Day 88: Bustling with Activity (Part 2)

Perhaps before long, all the soil exposed above the surface of this termite mound would be completely dug away. As I dug, numerous termites crawled about frantically on the dirt, but I tossed them all along with the clumps of earth straight into the plastic basket.

I recall reading somewhere before that termite eggs are considered a delicacy, but I lacked the courage to eat them, let alone the time to search for them. I had seen termite nests on television; generally speaking, they could be described as empires, with large ones stretching for hundreds of meters, so finding their eggs was entirely out of the question.

Ever since I cut down that fruit-bearing bush near the perimeter wall, the wild boars had not appeared in the vicinity again. This actually left me quite puzzled as to why that fruit held such a strong attraction for them, not to mention that honey badgers and sea birds also loved eating it. I would have to ask Ying Yuefeng about it next time.

They were still busy building the treehouse with great enthusiasm. For the walls, they utilized not only tree trunks but also the woven branch panels made by One-Thirty. These branch panels turned out to be an exceptional material. I never expected that someone who looked so brawny could possess such ingenuity and deft hands.

The materials used for these branch panels were leafy branches, vines, and some withered grass. With just these items, he managed to weave them into perfectly square shapes. It was simply remarkable.

Lashed to the tree trunks, these branch panels were not only waterproof but also breathable. Ying Yuefeng, standing nearby, had even raised a question, asking Brother Qian whether they should smear some mud onto the panels. Hearing this, I chuckled, shook my head, and walked away.

As one should know, this place was extremely hot. If mud were used to seal up the entire dwelling, the interior would become sweltering after being baked by the sun all day, and the residual heat would not dissipate until midnight, making comfortable sleep utterly impossible. Furthermore, given the frequency of rain here, even if mud were applied, it would sooner or later be washed away by the downpour.

Yet, the branch panels made by One-Thirty solved this problem perfectly. They were over two centimeters thick, but the gaps between the branches and leaves facilitated air circulation, preventing the interior from becoming too stuffy. At the same addition, the dense foliage effectively blocked out the rain. They truly made a wonderful material for walls. My only concern was whether these panels would still retain their current effectiveness after prolonged use, once they had aged and dried out. That, perhaps, would have to be tested by time.

I dumped all the soil transported from the termite mound into the previous pit, and also pounded the broken tiles we fired yesterday into a fine powder, mixing it thoroughly into the earth. According to the notebook, adding this grog would prevent the newly fired tiles from cracking too easily, and the success rate would be much higher than without it.

After adding some water, I jumped into the pit and trampled all the hauled dirt until it broke apart, working it into a muddy consistency. Based on past experience, after letting this trampled mud sit until tomorrow, it would be ready for shaping into tile blanks.

***

After finishing all this, only my lower back felt a bit sore. I originally intended to cook some more porridge for them, but Brother Qian stopped me. He said that these food supplies should be conserved as much as possible, as they were the kind of food that could evoke memories of home for everyone. The others wholeheartedly agreed with Brother Qian's words, and not a single person raised an objection; instead, they all nodded earnestly.

"However, all this food has been soaked in water. Even though it was dried out afterward, I feel that these items won't keep for much longer." I shared this news with them to prevent everyone from reluctance to eat, only for it all to spoil in the end.

"In that case, we can turn both the flour and cornmeal into thin flatbreads. As long as we make them dry enough, they won't spoil for a year or half. Eaten with water, these things are quite filling as well. What do you think, Brother Luo?" In fact, I had already tried the idea Brother Qian suggested, but the flatbreads I made were neither dry enough nor thin enough, so their shelf life was very short and they spoiled easily.

"That's a great idea, I agree. But I don't know how to make them. Is there anyone here who does?" I looked around and asked.

"I can do it!" Ye Qingchen suddenly stepped forward.

"Brother Luo, I can make them. Back in my hometown, I frequently made jianbing guozi myself. I know very well how to make these thin flatbreads. We just need to find a relatively flat and not-too-thick stone slab; the pancakes spread out on it will be dry and thin, and it's bound to be a complete success." Ye Qingchen added confidently, fearful that I might not believe him, and explained his idea as well.

"I think that's fine." I nodded. After all, I wasn't skilled at making such things, and since he was so confident, I would let him handle it.

Once this matter was settled, the sun was already directly overhead and fiercely hot. Everyone stopped working and sat down in the shade of the trees, eating the fruit distributed by Brother Qian.

Ye Qingchen looked curiously at Xiao Hei, who was gnawing on a fruit nearby, and could not help asking, "Brother Luo, is this Xiao Hei also from our ship?"

"No, it probably survived from that wrecked ship last time. It arrived here earlier than we did." Too lazy to offer any elaborate explanation, I brushed the question aside casually.

"Oh, Brother Luo, then how did it—"

"Shh..." Just as Ye Qingchen was about to press on with his questions, a silencing hiss came from One-Thirty. Everyone looked toward him. He pointed a finger past the perimeter wall, and they all gazed in that direction.

Ye Qingchen drew in a sharp breath. Every single person saw a group of wild boars outside the courtyard, rooting through the fallen leaves on the ground and marching step by step toward them...

Hadn't I cut down all the fruit-bearing plants outside? Why were these wild boars still coming over? It was like running into ghosts. Yet, the newcomers did not show any expressions of fear. In my view, since they had never even stepped outside their previous base, they ought to be utterly timid; how could they remain so calm upon seeing wild boars?

Instead, Brother Qian, seeing me look around, assumed I was frightened. He hurried over and tried to comfort me in a whisper: "Don't be afraid, Brother Luo. We had wild boars where we came from, too. As long as we don't move and avoid catching their attention, they generally won't attack us. Unless we suddenly encounter them head-on while walking or try to snatch their food, they won't assault us. You don't have to be scared; they shouldn't be able to get in."

While I felt genuinely grateful for Brother Qian's comforting words, he was underestimating me too much. In the past, I would have been terrified, especially when alone, but now with so many people around, plus the considerable distance between us, I certainly wasn't afraid.

In the end, the wild boars did not enter because the perimeter wall blocked their path forward. This did not provoke their anger, and they simply turned around and left. It was a false alarm. However, based on Brother Qian's analysis, this place might have become a new foraging route for the wild boars. If possible, we could dig a large pit next time and catch a few wild boars to eat.

Everyone raised both hands in approval of this idea. With so many people, it wouldn't take long to dig a large pit, provided that we had the tools. Brother Qian also mentioned that he would prepare a few more tools... though he didn't go into detail about what specific ones they would be.