Preparation

Soapberries extracted into soap were not easy to preserve, but the dried fruit could be kept for a long time. Therefore, Lin Ye found a dry, cool, shaded spot and stored the soapberries there, to be taken out whenever needed.
Because she had found soapberries, cinnamon, and perilla, Lin Ye’s mood was quite good. She set the items aside, intending to build a simple stove.
People consider food as their heaven, so cooking conditions could not be too poor.
Although Jing didn't know what Lin Ye wanted to do, she stayed by her side to be ready to help at any time.
The first step to building a stove was digging the earth. Lin Ye found a multi-purpose military shovel in her bag, which looked very new. This must have been a newly bought shovel belonging to Brother Triệu, a wilderness survival enthusiast, but now this shovel belonged to her.
The uses for this military shovel were many. Lin Ye extended the handle. At the joint between the handle and the head, there was a free-conversion part; by simply loosening the screw and separating the handle and head into an "L" shape, the shovel turned into a hoe.
She dug a few times with the hoe, and Jing, standing to one side, already had sparkling eyes.
"Lin Ye, can I help you dig the earth?" Her gaze remained fixed on the small hoe in Lin Ye’s hand; it was clear she really wanted to use it to dig.
"...Alright, you dig then." Lin Ye knew that she was actually interested in this multi-purpose military shovel.
She handed the small hoe to Jing. She excitedly took the hoe and mimicked Lin Ye’s earlier movements, busily digging the earth. Her movements were extremely agile, and before long, she had dug a large hole.
When Lin Ye told her to stop, she still felt unsatisfied.
"Lin Ye, if you ever need to dig earth again in the future, remember to call me; I'll help you dig!" Jing said, patting her chest.
Lin Ye: "...Alright."
After the earth was dug, water was used to mix it into thin mud. Since there were no containers to hold water, the plastic bags were put to use again to carry water.
This task was obviously volunteered for by Jing. The river was about a five to six-minute walk from Yang’s cave; she carried the water bags back and forth three or four times without feeling tired, her spirit remaining as full as at the beginning.
After the mud was mixed, the construction of the stove began. The stove was built on a flat spot right next to the cave entrance.
Lin Ye first used a branch to draw a circle on the ground, then spread mud over the circle. Both the front and back of the circle had openings, though the front opening was larger than the back one.
Building the mud up to about thirty centimeters high, she used branches to create a rectangular shape within the mud circle, leaving a space in the middle. Then she used mud to plaster the branches. In this way, a simple mud stove was constructed.
The opening at the front of the stove was used for lighting the fire and adding wood. The opening at the back was for ventilation, while the flames would escape upward through the rectangular gap of the stove. A pot could be placed directly onto the stove.
But since they didn't have a pot, Lin Ye intended to go to the riverbank to find a large, thin, and flat stone to bring back; tonight she would make stone-grilled meat.
Because a stone slab would distribute heat evenly, the temperature would make the surface of the food golden and attractive without losing the moisture within the ingredients, ensuring the food remained tender.
Here, other things might be lacking, but there were plenty of stones. In a short while, she found a stone slab that met her requirements. After washing it, she brought it back to prepare for tonight's use.
By the time everything was finished, it was already past noon. In a day, beastmen only ate two meals and did not have the habit of eating lunch. But Lin Ye was used to eating three meals a day, especially since she had consumed so much energy this morning, her stomach was already growling.
"Jing, are you hungry?" Lin Ye asked. Having spent the entire morning working together, the two had quickly become acquainted.
Jing touched her stomach and nodded honestly. "Hungry." But even if she was hungry, there was nothing she could do; she had to wait until the hunting party returned in the evening to have meat to eat.
"Let me treat you to lunch," Lin Ye said. Most of the work today had been helped by Jing; logically, she should invite her to lunch as a thank you.
"That's a bit embarrassing..." Jing’s eyes lit up as she asked, "What are we eating?"
Lin Ye thought for a moment and then said, "Follow me."