American Farmers: Facing a Cutoff at the Start

Fett went back inside and took out his phone to search for essential items for winter camping.

After browsing through the guides for a while, Fett started preparing his things, referring to his phone.

"Since Leila is in charge of fishing gear, ingredients, and pots and pans, I'll take care of logistics and security."

The outdoors is not like being at home, especially in this kind of awful weather after freezing rain; staying warm is the top priority.

Remembering Leila's short down jacket, which was nice but not very windproof, he took out his phone and sent a message:

"Remember to change your clothes."

"It's best to wear a windproof jacket or hard-shell jacket, and then wear a pair of thick boots."

"It's windy by the river, don't catch a cold just to look pretty."

"bite--"

Leila replied almost instantly: "Don't worry! I have far more outdoor experience than you! You should wear more layers too!"

Fett smiled as he looked at the reply on the screen.

He put down his phone, took off his work clothes, and began to rearrange his outfit according to the classic three-layer dressing method.

He changed into a set of close-fitting, moisture-wicking thermal underwear, and then put on fleece-lined khaki cargo pants and a red and black plaid flannel shirt.

On the outside was a dark blue windproof and waterproof jacket.

Although these hard-shell garments are not as fluffy as down jackets, they are the most effective at blocking cold winds and moisture in the damp and cold outdoors.

He put on a black beanie and tried to move around a bit. The outfit was warm but not bulky, making it perfect for activities.

After changing his clothes, Fett went straight to the wall where the guns were hanging.

Safety first.

It's normal to find wild animals on a deserted riverbank; who knows what trouble you might encounter?

He took the M1911 pistol off the wall, skillfully removed the magazine, checked it, and after confirming that it was fully loaded, he fastened it to his belt along with the holster.

I need to find a bag; the pickup truck definitely can't reach the river, so I'll have to carry the stuff across.

With that in mind, Fett pulled out an old military green canvas backpack from the storage room. It was the one that old Frank used when he was young and hunting.

The canvas of this backpack is worn and faded, and the straps are frayed, but the stitching is still sturdy, and it looks like it can hold quite a lot of things.

Shelters must be built.

It's windy by the river; you can't stay there without shelter from the wind.

Although we don’t have a professional camping tent at home, we have enough thick waterproof tarpaulin.

Fett found a piece of dark green oilcloth, spread it out on the ground to check for any holes, then rolled it into a tight roll, tied it with paracord, and hung it horizontally on the external attachment point at the bottom of his backpack.

After thinking for a moment, he stuffed an old wool blanket into his bag.

This blanket is thick, and although the coarse red and black checkered wool is prickly, it is very warm. It can be used to keep out the damp when laid on the ground or to block the wind when draped over your body.

"Oh, and water!"

The Mississippi River is notorious for being a muddy river. Although it has a lot of water, it is extremely murky. If you drink it directly, it's no wonder you get diarrhea.

Fett found a sturdy plastic bottle and filled it with a gallon of purified water from the kitchen bucket. That should be enough, even though it was a bit heavy, but it was the safest option.

Starting a fire is of utmost importance.

In this freezing weather, if we can't start a fire, we'll definitely freeze.

Although there was magnesium rod and tinder in the handle of his camping knife, he still carried a windproof lighter in his pocket for extra protection.

As for firewood, there's no need to worry.

The freezing rain fell all night, and although the surface of the fallen dead wood was covered with ice, the core of the wood inside was dry.

If you break the ice with a knife, it becomes a good fuel.

He tucked the newly made camping knife into his waistband, carefully wrapped the kitchen knife in several layers of old newspapers and stuffed it into the side pocket of his backpack, and also put in a folding handsaw. That was all the tools he had.

Finally, there's the first aid kit.

Band-aids, iodine solution, and bandages are all essential.

The more Fett packed, the more he felt he was missing. He stuffed a bag of high-calorie Snickers bars, two cans of Red Bull, and a roll of plastic bags into his backpack. Finally, the backpack was packed full, bulging like a well-fed toad, and the zipper could barely be closed.

That's fine.

Fett picked up the backpack and tried it on, estimating it to weigh about thirty or forty pounds.

However, given his current physical condition, this burden is nothing.

He slung his bag over his shoulder, grabbed the keys to his pickup truck, and went outside.

He slammed the mountain-sized backpack onto the back seat, drove all the way to Leila's house, sent her a message, and waited patiently in the car.

A short while later, Leila came out.

She changed out of her down jacket and put on a bright orange professional outdoor windbreaker, the color so vibrant it was like a ball of fire, standing out starkly against the gray and white winter sky.

She wore a beige knitted hat with a cute pom-pom on top, looking both capable and playful.

She carried a yellow hiking backpack on her back, with a pot hanging from it, all packed very neatly, and a long fishing tackle bag stood beside her.

Leila opened the car door and took her backpack off, placing it on the back seat. When she saw Fett's bulging, almost bursting backpack, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Fett, are you moving? This bag is so big, what's in it?"

"Since we're all out having fun, we should make sure we enjoy ourselves!" Fett smiled, offered no further explanation, and started the car.

Leila got into the passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, and opened the map app on her phone to give directions:

"Head east, we're going to Horseshoe Bend."

Fett turned the car around, and the two drove toward the Mississippi River.

The freezing rain from last night has long since stopped, but the traces it left behind are incredibly spectacular.

The scenery along the highway seemed to have been enchanted.

Every tree, whether a tall oak or a low shrub, was encased in a thick, crystal-clear shell of ice.

The sunlight shone down, making the whole world sparkle, like countless diamonds scattered on earth.

The power lines along the roadside hung low like crystal necklaces. Occasionally, a gust of wind would blow, and the icicles on the treetops would collide with each other, making a crisp and melodious tinkling sound, like wind chimes singing.

"So beautiful...it's like Elsa came here..."

"Let it go~ Let it go~~"

Leila leaned against the car window, watching the scenery rush by outside, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Yes, it's beautiful, but it would be even more perfect if the road were easier to travel on."

Fett gripped the steering wheel, and although the wheels were fitted with snow chains, he still drove very carefully.

The road surface was covered with thick ice, and the car would occasionally slip slightly.

After driving along the country dirt road for about half an hour, the scenery on both sides became increasingly desolate, and the population gradually dwindled.

This place is far from the hustle and bustle of the town, with only a few startled birds occasionally flitting across the gray sky.

Apart from the rumble of the pickup truck, the woods on both sides were extremely quiet.

Finally, the road ahead ended.

The once wide dirt road turned into a winding path, disappearing into the depths of the dense forest ahead.

"We've arrived. This is the furthest we can go."

Fett parked the car in a relatively flat, open area and turned off the engine.

The two got out of the car.

A cold wind instantly rushed into the collar, making one shiver involuntarily.