When Wang Lun and his three companions had nothing to do, they would make all sorts of furniture. They would usually select a relatively thick tree trunk, carve it into sturdy planks, and then carefully craft practical tables and low tea tables. The table placed by the hearth became their daily dining spot; while the low tea table was placed on the kang (a heated brick bed), where people could sit comfortably and enjoy a feast when the weather was cold.
In addition, they meticulously crafted several shelves for storage. Since the existing shelves were already overflowing with miscellaneous items and some items were forced to remain on the floor, it was wise to take advantage of this downtime to make more shelves. These shelves will undoubtedly prove invaluable when they come in handy later.
Arranging items neatly on shelves is far better than piling them haphazardly on the floor. This not only avoids a cluttered look but also makes the most of limited space. It allows you to quickly find what you need and effectively saves valuable space, instantly making a slightly cramped interior feel much more spacious and bright.
Using the remaining planks, after cutting, piecing together, and sanding, he made four sturdy and durable stools. Wang Lun originally intended to make chairs, but after careful consideration, he realized that adding a backrest would be too troublesome and difficult. Therefore, he ultimately decided that stools would be more convenient and practical. After all, they're for sitting, and stools are generally more convenient and flexible to use!
After all the furniture and utensils were completed, Wang Lun and the other three had nothing to do. It was winter on the deserted island, and the weather was exceptionally cold, with snowflakes falling and the snow on the ground piled up to half a meter thick. Fortunately, they didn't slack off; every day they diligently shoveled snow from the yard and cleared a path leading to the stream. Although they no longer needed to fetch water from the stream, Wang Lun insisted on clearing the path. Otherwise, going out every day to find the ground covered in mountains of snow would be quite unpleasant.
However, to Wang Lun's surprise, it was precisely this cleared path that brought them unexpected troubles and problems.
On a dark and windy night, all was quiet, yet Wang Lun couldn't fall asleep. As always, he waited until everyone was asleep before continuing his vigil for a while longer. He did this partly for safety reasons, fearing potential dangers during the night; and partly because the weather was getting colder, and the kang (heated brick bed) needed constant firewood to maintain its warmth. Wang Lun knew that if the firewood ran out in the latter half of the night and the kang cooled down, Li Ling and the others would likely catch a cold.
In bustling cities, a few cold pills are enough to relieve symptoms, and those with more severe symptoms can go to the hospital for intravenous treatment. However, on this deserted island, the situation is entirely different. If someone unfortunately catches a cold, it's uncertain whether the herbs Wang Lun knows will be effective. Even more serious is the fact that the camp's herbal reserves are extremely limited and may not be enough to meet the demand.
For this reason, Wang Lun always chose to go to bed later each night and fill the kang (a heated brick bed) with firewood before going to sleep. He did his best to ensure that the kang could burn all night, thus maintaining a constant temperature and creating a comfortable and warm resting environment for everyone.
In the early hours of the morning, Liu Ruoling vaguely heard a sound outside and called out. The sound continued, seemingly becoming more urgent. Still half-asleep, Liu Ruoling rubbed her eyes and, using the faint light from the fire pit, looked around. The other three people on the kang (heated brick bed) were all there.
Liu Ruoling vaguely heard a sound, but thinking she had misheard, she turned over to try to fall back asleep. However, the sound grew more urgent, as if it were right next to her ear. Startled, Liu Ruoling tried to wake herself, listening intently. It sounded like something was scratching at the camp gate.
She shook her head in disbelief, wondering if she was hallucinating. But the sound grew clearer, and she finally realized that something was really causing trouble outside the door. Liu Ruoling's heart raced, her palms sweating with nervousness, but she was also worried that it was just a false alarm. So she carefully got up, tiptoed to the window where Wang Lun was sleeping, leaned over the windowsill, held her breath, and tried to hear clearly what was going on.
Sure enough, the strange sound was someone or something pawing at the door! Liu Ruoling's nerves tensed instantly, her previous drowsiness vanishing. She acted decisively, gently patting Wang Lun, and seeing him about to speak, quickly covered his mouth with her hand, raising her middle finger to signal him to be quiet, then pointing out the window.
Although Wang Lun was somewhat confused, seeing Liu Ruoling's serious expression, he realized something was wrong and nodded to indicate he understood. Liu Ruoling then released his grip, gesturing for Wang Lun to listen carefully to the sounds outside. Wang Lun leaned closer to the window, listening intently, and his expression changed drastically in an instant.
Wang Lun turned to Liu Ruoling and said in a low voice, "Go and wake the others up." Liu Ruoling nodded and quickly got out of bed. Wang Lun then got out of bed and picked up various spears of different lengths from the bed, as well as a knife and entrenching tool on the table, preparing to deal with any unexpected situations.
Before long, the four of them quickly gathered around the table. Wang Lun skillfully distributed various weapons to each person and said in a low voice, "Listen to my instructions. I will first send a signal to attract the enemy's attention. Liu Ruoling, after I get close to the gate, you slowly approach and find an opportunity to climb the wall to gain a good position. After Liu Ruoling successfully climbs the wall, you two immediately follow and climb up as well. Liu Ruoxi, remember to bring a torch as a backup." After hearing Wang Lun's arrangements, Li Ling and the other two nodded to indicate that they understood.
Then, Wang Lun added, "Once the torches are lit, Liu Ruoling and Li Ling, you two can begin your free attack. Of course, I will also judge whether it is necessary to climb the wall to participate in the battle based on the actual situation. Does everyone understand?" Li Ling and the others nodded again, indicating that they fully understood the mission requirements. Seeing that everyone was ready, Wang Lun then whispered his last words with relief, but his voice was so soft that it might not have made any sound at all; only his lips trembled slightly.
Then, Wang Lun gripped his broadsword tightly, a sharp entrenching tool slung across his back, and carefully pushed open the door. He then approached the camp entrance with light but firm steps. His figure receded into the distance, while Li Ling and the other two remained, their eyes fixed on Wang Lun, silently praying that the operation would go smoothly.
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