Rotting Land: Survive-Chapter 472 - 467: Yukon Stove and Trench Fire Pit

Chapter 472: Chapter 467: Yukon Stove and Trench Fire Pit

After lunch, the survivors, following a brief rest, are now engaged in the great construction of the villa.

As the saying goes, skyscrapers rise from the ground, and during the meal, the survivors shared many suggestions.

Thus, based on priority, everyone decided to address food and drink issues first, making electricity supply and stove construction their primary tasks.

Old Zhao and Bi Dahu are in charge of assembling the electrical equipment as usual, while Lei Tong leads a few comrades in building the stove.

Considering potential problems, Old Zhao specially arranged the generator room in a closet on the villa’s second floor, a space devoid of miscellaneous items, suitable for placing generators and vehicle battery packs.

Additionally, since it’s located on the second floor, in case of emergencies, it allows survivors enough time to move the electrical equipment to the bus in front of the building.

On another front, Lei Tong plans to create two items, one called the "Yukon Stove" and the other being a conventional "Trench Fire Pit."

The Yukon Stove, from its name alone, evokes images of its appearance, but those who know or have used it understand that this stove can cook any food, with the sole drawback of requiring considerable effort to construct.

However, the overall structure of this stove can fully emit heat, so considering the future life and the subjective experience of those cooking, Lei Tong decides to make this "big guy."

There are ready-made stones and soil at the villa; after everyone engages in picking, digging, and excavating, the previously pristine courtyard garden becomes a scene of a porcupine-ravaged field.

Nonetheless, Lei Tong and the others feel no guilt about this, as in the apocalypse, filling the stomach matters more than a useless garden, which, if destroyed, is inconsequential unless one is overly satiated.

With materials prepared, Lei Tong and his comrades immediately pick up engineer’s shovels and first dig a circular hole in the center of the courtyard, then excavate a trench about 24 centimeters leading to the main cavity of the "circular hole," and build stone blocks on the main cavity’s outer side, shaping them into a funnel-like cylinder over the trench.

This task sounds simple, but in execution, it’s quite complex.

Because initially, you need to incline the stones inward, and then leave the top open, which essentially demands a specific structure of stones.

Thus, the soldiers must constantly select and try, sometimes even need to trim and polish the stones, which illustrates how intricate the process is.

This is also why few people know about this wilderness survival stove.

Once the stones are solidly built, Lei Tong and the soldiers quickly begin using the collected soil to seal the stones.

This process is not very troublesome; the main concern is ensuring no gaps between the stones, for only by thoroughly sealing the stove’s wall can the flame inside be well protected.

With the last clump of soil plastered onto the stones, the "Yukon" stove thus concludes its creation.

Gazing at the completed stove, soldiers smile faintly.

It’s the essence of their over half-hour’s effort, though its practicality remains to be tested by Wei Yang later.

After finishing the Yukon Stove for cooking, Lei Tong immediately begins constructing the Trench Fire Pit.

Compared to the Yukon Stove, the Trench Fire Pit is a method soldiers frequently use in the wilderness for fires. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Digging is undoubtedly required; the soldiers dug a small square pit 25 CM long, 25 CM wide, and 25 CM high, sized perfectly for holding an ordinary frying pan.

After smoothing the walls inside, they placed the remaining stones in the pit’s bottom, so only lighting a fire on the stone is left to start cooking, frying, or sautéing.

In addition, the hot stones after extinguishing the fire can also be used as a rack for grilling.

It’s easy to see why the Trench Fire Pit’s usage rate is so high; its practicality far exceeds the Yukon Stove, and most importantly, it’s extremely time-saving and labor-efficient to construct, requiring almost no extra steps besides digging an appropriate pit.

Since the Trench Fire Pit is not very complex, the soldiers decide to make two more, considering Wei Yang alone needs to cook meals for the entire group, relying on just one pit feels rather tight.

So, according to potential needs, the soldiers make a slightly smaller stove for everyday boiling.

At this point, the stove construction work Wei Yang proposed is successfully completed.

Overall, Lei Tong is quite satisfied with his masterpiece, and now it’s time to test the results.

However, before this, wood collection still needs to be completed, for which Hu Xiaodong volunteers to lead Wang Qiang, Wei Dazhuang, Wu Chao, and Wen Quanxin to gather firewood at the back.

Considering it’s their first time in the mountain forest, they make thorough preparations before departure, wearing anti-cut suits and anti-stab gear, carrying weapons and equipment; additionally, survivors bring axes and chainsaws without missing any item on them.

Afterward, they successively leave the villa, heading in the direction of the back mountain.

The back mountain is not very far from the villa’s location, perhaps to foster a return to nature atmosphere, developers did not overly devastate the forest land.

After crossing the road and moving straight through a flower meadow about 15 meters long, the natural mountain forest stands before the survivors.

Draw swords! Hold spears! Unaware of any encounters within the forest, the survivors immediately arm themselves.

Hu Xiaodong raises a bow, stepping into the forest first, confirming no threats are present, he motions for his companions behind him to enter.

"Everyone watch your step, try to pick fallen branches, and stay alert, do not stray from the group; let’s operate only in the peripheral area!"

The reason for collecting fallen branches is mainly because tender branches contain moisture, susceptible to smoking, and not easy to burn.

Fallen branches are different, easily ignitable, and due to moisture evaporation, they burn more fully, reducing smoking likelihood.

After 15 minutes of collection, Hu Xiaodong decisively orders the return journey.

Theoretically, they should be chopping some trees to take back, but the survivors nearly each hold a bundle of branches.

Therefore, for safety, Hu Xiaodong decides to return first.

After all, the forest is there, it won’t sprout wings and fly away.

Send the collected firewood back first and test the stove’s effectiveness; it’s a reasonable choice.

Thus, the group of five survivors, hugging their full load of wood, magnificently returns to the villa. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)