The next morning, the soft sunlight, like a golden veil, gently filtered through the cracks in the shelter, illuminating every corner of the house.
Lu Fan got up early and tiptoed to the makeshift stove.
His eyes were full of tenderness and concern. Today, he planned to make a pot of honey coconut milk for Anlan, who was on her period, hoping to bring her some warmth and comfort.
The flames in the stove danced merrily as Lu Fan skillfully poured fresh coconut juice into the pot. As the juice simmered, a refreshing fruity aroma instantly filled the air.
Next, he added an appropriate amount of goat milk, and the liquid in the pot gradually thickened and became more and more appealing in color.
Finally, he scooped up a spoonful of honey and slowly poured it into the pot, stirring gently. The honey melted slowly in the hot liquid, blending perfectly with the coconut milk and regular milk, releasing a sweet aroma.
An Lan walked out of the house, still half asleep and a little dazed.
When she saw the large pot of tempting-looking "milk tea" in front of her, she was slightly taken aback, and a look of surprise and emotion flashed in her eyes.
"This...this is for me?" An Lan asked incredulously, her voice still a little hoarse.
Lu Fan immediately nodded proudly, his face beaming with a bright smile, as radiant as a flower blooming in spring: "Of course, I made it especially for you. I tasted it, and it's so sweet!"
An Lan looked at Lu Fan's expression, which resembled a puppy begging for praise, and couldn't help but chuckle softly, her smile full of tenderness and helplessness.
"It's such a big pot, how can I possibly finish it all? You should have some too."
"It's okay, you drink first, and I'll drink if you can't finish it."
Lu Fan squatted by the bed, his eyes full of doting affection as he looked at An Lan tenderly.
An Lan took a small sip, the warm liquid flowing down her throat, sweet in her mouth and even warmer in her heart.
Lu Fan picked up the pot and gulped down the rest of the soup, looking as satisfied as if he were savoring the most delicious delicacy in the world.
"Alright, you don't need to stay by my side anymore, go do your thing." An Lan said softly, looking at Lu Fan who intended to stay by her side the whole time.
"Alright then, I'll stay outside. Call me if you need anything." Lu Fan carried the pot out of the room, turning back every few steps.
He looked as if he wasn't going outside to work, but rather about to experience a life-or-death separation, his expression filled with worry and concern for Anlan.
After putting the pot down, Lu Fan took a deep breath and began to focus on making new bows and arrows.
He walked expectantly to the bow and arrow that was being shaped. After waiting all night, the bow and arrow were basically complete.
He carefully removed the bricks that were pressing down on it, and saw that the bow arm remained firmly bent, lying quietly on the ground, as if telling the story of its resilience and strength.
Lu Fan picked it up gently and examined it carefully, his eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation.
"Indeed, this top-grade elm wood is indeed highly malleable!"
He examined the bow arm closely and couldn't help but express his sincere admiration.
Next, it undergoes fine processing.
First, he took out the prepared hemp rope.
This hemp rope is tough and durable. Anlan spent a lot of time and effort collecting plant fibers in the wild and carefully twisting them into it.
He carefully wrapped the hemp rope around the joint where the ram's horn and the bow arm met, round and round, each round tightly wrapped to prevent it from loosening.
Ram's horns themselves possess excellent toughness and elasticity, which, when combined perfectly with the curved bow arm, not only greatly increases the bow's elasticity but also allows arrows to travel further.
It also provides good protection for the bow arm and extends its service life.
Lu Fan's fingers moved nimbly between the hemp rope and the bow arm, like a nimble dancer.
In no time, the ram's horns and bow arms were bound tightly together, as if they had been a single unit from the beginning.
After finishing the connection between the ram's horn and the bow arm, Lu Fan turned his attention to the part of the bow arm that he gripped.
"It would be embarrassing if I accidentally slipped here," he joked with a laugh, his laughter echoing in the air with a touch of ease and humor.
So he began to carefully tie the hemp rope around the hand grip of the bow arm.
As he tied the rope, he constantly adjusted the spacing and tightness of the hemp rope according to his own feel and usage habits, striving to make it both comfortable and secure to hold.
Next comes the crucial moment of installing the bowstring.
Lu Fan picked up another rope from the storage room. It was made by An Lan from some hemp plants, and it was an excellent material for making bowstrings.
The bowstring made from it is extremely powerful. Previously, since there were no better materials available, snake tendons had to be used as a substitute, but the effect was slightly inferior.
He carefully secured one end of the snake tendon to one end of the bow arm.
Then he gripped the rope tightly with both hands and stretched it forcefully, his arm muscles taut.
Finally, the rope was successfully tied to the bow arm, forming a perfect bowstring.
Lu Fan couldn't wait to pick up the new bow and try pulling it a few times.
"Buzz~"
The bowstring vibrated taut and powerfully, producing a clear and melodious sound, like a victory horn.
The air seemed to be torn apart by this powerful force, emitting a sharp sound.
"Wow, this feels amazing!"
Lu Fan couldn't help but shudder; it felt like the roar of a new car engine starting up.
He shouted excitedly, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement and joy.
Compared to the previous bow, this new bow represents a significant leap forward in both elasticity and feel.
With each draw of the bow, one can clearly feel the powerful force rapidly accumulating in their hand, as if it could unleash astonishing energy at any moment and shoot towards a distant target.
"No, I have to go out and try it out right away!" Lu Fan's heart was filled with an eager impulse, an impulse that burned like a flame, growing stronger and stronger.
He turned and picked up the quiver, which contained several arrows he had carefully crafted.
The metal arrowhead gleamed coldly in the sunlight, its straight, smooth shaft and black fletching giving it a majestic and menacing appearance, radiating power.
He strode out of the shelter and onto a wide-open meadow.
Dahei and Anlan were also drawn by his excitement and followed him out.
Big Black ran happily across the grass, leaping and bounding like a sand sculpture.
An Lan stood to the side with a smile on her face, a smile as warm and gentle as the spring sun.
Her eyes were full of trust and expectation for Lu Fan, as if telling him that no matter what he did, she would silently support him from behind.
Lu Fan stopped, took a deep breath, drew an arrow from the quiver, and nocked it on the bowstring.
He turned slightly to the side, his body tense, like a cheetah poised to pounce.
His eyes were fixed on the target ahead—a thick, large tree, his gaze firm and sharp, as if he could see through everything.
With a "whoosh," the arrow shot out like lightning, carrying a powerful force as it pierced the sky and flew straight toward the tree.
With a soft "thud," the arrow struck the tree firmly, its fletching still trembling slightly, as if celebrating its precise strike.
"Cool!"
Lu Fan jumped up excitedly, his face beaming with the joy of victory, his smile as bright as the sun.
Big Black was also barking happily nearby, its calls rising and falling as if celebrating this great moment.
An Lan walked over with a smile, her eyes full of admiration: "It seems this new bow is really amazing!"
Lu Fan said proudly, "Of course! I made this with great care. I'll be relying on it for hunting from now on!"
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