When Lin Yu'an trudged out to the permanent camp with his chest camera, he first noticed some small landslides along the edge of the shallow pit he had dug. The rain had eroded parts of the slope and soaked the stones he had collected, making them heavier and slick. Instead of rushing into more wall building, he checked the site drainage. Because of his terrain choice, most rainwater ran down the hillside into the stream and did not pool in the camp. That brought him some relief.
He dug a temporary drainage trench around the pit to channel runoff and then set to work clearing collapsed soil. Mud made every step harder and stones slipped in his hands, but he kept going. The camera recorded each grunt and movement. By noon the first course of the stone wall had risen another ten centimeters. Progress was slow, yet each added stone increased his sense of security.
On a break he inspected the snares. Rainy autumn days usually reduce animal activity and dilute bait scent, so he was not optimistic. All the elastic noose traps were empty. One trigger had failed because waterlogged soil loosened the stake. Lin Yu'an shrugged at the camera. "Hunting is full of uncertainty. You keep trying and adapt," he said. He repaired the trap and reset fresh bait.
While checking a fallen log nearby, he noticed something unusual. The trunk was hollow and rotted inside, its outer surface blanketed with moss. He tapped the rotten bark with his axe and heard a faint rustle. Gently he peeled away a piece of bark and peered into the cavity.
"Whoa, look at this!" he said to the camera, surprised. The hollow held a stash of dried pine cones and a handful of small nuts. It looked like a squirrel granary, high and sheltered so the contents stayed dry in the rain. The nuts appeared oil rich and calorie dense.
"I will take only half," he told the camera, careful to show restraint. "Leave the rest for the little guys." He pocketed a modest supply and moved on. On-screen viewers would later see him praised for respecting the local ecology.
By afternoon the sun managed a weak appearance through the clouds. Lin Yu'an took advantage of the break to practice archery. He brought out the 50-pound American longbow and nocked a practice arrow. "This bow is right for my draw and strength. It is reliable and field friendly," he told the camera. He drew, focused on posture, and released.
The arrow thudded into a dead snag almost dead center. He shot a few more times, each arrow refining technique. Sweat beaded on his brow and his arms grew tired, but the satisfaction of consistent hits lifted his spirits.
As he warmed down a soft, distant cooing drifted from the brush. Lin Yu'an stopped and listened. The cadence matched grouse. He lowered his bow, located the direction, and moved with quiet, measured steps.
Under a low spruce, about fifteen meters away, a plump spruce grouse pecked at berries, oblivious to his approach. Lin Yu'an used a trunk as cover, squatted low, and slowed his breathing until it matched the rhythm of the forest. He drew a hunting arrow tipped for penetration and aimed.
The forest fell almost unbearably still. The grouse glanced up. Lin Yu'an released. The arrow flew and found its mark with a dull, decisive sound. The grouse let out one short cry, flapped, and fell. He had hit the vital point.
"YES," he breathed, barely containing his excitement. He filmed the bird for proof and identification. "This is a spruce grouse. Its diet is mostly conifer needles, insects, and berries. It is not a protected species, so it is legal to harvest here."
He removed the arrow, wiped the blood clean, and carried the grouse back to camp. Between the nut stash and the grouse he had a good haul for the day. At the shelter he processed the bird with skilled hands, then added it to his food plan. He knew game like this provided valuable fat and protein.
That evening he sat by the fire with the camera rolling and reflected on the day. The wall was modest but sound. The snares and traps needed better reinforcement to resist toothy scavengers. His archery had taken a real step forward. Best of all, the forest had offered up both plant calories and fresh meat.
Rain returned overnight, but the shelter held and the fire kept him warm. Lin Yu'an felt that each small victory here mattered. When food and shelter come from your own effort, the morale boost is larger than the calories on the plate. He slept with sharper confidence than before, ready for the next day's work on the stone house and the constant hunt for sustainable resources.