I built a manor in the Middle Ages

Chapter 63 Large-Scale Fishing

The construction of mountains and forests is in full swing.

Luc finally got his wish and put on the wool sweater. The white wool sweater that had not been dyed would get dirty easily, but Luc didn't care. It was nice to have something to wear. It didn't matter if it was a little dirty, as long as it didn't attract lice.

But Mary's craftsmanship is really good, and the wool sweaters she knits are not very prickly. It's just that the weather is getting hotter and it's not suitable to wear now.

Putting the sweater and the spinning wheel on the second floor of the cabin, Luc came to the Agate River. Staring at the flowing river, he began to think about one thing:

The elk herd had not yet migrated from afar, and the main sources of meat were rabbit and chicken. Ever since the two pheasants had gotten along well, Luc always wanted to catch a few more, but several times he only caught roosters. It was useless to have so many roosters, so he ate them all.

As for rabbits, Luc didn't even think about it because he couldn't keep them alive.

"Maybe fishing, well, large-scale fishing."

The fish have gradually become smarter, and it is difficult for Luc to catch fish with a wooden spear. As for fishing, Luc still thinks it is more convenient to make a fishing net.

He waved and called Robert over, asking him to cut some vines. Robert said "ah". In fact, Robert was not very old, probably around 30 years old, only seven or eight years older than himself. However, one was already the father of two children, while the other was still single.

Yuan Luke's family conditions were not bad, at least compared with the tenant farmers and serfs around him, he was considered wealthy. I don't know why he didn't marry.

Robert soon cut a bunch of rattan and when he learned that Luc wanted to make a fishing net, he immediately volunteered:

"Master, I'm very good at making fishing nets!"

Luc looked at Robert in surprise, "You're good at it? Aren't you a farmer?"

"Ah yes, but I have knitted before, with a few free farmers."

Seeing Robert hesitating, Luc's eyes were sharp. Finally, Robert lowered his head and said, "Okay, sir, I admit that I did make a fishing net with a few people and secretly catch fish for the lord before. But I can promise that I will never steal anything from you!"

"I swear by God!" Seeing that Luc still didn't say anything, Robert swallowed and began to swear by God.

Luc sighed and turned his head helplessly. He himself was born a commoner, so how could he not know how unreliable it was when a farmer swore an oath to the lord by God? When he stole food, he could just say "God will forgive me" to completely negate the oath.

This is the cunning and wisdom unique to farmers.

"Since you can weave a fishing net, I'll leave this to you."

Luc did not intend to pursue Robert for the former lord, and turned to think about the canoe.

As for the other side of the river, Luc had never actually explored it.

Although the hundred-foot river was not particularly wide, the resources on the right bank were abundant, so Luc did not need to risk swimming across the river to the other side. In winter, it was possible to cross because of the ice, but it was so cold that no one was willing to walk too far.

However, as Luke's archery skills improved and the population increased, he wanted to go to the other side to see if there was any new food.

Luc walked towards the woods with an axe. As for how to cross the river, Luc planned to build a simpler raft instead of a boat.

Calling Ryan, the two first selected several thick oak trees as the skeleton of the raft. These oak trees were not only hard and durable, but also had strong buoyancy, making them very suitable for making rafts.

Both men were experienced in felling trees, and it didn't take long for them to chop down one. They carefully peeled the oak with an axe, dragged it to the river, and then cut it into the required length with a saw.

Next, Luc and Ryan placed the oak logs side by side and pulled over some branches slightly thicker than their arms to serve as crossbars. All the iron nails had been used up in the cabin, so Luc had to use the old method. He used a knife to carve out some wooden nails, hammered them into the crossbars with stones, and then tied them tightly together with tough vines, ensuring that each oak log was firmly connected to form a flat raft foundation. During this process, Luc constantly checked the raft's balance to ensure it could float steadily on the water.

After the main structure of the raft was completed, Luc and Ryan began to consider how to increase the stability and load-bearing capacity of the raft. After thinking for a while, they decided to add some smaller wood around the raft as auxiliary buoyancy. These woods were also carefully tied to the main structure. In addition, a simple rudder was installed at one end of the raft to better control the direction of the raft.

After several days of hard work and the creation of two long oars, the raft was finally completed.

The next morning, Luke took Ryan and paddled to the other side.

……

The wooden paddles slowly moved forward in the turquoise water of the Agate River. The river surface was calm, and occasionally a few water birds flew over the water, leaving ripples.

Luc carefully controlled the direction. His eyes looked across the river and gazed at the opposite bank, where there was a dense forest with tall and straight trees and lush branches and leaves, forming a natural green barrier.

It didn't take long for Luc and Ryan to set foot on the land.

Luke told Ryan to pick up a wooden stick and lead the way. Ryan would occasionally knock off the spider silk that was extremely difficult to detect with the naked eye between the trees. Soon, a long white ball was wrapped around the wooden stick.

After walking for about half a day, the two suddenly stopped.

"Master, look there!"

Ryan's eyes gradually widened, and he saw that in front of the two of them, between bushes and trees, a green vine net was entwined. The vines had heart-shaped leaves with slightly serrated edges.

That's a grapevine!
"call!"

Luc took a deep breath. He didn't expect that he would find such a treasure on the left bank after just walking for half a day!
Grapes can’t satisfy your hunger as food, but don’t forget that the wine made from grapes is extremely valuable!
In fact, apples can be used to make wine, and barley can be used to make beer, but that requires July and August.

Ryan couldn't wait to approach the wild vines, but was suddenly grabbed by Luc. Almost at the same time, Luc drew out his sword and slashed the ground with it. With a snap, a green snake head entangled in the vines fell off.

Ryan swallowed. The green snake and the vine were almost integrated, thanks to Luc's sharp eyes.

Luc lifted the still twitching snake's head and threw it aside. He wasn't sure if it was a venomous snake, but sometimes, even after a snake dies, its teeth can still spray venom, so it's safer to pick it off from a distance. "It looks like this snake was trying to use the grapevines as bait to prey on passing birds or squirrels, but unfortunately it encountered us."

"Don't go over there yet. The grapes have just bloomed and haven't borne fruit yet. Let them bloom. We'll pick them all in a few months!"

Luke is not in a hurry. In this unowned land, anything he discovers belongs to him!
Today the two of them just did a brief exploration and returned to the cabin in the afternoon.

About two weeks later, Luc found some lettuce on the other side of the river, which made him very happy, but even happier things were yet to come.

One morning, Robert suddenly ran over in a hurry and presented him with the fishing net he had finally made like a treasure.

That day, using a raft and a fishing net, Luc caught a whole basin of fat, fresh fish. He threw the young fish and the fish with roe back into the river, gave three to Robert as a reward, and used the remaining fish to make a pot of delicious fish soup.

The remaining fish were kept in water to prevent them from dying.

At this moment, Luc achieved the freedom to eat fish.

(End of this chapter)