From Robinson Crusoe

Although it was a small port and wharf, it was still a huge project for the more than forty able-bodied men on the island.

Rome wasn't built in a day, and the ports and docks that needed to be used for at least twenty years naturally had to be completed to a high standard.

Chen Zhou planned to return to the archipelago to capture the natives before July 1665. With nearly 10 months to go, he was not in a hurry.

He plans to concentrate manpower to first complete the basic construction of the wharf and the more troublesome dredging and diversion work, and then prioritize the construction of temporary anchorages and simple docks.

The temporary anchorage is located outside the port and is used for ships to berth or take shelter from the wind. In the future, fishing boats and ships going out to sea to capture indigenous people can rest in the temporary anchorage and avoid the wind and waves during the rainy season.

A simple dock is a facility used for repairing ship hulls and maintaining sailboats.

Although the two main vessels on the island are both relatively young, there have been no reports of hull damage or other problems so far.

However, as time goes by, the maintenance of old ships is always inevitable.

We can't just build another ship every time one breaks down. Even if the island is rich in resources, we can't be so wasteful.

Chen Zhou believed it was necessary to plan ahead and build the dock in advance, so that it would save a lot of trouble when needed.

Getting a sailboat ashore for repairs is a major undertaking that requires a lot of manpower and resources.

Repairing the equipment in a dry dock is much more convenient.

……

In addition to temporary anchorages and simple docks, a qualified port terminal also requires temporary warehouses, open storage yards, markets and defense facilities, waiting sheds and port closure facilities.

To ensure a port has complete functions, it is essential to have storage areas for trade goods, markets for trading, walls, watchtowers, and even pillboxes to defend against islands, as well as hotels and waiting areas for passengers.

However, the island currently has no open shipping routes and doesn't even have a basic currency system. The port is built only to serve the island itself, so many facilities are not yet necessary.

However, during the planning stage, Chen Zhou had already reserved space for these areas, so that he could mobilize the islanders to start construction whenever needed.

Opportunity awaits those who are prepared.

He hoped that if one day this isolated island could truly influence the world, it would stem from his own foresight.

……

The laborers built the port and wharf while also tending to the crops.

During the long construction process, many new islanders naturally emerged who were hardworking and quick to learn new skills.

They stood out from their many companions and, like rockets, smoothly escaped the "four-person room" and moved into double rooms or even single rooms.

……

These promising companies are all targets for Zebra's recruitment efforts.

His social skills always seemed mismatched with his rather honest appearance.

After finishing work each day, Zebra would deliberately seek out the newcomers who had moved into detached houses, chat with them, and learn about their preferences.

To consolidate its "junior leadership" position, and even go further, Zebra never hesitates to use its resources and wealth.

The island is changing every day, and few people can climb up in this ever-flowing tide of progress. Zebra is one of the most proactive ones.

However, with a larger population, the competition for tasks also increases.

In the past, there were no social butterflies like zebras among the islanders, which made it easy for zebras to win people over.

Now, a young man named Wang Lin has suddenly emerged among the new islanders. He's really good at bricklaying.

Thanks to his outstanding performance in building the dock, he gained the approval of the foreman and was even praised by the leader. This honor transformed him into a new elite.

He was younger than Zebra, tall and strong, with a somewhat thin face and bright, piercing eyes. He spoke fluently and eloquently, and could make people feel refreshed and comfortable with just a few words.

Zebra has a wide network of connections among its senior members, but it doesn't have the same smooth effect when making friends with new members.

Wang Lin, who was also skilled at socializing, undoubtedly became his biggest competitor.

……

The debate between the old and the new has always existed.

When the new indigenous people arrived on the island for education, they often suffered ridicule and sarcasm from the "older generation," an experience that the new islanders remember vividly.

After moving into the four-person room, when they talked with senior colleagues outside, they often saw the older generation putting on an arrogant and condescending attitude.

A single room is definitely better than a four-person room.

As a result of this factor, even as senior members and new members gradually become familiar with each other, there is still an unbreakable barrier between them.

New islanders are more willing to trust the companions who came to the island with them.

They were captured together, studied together, lived together, and shared the pressure that seniority brought them.

Just like the four iron pillars of modern society.

Having shared similar experiences, the naturally simple and honest indigenous people can develop a unique bond.

Despite the fact that the new islanders are less knowledgeable and technically skilled than the older generation, they are not inferior in terms of influence, thanks to their large numbers.

If Zebra is the elite among the old members, then Wang Lin is the rising star among the new islanders.

With his strong affinity, excellent skills, and the leader's approval, Wang Lin completed a "three-level jump" in just a few months and moved into his own private room.

Subsequently, he began to frequently host banquets for new islanders he had become acquainted with, resulting in a constant influx of new faces into the "core residential area" near the factory.

Which new islander wouldn't want to meet the chief, the "legendary" Chen Fu, Chen Lu, and Chen Shou, as well as the supposedly very fierce Sunday?

They had all heard that the three men, Fu Lu Shou, and the two men, Sunday and Saturday, were originally natives, but because they knew the chief early on, they rose to prominence and became high-ranking figures.

Such a good thing was something that both new islanders and veterans dreamed of, so as long as Wang Lin gave them a chance, they would rush to climb over.

……

Wang Lin's high-profile behavior naturally did not win the favor of the veterans.

In their view, moving into a single room means trying to integrate into the new community, rather than getting entangled with the other new islanders, which is clearly not in their interest.

The area around the execution square is mostly inhabited by new islanders, so their influence can't reach that far. However, within this small area of ​​the factory and residential district, the veterans still wield some influence.

After several attempts to subtly sway Wang Lin went unanswered, they began to deliberately ostracize him, verbally belittling this "clueless, hotheaded youth."

Who would have thought that Wang Lin, despite his seemingly amiable demeanor, was not one to suffer a loss in his heart?

We're all from primitive, uncivilized backgrounds; who doesn't have a ruthless streak?
If someone makes fun of him, he makes fun of them back; if someone insults him, he insults them back.

As fellow new islanders, Wang Lin was frequently invited to travel between the factory area and the execution square residential area. The conflict between Wang Lin and the veterans quickly spread and evolved into a conflict between the new and the old.

……

As the leader of the island, Chen Zhou is now completely hands-off.

After entrusting the construction of the port and docks to a trustworthy person, he acted like an emperor, only "reviewing memorials" every night to check on the construction progress before ignoring it.

He spent most of his time in the newly built forging workshop next to the factory, focusing on the manufacture of steam engines. The fifth-anniversary reward brought him a new cutting machine and welding rods, including the argon arc welding machine he needed.

There are also many small metal tools, files, etc., suitable for manufacturing gaskets and precision metal parts.

These devices, combined with Chen Zhou's long-term efforts, gradually transformed the steam engine from a pipe dream into an achievable project.

The thought that he might have built a steam-powered sailboat in the 17th century filled Chen Zhou with boundless energy, like he'd been injected with adrenaline.

He was so engrossed in his work, oblivious to the world around him and focused solely on the steam engine, that he was completely unaware of the powerful storm brewing among the usually law-abiding islanders.

……

At the end of November 1664, long-simmering conflicts finally erupted into a fierce brawl at the port construction site.

It was midday, and the sun was blazing. After a busy morning, the workers ate their lunch, carried their tools, and walked into the sunshade to rest in twos and threes while chatting.

According to the island's "unspoken rules," when resting, people staying in single rooms, double rooms, and quadruple rooms each have different levels of sunshades.

The sunshades built by the veteran carpenters were constructed by some of the most skilled carpenters; they are sturdy, beautiful, and provide excellent shading.

Moreover, the veteran employees who had accumulated some wealth were not willing to shortchange themselves even when they were working.

In the sweltering summer, to beat the heat, they bring some fruit and food with them every morning when they go to work at the construction site.

Whether it's tomatoes, boiled corn, or fresh citrus fruits and lemons...

In this hot, dry season, after a morning of work, what could be more enjoyable than eating a couple of tangerines or squeezing lemons to make a sweet and sour lemonade?

If you're lucky, you might even find sugarcane and raisins in the sunshades of the veterans—

That was the chief’s new invention last month, and it has now been rolled out across the island.

The veterans either built well-ventilated drying rooms in their spare time, or asked the person in charge of the sunroom for a few grapevines to plant in the small vegetable garden at the entrance.

Some people even go to great lengths to travel to the river valleys and plains just to pick a basket of grapes and dry some raisins to eat.

These guys really went to great lengths to "keep up with the times" and stay on trend.

……

Although Wang Lin had only recently moved into his single room, according to the rules, he was indeed entitled to rest in the "premium sunshade" and enjoy the benefits.

However, he didn't get along well with the senior members, and he rarely ate anything they brought; at most, he would just drink a few sips of cold water.

Cool boiled water is a standard feature in all sunshades, regardless of their grade; every sunshade has it.

……

In the past, Wang Lin would rest with the veterans, never being restrained. He always did things his own way, never spoke to the veterans, and was always out of place.

Everyone had worked all morning and were quite tired when they finally got a break at noon. Even if Zebra and the others didn't like him, they wouldn't bother with him at this time.

Moreover, there were little devils on the construction site responsible for "supervising".

Even during the sweltering midday heat of the dry season, those energetic guys didn't rest; they all patrolled the construction site wearing custom-made small safety helmets.

They would report to Fu Lu Shou and his two companions whether their daily workload was completed, whether the inspection was satisfactory, and other trivial matters on the construction site.

After the messages are collected and organized, they will be placed on the leader's desk.

The teacher told them all this on Saturday.

With the "little devils" watching them, no one on the construction site dared to cause trouble. They even had to think through their sarcastic remarks before deciding whether to say them.

Everyone has studied legal provisions, especially the punishment standards in criminal law.

The islanders are well aware of the consequences of rashly provoking a conflict.

Especially those with extensive experience who have witnessed people being hanged.

Although they did not live near the execution square, they knew better than the new islanders that the tall execution instrument was not just for show.

That's why, even when they're angry, everyone keeps their temper in check.

On this day, perhaps the weather was too hot, making it difficult for people to control their temper.

It could be that long-accumulated discontent has finally reached its peak, or that one side has been plotting for a long time, and the conflict finally erupted without warning.

……

The trigger for this incident was Wang Lin.

He was not only an excellent bricklayer, but also a chess enthusiast, especially fond of playing Chinese chess.

Even during his lunch break, he couldn't resist his chess addiction and always wanted to play a game.

However, Wang Lin was still a novice when it came to chess. He was unwilling to play against experienced players with deep skills, lest it affect his mood. Instead, he preferred to find other islanders who were also novices, so that the players of equal skill could have a different kind of fun when they played against each other.

Among the new members of the island was a native who became friends with Wang Lin through chess.

The two were close friends, their chess skills were roughly equal, and their chances of winning against each other were even.

Of all Wang Lin's chess friends, this young man was the one he favored the most.

That noon, the chess player, feeling a sudden urge to play chess, brought his chessboard and pieces to find Wang Lin to play.

The "high-class sunshade" where Wang Lin was located was not supposed to be used by islanders in four-person rooms.

The veteran employees, seeing this, were all filled with resentment.

However, the two simply stayed under the awning to play chess. Even if they disapproved, they didn't say much because of the "little devils" supervising nearby, the criminal law, and the execution square.

Unexpectedly, Wang Lin's chess friend suddenly got up halfway through the game, saying that it was too hot and he was thirsty, and wanted to go back to get a glass of water.

Wang Lin was engrossed in his game, having just captured two of the boy's pieces, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Hearing this, he wasn't about to waste any more time and immediately offered his assistance—

No need to go back to get water, I have freshly squeezed lemon juice here!
After saying that, Wang Lin got up and went to the fruit basket on the other side of the sunshade to get lemons.

The veterans usually bring food to the sunshade, but Wang Lin always comes empty-handed.

If he comes empty-handed and doesn't eat anything, the senior members won't take him seriously.

Even if he eats two pieces of fruit because he's craving something sweet, the veterans can still tolerate it.

However, some people couldn't stand his generosity and using other people's things to curry favor with others, and their expressions turned unfriendly.

……

Zebra sat on the bench and, seeing that Wang Lin kept his word and actually went to get the lemon, couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly.

Unfortunately, the fruit today was provided by him.

And he was precisely the senior member of the group with the worst relationship and the deepest conflict with Wang Lin. (End of Chapter)