Then, it was time to discuss the groupings!
During dinner, Lu Zhe gathered everyone together: "According to the plan, we need to split into three groups, two people per group!
Group A stays at the campsite.
Group B keeps watch over the cargo at the reef.
Group C pilots the raft to transport supplies."
Shen Bing nodded: "Lu Zhe, you're the only one who can pilot the bamboo raft, so you must be in Group C, right!"
Lu Zhe nodded: "That's right! Transporting supplies by sea has the highest chance of emergencies, so I, the backbone of the team, must be in Group C. Now the question is, who will be in my group!"
Ning Shu quickly said: "Then I'll be in Group C too. I'm quite strong and can row the boat."
Lu Zhe shook his head: "No, you'd better stay at the campsite!"
Ning Shu was puzzled: "Why me?"
"Because you are the class monitor!"
"What kind of nonsense reason is that?"
Shen Bing thought for a moment: "Each group should have a leader, the backbone! I suggest Ning Shu as the team leader stays at the campsite with Lin Qianqian, Jiang Yao and I keep watch at the reef, and Lu Zhe takes Tang Xiaoguo to transport supplies."
Jiang Yao protested: "Why Tang Xiaoguo?"
Shen Bing sighed: "Because today is Thursday, she is the girlfriend!"
Tang Xiaoguo laughed: "So the group leaders are the class monitor, Sis Bing, and me!"
Lu Zhe scorned: "Tang Xiaoguo, do you have any sense of propriety?"
"Oh, don't be so petty. At worst, I'll appoint you as the executive deputy leader, as well as first mate of Sulidae ship, and the number one escort on Volcano Island!"
Lu Zhe nodded: "Sis Bing, I think it's better to have Xiaoguo stay with you at the reef. This girl needs someone to tie her up when she gets crazy!"
Shen Bing smiled: "Then you tie her up!"
Lu Zhe glanced at Tang Xiaoguo and sighed helplessly: "After all, she is my beloved, I can't bear to do it!"
Tang Xiaoguo quickly said: "Hey hey, just kidding. Lu Zhe, you are the captain now!"
"You have to listen to me!"
"I'll listen!"
"Don't make trouble!"
"Won't make trouble!"
"Come and massage my legs!"
"Sure!" Tang Xiaoguo immediately became a clingy girlfriend and started massaging Lu Zhe's legs.
Shen Bing nodded: "Then it's decided! Ning Shu and Lin Qianqian stay at the campsite, Jiang Yao and I keep watch at the reef, Lu Zhe takes Tang Xiaoguo to transport supplies!"
"Understood!"
Everyone nodded.
Lu Zhe instructed Ning Shu and Lin Qianqian: "We may not come back tonight. Communicate with Morse code if possible! If you get trapped in the tree house, you can signal us by smashing leaves or wild grapes on the lantern covers - purple and red for danger, green for safety!"
"How can we determine if it's safe or dangerous?"
"You can crush leaves or wild grapes to smear on the lamp shades, purple and red represent danger, green represents safety!"
Lin Qianqian said: "Okay, let's prepare some in advance, two for each group!"
"Good idea! There are still many chores to do at the campsite - organizing clothes, washing suitcases, and cleaning up the campsite."
"Don't worry about that little bit, we'll do the odd jobs after you guys leave."
Shen Bing thought for a moment, took out two Type 52 pistols: "Oh right, Ning Shu and Lin Qianqian, there may be intruders without Lu Zhe. Bears are afraid of fire, crocodiles can be avoided by climbing the tree house. Monkeys, komodo dragons, clouded leopards and the like can be driven away with guns. Even wild boars will be intimidated by gunshots. Let me teach you two how to use guns!"
There was an excited gleam in Ning Shu's eyes: "That's awesome, I can't believe I get to play with real guns in my lifetime!"
Lin Qianqian was also very happy: "I'll look as cool as Sis Bing!"
"Alright, let's go!"
Shen Bing took the two girls to practice shooting.
Lu Zhe took Jiang Yao and Tang Xiaoguo to fill water and pack food.
Two hours later.
The first batch of clothes was dry.
Finally, they could change into a new set of clothes.
Lu Zhe picked out a blue floral boxer shorts, a white T-shirt, a coffee-colored sun hat, and a pair of sunglasses. The decadent feeling was immediately swept away!
The only awkward thing was his hair had grown too long without a trim.
Without scissors, Lu Zhe didn't want to shave bald directly with a razor, so he just tied his hair back with a hair band, which gave him a kind of roguishly handsome feeling!
Lin Qianqian wore a halter top and capri pants.
Ning Shu ripped apart a pair of jeans into a vest, and wore denim shorts.
Shen Bing found a rather tight-fitting yoga outfit.
Only Tang Xiaoguo couldn't find suitable clothes, so she had to make do with wearing a doll's maid costume.
And it fit quite well, except for the mismatched chest area.
They took off the stained clothes to soak and wash thoroughly. Those that were too damaged to wear were used as rags.
Now everyone looked decent again!
"Alright, we're going to set off now! Take good care of yourselves!"
"Got it!"
At 1 pm, Lu Zhe, Shen Bing, Tang Xiaoguo and Jiang Yao took the bamboo raft again and headed for the reef!
After an uneventful journey, they arrived at the reef again after three hours.
Lu Zhe tied the bamboo raft to the fixed bamboo poles and checked his watch: "It's 4 pm now, let's not salvage supplies today. Let's improve the bamboo hut first. We'll search again tomorrow morning."
Shen Bing nodded: "I agree! Otherwise there would be nowhere to put the packages even if we brought them back."
Jiang Yao nodded: "Safety first, no matter what."
Tang Xiaoguo said: "Whether it's opening blind boxes or building bamboo huts, I love doing both!"
"Then let's start!"
"How do we do it?"
"Bing, you and Yao go up the frame first, I'll pass the bamboo up for you two to grab, then we'll tie them together."
"What about me?"
"Pay attention to Volcano Island, if the monitor and Qianqian send a signal, let me know immediately!"
"Got it!"
They stacked the bamboo on the bamboo frame and tied them tightly with banana fiber ropes.
This was the most important step in building a bamboo hut. Whether it would be sturdy depended on how tight they were tied, so Lu Zhe tied each rope himself.
With one row of bamboo tightly bound, it was like having a floor on the frame. Lying on it, they didn't have to worry about being flooded anymore.
Thin bamboo poles were placed on top of the frame to block sunlight and rain.
After two hours of busy work, the first simple bamboo hut was completed when night fell.
Although it was drafty everywhere, it was very convenient as a temporary foothold or for storing supplies.
Lu Zhe and Shen Bing spread straw mats: "Let's spend the night here tonight!"
Just then, a firelight flashed on Volcano Island. Lu Zhe and Shen Bing deciphered through the blinking lamp lights that everything was safe and sound at the campsite.
That was reassuring!
Lu Zhe lit a green Kongming lantern with a fire starter and signaled back the same safe message!
At this time, the seawater receded, and the reef was exposed again.
Lu Zhe lit a small fire among the rocks to cook tonight's food.
"Yao, go catch a fish!"
"On it!" Jiang Yao had already prepared the tools.
Half an hour later, Lu Zhe saw a more than two meters long stranded zebra shark, and fell into contemplation.