Chapter 3 - 1: Robinson Survival Challenge: 10,000 Days Alone on an Island!
Some people think Robinson’s initial method of transporting materials was unscientific; repeatedly making rafts was time-consuming and physically exhausting, and there was also the risk of capsizing and losing materials, with severely inadequate transport capacity.
From a long-term perspective, if more time had been spent upfront creating a sturdy and durable raft capable of repeatedly going back and forth between land and the shipwreck, at least a dozen more trips could have been made, potentially even taking apart part of the ship to transport.
To support his point, he also posted several hand-drawn design diagrams of simple raft structures using mortise and tenon joints in the response, which indeed appeared much more reliable than Robinson’s rope-bound raft.
A forum member who claimed to be a "Cloud · Apocalypse Survival Enthusiast" criticized Robinson, saying that although Robinson was diligent, he undoubtedly caused a lot of shameful waste in resource utilization.
For example, goat skins and the skins of wild cats on the island, because Robinson did not know how to tan, these raw materials that could have been made into clothing, shoes, and belts could only be discarded, or dried into unusable hardness.
Resources are scarce on a deserted island, but it’s enough for tanning. Even without mineral leather crafting materials like hydrochloric acid, lime, alum, and chromium salt, traditional tanning can be achieved with animal brains and bird droppings. Just this alone shows Robinson wasted quite a lot of good things.
A skilled worker from the ceramic industry pointed out Robinson’s primitive and outdated pottery-making methods and provided detailed steps on how to find appropriate clay, make pottery, glaze, and kiln fire.
The technician candidly stated that if a challenger could truly master this set of processes, it would significantly improve his quality of life on the island. At the very least, he wouldn’t be like Robinson, surrounded by top-notch food but unable to drink a sip of broth.
In this large online community, talents from all walks of life abound, and the serious or not-so-serious suggestions they offer are varied.
Woodworkers advised challengers on how to use a plane, hand-scroll a long saw and shovel, use chisels and claw hammers to make sturdy, comfortable tables and chairs without nails.
Hand-forged iron enthusiasts guided challengers on how to burn charcoal, produce earthen forges, smelt metal, and forge iron tools...
There were even radical "war maniacs" urging challengers to quickly conquer the Cannibal Tribes on the island, manufacture large canoes, conquer the Cannibal Tribes, train an army to sweep South America, attack North America, and then unite the world and claim kingship.
Some folks even fancied the South American Cannibal Tribes, claiming they wanted to capture hundreds of natives as wives, create three palaces and six courtyards with seventy-two concubines, have a thousand children, and establish a secluded family on the island, indulging in nightly revelry.
Forum members curiously searched images of South American cannibals and couldn’t help but exclaim – Brother, you’re really hungry!
Chen Zhou slowly browsed down to the last reply, initially intending to make a cheeky comment like others, but suddenly a line popped into his mind—
"When you have a chance to choose, don’t let yourself regret it."
Against his instincts, he silently deleted what he had typed and replaced it with four words.
[Participate in the challenge]
In fact, from the bottom of his heart, Chen Zhou wanted to believe this absurd post was real. He hoped the heavens would give him a chance to risk his life to fight for this fortune.
728,000 might not mean much to wealthy people.
For him, however, it was a heavy number.
This number would take him fourteen years to earn if he ate nothing and drank nothing, and his parents’ earnings over a lifetime of work only approached this number.
It represents an opportunity to change fate.
It symbolizes hope for the rest of his life—hope to break free from this pale reality, from a mediocre destiny.
Staring at the screen, time passed by second by second.
Sleepiness gradually surged in, and the words "participate in the challenge" became increasingly blurred. Chen Zhou couldn’t wait for any information or supposed review.
Smiling bitterly, he reflected on his childishness, similar to that of an immature child, and closed his eyes.
In a trance, he had a weird dream.
In the dream, he found himself in a spacious, bright, and white room, facing machines full of sci-fi style, as if facing confidant friends, speaking his heart.
The desire to confide had never been so strong, and Chen Zhou passionately expressed his true thoughts.
How unwilling he was, how much he hated his mediocrity and his powerlessness.
He loathed this cement plant, loathed the boring life, wanted to change all this but was helpless.
He detested his hypocrisy, hated his efforts to pretend not to care about others’ opinions.
He longed for recognition from others, wished that his parents would speak proudly of him in front of relatives, instead of with regret.
He wanted to provide a better life for himself, his parents, his relatives, and friends.
He envisioned a prosperous life, fantasized about love, hoped to have a happy family...
He complained in ways he dared not on regular days, cursed people he dared not curse, griped about things he couldn’t grumble about daily, almost crazily pouring out his grievances.
𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
Just like that, after who knows how long, Chen Zhou heard a cold voice.
[Review passed]