Starting from Robinson Crusoe-Chapter 92 - 34: Rear Attachment Decoration
December 13th, the 75th day since the challenge began, the day of the fifth mystery reward.
Chen Zhou, who never believed in metaphysics, completely changed his view on "mystery rewards" after receiving two Sharp Axes.
Before this, he always thought the so-called rewards were just small items worth a little over ten bucks. But these axes, estimated to be worth over seven or eight hundred, truly overturned his previous understanding.
Therefore, facing this reward, much like the first reward, his mood became anxious once again.
He knows very well that the probability of getting something good again is extremely low.
But just like gambling, every gambler is in pursuit of doubling the odds, seeking the adrenaline rush of winning it all.
Everyone's got two eyes and a mouth, no one considers themselves a loser.
Between reason and fantasy, Chen Zhou chose to believe in a bit of metaphysics.
If this time the reward turns out to be a mechanical lathe, a wheelbarrow, or even a dozen packs of vegetable seeds, his happy life would be secured.
On the 13th, Chen Zhou woke up early, carefully washed his hair, shaved with a razor, trimmed his fingernails, and cleaned out the dirt under his nails, scrubbing the dirt-stained cracked skin on his calluses.
After grooming himself, he lit three incense sticks made from ironwood branches, politely worshipped the heavens and the earth, and inserted them into the soil in front of the cave.
When the incense burned out, he patted the dust-covered sailor duty uniform, put on a new brimmed hat, and set off.
Lai Fu didn't know what had gotten into his owner, but as usual, he happily followed behind Chen Zhou, delighted by the semi-monthly journey.
"Although my process of bathing, changing clothes, burning incense, and fasting isn't standard, my sincerity is not lacking.
Even if the last one was a huge disappointment, this time I should at least get a consolation prize!
I think that's reasonable."
Chen Zhou intentionally skipped breakfast, heading to the beach with an empty stomach.
Judging the value of the reward by the size of the packaging box had become an essential skill.
If it's something large, it can't be too bad no matter what, but if it's small, it's uncertain; it might be a luxury like a mechanical watch, a gas lighter, a Swiss Military Saber, or it could be trash.
From the bottom of his heart, Chen Zhou didn't want to see a small packaging box, but his hopes were dashed.
The package quietly placed on the sand wasn't as small as a phone case and ear pick set, nor as large as the battle axe package.
The cardboard box was roughly 30cm long, with width and height around 20cm, devoid of any patterns or drawings on the surface, resembling a fruit box from an online store.
"Would it be food as a reward?
A box of apples, pears, or pomegranates would be acceptable. They have many seeds, and with proper care, there's hope to nurture one or two trees.
With patience and cultivation, in seven or eight years, I could be enjoying excellent varieties from the modern age."
He lifted the package, and it wasn't heavy.
This lightness often symbolizes a low-quality reward.
Feeling a vague sense of foreboding, Chen Zhou silently comforted himself. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
"I've already gained enough last time; even if it's a plush toy this time, it's okay.
Life has its ups and downs, just like the moon waxes and wanes; who knows, maybe next time will be a good one again."
He gently shook the package, feeling that it contained a metallic or glass ceramic object inside, which clattered around as it moved inside the spacious cardboard.
"Hmm!"
His eyes lit up, and Chen Zhou felt the reward might not be as bad as he imagined. A modern craftwork made of metal, ceramic, or glass would be useful and much better than a plastic product.
"Seems promising."
He peeled open the tape and unpacked the box.
The first thing that caught his eye was a fluffy, large tail wrapped in a transparent plastic bag.
The fur on the tail had a pink-purple gradient, much darker than the juice from a pineapple tree, resembling those ambiguous little lights outside certain alleyway salons.
"Something seems a bit off…"
Grabbing the end of the tail—it practically filled the entire cardboard box.
Slowly pulling out the tail, its design clearly referenced a fox, tapering at one end, tightly fastened with a silicone ring, and connected to a metal item.
This metal item was made of stainless steel, polished to a mirror finish, incredibly smooth, reflecting a person's face.
Although Chen Zhou hadn't seen this item in real life, thanks to the developed internet, he had browsed images of it a few times.
If placed in ancient times, it had a very elegant and appropriate name, "Jade Gate Pass."
"Damn…"
He shoved the tail back into the box, unable to find words to describe his feelings at that moment.
He had considered the reward might be a children's educational toy, another phone case, a plastic bag, disposable tissues, or even a bottle of mineral water.
But he never thought in this direction, because that seemed a bit too perverse.
"Seriously defying the heavens, is there a role-play segment in the challenge?"
Once again, he picked up the "accessory" from the box.
Besides dismantling the stainless steel part and attaching a long stick to it as a weapon, Chen Zhou couldn't think of any other use for it at the moment.
As for that high-acrylic-content tail, it might just be dismantled for top-quality tinder.
"If you like joking with me so much, send me a doll next time!
I bet it's much more practical than this thing."
With mixed feelings, Chen Zhou began to make his way back to the camp.
The space in the cave had already been cleared out, yet the inside was still piled with a mountain of sand and stone, estimated to take more than half a month to clean out.
