The sound of Chirpy’s call must have carried because more cubs soon came bounding happily into the secret forest.
When they spotted Wu Jiong and Jian Mo waiting there, they froze in their tracks. Panic set in, and they immediately turned tail, attempting to flee.
But none of them managed to escape—they were all plucked up by the scruff of their necks and brought back by Wu Jiong.
Jian Mo stared at the cubs now lined up in a row, all sitting obediently and awaiting their scolding. He opened his mouth, but for a moment, no words came out.
After calming himself, Jian Mo asked, “Who has eaten Chirpy’s food?”
The cubs exchanged glances, eyes darting nervously toward Wu Jiong. No one dared to speak.
Sighing, Jian Mo nudged Wu Jiong. “You go back first. I’ll talk to them.”
Wu Jiong nodded and left without a word.
The moment Wu Jiong disappeared from sight, the cubs all visibly relaxed. In hushed tones, they began confessing:
“We didn’t eat any.”
“Chirpy never brought food before.”
“We just taught it to carry the food bowl yesterday afternoon.”
“Brother Jian Mo, we just wanted to taste it! We weren’t trying to steal Chirpy’s food!”
Stealing Chirpy’s food wasn’t the problem!
Jian Mo almost laughed in disbelief. He turned to Chirpy. “Chirpy, have you really never shared your food with them before?”
Chirpy’s ears flattened against its head, forming an unmistakable airplane ear look. Its eyes lowered, refusing to meet Jian Mo’s gaze. “Chii…”
So that was a no.
Relieved, Jian Mo’s tone softened, though he still spoke firmly. “Chirpy’s food isn’t clean, and you’re not allowed to eat it! If you’re hungry, come to our house to eat, understood?”
The cubs glanced cautiously at Jian Mo. Seeing that he wasn’t genuinely angry, they nodded obediently.
Jian Mo continued, softening his voice further, “You can play with Chirpy, but you can’t share food with it. And absolutely no letting Chirpy carry you while flying.”
The cubs, who had never even considered riding Chirpy before, suddenly lit up at the idea. Their eyes gleamed as they sneakily looked at Chirpy.
A vein throbbed on Jian Mo’s forehead. “If you dare let Chirpy carry you, I’ll tell your parents!”
The cubs quickly tucked their paws close and sat upright, hurriedly promising they wouldn’t.
Jian Mo, still skeptical, decided to have a serious talk with Chirpy later to stress the importance of keeping the cubs safe.
After delivering a stern lecture, Jian Mo sent the cubs home.
Then he turned to Chirpy.
No need to hold back with his own beast. Jian Mo let loose, reprimanding Chirpy until it drooped in defeat.
To reinforce the lesson, Jian Mo announced that Chirpy would lose two days of its special meals and would have to make do with just grass and Mien Fruit for the time being.
Once the scolding was over, Jian Mo carried Chirpy’s food back home, with a dejected Chirpy trailing behind him.
Wu Jiong was waiting just outside the forest. He glanced at Chirpy and couldn’t suppress a small grin.
Chirpy ultimately got to eat its meal, but it understood Jian Mo was still upset. The usually noisy beast didn’t make a sound, adopting a low-profile, well-behaved demeanor.
Jian Mo also spoke with the cubs’ parents, reminding them to monitor what their little ones ate. With the weather warming up, it was important to avoid upset stomachs or worse.
The parents were quick to acknowledge the advice, taking their cubs aside to give them thorough lectures.
Jian Mo expected the cubs to steer clear of him for a while. To his surprise, that very afternoon, while he was chatting with others in the open area after returning from a foraging trip, the cubs cautiously approached him.
They lingered around his legs, nudging and brushing against him. Ban Jiu, in particular, used his long tail to hook around Jian Mo’s leg, his fluffy face full of hesitation.
Seeing their behavior, Jian Mo couldn’t help but laugh. He picked Ban Jiu up and placed him on his lap, giving his furry belly a few rubs. “What is it? You clearly have something to say.”
Ban Jiu timidly asked, “Brother Jian Mo, can we still hunt in your vegetable patch? I asked my dad, and he said I should ask you.”
So that was it. Jian Mo glanced over at Qing Kuo, who was nearby and watching with a faint smile. It seemed he didn’t mind.
Jian Mo patted Ban Jiu’s little head. “As long as you’re careful and safe, it’s fine. But no eating the prey raw, alright?”
Ban Jiu immediately perked up. “We know! We won’t eat it. Brother Jian Mo, this afternoon we saw lots of birds in your patch!”
Jian Mo groaned at the thought of birds in the garden again. “Alright, I’ll count on you to catch them. If you manage to, I’ll make you shredded jerky as a reward.”
The surrounding cubs couldn’t contain their cheers. “Thank you, Brother Jian Mo!”
Jian Mo chuckled. “Then it’s up to you now.”
To make it easier for the cubs to reach the patch, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong hauled over large rocks and built a simple stone bridge across the river. Now the cubs could cross without getting their fur wet.
Just to be safe, Jian Mo also had Wu Jiong inform the patrolling beastmen to keep an eye on the cubs on the other side of the river.
Wu Jiong assured Jian Mo that they had recently cleared the area of large animals, so there shouldn’t be any danger.
Jian Mo, ever cautious, enlisted Chirpy to help watch over the cubs, instructing it to alert them immediately if anything went wrong.
Though Chirpy had recently been disciplined, it seemed thrilled to play with the cubs again.
With the cubs’ efforts, not only Jian Mo’s patch but also the tribe’s nearby gardens were now safe from animal raids. While the cubs weren’t fully grown, their sharp claws and instincts were more than enough to handle small prey and pesky birds.
Jian Mo even witnessed a daring bird attempt to land in his garden, only to be chased off by the cubs, leaving a trail of feathers behind.
True to his word, Jian Mo prepared a large batch of shredded jerky seasoned with garlic powder and pepper buds. It was flavorful, spicy, and delightfully chewy, quickly becoming a favorite among the cubs.
The cubs, ever sweet-tongued, crowded around him, chattering nonstop:
“Brother Jian Mo, your cooking is the best! This is so delicious!”
“Brother Jian Mo, can we guard your vegetable patch again tomorrow? Can you make more shredded jerky for us?”
“I love this shredded jerky so much! I love you too!”
Surrounded by the cubs’ compliments, Jian Mo couldn’t help but beam. He promised that if they caught more prey in the patch next time, he’d make them another batch of shredded jerky.
“But not tomorrow,” he added, laughing. “Shredded jerky is tough; you’ll have to wait a little while before you can have more.”
The cubs puffed out their chests, vowing to guard the patch diligently.
With the patch under control, Jian Mo resumed foraging with the tribe.
Spring brought an abundance of food, and whatever they couldn’t eat fresh, they dried for storage. Jian Mo had already dried several varieties of vegetables, some of which had excellent flavor. When used to make braised pork, they reminded him of the savory taste of Mei Cai Kou Rou.
One evening, after a day spent foraging, Jian Mo returned to the tribe and heard someone calling his name.
Looking up, he saw several large red beasts with fox-like faces and three bushy tails sprinting toward him.
Startled at first, he quickly recognized the beasts as the mounts of the Hong Zhen Tribe.
“Doctor Jian Mo!” one of the sub-beastmen dismounted from their beast and ran over, their eyes shining. “Didn’t you say you were looking for scallions? Look at this—could this be what you’re searching for?”
With that, they pulled a large basket from their back and presented it to him. “Here it is.”
Jian Mo peered inside and saw plump, round bulbs that resembled garlic.
He grabbed a handful and brought it to his nose. A sharp, sweet, and slightly spicy aroma—the unmistakable scent of scallions—wafted up.
Excited, he exclaimed, “I think this might be it. Let me take a closer look.”
“Go ahead,” the sub-beastmen encouraged.
Jian Mo picked up one of the bulbs and carefully peeled off the outer layers. Inside, it resembled an onion, with concentric rings and an even stronger scallion-like aroma.
He held it to his nose again. Aside from the oniony scent, there was no other odor.
“This seems like a scallion!” Jian Mo said, then asked, “Is it poisonous? I’ll taste it to be sure.”
The sub-beastmen shook their heads. “It’s not poisonous. We ate some before bringing it here. It’s just… not very tasty—burns the throat.”
Jian Mo chuckled. “If it’s too pungent to eat raw, cooking it should make it much better.”
The Hong Zhen Tribe members wrinkled their noses. “It’s just so odd-tasting,” one said, unconvinced. “But go ahead, Doctor Jian Mo, give it a try.”
Jian Mo peeled off a piece, cautiously popped it into his mouth, and immediately regretted it.
The raw scallion was sharp, pungent, and overwhelmingly spicy. He couldn’t swallow it and quickly turned to spit it out, rinsing his mouth with water.
The Hong Zhen Tribe members hurried after him, concerned. “Is it not what you were looking for?”
“No, no, it’s exactly what I wanted!” Jian Mo assured them. “It’s just not meant to be eaten raw.”
Relieved, the sub-beastmen cheered. “That’s great news!”
Jian Mo smiled. “Thank you so much!”
“Don’t mention it,” one replied, then eagerly added, “So about the knives…”
“Follow me home,” Jian Mo said. “I’ll get you the knives right away.”
Overjoyed, the Hong Zhen Tribe members followed him to his home.
As they walked, Jian Mo asked, “Why did you only bring the bulbs and not the leaves?”
The sub-beastmen chattered away:
“Oh, they had leaves at first, but the journey from the Li Chi Tribe was so long that the leaves yellowed and dried up.”
“Li Chi Tribe is two tribes away from ours, and just getting to our place takes days. Coming here took much longer.”
“The leaves looked so bad we decided to just take the bulbs.”
Jian Mo hadn’t realized how far the scallions had traveled. “You’ve worked so hard,” he said sincerely.
“It’s nothing,” one said earnestly. “Getting knives in exchange makes it all worth it.”
Jian Mo nodded. “I’ll give you two knives for this.”
Their cheers echoed all the way to his house.
Back home, Jian Mo offered to make tea for the visitors, but they politely declined, explaining that they needed to leave quickly to make it back to their tribe.
Jian Mo went upstairs and retrieved two small, finely crafted knives from his stash, handing them over. How they divided them was up to them.
Before they left, Jian Mo had an idea. “Can I ask for your help finding beans and chili peppers too?”
The sub-beastmen perked up. “What are those?”
Jian Mo grabbed a board and sketched out the plants with charcoal. “Chili peppers are fruits that grow on plants. They’re incredibly spicy, whether they’re round or long, and come in colors like red, green, yellow, and black. If you touch them, the spice can make your skin red and swollen.”
The group studied his drawings carefully and nodded.
Jian Mo then drew beans. “Beans grow in pods on plants. They come in all shapes—round, flat—and have smooth skins. When you crack them open, they look something like this.”
He detailed the characteristics of each, asking them to also bring back anything similar if they couldn’t find an exact match.
The Hong Zhen Tribe members agreed enthusiastically, promising to search as soon as they returned.
“Find them,” Jian Mo said, “and I’ll trade you as many metal tools as you want.”
With that, the sub-beastmen left, clutching their two knives.
Jian Mo, in high spirits, took a handful of scallion bulbs and decided to make scallion pancakes and baked beast meat with scallions for dinner.
Their flour supply was running low, but having finally found scallions, it was worth celebrating.
When Wu Jiong returned home and entered the kitchen, he immediately asked, “Did the Hong Zhen Tribe bring scallions?”
Jian Mo grinned. “Not scallions exactly, but scallion bulbs. They said they found them at the Li Chi Tribe. The journey was so long that the leaves withered, so they only brought the bulbs.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “Are they what you’ve been looking for?”
Jian Mo’s grin widened. “I think so! I’ll know for sure after we cook them tonight. I’m planning scallion pancakes and baked beast meat with scallions. I’ll also steam some fish. Is there anything else you’d like? Just in case you’re not used to the taste of scallions.”
Wu Jiong shook his head. “No need. I’m not picky.”
“Just wait,” Jian Mo declared with a grin. “Tonight’s dishes are going to be amazing!”
Though not particularly skilled in making pastries, Jian Mo knew his way around them well enough.
After all, in the beastman tribes, no one was going to call him out for his cooking not being “authentic.”
Humming a tune, he busied himself in the kitchen.
He started by frying scallion pancakes, filling the air with their enticing aroma. Meanwhile, he prepared the scallion-baked beast meat in a clay pot.
The rich smells filled the kitchen. The previously sharp and pungent scent of the scallion bulbs mellowed under the heat, transforming into a tantalizingly sweet aroma.
Chirpy somehow snuck over unnoticed. Its two front paws were hooked over the kitchen doorway as it drooled, staring intently at the cooking.
When the first scallion pancake was ready, Jian Mo couldn’t resist tasting it. Tearing it in half, he handed one piece to Wu Jiong and kept the other for himself.
Outside, Chirpy was practically vibrating with excitement, letting out pitiful “chirp-chirp” sounds and sniffing eagerly.
Jian Mo chuckled at the sight, grabbing another pancake that had cooled slightly and handing it to Chirpy.
Thrilled, Chirpy plopped down in the courtyard and held the pancake delicately between its front paws, nibbling it like a gourmet.
“What do you think?” Jian Mo asked Wu Jiong.
Wu Jiong observed the pancake. “Completely different from raw scallions.”
Jian Mo’s smile widened with satisfaction. “Exactly! Cooked scallions are so aromatic. You could even make scallion oil noodles with these, and they’d be delicious.”
After finishing their pancakes, Jian Mo returned to the kitchen to prepare the rest of the meal.
The scallion-baked beast meat turned out exceptionally well, its flavor reminding Jian Mo of roasted pork belly from Earth—about 80% spot-on, with the remaining 20% difference likely due to the lack of proper seasonings.
Still, it was heavenly.
The meat sizzled in its own fat, infused with scallion essence, creating an unparalleled flavor.
“What do you think?” Jian Mo eagerly asked.
“It’s delicious,” Wu Jiong replied, savoring a bite. “Different from other tasty meats you’ve made before.”
Jian Mo caught his meaning and nodded. “Each has its own unique appeal?”
“Exactly. Your steamed fish, meat sausages, and shredded jerky are all amazing in their own way.”
“Well, where I come from, there are countless delicacies, especially during holidays. You can’t even finish trying them all!” Jian Mo said, a nostalgic gleam in his eyes.
“Holidays?” Wu Jiong asked curiously. “What does that mean?”
Jian Mo thought for a moment. “Special days set aside for celebrations.”
He then explained festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Spring Festival.
“In that case,” Wu Jiong mused, “we have similar events: the Beast Festival in spring, the Shade Festival in summer, and the Autumn Hunting Gathering.”
Curious, Jian Mo asked, “What’s the Beast Festival? Has it already happened this year?”
“No, not yet,” Wu Jiong explained. “It’s a day when single beastmen and sub-beastmen gather to socialize and play, mainly to find mates. It’s held during the second full moon of spring.”
Wu Jiong elaborated further. At the start of spring, everyone was busy hunting and foraging to recover from the long, harsh winter. By the second full moon, they were well-fed and strong, ready to celebrate and help singles find potential partners.
With a calm expression, Wu Jiong added, “Spring makes everyone especially eager to find a mate. That’s why this festival exists.”
Jian Mo immediately understood. Spring—nature’s matchmaking season.
The conversation lingered in Jian Mo’s mind even after dinner. As they cleaned up, they decided to gather their clothes and head out to bathe.
Jian Mo brought along a jar of charcoal powder to scrub their teeth, ensuring a thorough cleaning.
On the vast and sparsely populated beastman continent, bathing outdoors at night was thrilling in its own way.
Jian Mo lay on a smooth boulder, gazing at the not-yet-full moon and star-studded sky above.
“It really is the season of renewal,” he thought with a lazy smile.
