Island Survival: Starts by chopping a tree-Chapter 56

[Mass release]

Jeff patted her head as he put some distance. "Alright, then let’s talk later since I have work for today," he said to the group, which woke them up.

Emma, just behind her, was the first to speak up, "So what are you going to work on today? Is it about making clothes with this hide?" she inquired.

He just shook his head at what she said, "As I stated earlier, to make this into good clothing, it needs to be stretched. After that, there are some steps for the finishing," he responded.

Hearing what he said, she was stunned. "Wait, what he said earlier was not actually a lie?" she thought, as the realization dawned on him.

Jeff, not knowing what she was thinking, decided it was time to work.

The list of requirements he needed for making the staked-out frame method to stretch the hide.

Are four sturdy bamboo poles (each about 4-5 feet long) for the rectangular form. Then some vines, rope, or strips of bamboo fiber to tie this frame and secure the hide.

But he already had some rope, so that was already checked. Next are stakes or pegs made from sharpened bamboo or wooden pieces to anchor the frame in the ground.

He considered his fire axe as a potential hammer, but then thought, "Maybe I should try to make a hammer." He then reached for his trusty stone knife to shape some stakes.

"I will be back for a moment you girls just stay here and guard the place, I will be back in no time" he said to the group.

Emma wants to follow him, but if she does that now, they will become suspicious of her. The other girls are still trying to find the answer to his question as they continue their contemplation.

"Oh yeah, Ms. Charlotte, can you make more rope for me? You girls can help Charlotte also since it’s literally needed every day if we want to make something," he asked the group.

After giving them a job, they all snapped out of it as they started their work. Jeff passed her the stone knife as he left the girls with their jobs.

He went back to the bamboo forest with his trusty axe. With a slash, it came hurling into the bamboo stalk.

[You just chopped a Bamboo. You have gained 1 experience points.]

[You just chopped a Bamboo. You have gained 1 experience points.]

[You just chopped a Bamboo. You have gained 1 experience points]

[You just cut a Bamboo. You have gained 3 experience points.]

[You just chopped a Bamboo. You have gained 1 experience points.]

[You just chopped a Bamboo. You have gained 1 experience points.]

[You just chopped a Bamboo. You have gained 3 experience points.]

...

A series of notifications sounded as he gathered these resources. When Jeff was done, the progress bar showed good results.

[103/500 exp. Remains to upgrade the skill]

He had cut down a bunch of bamboo, which is even greater than the requirements that are needed. He then went back to the camp and saw that all of the girls were focusing on their jobs.

Seeing him come back without anything bad happening, they nod their heads, welcoming him. Jeff then started his work as he dropped the bamboo stalks. Before that, he exercised first.

Jeff then collected four poles about 4 feet in length. If it’s taller than that, he just adjusted it with the axe. He inspected the poles, which were straight and, of course, thick enough to withstand the tension of the stretched hide.

"Now, to assemble the frame," he muttered as he began his work.

To those who are wondering why stretching the hide matters then here is an explanation.

So stretching the hide keeps it flat and taut as it dries, preventing it from curling, wrinkling, and even shrinking. This creates a smooth, workable surface for making clothes, bags, or other items that involves hide.

If he just skipped this part, then he’s fucking stupid, since the hide will dry in its natural, shrunken state, making it stiff and misshapen.

Unstretched hides are more challenging to work with and unsuitable for crafting flexible clothing or soft materials.

(So I hope you get it, cause I also don’t understand. But as long as you get the idea, then that’s good)

He then laid the poles on the ground in a rectangular shape, using the remaining ropes—which were still more than needed—to ensure that the frame was sturdy.

Jeff then used the square knots for durability. When he was done, he checked for any wobbling to adjust it, and yes, he found some problems as he retied it again.

"Next is to prepare some stakes," he commented.

Using the fire axe, he took some bamboo and sharpened four bamboo stakes to a point.

He made sure that the stakes were long enough, about 2 feet, to drive deeply into the ground and hold the frame securely.

Once that was completed, he measured it to determine where it would be used and marked its corners.

He then inserted those homemade stakes into the ground at each corner using the blunt end of his axe.

The stakes stand at an angle that is slightly leaning outward to hold the frame, which is taut when tension is applied.

"Now is to stretch the hide," Jeff spoke under his breath, sweat starting to form on him.

He then laid the cleaned and rehydrated hide flat over the frame. He uses ropes made from bark trees to tie the edges of the hide to the frame.

He made sure the space was tied evenly to ensure that the hide was stretched taut or tightly.

(Um, if you are not familiar with the term taut, it goes something like this)

(adjectives: stretched or pulled tight; not slack: "the fabric stays taut without adhesive"- Source not trust me, but dictionary got it?)

He started on one side and then moved to the opposite side. It’s like alternating as you go to maintain balance and even tension, my fellow readers.

When that was done, he glanced at his work. "Let’s check if there are any wrinkles left," he stated.

He gently pulled the hide in each direction like it was a lolita to remove wrinkles and ensure the hide is stretching. Jeff adjusted the tie as he saw that they were sagging and actually had uneven sides.

When doing a fixer-upper, the rope bark is used to ensure the frame is attached to the stake. This will greatly keep the frame stable and prevent it from moving during the drying process.

"Let’s double-check our work first," he muttered, making sure all of the knots were tight and the frame was stable.

In case you don’t know, he placed this stake-out frame method in the area to avoid direct sunlight. Just because it needs to be dry doesn’t mean you have to place it close to the sunlight!

He strategically positioned it in the cool shade beneath the tall trees, knowing that direct sunlight could dry the hide too rapidly and lead to cracking.

This careful consideration ensures the preservation of its quality.

He also made sure that the place where he put this had good airflow around the frame to promote even drying.

So proper drying can make sure that the hide becomes firm enough for long-term use without decomposing.

That’s why Jeff placed it in a shaded, ventilated area to prevent overdrying or cracking caused by sunlight.

If he skips this process, he can just kick his brain and let it be stepped like cow dung.

If not dried properly, the hide contains some moisture, leading to mold or bacterial growth. Overdrying in the sun makes the hide brittle and less durable.

"Now, the next move is to inspect it daily for any signs of cracking, sagging, or pests. If the knots are loosened and the hold becomes less tight, I can tighten it again, so it’s all good." He spoke, looking at his finished work.

"I just need to wait for 2-3 days, depending on the weather of this island, until the hide is ready, when it begins to become firm and not brittle." he uttered as he looked at his finished work.

Then the system issued him the reward for his hard work in making this.

[You just made a stake-out frame for drying. You have gained 20 experience points, 9 points, and 5 level-up points]

[65/100 exp. Remains to unlock a skill]

Seeing that only 45 exp remained to unlock the skill, he was excited. Skills are very helpful because of the effects they have.

The abundance of points and level-up rewards he received filled him with satisfaction, especially since he was just wrapping up with the pots and drying the hide.

He knows the progression bar will likely be full if he finishes drying the pot. This will allow him to learn a new skill that can greatly enhance his creativity.