22: digging bamboo shoots

A new day began as dappled light and shadows filtered through the treetops. Lu Fan stretched and stepped out from his crude Shelter.

He rubbed his sleepy eyes and gazed at the vibrant forest surrounding him, a new surge of energy rising in his heart.

Today, he had a plan—to cut some bamboo and craft more bamboo tools to enrich his survival gear.

Right now, whether for carrying water or making baskets to hold things, the demand for bamboo was far too high.

Moreover, now that he had a bow and arrow, bamboo was an excellent choice for crafting arrows.

Thinking of this, Lu Fan took his equipment and set off on the small path toward the bamboo forest.

Before long, a lush, green bamboo forest came into view. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, casting spots of light like a fairyland.

Lu Fan set down his basket, picked up his axe, and began selecting suitable bamboo.

He carefully observed the thickness and texture of the bamboo, choosing those stalks that were tough and straight.

With the rise and fall of the axe, bamboo stalks fell one after another. He stacked them neatly to the side, preparing to take them back to the Shelter to make tools.

Finally, after cutting down a large pile of bamboo...

[Wilderness Survival Announcement]

[Huaguo Contestant Lu Fan has triggered the ten thousand times rebate]

[Growable Bamboo * 10,000]

Immediately afterward, lush bamboo stalks sprang up from the wilderness across Huaguo.

These bamboo stalks formed bamboo forests in groups of 100, scattered across 100 locations within Huaguo's borders.

The entire nation of Huaguo was overjoyed.

One must know that due to soil erosion, the land had been unable to grow plants for many years.

Yet these bamboo stalks seemed to possess some special power, growing firmly in the wilderness without showing any signs of wilting.

"Hahaha, I can't believe I get to see plants growing on the mountains again in my lifetime."

"Who else can say that! There's a bamboo forest right outside my residence, hahahaha!"

"Thank you, Great God Lu Fan. I'm going to go look at the bamboo."

Wang Tao in the livestream room: "Here, we once again thank Contestant Lu Fan for his contribution, bringing green back to our beautiful mountains and rivers."

Just as Lu Fan was busy as a bee, the fresh scent of earth mixed with a hint of sweetness drifted into his nose.

[Discovered Freshly Grown Bamboo Shoots]

Lu Fan stopped his work and followed the scent, spotting a faint glimmer of tender green among the bamboo forest.

Curious, he stepped forward, brushed aside the weeds, and was pleasantly surprised to find a patch of bamboo shoots breaking through the soil.

"Haha, this is an unexpected harvest!" Lu Fan shouted excitedly, his eyes sparkling with delight.

He immediately squatted down and began to dig carefully with his dagger.

The bamboo shoots were hidden in the soft soil. The white, tender bodies still bore bits of earth, looking like small, delicate pagodas.

[Wilderness Survival Announcement]

[Huaguo Contestant Lu Fan has triggered the ten thousand times rebate]

[Fresh Bamboo Shoots * 10,000]

The viewers in the livestream room saw this scene.

"Lu Fan found bamboo shoots! That's awesome!"

"Those bamboo shoots look so delicious, I really want a bite."

"Lu Fan's luck is really good; bamboo shoots are a rare delicacy."

Zhao Hangjun nodded and said, "Bamboo shoots are not only delicious but also rich in nutrients, which will be very beneficial for Lu Fan's health."

Lu Fan dug with increasing enthusiasm, and in a short while, he had unearthed a large pile of bamboo shoots.

He packed the bamboo shoots into his basket, planning in his mind: 'Taking these back to make a mutton and bamboo shoot soup will definitely be incredibly fresh.'

Binding the bamboo on the ground and hoisting it onto his shoulder, Lu Fan carried his basket and prepared to head home.

Upon returning to the Shelter, Lu Fan unloaded the bamboo and bamboo shoots one by one and began to get busy.

First, he wanted to use this bamboo to build himself a toilet, because going to the bathroom in the wild was truly too inconvenient.

Lu Fan found a secluded corner near the Shelter and selected a patch of ground.

He first used his axe to cut several thick bamboo stalks, trimming them to the appropriate length. Then, he dug several shallow holes in the ground and inserted the bamboo vertically into them to serve as the toilet's frame.

"This toilet has to be sturdy, otherwise it won't do," Lu Fan muttered to himself as he built.

He used vines to firmly bind the bamboo frame together, ensuring the structure was stable.

Next, he cut some thinner bamboo and wove them into a bamboo fence, surrounding the frame to form a relatively enclosed space.

To increase privacy, he hung some large leaves on the bamboo fence so that one couldn't see inside from the outside.

Finally, he dug a deep pit in the center to serve as a cesspool for easy waste disposal.

Then, he laid several thick bamboo stalks over the pit to serve as footrests.

At this moment in the livestream room:

"Lu Fan is building a toilet! We won't be able to see Great God Lu Fan's butt anymore!"

"This toilet looks very practical. Lu Fan really is a master of daily life."

"As expected of my Great God Lu Fan, even in the wild he pays so much attention to hygiene."

Wang Tao couldn't help but praise, "Lu Fan's manual skills are too strong. He can even build a toilet by himself; he's truly multi-talented."

Zhao Hangjun smiled and said, "In the wild, sanitation facilities are also very important. Lu Fan is doing very well; this not only maintains environmental hygiene but also improves the comfort of living."

Yu Rui blushed as she glanced at the bullet comment saying they could no longer see Lu Fan's butt, because she had also secretly peeked a few times.

After finishing the toilet, Lu Fan stood to the side, looking over his work with satisfaction.

He stepped out of the toilet and scattered some soil and fallen leaves around the pit to reduce odors.

"Although the conditions are crude, at least it's clean and hygienic. I don't have to squat in the wild with a bare butt anymore; that had no sense of security at all," Lu Fan thought to himself with emotion.

He looked up; the sun was almost directly overhead. So, he decided to start making lunch.

Lu Fan washed the bamboo shoots clean and sliced them thinly. He took one out, intending to eat it.

As for the rest, he pickled them with salt, planning to dry them into dried bamboo shoots for long-term preservation.

"These bamboo shoots are definitely going to be delicious. I can't wait to see the bamboo shoot dish he makes."

Lu Fan cut the bamboo shoots into small pieces and set them aside in a pottery jar.

He had just tasted a small piece. Perhaps because the variety was different or because they were so fresh, these bamboo shoots didn't have a bitter taste.

Next, he took several pieces of mutton from the hanging dried meat, washed them with warm water, and cut them into bite-sized pieces.

Lu Fan found a larger pottery jar, placed the cut mutton pieces inside, and added an appropriate amount of clear water.

Then he sprinkled in some salt, as well as the wild ginger and Wild Green Onions he had collected, to enhance the aroma.

Afterward, he added the bamboo shoot pieces into the pottery jar and stirred gently with a wooden spoon to let the ingredients mix thoroughly.