Chapter 184 - 81: Departure
The shockwave from using explosives to open up the cave caused a certain impact on the cave's internal structure.
Normally, without any vibration, the sand and gravel layers maintain a delicate balance, only drifting down a slight layer when the wind blows into the cave.
After the earthquake, large sections of sand and gravel, already slightly damaged internally, peeled off and fell from the cave ceiling.
In the storeroom, everywhere you looked, the stored supplies were covered with a layer of dust.
The scenes in the bedroom and kitchen were no better, with small piles of earth of varying heights everywhere.
However, overall, the load-bearing beams and cement support columns still played their proper roles, and there was no large-scale collapse inside the cave.
The food racks, storage shelves, bedside cabinet in the bedroom, wooden boxes, and drying racks were not damaged and could be used once the dust was cleaned off.
Just as Chen Zhou predicted—Robinson's almost entirely non-load-bearing shoddy work wasn't destroyed by the earthquake, so his cave with cement support columns and wooden beams stood the test of the quake with no issues.
However, there was too much sand and small stones inside the cave, making the cleaning rather laborious, estimated to not take less than a day and a half.
…
After a simple inspection of the cave, ensuring it was still safe inside, Chen Zhou casually grabbed some dried firewood, preparing to return to the wooden house.
A heavy rain was expected in the afternoon on the day of the earthquake, and he didn't want to dwell in a mound of earth before the cave was cleaned, deciding to make do in the wooden house for a night. He planned to return when the weather cleared the next day to clean the cave and transport the supplies.
…
The sky was getting dark, and thick clouds could already be seen filling the air.
Chen Zhou had only been back in the wooden house for a few minutes before raindrops began to patter on the ground.
There was no thunder, no lightning, just pure torrential rain.
The dense raindrops drummed on the roof branches of the wooden house, creating a noisy clamor that made it almost impossible to hear anything else inside.
The fire in the stove danced up and down in response to the wind pouring through the chimney, and the slanting rain flew through the open window frame of the sunroom, across the half-open door, landing near the edge of the stove.
"Hiss~"
Water droplets evaporated into an almost imperceptible white gas, rising in the wooden house, and immediately emitted a strange, earthy odor.
Lai Fu lay at the door, his back soaked by the rain. He glanced back at the door impatiently and lazily scooted his rear further inside.
The rain grew heavier, quickly surpassing the storm Chen Zhou experienced at the base camp down the mountain.
The wind rampaged with the rain, howling.
Looking out the doorway, the tops of the tall trees, with their dense crowns, swayed chaotically like strands of hair in a frenzied dance.
Having just endured the tremors of the earthquake, now came the gale.
The tormented leaves fluttered in the wind, becoming heavy as they were soaked by the rain, spiraling swiftly downward.
They fell from the sunroom's window frame, soon covering the floor.
The branches and leaves on top of the wooden cabin were blown away by the wind, even some moss stuffed between the wooden poles was scattered.
Chen Zhou sat on the bed, watching the ceiling anxiously, fearing the wooden house might not withstand the onslaught of the storm.
As time ticked by, the violent wind and rain gradually withdrew their fierce faces, and the aroma from the heated porridge in the stove wafted out.
The sound of rain outside diminished, everything was over.
After dinner, before going to sleep, Chen Zhou opened the cover of the Little Dragon Cat's box, seeing the little creature with a fluffy tummy leaning against the box wall, nibbling on a thin blade of grass.
In the designated defecation area of the wooden box, there were several droppings, indicating the Little Dragon Cat had overcome its panic and returned to normal.
Relieved, he added a few more pieces of firewood into the stove, didn't reserve any fire starters, and embraced Xiao Huihui to sleep soundly.
…
One night passed, the wind stopped, and the rain subsided.
April 19th was a bright, sunny day.
He remembered going to the River Valley Plain and Fruit Tree Valley, while also looking for spices, exploring Pigeon Cave, and tracing the sheep's migration direction.
Without too much pressure, Chen Zhou still mustered full enthusiasm to clean the sand in the cave, fetched water to wet the cloth, wiped the furniture clean inside, and then transported the supplies back in.
He worked from morning until evening, with just a bit left unfinished.
Before dark, Chen Zhou visited the new settlement of the goat family.
The mother and kid goats were free to move, having hid under the trees during yesterday's rain, their fur was mostly dry.
The billy goat had nowhere to hide and was drenched from head to toe in the rainstorm, its wool matted, feeling slightly damp to the touch, emitting a strong goat smell.
Seeing the billy goat looking miserable, like a drowned rat, evoked some pity.
Considering his uncertain return time, possibly taking three to four days, worried the billy goat might fall ill from lacking sufficient water, Chen Zhou led it to the grassland where the nanny goat once lingered, untied the rope around its neck, and replaced it with a foot tether.
Compared to the mother and kid goats, the billy goat's foot tether was shorter, not limiting its freedom, but imposing tighter constraints on its movement.
On April 20th, he was busy for most of the day. Before bedtime, Chen Zhou found some seal hides to sew himself a pouch.
This time sewing, unlike when making a raincoat, he didn't sew the stitches too densely, thus finishing it quickly.
Going on a long trip, it's necessary to bring food, fire starters, weapons, and tools, so having a portable pouch is crucial.
…
On April 21st, after breakfast, having refined some details on the pouch, Chen Zhou prepared to set out.
He expected to return within two to four days, bringing two bottles of cooled boiled water, eight pieces of flatbread, four strips of seal jerky, a small box of salt, and packed a can of fried rabbit meatballs.