Chapter 3: Crafting Fishing Tools

Pan Mengyan said, “Come quickly and warm yourself by the fire. It’s best to take off your clothes and dry them before putting them back on.”

Jiang Ruoxi replied, “Alright, you should warm up too.”

Pan Mengyan said, “You stay and warm up first. I’ll go fetch some water so we can boil some hot water to drink.” After speaking, she stood up, picked up the pottery jar left by the previous cave dweller, and walked toward the pond.

Arriving at the pond’s edge, she looked down and saw the crystal-clear water, where small fish could be seen swimming happily. Sunlight streamed through the cracks in the cave, shimmering on the water’s surface, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

Pan Mengyan carefully crouched down, placed the pottery jar into the water, and gently shook it a few times to fill it completely. Then, she used her hands to clean off any debris around the jar’s rim, ensuring the water was clean.

The water-filled pottery jar became heavy, but Pan Mengyan steadily carried it back step by step to the bonfire. She placed the jar near the fire, waiting for the water to gradually heat up.

Half an hour later, the water had completely boiled, and Jiang Ruoxi’s clothes were almost dry.

Pan Mengyan said, “Here, have some hot water first. After I dry my clothes, we’ll figure out a way to catch some fish. We need to eat our fill to have the strength for other tasks.”

Jiang Ruoxi replied, “Alright.”

By the time Pan Mengyan had dried her clothes, the rain outside had nearly stopped.

Pan Mengyan said, “Alright, let’s go find some materials to make fishing tools.”

Jiang Ruoxi responded, “Okay, let’s go!”

They stood up and cautiously walked to the cave entrance. Looking out, they saw a vibrant scene of sunny skies and lush green trees. Suddenly, they noticed dense vines growing beside the entrance of the cave, and a wave of joy washed over them. These vines looked perfect for weaving a fishing cage! Excitedly, they began gathering the vines.

While collecting the vines, they unexpectedly discovered some small wild berries. These berries were delicate and brightly colored, but they didn’t know if they were edible. After all, in wilderness survival, food choices are critical; mistakenly eating poisonous berries could have dire consequences. Thus, they decided to avoid trying the berries for now to prevent any danger.

After quickly gathering the necessary vines, they returned to the cave with their abundant harvest. Once inside, they immediately began processing the vines. First, they used the stone knife left by the previous cave dweller to remove excess leaves from the vines, then they started peeling them. The peeled outer skin could be made into sturdy ropes, while the peeled vines became more flexible and elastic, offering better durability and toughness.

Next, they focused entirely on weaving the fish trap. This process required patience and skill but driven by their desire to survive and unwavering determination, they completed the task step by step. After over an hour of relentless effort, a finely crafted fish traps finally took shape before their eyes. Looking at the trap they had made with their own hands, they felt immense pride and satisfaction.

Pan Mengyan frowned and said, “We need to find some earthworms for bait.”
Jiang Ruoxi looked at her and nodded, saying, “Alright, let’s go together.”

The two of them walked toward the cave entrance together, with Gouzi wagging its tail cheerfully as it followed behind them. Perhaps because it had been alone in the cave for too long and felt somewhat lonely, it seemed afraid they might not return if they left.

Once outside the cave, Pan Mengyan stopped and said to Jiang Ruoxi, “Let’s search separately. Look for damp ground with plenty of decaying leaves and check under rocks too. Use this leaf to collect them.” As she spoke, she plucked a large leaf from a nearby tree, rolled it into a funnel shape, and handed it to Jiang Ruoxi.

Jiang Ruoxi reached out to take the leaf and replied softly, “Alright.”

Pan Mengyan reminded her, “Remember, don’t go too far. We’re still unfamiliar with this area.” Then she bent down and began searching for earthworms.

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