It's stormy outside the Cave, but warm inside.

The stove made crisp crackling sounds.

These sounds had a kind of magical power that could instantly calm anxious and panicking hearts.

The firelight not only brought warmth, but also a sense of happiness and hope!

It took a full four hours from starting to make the mud stove to finishing it.

But for them, it was worth it!

It was really, really worth it.

With the mud stove, the rest would be simple.

Roast the bamboo charcoal and firewood next to the stove to dry out the moisture before putting it into the stove, then there wouldn't be thick black smoke, and at that point the stove lid could be opened to do other things.

The small bear cave gradually became lively.

"Lu Zhe, is there any use left for these remaining mud? If not I'll throw it all away!"

"No use, throw it away."

"Gua'er, let's you and me pull up the hemp rope to hang everyone's wet clothes to dry!"

"Okay, but where do we tie it?"

"Hmm...tie it on the bamboo strips, see if we can wedge it in the rock crevices!"

"I'll try!"

"I'll go fetch water to boil, oh right, should we use the steel helmet to boil water or the 92 mess kit?"

"The mess kit still needs a stand to hang it, let's use the steel helmet first, just plonk it down and it'll work, remember to fill it one quarter full, too much and it'll be hard to carry and spill over."

"Got it!"

"Feeling a bit hungry now, say what you all feel like eating, I'll roast it!"

"Any bunny?"

"No bunny, any who feel like eating Gua'er?"

"None, I feel like eating Hunzi Yao."

"Who's Hunzi, even when he goes out he brings punitive measures!"

"Even if you slay me I'd understand, why bring punitive measures?"

"Hang it on the jungler's wild body, got nothing to do can still steal his blue..."

"Stealing saplings, Yao Yao!"

"Oh right, don't we still have a smoked bear's paw? We gotta eat that quick, leaving it too long it'll go bad."

"Oh, why don't we make bear's paw soup."

"Good idea, but it's gotta be cleaned thoroughly, otherwise it feels weird!"

"With ample water, it can definitely be cleaned out completely, add some salt, plus some chili peppers and vegetables, full nutrition."

"What should I prepare for everyone to drink!"

"Lemon tea is good!"

"Lemon tea +1!"

"Me too!"

"Lemon tea for everyone then."

...

Seeing the five girls busily working away happily in the cave, Lu Zhe also felt a kind of domestic warmth.

Looking at how the first batch of gathered firewood and bamboo was nearly used up, Lu Zhe decided to risk going out again to gather some more reserve firewood.

So as not to worry them, Lu Zhe said, "You guys keep at it, I'm heading out on my main account."

"Be careful Lu Zhe!"

"It's windy outside, don't get blown away!"

"Mm, thank you!"

By now the raging storm outside was growing even bigger, lightning and thunder crashing relentlessly.

The wind force was at least level 8!

If not for his own system enhancements, he really might get blown away.

Oh well, hurry up and gather some firewood and head back!

Just as Lu Zhe was about to draw his knife, "kacha", the crown of a coconut palm was blown off by the wind and came crashing toward him. Lu Zhe nimbly dodged backward.

"That was close!"

At the same time, deep worries arose in his heart!

In order to survive in this kind of environment, thinking of growing strawberries and watermelons?

Unless he found a place that could withstand storms and raging winds, with ample sunshine at normal times, the conditions were far too harsh.

Oh well, stop thinking so much for now.

This crown wasn't too big, and still had the tree trunk attached. He could just carry it back directly, might even get one or two potential points.

Lu Zhe hugged the coconut palm crown and lugged it back to the small cave.

Seeing Lu Zhe lug back an entire tree crown, the few girls were scared witless!

"Lu Zhe, it's too big!"

"It won't fit in our little cave!"

"These things can all be used, just wait and see, I'll process it!"

Lu Zhe stripped all the coconut palm leaves off and passed them into the cave, making several huge piles. All that remained was a 3 meter long, thigh-thick bare tree trunk, still hanging with two huge bunches of coconut fruits.

"See, it'll go in easily now." After speaking, Lu Zhe brought the coconut trunk in, then hurriedly shut the bamboo door closed.

Shen Bing quickly grabbed a freshly dried towel to wipe the rainwater off Lu Zhe's body: "Hurry and warm yourself by the fire, don't catch cold."

Ning Shu looked at the coconut palm trunk and said, "Lu Zhe, why'd you put that kind of thing in our little cave?"

Tang Xiaoguo frowned, "Right, the dimensions are too crazy."

Lu Zhe explained, "Coconut palm leaves can be spread on the floor as a mat. Put the bearskin on top and it won't get dirty. Later everyone can use the bear hide as a blanket to sleep on."

Tang Xiaoguo ladled half a bamboo canister of bear paw meat soup, and sank into deep thought, saying:

"We eat its meat, drink its soup, live in a home made from it, sleep with blankets made from its fur, and to boot we threw its monkey. Question, what is the area of the mental scars this bear must have right now?"

Jiang Yao said, "Probably about that much."

Following Jiang Yao's line of sight, on the clothesline hung an adorably cute little bear. Its body still had stubborn blood stains that couldn't be washed off, looking somewhat miserable and bedraggled.

Upon seeing that little bear, Lu Zhe's heart shuddered violently!

It was this thing that had dropped down from the heavens last time, nearly giving him a nosebleed.

Ning Shu's face reddened as blue veins bulged at her temples, growling, "You guys are way too much, is that some kind of bear?!"

Shen Bing pointed at the remaining section of thick tree trunk Lu Zhe had brought back and said,

"Isn't there still some unused tree trunk here?"

Lu Zhe glanced at Shen Bing and chuckled, "More is always better."

After finishing dinner, Lu Zhe started processing the coconut palm tree.

The bottom section of coconut palm tree trunks were rather sturdy and dense. They could be used to make boards and furniture. The top sections of the trunk were more soft and porous. With Lu Zhe's forceful physique and the sharpness achieved from the 30 spike blade he had meticulously sharpened, he could handle the cutting and carving easily.

While Lu Zhe was chopping firewood, Ning Shu and Gua'er weaved together coconut palm leaves as a floor mat, covering the entire cave. Lin Qianqian and Jiang Yao boiled pot after pot of water, some to make hot water bottles, some to use for washing up.

They were all girls who loved being clean. Even in the harshest environments, they still strove to present their best side as much as possible.

Finally, everyone took out the bear hide together and spread it on the coconut leaves.

After wiping it down with a wrung out towel, the originally easy-to-clean bear fur was instantly clean and new looking.

Eight dainty snow white feet trod upon the soft smooth bear fur, somehow looking even whiter. Lu Zhe couldn't help taking an extra few glances too.

But remembering what happened when he discovered Shen Bing that night, Lu Zhe hurriedly averted his gaze, silently reciting the Chu Shi Biao military treatise to himself.

"Here Lu Zhe, try these on!"

Turning back to look, Shen Bing was passing Lu Zhe a freshly baked dried pair of shorts.

She wore clothes made from banana leaves. Her bosom was practically bursting the leaf open.

Lu Zhe's head started spinning slightly. He hurriedly avoided looking directly.

That's how things happened that night, the consequences of insufficient self-control!

Shen Bing suddenly realized the effect she was having on Lu Zhe. Blushing, she hurriedly tugged the leaf upward a bit, "Uh...Sis didn't mean that on purpose."

"I-It's fine!"

"Wipe yourself clean and change into these shorts, so you don't catch cold!"

"Feels a bit improper..."

"No worries, I'll block view of you with a layer of clothes!"

Lu Zhe felt that for today, it'd be best for him not to squeeze together with the girls. Restrain himself a bit!

Slipping up repeating the mistake he made that night, trying to survive with two little expectant mothers would be truly troublesome then.