Two old men, whose combined age was over a hundred, exchanged a look in the wind and snow that only a hunter could understand.
There were no extra pleasantries, but the unspoken understanding between the two and the difference in their status made the usually boisterous Aruk subconsciously shut his mouth, shrinking his neck and not daring to utter a sound.
"Go in."
Black turned to the side, threw his cigarette butt into the snow, and stubbed it out with his toe. " Su Wei has prepared hot soup; don't let the ladies get cold."
Just as everyone was about to enter the house, Aruk, who had been very excited, suddenly stopped in his tracks as if frozen in place.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the large creature parked on the side of the cabin, half-hidden in shadow.
He was so focused on rushing over to hug Su Wei, and because it was dark and windy, he didn't notice the car with its headlights off.
Now, under the light of the porch, the black metallic paint reflects a cold yet sophisticated luster.
That's every man's dream.
Ford F-150 Raptor.
And judging from the grille and wheel design, it's definitely the latest top-of-the-line model.
Four massive all-terrain tires gripped the snow deeply, and the raised chassis and widened body exuded a sense of imposing presence.
In comparison, Aruk's old F-250, parked on the side of the road and almost falling apart, looked like a malnourished, poor relative.
"My God... what kind of monster is this...?"
Aruk let out a strange, distorted cry, his voice filled with disbelief.
He rushed over and circled the car twice.
He reached out to touch it, but when his fingertips were still a centimeter away from the car paint, he pulled back as if he had been electrocuted, afraid that the rough gloves would scratch the perfect paint.
"Whose car is this? Which rich bastard parked it here?" Aruk's eyes widened as he turned to Su Wei, his face trembling with excitement. "This is Raptor! A top-of-the-line Raptor! I've been to the dealership three times already, and I didn't even dare ask for a test drive. The salesman looked at me like I was a thief!"
Old Kash also stopped and looked at the young man with some surprise.
In this remote town, the only people who can afford to drive such a pickup truck are the owners of the fishing companies that monopolize the docks and the top professional hunters with distinguished battle records.
Su Wei didn't explain further, nor did he show any particular reaction.
He just smiled, casually took out his car keys from his pocket, and pressed the lock button in that direction.
"Beep beep."
The Raptor flashed its yellow lights twice, and its large rearview mirrors automatically folded, emitting a precise mechanical sound.
That crisp sound was more useful than any explanation.
"Mine," Su Wei said casually, "The old car broke down, so I'm getting a sturdier replacement."
The air froze for a second.
"You... yours?" Aruk stammered, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. "A means of transportation? You call this a means of transportation? Good heavens, this car costs more than my drafty house!"
"Did you rob a bank in Anchorage? Or did you dig up gold bricks in the abandoned mine in the back mountains?"
Su Wei shrugged and pushed open the door of the wooden cabin. "You can think of it as the wilderness's gift to the hardworking. Alright, stop drooling over the car, you'll freeze. Let's go inside."
Aruk stood in the snow, staring at the retreating figure, his mouth agape, wide enough to fit a fist.
He suddenly felt that his best friend, whom he had known since childhood, seemed to have become a bit of a stranger overnight.
That composure and confidence that emanated from his very being, that calmness in controlling his life—he was no longer the poor boy worrying about debt.
Su Wei has really changed.
But he thought it was pretty good.
In that case, would Su Wei be able to accompany him on the bear hunt?
Aruk's clever mind instantly came up with another idea; for him, the help of his good brother Su Wei was even more important.
Moreover, it was quite good for Su Wei that he was able to establish himself well in this wilderness.
Upon entering the room, a warm and inviting atmosphere enveloped me, as if I had instantly traveled from the Arctic to a temperate zone.
The pine wood in the fireplace was burning brightly, crackling and popping, filling the air with the scent of pine resin and the aroma of fresh food.
Emily had already taken off her heavy coat and was wearing a beige cashmere sweater; the fitted design made her figure look great.
She was squatting on the ground, teasing the still-frizzy little fox, Cotton Candy. Her long golden hair fell over her shoulders, and she looked very gentle.
Seeing the guests enter, she stood up, clapped her hands, and wore a polite smile.
Welcome everyone.
That elegant aura instantly softened the masculine atmosphere of the hunter's cabin.
Aruk's mother's eyes lit up. She handed the coat to her husband, quickly stepped forward, and gave Emily a warm hug.
"Oh, this must be Emily? Su Wei mentioned her a lot on the phone, but I didn't expect her to be even more beautiful in person than in the photos."
The woman's loving teasing made Emily's ears turn slightly red. She glanced at Su Wei subconsciously and found him looking at her with a smile, so she hugged him back generously.
"Your pies smell so good, I can smell them all over the house, it's the smell of home."
The friendship between the women was formed quickly; in just a few words, the two were already together, discussing their exclusive blueberry pie recipe.
The men's attention, however, was completely drawn to something in the corner of the living room.
Those were a pair of antlers that Su Wei had casually leaned against the fireplace.
We moved in so hastily that we haven't had time to process it yet; we're just storing it aside for now.
But to those in the know, this thing is a million times more stunning than any oil painting hanging on the wall.
"This..."
Old Kash had barely sat down on the tree stump when he bounced up as if he'd been pricked by a needle.
He strode to the fireplace, completely disregarding manners, and squatted down, his rough face almost touching the antlers.
He rubbed his eyes, his gaze becoming extremely sharp.
The robust main beam, the dark brown, glossy patina, and the perfectly symmetrical forks like a crown.
"1, 2, 3...7 x 7..."
The old hunter muttered to himself, his fingers trembling as he stroked the pearl-like bumps, as if caressing a lover's skin.
"A perfect, typical Roosevelt elk, with complete brow and icicles, and that crotch width..." Old Kash gasped, turning sharply, "This is a true elk king! This might be one of the most perfect frames ever produced on Kodiak Island in the last five years!"
Aruk also came over. Although he wasn't as experienced as his father, he knew what this thing meant.
In the world of hunters, this horn is the highest medal of honor.
" Su Wei, did you do this?" Aruk's voice was a little unsteady, and his eyes were full of disbelief.
He remembered that Su Wei had only gotten his hunting rifle back a few days ago; he was still a novice!
Even professional hunters might only encounter prey of this caliber once in their entire lives, and even if they did, they might not be able to hit it.
Su Wei was unpacking the case of beer when he heard this, and simply pointed to Black, who was sitting on the single sofa with his eyes closed, resting.
"My teacher took me there." Su Wei didn't take credit, his tone sincere. "If it weren't for my teacher controlling the situation and helping me keep my composure, I probably wouldn't even have had a chance to fire a shot; I would have been knocked away by this giant thing long ago."
Upon hearing this, Old Kash turned his head and looked at Black with a hint of understanding, but even more so with envy.
"A good hunter teaches his cubs to track, not just to run," Old Kash remarked, walking over and giving Su Wei a heavy pat on the shoulder, his words full of earnestness.
"Kid, study hard. On Kodiak Island, you're one of a kind who can get the Old Devil to show up at the door. This character... even if you don't sell it, just hanging it in your living room is enough to shut up those arrogant old fogies in town."
" Su Wei plans to have it made into a specimen and hang it above his bed," Aruk interjected with a mischievous grin, trying to lighten the overly serious atmosphere, "And then hang his underwear and socks all over it to ward off evil spirits."
Shut up.
Su Wei laughed and kicked Aruk, shoving a bottle of ice-cold beer into his arms. "Go wash your hands, shut your mouth, and get ready to eat."
The kitchen became Su Wei's personal battlefield.
On the central island counter, a five-pound prime tomahawk steak lay quietly on the thick wooden cutting board.
The red and white marble patterns look like a work of art under the warm yellow light; the fat is white and the lean meat is rosy.
Su Wei drew a sharp willow blade from the knife rack.
He bought that knife specifically for handling sashimi-grade ingredients; it had a long, narrow blade and a chilling gleam.
[ Cooking LV3 activated.]
A strange feeling welled up inside me. The world seemed to quiet down, leaving only the meat before me and the knife in my hand.
In his view, this piece of beef was not just an ingredient, but more like a meticulously detailed anatomical diagram.
The direction of the muscle texture, the distribution of fat, and the location of the fascia are all clearly visible, as if invisible lines are guiding the point of incision.
"Whoosh!"
The first cut made a soft, smooth sound.
Without any pause, Su Wei's wrist flicked nimbly, and the knife rose and fell rhythmically.
Thin slices of beef rolled up one by one slid down the blade and were then neatly arranged by Su Wei on a white rectangular porcelain plate.
Each piece is remarkably uniform in thickness, so thin that the pattern on the bottom of the plate is visible through it.