Wilderness Survival with Druid System

Chapter 345: Chapter 16: Egyptian Catfish

Twisting ropes is a skill Chen Wen had learned long ago.

In the Sonora Desert, he used agave to make ropes.

This time using reeds, the procedure is almost the same.

Sun-dry them, crush to break the outer structure, release the internal fibers, and then twist into three strands.

If you want long-term use and also maintain quality.

You can also boil the twisted ropes in hot water with plant ash for about ten minutes.

This makes the ropes more flexible.

You can even melt pine resin or beeswax and apply it to the rope.

This not only makes it waterproof and insect-proof but also greatly extends its lifespan, at least by more than six months.

He divided the collected reed leaves into two batches: one for drying and the other for smashing fibers with stones, to make do for these two days.

After smashing fibers from the make-do batch, Chen Wen collected the fibers.

He divided the leaf fibers into three strands of similar thickness, then fixed one end.

Then, like braiding hair, he alternately crossed the left and right strands over the center, intertwining the leaf fibers.

Soon, a rope as thick as a little girl’s braid appeared in Chen Wen’s hand.

...

”Such dexterous handiwork!”

A woman exclaimed behind the monitor watching Chen Wen.

Lin Jiawei glanced at the woman and matched her face with the data.

This was Vanessa’s assistant, the survivalist from Russia.

She used to do survival challenges too, but for some reasons, she didn’t continue.

Instead, she became Vanessa’s assistant.

She is also skilled in handiwork.

The guide said, ”Yes, his hands are nimble, even more so than the girls in our tribe.”

”...”

Lin Jiawei was speechless for a moment. Is this a compliment or an insult?

Vanessa’s assistant nodded slightly, ”Many male survivalists nowadays disdain learning such meticulous crafting methods. They rely too much on tools, so when tools are scarce, they often find themselves unable to resolve the lack of functional tools.”

Ivan’s assistant next to them blushed.

Ivan was one of those male survivalists.

This was also why he didn’t participate in solo survival challenges where cooperation wasn’t allowed.

Several assistants nearby also nodded slightly, thinking to themselves that they should have their competitors study Chen Wen’s footage.

Now everyone understood that Chen Wen had genuine skills.

Learning from him is absolutely no problem.

Even Yoshikawa Feng’s assistant squintingly eyed the monitor’s screen showing Chen Wen.

...

Twisting ropes took Chen Wen about twenty minutes.

Because the fixation of the treehouse’s base platform mostly required the main beam; other fixations weren’t that urgent.

So, he didn’t make much rope.

After preparing the materials, Chen Wen opened his backpack and took out the items inside.

Then he packed the materials into the backpack.

He climbed the tree with the backpack on.

This scene again prompted Vanessa’s assistant to comment, this time targeting Vanessa.

For the same treehouse construction, Vanessa actually didn’t think to use a backpack to take things up.

She left her backpack aside and repeatedly climbed up and down the tree to carry materials.

It made Vanessa’s assistant’s blood pressure skyrocket.

Can’t she be a bit more agile?

How does that saying go?

If it’s not forbidden by law, then do it; in survival, if it’s not prohibited by rules, just do it!

Sticking to the rules like this puts you behind!

Abel watched this scene and smiled without speaking.

He liked seeing contestants look for loopholes in the rules, as it made for a very interesting show effect in the end.

...

Back on Chen Wen’s side, after using the backpack to transport materials up once.

He began to build the treehouse platform.

Constructing the treehouse platform was relatively simple, just set the main beam on the tree branch forks to form a flat surface.

Then fix it with ropes twisted from reeds.

The main beam setup was completed.

Next, he began laying secondary beams, which were the core of the platform.

The densely packed wooden sticks were laid together and tied with ropes into various knots to secure them.

Thus, a simple treehouse platform was laid out.

Furthermore, for more comfort.

Chen Wen also laid some reeds on the platform to reduce the discomfort brought by the sticks.

As night fell, the treehouse platform was completed.

Before it got completely dark.

Chen Wen began his daily activities.

Starting a fire here was not difficult. Although the Caprivi Strip was nominally a wetland, it was still quite dry away from the riverbank.

There were plenty of fire-starting materials in the woods.

Withered dry grass served as tinder, and there were abundant dry branches for fire-bow techniques.

For fire-bow techniques, Chen Wen was already quite skilled.

After selecting the right materials, he processed them with the spearhead.

Soon, flames erupted.

The sky hadn’t fully darkened yet.

Chen Wen thought for a moment and decided to head to the riverside with his spear.

Mainly to freshen up.

In Chen Wen’s words: ”If there are conditions for cleaning in this place, then take the opportunity to wash up. After all, a clean body elevates mood, makes the body more comfortable, and reduces the risk of parasites.”

So, before it got completely dark, he made a trip to the riverside.

The five-minute journey wasn’t far.

Upon reaching the riverbank, Chen Wen used a drone to observe.

Most of the Nile crocodiles nearby had returned to rest on the banks, and the nearest hippos were a kilometer away. The water was quite safe.

Chen Wen went down to the water’s edge and started cleaning.

Mainly washing his hands, face, and feet.

While cleaning, Chen Wen noticed some shadowy fish swaying in the surrounding waters.

”Are those catfish?”

Chen Wen curiously observed the creatures in the water.

After looking for a few seconds, Chen Wen identified them: ”These are Egyptian Catfish, I think. They look quite similar, and given that Egyptian Catfish are nocturnal, resting during the day in caves, aquatic plant clusters, or beneath rocks, and are more active and feeding at dawn and dusk, their habits match as well.”

The Egyptian Catfish, belonging to the Siluriformes and Clariidae family.

In Hua Country, as an invasive species, the Egyptian Catfish is widely present in the country’s waters.

Regarding this type of catfish, Chen Wen had some interest, but not much.

”This kind of catfish is edible, nutritionally similar to other catfish, but is known to be quite dirty!”

Chen Wen hesitated as he looked at the Egyptian Catfish swimming at the bottom: ”Their adaptability is extremely high, they eat almost anything, and Egyptian Catfish grown in heavily polluted waters have flesh rich in heavy metals, akin to poison!”

”Moreover, these creatures generally taste mediocre, with a strong earthy taste. But considering the condition of this water body, maybe it’ll be better?”

Regardless, for the sake of the entry, Chen Wen still wanted to attempt catching some fish.

He roughly assessed this group of Egyptian Catfish.

These catfish like to congregate. There seemed to be about a dozen Egyptian Catfish gathered in this gently flowing water.

Catching fish is a skillful task.

Especially without nets or traps.

To ensure efficiency, Chen Wen decided to use strategy.

He observed the surrounding environment.

This gently flowing water area was similarly gradual at the bottom, with a low slope, making entering the water no problem.

Nearby, there was even an un-dried water channel, about a meter wide, extending roughly seventeen or eight meters inland.

Based on this terrain, Chen Wen had a good idea.

He planned to drive the group of Egyptian Catfish into the channel and block it with the ubiquitous mud.

Execute a ’trap-and-catch’ strategy!