Chapter 93 Henry Was Robbed
Kendall was unaware that her past experiences were at risk of being exposed. After preparing the rooster, she placed it on the perilla leaves she had cleaned earlier.
The wild ginger and thyme Henry had washed were placed on the side.
Kendall used her knife to chop them up and mixed them with the other seasonings, rubbing them evenly over the rooster.
Then, Kendall used over ten perilla leaves to wrap the chicken, binding it tightly with vines until it resembled a large, irregularly shaped dumpling.
While Kendall was busy, Henry wasn't idle either. He proactively mixed some viscous, wet mud. Kendall smeared this wet mud onto the outer layer of the perilla leaves for insulation and protection.
Once the food was prepared, the two found an empty patch of ground nearby and dug a small pit to place the chicken. They gathered firewood from the surrounding area and quickly started a fire. Kendall also placed her metal water bottle, which was full of water, onto the fire.
Leaving the fire management to Henry, Kendall took her survival knife and walked upstream along the creek. She had discovered a cluster of green bamboo growing by the creek, and her mind instantly listed the items that could be made from green bamboo, bamboo cutlery, bamboo bowls, and bamboo tubes.
Kendall wanted to make bamboo tubes. This way, they could carry more water back when they returned. Action followed thought. Kendall started working seriously.
user @CuriousCat: "Ah? What is she doing?"
user @PrincessRuRu: "Oh... she's going to cut bamboo."
user @InterestedPasserby: "Teary-eyed laugh. Kendall hasn't seemed to rest since she woke up."
user @CoolUncle: "Bamboo can be used to make so many things. What is she planning to make?"
user @HopelessRomantic: "Kendall chose her survival knives and dagger well. The short one can be carried for self-defence, and the longer one can be used to cut bamboo."
user @ExerciseFreak: "Her movements and posture for cutting bamboo are, as always, clean and efficient."
user @CalmMind: "I'm a lost cause. I actually find watching her cut bamboo very stress-relieving."
Bamboo is hollow inside. Kendall didn't take much time to chop the entire stalk down. She trimmed off the excess branches, cut out the sections she needed, and began making the bamboo tubes.
———
The staff of the '30 Days of Survival' show had been silently monitoring the live stream data back at the office. Since the variety show became a trending topic yesterday afternoon, countless viewers were attracted.
'30 Days of Survival', after only one day of streaming, had already broken the viewership record for live streams.
These attracted viewers were almost all drawn in by the trending keywords 'virtual reality variety show' and 'the guests in the live stream don't know they are being streamed'.
These new viewers were fans of the show itself, not any individual guest, so their preferences were obvious.
They would stick with whichever live stream had the most interesting content.
The staff responsible for data statistics found that, apart from a surge in viewers for Daniel, Mia, and the other's live stream during the heavy rain last night, the viewer count for Kendall and Henry's live stream had been steadily rising since they went foraging for seafood this morning.
Conversely, Daniel, Mia, and the other's live stream had seen a large number of viewers leave, highlighting the difference.
In just half a day, Kendall and Henry had done a lot, getting up early to forage by the sea, Henry making breakfast, Kendall violently beating Jasper, Kendall and Henry entering the forest, Kendall throwing a dagger to kill a venomous snake, and Kendall catching a chicken barehanded.
.. In contrast, Daniel and Mia's group were still cleaning up the mess at the original location, and several of them were subtly starting to annoy the audience.
.. the quality of the live content clearly couldn't compare to Kendall's side.
The staff reported this issue to Sean and Simon.
Sean was surprised. "It's only been one day, and Kendall has the most viewers? Doesn't Daniel and Mia's live stream have five celebrities?" Five celebrities couldn't beat one person with a negative reputation?
The staff member presented the data report to Sean. Sean was stunned.
Simon reached out, picked up the thin report paper, and read it, a hint of amusement on his lips. "The Hansen family is causing quite a stir, saying they want to quit the show while secretly hiring internet trolls."
"The Reed family is also furious. After Jasper was violently beaten by Kendall on the show, they immediately called the CEO's office." Sean rolled his eyes.
What did Jasper getting beaten on the show have to do with his program? If it weren't for Jasper's past misdeeds, why would Kendall beat him for no reason? Furthermore, he later made a point to understand the whole story of Jasper's beating and could only conclude, 'he deserved it'!
"Take it away, and keep monitoring," Simon told the staff member. He had a feeling that Kendall had much more to show. The current surge in popularity was just an appetizer.
———
Kendall's movements were nimble. In one go, she made several bamboo tubes of different sizes, two bamboo bowls, and two pairs of bamboo cutlery set. As she sat under the tree, head bowed, seriously crafting, the comments section was abuzz with praise.
user @SerialNovelist: "The scenery of the primeval forest is so lovely, and the atmosphere is especially rich. I wish Kendall were wearing ancient Chinese clothes."
user @BeautyAdmirer: "Yes! It's such a pity. She really has such great presence, her facial features are beautiful, and her physique goes without saying. If she wore ancient clothing, she could casually take countless gorgeous, ethereal photos."
user @AlwaysFirst: "Her handiwork is too fast! I only went to do a bit of homework, and she's already finished?"
user @ColdAsIce: "Don't be shocked... not only you, but even I, who has been watching the live stream the whole time, don't know how she finished it."
user @InterestedPasserby: "Watching Kendall work makes it seem so simple, just do this and then that. But after she finished, I tried to mentally retrace some of her movements... What was the first step again???"
user @WorkHard: "As an amateur with over ten years of experience in handiwork, let me say her technique is very professional. Although her movements were a little unfamiliar when she made the first bamboo tube, the subsequent ones became increasingly skilled, like she had learned handiwork before."
user @DiligentStudent: "Yes, her finger techniques and movements are very standard, exactly the same as the standard techniques my teacher taught in my old craft classes."
user @GossipGirl: "Could it be that Kendall majored in carpentry in college? And also took electives in martial arts or some other physical sport? How else can we explain this?"
When Kendall gave Henry two of the finished bamboo tubes and a set of the bowl and cutlery, Henry accepted them with surprise, examining them carefully, unable to put them down. "You made these so quickly! They're so smooth, not prickly at all."
It was Henry's first time receiving bamboo products, and he had watched Kendall make them with his own eyes. He couldn't wait and walked to the creek, filled the bamboo tube with water, and after closed the opening with the matching stopper Kendall made, not a single drop leaked! Henry was amazed.
Kendall grudgingly nodded. "They look okay."
In truth, Kendall wasn't quite satisfied with the few items she had made this time, as they were a bit rough due to the rush.
However, Henry clearly didn't feel that way. He filled both bamboo tubes with water and treasured them, along with the set of bamboo bowl and cutlery, putting them into his backpack.
Henry was even thinking that when he left this deserted island, he would definitely take these handmade bamboo items with him as souvenirs.
But at this moment, Henry could hardly have imagined that they wouldn't be returning so soon, and that the things Kendall would craft in the days to come would be far more than just these items... but that's a story for later.
Kendall also filled her remaining two bamboo tubes with water and put her belongings back into her backpack.
Estimating that the chicken buried under the fire should be cooked, Kendall and Henry worked together to dig it out. The originally wet and sticky mud had become dry and solid under the high heat.
The two knocked off the hard layer of mud, revealing the discoloured perilla leaves inside.
After peeling back the perilla leaves, an enticing aroma immediately wafted out, and Henry couldn't help but swallow.
Once they had fully unveiled the chicken, Kendall used her knife to cut it in half, and she and Henry each ate one half. Henry was visibly a little embarrassed.
user @IAmHungry: "Wow! I can smell the delicious aroma even through the screen!"
user @CutieMiMi: "It looks so tasty."
user @DetectiveSoo: "Kendall actually gave Henry half."
user @UnbiasedOpinion: "I just came from the other live stream, and it's much more comfortable here."
user @InterestedPasserby: "These two are eating now, and the group over there is also eating. But these two are self-reliant, while the others are... stealing."
user @GossipGirl: "What? Stealing?"
user @SleepingAuntie: "Who is stealing?"
user @SensibleTeen: "I won't say, I'm afraid of being scolded by crazy fans. Go check the live stream next door yourselves. The comments over there are a mess."
Some viewers in Kendall and Henry's live stream saw the comments and curiously peeked into Daniel, Mia, and the other's live stream. That one peek nearly fried their brains!
user @TopCommentor: "That's ridiculous!"
user @FreeBird: "Henry, stop eating! You've been robbed! Ah ah ah ah!"
user @EagleEyes: "Holy cow, holy cow! After Mia and Daniel finished organizing their belongings, they not only moved the remaining tents near Kendall and Henry's tents but also snuck into the two people's tents to rummage for things, and ended up finding and eating Henry's bag of flatbread!"
user @SiSiOnTop: "What?!!"
user @PrincessRuRu: "Is that even a human thing to do????"
user @GymBuddy: "It's true. Their live stream is noisy right now. Many viewers are calling their behaviour theft, but their fans are over there mindlessly defending their idols! Saying things like they were just too hungry and that they'll pay Henry back when he returns."
user @UnapologeticallyHonest: "Taking something without permission is theft! What is there to defend! Moreover, they're in an environment where food is scarce. That flatbread is irreplaceable once it's eaten! What good is money?"
Henry, at this moment, didn't know he had been robbed. Having finished half a chicken, his empty stomach finally felt relief from hunger. He let out a satisfied sigh.
Kendall produced a few wild fruits resembling green dates from somewhere and handed them to him. Henry curiously looked at them in his hand, and seeing Kendall already eating one, he knew they must have been washed. Henry ate one, it was sweet and sour, and a little crunchy.
After they finished eating, they cleaned up, thoroughly doused the fire in the pit with water, and then left, carrying their belongings.
(End of Chapter)