The next day, in the courtyard.

"Snap!"

Lin Feng was chopping wood with an axe.

The obsidian axe in his hand was incredibly sharp.

Whether it was hard black birch or oily red jujube wood, both split open and turned into uniformly sized pieces of firewood under his terrifyingly powerful chopping.

He swung his arm in a wide arc, the stone axe whistling through the air as it cleaved down, each strike precisely hitting the grain of the firewood with swift, clean precision.

The more he chopped, the more exhilarated he felt, and the more he chopped, the more he felt an inexhaustible energy within him.

He noticed that, without knowing when it started, his strength had increased significantly again!

In the past, splitting a piece of hardwood as thick as a thigh might have required several axe blows, or even the use of skillful force.

But now, he often only needs one axe stroke, and the hard wood will split open as easily as tofu!

The muscles in his arms, waist, abdomen, and thighs contain explosive energy with every exertion of force.

"Hahaha! That's great! That's really great!"

Lin Feng, shirtless, felt the power emanating from his bulging muscles and the exhilarating pleasure, and couldn't help but roar to the sky.

The sense of control that came from this pure power filled him with indescribable joy and confidence.

Although this godforsaken place is fraught with danger, it is also subtly transforming him, making him stronger!

He chopped up a mountain of firewood in one go and neatly stacked it next to the newly built fireplace, enough to keep him burning for quite some time.

Night quietly descends, and three moons take turns guarding the velvety night sky, casting their cool glow.

In the forest, the cold wind howled, swirling up the withered leaves and scattered snowflakes, making a whistling sound.

But inside Lin Feng's wooden house, it was a completely different scene, warm and spring-like.

In the newly built fireplace, the roaring flames danced merrily, crackling and popping.

The orange-red firelight illuminated Lin Feng's angular face, dispelling all the chill in the room.

The fireplace design was very successful, with heat radiating evenly to every corner of the cabin, while the smoke was vented outdoors through the towering chimney, keeping the air inside fresh and warm.

He took out some smoked dried meat from the cellar, cut it into small pieces with a stone knife, and scooped out some golden fox rice from the earthenware jar. He then cooked a pot of fragrant meat porridge in an earthenware pot.

He even splurged on a small piece of dried "frost fruit," and its sweet and sour taste instantly awakened his taste buds.

Sitting in front of the warm fire, eating steaming hot meat porridge, chewing on chewy jerky, and with some refreshing dried fruit, Lin Feng closed his eyes comfortably.

The comfort and abundance created by one's own hands in harsh environments is far beyond what the luxurious life of a peaceful and prosperous era can offer.

After a hearty meal, Lin Feng lay down on his wooden bed covered with soft animal hides, with a thick mat of dry grass beneath him, which was both warm and comfortable.

Listening to the howling wind outside the window, feeling the cozy warmth from the fire inside, and the satisfying fullness of the food in his stomach, an unprecedented sense of happiness and security enveloped him.

He could even clearly feel that his muscles and bones were undergoing some kind of positive change in this warm and comfortable environment, and his strength was slowly and continuously increasing.

"This is a life even the gods wouldn't trade!" Lin Feng sighed contentedly, a smile on his face, and drifted off to sleep.

In stark contrast to Lin Feng's warm, cozy, and peaceful wooden cabin, several miles away, lies a dark and damp cave.

Su Wanqing and her five companions were huddled together, shivering.

The cave entrance was barely covered by some withered branches and leaves, but the biting cold wind still relentlessly poured in through the gaps, making their teeth chatter.

They hadn't found any decent food for several days.

The occasional unknown grass roots and tree bark they found were not enough to fill their stomachs; instead, they made their stomachs feel even worse.

The once glamorous goddesses are now dressed in rags, their faces haggard like withered grass in autumn.

Several people developed obvious swelling on their faces and legs due to prolonged hunger and malnutrition; a light press would leave a deep dent that would take half a day to heal.

Their once-proud, devilish figures are now nothing but skin and bones; their once flawless skin is now covered in grime and frostbitten wounds.

The sparkle in their eyes had long since vanished, replaced by deep despair, numbness, and fear of death.

"It's so cold... I'm so hungry..." a young girl groaned weakly, her lips already turning purple from the cold.

“Water… does anyone have any water…” another woman asked hoarsely, her throat already parched.

Su Wanqing leaned against the cold stone wall, feeling the agonizing hunger in her stomach and the chill that seeped into her bones.

Looking at her companions' miserable, inhuman state, and recalling the wisps of smoke she had seen and the enticing aroma of meat she had smelled in front of Lin Feng's wooden house a few days earlier, as well as Lin Feng's fierce yet vibrant and powerful figure, an indescribable sense of regret and helplessness welled up in her heart.

If... if that man had taken them in back then, even if it was just to let them shelter from the wind under the eaves, or to give them a bowl of hot porridge...

But now, it's all too late. Their beauty, intelligence, and cunning, which they were so proud of, are worthless in this cruel, primitive world.

They could only watch helplessly as their life force slowly slipped away, waiting for a hopeless end amidst hunger and cold.

Outside the cave, the cold wind continued to rage, playing a mournful dirge for these lives that were about to wither away.

Inside Lin Feng's wooden cabin, the warm fire still burned quietly, guarding his peaceful dreams.

Two worlds, worlds apart.

The next morning.

The cold wind howled like a wild beast outside the window, and the swirling snow tapped against the window that Lin Feng had carefully made of animal hide, making a soft "rustling" sound.

But inside the wooden house, there was a warm and tranquil atmosphere, as if one were isolated from the world.

Inside the stone fireplace, the flames burned brightly, their orange-red light illuminating the entire room and casting a long shadow of Lin Feng onto the increasingly smooth wooden wall.

He was sitting in front of the fireplace in a newly made, more comfortable armchair, toying with a warm, smooth piece of animal bone in his hand, conceiving a new little gadget.

After his continuous improvement and "renovation" over this period of time, this wooden house is far more than the original crude shelter.

First, there was the lighting. In addition to the firelight from the fireplace, Lin Feng also made several simple but practical oil lamps using hollowed-out stones and animal fat left over from previous hunts.

The wicks are made of dried moss and plant fibers torn into thin strips and twisted together. Although the light is not as bright as modern lamps, it is enough to provide the necessary illumination at night, adding a touch of warmth and human touch to the wooden house.

Secondly, there's furniture.

A sturdy, flat wooden bed was already covered with thick, soft animal hides and hay, making it warm and comfortable.

A large wooden table, which he had carefully polished with a stone knife and a stone axe, was still rough and primitive, but it was also flat and smooth. On it were his daily pottery bowls and stone tools.

In the corner, several storage baskets woven from thin willow twigs and vines contained various tools and small pieces of processed animal hides, arranged in different categories.

Along the wall, rows of shelves built of sturdy wood were neatly arranged, on which he displayed his dried herbs, spare weapons, and some oddly shaped stones and pieces of wood that he treasured.

The ground was also treated. He further sanded the rough wooden planks that had been laid, carefully sealed the gaps with a mixture of animal hair and clay, and then laid a layer of tanned, relatively rough animal hide. It was warm and comfortable to walk on, and could also effectively insulate against the cold and dampness of the ground.

He even upgraded the doors and windows.

The door panels were reinforced with thicker wood and fitted with ingenious wooden latches that allow for a secure lock from the inside.

The windows were replaced with more transparent and tougher animal hides (swim bladders of large fish, which are very tough and light-transmitting after processing), and wooden window panes that could be opened and closed were made, which could both let in light and ventilation, and effectively resist wind and snow.

Lin Feng poured his heart and soul into perfecting every detail.

He genuinely regarded it as his "home" in this unfamiliar world.

This home, built by his own hands with sweat and wisdom, carries his sense of security and belonging.

Whenever he looks at his increasingly perfect home, an indescribable sense of pride and satisfaction wells up in his heart.

"Hmm, the windows could be sealed a bit better, and it would be best to add another layer of animal skin curtains with an inner lining, which would make them even warmer in winter."

Lin Feng stroked his chin, his gaze sweeping across the window as he pondered something.

He then looked at the pile of firewood beside the fireplace: "We need to increase our firewood reserves. With this awful weather, who knows how long winter will be?"

Just as he was pondering how to make the house more perfect and indestructible, his gaze inadvertently fell on the thick wooden plank at the entrance to the cellar.

The cellar was his real treasure trove!

Piles of "Golden Fox Rice" like small mountains, rows of dried meat and fish emitting an enticing smoky aroma, several large earthenware jars of cooked meat sealed with grease, and precious dried "Frost Fruit" and concentrated fruit pulp...

"hiss……"

Lin Feng couldn't help but smack his lips as he thought of those sweet and mellow "frost fruit juices".

Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed into his mind, and a bold and tempting thought sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

"With so much Golden Fox Rice, besides making porridge and pancakes, it seems... there's something else we can do with it?"

He muttered to himself, his gaze beginning to wander.

"And those Frost Fruits, they're so sweet, if only we could... make wine from them?"

The moment this thought appeared, it was like a fire being lit in his heart, burning ever brighter and brighter!

liquor!

In this cold, lonely, and perilous alien world, what a pleasure it would be to be able to drink a sip of wine that you brew yourself!

It not only warms the body and dispels the cold, but also soothes the soul, bringing a moment of joy and relaxation.

Moreover, there was just too much food!

The yield of "Golden Fox Rice" far exceeded his expectations, and the cellar was piled high with it.

Although those "frost fruits" were precious, he also stored a lot of dried fruit and fruit juice.

If it's just for regular consumption, we probably wouldn't be able to finish it even if we ate it until next year.

Rather than letting them potentially spoil and go to waste due to improper storage, why not... make the most of them and try a higher level of "culinary delights"!

"Brewing...brewing..."

Lin Feng muttered to himself repeatedly, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

In his mind, those long-forgotten, vague memories of the original brewing methods began to gradually become clear, as if they had been activated.

He recalled that the oldest wines were often made by fermenting the saccharification of grains with wild yeasts that are ubiquitous in nature, or by fermenting the sugars and yeasts naturally present in fruits.

"Golden Fox Rice is rich in starch, which can be saccharified and fermented into something similar to rice wine or beer!"

"Frost fruit is already cloyingly sweet and incredibly juicy, making it an excellent ingredient for brewing fruit wine. It can even be fermented with Golden Fox Rice; who knows, it might create some uniquely flavored 'otherworldly brew'!"

Thinking of this, Lin Feng felt his blood boiling.

This is not just about satisfying one's appetite; it's more like a challenge, a deep exploration and utilization of the world's resources, and a symbol of civilization!

He immediately stood up from his chair and paced back and forth in the cabin, his mind racing as he considered the feasibility of brewing wine.

First, there are the containers. He had previously fired quite a few earthenware jars and pots, although most of them were used to store food, but there were still some small and medium-sized earthenware jars that could be used.

If this brewing is successful, next time we can specially fire some larger earthenware urns that are more suitable for fermentation and storage of the wine.

The second step is raw material processing.

"Golden Fox Rice" needs to be steamed or boiled first to gelatinize it, and then it needs to be saccharified.

Brewing wine from "frost fruit" is relatively simple. Just crush it and let it ferment using its own sugar and the wild yeast attached to its skin.

Next is the fermentation environment. The temperature inside the log cabin is relatively constant, especially near the fireplace, which should provide a suitable temperature for yeast activity.

Finally, sealing is crucial. Fermentation requires a certain anaerobic environment, making the sealing of the earthenware jar essential. Clean, treated animal hides, combined with clay, can be used to seal the opening of the jar.

"Yes! Let's do it!" Lin Feng thought it over and over and found it more and more feasible, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

He had even begun to imagine:

On a snowy night, he sat in front of the warm fireplace, holding a bowl of his own homemade amber-colored wine with a unique fruity aroma, sipping it slowly. How pleasant and carefree that was!

At this moment, Lin Feng's expectations for this "home" took on a whole new dimension.

It not only needs to be sturdy, warm, and have plenty of food, but also... wine!

He went to the fireplace, added some firewood, and made the flames burn brighter.

The joy and anticipation in his heart burned brightly like the fire in the stove, dispelling all loneliness and cold.

The plan to create the perfect home has gained another exciting new goal!