Live Strong in the Wilderness-Chapter 107: Steel Straight Man

"Alright, you can relax now. I’ll go get some water for the chicks," Xu Yi said as he went to fetch water.

Then, he placed the rabbit and the chicks into the nests he had prepared earlier.

After all, with so many little animals, a small basket wasn’t enough to hold them all.

Lu Ke watched from the side for a while since she thought the chicks were just too cute.

Xu Yi moved the squat toilet to the bathroom and started installing it.

Once it was installed, Xu Yi went out to carry some wood.

This was the wood he had chopped yesterday to make bench tops.

After carrying it back, Lu Ke had already prepared dinner. There wasn’t much to prepare, considering all they had were dried meats. So she mixed some fish mint and boiled some water.

There wasn’t anything else.

"Xu Yi, are we going hunting tomorrow morning?" Lu Ke asked while chewing on dried meat, glancing at Xu Yi. Xu Yi had previously mentioned making paper, but there hadn’t been any action yet.

"I’m planning to go by myself. You can dig a mud pit at home. Didn’t I say before we wanted to make paper? Today when I was out, I found a plant that seems suitable—we can start preparing." Xu Yi looked at Lu Ke, seeming to read her thoughts.

Actually, Xu Yi felt that since the squat toilet was installed, it was time to arrange the papermaking.

Otherwise, not having toilet paper would be really tough.

"How did you know I wanted to talk about this?" Lu Ke looked at Xu Yi in surprise.

"Because... I can read minds!" Xu Yi joked.

"Huh?" Lu Ke looked at Xu Yi, stunned.

"Silly, just kidding. How could I actually have that?" Xu Yi found Lu Ke’s dumbfounded look adorable and couldn’t help but give her nose a playful flick.

"You scared me! I almost believed you really could." Lu Ke made a face at Xu Yi, clearly having almost believed him just now.

After all, Xu Yi rarely joked, so subconsciously, Lu Ke thought whatever he said was serious.

"I installed the squat toilet, so I thought we should get the paper-making started," Xu Yi explained.

"Is it good to use? What if it doesn’t flush? There’s no point then, is there?" Even though she made the squat toilet, Lu Ke wasn’t very confident.

In the wild, is a squat toilet and septic tank needed?

Many people think you can just find a spot anywhere to take care of things, right?

Why waste time making a squat toilet and digging a septic tank?

For one thing, you can’t guarantee you’ll never need to go at night, right?

It’s not convenient to relieve oneself in the dark, given their only source of light is a flame—they don’t even have a flashlight.

Plus, their campsite is only so big. If you just dig a random pit to solve things, won’t the smell become unbearable over time?

After all, Xu Yi was planning for 500 days.

If he knew they’d be moving in a hundred days, he certainly wouldn’t go through all this trouble.

"I think this issue can be solved with soap solution; it should be no problem," Xu Yi suggested to Lu Ke.

Hearing this, Lu Ke’s eyes lit up, thinking Xu Yi’s idea might indeed work.

After the last wolf hunt, they had acquired quite a bit of wolf oil and made some soap.

Water used for washing clothes and hair could be collected and used.

"I’ll give it a try later," Lu Ke said, blushing, and then took the dishes to wash.

Xu Yi glanced at the direction of the bathroom and then said, "Lu Ke, make some lamp stands tonight."

"Lamp stands?" Lu Ke asked, puzzled.

"Yes, we have plenty of cotton and oil, we can make oil lamps. This way, we can have oil lamps in the bathroom and house at night, so it won’t be so dark."

"Alright, but I don’t really know what a lamp stand is like. Can you explain it to me?" Lu Ke hadn’t dealt with oil lamps before, so she didn’t know how to make one.

Xu Yi nodded and, after Lu Ke finished washing the dishes, explained the structure of an oil lamp to her in detail.

Once she heard it, Lu Ke understood and began making the oil lamps as Xu Yi described.

Xu Yi also started splitting the wood in half, and after splitting, shaved it down thinner.

An hour later, Lu Ke handed one of the finished oil lamps to Xu Yi.

Seeing it, Xu Yi couldn’t help but give Lu Ke a thumbs-up.

"Impressive, not only did you make it, but it’s also so beautiful." Xu Yi knew a small oil lamp wouldn’t be much challenge for Lu Ke but didn’t expect her to make it look like a work of art.

People with skillful hands have that kind of magic. What they make isn’t just practical but also very pleasing to the eye.

"Is there any problem with it?" Lu Ke felt a bit embarrassed by the compliment, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"No problem, it’s made perfectly. Just make a few more like this," Xu Yi said admiringly.

"Okay, I’ll make a few more," Lu Ke responded happily and went back to making more lamp stands.

Xu Yi continued to shave the bench top, which was over two meters long, so it took quite some time.

By ten o’clock, Lu Ke had already made five lamp stands.

Then, Lu Ke went to shower and wash her hair.

After finishing, Lu Ke came to the fire to dry her hair.

She and Xu Yi didn’t talk, she just silently watched him, wearing only a vest, work on the wood.

Lu Ke thought Xu Yi looked very handsome and had a special charm when he was focused on his work.

After another hour, Xu Yi stopped and looked over at Lu Ke.

"You’re not going to rest yet?" Xu Yi asked, confused. It was already past eleven, and Lu Ke usually went to bed by this time.

After midnight, Xu Yi could make his 31-day check-in. He was very interested in this month’s reward package.

So he hoped Lu Ke would go to bed a little earlier.

After all, it was so late, and there was really nothing else for her to do.

"I can’t believe you’re such an oblivious guy, Xu Yi. No wonder there’s been no progress with Loli Ke."

"Exactly, our Loli Ke has been watching you for over an hour, and you’re only noticing now?"

"Is your heart only made of wood, with no feelings?"

"Destined to be lonely, but that’s fine. If you did get with Loli Ke, I’d feel like seeing a big cabbage being taken away."

"Continue like this, keep it up for 500 days. Xu Yi, when you come back, I’m going after you!"

"Even if they get together, they can still break up, right? I don’t mind. These days, who hasn’t dated a few times?"

"I haven’t... I’m crying in the bathroom."

"Look, look, our Loli Ke is upset, pouting and going back to her room. Oh my gosh, she’s too cute. Just thinking about how cute Loli Ke is and having nothing to do with me makes me want to punch my roommate."

"..."