Chapter 246 - 110: Anniversary Grand Gift Pack (Part 2)
The oil lamp stayed lit for the entire night, until the sun rose on the 25th, and the little cat scurried out of its nest, climbing up Chen Zhou's pant leg onto his knee.
During the climb, the kitten's sharp claws got stuck in the fabric and couldn't be pulled out, making it anxiously meow, which finally woke him up.
Waking up was like coming out of a hangover, with a faint headache in Chen Zhou's head.
Having leaned over the chair all night, his lower back also felt uncomfortable.
Summoning up his energy, he removed the kitten from his lap and, with heavy, slow steps, made his way to the kitchen door.
As the one-year island anniversary approached, the sky remained sullen, a drizzle was falling outside, and the platform was damp.
Cold air kept pouring into the kitchen, where Lai Fu lay at the doorway, and upon hearing Chen Zhou getting up, it stood up, stretched lazily, and cozied up to its owner, rhythmically wagging its tail.
"A new day has begun."
Feeling as if he had dreamt, lost in fear and worry about the entire challenge, Chen Zhou reminded himself.
"What's in the past is already past.
There are still 9,955 days; no need to overthink, just let go of the burden and live your days in peace."
Reassuring himself, he lit the stove and made a simple breakfast.
After feeding the cats, dogs, and mice at home, instead of heading out immediately, he returned to the desk, took out a piece of pineapple wood, and carved grooves using a dagger.
The surface of the whole wood block was now covered with special "scales" of similar sizes but varying depths, symbolizing the passage of time.
365 days were now drawing to a close, almost at its end.
And the next calendar he was preparing was made from dense and heavy ironwood—
If the first year needed bright and fresh hope, then the second year required solidity and stability.
No relaxation, no laxity, continuing with the beneficial work for life according to the plan was his advice to himself.
...
Maintaining a normal mind is easy to say, but not so easy to do.
Packing the hiking bag, picking up the long-handled axe, wearing rain gear and a wide-brimmed hat, with Lai Fu following him down the mountain, recalling what happened last night, Chen Zhou couldn't help but feel waves in his heart.
Nonetheless, his face showed no change in expression, like a poker face, cold and serious, gazing at the forest shrouded in drizzle.
He arrived at the beach with ease and familiarity.
The weather was favorable; the rain stopped and the wind died down. By the time he was nearing the destination, the clouds had parted, allowing a shaft of sunlight to pierce through.
Warm rays spread from the rock beach to the edge of the wooden stone wall, and the damp gravel sparkled like jewels.
Lai Fu broke free from the kitten's harassment, running freely on the beach, swinging its mane, jumping, barking, and playing.
A smile upon his face, taking off his wide-brimmed hat, Chen Zhou quickened his pace, bathing in the sunshine after the rain.
If December 31st on the Gregorian calendar marked New Year's Eve, then the island anniversary, "September 30th," was akin to the challenge's birthday.
In that sense, this reward was like a gift before the "birthday."
Having been tormented by the small blocks for half a month, Chen Zhou still looked forward to the contents of the new mystery box.
Now he had the "official permit" from the Space-Time Administration Bureau, so when stacking wooden stone walls and using time-space cuts for his benefit, he had no more worries.
Although he had suffered a lot, when truly considered, it was still worth it.
When it comes to mental pressure alone, it's not relieved easily by any other means.
Full of anticipation, he walked towards the deformed wooden stone wall.
Due to the cuts, the lowered wall couldn't completely block the view, and from afar, Chen Zhou saw an exceptionally conspicuous vermilion red at the reward point's center.
Since arriving on the island, aside from blood and flowers, Chen Zhou had rarely seen red, let alone such a vivid vermilion representing the New Year and celebration.
As a pure Huaxia person, catching a glimpse of that red filled Chen Zhou with excitement and joy.
Tightening the strap of the hiking bag, he chased after Lai Fu, moving from a brisk walk to a light jog.
The closer he got, the clearer the red object became.
The makeshift rain shelter was not yet destroyed by wind and rain, partially obscuring the shape of the reward, but up close, it was clear.
The first thing that caught the eye was a delicately woven Chinese knot under the thick canvas.
It was made from thumb-thick red string, adorned with over a dozen vermilion beads, several pieces of turquoise, and at the end, hung a piece of pure white jade carved with the characters for "Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity, and Happiness," featuring four beloved immortals from folklore.
Beneath this exquisite Chinese knot, there was a one-meter-square cubic box.
The entire exterior of the box was wrapped in vivid red waterproof paper, shaped like a gift box.
"Damn, something's not right!
This reward seems a bit too luxurious.
Could it be all show and no substance, an empty trap?"
Having been let down too many times before, Chen Zhou worried that the gift box contained a few bottles of expensive liquor or pricey mooncakes or candies.
Don't look at these items as things the island couldn't produce; truth be told, they were about as useful as a shoehorn—utterly useless.
The liquor carried from the boat was already abundant; a few more bottles were meaningless—drinking alone was lonely.
As for the mooncakes and candies, a whole box wouldn't last long, with risks of expiration and mold, serving no purpose other than to indulge in a fleeting craving.
Suppressing the ominous feeling, Chen Zhou flipped over the wooden stone wall and first moved this "festive" big gift box out from under the rain shelter.
The rain shelter's protection wasn't perfect, and a few droplets of water remained on the gift box's waterproof paper exterior, while the bottom was stained with a bit of moist sand.