Chapter 506 - 38: The Evil in Human Nature (2)
But when it came to interacting with people, he remained as silent as ever.
Zhao Shu tried starting a few conversations with Kulu, but failed to get any valuable information.
The same went for Kosu. That ugly guy was tight-lipped; even the worldly-wise Zhao Shu couldn’t get any unusual news from Kosu.
...
Just when Zhao Shu was losing hope and falling into confusion, a vivid portrait brought him hope.
It was a painting of a "cat," supposedly the pet of the Leader, who adored it greatly.
In order for this cat to live freely in the woods, the Leader specifically ordered that no one was allowed to harm it and even said that anyone who rescued it in time if it got injured would be rewarded.
This news was like a bolt of lightning, illuminating Zhao Shu’s mind.
He thought, if he could be the lucky one to rescue the cat in time, wouldn’t he gain the Leader’s favor?
Compared to honing carpentry skills, learning Chinese characters, mathematics, and other complicated and time-consuming paths, this was simply the best route laid out for him by the heavens.
...
Once the idea of moving into the factory through saving the cat emerged, it wouldn’t leave his mind.
Every day after work, whenever he got the chance, Zhao Shu would run into the woods, searching everywhere for the big cat’s tracks.
Teacher Sunday once said—opportunity always favors the prepared.
Zhao Shu felt he was that prepared person. He thought that as long as the cat got injured, he would be the first to discover it and report to the Leader.
By then, his good days would come.
...
However, what made Zhao Shu uncomfortable was that the cat seemed unusually strong.
Among all the wild cats Zhao Shu had seen, this cat was the largest. It always stood proudly on slightly higher branches, looking down at people on the ground arrogantly.
As if knowing that the aborigines around wouldn’t harm it, the cat wasn’t afraid of people at all, but it was still hard to approach.
Whenever there was a sign of capturing it, it would leap up the tree and then look at the would-be captors with contempt in its eyes, full of disdain.
Day after day of observation, day after day of waiting.
Many times, Zhao Shu was soaked by the rain and ridiculed by his companions when he returned home.
Many times, Zhao Shu watched as the big cat disappeared into the lush foliage.
The more he waited without results, the more anxious he became, and gradually he developed a bold idea—
Wounding the cat himself and saving it himself.
Cats can’t talk. Even if it was the Leader’s cat, it couldn’t be that magical. As long as he alone completed the entire process, ensuring no one else saw it, the plan would be foolproof.
...
In a moment of heat, this guy, entirely consumed by profit, began to act.
Not having encountered Chen Zhou’s tactics, nor having heard more than a few words about Sunday’s ferocity, the ignorant fear nothing. Before taking action, Zhao Shu hadn’t considered what consequences exposure might bring.
Using his familiarity gleaned from hanging around Tiger Head, Zhao Shu started to try getting closer to the big cat.
Finally, he caught the right opportunity. As Tiger Head climbed down from the tree and there were no tall trees or concealing bushes nearby, he fiercely beat the cat.
Before taking action, relying on what he considered his clever mind, Zhao Shu thought of a detail—
Don’t hit the cat’s head.
He knew that an animal’s head is a fatal spot, and a heavy blow could result in instant death, so when he struck the big cat, he deliberately avoided more lethal areas.
This cat was his ladder upwards. If he accidentally killed the cat, he wouldn’t receive any reward.
Everything was going smoothly, but Zhao Shu never expected that Zebra happened to be a bit tired that day, wanting to finish work early and go home to rest. When approaching the woods, Zebra heard the cat’s piercing cries.
Luckily for Zhao Shu, he spotted Zebra’s tall figure from a distance, and Zebra didn’t see him.
Afraid of being exposed, even though he was just a step away from success, Zhao Shu was still forced to abandon his "self-directed and self-acted" play.
Before Zebra got close, he crouched low, snuck into the forest in another direction, and secretly circled back to the fields, pretending he had been working the whole time and had never left.
...
Later, everything went as he had anticipated.
Zebra discovered the badly beaten cat and quickly sent someone to report it to the Leader.
Soon after, the Leader arrived with people.
While the Leader was rescuing the cat, Zhao Shu stood nearby, watching with the other aborigines.
The originally revered Leader, in Zhao Shu’s eyes, was no different. He didn’t detect Zhao Shu’s "plot."
As he watched, Zhao Shu was extremely nervous, fearing that the Leader would pull him out from the crowd and punish him publicly—
He never thought he would die over this; after all, it was just an animal. On their island, no matter what animal it was, their ultimate fate was the same, to be killed and eaten.
The aborigines couldn’t comprehend the modern concept of pets, too distant was this notion to them, and Zhao Shu was no exception.
...
The evening breeze slipped through the crack of the door, gently stirring the murky air inside, brushing against Zhao Shu’s skin.
Recalling everything that had happened in the afternoon, he felt as if he were in a dream.
There was fear and panic in his heart, but more was regret. Zhao Shu was extremely resentful of the clueless Zebra. If it weren’t for this guy interfering, his plan would definitely have succeeded.
"No way around it, bad luck this time. I’ll just wait for the next chance."
Zhao Shu thought—
He believed that once the Leader took the cat away, the matter was over. Little did he know, this was just the beginning.
...
Tossing and turning, Zhao Shu finally fell asleep at dawn.
Not long after closing his eyes, he heard the sound of many people running outside, mixed with chaotic shouting and talking.
Still in a daze, Zhao Shu was shaken awake by his companion. Groggily, he put on his clothes, barely washing up before following everyone to the stone paved path in front of the factory.
The sky was still gloomy; the sun had not yet risen, and everything was shrouded in a veil of misty rain.
Most of the aborigines were disheveled, having been woken up suddenly, and they all looked somewhat weary.
But few were as exhausted as Zhao Shu, struggling even to open his eyes.
Swaying, they formed two rows, faces full of confusion as they looked at the four people in front, not knowing what had happened.
Sunday wore a thick blue work uniform, a raincoat draped over him, a straw hat on his head, with a Long Saber hanging at his waist.
He stood upright in front of the groggy crowd, like a sharp spear.
Following closely behind Sunday were Chen Fu, Chen Lu, and Chen Shou, all standing in the same manner.
Although they had not received rigorous military training, at Chen Zhou’s request, they tried to "stand like pine, sit like a bell," showcasing a valiant demeanor.
...
Cough cough~
Sunday cleared his throat, and suddenly a bright beam of light fell from the second floor of the factory.
The beam pierced through the morning mist, enveloping everyone in cold white light, making them involuntarily squint their eyes, unaccustomed to the brightness.
Zhao Shu had never seen such a spectacle. His heart was greatly shocked, and his sleepiness was instantly swept away.
He had heard from others that the Leader could emit light like the sun, but he had never witnessed it himself. This was his first time seeing the Leader’s might.
...
Before Zhao Shu could snap out of his shock, Sunday’s sharp gaze had already scanned all the gathered aborigines.
"Waking you all up this early is for no other reason.
I just want to trouble everyone to walk with me to the Temple to test the new Divine Artifact the Leader received."
"I’m sure you’ve all heard that the Leader’s cat was injured yesterday.
But perhaps you don’t know, the cat wasn’t hurt by accident; it was beaten.
I know if I ask directly, no one will step forward and admit it.
But it doesn’t matter, just follow me to the Temple, and after going through the trial of the Divine Artifact, we’ll know who the culprit is and who is innocent.
No good person will be wronged, and no wrongdoer will escape punishment!"
Saying this, Sunday’s tone paused, his hand resting on the knife handle, as he gazed at the faces of the aborigines in the front row, and finally asked.
"So, who has an objection?"