Chapter 498 - 34: Chen’s Trusted Subordinate (2)
Although they don’t have a vast vocabulary, it’s evident that they have developed an affinity and keen interest in Mandarin—
From the factory, they have witnessed too many unimaginable things.
Chen Zhou personally told them that as long as they study hard, it won’t take long for them to learn where light comes from, how metal tools are forged, and how they were captured that night...
As for their former Leader, Chen Zhou didn’t consider him worth mentioning.
Truly advanced and developed culture, along with a beautiful vision of the future, attracted the favored three to strive closer to that wonderful future.
...
However, the natives living with the indigenous predecessors showed another attitude altogether.
The veterans always had a unique sense of superiority. While being limited by Chen Zhou’s orders not to whip or scold them, their attitude towards them wasn’t exactly friendly.
After all, in the past, it was all about enjoying a standalone house, living freely and comfortably.
Now, they had to share their private space with two relatively unfamiliar lads, act as their babysitters, cook for them, and teach them the correct way of living. It’s no wonder the veterans felt disgruntled.
Moreover, in contrast to their fear and shock when they were captured outdoors, sleeping naked on hard wooden boards, these new members enjoyed far better treatment.
This exacerbated the imbalance felt by the earlier natives.
While unable to beat or scold them, verbal jabs and cold violence were inevitable.
This led to the newly joined indigenous youngsters feeling somewhat oppressed.
They dared not confront their predecessors in daily life, but when reuniting with their companions in a somewhat secluded corner, they found the chance to express their frustrations.
Of course, they could only complain about feeling unfree and oppressed, and about the cold attitude of their predecessors.
Compared to life in the tribe, life now seemed as beautiful as Heaven.
With solid and aesthetic houses to live in, they ate well every meal, enjoyed the freshness of dishes, didn’t have to work ceaselessly from dawn till dusk, and even had some entertainment at night.
Board games like Gomoku and chess fascinated them endlessly.
However, when enjoying their leisure time, they generally played chess only with the companions captured alongside them—
The old guys were too skilled at chess; they weren’t opponents, always lost, and nobody wanted to experience such games.
...
"I really envy you three, being chosen by the Leader. I heard you live with the Leader in that gray Temple.
I haven’t been there; could you tell me what it’s like inside the Temple?"
The shortest indigenous youngster, cheeks puffed, chewing on a bun, asked curiously.
"Is this something we can talk about?"
Chen Shou turned his head and quietly sought Chen Fu’s opinion.
Seeing Chen Fu nod, he received permission to share with the indigenous youngster the experiences of following the Leader.
With Sunday, proficient in bilingualism, always translating, Chen Zhou could impart various notions to the three confidants, facilitating seamless communication.
As reserve confidants, the initial treatment of Fu, Lu, Shou was different from others.
Many other natives didn’t yet understand things that these three were informed of the night they were chosen.
Being captured at the same time, even though chosen by Chen Zhou, their identities and positions gradually diversified, Fu, Lu, Shou still held some feeling towards their companions.
Especially Chen Shou, the most emotionally attached of the three.
Listening to their complaints, he addressed their queries while recounting the "predecessors’" stages after arriving on the island.
From sleeping outdoors, to wearing clothes, to owning simple cottages.
Progress in treatment wasn’t achieved overnight but through contributions over time.
Upon learning about the predecessors’ experiences, thinking about enjoying a relatively happy life right after arriving on the island, the other natives felt a lot less troubled.
Simultaneously, the first tiny goal naturally formed in their hearts since arriving on the island—
To own a small house of their own.
...
The little episode at the feast did not affect the overall lively atmosphere. Under Chen Zhou’s supervision, it concluded smoothly.
The last phase of the festival customarily concluded with gift distribution.
The original natives, along with Sunday and Saturday, all received gifts they desired.
As for the later batch, holding white clay boards full of text in their hands, they looked at each other speechlessly.
This was the "homework" and "exercise books" meticulously prepared overnight by Saturday for them.
It included phonetic practices, some simple daily writing exercises, and math problems.
Even though their new life had just begun, this batch felt the pressure of "homework" and the pain of learning.
Compared to the instant coffee received by Sunday and Saturday, and new clothes and socks for others, their gifts hardly seemed like gifts, more akin to punishment.
Yet, with teachers inherently having an oppressive presence over students, they dared not express dissatisfaction but merely managed a forced smile while holding the white clay boards.
...
After the festivities, everyone’s life settled into its rhythm.
The natives completed daily tasks methodically.
The addition of new members increased pressure on food supply.
Since the farmland in front of the cave was too far from the factory and inconvenient for planting, the newly cleared farmland was selected around the expansive green space above the rivercourse.
Bird droppings from Pigeon Cave were transported and straight delivered to the new farmland as fertilizer.
Rock River was less than a hundred meters from the farmland, making irrigation extremely convenient, and the watermill was also nearby. By building a granary beside it for storing grain during harvest, a streamlined process could be formed to shell, grind, and produce food with maximum speed.
Apart from clearing and planting the new farmland, Chen Zhou also ordered the natives to construct several small wooden houses for new members.
Three people squeezed into one room wasn’t convenient, and it easily caused unnecessary conflict.
Once the new members learned to cook, understood how to dress and wash, and could take care of themselves, they could move into a new home.
Of course, to avoid unsettling the veterans’ minds, the new members’ houses weren’t as refined.
The rooms contained only a bed, a cooking stove built with bricks, a table, a chair, and some daily necessities like bowls, chopsticks, and lamps.
The toilet was public, modeled after rural dry toilets, stinking in the dry season, with maggots crawling up the pit during the rainy season.
To prevent this toilet from ruining the environment near the factory and affecting moods, Chen Zhou specifically built it in the forest at the foot of the mountain. Even if strong winds blew from the sea, he wouldn’t smell it inside the factory.
...
The natives had their respective tasks, and Chen Zhou wasn’t idle either.
The mysterious reward delivered on July 30 was a batch of white cement and emulsion paint, just right for redecorating the Syrian-style factory walls.
Though the supply of white cement and paint was abundant, they lacked sandpaper and rollers for applying putty.
Hence, Chen Zhou spent some time crafting a few tools himself, only starting the formal work on August 8th.
The tools that had been painstakingly moved into the factory were again moved out.
Chen Zhou, along with several diligent and meticulous natives, became decorators in the spacious room.
Due to an excellent performance in educating new members recently, and consistently demonstrating "artisan spirit," zebra was chosen and got to work alongside his admired Leader.
Despite Chen Zhou’s disdain for zebra, he couldn’t deny that when it came to working, zebra was indeed comforting.
Whether leveling the wall, polishing, or painting emulsion, zebra executed with aplomb.
During breaks, zebra was attentive, serving tea, enquiring after everyone’s wellbeing.
No matter who watched, they couldn’t help but praise him.
Even knowing zebra’s impure motives, Chen Zhou couldn’t resist complimenting, admitting that zebra indeed held real talent in being a "bootlicker."
With the increasing population on the island, the need for outstanding little leaders was gradually manifesting.
Whenever seeing zebra’s earnestness at work, Chen Zhou hesitated—
Should he give this guy a chance to showcase his capability, letting him first play a role akin to a "contractor," to see whether he would successfully complete the task or mess up.