While Zhao Xiaoxiu was happy that the new territory had been secured, she was also daunted by the prospect of clearing it up.
But it's getting late today, so let's find a place to rest and recuperate before deciding where to start tomorrow.
Peter Pan stayed in the lake, Zhao Gang dragged the hoverboard, Zhao Xiaoxiu and the supplies were placed on it, and Sister Monkey followed behind.
Giant broad-leaved plants and charred wood dominate the entire valley, and the streams that extend from the main river in all directions are like the veins of this valley, flowing in all directions and nourishing the mutated vegetation, making it grow more and more lush.
Upon arriving on the ground, Zhao Xiaoxiu's first impression was of darkness, dampness, and mud.
The huge leaves blocked out the sunlight, and very little sunlight shone through the gaps between the leaves, causing the ground to remain damp year-round.
Perhaps it's because human bodies appear so small in comparison to these giant plants that Zhao Xiaoxiu and her father walk on the ground, completely ignoring them.
However, the moss, vines, and fungi attached to the roots show incredible 'enthusiasm': the poisonous ones release poison, the non-poisonous ones have thorns, and there are even mushrooms that open their mouths wide and wait for their prey to come to them.
"Huh?" Zhao Xiaoxiu suddenly stopped and tugged at her father's sleeve, signaling him to turn around.
"The mushroom with this mouth is edible!" the little girl exclaimed excitedly.
Zhao Gang smiled and gestured to the cubs not to rush, to find a place to stay for the day before coming back to collect.
"How about Daddy cooks mushroom soup for dinner tonight?" Zhao Xiaoxiu looked at her father expectantly.
Seeing him nod, I happily said to the mushroom with its mouth open, "I'll come back to pick you later, bye-bye."
Open-mouthed mushroom: ? ? ?
A green fairy peeked out from the gap in her bag, glanced at the dull mushroom, and disdainfully flicked her branch. "Idiot, you don't even know you're about to be eaten."
To please its little master, the green fairy sprouted even more branches and secretly stole mushrooms from behind.
She picked a flower and put it into her bag, and soon Zhao Xiaoxiu's crossbody bag was bulging.
Zhao Xiaoxiu looked down and noticed the Green Fairy's little gesture, but just smiled and said nothing.
The father and daughter walked for more than an hour in the dark and damp valley, but could not find a place with good light and dry ground.
Zhao Gang felt that searching like this was not a solution. After thinking for a moment, he tied the cub's hovercraft to a dead branch extending from a huge charred tree, signaling her to wait in place and not move.
"Where is Daddy going?" Zhao Xiaoxiu asked with concern.
Zhao Gang replied, "Clear weeds and branches."
Zhao Xiaoxiu was stunned for a moment; there were no weeds or trees at all here.
The confusing thought had barely crossed my mind when, in the next second, the tall and handsome father in front of me was no longer recognizable as a human.
Clothes were scattered all over the ground. Zhao Gang regained his black and red tentacles, and his body continued to extend and grow until it was larger than an entire charred tree before it stopped.
Countless tentacles spread out in all directions, their tips curling up the giant mutated plants around them, and with a loud rumble, they were uprooted.
Soil and stones were pulled out by the roots and crashed down with a crackling sound. Zhao Xiaoxiu felt the ground beneath her feet tremble, and all she could hear were the panicked cries of the mutated giant plants.
The dim vision suddenly brightened, and the little girl hugged Monkey Sister tightly, looking at the sky above her head that kept widening, her jaw almost dropping in surprise.
So this is what Dad meant by clearing weeds and branches...
Half an hour later, within a two-mile radius of Zhao Xiaoxiu, there was no longer a single giant plant.
All that remained was a charred log tied to a suspension board and a giant lotus leaf growing right next to it.
This mutated lotus leaf has only leaves and no flowers, resembling a green umbrella that covers the charred wood perfectly.
Zhao Gang transformed back into human form and, while dressing, said to his stunned cub:
"The cleared weeds are piled up in the northwest corner to compost, and the charred wood is placed in the north. We'll chop it into firewood when we have time, and we'll have enough firewood for the winter."
"The ground that was pulled out was uneven, so I filled it in roughly. We'll gradually cultivate and repair it later. We'll plant whatever vegetables Xiaoxiu wants to eat."
After finishing his sentence and getting dressed, Zhao Gang pulled a saw from the backpack on the hoverboard and called to Sister Monkey, "Let's go, let's go logging."
Monkey Sister looked at the open sky above her head, dared not complain at all, and quickly followed.
The man and the monkey didn't go far. Zhao Gang dragged back a piece of charred wood that he had just pulled out, and asked the monkey sister to remove the thin branches. He then sawed it flat.
After gathering a pile of timber of uniform length and size, he waved to Zhao Xiaoxiu to stand aside, climbed the tree, and had Sister Monkey hand over the timber. Using the thick branches extending from the charred wood as a base, they began to build the wooden house.
Zhao Xiaoxiu asked in surprise, "Dad, are you going to build a treehouse?"
Zhao Gang nodded, "Yes, the ground here is quite damp and will take a long time to harden in the sun. It will be more comfortable to sleep in the tree for now."
After answering, seeing that Zhao Xiaoxiu seemed very interested, Zhao Gang said again:
"Let's lay a foundation today so we can pitch the tent tonight. Tomorrow we'll go out and find some materials and tools, and then we'll come back and build our own house."
"Mmm!" Zhao Xiaoxiu was extremely satisfied with this arrangement.
A treehouse in the forest—it sounds so dreamy!
Looking at the huge lotus leaf umbrella next to the charred wood, Zhao Xiaoxiu couldn't help but imagine herself sitting on the balcony outside the treehouse in the summer, enjoying the cool air and snacks.
"Dad, let me help you."
Zhao Gang patiently assigned tasks to his little one: "Xiaoxiu, help Daddy hand over the file."
"good!"
At the supply depot, Zhao Gang exchanged for a complete set of tools, which he put in a separate box.
Zhao Xiaoxiu rummaged through the box, opened it, selected a file and tucked it into her waistband. She nimbly climbed the tree, handed the file to her father, and also gave him an extra piece of candy.
Dad works so hard, we need to treat him to something nice to make up for it.
Zhao Gang watched as the cub offered him the fructose, then took it into his mouth and slowly ate it, the satisfaction in his eyes never fading.
Without nails, Zhao Gang used the traditional mortise and tenon structure to build the foundation, with one piece of wood fastened to another.
Where the foundation meets the charred tree branches, use clips to hold them in place; otherwise, tie them together with rope.
Sister Monkey handed out pieces of wood under the tree, while Zhao Xiaoxiu helped by passing small items up and down the tree, talking to her father, and providing ample emotional support.
Zhao Gang was full of energy and built a small platform, four meters long and three meters wide, before dark.
The suspension board was pulled up, and Zhao Xiaoxiu and her father worked together to unload and tidy up the things on it.
The tent was quickly set up, and sleeping bags were laid out. Both camping lights were turned on, one hanging inside the tent and the other hanging from the treetop outside.
The bright lights illuminated the surroundings. Zhao Xiaoxiu looked up at the huge lotus leaves that sheltered her from the wind and rain, then looked down at her father who was cooking dinner under the tree. She thought to herself: I have a home again.
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