The next step is to make the windows.
Lin Feng didn't have a diamond knife, so he could only use the most primitive method: using the hard and sharp tip of flint, he forcefully scratched a deep groove on the glass plate, then placed a thin wooden stick under the groove, and applied even force with both hands on both sides of the groove to "pry" the glass open.
This process is fraught with risk; if not handled carefully, the glass could shatter in the wrong direction.
Lin Feng was completely focused, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. After a series of careful operations, he finally managed to cut the three intact glass plates into roughly suitable squares.
The cut glass edges were very sharp, so Lin Feng used hard sandstone, dipped in water, to polish the glass edges little by little to prevent himself from getting hurt, and also to better fit it into the window frame.
The final step is installation.
He carefully inserted the polished glass plate into the groove of the wooden window frame.
Then, he used pre-prepared thin wooden strips to secure the glass from the inside. To enhance the seal and stability, he also mixed the fine fibers of the "tough vine" with some viscous oil extracted from the "petroleum fruit" and fine clay to create a primitive "putty," which he carefully filled into the gap between the glass and the window frame.
When the first glass window was carefully inserted into the window opening in the wooden house wall by Lin Feng and secured with wooden wedges.
For the first time, a bright yet gentle ray of sunlight pierced through the transparent barrier without reservation, shining onto the floor of the wooden house.
Lin Feng stood inside the house, looking at the area illuminated by the sunlight.
Looking at the familiar scenery outside the window, an indescribable sense of accomplishment and happiness welled up in my heart.
The cabin was no longer dark, and the view suddenly opened up.
He could clearly see the forest outside, see Wangcai running around in the yard, and see Meiying grooming its beautiful fur under the eaves.
Although this glass window is crude and insignificant compared to modern industrial products, in this primitive wilderness, it represents light and civilization.
This represents Lin Feng using his own hands and wisdom to once again overcome the limitations of nature and make his "home" even more perfect.
However, when night falls, lying on a simple bed made of hay and animal hides...
Lin Feng always felt that this comfort was not quite the ultimate.
Although a bed is a hundred times better than sleeping directly on the ground, the hay tends to clump together, and the animal hides are rather stiff, so lying on them for a long time can feel uncomfortable.
Especially after a busy day, what he longs for is the soft embrace of a place where he can completely relax and sink into a deep sleep.
"It's time to build myself a real mattress."
Lin Feng made up his mind. A mattress that would make him feel as comfortable as if he were lying on a cloud would be his next major project.
This is also a considerable undertaking, requiring patience, meticulousness, and a large amount of materials.
Lin Feng's requirements for a mattress are simple yet high: extreme softness and good support.
He envisioned the structure of high-end mattresses in modern society. Although they could not be completely replicated, their concept of layered pressure relief and soft filling materials was something he could learn from.
He plans to create a "sandwich" structure mattress:
The outer cover needed to be tough and durable, but not too rough. His first thought was of the hides of some large herbivores he had hunted before, whose hides were relatively fine and could become very soft after tanning.
Filling: This is the key to determining the softness of a mattress. Lin Feng began to search his mind for all the natural materials he knew that could be used as filling.
Feathers/Down: This is his first choice. Bird feathers, especially down feathers, are light, warm, and extremely soft.
He had consciously collected feathers from some larger birds during his previous hunts, but the quantity was far from sufficient. He needed a more stable source of feathers.
Over the next few days, Lin Feng made finding mattress materials his top priority.
He pulled out several large animal hides that he had stored away before. These hides had undergone preliminary degreasing and drying, but were still very stiff.
He needed to retan them to soften them. He decided to use a more refined method combining "oil tanning" and "smoking," which required grease (animal fat or oil from petroleum fruits) and a great deal of patience.
Next, he took Wangcai and Meiying and went to wander around the lake where he had previously discovered large water birds.
The phantom's agility played a crucial role at this time, allowing it to approach the wary waterbirds silently and occasionally catch one or two successfully.
Lin Feng carefully collected each feather, especially the downy feathers on the chest and abdomen.
He also carefully examined the waterbirds' nests, hoping to find some fallen feathers, but his efforts yielded limited results.
He realized that relying solely on hunting and gathering would result in a very slow accumulation of feathers.
That day, Lin Feng took Wangcai deep into a hilly area that he had rarely visited before.
The area is covered with shrubs, interspersed with some tall trees, and the ground is covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves.
"Awoo!"
Wangcai, who was sniffing around among the fallen leaves, suddenly lowered his body, let out a low warning growl, and looked warily at a dense thicket in front of him.
Lin Feng immediately stopped and gestured for Wangcai to be quiet.
He listened intently and faintly heard a "clucking...clucking..." sound coming from the bushes, along with the "rustling" sound of claws scratching the ground.
"Is that... a rooster's crow?" Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat.
He carefully parted the branches and leaves in front of him and peered through the gaps into the bushes.
There were seven or eight pheasants with brightly colored feathers, leisurely pecking at food in a clearing in the woods.
These pheasants were slightly smaller than modern domestic chickens, but appeared more agile.
The rooster's feathers are particularly vibrant, with a bright red comb on its head and long, ornate tail feathers that shimmer with a metallic sheen in the sunlight. The hen, on the other hand, appears more plain, mainly grayish-brown, which helps it to camouflage itself in its environment.
Lin Feng's eyes lit up instantly!
pheasant!
This is an excellent source of protein, and the delicious taste of chicken is something he's been longing for.
More importantly, if we can capture and raise them in captivity, we will not only have a source of meat, but also a continuous supply of eggs and... feathers!
This was a godsend for his plans to make mattresses!
"Wangcai, stay calm and don't make a sound."
Lin Feng spoke softly to Wangcai, while simultaneously calming the phantom perched on his shoulder, which was also peeking out with great interest in the pulsating colors.
He began to carefully observe the range and habits of the pheasants.
They are not too afraid of people, or rather, in this primeval forest, they have not yet regarded humans as a major threat.
They huddle together in groups of three or five, pecking at grass seeds and insects on the ground while occasionally letting out short chirps.
"We must find a way to wipe them out in one fell swoop, or at least capture most of them."
Lin Feng quickly began to calculate. Charging directly at them was definitely not an option. Although these pheasants looked leisurely, they were very vigilant. Once startled, they would immediately flap their wings and fly into the dense forest, making them difficult to find again.
He thought of traps. He had made lasso traps before, but those were for ground animals. Ordinary ground lassos might not be very effective against these flying pheasants.
"net!"
An idea flashed through his mind. Using a net to catch them would greatly increase the success rate.
Lin Feng temporarily abandoned his plan to go deeper into the area and quietly retreated with Wangcai and Meiying, starting his preparations in a place far away from the pheasant's activity area.
He needs a large amount of strong, fine thread to weave the net. The inner bark fiber of the "tough vine" previously used to make fishing line is the best choice.
After most of the day's work, a chicken-catching net with a diameter of about three meters and even mesh size finally took shape.
Although it was rudimentary, Lin Feng believed it would be sufficient to accomplish the task.
The next morning, Lin Feng, carrying his newly made chicken-catching net and some golden fox rice as bait, returned to the hills.
He first carefully cleared a relatively open space at the edge of the area where pheasants frequently appeared, and then cleverly set up the pheasant-catching net.
He secured one end of the net to several small trees and tied a long rope to the other end. Holding the end of the rope, he hid behind a dense thicket of bushes dozens of meters away.
He sprinkled a small pinch of golden fox rice under the net. This fragrant grain is irresistibly alluring to birds.
Everything is ready; all that's left is to wait.
Time ticked by, and Lin Feng held his breath, remaining motionless. He also ordered Wangcai and Meiying to stay by his side, forbidding them from making any noise.
Finally, a "clucking" sound came from afar.
Several pheasants cautiously peeked out from the bushes, looked around for a moment, and finding no danger, began to walk towards the area where golden fox rice was scattered.
The leader was a robust rooster, which cautiously pecked at a few grains of rice before letting out a satisfied crow to call its companions over.
Soon, seven or eight pheasants gathered under the net, heads bowed, scrambling to eat the delicious golden fox rice.
Now!
A glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes, and he suddenly pulled on the rope in his hand!
"Splash!"
The chicken-catching net, like a cage falling from the sky, instantly covered the flock of pheasants who were busy eating!
"Giggle!"
The pheasants immediately erupted into chaos, scattering in panic and flapping their wings in an attempt to take flight, only to become entangled in the netting, their struggles only tightening the netting.
Lin Feng dashed out of the bushes in one stride, with Wangcai excitedly barking behind him.
He quickly ran to the edge of the net, held down the constantly bouncing net, and then began to pull the pheasants out of the net one by one.
These pheasants were quite strong, and their claws were very sharp. Lin Feng had to exert a lot of effort and even got several bloody scratches on his hands before he could successfully capture all eight pheasants (three males and five females).
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