The days passed in this tense yet expectant atmosphere.
Nourished by the unique energy of the Sunwheel Tree Basin, the seedlings of Sunwheel Tree grew at an astonishing rate. In just a few weeks, they grew significantly taller, and the light and heat they emitted became increasingly noticeable, stabilizing the temperature inside the greenhouse within a range suitable for crop growth.
The heat preservation effect of the transparent vine film also exceeded Lin Feng's expectations, and the greenhouse can maintain sufficient warmth even when the temperature drops sharply at night.
Golden Fox Rice and Sweet Potatoes are growing at an astonishing rate.
The Golden Fox Rice plant is growing taller and taller, with lush, vibrant green leaves.
They greedily absorb the sunlight from the sun-ringed tree and thrive in the warm environment.
Meanwhile, the vines of the sweet potato spread along the ground, their thick leaves covering the ground, and their tubers were quietly swelling in the damp soil.
"Mr. Lin, look! The Golden Fox Rice has started to sprout ears!"
One day, Su Wanqing pointed to the golden scene inside the greenhouse and shouted excitedly.
Lin Feng walked into the greenhouse and saw that the ears of Golden Fox Rice were already full and drooping, each grain shimmering with a golden luster and emitting an enticing fragrance of grain.
In the adjacent sweet potato field, large tubers could be vaguely seen through the cracks in the soil.
"Great!" A huge weight was lifted from Lin Feng's shoulders. This meant that their agricultural plan had achieved initial success.
However, Lin Feng did not relax because of this.
He knew that this was only the first batch of crops, and that a longer and more stable development was needed to truly achieve food self-sufficiency in the shelter.
He has already begun considering the planting of the second and third batches of crops, as well as how to expand the scale of planting.
Just as the first batch of Golden Fox Rice and Sweet Potatoes were about to ripen, the weather outside the shelter began to turn extremely bad.
The temperature plummeted, a biting wind howled through the air, and a suffocating, leaden gray atmosphere filled the air.
Large snowflakes fell from the sky, drifting down like goose feathers, quickly covering the entire warm basin into a world of silver and white.
The sun-wheel trees' light appeared somewhat dim against the thick blanket of snow, but the heat they emitted stubbornly maintained the warmth around the shelter.
Lin Feng stood on the wall of the shelter, looking at the world outside shrouded in ice and snow, his brows furrowed.
In such weather, hunting and gathering are virtually impossible. If it weren't for the greenhouses set up in advance, the shelter's food reserves would likely have faced a crisis very soon.
He turned and walked into a greenhouse. Inside, it was warm and spring-like. The seedlings of the Japanese privet emitted a soft, orange-yellow glow, illuminating the entire greenhouse.
The ears of rice in the Golden Fox Rice plantation are fully ripe, hanging heavily, each grain so plump it seems about to burst open.
The sweet potato tubers are also ripe, their large purple bodies half-exposed above the soil, emitting a mixed aroma of earth and sweetness.
"We can harvest now." A hint of joy flashed in Lin Feng's eyes.
Lin Feng once again entrusted the harvesting work to the women. They excitedly entered the greenhouse, carefully using small knives to cut the ears of Golden Fox Rice and then placing them into specially made bamboo baskets.
Although their movements were not very skilled, they were full of enthusiasm.
Tang Bao worked especially hard. She carefully harvested every single Golden Fox Rice stalk, afraid of missing even a single grain.
Her face radiated unprecedented satisfaction and happiness.
She knew that these golden grains were not just food, but also Lin Feng's recognition of their efforts and the reason why they lived.
Qin Lan and Su Wanqing were in charge of directing and quality control. They ensured that every crop was properly harvested, and then carried out preliminary cleaning and sorting of the harvested Golden Fox Rice and sweet potatoes.
The "Golden Silk Miners Team" is responsible for transporting the harvested crops out of the greenhouse and for tilling and cleaning the soil inside the greenhouse in preparation for the next round of sowing.
Harvesting golden fox rice is relatively simple, but digging up sweet potatoes requires some effort.
The women carefully dug the large sweet potato tubers out of the soil using wooden shovels and bamboo baskets specially made by Lin Feng.
The yield of sweet potatoes is quite considerable; each tuber is as big as an adult's fist, and some are even larger.
When the first batch of crops was harvested and piled up in the shelter's warehouse, everyone was stunned by the sight before them.
The golden fox rice was piled up like a mountain, emitting an enticing aroma of grains.
Next to it were mounds of sweet potatoes, with purple and white tubers arranged in a neat and orderly fashion, resembling small mountains of grain.
"Mr. Lin, this...this much!"
Xiaomei excitedly scooped up a handful of Golden Fox Rice, tears welling up in her eyes. Since arriving on this alien planet, they had never seen such abundant food reserves.
Looking at these fruitful results, Lin Feng finally showed a satisfied smile.
At that moment, he felt an unprecedented sense of accomplishment.
"Tonight, we'll have Golden Fox Rice and Stewed Sweet Potatoes with Meat!" Lin Feng announced loudly.
The women erupted in cheers. For a long time, their staple food consisted of dried meat and a small amount of vegetables; now, they could finally eat fresh grains and tubers, which was undoubtedly a great luxury.
That night, the shelter was brightly lit, and the atmosphere was more lively than ever.
Xiaomei and the other women in charge of the meals washed the Golden Fox Rice clean and put it into a ceramic pot to be slowly steamed using the residual heat of the sun-wheel wood.
After being steamed, Golden Fox Rice releases a rich and unique aroma of grains, more mellow than rice and wheat on Earth. The grains are plump, golden in color, and have a soft, chewy texture. Every bite contains a subtle energy that warms the body and mind.
The sweet potatoes were cut into chunks and stewed with the beast meat. The sweet and glutinous texture of the sweet potatoes and the rich flavor of the beast meat blended perfectly, resulting in a thick and delicious broth. The sweet potatoes melted in your mouth, and the meat chunks were tender and flavorful.
Everyone devoured their food, their faces beaming with unprecedented satisfaction and happiness.
Tang Bao ate the golden fox rice in her bowl, tears streaming down her face.
This rice was more than just food; it was a feeling of redemption deep within her heart.
She looked at Lin Feng, her eyes filled with unprecedented admiration and gratitude. Brother Lin Feng was so strong, so wise; he always managed to find a way out of desperate situations and lead them to survival.
Qin Lan and Su Wanqing were also deeply moved. Looking at the mountain of Golden Fox Rice and sweet potatoes, their unease and anxiety dissipated considerably.
With these reserves, the shelter can at least survive this long and cold alien winter.
This meal was not only a feast for the taste buds, but also a spiritual baptism.
It gave everyone hope, showed them Lin Feng's wisdom and strength, and filled them with confidence in the future.
However, Lin Feng did not bask in his joy for long.
He knew this was not the time for complacency. He had to immediately begin the next round of planting and consider how to scale up the operation to prepare for potentially greater challenges in the future.
The road ahead is long and fraught with challenges. But Lin Feng believes that as long as there is enough food, enough tools, and enough strength...
They will surely be able to carve out a home for themselves on this alien planet.
In the following weeks, under Lin Feng's absolute will, the "Golden Silk Miners" operated like the most sophisticated machines, frantically extracting resources from the mine. Towering piles of charcoal and mountains of iron ore foreshadowed an upheaval that was about to occur.
At dusk that day, Lin Feng summoned everyone.
He wasn't standing on a high place, but rather in front of the newly built, enormous forging furnace.
He didn't even look at anyone; his gaze was coldly scrutinizing the newly forged, angular steel billets in front of him.
"We need a real fortress."
"The wooden walls are as fragile as paper in the face of these strange beasts. If we come again, or encounter an even stronger enemy, we will all die here."
"Mr. Lin, do you mean... rebuilding the shelter with steel and stone?"
Qin Lan asked, her voice tinged with shock. She knew what a massive undertaking this would be.
“That’s right.” Lin Feng looked at the mountain of iron ore and the hard stone he had found during the excavations: “We have the Gold Silk Mining Team, and enough iron ore and stone. We must completely upgrade our shelter into a true steel fortress!”
He turned his gaze to all the women present, including Qin Lan, Su Wanqing, Tang Bao, Xiao Mei, Shen Jiaqi, Ruan Mengtian, and Qian Xiaoxiao.
"From this moment forward, everyone must participate in the construction of the fortress." Lin Feng's voice was unquestionable, even tinged with coldness: "I will no longer distinguish between men and women, nor between those with superior physical strength. On this planet, there is only survival and death. If you cannot contribute to the construction of the fortress, then you are not qualified to enjoy the protection it provides!"
Upon hearing this, the women's faces turned pale.
“Mr. Lin, we…we are women after all…” Qian Xiaoxiao said tremblingly, trying to persuade him.
"What's wrong with being a woman?" Lin Feng's icy gaze swept over her. "Do you think the beasts will spare you just because you're women? Do you think the harsh winter will spare you just because you're women? In this place, tears and weakness have no value! You can eat golden fox rice and sleep in warm greenhouses because someone is risking their life for you outside! Now, it's your turn to pay the price!"
His gaze turned to Su Wanqing: "Su Wanqing, you are in charge of surveying and planning, and supervising the construction quality. Qin Lan, you are responsible for coordinating all manpower, arranging shifts, and ensuring the supply of materials. Xiao Mei, in addition to treating the wounded, you should also participate in the construction as much as you can."
He then looked at Tang Bao, Shen Jiaqi, Ruan Mengtian, Xiao Mei, and the other women: "You are responsible for the transportation and cleaning of the stone and steel. I will design a pulley and lever system inside the fortress to reduce the physical demands. At the same time, you will also be responsible for grinding the stone, mixing the adhesive, and some meticulous and patient laying work. Everyone must give their all until the fortress is completed!"
Lin Feng's tone was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.
“Starting today, I will link your daily performance with food rations.”
Lin Feng then dropped his trump card: "Only by completing the mission will we have enough food. Those who slack off will have their rations reduced! I, Lin Feng, mean what I say!"
These words sent a chill down everyone's spine.
Food was essential for their survival on this alien planet. Lin Feng's decision completely extinguished any thoughts they might have about slacking off or rebelling.
Qin Lan took a deep breath and stepped forward: "Mr. Lin, I understand what you mean. I will make sure everyone does their best to complete the mission."
Su Wanqing nodded as well. Although her face was still a little pale, there was a hint of determination in her eyes.
She knew that Lin Feng was doing this for the survival of everyone.
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