Starting from Robinson Crusoe-Chapter 103 - 39: Pica

Happy times are always very short.

After giving himself a day off and releasing accumulated stress, Chen Zhou returned to work.

On December 22nd, he came to the foot of the mountain, disassembled the raft, transported it into the camp, and covered it with canvas.

The quality of 17th-century canvas exceeded Chen Zhou's expectations. Even after being exposed to rain and sun in the woods, the fabric remained intact and sturdy, only somewhat faded.

Thanks to their protection, most of the supplies stored in the shelter remained intact and undamaged.

Of course, foods like salted vegetables and cured meats were not included in this category.

Most of the salted meats on the ship were soaked in brine and not dried at high temperatures to remove moisture, so their shelf life couldn't compare to that of bacon or ham.

After being in such a warm environment for almost three months, the meat strips in the barrel had already spoiled, emitting a strong stench, attracting a swarm of flies buzzing incessantly in the shelter, which was extremely annoying.

After dealing with the raft, it was getting late, so Chen Zhou decided to rest at the camp for a day, and bury the spoiled meat and salted vegetables.

To prevent the greedy Lai Fu from secretly digging up and eating the spoiled food, potentially causing illness.

Before burying the food, he specifically found a rope to tie Lai Fu in the camp, then walked to a distant slope, where he dug a deep pit.

Then Chen Zhou poured the blackened brine from the curing barrels onto the Rock Beach, pressed the remaining spoiled meat and vegetables with stones at the bottom of the pit, and then covered them with soil to level it.

Secure the dog, dig a deep pit, press with stones, and bury.

With these multiple precautions, even if Lai Fu had incredible abilities, he couldn't dig up the rotten meat. Plus, with Chen Zhou's strict supervision, the matter was settled, and he felt at ease.

On December 23rd, it was still dim at dawn.

Worried that Xiao Huihui and the newly caught Little Dragon Cat on the mountain might be hungry, Chen Zhou got up early and rushed back to the cave.

The Little Dragon Cat had been kept in a wooden box and might not be aware of the presence of the cat in the house, so it remained quite calm, showing no signs of refusing food or being listless.

Xiao Huihui was carefree, always either going out or sleeping on the bed, even unaware that there was a new addition to the family.

Cats are very independent creatures and can take care of themselves without human presence.

Xiao Huihui would find water when thirsty and pull down the fish dried in the cave when hungry—these fish had been tested by Chen Zhou himself on the second day after landing on the island, ensuring their safety.

Compared to wild companions struggling to hunt or Lai Fu, Xiao Huihui didn't need to stay on guard against beast attacks, nor did it have to work, leading a very happy life.

After confirming that the two little ones were healthy and coexisting peacefully, without interfering with each other, Chen Zhou had a simple breakfast, then headed to the kiln cave.

He wanted to install the last two load-bearing columns and beams, clear most of the sand in the cave, then move the bed and some supplies from the cave to the kiln cave before the next reward arrived.

On December 25th.

As New Year's Day of 1660 approached, Chen Zhou spent two busy days working.

Over a dozen long ropes were stretched across the sandy ground, forming shallow black lines where the charcoal water had spilled.

Between these lines stood six load-bearing columns, neatly dividing the entire kiln cave into three parts.

If not for several piles of remaining sand ruining the overall atmosphere, it might have had a bit of the feel of a rough house in the northwest region from the 60s or 70s.

In the afternoon, he started a fire on the platform to heat the waterproof paint brought from the camp. Holding a steaming wooden bucket, Chen Zhou paused at the entrance of the kiln cave, feeling quite accomplished while looking at the mostly empty dwelling.

This was the result of over fifty days of hard work.

Although it was just beginning to take shape, with time ahead to perfect it gradually, it would eventually become his dream abode.

Sturdy, comfortable, concealed, aesthetic...

Thinking of these words filled Chen Zhou with motivation. He moved the wooden box serving as a scaffold in the cave and, while it was still warm, began painting the horizontal and vertical beams of the cave.

In the 17th century, this kind of paint, made from a mix of resin and natural pigment, was commonly used in ship structures. It effectively waterproofs and prevents corrosion, extending the lifespan of wood, especially suitable for humid coastal environments.

Without walls or furniture, Chen Zhou looked particularly lonely and small painting in the kiln cave.

Lai Fu played down the slope, and the empty dwelling was filled only by the echoing sounds.

On December 26th.

With the New Year fast approaching, Chen Zhou worked even harder.

He wanted to complete the clearing of the kiln cave by January 1st, 1660, and move the bed, bedside table, some tools, weapons, and food from the cave here, then prepare a nice meal and drinks to happily welcome the New Year.

In two days, he would receive the sixth mysterious reward.

Chen Zhou didn't know if the person giving the reward recognized Hua Xia culture, or if there would be any additional rewards for the New Year according to the new calendar.

But no matter what, it would be his last reward for 1659, effectively a New Year's gift, and he was eagerly looking forward to it.

Time flew by, and soon it was December 28th.

The sand and stones in the main living area were prioritized for cleaning and had been completely cleared, revealing a large patch of earth yellow on the ground at the cave entrance, which was particularly noticeable from a high point.

The bed, dragon cat box, bedside table, and a big tub of flour cakes had been moved into the kiln cave.

Chen Zhou found it somewhat hard to adjust to enjoying such a large space alone after leaving the narrow cave, especially with the wide-open kiln cave entrance making him feel unsafe, disrupting his sleep at night.