Transmigrated to the Beastman World as a Veterinarian – CH68

Chirpy’s skin was rather delicate. After just being grabbed, it quickly turned red and swollen, though it wasn’t severely injured.

After Jian Mo examined it and disinfected the wound lightly, Chirpy seemed to recover almost completely.

While the physical damage was minimal, the incident appeared to have left Chirpy with a psychological shadow. Once back home, it sulked quietly in its nest, looking quite dejected.

Seeing this, Jian Mo’s heart ached terribly. He cursed that white bear several times over in his mind and even went out of his way to bake a cake to cheer Chirpy up.

When Chirpy ate the cake, it no longer dared to spit it out, fearing someone might snatch it away. Instead, it stuffed the cake into its cheeks, nibbling it slowly like a hamster.

Watching its adorable behavior, Jian Mo cursed that white bear once again.

How could anyone bully such a cute little creature? That beastman truly crossed the line.

The more Jian Mo thought about it, the angrier he became. He decided that if the white bear didn’t bring some candy and apologized sincerely, he would go with Wu Jiong to lodge a complaint with the elders.

He’d make the Ice River Tribe beat that white bear beastman!

But the imagined scene of lodging a complaint never came to pass.

The next day, the white bear Mu Chu showed up, his head covered in lumps, carrying candies. Under the pressure of their chief, Kang Ying, he came over to apologize.

“I’m sorry,” Mu Chu said dejectedly. “I won’t be greedy again.”

Jian Mo crossed his arms over his chest. “Hmph!”

Kang Ying reached out with his palm, as large as a fan, and slapped the back of Mu Chu’s neck with a resounding smack. “It’s all this brat’s fault! Doctor Jian Mo, is there any work around here that needs to be done? This brat is strong; let him do it to make up for his mistake.”

Mu Chu and Kang Ying’s sincere attitudes helped dissipate some of Jian Mo’s anger. He replied, “Forget it. Just make sure you don’t bully Chirpy again.”

Mu Chu wore a bitter expression. “I wouldn’t dare!”

Kang Ying gave Mu Chu another kick. “Doctor Jian Mo, if you don’t mind, let this brat clean up the winged beast’s nest thoroughly. It’ll be his way of compensating the winged beast.”

Jian Mo hesitated. After all, they had already apologized, and it was important to strike a balance. If he overstepped, it would be their fault instead.

Kang Ying, being both rough and perceptive, guessed Jian Mo’s concerns from his expression. “Don’t worry. Let him do it. It’ll teach him a lesson.”

Wu Jiong nodded. “This brat really does need to learn a thing or two.”

And so, Mu Chu was forced to clean Chirpy’s nest.

At first, Chirpy seemed a bit afraid of him, but after observing his gentle attitude and realizing he wasn’t going to bully it again, Chirpy cheered up. Flapping its wings, it chirped happily for quite some time nearby.

Jian Mo couldn’t help but feel Chirpy was taking a bit of pleasure in Mu Chu’s misfortune. Still, it was his own winged beast, so he turned a blind eye.

Wu Jiong patted Chirpy and told it to go out and play so it wouldn’t disturb Mu Chu’s cleaning. Chirpy quickly flew away.

Leaving Mu Chu in the backyard, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong invited Kang Ying into the house for tea.

After one round of tea, Kang Ying took out a pouch of candies and a pouch of nuts from the basket he carried. He then made a request. “Doctor Jian Mo, your candy-making skills are truly remarkable. Could you help us make some as well? You can keep half as compensation, and we’ll take the other half.”

Jian Mo immediately understood that this was another gesture of compensation. Feeling slightly embarrassed, he replied, “No need for that. Making candy is very simple. Just melt the sugar, stir in the roasted nut crumbs, and let it cool. That’s it—you’ll have nut candies.”

Kang Ying chuckled. “Ah, you even gave us the recipe. Well then, consider half the candy your payment.”

Jian Mo smiled. “It’s hardly a secret recipe. Really, there’s no need. Chief Kang Ying, just take the sugar back.”

Kang Ying was adamant. “I already brought it.”

Jian Mo relented. “In that case, leave the nuts with us. We love snacking on nuts.”

Kang Ying found this agreeable. “Sorry for all the trouble this time.”

Seeing Kang Ying’s sincerity, Jian Mo reassured him, “Don’t worry about it. Sometimes, things that seem bad can bring about new connections. If not for this incident, we wouldn’t have had this opportunity to interact.”

Kang Ying nodded with a sigh. “What you said makes a lot of sense.”

After finishing their tea, Kang Ying left with Mu Chu, who had completed cleaning Chirpy’s nest.

Jian Mo and Wu Jiong saw them off and insisted on giving them a small bag of nut candies in return for the nuts.

Kang Ying tried to decline but eventually accepted.

The two sides parted amicably.

As soon as they left the He’an Tribe, Mu Chu pestered Kang Ying for a piece of candy. Slowly savoring it, the white bear became cheerful again.

Kang Ying sighed in exasperation. “Why do you love candy so much?”

Mu Chu replied, “Because it tastes amazing! Chief, you should try some too.”

“I’ll pass. I’ll let Yi Wang and the others figure out how to make it when we get back.”

Mu Chu tucked the candy into his cheek like a hamster. “I doubt the candy our tribe makes will taste the same. Doctor Jian Mo’s candies are soft and sticky, unlike regular hard candies.”

Kang Ying’s patience ran out. He smacked Mu Chu’s back with a resounding slap. “Different or not, just eat it!”

Once Kang Ying and Mu Chu left, Wu Jiong returned to his tribal duties, while Jian Mo went to check on the crops he had planted.

The weather was good today—warm and relatively dry—so the crops probably needed watering.

As he watered them by the riverside, Jian Mo noticed a group of large cats and dogs swimming in the water. Among them were Ban Ming and his crew.

Upon closer inspection, even the He’an Tribe’s cubs were frolicking in the river. Some of the weaker ones sat perched on the backs of the large cats and dogs, their heads peeking out adorably.

Both beastman and sub-beastman cubs were there. A quick glance confirmed that most of the tribe’s cubs had joined in the fun.

Beastmen and sub-beastmen weren’t the same as pure humans, much less the modern humans Jian Mo was used to. Swimming in the river was just part of their daily routine, so their parents didn’t mind, and it wasn’t Jian Mo’s place to intervene.

Fortunately, the teens in the tribe were responsible, and the river was shallow, so there wasn’t much risk.

Still, watching the icy river water, Jian Mo couldn’t help but ask the group, “Don’t you feel cold?”

The large cats and dogs responded enthusiastically. “Not really. Brother Jian Mo, do you want to come in for a swim? We can help you water the crops afterward.”

Jian Mo glanced at the riverbank, where shards of ice still lay scattered, and quickly declined. “Thanks, but don’t worry about it. I can’t handle it.”

The group cheerfully countered, “It’s already spring! It’s not that cold!”

Jian Mo asked skeptically, “It’s spring already?”

The big cats and dogs said:

“It counts as spring once the ice melts, right? No one actually announces when spring officially arrives.”

“I think it’s here. I even saw flowers blooming in the forest yesterday.”

“Yeah, and the riverbed is starting to grow algae again. That’s spring in my book.”

Hearing their chatter, Jian Mo decided he’d ask Wu Jiong about it later.

The others might not know, but Wu Jiong was sure to have a clear answer.

The big cats and dogs, delighted to have struck up a conversation with Jian Mo, became especially enthusiastic: “Brother Jian Mo, how are your crops doing?”

“They’re coming along well,” Jian Mo replied. “The seedlings are sprouting. I might even pick some tender shoots later to cook with.”

This prompted an even more animated response:

“That sounds great!”

“Brother Jian Mo, the algae in the river is edible too. Do you want some? We can pick it for you.”

“Yeah, it tastes pretty good. I’m planning to grab some to take home. Want us to bring you some as well?”

“If you don’t eat it, you can feed it to Chirpy. It tastes better than regular grass.”

“Exactly! Let’s gather more so Chirpy has plenty!”

Jian Mo laughed and reminded them, “Alright, but be careful when you go down to pick it.”

“Don’t worry, Brother Jian Mo! When we stand up, we’re tall enough that our heads stay above the water. We won’t drown!”

Thrilled to have a meaningful task, the big cats and dogs fetched baskets and ended up gathering ten baskets of algae in one go for Jian Mo.

When Jian Mo saw the haul, he fell silent for a moment before remarking, “If Chirpy were to eat all this, it would take at least three days.”

The big cats and dogs grinned. “Then let it eat for three days! If it’s too much, you can dry it out for later.”

Jian Mo chuckled. “If it could talk, it would surely thank you all.”

The big cats and dogs beamed. “No need to thank us! This algae is good for beastmen and sub-beastmen as well—its taste isn’t inferior to the Zhu Zhu Algae from the Jin Tuo Tribe. You should try some of the tender tips yourself.”

“Got it. We’ll give it a try tonight,” said Jian Mo.

Originally planning to cook stir-fried eggs with some fragrant grass, Jian Mo decided to swap the grass for algae and make an algae-egg soup instead.

It was perfect for making a large pot and sharing some with Chirpy.

Algae soup with oil, salt, and bird eggs would certainly taste better than plain algae and would surely be more to Chirpy’s liking.

The large amount of algae prompted Jian Mo to retrieve his biggest clay pot. He filled it with water, added a large chunk of beast fat, and set it to boil.

Soon, the water bubbled vigorously. Jian Mo tossed in the cleaned and chopped algae.

With just a bit of cooking, the algae changed color, releasing its unique, fresh aroma.

He then poured in beaten eggs. Once they cooked into fluffy egg ribbons, the entire pot of soup looked even more appetizing.

As the soup finished, the meat patties sizzling on the stone slab developed a crispy, golden-brown crust.

Jian Mo checked on the food. He picked out the patties for himself and Wu Jiong, ladled a portion of soup into a bowl, and set aside the rest for Chirpy.

The frozen meat stored throughout the winter was losing its freshness now that spring had arrived. Jian Mo planned to use it up quickly by making various dishes and sharing some with Chirpy.

Lost in thought, Jian Mo headed to feed Chirpy.

Chirpy always appreciated Jian Mo’s cooking. Today was no exception—it chirped happily as it devoured most of the food. From time to time, it would glance at Jian Mo with its round eyes, clearly wanting more. Its joy warmed his heart.

Jian Mo had been keeping it company in the backyard. Hearing the sound of Wu Jiong returning, he gave Chirpy a pat on its chubby backside. “Take your time eating; I’m heading back.”

Chirpy looked up from its meal and chirped enthusiastically, “Chirp!”

Back in the front yard, Jian Mo greeted Wu Jiong. “Dinner’s ready. Go wash your hands and eat.”

Wu Jiong sniffed the air. “What’s on the menu today? There’s a special, fresh scent.”

Jian Mo smiled. “Guess what it is. Let’s see if you can figure it out.”

Wu Jiong thought for a moment. “Something from the water?”

Jian Mo was stunned. “How’d you guess that?”

Wu Jiong touched his nose. “The smell’s different.”

Jian Mo could only give him a thumbs-up.

The food had been kept warm on the stone slab. When Jian Mo brought it to the table, he noticed the soup had already gelled.

“Hmm?” he muttered, scooping up the soup with a ladle. He quickly realized it had congealed into a jelly-like consistency.

Wu Jiong came over, curious. “What’s up?”

Jian Mo replied, “The soup cooled and turned strange.”

Wu Jiong touched the bowl with the back of his hand. “It’s not that cold. This kind of algae soup just sets into chunks after cooking.”

Jian Mo served the soup. “Then it’s not really soup anymore, is it?”

Wu Jiong shrugged. “It’s all water anyway. It’ll digest just the same.”

The two sat at opposite ends of the table and began eating dinner.

Jian Mo took a sip of the soup. Its gelatinous texture filled his mouth, somewhat resembling a dessert jelly, but thinner and less springy. Likely, this was because the amount of algae used wasn’t excessive.

The flavor was normal, but the texture felt odd.

After a few more sips, Jian Mo set his bowl down. “This is too strange. It’s like eating savory dessert jelly. Let’s just give the rest to Chirpy.”

Wu Jiong raised an eyebrow. “Dessert jelly?”

Jian Mo frowned. “It’s a type of jelly back home. We make it sweet, not savory like this. It’s weird.”

Wu Jiong took the bowl from Jian Mo’s hand. “I’ll eat it then.”

Jian Mo shrugged. “If you can stomach it, go ahead. I can only handle it as a sweet.”

Wu Jiong suggested, “Then let’s make a sweet version tomorrow.”

Jian Mo brightened. “Sure, we’ll use some Tou Tou Beast milk, add sugar and crushed nuts. It’ll be cool, bouncy, and should taste amazing.”

Making dessert jelly was simple—just mix it with water. Using algae directly shouldn’t be much harder.

Since the algae had been gathered by the tribe’s youth, Jian Mo decided to invite them over for the jelly-making.

Upon hearing about a new treat, the youths arrived with boundless enthusiasm.

“Jian Mo, what are we making?”

“Let us help!”

“Do we wash the algae and mash it up? It’s all sticky—can we really eat that?”

“Hey! Ah Hu, why’d you hit me? Okay, okay, I’ll stop asking and get to work!”

“Brother Jian Mo, just wait for us. We’ll be back in no time!”

Their eagerness took Jian Mo by surprise. Some worked on mashing the algae, others shelled the nuts, leaving him with little to do. So, he started boiling the syrup.

To the sugar water, Jian Mo added fresh Tou Tou Beast milk. Though the milk supply was running low, its rich aroma enhanced the syrup’s flavor.

Once the water boiled, he added honey chunks, making the pot of syrup even more fragrant.

Once the mixture boiled, some nutrients might have been lost, but the sense of safety from sterilization was truly reassuring.

The little cubs, having been deemed too clumsy by the older youths to help with pounding algae or nuts outside, stayed home with Jian Mo. They stared at the sugar water with their big, round eyes, drooling with anticipation.

Jian Mo filtered the sugar water and carefully set the pot on the table. He warned them sternly, “Stand back and don’t go near the table.”

Hot sugar water was far more dangerous than regular boiling water.

The cubs obediently stepped back, even keeping an eye on each other to ensure no one got too close.

Seeing their good behavior, Jian Mo chuckled and said, “Good. Help me set the bowls on the table.”

The cubs nodded eagerly and quickly set up the bowls.

The youths brought back the pounded algae, and Jian Mo scooped water into the mix, kneading the algae through cloth to extract the gelatin. He then transferred the gelatin-rich liquid into the big pot for boiling.

As the algae boiled, it gave off a faint aroma, and the water in the pot became noticeably thicker, resembling soup rather than clear water.

Once it boiled, Jian Mo ladled the mixture into bowls, setting them aside to cool.

The pounded nuts were also brought back, and Jian Mo slowly roasted them on the stone slab.

Roasting nuts wasn’t particularly labor-intensive, so everyone else turned their attention to the bowls on the table.

The youths couldn’t contain their curiosity:

“That’s it? Doesn’t look that special.”

“Is it like ice? Just hardened water?”

“Yeah, it’s already solidified. Jian Mo, can we eat it now?”

Still busy with the roasting, Jian Mo glanced back and replied, “Not yet. Wait a little longer. If you have time, grab a knife from the table and cut the jelly in the bowls into smaller chunks.”

Ban Ming asked, “How should we cut it?”

“Just into small pieces. They don’t have to be too small—about the size of Ban Jiu’s paw.”

The little cat, Ban Jiu, raised its fluffy paw to show its brother. “Meow?”

Jian Mo laughed when he saw Ban Jiu spread its paw, revealing its adorable paw pads. “Yes, about that size. The knives are clean, so you can use them right away.”

The youths eagerly stepped forward. “Got it! Leave it to us.”

They quickly cut the jelly in each bowl into small pieces, then asked, “What’s next?”

Jian Mo instructed, “Pour some sugar water into each bowl. Not too much—just one spoon per bowl.”

Since the jelly in each bowl had been portioned out evenly earlier, adding a ladle of sugar water ensured consistent servings. This way, there’d be no squabbling later.

The youths followed his instructions, filling the bowls with sugar water in no time.

As soon as the sugar water was added, the jelly in the bowls took on an inviting appearance.

Everyone stared at Jian Mo with eager eyes, silently asking if they could finally eat.

Jian Mo took the roasted nuts, crushed them into smaller bits, and handed them to Ban Ming. “Sprinkle one small spoonful into each bowl. Whoever sprinkles the nuts gets their jelly last.”

The youths chorused in protest, “We’ll make sure it’s fair!”

Jian Mo laughed. “I trust you.”

Due to limited supplies, Jian Mo prepared just enough bowls for everyone present—no more, no less.

The extra jelly left in the pot was reserved for Wu Jiong and Chirpy. No one else was allowed to touch it.

Everyone worked together and quickly finished preparing the bowls.

Jian Mo announced, “Everyone can take one bowl. Be careful while eating and don’t choke.”

There were no particularly tiny cubs in the tribe; even the youngest, like Ban Jiu, were larger than most puppies. They should have no trouble handling a bowl of jelly with nuts.

Ban Ming spoke up immediately, “Those of us who sprinkled the nuts will wait. Everyone else, grab your bowls first.”

The cubs eagerly reached out and took their bowls. They had supervised the process earlier and confirmed that every serving was roughly the same.

Smiling, Jian Mo said, “We don’t have enough spoons, so you’ll have to make do.”

The group responded enthusiastically:

“No problem, Jian Mo! We’ll just eat with big bites!”

“This jelly has such a unique texture! I love it.”

“I’ve learned how to make it! When I get back, I’ll make some for my dad and the others.”

“I never thought algae could be used this way. I thought it was only good for soup. Brother Jian Mo, how did you come up with adding sugar water, and nuts? It’s so creative.”

Jian Mo smiled and answered selectively, “This way of eating wasn’t my invention. Back where I’m from, it’s a common method. You can also add fresh fruit, besides sugar water and nuts.”

“When summer comes and there’s more fruit, you can give it a try.”

“In hot weather, cool and soft jelly like this will taste even better and help beat the heat.”

Snacks were scarce here, so Jian Mo shared everything he knew about making jelly. It was a simple treat that could bring joy to the tribe.

Since making jelly was so straightforward, and Jian Mo explained it thoroughly, the youths and cubs went home to share the recipe. By the next day, nearly every family in the tribe had tried making jelly.

The following day, as Jian Mo asked the group for help making tablecloths, everyone praised the jelly recipe.

Qing Kuo remarked, “We used to find algae soup that thickened when it cooled kind of gross. Who knew it would taste so good with sugar water?”

Jian Mo chuckled. “It’s all about the texture. Just a little treat for the mouth.”

Zhou Fu added, “Even so, it’s great! There aren’t many things to eat in the tribe. Having one more edible thing is a blessing—and this doesn’t even need cooking skills!”

The group laughed in agreement.

Just then, Xi Lu raised her head. “Are the cubs running toward us?”

Qing Kuo squinted. “Hey, what’s that in their mouths?”

Everyone looked over and saw the unshapeshifted cubs racing over, their short legs moving rapidly. Each carried something wrapped in leaves, gripping it tightly as they dashed toward the group.

A sub-beastman crouched down, intending to pick up their cub.

However, the little cub dodged past their dad and ran straight toward Jian Mo, calling out, “Meow-ow! Dad, this is to thank Jian Mo for treating us to jelly!”

The cub’s dad couldn’t help but laugh. “Already learning to return favors, huh?”

The little cub nodded enthusiastically. “Uh-huh!”

Jian Mo hadn’t expected such politeness from the cubs. Hearing the surrounding laughter, he put on a mock-serious expression and said, “Well, thank you so much.”

The little cats and dogs puffed out their fluffy chests with pride and replied, “You’re welcome.”

“Our dads said we can’t just eat your food without giving something in return.”

Jian Mo chuckled and was about to say something when he heard a series of loud calls from behind him.

Turning around, he saw Ban Ming and the others running over.

They looked a little flustered as Ban Ming called out, “Zhou Dao, you little rascals! If you’re giving Jian Mo a gift, fine—but why are you carrying the berries we picked?”

The stout wolf cub Zhou Dao wagged his tail nervously, glancing between Ban Ming and Jian Mo. Stammering, he said, “Jian Mo, these are from Brother Ban Ming and the others for you.”

Ban Ming froze. “???” Since when did they agree to give those away?

Laughter erupted all around them, and Qing Kuo teased, “Looks like no matter what, they’re determined to give Jian Mo a gift, huh?”