Starting from Robinson Crusoe-Chapter 53 - 19: Mysterious Reward (Part 2)
These precious items are not numerous. Except for large items like the extremely heavy winch and the difficult-to-dismantle ship’s rudder, the carpenter’s toolbox, hand axe, long saber, and other goods had long been moved into the camp.
The next priority was resources. Among them, finished lumber of various shapes was moved first. Most of it was placed under the hut to separate the woodland from the bottom of the wooden boxes, preventing rainwater from gathering into streams and flowing into the boxes, thus protecting the valuable supplies.
Besides the lumber, most tar, gunpowder, canvas, and ropes had also been transported ashore.
However, the total amount of resources was still too vast; wooden walls, floors, and spare masts remained on the ship, undeconstructed.
The main mast was too thick and needed to be sawed into smaller sections for transport. The lead plates in the gunner’s room had limited use and were too heavy, so Chen Zhou planned to deal with these time-consuming and labor-intensive items last.
Items like clothing and bedding, being lighter and easier to carry, were bumped up the queue and brought over earlier.
A few well-maintained matchlock guns, along with gunpowder and other dangerous items, were isolated and placed at the outskirts of the clearing to avoid explosions from catching fire.
Among the foods, spices and raw ingredients were the most precious. All the salt, sugar, wine, and tea found on board were brought ashore by Chen Zhou.
In terms of finished food, he only transported a box of his favorite white bread and a barrel of decent-looking cheese.
As for the rotting cured meats and inedible salted pickles, Chen Zhou could only wish them "good luck."
Once the essentials were adequately stockpiled, he packed silverware, coins, decorative paintings found in the first mate’s quarters, and some items from the Captain’s quarters that seemed valuable into a box along with Robinson’s Bible and transported them to the shore.
Recalling the trio of Bibles adorned with rubies, Chen Zhou remembered that during the noon move, he discovered a previously overlooked cabinet in the corner of a wooden shelf in the lower cabin.
The cabinet was locked, and after failing to find a key, he forcibly broke the lock open and found some quality razors, scissors, and a short dagger inside, yet to be brought ashore.
If a storm were to strike tonight, destroying the sailboat, shaving and cutting hair would become troublesome without the razors.
"Ah, I shouldn’t have moved that box of bedding; there’s already too much luggage on the shore.
I was too lazy and greedy. I should have removed the bedding and taken those razors and scissors..."
Having identified a mistake, Chen Zhou silently reflected, planning the priority of moving resources next. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
"The setup of the first mate’s quarters is even more luxurious than the Captain’s. That hammock, in particular, is really comfortable.
Sadly, those large bookshelves and storage racks are unmovable.
The next time I board the ship, I should take a closer look. If I can dismantle and move them, that’s best. If not, I’ll cut an opening in the side wall of the first mate’s quarters and rig a pulley to hoist them onto the raft.
Oh, and there’s the Captain’s big wooden bed and the carpet in their room."
As he thought, Chen Zhou murmured softly to strengthen his memory.
"The small bedside cabinet, tables, chairs, long benches, ship’s railing, and the windows of each room could all be useful in the future."
As he pondered, the sound of rain outside the tent grew louder, disturbing Chen Zhou’s ability to focus, his thoughts drifting between the future and the past.
In just over ten days, modern life seemed distant, as if it had happened in a previous existence.
Remembering those absurd and ridiculous challenge rules, and how he leisurely lay in bed scrolling through comments, Chen Zhou felt a bit dazed.
"Sigh, why don’t I have a system?
While others’ island survival feels like a vacation, mine feels like imprisonment. Even working from dawn to dusk every day, there’s still no pay."
"Eh!
I forgot, the rules also stated there’s a mysterious reward every fifteen days.
Could it be..."
Chen Zhou finally recalled a piece of information favorable to him and quickly crawled out of the tent.
Unexpectedly, he hit the back of his head on the wooden frame, causing him to cry out in pain.
Counting the days, he had landed on September 30th, marking the start of the challenge. If counting from the day he landed, tonight was the 15th day.
Ensuring his memory was not mistaken, this overlooked rule made Chen Zhou toss and turn, unable to sleep through the night.
Everything on the island aligned perfectly with the seventeenth-century setting.
Even with a hundredfold effort using intellect and hands, drastically improving his quality of life was impossible. To live comfortably and enjoyably, external assistance was necessary.
"So, what exactly is the mysterious reward?
The Time Travel Administration Bureau.
How high-class does that sound?
Such an organization, if not providing a cheat code, should at least give out an infinite gem to play with..."
Recalling his life’s events, he didn’t have an orphaned background or a doting beauty sister. Chen Zhou felt unlike a novel’s protagonist, leading him to humbly lower his expectations.
"Even if not infinite gems, maybe an alien weapon or a large wind turbine could do.
I wouldn’t mind.
If even those aren’t possible, they’d better give me a motorboat.
If not a motorboat, a diesel engine with a few barrels of fuel would also be acceptable.
That way, I could dismantle the whole ship and bring it to the island."
"Or maybe give me a..."
The unknown mysterious reward left Chen Zhou restless with anticipation.
Listening to the rain, feeling the forest’s dampness, he lay back down on the bed, his mind teeming, unable to close his eyes for a long time.
As an inland resident, constantly working by the sea for so long, he was acclimating both to the physical fatigue and the unfamiliar surroundings.
