Transmigrated to the Beastman World as a Veterinarian – CH72

After Peng Xi and Duan An left, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong stayed behind to continue harvesting pepper sprouts.

The plants were not only abundant but of excellent quality, emitting a potent, pure spiciness. However, after a while, the spicy oils from the pepper sprout flowers started to irritate their hands.

Jian Mo’s hands felt uncomfortable, but he was still in high spirits.

With this many pepper sprouts, they would have enough to last half a year. If they could trade or gather more later, they wouldn’t run out at all this year.

During a break, Jian Mo gestured for Wu Jiong to join him by a stream to wash their hands with melted snow water. “Not wearing gloves was a mistake. Next time, we definitely need to remember to bring some.”

Wu Jiong noticed the redness of his hands and lightly placed his own over them. “Let’s head back. We can return tomorrow with gloves.”

Jian Mo shook his head, despite the sting. “No need. It’s too far to make multiple trips. Let’s just finish harvesting in one go. It’s not unbearable.”

Wu Jiong frowned slightly, clearly disapproving.

Jian Mo changed the subject. “Do these pepper sprouts bear fruit?”

Wu Jiong anticipated his question. “The fruit is sweet but has only a thin layer of flesh.”

Jian Mo nodded regretfully. That meant pepper sprout fruits couldn’t be used as a substitute for chili peppers.

Wu Jiong explained further, “Birds love the fruit. When it ripens, flocks come to eat it, spreading the seeds to all kinds of places. Some tribes even make wine from the fruit. During harvest time, tribes often come here to pick fruit and hunt birds, usually making a good haul.”

Looking at the fields of pepper sprout plants, Jian Mo became inspired. “When the time comes, we should gather some, too. Aside from making wine, we could plant them near our tribe for fresh pepper sprouts later.”

Wu Jiong agreed. “We’ll make another trip then.”

Jian Mo made a mental note. “We should gather plenty and plant them along the base of the mountain or near the fields. They’d also make excellent natural fences.”

After resting, they resumed harvesting.

Despite their efforts, they couldn’t pick all the flowers even while leaving enough for pollination.

The pepper sprout flowers were so large and vibrant that Jian Mo’s eyes began to blur from staring at them for too long. His focus waned, and he began mechanically plucking flowers while his thoughts wandered.

Suddenly, his hand brushed against something hard and moving. Startled, he flung it away with a yelp.

“What happened?” Wu Jiong quickly turned and grabbed Jian Mo’s hand. “Did something bite you?”

Jian Mo raised his hand. “No, I just touched something that moved. I couldn’t see what it was—it might have been a bug.”

“Let me check,” Wu Jiong said, inspecting the flowers. He soon pulled out a large, brown insect and held it up for Jian Mo to see. “It’s just a bug.”

Jian Mo peered at it closely. It resembled a cross between a grasshopper and a wasp, with wings and a hard exoskeleton. Most notably, it was enormous—nearly half the size of his palm.

He inhaled sharply. “Does it bite?”

Wu Jiong replied, “If you put your finger near its mouth, it’ll bite. But it’s usually not aggressive. This is a pepper sprout bug.”

He held the insect closer and pointed to its jagged, serrated jaws.

Jian Mo couldn’t help but ask, “It only eats pepper sprouts? What happens when the flowers wilt?”

“They’ll eat grass and leaves,” Wu Jiong explained, pulling up a thick blade of grass and skewering the insect. “Pepper sprout bugs are edible and taste pretty good. Let’s bring it back.”

Insects had always been part of the beastmen and sub-beastmen diet. Since arriving in this world, Jian Mo had eaten his fair share of bugs and had grown used to it. He readily agreed.

As they resumed harvesting, they began paying extra attention for pepper sprout bugs hiding among the flowers.

Even though there weren’t many bugs compared to the number of flowers, the vast area made it easy to gather a sizable haul.

By the end of the day, they had collected four large skewers of bugs, each holding over a hundred.

With so many, they’d have a feast.

When they returned to the tribe, it was already dark. Many people were gathered in the central clearing, eating and chatting. Seeing Jian Mo and Wu Jiong return with skewers of pepper sprout bugs, several people ran over to gawk.

“Pepper sprout bugs! Where did you find so many?”

“Now I’m craving them, too. Tomorrow I’ll see if I can catch some myself.”

“These bugs are delicious! They have that pepper sprout aroma. When roasted, they’re so crispy and fragrant.”

“Ah, if I’d known you were going to find this many, I’d have joined you today.”

Jian Mo looked at the envious faces surrounding him and asked, “Are these bugs really that good?”

Before Wu Jiong could answer, Ban Ming jumped in. “They’re one of the best-tasting bugs! If you don’t have enough pepper sprout bugs, you can mix in other insects—it still tastes amazing.”

“How do you cook them?” Jian Mo asked.

“Just pull off the wings, heads, and legs, squeeze out the guts, and roast them,” Ban Ming replied.

Nearby, Ah Hu leaned in with his large head. “Deep-frying works, too, but fry them slowly. If you burn them, they’ll turn bitter.”

Jian Mo nodded. “So, pretty much like how you’d prepare other bugs.”

Ban Ming emphasized, “There are only so many ways to cook bugs, but these taste so good that even in a mixed batch, they stand out.”

After being out all day, Jian Mo was already hungry. Hearing everyone rave about how delicious the bugs were made his mouth water.

Pushing Wu Jiong toward home, he said, “Let’s make dinner.”

The large size of the bugs made them relatively easy to prepare.

Working together, they quickly cleaned them, removing wings, heads, legs, and guts.

Looking at the basket of cleaned bugs, Jian Mo initially planned to save half for the next morning. On second thought, he decided against it—they wouldn’t be as fresh later. Besides, he could split the batch with Chirpy as a reward for its hard work today.

They had gathered about half a basket of pepper sprouts. While Jian Mo cooked, Wu Jiong took the flowers outside to dry.

Even without sunlight, the night’s wind would dry them to a semi-dry state by morning, as long as it didn’t rain.

As Wu Jiong headed out, Jian Mo called after him, “Wait! Bring me a handful of pepper sprouts—I’ll use them to stir-fry the bugs.”

“Fresh pepper sprouts?” Wu Jiong asked.

“Let’s give it a try. Pepper sprout bugs already have that flavor; cooking them together should taste great.”

Wu Jiong handed over a handful of fresh pepper sprouts. “Chirpy might find it too spicy.”

Jian Mo promised, “Chirpy’s share will be fried plain with some pepper salt. We’ll use the pepper sprouts in ours.”

Wu Jiong nodded.

Jian Mo began frying the bugs slowly in oil. As they cooked, the kitchen filled with a rich, savory aroma reminiscent of chicken but even more flavorful.

Unable to resist, he plucked a piece from the pan, cooled it with his breath, and popped it into his mouth.

The bug was incredibly tasty—crispy, fragrant, and bursting with a complex blend of peppery heat, subtle sweetness, and a savory flavor that reminded him of both chicken and shrimp.

After finishing one, he immediately reached for another.

So good! So hot!

The food was finally ready.

Humming a tune, Jian Mo dished out the stir-fried pepper sprout bugs, poured out most of the oil, leaving just a thin layer in the wok, and tossed in the fresh pepper sprout flowers for a quick sauté. Once fragrant, he returned the bugs to the pan for a final stir-fry.

As the dish neared completion, he sprinkled in a handful of large-leaf garlic powder, enhancing the already tantalizing aroma.

The mouthwatering smell filled the room, stirring Jian Mo’s appetite even more.

He called for Wu Jiong to return for dinner and pulled out a bottle of wine.

The Mien Fruit wine still wasn’t ready, but the Snow Pearl wine tasted just as excellent.

Pouring a small cup, Jian Mo took a sip and couldn’t help but squint in satisfaction.

Their meal was ready, and so was Chirpy’s.

Tonight’s feast for Chirpy consisted of fried pepper sprout bugs, roasted meat, and a large basket of fresh grass.

Wu Jiong took the food out to Chirpy, and when he returned, he found Jian Mo washing his hands—not with water, but oil.

Holding up his hands, Jian Mo explained, “Some substances don’t dissolve in water but do in oil. Pepper sprout oils are spicy, so washing with oil works better.”

Wu Jiong observed his hands curiously. “That’s fascinating.”

“Try it yourself,” Jian Mo urged. “Then we’ll eat.”

Both of them washed their hands in oil, then followed up with soap and water.

Once clean, they sat at the table. Jian Mo eagerly raised his cup. “Cheers! Here’s to our harvest and the amazing meal we’ve prepared.”

Wu Jiong clinked his cup against Jian Mo’s.

Taking another sip of wine, Jian Mo sighed contentedly before picking up a pepper sprout bug with his chopsticks.

The bug was unbelievably delicious—crispy, fragrant, and bursting with flavor. It tasted so good that if served on Earth, it wouldn’t be out of place on a fancy menu charging thousands for a plate.

Jian Mo exclaimed, “Let’s see if we can catch more tomorrow.”

Wu Jiong nodded. “Alright.”

“They should keep for ten days to two weeks if we fry them and store them in a ceramic jar,” Jian Mo mused. “We can save them to snack on later.”

While the couple ate indoors, Chirpy was happily enjoying its dinner in the backyard.

Chirpy had a habit of saving its favorite food for last. Tonight, it devoured the large basket of grass first, filling its stomach about three-quarters of the way.

Then it moved on to the roasted meat, finishing every last bite before heading to the river for a drink and even rinsing its beak. Only then did it begin munching on the pepper sprout bugs.

Chirpy adored the bugs, especially when they were fried to perfection. Using its claws, it scooped them into its beak, one by one, treating them like the ultimate snack.

Caught up in the excitement, Chirpy wiggled its plump rear happily.

It had a tendency to rub its rump against things—an unfortunate habit that had already left a bald patch on one wall, earning it a stern lecture from Jian Mo and Wu Jiong.

Today, Chirpy chose to rub against its own nest instead.

Unaware that its constant rubbing had weakened the structure over time, Chirpy bumped its backside against a support post out of habit.

With a loud crack, the post gave way under the combined pressure of Chirpy’s weight and the nest’s roof. The entire structure collapsed with a resounding boom, sending up a cloud of dust.

Chirpy froze, turning to stare at its ruined nest in shock.

Meanwhile, inside, the loud crash startled Jian Mo, who nearly dropped his chopsticks onto the table.

“What was that?!” Slightly tipsy from the wine, Jian Mo was slow to react. “Was that thunder?”

Wu Jiong stood up immediately. “It came from the backyard. Chirpy must’ve broken something. I’ll go check.”

Jian Mo followed him. “I’m coming too.”

When they reached the backyard, they found Chirpy’s nest reduced to rubble.

Chirpy lay sprawled in the remains, its fluffy face a mask of confusion. Its large eyes darted left and right, clearly struggling to process what had just happened. However, its front claws clung tightly to its food bowl, which miraculously still held most of the pepper sprout bugs.

Jian Mo stared at the scene.

If nothing else, Chirpy’s dedication to food was unmatched.

As soon as it spotted the two of them, Chirpy let out a plaintive, “Chirp!”

It slowly pushed itself upright with its claws, gazing forlornly at the wreckage of its nest.

Jian Mo checked it over and reassured Wu Jiong, “Chirpy isn’t hurt. I think it just got scared.”

Wu Jiong patted Chirpy’s round belly. “It’s probably just in shock.”

Jian Mo also patted it gently. “Don’t worry, Chirpy. It’s okay.”

Chirpy turned its wide, teary eyes toward them and let out another pitiful, “Chirp!”

Jian Mo comforted it, “Hey, it’s alright. That nest was old anyway—it was bound to collapse eventually.”

Wu Jiong chimed in, “This is a good excuse to build a sturdier one. We have plenty of leftover stones from the kitchen. That should be more than enough to make a new nest.”

Jian Mo laughed. “Let’s gather a team tomorrow and get started.”

With most of the materials already on hand, they spent the next afternoon trading for some lime and cement from the tribe and asking a few friends to help after their hunting and gathering duties.

Building Chirpy’s new nest was much easier than constructing the kitchen. They placed it on the left side of the house, giving it a larger entryway. The nest was taller than the kitchen but shorter than the house’s second floor, creating a harmonious staggered design.

Chirpy adored the new nest, peeking inside repeatedly, eager to move in.

But the nest hadn’t dried yet, and Jian Mo had to hold Chirpy back by the claws. “Wait! You can’t go in yet. If you do, it’ll collapse again in no time.”

Chirpy looked at Jian Mo with pleading eyes.

Patting its round belly, Jian Mo reassured it, “Just wait two more days. Once it’s dry, I’ll line it with beast hides and soft grass. It’ll be way more comfortable than your old one.”

Chirpy chirped reluctantly, “Chirp…”

Jian Mo coaxed and cajoled until Chirpy finally relented.

To make the nest as cozy as possible, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong went out of their way to gather the softest dried grass they could find.

The grass insulated against cold and dampness, ensuring the nest would stay warm and dry. Additionally, Jian Mo layered it with old beast hides, repurposing worn materials that would have otherwise gone to waste.

By the time they finished, Chirpy’s nest was both snug and luxurious.

Curious young beastmen from the tribe couldn’t resist sneaking over to see it for themselves.

While Jian Mo and Wu Jiong were out, a group of them, now in their beast forms, took turns squeezing into the nest.

“This is amazing.”

“Look, it even has windows! Brother Jian Mo and the chief really outdid themselves!”

“It’s so comfy in here. The grass smells nice, too.”

“Lying here feels incredible.”

Meanwhile, Chirpy, pushed out of its own nest, squawked in protest. Watching a parade of large cats and dogs make themselves at home in its nest, it whined, “Chirp chirp!”

A big cat waved its tail dismissively and nudged Chirpy with its hind leg. “Don’t be so stingy. We’re just lying here for a bit—we’re not stealing your nest.”

A giant wolf added, “Exactly. Just learning from it.”

A large fox chimed in, “Chirpy, how about we move in with you?”

When Jian Mo returned, he found Chirpy’s nest crammed with fluffy bodies, while Chirpy itself sat outside, looking thoroughly dejected.

The moment it spotted Jian Mo, Chirpy turned and cried loudly, “Chirp chirp!”

It was tattling.

Jian Mo’s head was full of black lines.

The big cats and dogs inside Chirpy’s nest belatedly realized they’d been caught and hurried to explain, “We were just here to learn how to set up a nest!”

Ah Hu, the large orange tabby, looked at Jian Mo expectantly and added, “Brother Jian Mo, are you thinking about raising some beasts? The kind that can talk?”

Jian Mo couldn’t take it anymore. Reaching out, he gave several of the fluffy culprits in Chirpy’s nest a firm flick on the forehead, driving them out one by one.

Chirpy watched in admiration and let out an approving chirp: “Chirp!”