Island Survival: Starts by chopping a tree-Chapter 40 What’s this?
Jeff returned to the forest and spotted the chopped bamboo stalks still lying where he had left them.
"If each pot requires about one or two sections of clay, I’ll need at least 10 to 12 bamboo sections," he calculated, eyeing the pile.
He approached the stalks, gathered several of them, and slung them over his shoulder. With the first load secured, he glanced at the remaining stalks.
Judging by the amount left, one more trip would be enough to transport everything.
Without delay, Jeff headed back to his camp. After a short walk, he arrived and dropped the bamboo onto the ground, ready to continue his work.
Jeff got back to work, starting with a clear plan. He decided to craft five medium-sized pots for storing water, food, and other essentials, along with one pot for cooking.
Each bamboo section was about 3 feet (90 cm) long, though some varied slightly in size.
Using his axe, he carefully cut the bamboo into uniform sections, ensuring that each piece had one end sealed by a natural node to serve as a base.
"Next is hollowing out the inside," he muttered to himself.
Taking one of the sections, he made a small incision at the open end to begin the process of cleaning out the interior.
Before starting the hollowing process, Jeff realized he needed a proper chisel to scrape the bamboo’s interior.
The axe was too large to fit inside, and even the knife proved challenging for the task.
He began searching for a suitable branch, eventually finding a straight, sturdy piece of hardwood about 2 feet (60 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter.
(I must admit, this is the first time I’ve felt like a genius while writing a novel. Thank goodness for the abundance of information online!) - The author muttered with a laugh at the end.
After inspecting the branch for cracks or brittleness and finding it intact, Jeff got to work. Carefully, he used his axe to carve one end of the stick into a flat, pointed blade.
The blade was about 3 inches (7.5 cm) long, tapering gradually to a sharp edge that would make it perfect for scraping.
He then picked up a rough stone that was just lying on the ground, to smooth the blade’s surface, ensuring it was free of splinters and sharp enough to scrape effectively.
"The next one is to refine the handle," He said as he carved the other end of the stick into a comfortable handle. He made the end slightly rounded so it would be easy to grip.
Now it’s polishing it again, using the stone to make it comfortable to hold during use.
[You just made a wooden chisel. You have gained 10 experience points and 3 points]
[70/200 exp. Remains to upgrade the skill]
After seeing the notification, Jeff resumed his task, using the wooden chisel to carefully scrape out the inner material of the bamboo sections.
He paid close attention to ensure he reached all the way down to the node, creating a clean and clear hollow space.
Like reducing its capacity, because the inner material takes up space, reducing the amount of water or other things that can be held.
Second, impurities. The inner material might contain impurities that could contaminate the water if they drink it.
Third, hygiene issues over time. Because, an unsmooth interior could encourage the growth of bacteria or mold, rendering the contents unhygienic.
Ahhh, Unhygienic!
After seeing the notification, Jeff resumed his task, using the wooden chisel to carefully scrape out the inner material of the bamboo sections.
He paid close attention to ensure he reached all the way down to the node, creating a clean and clear hollow space.
There are numerous issues to consider, but according to his recollections, the advantages of taking this action include increased capacity, purity, hygiene, enhanced strength and durability, and finally, ease of use.
"Finally done," he exclaimed, gasping for breath.
[You just made a bamboo container. You have gained 5 experience points and 1 point]
[You just made a bamboo container. You have gained 5 experience points and 1 point]
[You just made a bamboo container. You have gained 5 experience points and 1 point] 12X
...
[145/200 exp. Remains to upgrade the skill]
Seeing the bunch of experience points he had earned, Jeff was elated, especially since he had gained an additional 15 points from his efforts.
"Now to wait for those women to finish their bath. Are they still not done yet?" he muttered in confusion.
It had already been an hour, and their absence for an hour just for a bath is really confusing. He wondered what woman usually do, to take so much time just from taking a bath.
However, he couldn’t afford to waste time dwelling on it. His next task was to find clay.
Clay is most commonly found near rivers, lakes, or streams, where fine, clay-rich sediment tends to settle. These areas are ideal for gathering the material he needed.
Another potential source is swampy or marshy regions, which can also contain high-quality clay deposits.
However, he found no swampy areas during his wanderings. Instead, he chose to sit and meditate, realizing he could gain experience points rather than dwell on his thoughts.
"Why waste time waiting and doing nothing when I can be productive?" he thought.
Meditating not only helped him clear his mind but also allowed him to accumulate experience points, making the wait far more worthwhile.
[You just meditated. You have gained 1 experience points]
[You just meditated. You have gained 1 experience points]
[You just meditated. You have gained 1 experience points]
...
Back at the river, the girls were soaking in the water, their bodies submerged while only their heads remained above the surface.
Layla cupped a handful of river water and poured it over her hair, attempting to scrub it clean. However, the task became increasingly difficult due to the buildup of oil and dirt.
"I miss using shampoo during baths," Layla sighed in frustration.
"My hair feels even tougher than a bark rope."
Jessica, hearing this, ran her fingers through her own hair and cringed at its greasy texture.
"I completely agree. Not just shampoo, but soap too. I feel like I’ve forgotten what it feels like to be clean." she said.
Ariana, positioned between the two, suddenly recalled something. "Didn’t the captain mention he could make soap and shampoo?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Listening to his words they nodded, as Jessica replied to her, "We don’t really know if he can make it, it involves a lot of knowledge to make one. It’s not that I don’t trust the captain, but making one even if its low quality in here seems hard to believe." shaking her head in the head.
"That’s what I thought too," Layla said softly.
"But over the past few days, he’s proven capable of almost anything. Let’s just wait until he has the time to make some. It’s not easy for him, handling practically everything by himself."
Ariana and Jessica nodded in agreement, acknowledging the truth of her words.
On the other side of the river, Charlotte and Emma were sitting apart. Charlotte deliberately kept her distance from Emma, wary of the "vixen" trying to do something bad again.
Charlotte just remained silent, savoring the coolness of the water. Though she had been skeptical when Jeff first mentioned he could make soap and shampoo, her perception had change.
After observing him over time, Charlotte came to trust the young man. When he spoke, there was confidence in his words, and he always backed it up with action.
Her instincts had never failed her, and this time was no exception.
Even if he did not succeed, she had no say in this matter since they were only companions. Charlotte opened his right eyelids and caught something shocking.
In her right visual field, Emma’s face was red, biting her lips. This made her ashamed when she saw Emma’s fingers were in her nipples as she squeezed and fondled them sometimes.
"This—this, I did not know my secretary was this perverted. How come I only noticed this?" she exclaimed, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Unknown to her, her hands that rested in her abdomen slid down to her slit, touching it, making her face red in shame as she took it back when she felt her body growing hot.
She closed her eyes again, seated on the ground beneath the waters, to soothe her thoughts, and the bad thoughts was cleansed from her mind.
Emma who was very much enjoying the feeling in relieving herself through her nipples, which her boobs were below the water.
She did not know that Charlotte, who was the closest to her, saw her actions. Even if the water was used as a veil.
As the warmth of lust gradually faded, Emma stopped and smiled in satisfaction. The three girls of the side were enjoying their time together, chatting and laughing.
The girls waded into the calm, clear river, the morning sun casting a soft glow on the water’s surface as it rippled gently, creating a shimmering dance across their skin.
They playfully splashed each other, their laughter echoing in the air. Ariana, however, suddenly felt something unusual beneath her feet.
It was softer and slipperier than the usual riverbed gravel.
"Hey, what’s this?" she called out, bending down to investigate.
