The reconstruction of the Xindu base is proceeding in an orderly manner.
The pottery that Guo Zifeng had made was discarded and smashed into sharp shards, which were then scattered around the Xindu camp. A ring of shards was also inserted into the fence, which would basically prevent all animals from invading.
Even a bear would feel pain from a piece of ceramic.
They even built a special shed for poultry to raise the wild ducks there, and they plan to gradually add more poultry in the future. Guo Zifeng and his team also discovered a few swans on the island and are considering how to capture them.
Fish farming was also underway in the pond. To help the fish fry grow faster and healthier, Chen Yang threw in a lot of bamboo worms and ants. However, several large fish were eaten by the two black bears.
Just as Chen Yang and his team finished rebuilding the camp and were about to release the black bear, they discovered something that left them speechless.
These two black bears are hibernating!
Yes, it's not winter yet, but they're already hibernating!
The traps they dug were excellent hibernation sites, and the temperature had indeed been dropping recently. In addition, the two bears had been searching for food for a while and stored up enough energy, so they naturally went into hibernation.
The little black bear did not hibernate. After discovering that its parents were hibernating, it stopped lingering near the trap, but would still come over occasionally. Chen Yang continued to try to feed it, even using roasted meat to lure the little black bear.
If we can tame this black bear, then its parents will be easier to deal with.
However, bears are solitary animals, so these two adult bears must have been in their mating season to be together. The cub was probably born to the mother last year and, judging by its size, is over a year old.
Ye Wu did indeed greatly improve the food on the island after he went there.
The island in the middle of the lake is rich in prey, with plenty of birds and beasts. However, none of the four people on the island are good at hunting, and they also have their own jobs to do. If Ye Wu hadn't come over, they would have considered killing a domesticated goat.
"Chen Yang, the weather is getting colder and colder. We must keep warm, otherwise it will be difficult to move around even during the day," Wang Bing said to Chen Yang.
After several rain showers in the micro-world, the temperature did indeed drop noticeably. Fortunately, they had recently hunted deer and sheep and provided everyone with genuine leather coats.
"This is indeed a big problem."
The two lambs are not yet old enough to be sheared, and even if they were, it wouldn't be enough. If all else fails, the only option is to get rid of the goats on the island in the middle of the lake and use their skins for warmth, but Chen Yang doesn't want to do that unless absolutely necessary.
"Let's do some more research and see if there's a solution," Chen Yang said.
The issue of heating is urgent, as temperatures could drop sharply at any time. The Cang'er Snow Mountain in the north is already covered in snow after several rains.
If there isn't much outdoor activity, it's relatively easy to manage. You can add underfloor heating inside the cabin, which is enough to get through the cold winter. However, they don't have that much heating capacity to use, so keeping warm outdoors is necessary.
"I'm currently learning how to make a rather primitive spinning machine. If someone helps, we should be able to finish making everyone's clothes before the temperature drops. Although they're woven from tree bark and uncomfortable to wear, they should still be quite useful."
Jiang Yining said that this surprised Chen Yang greatly. If there were a layer of bark fiber clothing over animal fur, it would indeed be much warmer. Bark fiber clothing alone would not be enough, as it would be stiff and uncomfortable. It would be much better if it were an outer layer of fur.
"Li Sen, you help Yining knit clothes. I'll call Bai Jing back too," Chen Yang said.
Li Sen was very interested in knitting clothes, so he happily agreed.
"Su'er, Brother Jiang, let's go into Night Forest again. This time our goal is to hunt; we need furs."
Chen Yang led the two into Night Forest again. This time, he also brought along the lucky one. With the lucky one around, the hunting efficiency would be much higher.
They went for three days before coming out, and their harvest wasn't great; they only caught one deer, which was better than nothing, but they did manage to catch two more wild ducks.
Good news came from the island in the middle of the lake: Ye Wu and Guo Zifeng had actually hunted a cow.
Unfortunately, they couldn't catch it alive; the cow, in its panic, lost its way and fell to its death.
Jiang Bo rushed over and removed the beef tendons and hide.
Beef tendon is an excellent material for bowstrings, and cowhide can be used to make clothes and shoes, which are very warm and durable.
This cow was quite large, enough to feed everyone for a while, but the beef was very precious at the moment, and no one was willing to eat it. It was smoked and preserved, and they ate the meat of other animals and wild fruits first.
Since there are cows on the island, there must be more than one. Ye Wu and his group searched for more than a day but found nothing. They didn't know where the cows had hidden.
Another encouraging thing is that the horses have been almost tamed. Everyone went to the island to try riding horses. Surprisingly, the most talented one was Xiao Chenliu. He quickly got the hang of it and even became friends with a pony.
Chen Yang and his team went to great lengths to transport three horses to the Xindu camp, where they were raised alongside the sheep, allowing everyone to gradually improve their riding skills.
Horses brought convenience, greatly improving the efficiency of hunting and transportation.
In this way, Hou Yu and his group have been in the Micro Realm for more than twenty days without realizing it, and in these twenty days, no new members have joined the Micro Realm.
Jiang Bo originally wanted to bring his mother in first, but after careful consideration, he decided to postpone it, as the current state of the micro-world was indeed not suitable for the elderly.
The temperature was slowly dropping, and the weaving work was progressing smoothly. However, the clothes woven from tree bark fibers were too restrictive, so the first batch was used as mats. They then found another type of tree bark to continue weaving.
"I'm actually hoping another pack of wolves will attack us now; wolf pelts are really warm," Ye Wu said with a helpless smile.
The cow's hide from last time was made into leather shorts, which were given to a few girls first. The men are still wearing grass skirts, and every time a cold wind blows, they feel a cool sensation between their legs.
Fortunately, everyone has underwear, otherwise it would be troublesome if they got cold.
As temperatures drop, another problem gradually emerges.
That means the animals' activity levels have started to decrease.
Apart from the two bears, the other animals had not yet entered hibernation, but their activity had indeed decreased, making traps less effective and hunting less fruitful.
The only saving grace is that the fishpond is still in a stable condition, and the fishing traps by the lake often yield fish and shrimp, so everyone can still have fish to eat every day.
Everyone began to consciously conserve dried meat, and the few remaining on the island returned to the Xindu camp. The horses were no longer kept in check, allowing them to roam freely. Hou Yu and Li Ye could now summon the horses at any time, eliminating the need for them to be kept in captivity.
With Guo Zifeng's help, the cabin had its fireplace renovated and underfloor heating installed.
Jiang Yining had the foresight to suggest drying fruit. They now have dried mangoes, kiwis, strawberries, and other fruits, and they've also made jam by juicing sugarcane and cooking it together with the fruit.
Chen Yang also asked Jiang Bo to find several kinds of edible plant seeds, collect them in large quantities, grind them into powder, and store several jars of powder, which can be used to make pancakes.
"It feels like we're living a pretty decent life," Hou Yu remarked after eating the jam pancake.
“That’s right, I wake up every day and think I’m still in the micro-world,” Wang Bing said, agreeing wholeheartedly.
Chen Yang looked out the window and suddenly noticed that it was raining again, with snowflakes mixed in.
The real test is about to begin.
I recommend a book to a friend called "The Devil's True Name." If you're looking for something to read, you should check it out.
(End of this chapter)
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