[Chapter 12: The Village in Its Initial Form]

Mark Watney brought a huge surprise!

It was not only because of the appearance of Mark Watney that he brought potatoes, but also because Mark Watney could improve the quality of life in David’s small village in all aspects.

Not to mention the various modern tools, the exquisite tableware and various more comfortable clothes alone made David very happy.

Moreover, the food stored in the Mars base included a variety of meals for astronauts to choose from. Most of these foods were left at the Mars base. At this time, Mark Watney took them out to show David and Fording.

“Sweet and sour chicken, Hungarian goulash, pasta, toast, meat pie, cheese apple…” He poured out all kinds of food and showed them once. They were all heated at the Mars base.

“It looks good.” Fording looked at the dazzling array of food in front of him. Although it was not clear how it tasted, it looked quite appetizing.

David swallowed his saliva. It had been too long since he had come into contact with “modern” food. In this relatively backward world, the cooking methods were simple and crude, and the condiments were scarce and could not be used freely. Only in the past two years in this camp could he be more free.

Even so, the food he made was just so-so, far from being delicious, and there were not many types of food to choose from. It was simply incomparable with his previous life where he could eat whatever he wanted and eat however he wanted.

Since coming to this world, David had thought about letting these foreign bumpkins experience what the “majesty of the big foodie countrymen” was, but objective conditions did not allow him to study those things.

After a full meal, Mark began to think about what he could bring here to give to David and Fording. Anyway, those things would either be useless if left in the base, or would be thrown there and abandoned in the future. It would be better to transport them to Winter Village, so that he could live more comfortably here. Just

leave enough things at the base, and even when he has figured out how to meet up with the next batch of astronauts and leave this base, he can move all the things that can be moved here and give them to David.

With this idea in mind, Mark Watney became the busiest person in Winter Village. In addition to taking care of the potato fields, he would go back and forth every day to trade things. He tested a lot of situations for this.

At present, both David and Fording only knew that people from other worlds like Fording and Laura could travel back and forth between the two worlds relatively freely, but they didn’t know what the restrictions were.

After various tests by Mark, he had confirmed that the things he carried and lifted could be carried to the other world normally.

But if he didn’t lift anything, even the cart that was completely controlled by him, he couldn’t go back and forth between the two worlds. Not to mention larger vehicles – Mark actually tried to drive the Mars rover over, but unfortunately failed.

In addition, Mark and Fording also tested another restriction, that is, if you want to leave Winter Village, that is, the world of David and his friends, you must be within a certain range centered on the village.

In other words, if Mark or Fording wants to leave the village, he can leave smoothly if he is in a certain range and moves towards the outside of the village, and then thinks about returning to his own world.

But if you leave this area, such as staying by the Winter River or in the forest to the north and thinking about leaving here and returning to your own world, then nothing will happen and you will still stay here.

This means that if Mark Watney leaves the village too far and is suddenly attacked by wild beasts, he cannot run back to Mars to avoid danger.

So for safety reasons, Mark tries to move around the village as much as possible, and not go too far without someone accompanying him, especially not to go to the forest alone.

Fording doesn’t need to worry about this, with his strength, he doesn’t need to worry about his safety.

While figuring out these things, Laura came over twice. One time was because she lost her mentor-like elder Ross, and the sad Laura came to David to confide; the other time was to tell a few people good news: she finally solved all the puzzles, figured out what she encountered on the island, and successfully solved the problem.

“Congratulations!”

“I won’t come over in the next period of time. I’ll come back to see you after I finish the things at hand and return home!”

Laura said hello to David, Fording, and Mark Watney, who was not familiar with her, and left. This time, she left all the weapons behind, making David’s weapons reserve more abundant.

In this generation of story, from Laura and her companions being shipwrecked and stranded on the island, then encountering all kinds of troubles, to Laura solving all the troubles and leaving the island with the surviving companions, it took only four or five days.

It was in such a short period of time that Laura quickly transformed from a rookie who had just graduated from college and embarked on the adventure for the first time to an archaeologist with super combat effectiveness. With the holy light protection provided by David, Laura’s progress speed and combat effectiveness have been greatly improved.

“It’s a pity that I couldn’t participate in it personally.”

This is David’s biggest regret during this period of time, especially when he now has stronger strength than Laura, he was particularly disappointed that he couldn’t join in the fun.

When he was free, he would also think about whether his gold finger would evolve and upgrade in the future? Can he go to various worlds he is familiar with?

“If that’s the case, it should be fun, right?”

Unfortunately, he couldn’t go anywhere now, and could only wait for others to find him!

However, it was not only Laura who had undergone tremendous changes in these few short days, but also David, because his life had undergone earth-shaking changes: from a hunter with no hope for the future, he became a small lord with a bright future (waiting for formalization).

In addition, he also gained excellent archery talent and learned how to use the Holy Light. He was considered a qualified new priest, and his physical fitness was slightly improved. I believe that his physical fitness will continue to improve with the passage of time.

Because according to Fording’s description, David, who was blessed by the Holy Light, did not have to worry about excessive exercise causing damage to his body. He could exercise like crazy and treat himself as a non-human. As long as he was not dead, he could rely on the Holy Light to repair himself, and there would be no hidden injuries.

With Fording as a guarantor, David had enough motivation to exercise and improve his physical fitness in the following days. After getting up every day, he would go to the forest in the north with Fording to cut trees, and then carry the simply processed wood back to the village for storage.

The main reason for starting to cut trees again was that Mark was sure that there was no way to carry a large amount of resources back and forth at one time.

Even if Laura is willing to help, for the sake of convenience, it is better to choose wood that can be obtained nearby as the main material. Otherwise, Laura will have to carry bricks back and forth by herself… That picture is too beautiful, and Laura may want to hit David to death with a pickaxe.

So David only plans to ask Laura to help get some glass windows, cement, a small amount of metal and other things to make the wooden house more airtight.

In addition to cutting trees and storing wood, David will take some time every day to practice bow and arrow, gun shooting, and learn simple fighting skills from Fording.

In the remaining free time, David sometimes goes to the edge of the forest to find some prey to replenish the meat that is consumed quickly; during this time, Fording will learn English with Mark Watney, and the two usually choose to learn while fishing by the river.

Because Fording found that the previous Laura and the subsequent Mark spoke this language, he felt it necessary to learn it; at night he would learn the common language of this world with David.

Mark was also happy to be Fording’s teacher, and he also wanted to try whether he could learn the Holy Light?

Fording didn’t think there was anything wrong with this.

In this way, everyone in Winter Village has something to do, and everyone’s schedule is very full, but no one thinks there is anything wrong with such a life.

Because there are no entertainment activities in this world, you can’t just find a place to lie down and bask in the sun for a day after dinner? Maybe when you can increase the holy light by basking in the sun, David will do so.

Now, he is full of motivation and strives to improve himself. In this state, he progresses rapidly. In just half a month, he has become what Fording said: an excellent young priest.

In addition, the most important thing for several people in Winter Village is that the potato field has successfully grown tender seedlings. Looking at the few tender green leaves breaking through the ground, David is full of joy.

Even Mark, who has long been sure that potatoes will grow, is very happy. When they have enough potatoes, their lives will become better-even if he can never leave Mars and can’t return to Earth, he can choose to live in this world.

Just when everyone was full of hope for the future, Laura came back and brought more surprises.

“Guys, I’m here to see you!” Laura, wearing a black jacket and jeans, greeted everyone happily: “Although I haven’t seen you for only half a month, I miss you so much!”

“…” David held back from complaining, and after hugging Laura, he asked about her situation: “It seems that you have dealt with all the troubles.”

“Yes!” Laura nodded, with a look of loneliness.

This adventure brought her too many things. Not only did it make her grow into an excellent archaeologist and adventurer, but it also made her lose several partners, including Ross, who was like a mentor.

However, things have passed, and sadness cannot bring the dead back to life. Laura, who has adjusted her mentality, has already looked to the future.

For example, David’s world is worth her careful study.

“Before that, we should improve the residence first.” Laura saw the large amount of wood piled there, and guessed that David and others had similar ideas: “I can provide some help in this regard.”

(End of this chapter)