From Robinson Crusoe

The island has only two seasons, with the rainy season and the dry season constantly alternating.

If it weren't for the annual festival, Chen Zhou would sometimes even forget what day it was.

His unique calendar, made of different types of wood, only lasted for four years. After that, he started using paper to keep records. Later, with the advent of clocks, people, and many more advanced things, he simply abandoned paper as well.

Perhaps as people get older, they start to reminisce about the past.

Previously, Chen Zhou had always held the idea that he would return to the modern world one day. After everything was over, he would still be that 25-year-old young man. He felt more relaxed, less afraid of death, and his longing for his family and hometown was not so strong.

As he grows older, bidding farewell to companions who have been with him for many years, he sometimes sits on a chair on the veranda outside the villa, gazing at the forest shrouded in twilight, and he thinks of the fallen leaves of autumn.

The inland towns have four distinct seasons.

Spring often brings a light, misty rain, which brings a touch of new green. After the rain, the air is filled with a moist, fresh scent of tender plant buds.
In summer, the sun blazes down, and the poplar leaves on both sides of the street shimmer with green light under the sun. In the distance, you can often see tall buildings and pedestrians distorted by the heat.
As the crops in the fields gradually turn from green to withered yellow, the harvesters rumble, accompanied by continuous thunderstorms and howling winds, and autumn has arrived.

Chen Zhou still remembers the scene of corn being threshed and laid out to dry in the yard of his maternal grandmother's field. That delightful yellow expanse was a vast desert of harvest. Stepping barefoot into it, swimming among the corn kernels, one felt as if one were about to sink into it, and the feeling was exhilarating and refreshing.

Of course, what he misses most is the winter in his hometown, that cold and long season, when the earth is frozen and all the trees wither.

The shallow river was frozen solid, and the snowstorm turned the earth white. The sunlight was also hazy, hanging in the sky but unable to bring much warmth to the earth.

The sky always brightens very late and darkens very early, making each day seem shorter.

Snowfall is common.

A cold front from the Mongolian Plateau swept across the town with heavy snow, the sky hung low, and the dome took on a dim yellow hue.

The northwest wind swirled and howled past, and overnight, the distant mountains were covered in white as if they were wearing mourning clothes, and the trees that had lost all their leaves burst into bloom with pear blossoms.
While dozing off on a bench with Laifu, Chen Zhou often thought back to how he hadn't seen snow in almost ten years.

There were many things he cherished on the island: friends who had been with him for many years and subordinates who were like father and son. The only thing missing was the distinct seasons and the wind and snow of his hometown.

He had to admit that he was indeed homesick.

……

The treasure obtained from Kylian, along with the gold and silver acquired afterward, had long been melted down and cast into gold bars, gold coins, and silver ingots of equal size.

Chen Zhou roughly calculated that these precious metals, when converted into RMB, would be worth more than 4 million yuan.

That was a truly astronomical figure, enough for him to live a carefree life.

There are also some uniquely designed and exquisitely crafted gold ornaments that he did not melt down, but preserved in their original form. If they are available in the modern world at a suitable price, he will sell or donate them. If not, keeping them as collectibles is also a good option.

Of course, Chen Zhou's wealth accumulated over the years is far more than this; most of the precious metals are still with the islanders.

Thanks to Chen Zhou's wisdom and the islanders' hard work, the archipelago has basically achieved self-sufficiency. Whether it is food, vegetables, meat, or textiles, the islanders can produce them themselves, and there is even a surplus of many products.

As for the high-quality steel, semi-finished bicycle parts, gun parts, uniquely designed clothing, more advanced agricultural tools and small machine tools, textile machines, etc. produced by the factories on the island, they bring a lot of revenue to the island every once in a while.

The long-time islanders are gradually becoming wealthier, and the lives of the new islanders are visibly improving, with many families already having two or even three children.

These natives, who once slaughtered each other and even resorted to cannibalism for a bite to eat, probably never dreamed that one day they would live such a life, which is simply paradise on land.

……

Nearly fifty years old, Kylian has achieved great success with "Paradise Island," and now he even has a place at banquets of the Spanish royal family.

If Chen Zhou made a fortune through Killian, then Killian himself probably gained more than a hundred times that amount.

As he grew older and accumulated a certain amount of wealth, Killian finally relinquished this lucrative piece of the export market. With Chen Zhou's consent, he shared the location of the island with his closest friend.

The secrets of "Paradise Island" had long been circulating in Europe, but due to the restrictions imposed by the Kylians, most navigators considered the news to be an unrealistic legend.

Even if someone believed it, they had no ship of their own, did not know the exact location of the island, and could not withstand the immense pressure exerted by the Kylian forces, so it was impossible for them to reach the island.

It wasn't until Kylian himself confirmed the matter that people realized there really was a lost civilization similar to Atlantis, which naturally included Monidez.

But times have changed. In the past, Monidez used his connections to suppress Kylian, possessed a huge fleet, amassed wealth all day long, and his power was at its zenith.

Since the rise of the Kylians in recent years, they have caused Monidez no shortage of trouble.

Monidez was always reckless and often single-minded. When he had power and influence, he could outmaneuver Killian, but after their power became equal, he never gained any advantage.

Once Kylian had gained power, Monidez suffered even more suppression and couldn't hold his head up at all in recent years.

He was a hot-tempered man. Hearing the rumors and seeing those who had once relied on him turn to the Killian one after another, his anger almost ignited.

It wasn't until he heard that Killian's rise to power over the years was entirely due to "Paradise Island," and that the island was the very same mysterious island from which Killian had spread rumors that caused him to lose three armed merchant ships and hundreds of loyal subordinates, that Monidez's resentment and anger finally erupted.

However, Monidez was already all white-haired by then. His anger not only failed to affect Killian, but also made him so angry that he was bedridden and died not long after.

……

In mid-April of 1669, the dry season was approaching and rainfall was decreasing.

Chen Zhou's villa is nestled in the mountains and forests, where it is always damp during the rainy season, and mushrooms even grow under the wooden floor of the corridor.

When the sun rises in the early morning, a thin layer of white mist often floats on the lawn outside the house, like a unique ribbon.

The parrot was locked in a cage and hung in the hallway because it was too noisy.

The newly grown kitten often crouches under the cage, looking up at the birds inside, probably drooling with envy.

When Chen Zhou woke up and got out of bed to draw the curtains, he would always pat Lai Fu's head.

After another year of perseverance, Laifu looked even older.

It walked unsteadily, its eyes were half-open, and there was often eye discharge in the corners of its eyes. Almost all of its teeth had fallen out.

Fortunately, Laifu's organs were not diseased. Although it was very old, it did not suffer from many illnesses, and when it was energetic, its eyes could still show some of the spirit of its youth. When Chen Zhou built the villa, he took Laifu with him and let it rest with him in the bedroom.

Over the past year, he had a vague feeling that his loyal old companion might be leaving him, so he dared not let Laifu out of his sight easily, and if he couldn't see it for a few minutes, he would send someone to look for it.

Back in his hometown, Chen Zhou heard that when a dog is about to die of old age, it will secretly leave its owner and find a secluded corner to quietly await its death. It is said that this is because the dog does not want to make its owner sad.

Over the years, Chen Zhou has been working on his mental preparation. Sometimes he feels that he can accept Lai Fu's departure, and other times he feels that he is probably creating a self-numbing illusion.

……

With the next dry season fast approaching, and the island's skies finally no longer shrouded in clouds, Chen Zhou's mood improved.

Getting up from the hardwood bed covered with royal velvet carpets, Chen Zhou pulled back the thick purple and gold curtains of the French windows and walked over to Lai Fu while putting on his coat and slippers.

Usually at this time, Laifu would lie listlessly sleeping by the bed, but today it sat up early, trying to open its eyes wide, and seemed more energetic than usual.

"What's wrong? In a good mood today? Want to go out and have some fun with me?"

Chen Zhou chuckled and teased, casually ruffling Laifu's hair.

As he got older, Laifu's hair was no longer as thick as it used to be. When you touched his head, the texture was hard skull, not the soft, long hair.

As if it had caught the key words "go out to play", Laifu excitedly wagged its tail, then stood up nimbly, snuggled close to Chen Zhou's body, and licked Chen Zhou's hand, looking like it couldn't wait.

Seeing Laifu acting strangely, Chen Zhou had a vague sense of foreboding. He dressed much faster than usual, and without keeping Laifu waiting for long, he left the bedroom with the old dog who was walking unsteadily.

It was the end of the rainy season, in the morning, with only a few clumps of gray clouds hanging in the sky. The bright sunlight shone on the lawn beside the promenade, illuminating the water droplets clinging to the tips of the grass.

Laifu took three steps at a time, excitedly half-running and half-walking as he left the room. He straightened up and, just like when he was young, took a few steps ahead of Chen Zhou, standing alertly in front of him to scout the way for his master.

The sunlight illuminated its sparse fur, and a gentle breeze stirred the lion-mane-like mane around its neck, making it shine brightly.

"Wang~"

Laifu raised its head and barked, then cautiously and slowly ran down the steps, ran a few steps across the lawn, picked up a bone stick, and wagged its tail as it walked toward Chen Zhou.

It gently placed the bone stick on the ground, raised its head and sat upright, tilting its head slightly as it quietly watched Chen Zhou, its eyes revealing a longing for playing.

Find the Lost was Laifu's favorite game when he was young. He could play it endlessly, as if he never got tired, and would play for most of the day.

At that time, Chen Zhou was tired from just throwing and picking up sticks, and he would often only deal with Lai Fu for a short while before going to rest on his own.

Looking at the elderly Lai Fu now, Chen Zhou began to miss the energetic Lai Fu of the past.

He crouched down, hugged Laifu, gently patted its chest, picked up the bone club, and carefully threw it a short distance away.

Laifu tried to appear clever, got up and trotted to the bone stick, picked it up with its toothless mouth, walked back to Chen Zhou's side, proudly raised its head and wagged its tail.

"Good job, buddy!"

Chen Zhou praised it.

A look of pride appeared in Laifu's eyes, and it barked softly with all its might, as if urging its owner to start the next round of the game.

Chen Zhou threw the bone club again, this time throwing it even further than before.

Laifu seemed to react even faster, its almost completely bald tail standing tall like a conspicuous signal pole, marking its position on the lush green lawn.

The morning mist had not completely dissipated, and a thin white haze blurred Laifu's figure. Chen Zhou could vaguely see the young, robust, golden dog.

……

The game continued. Laifu's aging body could no longer support it to engage in prolonged strenuous exercise, but every time it brought the bone stick back to Chen Zhou, its eyes were so intense and resolute, as if it knew this might be the last game of its life.

Before anyone knew it, Little Grey, Grape, Bangdang, Tiger Head, and Grey Ball all came out of the villa.

Cats live much longer than large dogs. They stand on the porch railing, ignoring the chattering of the parrots on the eaves, watching their owner, whose trousers are soaked with dew, and the aging giant on the lawn.

Despite Laifu's strong efforts to complete each successful retrieval, it was no longer the young dog it once was.

Its speed decreased and its reaction became more and more sluggish. In the end, it had to pant for a few breaths before it could walk to the side after Chen Zhou threw the bone stick a little over a meter away.

"Take a break."

Once again, they found Laifu, and Chen Zhou embraced him.

This time, Laifu didn't resist. It stuck out its tongue, its eyes were still wide open, and it fell into Chen Zhou's arms.

As Chen Zhou stroked Lai Fu's chest, he could feel his heart pounding violently inside.

He looked down and saw Laifu staring at him intently, tears welling up in his already cloudy eyes.

Subsequently, the ever-loyal and passionate heart within Laifu's body began to beat more and more slowly, and gradually came to a standstill.

Sitting on the lawn, Chen Zhou held Lai Fu's body, watching Lai Fu's eyes gradually lose their luster, feeling as if a piece of his heart had been brutally torn out.

He didn't cry, but he felt helpless, a suffocating and extremely oppressive helplessness.

Lai Fu's rapid breathing disappeared at some point.

The villa was silent, and the cats lowered their heads.

In a daze, all I could hear was the wind howling through the distant mountains and the rustling leaves.

……

On April 17, 1669, on the lawn of the manor, Chen Zhou bid farewell to his good friend, embarking on a challenge against his most loyal and valiant companion. (End of Chapter)