Chapter Fourteen: Eating, Drinking, Living, and Sleeping
“Black soil forms the earth, moss stands in for the primeval forest, yet something still feels missing…” Fang Zhuowei rubbed his brow, then his eyes suddenly brightened. “Ah, of course—rivers and lakes! How could there be a forest without lakes or rivers?”
Without further delay, he searched for several large caps from purified water bottles, filled them with water, and carefully dug round holes in the soil layer, placing each cap inside. Compared to the scale of ancient apes, these bottle caps were vast, endless lakes. Simulating lakes was possible, but running water was far trickier—one is static, the other dynamic. To properly mimic flowing rivers, he’d need specialized equipment, which he resolved to purchase later. For now, this would have to suffice; when his tools were complete, he could always remodel.
Once satisfied, Fang Zhuowei sprinkled some crushed cooked rice over the landscape. “Lastly… a touch of historical gravitas…”
Looking down, he spotted several dried centipede carcasses on the ground. With a mischievous grin, he picked them up and buried them in the soil. But he wasn’t done yet. From his bag, he retrieved a few thumb-sized Cthulhu figurines and buried them with the centipedes. Only then did he retreat to bed.
…
The next morning, before dawn had fully broken, Fang Zhuowei awoke with a gentle stir. After buying some steamed buns and breakfast near the mountain’s foot, he gathered firewood to cook a pot of plain rice porridge. He’d grown accustomed to brewing his own porridge each morning during his working days; if he didn’t have a sip before starting his day, something always felt amiss.
His pots and bowls, bought some time ago, weren’t perfectly matched but sufficed for daily use. After his simple breakfast, Fang Zhuowei hurried to the side of the fish tank.
In just one night, the world inside the tank had undergone a dramatic transformation.
Within hours, the population of second-generation spores he’d released had exploded to over ten thousand. Their rate of reproduction far outstripped even the first-generation asexual spore creatures. Yet, because these spores were much smaller, their overall scale still appeared comparable to the hundred or so first-generation creatures—perhaps even less.
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Aside from their numbers, the second-generation spores had undergone striking morphological changes. They now sported limbs reminiscent of primates, though their bodies were hairless and bare. Their heads resembled dolphins, and generally, their appearance echoed that of the pale creatures from the film “Deep Sea Beasts.”
“The primordial age of darkness has ended. A new race of life emerges in the boundless sea, born with innate wisdom, blessed with extraordinary bodies…” Fang Zhuowei recorded his observations as he continued to watch the little beings.
Most of the time, these creatures slept. Their average lifespan was around thirty years, yet nearly half of that was spent in slumber.
After a while, Fang Zhuowei withdrew his gaze. Today he needed to go into town for basic supplies and couldn’t afford to linger.
His home was five or six li from the town—a distance not too far, yet certainly not close. Slinging his black backpack over his shoulder, Fang Zhuowei stepped out.
Most of the journey was through winding, tangled mountain paths, some stretches not even paved, making for difficult walking. By the time he reached town, it was past nine in the morning; he’d been on the road nearly an hour—hardly a brisk pace.
To his surprise, today was the grand market day in Anping Town.
From afar, he saw the sprawling market thronged with people, shoulder to shoulder, a cacophony of hawking and bargaining blending into a lively scene.
Without pausing, Fang Zhuowei headed straight for the largest supermarket in town. Thanks to its scale and frequent turnover, prices were a little lower here.
“Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, shower gel—I need all of these. Socks, underwear, too.” Fang Zhuowei made a list, buying several of each item for convenience, spending nearly four hundred yuan in total.
Leaving the supermarket, he stopped by an electric vehicle dealership. There was simply too much to carry; even a healthy person would struggle to lug it all home, let alone him. It wasn’t just a few dozen or hundreds of meters—a trek, really. With an electric scooter, future trips would be easier, and hauling goods far less taxing—two birds with one stone.
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He chose a reputable brand. After a few test rides, he moved on to bargaining. Yet his lack of experience was obvious. The original price was 2800 yuan, and after negotiating, he paid 2700—just a hundred off.
“At least it’s cheaper than nothing; maybe the quality’s good?” Fang Zhuowei consoled himself with a touch of self-deprecating optimism.
“Now that I’ve got the scooter, should I prepare a refrigerator, washing machine, induction cooker and such?” He labored through the crowd on his new ride, pondering as he went.
These appliances were essential for daily life. Especially the refrigerator—in Wucheng’s humid climate, food would spoil in a day if not stored properly.
With his mind made up, Fang Zhuowei turned into the nearest appliance store.
In the end, after careful selection, he spent a hefty sum on a double-door refrigerator, a washing machine, and received a free kettle. Delivery was included; once he left his address, he departed early.
On the way home, he stopped for green chili peppers, bird’s eye peppers, scallions, ginger, garlic, and other seasonings.
Wucheng’s terrain was mostly hills and mountains, and rains came every few days; the air was humid and sweltering. Without some chili to dispel dampness, it was easy for moisture to accumulate in the body. Yet his pancreatic cancer hadn’t fully healed, so chili was only for flavor—he couldn’t eat much, even if he wanted to.
Pancreas troubles, like those of the stomach, inevitably affected appetite. Fortunately, his health had improved of late and he could manage a little more.
Finally, he bought some seeds suited to the season.
“Year-end mega deals—land, better to buy than rent!” As he left the market, he soon passed the local land exchange, a large advertisement hanging boldly at the entrance.
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