Chapter 176: Joint Delivery

Jian Mo had gotten used to copying prescriptions.

While he copied, Xing Jiu would explain the pharmacology behind them.

He could write and absorb at the same time, which made learning efficient.

If he couldn’t remember something on the spot, no problem—he took his own notes and filled in gaps afterward until it stuck.

Likewise, while learning, Jian Mo would teach Xing Jiu some scientific basics.

Xing Yi had wanted to learn along with them, but age made it hard.

And with his physical abilities declining, even if he learned, he could no longer perform surgeries.

In the end, Xing Yi asked Xing Jiu and Jian Mo to learn from each other and improve together.

The Chuxing Tribe had oil lamps; the two studied beneath their light.

Jian Mo was serious when he studied, and Xing Jiu mirrored his focus.

After half the night, both were stiff and sore, but they finally finished that day’s lesson.

Putting the prescription away, Xing Jiu praised, “You learn fast. We don’t have many more prescriptions here to teach you.”

Jian Mo smiled. “We’ve been out a long time. I’m starting to miss home.”

“No wonder you’re studying so hard,” Xing Jiu said.

They put away the paper and brushes and stepped outside.

Wu Jiong had patiently shucked all the abalone and removed the innards; now they were salting in a basin.

After checking, Jian Mo happily hauled out a big pot—he planned to simmer the abalone.

Xing Jiu stuck around to watch.

Jian Mo’s method was different: a huge pot, but very low heat. After the water boiled, he left just a little charcoal, then slipped the abalone in.

“Will they cook through like that?” Xing Jiu asked, doubtful.

“They will,” Jian Mo said. “This is slow-simmering. Done right, the meat stays tender. When they’re ready, I’ll slice a couple—you’ll see. If you want tender meat in general, this technique works.”

“Sounds plausible,” Xing Jiu admitted. “But why simmer first and then sun-dry? Isn’t drying straight away the same?”

“Not the same,” Jian Mo said. “Drying raw makes spoilage likely; simmering first keeps it from rotting so easily. And if you cook them to tender, the dried abalone will also be tender. With abalone this big, keeping the inside soft makes it delicious.”

Xing Jiu shook his head—this kind of fussy food wasn’t for him.

Jian Mo, a foodie, didn’t mind at all. He smiled. “We’ll be simmering a long time—probably till midnight. That’s really all there is; no other steps. If you’re tired, head back and check in tomorrow morning.”

“Alright,” Xing Jiu said. “I’ll come by in the morning.”

Seeing the sea was rare for Jian Mo; he planned to go out a few more times and bring back more seafood.

He didn’t expect that the next day, not only Xing Jiu came knocking—but Xing Yi as well.

“There’s a sub-beastman about to give birth,” Xing Yi told Jian Mo. “Didn’t you say you wanted to learn obstetrics? Come observe.”

“Perfect,” Jian Mo said at once. “Plenty of sub-beastmen back home are pregnant—we’ll need this knowledge soon.”

“Then let’s get moving,” said Xing Yi.

“Should we bring the flying beasts?” Jian Mo asked.

“No,” Xing Yi said. “Have your Wu Jiong come along. That’s enough.”

They packed quickly and set out.

Jian Mo took his medical kit; Xing Yi brought a load of traditional herbs.

Beastmen guided them.

They ran at least half the morning under the rising sun before reaching another tribe.

It looked much like the Chuxing Tribe—similar buildings and people—though the local plants differed slightly.

Jian Mo glanced around, then was ushered to the expectant sub-beastman.

The sub-beastman’s belly was very large, and he looked nervous when he saw them.

After a few greetings, Xing Yi picked up a stethoscope to examine him.

With the stethoscope, they no longer had to press an ear directly to the belly—much easier than before.

“Yan Sui is carrying twins,” Xing Yi said, motioning Jian Mo over. “That’s higher-risk. Listen—you should hear two fetuses in there.”

Jian Mo leaned in and listened carefully—he indeed heard three heartbeats.

After weeks learning with Xing Yi, he had a decent sense for internal sounds. Hearing what came from Yan Sui’s body, he hesitated. “Is that the sound of labor approaching?”

Yan Sui tensed. “I’m about to give birth?”

“By tonight at the latest, you should go into labor,” Xing Yi said.

Yan Sui’s hands balled into fists. His partner hovered nearby, just as anxious.

“Don’t be afraid,” Xing Yi soothed. “We’ll be here with you. You’ll be fine.”

Yan Sui forced a smile, but his eyes were full of nerves, worry, and fear.

Xing Yi patted him in comfort.

His skill was widely trusted in the region; once he said Yan Sui was close, everyone hurried to ready the birthing room.

With Yan Sui’s consent, Xing Yi used his case to teach Jian Mo in detail:

how to assess ease of delivery, fetal presentation and how to correct it if malpositioned, what medicines could assist a sub-beastman in labor, and more.

Jian Mo took out his obstetric forceps and explained mediolateral episiotomy—how a planned cut could prevent ragged tears and make healing easier.

Xing Yi and Xing Jiu listened, thoroughly engrossed.

“Pity my other students aren’t here,” Xing Yi said, a little regretful.

“Yan Sui isn’t delivering yet,” Jian Mo said. “If you call them now, they can still make it.”

“You’re right,” Xing Yi nodded. “I’ll send someone.”

They waited in Yan Sui’s tribe. Soon, the other students were carried in on beastmen’s backs.

Xing Yi briefed them, led them through another exam of Yan Sui, and kept teaching.

Jian Mo listened again and took careful notes. He felt he learned a lot.

By evening, Yan Sui’s labor indeed began.

Xing Yi brought them in to assist.

The fetuses were relatively large—and there were two—so labor was hard.

Jian Mo helped at the side, nerves taut.

It turned difficult. The moon was up, and the first cub still hadn’t come.

Everyone was drenched in sweat. Xing Yi and the others tried everything. With no progress, they had to turn it over to Jian Mo.

He decisively performed an episiotomy, then carefully used forceps to draw the cub out.

It was a feline cub. Having been stuck awhile, it wasn’t in the best state.

Xing Yi immediately led the team to tend to the newborn—no medicines for one so small; they focused on massage and warmth.

Jian Mo hadn’t learned this part before and paid close attention, picking it up on the spot.

They worked through the night. Near dawn, Yan Sui and the two cubs finally stabilized.

Jian Mo finished suturing Yan Sui’s incision while others administered herbs.

Everyone looked exhausted—especially the elder Xing Yi; after an all-nighter, the bags under his eyes were heavy.

Grateful, Yan Sui’s tribe cleared a house and invited them to rest there.

No one refused. After a little food, they collapsed into sleep.

Jian Mo didn’t even bother bathing—he pressed his forehead to Wu Jiong’s arm and fell into a deep sleep.

In an unfamiliar place, he didn’t sleep long. Before noon, he woke—still bone-tired.

Wu Jiong touched his forehead. “I’ll get you some soup.”

Jian Mo yawned. “Forget it, not hungry. I’ll wash up first. How’s Yan Sui?”

“Should be fine,” Wu Jiong said. “No one’s come for us—probably sleeping.”

“I’ll check after I wash,” Jian Mo said.

Cleaned up, he went to see Yan Sui and the newborns.

Both were doing well. Their birth coats had dried—one yellow, one black, two little leopards.

As cubs of beastfolk, they weren’t like Earth’s newborn leopards: their bodies were larger and more mature. Their eyes were already open, blue-gray and babyish.

Catching the scent of a stranger, they cried in hoarse kitten voices.

Jian Mo touched each cub’s head with two fingers, and they gradually calmed.

Yan Sui still slept, but his partner was awake.

“Doctor Jian Mo,” the partner greeted.

“I came to check in,” Jian Mo said.

“Thank you for everything,” the partner said.

“You’re welcome,” Jian Mo replied. “I’m learning as I go. Thank you for letting me observe.”

Sub-beastmen had robust constitutions. Yan Sui’s recovery was good; even with just a morning’s rest, he was visibly better.

“Looks fine,” Jian Mo said. “With proper care, he’ll improve quickly.”

As Jian Mo spoke, Yan Sui woke. He greeted them, then grimaced. “I’m a bit swollen down there.”

Jian Mo examined him and reassured, “Congestion. It should resolve in a couple of days. If not, I’ll think of another approach.”

Yan Sui nodded, then brightened. “Doctor Jian Mo, did you see my two cubs? They’re beautiful.”

“I did,” Jian Mo said. “They’re great—sturdy and adorable.”

Yan Sui beamed. “Thanks to you all. Other people’s cubs aren’t this big, even with single births.”

Jian Mo nodded. That was also part of why the labor had been difficult.

Overjoyed and grateful, Yan Sui chatted with Jian Mo awhile before fatigue won out and he drifted off again.

Jian Mo and Wu Jiong took their leave.

Xing Yi’s group was still asleep; they didn’t intrude and went for a walk nearby instead.

This tribe resembled the Chuxing Tribe; the surrounding terrain was similar. The sights felt familiar—nothing much to see.

Jian Mo took it as strolling hand-in-hand with Wu Jiong.

As they walked, Jian Mo counted houses and realized that even this prosperous tribe’s population wasn’t much larger than Riverbank’s.

He’d noticed it before: most tribes were roughly the same size. Poor tribes might be smaller, but rich tribes weren’t dramatically larger.

Beastfolk fertility was low. Even without effective contraception, few families had cubs; families with two were rarer, and three or more—he hadn’t seen one yet.

After a circuit, they headed back hand in hand.

Xing Yi’s group had finally woken, checked on Yan Sui, and confirmed he was fine.

Xing Yi asked, “Will the stitches you placed need removal?”

Jian Mo waved it off. “No. The long-tailed beast sinew will be absorbed—no need to remove.”

“For such a sensitive area,” he added, “I always use long-tailed beast sinew. Removing stitches there is too miserable.”

“I noticed you haven’t used other threads much,” Xing Yi said.

“This trip I only brought long-tailed beast sinew,” Jian Mo explained. “In some areas it risks splitting and needs a tougher thread. Otherwise I prefer sinew—convenient.”

Xing Yi nodded.

With Yan Sui stable, they set off home with their supplies.

Jian Mo was exhausted; on the giant wolf’s back he couldn’t keep his eyes open.

Halfway back, in a doze, he thought he heard familiar voices.

He figured he was dreaming—until he looked up and saw a flock of familiar Fat Chirpers flying in.

They dipped their heads and shouted, “Brother Jian Mo—!”

Jian Mo jolted fully awake. It was the Fat Chirpers!