Traveling through the world of beasts, making a living

The days passed by in a busy and fulfilling manner, and the tribe was basically completed according to Mona's plan. Mona sat under the red fruit tree in her yard with her big belly, feeling indescribably comfortable and relaxed!

"Brother Ying, you said before that there's a mine with a high iron content not far from this Valley of Love. When are we going to dig up the mine, smelt the iron, and make weapons and tools?"

"Don't worry, you're going to give birth in two months, and the cold season is almost here. By the way, the house is built, but the kang isn't there yet. Everyone's waiting for your advice."

"You forgot about that, you should build a kang. The old orcs, the cubs, and the females in the tribe can't handle the cold. Go get those three. I'll draw the blueprints, and you can bring the people to build it."

"I understand. Don't work too hard. Take a rest when you feel tired."

Mona nodded, closed her eyes, and started thinking, "Tongzi, how are kangs built in the Northeast?" A long paragraph of text and drawings appeared on the screen.

The top layer of the fire pit is an insulating layer made of yellow mud and straw. The middle layer is a kang (bedded wall) made of large stones. The bottom layer has four pillars, a layer of loess, and a kang ditch, which serves as a smoke channel. When the fire is lit, the hot air flows upward, and the cool air outside is replenished from below, forming a continuous air circulation. However, the higher the smoke vents are, the greater the suction force, which facilitates the exhaust of smoke. To maintain this effect, the horizontal width of the kang cannot exceed the height of the smoke vents. Furthermore, the kang must be well sealed. If it is well sealed, it will act like a vacuum, ensuring that all suction force is utilized and the heat source is prevented from escaping.

Just as Mona finished drawing the blueprint, Longying and the three beasts walked in. "Little one, they're all here."

"Well, come, sit down and take a look."

Mona sat at the table, unfolding the hide and tapping the blueprint with a bamboo chopstick as she began to explain. Long Ying stood behind Little Bit, gently massaging her shoulders with both hands. His gaze passed over Mona's head, resting on the blueprint, his eyes filled with pride. "My little Bit is just so exceptional, so different!"

In the bewildered expressions of the other three beasts, Mona saw surprise, admiration, love, and even worship. Mona cunningly tapped each beast on the head with chopsticks, "Hey, hey! People say pregnancy makes women stupid for three years, but I'm a pregnant woman, but I'm not as stupid as you."

"Hahaha, hahaha!" The feeling of happiness is overflowing, even the air is filled with the smell of happiness!

"Everyone, take your positions, my dear beastmen. The fire pit needs to dry for about a month, just in time for the cold season to arrive and the tribesmen to move in."

"As you command, my dear companion," the four beasts responded cheerfully.

"Is the second batch of planting ready for harvest now? Wushuang."

"About ten solar days will suffice. The hot season is almost over, and we can't delay the fire pit and the rice harvest."

"You four, get busy and try to finish this before the cold season arrives. Brother Ying, go to the mine and get some ore. I need to carefully study the iron content."

The four beasts immediately took action after receiving the order. Long Ying went to the mine to search for ore, while the other three beasts led the tribe to build a kang.

Mona was not idle either. With her big belly, she personally directed the tribesmen to harvest the second batch of crops.

Ten days later, the kang was finally completed and dried. At this time, the crops were ripe.

While arranging for her tribesmen to store the grain in the warehouse, Mona began to study the iron content of the ore.

During this busy and fulfilling season, Mona demonstrated unparalleled leadership and wisdom, and her efforts made the tribe more submissive.

Because of the bountiful harvest, Mona and several other tribe leaders decided to hold a bonfire party tonight, held in the heart of the Valley of Ecstasy. Their quality of life had improved, with food and herbs plentiful. Females in each tribe were reaching adulthood and entering estrus, a significant event for the tribe; after all, the continuation of generations was crucial for its growth.

"Dear clan leaders, I want to discuss something with you," Mona said with a smile.

"Witch, you say, as long as we can do it." The clan leaders responded in unison.

"Hehehe!" Mona laughed first, and seemed very happy and pleased about this.

"Don't keep us in suspense, Wu," Mona said seriously after looking at everyone.

"It's about the tribes forming partnerships. The Herbivorous Tribe lacks combat power, but possesses farming skills. The Silver Wolf Tribe has combat power, but lacks the necessary knowledge. The Teng Snake Tribe's males slow down during the cold and snowy seasons, and a few even enter a dormant state. This puts the females at risk! This partnership is crucial for the three tribes to merge into one. Furthermore, many males have been pursuing the Herbivorous Tribe's females."

"I agree!" Long Ying was the first to express his opinion.

"I have no objection either!" the Silver Wolf King said immediately.

"I agree too." Teng Snake King echoed.

"I fully agree," the chief of the herbivorous tribe said cheerfully.

Seeing this, Mona smiled with satisfaction. "In that case, let's have the young females choose their beast husbands tonight and hold the pairing ceremony tomorrow. However, before that, we still need to prepare some things."

After that, Mona began to give orders, and everyone started to move. The whole tribe was immersed in a festive atmosphere, and everyone's face was filled with happy smiles.

"Where should we build our altar?" Mona vaguely remembered that there was no plan for this, so she asked uncertainly.

"It's right here, in the center. The ground has been leveled and the stones laid, but we haven't found a good place to place the altars and totems of the two tribes." Qingli glared at Bixi angrily. Mona sensed something was wrong. Why didn't she know?

"Brother Ying, what's going on?" The Silver Wolf King and the Teng Snake King both lowered their heads and remained silent, which made Mona feel even more puzzled.

"Little one, the two tribes have their own totems, and they worship different things, but they both have sacrifices, so we thought of choosing a place to worship the sacrifices and totems of the two tribes together. But we haven't found a suitable place, so the matter has been shelved." Long Ying explained.

Mona thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Then let's build it next to it, dividing it into two areas, one for the totems and rituals of the two tribes. This will not only make it more convenient for the tribesmen to worship, but also reflect the tolerance and unity of our tribe."

Everyone agreed with Mona's suggestion and promised to complete it before tomorrow's couple ceremony.

As night fell, the bonfire party officially began. Young men and women from various tribes, dressed in their finest attire, danced and sang around the bonfire. Led by Rouhe Hongchang, the older females prepared bamboo rice, minced meat porridge, steamed buns, and dumplings. The older beastmen brewed bone soup, while the males from the herbivorous tribes grilled and stir-fried meat. The Teng Snake and Silver Wolf tribes were busy setting up sacrificial altars and hanging totems. Everything was peaceful, orderly, cohesive, and harmonious.

Mona lay in Longying's arms, looking at the other three beast husbands. "Thank you for your hard work! My beast husbands!"

"Little one, actually you can just relax and leave it to them. These guys are pretty good."

"Oh! How is it good? It's rare to hear you praise someone. I want to hear it, I want to hear it!" She even stretched out her hands to pinch Longying's cheekbones. Seeing this little woman acting like a spoiled child, the beastly husbands around her swallowed their saliva and involuntarily bowed their lower bodies! It was really embarrassing.

Mona noticed something strange going on nearby, her pretty face flushed slightly, and she coughed softly. The beast husbands finally came to their senses and quickly gathered their composure.

At this time, Rouhe Hongshang came over with a bowl of hot soup, "Sister, come and drink some soup to replenish your body."

Mona took the bowl of soup and began to drink it in small sips. Hong Chang looked at Mona, her eyes full of concern. "Sister, you've worked really hard today, but seeing everyone so happy, it's all worth it."

Mona smiled and nodded. "Yes, I'm glad to see that everyone is living and working in peace. By the way, sister, how are things going between you and Heisha?"

Hong Chang blushed, "We...are fine..."

Mona chuckled, "Hehe, sister is shy. If you like it, just express it boldly."

Hong Chang lowered her head in silence. Heisha was a powerful fifth-level warrior from the Silver Wolf Tribe, and they both liked each other. A sweet feeling welled up in her heart. At that moment, the people around the campfire continued to sing and laugh, while Mona and her beastly husbands savored this warm moment.

The next day, as all the adult females gradually ascended the altar, the males below were abuzz with excitement. The beastmen chosen the previous night were generally consensual. The beast world has its own unique rules: challenges, demonstrating one's strength, and perhaps even catching the eye of a female. This year, the tribes are open to finding partners, offering even more options!

The pairing ceremony proceeded smoothly, with priests from both tribes singing blessings. Witnessed by the Beast God, many couples pledged lifelong companionship. After the ceremony, Mona summoned the leaders and elders of each tribe to discuss the future of the tribe.

Mona proposed not only continuing to develop agriculture and hunting but also cultivating more artisans and artists. She hoped to build larger houses and produce more exquisite tools and handicrafts. Therefore, pottery firing and iron smelting would become inevitable.

Everyone agreed and would actively prepare for iron smelting and pottery making. Craftsmen began to delve into new architectural techniques, and artists experimented with creating unique works of art.

Mona and the beast husbands were preparing to return home. The road was filled with the ambiguous scent of couples. Mona was too tired to move. She nestled in Longying's arms and said, "It's great! After the winter or snow season, we have many new beast cubs."

"How's our cub? Is he okay?" Seeing Mona looking listless, the beast husbands were very anxious to know the situation of mother and child.

"He's grown faster recently and needs more energy. I guess Wushuang will be the one accompanying the little one tonight."

"Yes, it's me. Tell me what to pay attention to, Brother Long!"

"Now we'll take turns. Tonight you and Qingli, tomorrow night I and Bixi. Be sure to pay attention to your energy. Bixi, let's go hunt ferocious beasts." After Mona and the beastmen returned home, they retired to rest. At night, Wushuang and Qingli carefully accompanied Mona, fearing to disturb her and her unborn child. Meanwhile, Longying and Bixi went out to hunt ferocious beasts to provide Mona and her child with adequate nutrition.

The next morning, Mona awoke feeling much better. She looked at Wushuang and Qingli, who were guarding her, and her heart was filled with warmth. After breakfast, Mona began to instruct the artisans in firing pottery, hoping to create more practical and beautiful pottery, adding greater convenience to the tribe's lives.

Meanwhile, Longying and Bixi returned with their catch. They shared their catch with the tribe members, and everyone enjoyed a hearty meal together. In this wonderful atmosphere, the tribe members strengthened their unity and friendship, looking forward to future development together.