The wind grows colder day by day, sweeping through the treetops and swirling up fallen leaves, foreshadowing a long and harsh winter.
For the creatures living in this primeval wilderness, the approaching winter means that the test of survival will also intensify.
Lin Feng stood in front of his carefully repaired and expanded log cabin and took a deep breath of the crisp air.
He looked up at the sky; the leaden clouds hung low, and the sunlight had become stingy, no longer possessing the intensity of summer.
"Winter is coming," he murmured to himself, his eyes showing no panic, but rather a calm and anticipation for the unknown challenges ahead.
He is no longer the deliveryman who was new to the area and felt lost about everything.
This forest tempered his will and endowed him with the wisdom and strength to survive.
Next to the wooden house, a small mountain of firewood was neatly piled up.
These were all chopped out by Lin Feng, one axe at a time.
Since he successfully forged several sharp and durable iron axes using the iron he had collected and the inspiration he had gained from the saber-toothed tiger, his efficiency in felling and processing timber has greatly increased.
That most handy iron axe had a blade that gleamed with a cold light, and a handle that was made of tough hardwood, providing an excellent grip.
Lin Feng swung his iron axe, each strike precise and powerful.
"Crack!" "Crack!" With crisp sounds, the thick tree trunk split open and broke into uniform blocks of wood suitable for use in fireplaces and stoves.
He selected hardwoods that are resistant to burning, such as oak and birch, which burn with a strong flame and can provide continuous heat.
Sweat dripped down his forehead, but he didn't care at all; instead, he enjoyed the exhilarating work.
Wangcai ran around happily, occasionally picking up a small piece of wood shavings and running to Lin Feng's feet as if to show off.
In addition to burning firewood directly, Lin Feng also spent a lot of effort making charcoal.
He selected some dry hardwood and dug a simple charcoal kiln downwind of the wooden house.
The wood is ignited inside the kiln, and the air intake is controlled to allow it to slowly carbonize under high temperature and oxygen-deficient conditions.
This process requires patience and experience. Lin Feng only mastered the knack after many attempts and failures.
The charcoal produced is hard, burns for a long time, has a strong flame, and produces little smoke, making it an excellent fuel for heating and cooking in winter.
He carefully collected the burnt charcoal and stored it in a specially built moisture-proof shed in a corner of the wooden house. The dark charcoal was piled up like a mountain, emitting a unique charred aroma, which was a warm promise.
He estimated that the firewood and charcoal would be enough to sustain him through a long, cold winter, with some to spare.
True confidence comes from an abundance of food.
Lin Feng's warehouse, after months of hard work and accumulation, has become dazzling and breathtaking.
The warehouse was built with sturdy logs and the interior was carefully treated for moisture and rodent control.
As soon as you enter the warehouse, a rich aroma of food wafts over you.
The most eye-catching thing is that huge pile of golden grains – “Golden Fox Rice”.
Meat reserves were plentiful. Rows of dried meat strips hung on huge wooden racks.
There was dried wild boar meat, dried venison, and meat from some unidentified wild animals.
These are all hunted by Lin Feng. After careful processing, they are salted and then naturally air-dried in the dry north wind of autumn. As the moisture evaporates, the meat becomes firm and chewy, making it an excellent source of protein and energy.
Besides dried meat, there is also cured meat and salted fish.
Lin Feng uses a smoking method to make cured meat. He hangs large pieces of marinated meat in a specially made smoking room and slowly smokes it with pine and cypress branches. The oil slowly seeps out during the smoking process, making the meat oily, salty and fragrant, with a unique flavor.
The salted fish were caught by him from nearby streams and lakes; some weighed over ten kilograms, while others weighed two or three kilograms.
After being salted, the fish are hung to dry under the eaves. Strings of silvery-white salted fish sway gently in the breeze, emitting a faint fishy and salty smell. This is an important ingredient for him to improve the taste of his dishes.
In the corner, there were also some pickled vegetables and jams sealed in earthenware jars.
The pickled vegetables were made by him using some wild root vegetables and wild greens, and they were sour, crisp and refreshing.
The jam is made by boiling various wild fruits. It is sweet and sour and can be spread on grilled meat or eaten directly.
In addition, there are large chunks of red fairy salt.
Looking at his fully stocked warehouse, Lin Feng felt a surge of pride and security.
The food was not only diverse but also plentiful, enough for him to get through the winter comfortably, and even allow him to splurge occasionally to treat himself and his companions.
In addition to food and fuel, Lin Feng also stockpiled other winter supplies.
The dyes were extracted from various plants; they were red, yellow, and blue. He used these dyes to color animal hides in different ways, intending to use them to make more beautiful clothes and decorations.
Various types of wood were also piled up in categories: some hard wood was used to make tools and weapons, while others were relatively soft wood used to make daily necessities.
He even found some wood with a special fragrance, intending to use it to make some small ornaments.
Although coal reserves are not as large as charcoal reserves, there are still some.
He found it in an exposed coal seam; it was of good quality and had a high calorific value.
He plans to mix coal and charcoal during the coldest times to generate more heat.
Inside the cabin, the fire in the fireplace was burning brightly, crackling and dispelling the chill in the room.
The Phantom, a small, purple beast with bright, lively eyes, was curled up on a soft animal skin cushion in front of the fireplace. Its body was tucked into a ball, with only its small head showing. Its eyes were closed in contentment, and it was making satisfied gurgling sounds in its throat.
The warm flames made its fur gleam.
Wangcai, on the other hand, seemed to have an excess of energy.
Unlike the Phantom, which craves warmth, it becomes even more excited as the weather turns cooler.
It paced back and forth in the wooden house, occasionally nudging Lin Feng's legs with its nose, or running to the door and barking at the outside, urging Lin Feng to take it out to play.
Lin Feng smiled and patted its head, calming the restless creature.
For his most important partner—his white moonlight.
Lin Feng poured countless efforts into it.
He built a spacious and sturdy stable for Bai Yueguang next to the wooden house, right next to the warehouse.
The stable was framed with sturdy logs, the walls were made of thick wooden planks, and the roof was covered with double layers of thatch and animal hides to ensure good wind protection and insulation.
Inside the stable, the floor was covered with a thick layer of hay, soft and comfortable. The feeding troughs and water troughs were carved from single blocks of stone, clean and durable.
What Lin Feng was most proud of was that he built a small stone stove in a corner of the stable, based on the principle of a fireplace.
Although the stove was small, it was enough to provide continuous warmth to the stable on cold nights. Next to the stove were piles of chopped firewood and a small amount of charcoal, specially prepared for White Moonlight.
Lin Feng would carefully clean the stables every day, replace the hay with fresh ones, and ensure that Bai Yueguang's feeding trough had fresh grass and clean water.
He hoped that his beloved child could spend her first winter in this warm and comfortable "home" peacefully.
White Moonlight also loves its new home. It will stay quietly in the stable, and from time to time, it will gently touch Lin Feng with its sacred unicorn horn to express its affection and contentment.
Lin Feng stroked the white moonlight's soft, snow-white fur, watching it lie comfortably in the warm stable, and felt a sense of peace in his heart.
He knew that no matter how harsh the outside world was, as long as he managed it with his heart, he could create a warm haven for himself and his partners.
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