On the fifty-sixth day, I hauled in the fishing nets (Part Two) as an extra update for being the class representative.

All along the way, my mind was preoccupied with this matter—if I could obtain it... it would truly be perfect... But this is not something I can consider right now; I need to prepare for many things, but at present, handling these fish and shrimp is the key.

I had weighed the fishing net down with stones in the woods, but this time the catch was far too abundant. Even though I’d discarded many dead fish, and those that no longer looked fresh, I still had far more than last time. The heavy plastic basket, though slung across my back with vines, pressed painfully and achingly against me. If it hadn’t been for the discovery earlier that plunged me into contemplation and made me forget my exhaustion for a while, I doubt I could have made it back to the yard.

The moment I returned, I collapsed in utter fatigue—not because I was physically weak, but due to several factors combined, leaving me completely drained. The main reason was my poor sleep last night; I hadn’t eaten breakfast, and the stench of dead fish had made me feel sick earlier. Altogether, my whole being was out of sorts.

I had barely lain down when Little Black dashed out at the sound, barking anxiously when he saw me lying there. He poked his head over; I reached out to stroke his nose and pushed him aside, struggling to sit up. The moment I stood, I saw his food-loving tail wagging like a propeller, circling the basket over and over. Seeing me rise, he rubbed his head against my leg, gazing at me with pleading eyes.

He made me laugh out loud. Truly, I’d never seen such an intelligent dog before; as the old saying goes, this dog’s practically become a spirit... Of course, I wasn’t complaining—on the contrary, I was proud of Little Black. He’d saved me and kept me company, and the smarter he was, the happier I felt.

“I’ll make you some fish soup in a bit, no need to beg,” I said, quickly patting his head. He seemed to understand, bounding off excitedly to chase butterflies—when he’s happy, besides wagging his tail, he starts running everywhere...

I decided to quench my thirst with a can of soda. I ran up to the treehouse and fetched one. I’d been rationing these, reluctant to drink them; in all these days, I’d only had five. There were twenty-four cans in a box, so nineteen remained—enough for me to enjoy for a while longer.

“Might as well drink while I can—who knows what tomorrow brings,” I sighed, pulling the tab. I took a gulp, the bubbles fizzing on my tongue—refreshing! If only I could chill it, it would be perfect. But alas, no refrigerator... but that gave me an idea! Who needs a fridge? The simplest thing would be to put the cans in a bucket of water to cool them down a few degrees! Or maybe I could look for some caves...

Of course, caves aren’t so easy to find, and besides, I have some lingering fears about them. Never mind, next time I’ll leave a few cans in the water bucket.

I nudged the swing with my toes, soda fizzing in my mouth with each sip, sweet and rich. It was a strange feeling—just for a fleeting moment, I could forget I was stranded on this island. Instead, it felt as though I were on a spring outing, surrounded by beauty: the treehouse, the soda, the puppy chasing bees—this is the kind of sanctuary so many people dream of.

There were countless times when life’s burdens almost crushed me—countless times I dreamed that when I grew old, I’d retreat somewhere quiet, undisturbed, with a dog for company, to live a life free from the world’s cares.

Yet that day came early. It’s as if fate played a joke on me—knowing my secret wish, it seized this chance to send me here.

But I truly wasn’t ready! I am nothing more than a lowly employee at a listed company. I’d never even joined a backpacker’s tour. When I first arrived, I thought I wouldn’t survive three days; I was terrified and utterly incapable. I’d occasionally watch Bear Grylls, adventure shows, or travel documentaries, but when fate threw me here alone, I found I knew nothing.

It’s been over a month now, I suppose. Time is just a concept to me these days; in my mind, there are only three divisions: morning, afternoon, and night.

If I told others what I’ve experienced here, many would find it laughable. But for me, every danger has been a lesson, every experience a harvest. If the person I am now could return to the day I arrived, I know I’d do much better... The saying that environment can utterly transform a person is absolutely true. I was once so weak I couldn’t even wring a chicken’s neck; after three months at the gym, I still had only a single ab. But now, my abdominal muscles have begun to show, as have the lines of my calves and shoulders...

...

I finished the can of soda, and my thoughts ended there. The sun was almost at its zenith; I had to hurry to clean all these fish and shrimp. Back and forth at the river took nearly an hour. By the time I returned, the sun was directly overhead.

Now it was time to get to work. I set aside enough for Little Black and myself for lunch and dinner; the rest needed to be dried for storage.

There were forty-two fish of various sizes, all hung up to dry one by one. I didn’t plan to smoke this batch—I was afraid of waste. Making dried fish seemed much more reliable. Of course, if I had more salt, I’d have salted them first, but I just couldn’t spare it. Only half a pack left; I’d have to ration it carefully and try to get more on a sunny day.

Lunch today was very simple because I wanted to nap in the afternoon—my strength was utterly spent, and washing and hanging the fish had left me sweaty and worn out. I never want to experience heatstroke again.

Lunch was ready: seafood porridge. Crabs chopped up and simmered with fish, shrimp, and rice for an hour. There was a small mishap—I forgot to stir the pot, and the porridge stuck and burned a bit at the edges, but I caught it in time. Otherwise, lunch would have been ruined.

This time, I didn’t spare extra for Little Black—I was just too hungry. We split it evenly. Before he could start eating, I quickly scooped up the cooler porridge and ate.

With those three ingredients, need I even describe the taste? Fresh, fragrant, with the flavor of the sea!

Delicious! I even licked the bowl clean...

Time for sleep. That matter hanging over my heart can wait until tomorrow—I am simply too tired!

...