Chapter 445 - 10: 1663_3
The subsequent mysterious rewards were evidently not as generous as the earlier ones.
However, there were still some surprises among them.
For instance, on December 29th, a batch of fluororubber was sent over, just a day before New Year's Eve.
This type of rubber is highly resistant to high temperatures and chemicals, and has strong resistance to most oils and solvents, making it suitable for car engines, fuel systems, and sealing in chemical plants.
With this batch of rubber, Chen Zhou's dream of handcrafting a steam engine took one step closer to reality.
Besides the rubber, the reward on November 14th was also quite decent, a batch of modern shovels and steel picks.
Chen Zhou had been worried about his self-made shovels wearing out too quickly, and with the limited scrap iron in the warehouse, this reward came just in time.
Although his forging techniques were competent enough, the tools he made were usable but couldn't compare to modern factory products.
Once the natives started using these new tools, their work efficiency improved significantly, often completing their set goals early and heading home after work.
This forced Chen Zhou to recalculate their working speed and increase their workload slightly.
Of course, Chen Zhou considered himself conscientious, and when he increased their workload, he didn't forget to improve their meals—
The goats were reproducing faster and their numbers were growing.
Not only the goats raised at home, but even the wild goats were showing a trend of multiplying.
Worried about the excess wild goats damaging the ecology, Chen Zhou specifically set aside two days to go hunting with the natives.
On one hand, this was to control the number of wild goats, and on the other, to get some fresh meat to eat.
He also deliberately intended to intimidate the natives, reminding them that as their "Leader", aside from being approachable, he was also capable of decisive aggression.
Otherwise, after a long period of peaceful coexistence, some natives might truly forget how they were captured and the fear and torment they experienced in the days following their capture.
...
On the day of the hunt, the recurring gunshots and the eerie force that could take a life from a hundred meters away frightened the natives who had grown accustomed to an easy life.
Two particularly timid natives even fainted from fear, performing worse than the day they were captured.
Although the other natives weren't terrified to that extent, they involuntarily knelt down and begged for mercy after the gunfire and the fall of the sheep, unsure if they feared Chen Zhou or the distant force capable of killing.
It was only when Chen Zhou gently encouraged them to rise that they, like frightened chicks, stood up trembling with anxiety.
...
This hunting excursion perhaps left the loyal unfazed.
But for those natives unclear about their status, it rekindled the feeling of being under someone's heel.
Of course, Chen Zhou didn't possess a Mind Reading Technique; he didn't know who was loyal and who harbored other intentions. He only trusted the gun in his hand and the treatment he provided to the natives.
He wielded both the harshest stick and the sweetest candy in his hands for the natives.
As long as these two tools were used wisely and the natives weren't overly oppressed, rebellion was impossible.
Moreover, the natives weren't unified; over the past five months, he hadn't been idle and had selected two close confidants to place among them, constantly probing the thoughts of the others.
In this way, if the natives ever harbored ill intentions, attempted to escape, or sought to uncover his secrets, he would be forewarned and deliver a firm blow.