downstairs.
Su Wei opened the passenger door and threw himself into the slightly sunken seat.
Cotton Candy didn't seem to like the smell of smoke in the car.
It shrank its head into Su Wei's arms and covered its nose tightly with its fluffy tail.
"Tsk."
Old Jack started the pickup truck.
The engine coughed violently a few times, and the whole car shook.
"That girl by the window just now was pretty. You're quite the ladies' man, managing to snag such a beautiful girl."
"Drive."
Su Wei adjusted his posture, avoiding a protruding spring on the cushion, and said, "Let's not go to the cabin yet. Let's go to the supermarket."
"What?"
Old Jack's hand, which had just shifted into gear, froze in mid-air.
His wrinkled face was filled with an absurd expression.
"Are you kidding me? I'm a supplier, not your private taxi driver! Getting to the supermarket involves going around two blocks, do you know how much gas is wasted on those roads?"
"Fill up both barrels with diesel, it's on me."
Su Wei pulled a roll of US dollars from his pocket.
This was something he had reserved beforehand, but he hadn't used it much.
He pulled out a green banknote with Benjamin Franklin printed on it and tossed it lightly onto the center console.
Brand new 100-yuan bills.
It stood out starkly in the dimly lit and filthy carriage.
Old Jack's withered Adam's apple bobbed up and down.
These days, nothing is more convincing than cash.
If so, then there are two.
"Make a deal."
Old Jack quickly stuffed the money into his pocket.
He shifted gears again.
This time, the pickup truck's roar sounded much smoother.
When the money is right, even the devil will talk nicely.
Half an hour later.
The largest local supermarket in Kodiak Town.
Su Wei pushed the shopping cart and efficiently swept through the shelves.
He didn't have much money left when he last purchased supplies.
They couldn't even afford to buy the vegetables they wanted, so they could only buy some cheap potatoes.
Fruit was out of the question; I didn't even consider it.
But today is different.
The compensation money arrived soon, and I still had over a thousand US dollars on me.
There was also more than ten thousand US dollars lying in the bank card.
We can absolutely go all out and make a massive purchase!
Money is meant to be spent.
What's the point of money if it can't improve your quality of life?
Su Wei never intended to mistreat himself.
"Hey kid, what are you doing buying so many onions?"
Old Jack followed behind, watching Su Wei keep throwing things into the car, and couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
"And this beef... organic Angus ribeye? This small piece costs forty dollars! You've struck it rich?"
Su Wei ignored him, continuing with his work.
His gaze swept across the shelves; his Cooking skill level 3 allowed him to precisely select the highest quality ingredients.
Three 50-pound bags of high-gluten flour were carried directly onto the vehicle.
Two large barrels of extra virgin olive oil.
A whole box of imported New Zealand butter.
Various spices: black pepper, rosemary, cumin, dried chili peppers...
Most importantly, it contains various Chinese ingredients.
If you want to enjoy Chinese food, these are crucial choices.
Su Wei even took a clay pot and an iron pot.
Anyway, we've already paid Old Jack, and his pickup truck has a large enough cargo capacity, so why not use it?
There are trucks and movers readily available.
"Take all the chocolates from that shelf."
Su Wei pointed to the high-purity dark chocolate at the top of the shelf.
Although Old Jack was a chatterbox, he was very dedicated to his role as a porter.
He muttered "crazy" as he swept the rows of chocolates into his shopping cart.
"And two cases of that Coke over there, please."
Less than ten minutes.
The two shopping carts were piled high with goods.
When it was time to pay, the cashier stared blankly at the long bill.
Su Wei swiped his card expressionlessly.
drop.
Payment successful.
Sign, grab your bag, and leave.
The movements were fluid and seamless, without the slightest pause.
Where else to go?
Old Jack shoved the stuff into the back of the pickup truck and let out a long breath.
White mist dispersed in front of his red nose.
"Gas station."
Su Wei sat back in the car and placed the Cotton Candy on her lap to stroke its fur.
"My generator needs diesel, and the pickup truck needs gasoline. I need to buy two more 50-gallon fuel tanks."
Old Jack looked at Su Wei's profile.
Suddenly, this young man seemed a bit unfamiliar to me.
Su Wei used to always have a lingering sense of tension about him.
Now, that tension is gone, and I feel completely at ease.
It's that kind of composure that comes from having food in hand and not being anxious in your heart.
"OK."
For the sake of the hundred dollars and the soon-to-be-earned elk antlers, Old Jack started the car again.
"It seems you had a very fruitful trip to the mountains."
By the time we left the town, it was completely dark.
Winter nights come exceptionally early in Kodiak.
The pickup truck drove onto the highway leading to Pillar Mountain.
Two beams of dim yellow light brutally tore through the darkness before us.
Snowflakes danced wildly inside the beam of light.
The road conditions are very poor.
Even after snowplows cleared the snow, the road surface was still covered with a layer of hardened ice.