Chapter 305 - 134: Defensive Fortifications (Part 2)
At the end of the fields, there is a dedicated composting site where waste and kitchen scraps can smoothly wash into the compost area via a slope. There’s no longer any worry about accumulating urine and feces, or rainwater rising and splashing filth upwards.
However, he had heard that in medieval Europe, assassins would climb up castle pipelines to assassinate nobles, so he took heed and installed several iron rods at the end of the slope as a metal fence.
At the bottom of the pit were dozens of sharp spikes pointing upwards. As the waste accumulated, these spikes would be buried in the compost.
If someone with ill intentions tried to remove the iron rods and sneak up the pipeline into his private territory, these spikes would surely give them an unforgettable surprise.
Pierced wounds would seamlessly lead to viral infections; even if they managed to escape on time, in these medically backward times, they would likely die from infection.
Apart from the brand new, easy-to-use toilet with minimal odor, Chen Zhou had also paved the platform tiles with a slight gradient.
At the end of the slope, there were several drainage pipes.
The internal pipes were made of ceramic tubes he crafted himself, with a diameter of twenty centimeters, and as long as nothing unsuitable was dumped inside, they were unlikely to clog.
...
Building walls, constructing watchtowers, making cheval de frise, laying protective slopes and paving tiles, along with the new toilet construction and compost site setup, any single task couldn’t be completed in a short time.
Even with Chen Zhou’s level of dedication, it took him from early June until the end of July, and by the approach of August, the walls were finally completed.
...
By now, the cave had taken on somewhat of a fortification appearance.
From the Rock Beach going up all the way to the edge of the forest and reaching the field’s edge, one could feel the indifferent gaze of the teal-gray wall from afar.
The sharp cheval de frises interlocked like canine teeth, expressing the cave owner’s intent to keep out.
The steep slope was also laid with dimly colored stones, and as one’s gaze climbed over the nearly 4-meter-high drop, there were four towering watchtowers silently observing from within the wall’s embrace.
Most of the building materials were stones, and since the stones lacked variety in color, all these defensive structures looked devoid of aesthetic appeal.
If Chen Zhou were asked to describe it honestly, he would say it resembled a bandit’s mountain fortress.
Moreover, not one of those good Robin Hood-like places, but rather the home of villainous rogues who robbed and plundered, bullying the weak while fearing the strong.
However, after all the labor invested, pouring out countless sweat and toiling through most of the dry season, with himself tanned to the color of African fellows, Chen Zhou was never going to describe his hideout as a bandit’s nest.
To commemorate the completion of the defenses, he extravagantly took out several large pieces of corrugated cardboard he’d kept stashed away, illustrating the fields, cheval de frise, protective slopes, walls, and watchtowers on them.
...
However, in his outlining with purple-pink paint, those sharp and cold defensive facilities didn’t evoke a fearsome feeling, but instead lent a fairytale-like brilliant color.
Luxuriant and thriving crops, cleaned grasslands...
The view in the painting pulled back from a blooming close-up floral, crossing uneven field ridges, passing by tender garlic leaves, and over the fruits of peppers.
Forward stood the robust cheval de frise.
A vine rooted itself in the protective slope’s rock cracks, tenaciously stretching its body and clinging to the cheval de frises, blooming delicate flowers.
Upwards was the hefty stone wall.
Lai Fu stood proudly on the wall, gazing into the distance.
The wind tousling its fur, this nearly two-year-old dog had grown more composed, its playful nature diminished.
An oil lamp hung atop the watchtower, and Tiger Head perched by the rail, intently watching a small bird resting on another tower’s top.
Thin threads of cooking smoke drifted up from beneath the steep cliff, with faint lines sketched on the yellowed cardboard, as if bathed in the sunset’s afterglow over this peaceful and serene land—
This was Chen Zhou’s embellishment, for the cave actually lay in the shadows and never enjoyed the sunset’s warmth. When the sun set behind the mountains, only darkness would envelop the area.
...
As he drew Tiger Head, a smile crept onto Chen Zhou’s face.
In just over ten days, that little guy would turn one year old.
A plentiful food supply, balanced nutrition, and ample exercise all together made its build surpass even the best, larger than Xiao Huihui by a circle.
Without much excess fat, its weight astonishingly reached seventeen pounds, perched atop the watchtower like a little tiger.
Looking at it now, it’s hard to imagine it once grew from a little fuzzball.
Its physical maturity also brought sexual maturity, and without ethical or moral considerations, Tiger Head’s first target was its biological mother, Tizi.
Xiao Huihui, that useless creature, spent all day indulging and lazy, with no majesty of a father. Facing the larger and more ferocious Tiger Head, he completely lost his courage to fight. If not for Chen Zhou intervening, he surely would’ve been beaten soundly.
Unable to conquer its biological mother, Tiger Head set its sights on its sisters, persistently bothering Guandang and Huiball.
Luckily, Chen Zhou noticed in time, confining all three female cats indoors, leaving Tiger Head outside for free romance.
Indeed, with its large, strong build, excellent hunting abilities, and sleek, glossy fur, it had a bit of that high-class gentleman cat allure. Wandering alone in the woods, it quickly found a suitable target.
Near the cave, Tiger Head claimed themselves as the second in command, with no cat daring to assume top position.