As he muttered to himself, the contents of the oyster shells continued to bubble.

The rich sauce mixed with the thin layer of juice beneath the oyster meat. As it grilled over the high flame, the excess moisture evaporated, leaving behind an even more savory, seafood-flavored coconut milk sauce.

Blasted by the heat, the fragrance of the coyote cilantro was completely released, its fresh aroma wafting straight to his nose.

The plump oyster meat was fleshy and barely shrank after being cooked. In fact, its texture became even fuller.

He had tasted the deliciousness of grilled oysters before, and he still vividly remembered their savory sweetness that burst in his mouth.

’With the sauce and cilantro this time, it should be even more delicious, right?’

He picked up a plump piece of oyster meat and blew on it a few times. After carefully testing the temperature with his lips, he finally opened his mouth and took a bite.

SQUIRT!

Scalding hot juice shot out in his mouth. Even though he was prepared, Lin Ran was burned so badly that he nearly stumbled.

At the opening where he had bitten into it, a dark green, irregularly shaped object was clearly visible in the center of the oyster meat.

"Many people would assume that’s the oyster’s internal organs or excrement, developing a psychological block that prevents them from eating it."

"In reality, it’s undigested seaweed. Just think of it as a plant similar to kelp. It adds a hint of sweetness and umami to the oyster meat."

The texture of the half-cooked oyster was delicate and smooth, melting instantly with a gentle press of the tongue. This silken-tofu-like texture, combined with the richness of the coconut milk sauce, elevated its mouthfeel to a whole new level.

However, the increasingly rich coconut milk could become a bit heavy if you ate too much. But the coyote cilantro’s unique citrus fragrance, paired with the spiciness of allspice and its complex, spiced flavor, perfectly neutralized that richness.

He polished off the huge oyster in two or three bites, then licked the shell clean of sauce.

This was precious fat. Before he learned to dive and fish, it would be extremely difficult to get fat from saltwater fish.

Unless he made a fish trap and placed it in the shallow waters of the Mangrove Forest, that might yield some results.

’But my mind is completely focused on renovating the cabin right now. Catching fish can wait.’

[Enjoyed delicious coconut milk grilled oysters in the wilds of Panama. Happiness +1]

Even though he had changed the main ingredient, eating dishes with the same flavor profile consecutively resulted in a significant drop in the happiness he gained.

’There’s nothing to be done about it. With food, the first bite is always the best, the second is still pretty good, the third is just okay, and anything after that is average.’

He devoured the remaining seven oysters, then cracked open a coconut and drank its water with relish. He placed the top of the shell back on to avoid attracting insects.

He lay down to rest for a while, his mind completely occupied with thoughts of renovating the cabin.

He was just lying around anyway. He shot up into a sitting position, picked up a branch, and began to sketch in the dirt.

This was a step he always took before building a shelter or making a plan, as it helped him clarify the subsequent steps.

First, he drew a vertical line down the middle to represent the creek. To the right, he drew a few trees and wrote the word "Mango." To the north was the Mangrove Forest, and at its edge, he drew a crocodile.

The area between the mango trees and the Mangrove Forest was all river valley forest. To the east was the beach, and to the west was his current location.

Using his current position as a dividing line, he drew an arc from the creek’s edge, enclosing the river valley forest. Above the arc, he wrote the word "Bamboo."

Then came the other side of the creek.

Bamboo Trees, a tobacco field, the cabin, a pineapple patch, an orange tree, a rocky shore...

After finishing the map, all the terrain within a two-to-three-kilometer radius became crystal clear.

’Looking at the map, the nearby resources are quite abundant. That guy Andre’s shelter should be in the area north of the Mangrove Forest. I haven’t really been over there yet.’

’Once the shelter is done, I’ll have to find some time to wander over there. That guy has been openly snooping around my area, so I should return the favor. It’ll make him a little more on edge.’

Survival in the wild depended on resources, and he had no qualms about the idea of competing for them.

’The forest is public territory, full of unowned resources. It’s first come, first served. Who made the rule that living near resources means they belong to you?’

’Those few mango trees aren’t far from my shelter, and that guy Andre has picked plenty from them, hasn’t he?’

After finishing the map, he scooted to one side and began planning the structure of the new cabin.

’All the existing wood will definitely have to be torn down and burned. I’ll have to build a new cabin on the original foundation.’

He drew a small rectangle to represent the cellar, then a larger one for the cabin’s outline.

’How many meters wide should I make it... While a bigger house is better, it also means it’ll be more difficult to build and require more lumber.’

’Whatever. I won’t worry about the exact dimensions for now. I’ll just design a simple structure. The specifics will have to wait until tomorrow morning, after I see if I can cut down the Light Wood with a bamboo knife.’

This type of conventional cabin, built on flat ground, usually just had a square body and a triangular roof.

Despite its simple and common design, he had actually never built such a conventional cabin before.

’Building one like this requires a huge amount of wood. All four walls have to be completely enclosed with logs.’

’If I don’t build this kind, what sort of shelter would be more convenient, faster to build, and use less wood?’

After thinking for a moment, he decided he couldn’t cut corners.

The weather here was unpredictable; it could rain at any moment. The shelter had to be rainproof and windproof.

’It just means spending a few extra days and making a few more trips. This is one corner I can’t afford to cut.’