Chapter 228: Chapter 226: Are We Going to Drill Wood for Fire?

Song Jiayan was shy, but he wasn’t an idiot.

On the contrary, people who didn’t talk much often had more observant minds.

"Jiali, that’s not what I meant. I just... I shook my head because I don’t know. After all, I’m not even part of this world, so I probably can’t even get a foot in the door. How could I possibly judge what kind of person is suited for it?"

It was rare for Song Jiayan to say so much. To his surprise, Xu Jiali nodded and agreed enthusiastically. "You’re right. We’re both just amateurs. It’s like we’re calling out the pros when we’ve barely even started. We’ve got some nerve!"

Song Jiayan and Xu Jiali made good time. They quickly found a source of clean fresh water, washed up a bit, and then applied the medicinal herbs Wen Ying had given them to Song Jiayan’s wound.

On their way back, they didn’t see Xie Fu Yao or the others.

About twenty minutes later, they arrived at the site.

Song Jiayan and Xu Jiali were stunned by the scene before them.

Who would have thought that when they left, there had only been logs scattered on the ground and four posts marking the corners?

And all they did was make a quick trip back and forth.

’This has to be a luxury survival villa, right?’

The structure looked to be about fifteen square meters. It had two levels made of horizontally laid bamboo, each with more than enough headroom for an adult to sit up straight. The roof above was built into a triangle.

The exterior was covered and secured with vines and large leaves.

A simple doorway faced them, and the back was sealed shut. Both of the sitting levels were padded with a layer of vines and leaves.

Still dumbfounded, the two of them walked toward the shelter Wen Ying had built. Perhaps because he had been a nurse, Song Jiayan was more sensitive to the smell of medicinal herbs. "Doctor Wen, does it smell like herbal medicine in here?"

"The forest is full of snakes, insects, and other pests. I used some herbs to repel them. It’ll make sleeping at night more comfortable."

Xu Jiali’s eyes were sparkling with adoration.

She had been a fan of celebrities before. When she was little, she liked the beautiful and handsome ones, but as she grew up, she started to prefer the talented ones.

But now, she felt that none of the celebrities she’d ever liked before could shine as brightly as Sister Wen Ying!

’Sister Wen Ying is just too amazing, too incredible!’

’Not only is she beautiful, but her skills are off the charts. She’s a true polymath!’

’No!’

’Even a polymath probably isn’t a tenth of what Sister Wen Ying is!’

Xu Jiali reached out and pressed down on the padded floor. It felt surprisingly soft.

"Sister Yingying, you’re so amazing! I declare, from now on, I’m your number one fan!"

"Then I... I guess I’m Doctor Wen’s... fanboy," Song Jiayan said, blushing as he lowered his head.

No one saw the look in his eyes.

"I’m glad you like it. It’s been a long day, so feel free to rest. Let me think... I’ll make us something to eat."

The two of them sat inside the shelter Wen Ying had built. The padding of vines and leaves beneath them felt much softer than the foliage Xu Jiali had gathered earlier.

’It must be some special technique,’

Xu Jiali thought to herself.

"Doctor Wen, I’ve rested enough. Let me help you."

After sitting for a moment, Song Jiayan came down and spoke to Wen Ying.

Seemingly afraid she would refuse, he quickly added, "I can do odd jobs. I can be the muscle."

"In that case, you can bring our ingredients over."

Wen Ying was getting ready to build a fire and start cooking.

Song Jiayan saw the bamboo basket nearby and retrieved it after taking a dozen or so steps.

Inside were potatoes, dried noodles, and eggs. As for the mineral water, it was all gone.

Seeing this, Xu Jiali’s interest was piqued, and she walked over too. "Sister Yingying, are we going to cook now? But we’re out of water, and we don’t have a pot. Are we just going to eat baked potatoes? I think we only have two half-full bottles of mineral water left. Should we use them?"

Wen Ying took a look. In her haste, she had forgotten.

’We don’t have those things yet.’

"We definitely don’t have enough water, and we don’t have anything to carry it in. As for cooking, we don’t have a pot."

’Xu Jiali had no idea what to do. Were they just going to have to eat baked potatoes?’

’Oh, wait. To bake potatoes, you need a fire...’

’She’d almost forgotten.’

"We don’t have a fire, either," Song Jiayan added.

The cameraman had been so completely captivated by Doctor Wen’s construction skills that he only started to come to his senses when Xu Jiali and Song Jiayan showed up.

’Now that he saw them running into problems, he finally felt like this was a normal reality show!’

’And these were just a group of ordinary contestants, after all!’

"Aren’t you going to look for more supplies?" the cameraman offered.

The production team had a heart, after all; they’d left enough supplies so that no one would starve.

To his surprise, Doctor Wen answered without a moment’s hesitation. "No need. We have enough for today. We’ll worry about tomorrow when it comes."

"But you don’t have water, fire, or a pot right now, do you?"

Xu Jiali and Song Jiayan looked worried as well. They knew what they were missing, but they had absolutely no idea how to make any of it.

They had done some research before the show, but most of what they’d seen were "slow living" reality shows where the production team provided everything. All the contestants had to do was play a few party games.

"Minor issues."

[I get it! It’s another one of Doctor Wen’s highlight moments! Time for her to show off her water, fire, and pot-making skills!]

[Doctor Wen’s highlight moment? This whole show is Doctor Wen’s highlight reel, isn’t it?]

[Is the ’making fire by drilling wood’ from the trending searches about to happen? I need to watch with my eyes wide open so I can show off to my girlfriend later! Long live Doctor Wen!]

Sure enough, the online commenters knew the truth.

Wen Ying quickly fashioned bamboo stalks into tubes for holding water.

Next, she found a patch of dark reddish soil, moistened it with water, and tasked Xu Jiali and Song Jiayan with finding some rocks and stones.

The three of them split the tasks. It seemed Song Jiayan and Xu Jiali had guessed what Wen Ying was planning.

They felt a surge of excitement.

This was the first time they would see someone perform such a craft with their own eyes.

’You had to admit, this was some seriously skilled work!’

Once Xu Jiali and Song Jiayan had brought over all the necessary stones, Wen Ying set the bamboo tubes she had made to one side.

She then casually wove a new bamboo basket, lined its bottom and sides with some of the cleaner leaves, and secured the lining by splitting thin vines into even finer threads to tie it down.

Song Jiayan and Xu Jiali were then tasked with fetching water.

After Song Jiayan and Xu Jiali left, the cameraman looked at Wen Ying in astonishment. "Doctor Wen, everything is ready. Are you waiting for them to get back so you can start a fire by drilling wood?"

It was no wonder the cameraman thought so; it was safe to say everyone watching the show was thinking the exact same thing.

Wen Ying was arranging the stones, regular and irregular alike, into the shape of a simple stove. She then used the wet mud to fill in all the gaps between them.

Hearing the cameraman’s question, Wen Ying didn’t even look up. "Make fire by drilling wood? I don’t think I know how to do that, either."

Wen Ying’s answer took everyone by surprise.

The crew members and online viewers, who had all been waiting to see her show off her skills, were completely floored.

’Was she telling the truth?’