American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 330 Yunnan Smooth-lipped Fish

He carefully held the damp bundle of fibers in his palm, and then picked the black fungus he had found earlier and two of the plumpest bamboo shoots.

Like a hunter returning with a full load, they went back to their temporary camp in the middle of the bamboo forest.

At this moment, the afterglow of the setting sun was slowly fading, and the light in the bamboo forest was beginning to dim.

Lin Yu'an immediately began preparing for the night, first rekindling the slowly burning charcoal fire to create a bright bonfire that dispelled the chill and darkness of the night.

They found some flat stones and built a small stone platform about half a meter above the flames next to the campfire. The platform wasn't directly exposed to the heat, but it received a steady supply of intense heat from the flames.

He then spread the damp nettle fibers evenly on the warm stone platform, sitting beside it like a patient baker tending to his dough.

He needs to precisely control the temperature and time, ensuring that the moisture in the fiber evaporates quickly without making it brittle due to overheating.

He would occasionally reach out to feel the temperature of the stone platform and gently turn the fiber bundles with a wooden stick to make them heat up more evenly.

Gradually, the color of the fiber changed from a moist milky white to a more textured linen color.

Pick up a pinch, rub it between your fingers, and the sensation of it changing from slippery to sticky tells him that the time has come.

"Alright, now we can start making the fishing line."

Lin Yu'an sat cross-legged by the fire, the flickering flames casting his shadow on the bamboo pole behind him, making it appear huge and long.

He used a double-strand reverse twisting method to gently bite one end of the two fibers with his teeth to fix them in place.

Using your right thumb and forefinger, quickly twist the two fibers clockwise to make them into tight little ropes.

At the same time, the left hand merges and twists the two small ropes together in a counter-clockwise direction.

While he was operating the machine attentively, he explained softly to the camera, "One forward and one backward, this is the oldest principle of rope making."

"The reverse stress will cause the two fibers to interlock tightly like a spring, never coming apart."

When a fiber is about to run out, he skillfully picks up a new one from the pile of fibers next to him, overlaps its end with the old one, and seamlessly twists it into the main rope.

The fire crackled softly, and Lin Yu'an's movements were steady and rhythmic.

One centimeter, two centimeters... a slender, strong, pale yellow fishing line slowly emerged from his nimble fingers.

More than half an hour later, he carefully wrapped a perfect fishing line, about four meters long and of uniform thickness, around a piece of wood.

He firmly tied the snake-bone fishhook to one end of the line, and a complete, handcrafted fishing tackle set was finally completed!
Having done all that, he began to build his shelter for the night. The bamboo forest offered him the quickest and most ingenious solution.

Instead of cutting down any living bamboo, they chose two clumps of mature bamboo that were about two and a half meters apart and growing vigorously.

First, use stone spears to clear away some of the lower branches and leaves of the two clumps of bamboo facing each other, creating a relatively open space.

Then, I walked to one of the clumps of bamboo and selected three bamboo poles on the outer side.

Grasp the upper part of the bamboo poles, and with all your might, slowly bend them down towards the clump of bamboo on the opposite side, as if drawing a giant bow.

When the bamboo poles were bent into a beautiful arc, he used the vines he had prepared to firmly tie the tips of the three bamboo poles to the solid base of the bamboo clump opposite.

He then went to the other side and used the same method to bend and tie the other three bamboo poles in the opposite direction.

Six bamboo stalks, forcibly bent by external force, intertwine in the air, forming a natural dome-shaped framework resembling arched ribs!
"This is the living frame shelter. It didn't kill any bamboo; it just temporarily borrowed their resilience."

"This method causes minimal environmental damage and is extremely fast to set up."

Finally, he collected a large number of broad bamboo leaves and branches left from felled bamboo from the surrounding area and laid them layer by layer on the arched frame.

Soon, a semi-circular green house, about 1.5 meters high and resembling an igloo, quietly took shape in the bamboo forest.

He crawled inside to test it out; the interior space was large enough for him to lie down and store all his equipment. The thick layer of bamboo leaves was enough to keep out the night dew and mountain winds.

The shelter is complete, but one crucial step remains.

He walked to a spot about one and a half meters in front of the entrance to the shelter and started a campfire there.

Flames rose, their warm light illuminating his hut, but Lin Yu'an knew it wasn't enough.

“In the wild, a campfire without a reflector wall wastes at least 70 percent of its heat,” he said as he began his new project.

"Heat radiates in all directions, and very little of it actually reaches me. So we must bring back the heat that escapes."

He used the thinner tip of the sweet bamboo that he had cut down earlier to cut four bamboo sticks about 1.5 meters long.

Sharpen both ends of these bamboo sticks, then forcefully cross them in pairs and insert them behind the campfire on the side away from the shelter to form two sturdy "X"-shaped supports.

Next, several longer bamboo poles were cut and densely stacked horizontally on the two "X"-shaped supports.

Soon, a sturdy bamboo wall, more than half a meter high and slightly tilted towards the shelter, was completed.

But this was not the final form. They then gathered many fresh, green branches with broad leaves from the surrounding area and inserted them layer by layer into the gaps in the bamboo wall, making the entire wall surface denser.

“This is the heat-reflecting wall,” he said, patting the green wall with satisfaction. “Its principle is very simple.”

"This wall itself can effectively block the cold wind blowing into the shelter, and the heat radiating outward from the campfire will be blocked by this wall and reflected back into my shelter."

"A simple structure can more than double our fuel efficiency, which is what makes a complete wilderness camp system."

As evening fell, Lin Yu-an was finally able to sit down and enjoy his new home.

A campfire blazed at the entrance of the shelter, its intense heat being channeled through a cleverly designed reflective wall into the sturdy and warm green cabin behind it.

The brand-new bamboo tube was filled with water, and a set of exquisite fishing gear was placed beside him. His face showed a hint of fatigue, but more than that, it showed a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that everything was under control.

He glanced at the sky; there was still about an hour or so of prime time left before nightfall.

"Time cannot be wasted." He stood up and picked up the fishing gear he had just finished making. "I have to try fishing."

"I also need a natural fishing rod that combines strength, toughness, and sensitivity. The key point is that everyone remembers the halo effect of the new rod that I tested when I was living alone in the wilderness!"

"The new club will definitely redefine the beginner's aura, ensuring we never go home empty-handed!"

"I think other anglers must have discovered this secret too, otherwise why would everyone at the fishing spots be selling fishing rods like they're setting up a street stall?"

Lin Yu'an searched for a while and quickly found his target: a bamboo stalk only as thick as a thumb.

Unlike tender new bamboo shoots that are soft and weak, or old bamboo shoots that are stiff and easily broken, it is full of elasticity and resilience.

Use a flint to trim away all the excess branches, leaving only a small section of the bamboo's slenderest tip that grows upwards, forming a natural anti-slip knot.

He then carefully tied the meticulously twisted nettle fishing line to the end of the fishing rod, while the snake-bone hook at the other end was carefully hung on the bamboo joint of the rod.

A primitive yet near-perfect fishing tackle set has been officially assembled.

“Alright, we have fishing rods, fishing lines, and fishing hooks,” he said, weighing the flexible bamboo rod in his hand. “Now, we’re still missing the most crucial thing—bait.”

He didn't use the snake's internal organs that he had left behind; those strong-smelling baits were better suited for attracting carnivorous fish with a keen sense of smell, such as catfish, in murky waters.

In this crystal-clear stream, where fish primarily hunt by sight, what he needs is something more authentic, the kind of home-cooked food that the fish eat every day.

"The mountain lip fish, our old friend from yesterday, mainly feeds on algae on rocks and the larvae of aquatic insects. So the best bait is hidden under these rocks."

He crouched down and slowly lifted a flat stone about the size of a washbasin, moving it very gently so as not to disturb the mud and sand at the bottom of the water.

The moment the stone was flipped over, a miniature alien world appeared before the camera.

The bottom of the stone was covered with a dense mass of strangely shaped little creatures.

There are caddisflies dragging their little nests made of sand and twigs; water centipedes swimming swiftly in the water; and mayfly larvae that look like miniature prehistoric monsters.

As if afraid of disturbing these little creatures, Lin Yu'an said in a low voice, "This is the granary of this stream. For the fish here, these little guys are an irresistible delicacy."

He plucked a few still-wriggling water centipedes from the rock and placed them in a small box folded from a banana leaf. "These larvae have soft bodies and are rich in juice, making them excellent bait for hooking fish."

He stood up and looked down at a spot downstream where the current slowed down, forming a deep pool that was probably waist-deep.

There are several huge rocks there, providing a perfect hiding place for the fish.

"This is it! May the god of the new pole bless us!"

Lin Yu'an moved to the edge of the pool and carefully threaded a live water centipede through its back onto a snake bone fishhook, trying to keep it alive as much as possible.

Instead of using the casting motion of modern fishing, which would create a huge splash and instantly scare away all the wary fish, they use a spot fishing method.

Slowly extend the bamboo pole forward, letting the fishing line with bait fall vertically into the water, landing precisely on the edge of the shadow of a giant rock.

The nettle threads are almost invisible in the water, only the struggling larvae appear particularly alluring in the clear water.

He squatted on the shore, his body motionless, as if he had become one with the rock and the environment.

His eyes were fixed on the almost invisible fishing line underwater, and all his senses were focused on the hand holding the fishing rod.

Time passed second by second. The last rays of the setting sun pierced through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, casting golden spots of light on the pond.

Suddenly, Lin Yu'an's wrist, which was holding the fishing rod, jerked violently! A clear signal was transmitted clearly from the highly elastic bamboo rod to his palm!
"It's here! The new stick's aura is kicking in!"

Instead of immediately lifting the rod, he slightly lowered his wrist and, following the force, extended the fishing line a little further. He was giving the fish enough time to swallow the entire bait.

The next second, a small force came from underwater, and the tip of the slender bamboo pole was instantly bent!

"middle!"

Lin Yu'an gave a low shout and flicked his wrist upwards in a short, precise motion!

"Wow!"

The splash was small, but a lithe fish, its body shimmering with dazzling silver light, traced an arc in the air and landed precisely on the grass at his feet.

It was a mountain bream, just over the length of his palm, about fifteen or sixteen centimeters long. For a wild stream fish, that's considered quite a good size.

Its body is spindle-shaped, with firm muscles, and its silver scales reflect a metallic sheen in the setting sun.

"Great! A fantastic start!" Lin Yu'an's face lit up with a joyful smile. "The main course for dinner is ready."

Carefully removing the hook, I found that the stream fish had a strong bite, and the sturdy snakeskin hook was undamaged. I quickly replaced the bait with a new one and repositioned the line in the same spot.

He knew that catching big fish in such streams was a matter of luck, and the real strategy was to focus on quantity.

Sure enough, his luck was amazing during the next ten minutes or so of prime time.

Perhaps it was because the fish were more eager to feed at dusk, or perhaps it was because he had chosen an excellent fishing spot, but the rod tip was constantly twitching.

He successfully caught four smaller mountain lipped fish, about twelve or thirteen centimeters long.

The last rays of the setting sun had disappeared below the horizon, and the light in the bamboo forest became dim.

He knew when to stop and didn't pursue the matter further.

Looking at his spoils for the night—five sizable mountain bream—he showed genuine satisfaction.

“That’s great,” he said to the camera, showing off the three still-living fish. “Enough for a good meal, and enough for tomorrow’s journey.”

"Okay, we need to finish the work in the kitchen before we go home."

He said to the camera, "Bringing blood and entrails back to camp will attract unwanted trouble, such as insects or even nocturnal predators."

"The most professional approach is to complete all pretreatment work at the water source."

Lin Yu'an squatted on a huge stone slab by the stream, which had been sculpted by the water into a natural chopping board. "When processing fish, there are several sources of fishy smell that must be thoroughly eliminated."

He first used the blunt side of the sharp flint to scrape the fine scales off the five fish clean against the direction of travel.

Silvery-white fish scales splashed everywhere in the afterglow of the setting sun, falling into the water and being instantly carried away by the stream.

Then, using a sharp point, they cut open the fish's belly one by one, not throwing the internal organs directly into the water, but instead tossing them into the grass on the bank far from the stream, leaving them for scavengers like ferret badgers or crab-eating mongooses in the forest.

Next comes the more meticulous internal processing, where the thin black membrane inside the abdominal cavity of each fish is meticulously torn off completely and repeatedly rinsed in the stream.

"This black film must be thoroughly removed, as it is one of the sources of the fishy smell."

Then pry open the fish's mouth and use a stone to completely remove the bright red gills inside.

Finally, the fish body was cut open along the spine, revealing a deep red bloodline below the bone—the fish's kidney. The fish's waist was then thoroughly scraped away.

The five fish were quickly processed, their bodies becoming clean and white inside and out, and they were arranged in a row on the stone slab, waiting to be cooked.

When Lin Yu'an returned to the shelter, it was already completely dark.

He immediately took out two small packages wrapped in damp leaves from his basket.

"The physical removal of the fishy smell is complete. Now let's breathe life into them. During today's forced march, besides avoiding danger, I also didn't forget to collect some treasures."

First, open the first small package. Inside are several twigs that have just sprouted new buds and have small thorns.

“The tender shoots of wild Sichuan pepper,” he said, picking a few tender leaves and rubbing them in his palm. A fresh yet powerful numbing aroma instantly filled the air.

"March is when it sprouts. Its numbing sensation is different from the harshness of dried Sichuan peppercorns. It is a fresh numbing sensation with plant juices, making it a top-grade natural spice for enhancing the flavor of meat."

I opened the second small package, which contained several leaves that exuded a strong lemon scent.

"I'm lucky today to find a Litsea cubeba plant that's in bloom. Its leaves are natural lemongrass, which is excellent at removing fishy smells."

He prepared the two spices and then began to prepare dinner for the evening.

"We can't eat all five fish at once. We'll make soup with the two biggest ones tonight. The other three will be used as provisions."

He first processed the three fish intended as provisions for the journey, stuffing a few tender wild peppercorn buds into their abdominal cavities. Then, he used a sharpened thin bamboo pole to pierce the fish's mouth and exit through its tail, stringing them together.

"The numbing and aromatic flavor of Sichuan peppercorns not only enhances the freshness of the food, but also has a certain insect-repelling and preservative effect, making it very suitable for preparing foods that need to be preserved."

After finishing the provisions, he picked up the two fattest mountain bream, which were longer than his palm.

A few crushed leaves of Litsea cubeba, along with the previously dug bamboo shoot slices and black fungus, were placed into a bamboo pot containing half a pot of water.

Then, the fish skewers marinated with Sichuan peppercorn buds were placed on the side of the fire, not too far from the embers, and slowly roasted and dehydrated over a low flame.

Then, he carefully placed the bamboo pot containing fish, bamboo shoots, wood ear fungus, and Litsea cubeba leaves on the main fire and began to heat it slowly.

He summarized to the camera: "Two spices, two uses. The lemony aroma of Litsea cubeba is fresh and direct, making it most suitable for making soup, which can maximize the freshness of fish soup."

"The numbing and aromatic flavor of wild Sichuan peppercorns is more complex and better suited for grilling, making the fish flavor more three-dimensional and mellow."

As night fell, he could finally sit down and enjoy the unprecedentedly sumptuous dinner that he had earned through a day of hard work.

Three fish sizzled over the fire, their golden oil, mixed with the aroma of Sichuan peppercorns, dripping into the charcoal and sending up plumes of mouthwatering smoke.

Meanwhile, the fish soup in the bamboo pot beside him was bubbling away, with fish, bamboo shoots, and wood ear mushrooms floating in the broth.

A fragrance that blends the umami of fish soup, the fresh scent of bamboo, and the unique aroma of litsea cubeba permeates the entire camp, enough to dispel all fatigue.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

(Only 10 pictures can be inserted per chapter, which is not enough at all!!!)

(End of this chapter)