He turned on the tap, and the cold water washed over the greasy plate, calming his chaotic mind.
He stopped what he was doing, looked up through the small, steamy kitchen window, and gazed into the pitch-black night outside.
Apart from the howling wind and snow, there was only deathly silence.
There is no future here, no past, only himself.
There was only this dilapidated wooden house and twenty acres of land outside.
"Hoo €€€€"
Just then, a gust of wind suddenly rushed in, blowing the old newspapers he was using to block the window cracks to the ground. A chill mixed with icy shards hit his neck precisely, making him shiver.
The flames that had just been burning brightly in the fireplace seemed to be shortened by the cold wind blowing back, and the light dimmed by half.
Su Wei looked outside, but there was only darkness.
He thought of Emily, the Alaska fairy.
It also reminded me of Black, a legendary hunter from Kodiak Island.
I was also reminded of Aruk, a local aborigine who resembled a human-shaped brown bear.
Actually, this wilderness feels quite nice.
Once the debt is gone, he needs to think about his own life.
In the past, I was a corporate slave.
My biggest wish is simply to work hard to earn money, and then be able to play games and eat some delicious food after work. That would be enough for me.
And now, he has arrived in this wilderness.
I met new people and completely embarked on a different life.
A life completely unrelated to the city.
A profession entirely belonging to the wilderness – the hunter.
Su Wei already knew how to answer.
All he wants now is to live a peaceful life.
Hunting in the mountains and fishing in the sea.
In my free time, I walk the dog; when I'm busy, I can still do what I enjoy.
I have the answer in my heart.
Su Wei turned around, leaned against the sink, and re-examined the home he had lived in for several months.
My gaze swept across the living room and landed on the corner of the wall.
The wallpaper there was peeling at the edges, exposing the damp walls.
And this damn window, the gaps are getting bigger and bigger.
Previously, these were troubles that required patience.
But now...
Looking at these questions, an idea suddenly popped into my head.
Why should I endure it?
He has over three million US dollars.
This money was enough for him to renovate the old wooden house from the inside out.
Wait, it's more than just a renovation.
It's about rebuilding.
This crazy yet tempting plan ignited a fire in his empty heart.
First, there's the foundation and the main structure!
We need to hire a professional engineering team to inspect the site, replace the old timber with sturdy Douglas fir, and reinforce the foundation by digging deeper. It needs to be able to withstand at least an earthquake of magnitude 8!
The exterior wall insulation layer must be completely replaced with a high-quality closed-cell sprayed foam, so that the house can remain a warm fortress even in snow and winds of minus forty degrees Celsius, effectively preventing heat loss.
That drafty, broken window?
Just tear it down!
All the windows in the house were replaced with triple-glazed, argon-filled bulletproof glass, which not only provides excellent insulation and soundproofing but also gives him a greater sense of security in the face of any unexpected events.
A whole-house underfloor heating system is a must!
He was fed up with the feeling of walking barefoot on the cold floor on winter mornings.
He wants to be able to eat ice cream in short sleeves anywhere in the house!
Further expansion is needed!
To the left of the cabin, a large, temperature-controlled workshop was built, with clear divisions, including dedicated peeling, cutting, and cleaning areas. All sewage pipes were specially treated, so that people no longer had to freeze their fingers in the cold wind or worry about the smell of blood causing unnecessary trouble.
Next to the studio, build another large walk-in cold storage facility!
It should be able to hold at least the meat of three adult moose, making it much more convenient whether for personal consumption or to stockpile for sale when prices are high.
They could even add another floor on the second floor to create a dedicated trophy display room.
Or we could just build this showroom as a separate space!
Roosevelt antlers would hang on the wall, a whole Kodiak brown bear pelt would be laid on the floor, and his most prized prey specimens would be displayed on the fireplace!
These ideas popped up one after another, no longer unattainable fantasies, but blueprints that he could realize with the numbers in his account if he wanted.
Life, and the future of enjoyment?
At this moment, Su Wei had the answer.
He wanted to settle down here completely and become a true estate owner!
He wanted to build a home that truly belonged to him, a home that was both sturdy and warm.
A fortress that could provide him with sufficient shelter in this wilderness!
Of course, besides houses, there's also equipment.
For a professional hunter, equipment is like a second life.
While reliable, the Browning rifle was only an entry-level weapon.
He needs a more accurate and longer-range sniper rifle, such as the Barrett M95, to deal with those cunning, large prey.
You'll also need a reliable close-range self-defense weapon, such as a large-caliber Smith & Wesson M500 revolver, in case you're face-to-face with a brown bear in the dense forest.
And most importantly, there's transportation.
Su Wei's thoughts drifted to the nearly totaled snowmobile that Jamie had towed away.
It was a great help, but it also almost cost him his life.
He needs a brand new, high-performance snowmobile that truly belongs to him.
The Arctic Cat's Alpha One, or Bombardier's Expedition model!
It needs plenty of horsepower, good suspension, a large fuel tank, and heated seats and handlebars!
Previously, he could only drool over magazines and websites, and could only dream about them.
Now, he can walk into the store and say to the owner, "I want this one, and that one too."
He will also be able to own his first snowmobile!
To be honest, Su Wei had been thinking about this for far too long.
Whether it's hauling cargo while hunting or driving after a blizzard.
This is something that is desperately needed in Alaska.
Money, it really is a wonderful thing.
Money can't solve all problems, but 99% of Su Wei's current problems can be solved with money.
The remaining one percent could be resolved with money, giving him the confidence to do so.
It's decided.
I'll go to town tomorrow and buy a snowmobile first!
This is the first step into a new life!
With a clear goal in mind, Su Wei's sense of emptiness vanished, and he was filled with energy.
He quickly washed the pots and pans, and wiped the sink dry with a rag, every movement showing his eagerness.
It felt like we were about to arrive in town.
After doing all this, he went to the fireplace, opened the iron door, and added two more thick pine logs inside.
The flames licked the dry bark, crackling and popping, their orange-red light illuminating his young face and dispelling the shadows in the corner of the room. Two flickering flames were also reflected in his dark pupils.
"Waaah!"
A coquettish cry came from beside her feet.