Chapter 567 - 66: Guillotine
"The total weight of the gold is 675 jin and 4 liang.
The total weight of the silver is 1128 jin and 3 liang.
There are 37 pieces of jewelry inlaid with gemstones, and a set of golden masks..."
The lights in the second-floor office of the factory were brightly lit, and Chen Zhou stared silently at the total amount of the treasure.
According to the modern price of gold, by just calculating the weight of the gold, he was already a billionaire. In theory, he should have been happy and excited at this moment, even ecstatic to the point of madness, like Fan Jin upon passing the imperial exams.
But looking at the long list of treasures in his hand, Chen Zhou felt an endless emptiness.
For so long, he had strived to promote technological development on the island, build the Steel Bone, and research firearms and cannons, not only to liberate the labor force on the island and make his own life more comfortable and leisurely but also, at the root of it all, he coveted the treasure of the Spaniards.
When the reward he had longed for day and night was truly delivered to his side, when the gold and silver were really laid out in front of him, Chen Zhou’s joy lasted only a few short hours—
He recalled the night he spent browsing forums, thinking about the debates among the old forum members over the challenge rewards.
"Risking one’s life for 28 years to earn 720,000 yuan, is it worth it?"
At the time, many people didn’t think it was worth it.
For ordinary people, 720,000 was indeed a significant fortune, but 28 years was way too long, and the risks during the challenge were too numerous. Even though the time spent during the challenge lasted less than a second, there were still objections.
But if at the beginning, the forum post clearly stated that the challenge had the chance to earn a fortune worth 270 million or more, surely the forum members would not have hesitated but would have rushed to it.
It would be no exaggeration to say that in modern society, with nearly three billion in wealth, one could not only achieve a dream life but even take a rocket for space travel.
A generation of effort might earn millions, perhaps even accumulate several million in assets.
But several billion, that’s not something just anyone can reach; it requires intellect, talent, and most importantly, luck.
Even pigs can fly if they stand at the right place, but finding that place is no easy task.
...
Chen Zhou seen people who, over compensation of several hundred thousand for the death of a relative, caused havoc, or brothers fighting over inheritance, ending up estranged.
If that’s what hundreds of thousands to millions can do, the prospect of several billion would tempt many to risk their lives.
Such a dreamlike fortune in hand, the former Chen Zhou would have been lost in fantasies of squandering wealth.
But now, he just found it uninteresting—
All his past ideals and goals were crushed by boxes of gold and silver.
At this moment, what he needs to consider is not how to spend the money but how to live through the remaining twenty-plus years after receiving such a massive windfall.
To put it properly, he felt like a CEO retired too early when at the peak of his career; accustomed to busyness, he was quite at a loss with losing his purpose for struggle.
After all, he couldn’t just stack up those gold bricks in the office and stare at them laughing all day, could he?
If that were truly the case, not even three billion might cure his mental issues.
...
"Lai Fu, how long has it been since we went fishing?"
Putting away the statistics sheet on the table, Chen Zhou gently asked the golden retriever lying next to the table.
From young to middle-aged, Lai Fu’s appearance showed slight signs of aging, completely different from the energetic figure of the past.
When it lay sleeping on the ground, drool would gather at the corners of its mouth, and the sound of its snoring was getting louder, its breathing heavier.
Living with Lai Fu day and night, Chen Zhou could distinctly feel it gradually aging, its life slowly slipping away.
What was despairing was that even holding wealth worth three billion, Chen Zhou couldn’t pause time, slow down Lai Fu’s aging.
Upon hearing his owner’s words, Lai Fu lazily lifted its eyelids, glanced at Chen Zhou, its tail wagging back and forth.
Its meaning was—
As long as you are willing, I would accompany you fishing.
Seeing this, Chen Zhou smiled, stood up, and walked over to stroke its head.
Feeling his owner’s touch, Lai Fu finally became spirited, shifting from lying on the ground to lying on its side, placing its heavy head on Chen Zhou’s foot, extending its moist tongue to lick Chen Zhou’s palm, and occasionally gently biting Chen Zhou’s wrist—
This was its way of expressing affection.
...
At the end of May 1666, Lisoben, the malevolent Tribe Leader, met his end.
This "Warrior chosen by the Celestial God," who claimed he could lead the tribe to prosperity, to unite the entire island, was dragged forcibly like a dead dog to the center platform of the Execution Square.
His tall body remained bare, and his legs couldn’t take a step, limp like a boneless worm.
Even in the face of the butcher’s blade, waiting for slaughter, a lamb in its final moments had more dignity than he did.
Onlookers gathered around the platform, curious to see how the former Leader would be beheaded by the axe rather than hanged.
It’s said that for a better viewing spot, islanders engaged in numerous transactions privately, even without Chen Zhou organizing "ticket sales" for this execution, resourceful islanders would find ways to earn wealth through various means.
Lisoben, ruthless to others and killing without a blink, had thought of his death but never expected it would come so soon.
Recalling the day the armed men arrived on the island, and thinking of these past half months in prison, Lisoben felt it all like a long and short dream.