Chapter 308 - 135: Birthday (Part 2)
The adult pigeons were kept in a cage, watching the big cats walk around the room all day, which scared them into depression, their appetite dropped drastically, and they ended up starving to death.
The young pigeons didn't know the fear of cats, but they needed careful attention and regular feeding.
Chen Zhou got so busy that he forgot the time. After work, he was dead tired, had a hurried meal, and collapsed on the bed. As soon as his head hit the pillow, he started snoring, not caring whether the pigeons had eaten.
With his way of raising them, even turtles wouldn't grow well, let alone the more delicate birds.
But Chen Zhou actually didn't care much about whether raising pigeons would be successful. His diet was rich enough that having one more or less hardly made a difference.
Besides, if raising them at home didn't work, he could go to the Pigeon Cave to catch them.
There were probably tens of thousands of wild pigeons there, even if he ate pigeons for every meal, it would be hard to finish them all.
...
As for the fish catching results in the past couple of days, there were few, and the biggest one was less than 5 pounds, which couldn't compare to the big fish he once caught.
Moreover, Chen Zhou discovered something strange.
When he fished using his homemade wooden fishing pole, a hook bent from a needle, and a fishing line made of thin hemp rope, the results were decent.
Now that he's replaced them with more professional fishing gear, he can't catch fish anymore.
He opened the sun umbrella, sat on the small stool by the lake, with three fishing poles hanging, sitting there for a whole morning.
At noon, feeling tired of sitting, he looked in the fish basket—
"Hey! How strange, there isn't even a fish scale."
After "rigorous" analysis, Chen Zhou thought maybe the fishing pole made from local island materials gave fish a more familiar feeling.
And the foreign fishing poles, whether in color or smell, felt unfamiliar to the fish, so they weren't caught.
...
Regardless of the catch, during the two days of rest, Chen Zhou had enough fun and enjoyed himself.
Lai Fu also felt like celebrating the new year—over nearly four months, Chen Zhou rarely had time to play with it, and the house cats couldn't play with it either.
Xiao Huihui and Hui Hui, the father and daughter pair, slept all day and had both turned into spherical shapes.
A while ago, Chen Zhou looked into the tortoise shell, and oh man, the small space inside was covered with a thick layer of gray cat fur, the tortoise shell originally had some matte texture but was smoothed out by these two.
And Kuang Dang, once the cat that stuck closest to Lai Fu, grew up and slowly became more distant from it.
Not sure whether it's because of being timid or busy catching mice outside, Kuang Dang doesn't get close to it anymore, sometimes avoiding it when entering or leaving the cave.
The mother-son pair of Tizi and Tiger Head didn't fear it either, but they were also nowhere to be seen.
They went out at dusk and returned at dawn, never entered the house, always sleeping at the watch tower, so Lai Fu couldn't get near them.
Additionally, after Chen Zhou saw a lamb bitten to death by a venomous snake, he refused to let Lai Fu roam free, always keeping it locked in the yard.
At most, he let it play in the fields, and as soon as there was any sign of it sneaking into the forest, he quickly called it back, keeping it quite frustrated.
...
Locked up for four months, finally waiting for Chen Zhou's rest, Lai Fu was overjoyed.
Chen Zhou had been busy for so long, during which there wasn't much time to accompany his pets at home, making him feel guilty towards Lai Fu.
In two days, he took Lai Fu to herd sheep, chase rabbit traps, hunt wild goats, fish by the sea, catch frogs…
As well as playing its favorite little games like fetch, tug-of-war, finding scented things, casually playing from dawn till dusk.
Perhaps because it hadn't received such attention from Chen Zhou for a long time, Lai Fu cherished this joyful time more than ever.
It frequently observed its owner's expressions, like a cautious child afraid of doing something wrong and losing the chance to play together.
It strictly followed Chen Zhou's commands.
Even if it had to stand perfectly still for over an hour as a model for him, it executed the task flawlessly, despite its usually energetic nature.
Dogs' intelligence isn't as high as humans, Lai Fu's little thoughts were written right on its face.
In the past, its most competitive game was tug-of-war.
A long stick, a thick hemp rope, or a piece of rabbit skin could all be used as tug-of-war tools.
Chen Zhou would hold one end, and Lai Fu would bite the other, both exerting force to win the tool.
At that time, Lai Fu was never willing to lose, even if it chewed the stick into two pieces or was dragged behind, it would do everything possible to win the match.
Now during tug-of-war, its gaze no longer focused on the tug-of-war tool, its eyes often glanced upwards, observing Chen Zhou's expressions.
As long as Chen Zhou showed a bit of tiredness, it would voluntarily let go, giving away the victory it once valued so much.
Actually, Chen Zhou didn't need it to yield, even if Lai Fu now weighed nearly a hundred pounds, in this direct endurance and strength contest, it still couldn't be Chen Zhou's opponent.
Its deliberate concession was merely in hopes of extending the game time, fearing the lonely days.
The maturity of these furry kids always tugs at the heartstrings.
...
July 31st, dusk.
Chen Zhou did not go home.
All the ingredients needed for tomorrow's birthday feast have been prepared, and all the tasks have been completed.
After the celebration at the beginning of August, he will have to return to work.
At this moment, he sits cross-legged at the top of the mountain, leaning against a rock, with his arms behind his head, leisurely watching the sun sink into the mountains.
The wind blows with a whoosh, vaguely carrying the salty scent of the sea.
Lai Fu lies beside him, squinting his eyes, slowly wagging his tail,
The scenery in the sunlit area is completely different from the shaded area.
The twilight is so gentle, enveloping the forest, covering the fields, and draping a golden veil over the beach.
Flocks of birds return to their nests, flocking en masse towards the treetops.
A few remaining clouds linger at the horizon, with light piercing through, showing a faint tinge of orange-red.
The heat absorbed by the earth and rocks during the day is rapidly dissipating, and Chen Zhou can feel the coolness of the night surging in like a tide.
"Shall we go home?"
He patted Lai Fu's head.
Woof~
Lai Fu responds softly, stands up, and looks at him.
The afterglow reflects in his eyes, sparkling brightly.
He seems to sense that this beautiful time is about to end, showing reluctance in his expression, yet unable to speak, just standing quietly beside Chen Zhou, watching him without blinking, as if trying to keep him.
"Then let's go back later."
Chen Zhou smiles, reaches out to embrace Lai Fu's neck, pulling this large yet childlike fellow into his arms.
...
On August 1st, the birthday feast was held as scheduled.
This feast is completely different from the annual anniversary celebration. Chen Zhou knows he can't eat that much, so he treats all the household members as guests, making separate dishes for them.
There is a whole fish meal for the cats, fresh grass buns for the Little Dragon Cat, and lamb bone soup and boiled lamb for Lai Fu.
Even the household's lowest-ranked test mice got to enjoy a rare feast of leftover non-toxic scraps, eating with such delight that a scramble ensued.
...
The feast lasted all day, with Chen Zhou acting as chef and cleaner, serving and plating dishes, kept extremely busy.
The kitchen's stoves worked all day without a break, causing the temperature in the cave to rise continuously.
The island being hot, the increased temperature inside the cave made the kitchen unbearably hot, especially near the stoves, making Chen Zhou sweat profusely and drink an unknown amount of water.
Eventually, he decided to move the cutting board to the courtyard, using the evening breeze to cool himself down.
...
At dusk, Chen Zhou lit all the oil lamps inside and outside the cave, including the one hanging on the watchtower.
He made a small cake for himself, not much larger than a fist, decorated with many small round grapes and tangerine segments.
A "miniature torch," a homemade candle by Chen Zhou, was stuck in the center of the cake.
The candle-blowing ceremony was held in the bedroom, surrounded by all the household members near Chen Zhou's desk.
Some cats sat while others lay down, Little Dragon Cat grasped the cage bars with its two paws, its dark eyes curiously watching the outside.
As the household elder, Lai Fu sat solemnly beside Chen Zhou, with no other member able to surpass its status.
"27 years old."
Talking to himself, reflecting on his time on the island, Chen Zhou feels that modern life seems distant and blurred.
In those first few months, he used to miss home.
But now, he can hardly remember what home looks like.
New experiences have covered the past, and now when he thinks back to the trivial matters at the cement factory, even the names of the most powerful and famous leaders there elude him.
He dare not think about what he will be like in another twenty years.
No birthday song was sung.
He took a deep breath.
Whoosh~
Blew out the candle.
Chen Zhou closed his eyes, silently making a wish in his heart.
"Wish all goes well, may I remain myself."