However, even though the animal enclosure wasn't completed, Chen Zhou successfully finished another long-delayed project—the watermill.
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The rainy season of 1663 was unexpectedly accommodating, with heavy rains spanning several days sometimes, while on other days a light morning drizzle cleared by noon.
Taking advantage of these occasional and brief sunny spells, Chen Zhou led the native workers in constructing a wooden and stone structure by the river channel.
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The official start date was February 22nd.
Chen Zhou initially planned to build the foundation directly in the water, then construct the entire mill.
However, after walking along the river channel several times, he couldn't find a suitable construction site.
To ensure strong waterpower, the water flow needed a drop, deep and swift enough, but most of the Rock River's channel was relatively wide and flat, with overall slower water flow. While it could drive a waterwheel, it didn't meet Chen Zhou's requirements.
