Chapter 306 - 134: Defensive Structures (Part 3)
Its combat prowess is astounding. Chen Zhou once witnessed it taking on four, defeating the wild cats with ease.
Even when Tiger Head was young, it had the tendency to unify the forest’s edge. Once it grew over twelve pounds, no male cat dared to step into its territory. Even newcomers who were taught a lesson quickly understood the reality and left in disgrace.
Therefore, on this small plot of land, the wild cats visible are mostly females.
They long regarded Tiger Head as their ideal mate. Driven by hormones, they were mutually drawn, like lightning striking a blaze, unable to resist their dream partner, fulfilling Tiger Head’s every desire.
Under Tiger Head’s influence, two young female cats also grew bolder, even following it over the wall into Chen Zhou’s small courtyard, sneaking food he left there.
However, considering his capacity, Chen Zhou did not take in these two young female cats.
Owning pets requires responsibility, and inevitably, feelings develop during the care process.
He understood well the reproductive strength of cats and their destructive impact on the ecological environment.
If not for the lack of tools and techniques for neutering them, he would have already spayed Xiao Huihui, Taozi, Maoqiu, and Bangdang.
Otherwise, as these cats reproduced generation after generation, they would inevitably end up like Robinson, overwhelmed by cats.
By then, to protect the household food and to maintain a normal life, harsh measures would have to be taken.
If among the kittens killed, there were offspring of a particularly beloved female cat, he would feel uneasy.
Rather than facing distress later, it’s better to avoid the issues from the start.
Allowing them to fend for themselves in the wild, so when the day comes to turn hostile, there is no regret in taking action, is the best approach.
...
After the wall was built, being inside naturally gave an unprecedented sense of security.
Having completed this major project, and with half a month left in the dry season, Chen Zhou planned a trip to the River Valley Plain and Fruit Tree Valley, to find cassava, pick more fruits, and transplant a few plants—this task had been postponed for nearly a year.
According to books, besides citrus fruits, cocoa trees also grow in Fruit Tree Valley.
Chen Zhou knew cocoa is the raw material for chocolate.
He had once been a devoted fan of chocolate, and out of curiosity, searched for videos on how cocoa beans are turned into chocolate, finding the manufacturing process much simpler than he imagined.
With his current skills and conditions, he could totally attempt to make his own chocolate.
There were less than four months left before the indigenous people arrived on the island, so he wanted to complete the tasks requiring travel first, then focus on dealing with them, thinking about how to interact after successfully rescuing them, how to tame them, formulating specific plans, and creating necessary tools.
However, before setting out, he had one important task to do—celebrate his birthday.
Chen Zhou’s birthday was on August 1st, on the lunar calendar it was July 2nd, 2000.
Now it was July 29th, 1661, with only two days left till August 1st. Since he didn’t know the lunar year and month, he decided to celebrate according to the solar calendar.
This was not for the so-called "sense of ritual," as he didn’t celebrate his birthday on August 1st last year.
Besides necessary relaxation after busy work, to prevent himself from breaking under too much tension, this birthday party was actually a completion celebration for the construction of the defenses.
Living alone, many times, there’s not much to say, nothing to do, being busy yet leisurely, fulfilled yet mundane.
Often reflecting on his actions, Chen Zhou gradually realized the long-term solitary life had psychological effects on him.
In modern terms, his sanity value was gradually declining, moving closer to madness.
This birthday party was his attempt to restore rationality.
Otherwise, he felt if he continued like this, by the time he rescued the indigenous captives, psychological influences might cause accidents.
Even if he could ensure his own safety, if in a killing frenzy he ended up injuring a captive brought by the indigenous people to the island, it would have all been for nothing.