It might even prove indigestible if swallowed whole.

Qing Kuo grabbed another handful of Mien Grass seeds and asked, “When are you grinding them into flour? I’ll come to help.”

Ye Luo chimed in, “Count me in too.”

Without a word, Min Dang stepped forward, ready to assist.

Zhou Fu and Xi Lu weren’t to be outdone. They pushed forward, saying, “We can help too!”

Jian Mo, seeing everyone so eager, quickly interjected, “That’s enough! There’s only one big millstone in the tribe, and too many people will make it impossible to use.”

Reluctantly, the others quieted down.

Jian Mo arranged with a few helpers to meet the next day after breakfast to take the Mien Grass seeds to the big millstone for grinding.

The tribe’s large millstone was placed near the big pestle by Hong Qiu’s house. It wasn’t there initially, but as the tribe became more prosperous and had more exchanges with other tribes, Qing Kuo and the others decided one pestle wasn’t enough. They traded for a large millstone to bring back.

Large stones were plentiful in every tribe, but ones suitable for making a millstone weren’t common. A proper millstone required rough patterns to be chiseled into it, and if the stone’s quality was off, carving the patterns could exhaust someone to death.

Although the tribe had seen flour before, Mien Grass seeds were still a novelty to them.

The next morning, people came in groups to find Jian Mo.

Jian Mo reluctantly crawled out from Wu Jiong’s embrace, got up, and opened the door to greet them.

Seeing his drowsy state, Qing Kuo suggested, “Why don’t you wash up and eat breakfast first? We’ll handle the Mien Grass seeds for now. Should we remove the husks first?”

Jian Mo nodded repeatedly. “Yes, these seeds are very dry, so removing the husks is simple. Just roll them with a stone repeatedly or toss them in the big pestle for a quick pound.”

“Got it,” Qing Kuo said.

Feeling a little embarrassed, Jian Mo added, “You go on ahead, and we’ll join you after freshening up. Have you eaten breakfast yet? If not, I’ll cook something for everyone.”

Zhou Fu’s eyes lit up. “We’ve eaten, but if you make extra, I can still eat more.”

“Alright, I’ll fry some extra sausages,” Jian Mo said decisively.

Their household still had frozen sausages, making them the simplest breakfast choice. All they needed was a greased stone slab to fry several sausages at once.

The sausages were pre-cooked, so as long as they were heated through and the skin slightly blistered, they were ready to eat.

When Jian Mo arrived with the sausages, Wu Jiong and the others had already de-husked two bags of Mien Grass seeds and were working on the rest.

Wu Jiong and Di Ya were pounding the seeds, Qing Kuo, Ye Luo, and Min Dang were grinding them into flour, while Xi Lu and Zhou Fu used a fine sieve to separate the husks, leaving behind ash-colored flour.

Everyone worked together seamlessly, making quick progress.

Jian Mo called out, “Take a break and have some fried sausages. How are you all so fast?”

Wiping his sweat, Qing Kuo replied, “We’re strong, and once you get the hang of it, it goes quickly. But don’t be fooled. Even though we’ve processed a pile of seeds, the amount of flour we’ve gotten is just a small handful.”

Zhou Fu nodded in agreement and showed Jian Mo the sack.

Seeing the small pile of flour, Jian Mo’s spirits lifted. Even this tiny bit seemed like a treasure to him.

“It’s fine; let’s keep sieving. There are plenty more seeds left,” Jian Mo encouraged.

Then he joined the team grinding the Mien Grass seeds—it was the hardest task, and he couldn’t slack off.

Min Dang gently nudged Jian Mo’s shoulder. “This is tiring; let us handle it. You should go and sift the flour.”

Jian Mo felt touched by the gesture and looked up with a smile. “It’s okay. If we take turns, it’s not too exhausting.”

Everyone had been hard at work all day, sifting the flour at least three times.

By evening, they had produced a large bag of clean, ash-yellow flour, free of impurities. It weighed about one and a half pounds.

The remainder was husks and debris from the Mien Grass seeds. Jian Mo and the others couldn’t bear to waste it, so it was set aside to feed Chirpy or the Tou Tou Beasts.

Jian Mo also saved two bags of seeds to use as future planting stock. They had ground a total of seven bags of Mien Grass seeds that day.

And from seven bags of seeds, they had managed to produce just one bag of flour. It was precious indeed. Considering the amount of labor involved, this bag of flour was practically a luxury.

Qing Kuo stared at the bag of flour and said, “Now I understand why this flour isn’t well-known. It’s way too much trouble to produce. With the same effort, we could’ve dug up plenty of tubers or washed twice as much root powder.”

Xi Lu nodded in agreement. “It really doesn’t seem worth it.”

Afraid they’d lose interest in the flour, Jian Mo quickly added, “It’s worth it, trust me. Once I turn it into something delicious, you’ll see. It’s too late to cook now, so how about you all come over tomorrow? I’ll treat you to dessert.”

It had been a long time since Jian Mo had enjoyed proper desserts, and he’d been craving them.

There was Tou Tou Beast milk, cheese, and honey at home, and now they had flour. Making a cake shouldn’t be too difficult.

First thing in the morning, he planned to borrow some bird eggs and give it a try.

The others didn’t know what cake was, but everything Jian Mo made was always delicious, so they eagerly agreed.

The next morning, by the time everyone arrived, Jian Mo was already busy in the kitchen.

Wu Jiong had personally gone to borrow bird eggs. Now, he stood silently at the table, whisking egg whites with a pair of chopsticks.

Jian Mo, meanwhile, was mixing the batter.

Seeing the group enter, Jian Mo glanced back at them. “Why didn’t you bring the kids along?”

Desserts like cake were a surefire hit with the little ones.

Qing Kuo grinned. “They didn’t help grind the flour, so they don’t get any.”

Jian Mo laughed. “Don’t be so harsh. Take some home for them later. I’ve prepared plenty.”

The batter, made with Tou Tou Beast milk and honey powder, was almost ready. Jian Mo went to check on Wu Jiong’s egg whites.

Wu Jiong had whipped the whites into a snowy, fluffy consistency.

Jian Mo couldn’t help but squeeze Wu Jiong’s sturdy arm appreciatively. Without him, he wouldn’t have had the courage to attempt this cake—whipping egg whites was exhausting.

The others crowded around curiously, even Di Ya. “What did you put in it?” he asked.

Jian Mo counted on his fingers. “Bird Egg yolks, honey powder, Tou Tou Beast milk, and Tou Tou Beast butter…”

The group repeated the list, and Qing Kuo sighed. “That’s a lot of good stuff. Even if you gave me the recipe, I probably couldn’t gather it all or remember the steps.”

Jian Mo laughed. “No problem. If you ever want to make it, just come ask me again.”

He folded the whipped egg whites into the batter, mixed it thoroughly, and poured half into a greased stone pot. Not wanting to risk failure, he left the other half aside for now.

After pouring in the batter, he tapped the stone pot a few times, placed it over a bed of charcoal, covered it, and piled hot coals on top of the lid.

Turning to the onlookers, Jian Mo said, “It’ll be ready after baking for a while. Let’s have some tea while we wait.”

The weather had turned harsh overnight, with howling winds and snowstorms replacing yesterday’s sunny skies.

Inside the house, the sweet aroma wafting from the stone pot filled the air, tantalizing everyone’s senses. At first, they chatted around the table, but gradually, one by one, they fell silent.

Even though they couldn’t yet taste the cake’s sweetness, the scent alone was a rare pleasure.

Jian Mo also grew quiet. It was his first time seriously baking a cake across both his lifetimes, and he couldn’t help but worry about potential mishaps. He frequently checked on the cake, adjusting the charcoal as needed.

Inside the stone pot, the cake gradually took on a golden hue. First, the edges solidified, and then the center began to firm up.

The cake looked just like the sponge cakes Jian Mo had seen on Earth—perhaps even better. The bird egg yolks gave it a richer golden color, and the aroma was sweeter and more enticing.

Or maybe it was just because Jian Mo hadn’t had cake in so long that his mind added a mental filter, making it seem especially delicious.

He sniffed the air. The surface had set, so it should be ready to eat, but he wasn’t sure if the center was done.

Carefully, he inserted a knife and pulled it out to inspect the crumbs sticking to it.

Behind him, a row of heads leaned in to observe alongside him.

Unable to hold back, Zhou Fu’s round eyes widened even more. “Can we eat it yet?” he asked eagerly.

Jian Mo replied, “Not sure. I think it needs a little more time.”

Handing the knife to Wu Jiong, he said, “Smell this—can you still detect the raw egg?”

Wu Jiong sniffed the blade. “Just a little.”

“Then we’ll wait a bit longer,” Jian Mo said. “It needs to bake through for the flavor to be perfect.”

The group, already restless, began pacing around the room.

Jian Mo felt a mix of awkwardness and amusement. He thought to himself that he should’ve called them over later, after the cake was already done baking.

But there was something uniquely exciting about watching the cake come to life. Maybe this waiting wasn’t such a bad thing.

Finally, after a tense wait, Jian Mo inserted the knife to check again.

This time, the crumbs brought out by the knife were fully set, with a rich, sweet fragrance.

Jian Mo immediately put on his beast-hide gloves and carefully removed the entire stone pot from the fire. “It’s done. Let’s eat at the table.”

There were eight people present, so Jian Mo boldly took the whole cake out, placed it on a large plate, and asked Wu Jiong to cut it evenly into eight portions.

The cake was still steaming, with a beautiful golden crust on the outside. Waves of sweet, tantalizing aroma filled the air.

Wu Jiong neatly sliced the cake and served a portion to each person on their plates.

Everyone eagerly gathered at the table, taking their first small bites.

As soon as the cake entered their mouths, they were overwhelmed by its smooth and delicate texture. The rich aroma of milk and eggs filled their noses and mouths, leaving them momentarily entranced by the flavor.

Even Jian Mo, who had eaten cake before, felt as if it was the best he had ever tasted. Beyond the sweet and creamy flavors of milk and eggs, there was the subtle richness of butter, adding a luxurious texture that satisfied the palate without being overly sweet or cloying.

Perhaps due to the butter or the whipped egg whites, the cake was moist and delicate, avoiding the dry texture that required water to wash it down. Instead, it had an enchanting semi-set consistency, soft like custard.

Jian Mo sniffed deeply, feeling a swell of pride. To create such a delicious cake in the world of beastmen was no small feat.

It was proof that, as the saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

A portion this large might have been overwhelming to eat in one sitting on Earth, but here, no one found it too rich. Everyone finished their slices, except for Min Dang, who left a small piece not because he was full but because he couldn’t bear to eat it alone. He wanted to save it for his son Ran Wu and his mate Sui Ai.

Jian Mo nudged him gently and reassured him, “Don’t worry; I’ll bake another batch soon so everyone can take some home.” Only then did Min Dang reluctantly finish his slice.

Looking at everyone, Jian Mo smiled with pride. “So? I told you grinding the flour was worth it, didn’t I?”

Qing Kuo gazed at the few remaining crumbs on his plate and sighed. “Today felt like a feast for the gods.”

Everyone laughed.

Wu Jiong said, “I’ll clear some land by the river later. Next year, we should grow more Mien Grass.”

This time, no one objected.

Qing Kuo chimed in, “Yes, let’s plant more. Your household can plant some, the tribe can plant some, and when we gather next time, we can bake cakes to celebrate.”

Di Ya added, “Agreed! Let’s not wait until spring. We’ll start clearing the land in the next couple of days.”

Zhou Fu raised his hand. “Can our families plant some too? We can clear a plot by the river and grow things like root vegetables and tendon grass.”

This decision required Qing Kuo and Wu Jiong’s approval. Jian Mo looked at them, and both nodded.

Zhou Fu and the others were thrilled. “Jian Mo, we’ll learn from you then!”

Jian Mo chuckled. “We’ll figure it out together.”

As Jian Mo shared basic agricultural knowledge, everyone listened intently. Once people experienced truly delicious food, it became hard to return to eating whatever was merely convenient.

While explaining farming techniques, Jian Mo baked a second cake.

This batch of batter was larger, and Jian Mo had a better grasp of the baking process. The result was an even softer and sweeter cake.

He divided the second cake so everyone could take a portion home, saving one for himself.

This time, he set aside a piece for Chirpy as well. After all, Chirpy had worked hard carrying the Mien Grass seeds, and with so many treats being made at home, it only seemed fair.

The rain had turned to sleet by the time Jian Mo and Wu Jiong brought the cake out to feed Chirpy. Despite the cold, Chirpy hadn’t stayed in its shelter. Instead, it had been lingering near Jian Mo’s home, drawn by the irresistible scent of the cake.

The moment it saw Jian Mo and Wu Jiong carrying the cake, it could no longer hold back. Chirpy let out a loud, excited call of “Chirpy!” while flapping its wings, looking utterly impatient.

Snow and water scattered in every direction as Chirpy flapped, but Wu Jiong swiftly stepped aside, shielding Jian Mo with his arm. He shot Chirpy a glance.

Startled, Chirpy shrank back, avoiding eye contact. It let out a soft, guilty whimper, “Chirp…”

Jian Mo laughed and raised the cake high. “Be careful! If it gets wet with snow, it won’t taste as good.”

Seeing Jian Mo’s playful expression, Chirpy realized he wasn’t angry and let out another enthusiastic “Chirpy!”

Jian Mo brought the cake to its beak. “Here, it’s specially saved for you.”

Before he could finish speaking, Chirpy opened its large mouth and swallowed the cake in one gulp.

Jian Mo barely had time to react to Chirpy’s rough eating habits when it suddenly froze, its eyes widening in shock. It spat the cake back onto the plate, staring at it as if astonished that something could taste this good.

Carefully, Chirpy nibbled on the edge of the cake this time. Its wings flapped so fast that they were a blur. “Chirpy!!!”

It was too delicious! It decided to savor it slowly.