From Robinson Crusoe

The intense sunlight during the dry season causes the water in the foundation pit to evaporate rapidly.

During the day, while working inside the pit, the natives could even feel the heat flowing from the earthen walls and the ground, warming their bodies.

Insects that prefer shade and moisture cannot withstand such an environment and would have fled long ago.

……

After testing, Chen Zhou confirmed that the bearing capacity of the foundation had not been affected, but to be on the safe side, he still ordered the natives to dig up a batch of gravel from the river, spread it evenly at the bottom of the foundation pit, and then flatten it.

Undoubtedly, this took several more days.

After the foundation pit cushion layer was completed, the real main event began—tying the foundation reinforcement bars and installing the formwork.

A skyscraper starts from the ground up, and the crucial step of tying the steel bars according to the design is paramount.

In any case, the error of the wooden mold must not exceed 10mm.

This step was what Chen Zhou was most worried about. He personally supervised the entire process of the natives tying the steel bars, and would take out a measuring tape from time to time to take measurements.

If any of the steel bars used by the indigenous people are not up to standard, not only will they have to be dismantled and redone, but they will also be fined a dish—

Since the project officially started, the indigenous people have been enjoying a better diet than they ever had before, with meat, vegetables and drinks at every meal, and occasionally even a couple of drinks.

This kind of living condition made them feel like they were in paradise. No matter how tired they were from working during the day, they felt it was all worth it to be able to eat this meal at night.

The meat dishes, in particular, were either cooked by Chen Zhou himself or stir-fried on Saturdays, with seasonings such as chili and garlic, making them incredibly delicious.

If the meat dish is lost due to a work mistake, the native who is punished that night will be so tempted to eat that he will drool while watching others eat.

But that's nothing.

The penalty for failing to meet the standard for the first time is relatively light. However, if the indigenous people fail to meet the standard a second time, or even a third time, the consequences will be much more serious.

Starting from the second failure to meet the standard, a system of collective punishment was implemented, meaning that not only the indigenous people who failed to meet the standard, but also others would be punished by having to eat a dish.

If they fail to meet the standard for the third time, they will face the whipping on Sunday, and everyone will face it together.

Under such a strict system of rewards and punishments, all the natives, while striving to do their own jobs well, would consciously supervise their companions.

Especially those who did the work best, in order to ensure that the meat dish would be served that evening, they wished they could be in multiple places at once and help their companions with the work.

……

However, although every indigenous person wanted to do a good job, it was the first time for everyone to do this kind of work, and they were not skilled at it.

When we first started tying the steel bars, almost everyone made mistakes.

After being punished with meat and vegetables for several days in a row and whipped twice, a few "master workers" emerged from among the natives who were able to do the job well.

Only after the inexperienced natives gradually improved their skills under the guidance of these individuals and were able to achieve zero errors did the work progress accelerate.

……

A steel-framed structure stands on a deserted island dating back to the 17th century.

Its jet-black exterior and neat grid pattern resemble an altar from an unknown world, inspiring awe.

Let alone the natives.

When the massive, imposing, and utterly devoid of artistic beauty, exuding only a sense of solidity and industrialism, factory frames cast shadows in the afterglow of the setting sun, even Chen Zhou, a modern man, was somewhat mesmerized.

The concrete jungle represents the indifference of modern society;
It represents the hurried pace of traffic;
It represents a fast-paced life, smog, and the 9-to-5 grind; it represents the pressure of life and sub-health.

It's like a lifeless giant embracing all individuals, binding them with tiny blocks—mortgages, car loans, raising children, supporting parents—while simultaneously drawing hope and freedom from them.

Chen Zhou once had no appreciation for reinforced concrete buildings.

Before resigning due to the pandemic and returning to his hometown to work at a cement factory, he worked for a large enterprise in Northwest China.

The company was located far from the city, forming a separate complex of buildings.

Every day after get off work, he returned to his dormitory alone.

Rows upon rows of identical, straight, gray high-rise buildings prevent people from experiencing the vibrant colors of the world, immersing them only in a monotonous life.

From construction to abandonment, their sturdy bodies have been exposed to wind and rain, ravaged by time, yet they seem to have remained unchanged.

Chen Zhou thought he would never find anything worth appreciating or reminiscing about in reinforced concrete buildings again in his life.

But here, in this place separated by time, so far away that he couldn't see any trace of his hometown, he overturned his previous ideas.

The convenience of modern facilities, the safety provided by the sturdiness of reinforced concrete buildings, and most importantly—familiarity.

These were all things Chen Zhou had dreamed of when he lived alone in the cave dwelling.

Whether or not there are enemies, he wants an impregnable sanctuary, even if that sanctuary is not aesthetically pleasing.

And this framework, which stands in the 17th century, is the best vessel for a shelter.

Neither the natives' wooden spears and arrows, nor the firearms and cannons of this era, could penetrate the thick reinforced concrete walls.

At least on this isolated island, as long as there are no natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, or volcanic eruptions, he can remain invincible as long as he retreats into the factory when danger arises.

If you add in ample food reserves, energy provided by photovoltaic panels and energy storage batteries, and mass-produced firearms and ammunition.

This factory can then become a spiky turtle, possessing both offensive and defensive capabilities—

That's exactly what Chen Zhou wanted.

……

With the steel reinforcement tied, the indigenous people began installing the wooden formwork.

The large, wide planks on the island are all cut from materials from a time-traveling space, and are all luxurious solid wood panels.

These precious hardwoods, which are used in modern times to support tea tables or solid wood furniture and flooring in the homes of the wealthy, can only serve as “walls” to restrict concrete in Chen Zhou’s hands. After they are no longer needed, they will all be chopped up and burned.

……

Compared to tying reinforcing bars, installing wooden formwork is significantly less difficult.

Before long, the natives had assembled the wooden mold layer by layer, and then, under Chen Zhou's command, they divided into groups to pour the foundation concrete.

During this process, they also need to vibrate and compact the concrete to prevent honeycomb and pitted surfaces from appearing.

After the basic construction was completed, the indigenous people followed Chen Zhou to learn structural installation while moving various components, such as steel columns, steel beams, and roof trusses, to the side of the construction site for use during construction.

At the same time, they also need to maintain the foundation after pouring the concrete. After a full week of moisturizing, the formwork is removed, the soil is backfilled, and compacted tightly.

……

One task after another.

As soon as the soil was compacted, the indigenous people began the next stage of construction.

Chen Zhou plans to first construct the column foundations to establish the factory's load-bearing structure, then build other structures, and finally assemble the components.

The construction of column foundations is similar to that of ground foundations. The locals, who are becoming more skilled, can complete the work satisfactorily without Chen Zhou's excessive supervision.

The assembly of components is more complex.

Chen Zhou had to figure out a way to hoist the steel columns to the top of the factory, adjust the angle, and then fix them with steel wedges before finally pouring the concrete. As for the construction of the beams and roof trusses, it was even more troublesome. He not only had to place the beams and roof trusses in the right positions, but also had to weld them at a high altitude.

Fortunately, the photovoltaic panels and energy storage batteries were working properly, which solved the problem of using an electric welding machine. Otherwise, Chen Zhou would have had to use self-made metal parts to fix the roof beams and trusses, and the roof would definitely not be as sturdy as welding.

If the quality were even slightly better, who would be willing to settle for less?

……

In addition to assembling the framework, Chen Zhou also had to pay attention to reserving pipelines during the construction of the reinforced concrete factory.

When building the foundation, he pre-installed drainage pipes for discharging sewage and wastewater.

When constructing the superstructure, even more pipes need to be pre-installed.

Considering the possibility of using a steam engine as a power source in the future, Chen Zhou reserved space in advance for installing hot water pipes.

Since the photovoltaic panels and energy storage batteries cannot both be placed outdoors, Chen Zhou plans to set aside a separate room on the second floor. The roof of this room will be used to install two photovoltaic panels, and the wiring of the photovoltaic panels will run into the room through a reserved wiring channel to connect with the energy storage batteries.

This ensures that the photovoltaic panels absorb sunlight while protecting the energy storage batteries.

Once the energy storage battery is fully charged, it can be replaced directly inside the room.

Fortunately, there are many places in the factory that need electricity. Having this room means that the power needs of each area can be met simply by moving the energy storage batteries, which is very convenient.

Furthermore, Chen Zhou also realized that as the mysterious rewards were delivered one after another, there would definitely be more than just two photovoltaic panels generating electricity on the island, and more than four energy storage batteries. Therefore, while reserving hot water pipes, he also reserved electrical wiring pipes when designing the walls.

The pipelines running throughout the factory are like highways.

Now, they only need to wait for the vehicles to arrive before they can lead Chen Zhou and the locals into a better and more developed era.

……

All beginnings are hard.

From being clueless and punished by having their food withheld, to becoming proficient and gradually understanding how to build reinforced concrete structures, and then to helping the chief build and adjust the framework, the natives progressed at an astonishing speed.

With the binding of steel bars, the installation of wooden formwork, and the pouring of cement, a gray, square, rectangular factory slowly took shape.

More than sixty sunrises and sunsets, the changing of the stars, have witnessed the growth of its steel skeleton and the filling of its solid flesh.

When Chen Zhou and the natives used a homemade crane to lift the heavy steel beams and roof trusses to the nearly 10-meter-high roof, everyone understood that this long and massive project was finally coming to an end.

……

The island's first dry season of the year is exceptionally long.

From mid-April to mid-August, nearly half a year gave Chen Zhou ample time for construction.

The mysterious rewards are like tiny milestones in the challenge, guiding him step by step towards maturity and old age.

……

The roof truss was suspended by double-strand steel wire ropes. Wearing protective gear, Chen Zhou used a welding torch to touch each connection point of the roof truss in the dim light.

The natives wore woven rattan helmets; some looked up at the chief from the second floor, while others helped on the roof.

The sizzling sound of the welding gun, the dazzling light, and the leader standing against the rising sun always made them feel dazed.

Just as Chen Zhou had predicted—

A technology that is a hundred years ahead will inspire envy, but a technology that is more than three hundred years ahead will only inspire awe and even worship.

The transition from the Stone Age to the Iron Age was merely an increase in the use of metals; when it came to warfare, it was still a battle of cold weapons—things that could be seen and touched.

The leap from the Iron Age to the Electrical Age was a qualitative one.

Understanding the underlying laws governing the world allows humanity to profit from forces invisible to the naked eye or beyond human reach.

Light, electricity, and gas—things that can be seen but not touched, or even not seen and not touched—were completely unknown to the natives.

In their eyes, someone who can kill with an iron knife is a warrior.

It can emit light and generate intense heat to melt metal out of thin air. They simply cannot understand this ability, no matter how hard they try.

This confusion is like their inability to understand how the rock-solid "temple" beneath their feet came to be, even though they participated in its construction from start to finish.

……

Chen Zhou, this "leader," was unlike anyone the natives had ever met.

He has a particularly unusual trait—the more you know about him, the less you know about him.

The natives could learn about their former chief's temperament by getting to know him, master the old priest's methods of deceiving people, or learn techniques from skilled canoe makers.

Even those who arrived on the island before them, Saturday and Sunday, were someone they could guess pretty accurately about their true nature.

Only Chen Zhou.

The more the natives tried to understand him, the more they discovered that he was a mystery, like a combination of countless obscure pieces of knowledge.

The textbooks he wrote for the indigenous people contained a vast amount of knowledge.

For example, the Thousand Character Classic that the indigenous people have recently been required to memorize has overturned their worldview from the very first sentence.

"Heaven and earth were dark and yellow, the universe was vast and boundless, the sun and moon waxed and waned, and the stars and constellations were arrayed in the sky."

What is heaven and earth? What is chaos? What are constellations? What are time and space?
Knowledge that the natives had never considered before was poured into their minds by Chen Zhou's explanations, almost bursting their brains.

Sometimes, after learning new knowledge, the suffering natives would think that it would be nice to have a god like their tribe who could explain everything.

The laws governing the world are far too complex.

There was simply too much they didn't know, so they preferred to be what their leader called "fools" or "idiots," and live happily ever after.

Moreover, the knowledge surrounding the leader goes far beyond this.

There is even more complex and vast knowledge—

Mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

These types of knowledge were completely incomprehensible to the natives.

The bizarre little symbols, the tongue-twisting abbreviations, the numerous and complex symbols, the cryptic formulas, and all sorts of names—it would be better to kill the natives than to make them learn and master all of this.

……

Under the torment of Chen Zhou's "education plan," the natives gradually transferred their fear and awe of knowledge to their leader.

Fortunately, the natives held the chieftain in high esteem and goodwill towards him, who brought them a better life.

Otherwise, Chen Zhou, the leader who gathered all sorts of "indescribable" knowledge, might have become the first terrifying god with Cthulhu-like characteristics in the 17th century.

……

In short, the chieftain, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, welding the roof truss at the highest point, was, to the natives, even if not a god, the closest thing to a god in the world.

That's what they all thought. (End of Chapter)