NOVEL NEXT Chapter 240 - 337: Big Brother is a Craftsman
Chapter 240: Chapter 337: Big Brother is a Craftsman
Under the cover of night, Bi Fang worked up a sweat, his large hammer striking the logs repeatedly, striving to split them into uniformly sized timbers as soon as possible.
There was one thing Bi Fang never mentioned to others, and that was his mild obsessive-compulsive disorder…
If the logs were of uneven lengths or the thickness varied too greatly, he would feel extremely uncomfortable and would end up spending more effort on this basis.
However, doing so wasn’t without purpose; if the logs were the right size, then the raft would naturally be sturdier, less likely to encounter any accidents.
Yes, that’s right, he was doing this for more safety, “Wilderness Survivalist,” with Master Fang leading with stability!
[Several days to chop a tree, I actually watched for a whole day, unbelievable.]
[Old Fang could stand out as a part-time lumberjack, just what I need for home renovation. How much would it cost to hire Old Fang to make furniture?]
[Big hammer eighty, small hammer forty.]
[Wu Hu? That cheap (Dog’s head emoji)]
[Why does Old Fang strip all the bark off the trees?]
“Because I’m going to use the bark to make ropes. Bark is a great source of plant fibers, which are essential for binding the raft together. Plus, plant fibers aren’t afraid of water, they even become tougher when wet.”
Bi Fang mustered his last bit of strength to lift the hammer high, then slammed it down mightily.
A crisp cracking sound.
The large tree at his feet broke in response.
“Phew, finally finished chopping them all.”
Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead, did not immediately sit on the ground to rest, but ran to check on the squid by the fire, finding it perfectly cooked with a tantalizing aromatic scent.
He sat down nearby, began to eat the squid to replenish the day’s energy expenditure, and took sips of bottled rainwater when thirsty. Life had taken on a completely new form compared to a few days earlier, resembling a poor farmer’s march toward modest wealth.
Completely comfortable.
Having eaten his fill, Bi Fang started the braiding process.
“The best braiding material is actually shrubs, those kinds of plant stems, like nettles, but for us, bark is already sufficient. Even if we don’t have enough, we can rely on quantity to ensure our raft is both sturdy and stable.”
Bi Fang pointed towards a large pile of bark on the ground, more than enough for him to bind the entire raft three times over using the standard technique, without wasting a bit.
Making the rope wasn’t complicated. Bi Fang first picked up a piece of intact bark, removed the woody parts, then scraped off the fibrous surface layer with a stone, which did not increase the fiber’s strength but instead made it more brittle.
Finally, he rubbed the complete plant fibers in his hands until they became soft and pliable.
“Before we start braiding, we need to ensure that the fibers don’t get wet, otherwise the ropes we’ve made will shrink, causing them to become loose.”
Bi Fang took a bundle of fibers, tied one end together to secure it, then divided it into three strands. He moved the left strand to the middle, placed the right strand on top, moved the current left strand to the middle again, and continued weaving in a process that looked somewhat like braiding hair.
“This method of making ropes is called plaited braiding. You divide the thread into three strands and braid them together to form a thicker, stronger rope. To extend the length, you can stagger the strands and add new fibers.
When making ropes in this way, the strands should be as tight and smooth as possible. If you lack experience, you could also make ropes by hand-twisting.”
“Besides this, there are other methods, such as the twisting method. You combine plant fibers and twist them, the direction doesn’t matter, as long as you maintain a consistent direction because we’re short on time, I won’t demonstrate this here.”
As he spoke, Bi Fang was already lifting the rope in his hands to show the audience through the camera lens, and to their surprise, you couldn’t even tell that the rope was handmade; it looked no different from the ropes they were used to seeing, and might even appear more attractive because it was handcrafted.
“There’s no particular trick here; with a few more attempts you might all be able to do it, and girls who enjoy tying braids might have a bit more dexterity.
The only thing to pay attention to when making ropes is that each strand of fiber should be approximately the same thickness, and each should also maintain a consistent thickness throughout. If the strands are uneven, the thinner parts might break when under stress after the rope is finished.”
Bi Fang wrapped a loop of hemp rope around each hand and pulled hard. The section of cord made from tree fibers instantly went taut, leaving deep grooves in his arms. Despite the pressure, it showed no sign of breaking.
Is it that strong?
The audience was surprised; they hadn’t expected a piece of handmade rope to be so durable. Does that mean it’s time to start tying the logs together?
“Not enough, not yet,”
said Bi Fang, shaking his head. “We still need to twist two more strands together and then combine the three strands in the same manner. Only then will it be strong enough to withstand the drifting at sea for a fortnight without breaking.
You must realize, we could encounter storms, and while a single rope might keep the raft intact, it cannot assure safety through a tempest. We need to be fully prepared; once we’re at sea, should any mishaps occur, there will be no chance for regrets.”
[666, very cautious]
[Are we going to spend the whole night twisting hemp rope?]
[When do we set sail? I can’t wait any longer! Let’s fucking go!]
[What about the life raft? Don’t we need it anymore?]
“Of course, we do. Why wouldn’t we use a good, intact life raft? I’m building the raft as a precaution.”
Bi Fang shook his head. Kids choose; adults take everything.
Whether it’s a life raft or a wood raft, he would abandon neither. Instead, he planned to combine them. Together, they would provide an unobstructed passage across the sea, upgrading from a bird gun to a cannon. By then, even a small Shark wouldn’t scare him.
It would be a Shark feast!
That’s what it means to ride the wind and waves!
With this thought, Bi Fang’s hands moved even faster, quickly twisting several hemp ropes. His hands flew so fast that he didn’t realize the number of viewers in the live stream had significantly decreased until it was quite late in Huaxia, likely in the early hours of the morning. Then he stopped working to rest.
A night passed without incident.
By the time the viewers tuned in again the next day, Bi Fang had finished making the hemp ropes and was ready to start building the raft.
[OMG, that was fast, wasn’t it?]
[Did Old Fang keep working after ending the stream?]
[Professional, meticulous]
[Ah… the big brother is also a craftsman, earning his keep with his craft]
“Of course not.”
Bi Fang shook his head. After ending the stream last night, he had slept in the life raft. But he had gotten up early today and, before the crew started the live stream, he had completed the prep work. He had twisted most of the bark into ropes—all three-ply, each one as thick as a little finger, and looking remarkably strong and durable.
What followed was the most exhilarating moment—the construction, pushing the boat into the sea!
Placing the logs on the beach, Bi Fang carefully picked out the two thickest and longest ones. These two logs were different from the rest and evidently served a different purpose.
Is it something like a foundation?
The audience couldn’t help but wonder.
Unpredictably, Bi Fang carried the two logs to the side of the life raft and then positioned them along the sides of the raft.
What is he doing?
Now the audience was completely puzzled.