Paper (continued)

Qing Kuo replied without hesitation, "It's no big deal to open a furnace just for a tool that concerns the cub. Didn't you say you were going to make it with metal strips? It shouldn't be too difficult to make."

Jian Mo: "We need to discuss that with the tribe first. If they're willing, I'll draw a diagram of the forceps on a wooden board. But I need to ask first how big the baby will be at birth and what its shape will be, so I can draw the design."

Qing Kuo: "We remember that. It's different for each clan. When my Ban Ming and Banjiu were born, they were about the size of two fists. They were in beast form when they were born, curled up."

Qing Kuo clenched his two fists and gestured for Jian Mo to see. One fist represented the fetus's head, and the other its body—this is roughly what the baby looked like when it was first born, with its head and body being the same size.

He was tall and had big fists, about the size of two fists, which was actually quite large.

Jian Mo quickly said, "Wait a minute, let me write it down on the wooden board."

Qing Kuo: "Our Spirit Cat Clan's fetuses are relatively small. The Giant Wolf clan, Giant Bear clan, and Giant Armor Beast clan, among others, are much larger, making childbirth more difficult. Wait until I finish cutting the meat, then I'll come over and draw it for you."

Ye Luo said, "It also depends on the baby's weight. A baby like Zhou Dao, who is quite chubby, was very difficult for Chen Yi to. At that time, Chen Yi's partner Min Kuo, almost had to ask the tribe's sub-beastmen to drag the baby out directly. Fortunately, the elders of the tribe stopped him."

Jian Mo thought about the little white wolf's Zhou Dao build and realized that giving birth there would indeed be very difficult.

Jian Mo had little experience with fetal development and such, so it was difficult for her to imagine or judge.

As for dystocia caused by various malpositions of the fetus, Jian Mo is much more familiar with this. Forceps are often used in this situation to turn the fetus into the correct position or to directly deliver the fetus.

He has experience with this.

After careful communication, Jian Mo drew the shape of forceps on a wooden board and formally asked the tribe to help make them. He mainly told De Jiang and the others to help.

De Jiang and his fellow skilled workers had forged various metal tools during the winter, so the birthing forceps were not difficult for them.

Fortunately, the tribe had leftover charcoal from the winter, and all the materials were readily available, so they could just start the furnace and make it.

Wu Jiong also went over to help with the production.

To cope with various situations, the tribe made several different sizes and blade lengths of forceps for Jian Mo. They also reworked his tweezers, scalpels, and other tools, adjusting their shapes and sharpening them.

Jian Mo was overjoyed to receive a large box of metal tools. She personally delivered half a basket of metal to De Jiang and the others to express her sincere gratitude.

He was happy, and the orcs from the tribe who had helped make the tools were also quite happy.

Besides the tribe's share, the metal would be distributed among the people who participated in making the tools. After several days of hard work, everyone was quite happy to have so much metal.

By collecting metal and forging one or two metal tools, hunting or gathering can be much easier.

Jian Mo obtained the forceps and specifically asked Qing Kuo others to spread the word that they wanted to contact the pregnant sub-beastman. They said that if anyone felt unwell or needed help, they could contact him or call him. He wouldn't accept any supplies.

Qing Kuo quickly arranged for people to spread the message to all the tribes. "It would be a shame to go to other tribes and not collect any supplies."

Jian Mo: "It's okay, let's gain experience first. Besides, with Jiujiu now, it's quite convenient to go to other tribes."

Qing Kuo smiled and said, "You don't mind at all. Alright, let's get down to business."

Jian Mo became serious and gestured for him to speak.

Qing Kuo: "The tribe held a meeting these past two days and decided not to interfere with your actions anymore. If you don't want to gather, you don't have to go out to gather; if you want to gather, you can come with us. It's up to you; the tribe doesn't make any demands."

Jian Mo: "So, I'll be free to move around from now on, instead of spending about half the month gathering like everyone else?"

Qing Kuo: "Yes, just like in winter, you can act as if the tribe isn't doing anything collectively, but you'll still get a share of the supplies."

Jian Mo was taken aback. "How can that be? I can't just take the supplies for free if I don't participate in the group activity."

Qing Kuo waved his hand. "You've made contributions to the tribe, how can you say you're taking it for nothing? When you treat people from other tribes, don't you hand over a portion of the supplies you receive to the tribe?"

Jian Mo thought for a moment and still refused, "Forget it, we don't lack supplies, so let's not take these supplies. I'm afraid it'll be fine in the short term, but in the long run, some people will feel it's unfair, and that could easily ruin the tribe's atmosphere."

Jian Mo's words made sense, and Qing Kuo was quickly convinced. "Let me discuss it with everyone again."

Jian Mo grabbed Qing Kuo, and said with a hint of excitement, "Let's not talk about that for now. I'd like to borrow the pit in the tribe where we soak animal hides, is that alright?"

The tribe dug large pits in the back mountains specifically for tanning animal hides. Jian Mo went to check on them at noon, and there are still several pits empty, so they should be available for use.

Qing Kuo nodded. "Of course, but what do you want to use it for?"

Jian Mo: "Do you remember the paper I told you about before? Using wooden boards is too inconvenient. I'm thinking of peeling some bark and making a batch of paper."

Qing Kuo remembered. "Oh, that? Okay, do you need us to help you peel the bark?"

Jian Mo: "No need, we won't do much, it's just a little bark, we'll peel it off in no time."

Qing Kuo: "Then you guys use it. Just call us if you need any help."

With permission granted, Jian Mo took Wu Jiong outside that afternoon and brought back two large baskets of relatively fine-textured tree bark.

The bark is soft and elastic, somewhat like animal hide.

After peeling the bark back, while it was still fresh, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong first chopped it finely with a knife, and then transported it to the stone mortar to be pounded.

After working for half the afternoon, they had four large baskets of cotton wool.

Wu Jiong: "Then you can just soak it?"