The pickup truck's tires crunched over the ice, making a teeth-grinding sound.
Old Jack drove very steadily.
The old car looked like it was about to fall apart, but he drove it very steadily, cutting through the wind and snow with ease.
Su Wei leaned back in his chair, watching the dark figures rushing past the window.
That was the vast, silent forest of Alaska.
Emily's apartment was warm, with hot water and a soft bed.
But there, he was always a guest.
Only when he returned to that wooden cabin on the edge of the wilderness, to that territory that belonged entirely to him, could he truly relax.
Where is his true home?
"Arrive."
Old Jack gave a low shout.
The pickup truck gradually slowed down and turned onto a side road covered in snow.
The car headlights swept across the road ahead.
The familiar two-story wooden house emerged from the darkness.
The snow on the roof was thicker than when we left, pressing heavily on the eaves.
The motion-sensor lights under the porch were off because no one had been there for a long time, and the entire wooden house lay quietly in the darkness.
Su Wei pushed open the car door and jumped out.
The snow underfoot made a soft "plop" sound, reaching above my ankles.
cold.
The temperature, at least five degrees lower than in town, instantly penetrated the winter clothing.
The cold air filled his lungs, carrying away the fatigue of the long journey and clearing his mind.
"This is your hideout."
Old Jack jumped out of the car, turned up his collar to block the wind, and his red nose shone even brighter from the cold.
Where did you unload everything?
"Just leave it at the door."
Su Wei turned on his flashlight, and the beam of light shone across the porch.
There was a neatly stacked pile of pine firewood.
Su Wei stepped forward and removed the pieces of wood one by one, revealing a plastic sheet.
He removed it.
An irregularly shaped object lies there quietly.
It was mostly covered by a plastic sheet, with only a few dark brown tips showing, which were covered with some snow.
Old Jack was still complaining about the weather.
But the moment the light swept across the object, his voice abruptly stopped.
As a seasoned veteran who has been in this industry for decades, he is extremely sensitive to these kinds of lines.
It had the texture of bone, and it was quite unusual.
Old Jack, not caring about unloading the cargo, trudged through the snow, not minding the cold, and brushed the snow off the cargo with his hands.
As the snowflakes fell.
The thick main beam was exposed to the flashlight beam; its surface was oily and had a perfect patina.
Six branches.
Each tip is smooth and shiny from long-term polishing, while the pearl-like bone spikes around the base are quite rugged.
"Hiss"
Old Jack inhaled a sharp breath through his teeth.
He took off his gloves and gently stroked the main beam of the antlers with his calloused hand.
"This... this really is Roosevelt antler?"
Old Jack suddenly turned around.
Those cloudy eyes were now frighteningly bright.
"Where did you find this? The color, the patina... this is a top-quality piece that has naturally patinated! It's at least a treasure that the Deer King wore for five or six years!"
Su Wei stood by the car, holding the bag full of top-quality beef in his hand.
Seeing Old Jack's naive and unsophisticated look, he gave a slight smile.
"It's near that U-Shaped Valley over there."
Su Wei casually remarked, "So, did you make a wasted trip for the fare?"
Old Jack wasn't listening to what he was saying at all.
He was practically glued to the antler, muttering to himself, his mind filled with nothing but money.
"We're rich... this time we're really rich..."
Old Jack looked up, a fawning smile creeping across his wrinkled face.
"Kid, no, Brother Su Wei! Sell this to me! I'll transfer the money right now! Three thousand... no, three thousand five! How about it?"
Su Wei did not answer immediately.
He carried his things up to the porch, took the key out of his pocket, and inserted it into the cold lock.
Click.
The lock cylinder rotates.
He pushed open the door and glanced back at Old Jack was still drooling over the deer antlers in the snow.
"Go inside and move everything in."
Su Wei's voice was calm amidst the wind and snow.
Whether you can have this antler depends on your service along the way; whether it satisfies me.
"You know how rare this thing is, Old Jack."
After saying that.
He pushed open the door and turned on the entryway light.
Warm yellow light poured out instantly.
It illuminated the swirling snow outside the door, and also the greedy yet excited face of Old Jack.
Chapter 104 The Deer Antler Game, the Fear of Losing Resources
The cabin was lit up after a long time, but perhaps due to years of disrepair, the light bulb flickered several times before settling down.
The room was as cold as an icebox, dusty, stuffy, and had a complicated smell.
This is also a drawback of old-style wooden houses.
Su Wei exhaled a puff of white breath, wrapped his windbreaker tighter around himself, and headed straight for the fireplace.
The Cotton Candy in his arms sneezed from the cold air, burying its head deep into the zipper, leaving only its fluffy tail wagging outside.
Old Jack didn't need to say anything at all.
He carefully placed the bag of expensive ribeye on the dusty wooden table, then turned and walked out.
Soon, he moved an irregularly shaped object inside.
Old Jack plopped down on the ground, his face beaming with excitement. He pulled out a greasy handkerchief and vigorously wiped the main beam of the antlers.
As the snow melted, the dark brown bone gleamed with a warm luster under the light.
Look at this pearl plate!
Old Jack pointed to the rough bulge at the base of the antlers, spitting as he spoke, his greed barely concealed.
"This thickness... this deer must have been the king of this area when it was alive! At least nine hundred pounds! My God, what kind of monster left this behind!"
A dry rag flew out of the kitchen and hit Old Jack right in the face.
Wipe your drool.
Su Wei carried a fifty-pound bag of flour on one shoulder as he passed through the living room, his shoe tip lightly touching Old Jack's boots.
"Let's talk business after we unload the goods; my oil drums are still on the truck."
Old Jack muttered curses, but his body language remained unchanged.
For this deal, he'd do anything, even move a mountain, let alone move flour.
More than a dozen round trips.