Old Hope gave a timeframe that left no room for doubt.
"Bring your bear skin and skull to No. 44 Spruce Road, North District. Remember, don't let the skin get wet or exposed to direct sunlight during this time; just keep it at room temperature."
"Good."
Su Wei agreed readily.
"Dudududu"
The call was disconnected.
These old craftsmen with unique skills usually have a bit of an eccentric temperament.
Su Wei didn't care.
As long as you do your job well, a bad temper is not a flaw.
He tossed his phone onto the passenger seat and stepped on the gas.
The Ford Raptor's V6 engine let out a deep roar, its massive all-terrain tires crushing the thin ice on the road as it sped toward the mountains north of Kodiak Town.
The scenery outside the car window rushed past.
The airport transitioned from modern steel and concrete buildings to low-rise wooden houses, eventually leaving only endless black spruce forests and undulating snowfields.
Su Wei turned on the car's heater.
Emily has already boarded the plane.
The sadness of parting was somewhat lessened at this moment by the trivial matters that needed to be dealt with.
The priceless bearskin was still lying on the living room carpet.
Although it's winter now and the temperature is low, which slows down the rate of decay, it doesn't mean that time is infinite.
Every minute that passes can loosen hair follicles and harden the skin.
Those losses involved real money.
We must get back as soon as possible to perform some basic low-temperature treatment, or sprinkle more coarse salt to absorb the moisture.
Su Wei's mind raced as he planned out the upcoming schedule.
Rebuilding the cabin, processing the bear pelts, and the upcoming professional hunter exam.
The $3 million account balance gave him confidence, but it also brought new planning pressures.
Money shouldn't just sit in the bank and get moldy.
To survive longer and better in this perilous wilderness, you need to convert money into real combat power and survival resources.
"Buzz"
His phone vibrated again in the passenger seat, interrupting his thoughts.
The name " Black " was flashing on the screen.
Su Wei reached out and connected the car's Bluetooth.
"Teacher."
"On your way home?"
Black's voice came through the howling wind; he seemed to be standing in some open space.
"Yes, I just dropped someone off."
Su Wei swerved the steering wheel to avoid a rock that had fallen in the middle of the road.
"I've contacted an Anchorage construction company for you called ' Polar Strong Shield '."
Black never wastes time; he gets straight to the point.
"Their boss used to build dormitories for oil fields and is very skilled at working on permafrost. Whether it's foundation reinforcement or wall insulation, it's all up to the best standards in all of Alaska."
"If you want to rebuild the wooden house, these people are the most reliable."
Su Wei felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
I only mentioned it casually yesterday, and Black has already made it happen today.
This level of care is truly exceptional.
"Great! I was just worried about not being able to find a professional construction team."
Su Wei responded quickly.
When can you expect to come and conduct the survey?
"One of their engineering teams happened to have just finished a project in the southern part of Kodiak Island, and the equipment was readily available."
Black paused, seemingly looking through some records.
"If you're sure you want to do it, we can bring the excavator into your yard the day after tomorrow. But it won't be cheap. A complete system, according to your specifications, plus the plumbing, electrical, and heating systems for the whole house, will start at two hundred thousand US dollars."
Two hundred thousand.
That's almost enough to buy two ready-made old houses in Kodiak Town.
But Su Wei did not hesitate at all.
Living in the wilderness, the house is a fortress, it's life itself.
On a blizzard-swept winter night, a top-of-the-line heating system and sturdy walls are more important than anything else.
Money is not a problem.
Su Wei answered very decisively.
"As long as the quality is good, we can start work at any time."
The sound of a lighter came from the other end of the phone.
Black lit a cigarette.
He seemed pleased with Su Wei's straightforwardness, but didn't appear too surprised.
After all, when they were dividing the money in the cold storage yesterday, he knew that this apprentice was now quite wealthy.
"Okay, then I'll have them send you the contract."
After the business was finished, Black would usually hang up the phone immediately, as is customary.
But this time, all that could be heard through the receiver was the sound of wind and that faint breathing.
Black did not hang up.
Su Wei keenly noticed this slight abnormality.
He eased off the accelerator slightly, slowing the car down.
"Is there anything else, teacher?"
" Su Wei."
Black exhaled a puff of smoke, his originally serious tone now carrying a hint of probing.
"The area around your current cabin, that is, Pilan Creek, originally only had twenty acres of land, right?"
"That's right."
Su Wei nodded, even though the other person couldn't see him.
That was the legacy left by my parents, including the dilapidated wooden house, the small lake, and the small grove of trees behind it.
Twenty acres is a large amount for an average family.
However, for a professional hunter who wants to establish a private hunting ground, or even engage in planting and breeding in the future, this area is barely enough.
Once the cabin is expanded, and with the addition of potential warehouses, cold storage facilities, or even a helipad, this small plot of land will become insufficient.
"What's wrong?"
Su Wei's fingers, gripping the steering wheel, tapped unconsciously twice.
Black flicked his cigarette ash.
"That piece of land to your east originally belonged to Old Sam. That old drunkard lost everything at the casino last week, and with his late-stage cirrhosis requiring a liver transplant in Seattle, he's eager to cash out."
"That piece of land connects to your property and extends all the way to the entrance of that U-Shaped Valley; it's about eighty acres."
"Moreover, it's fertile land, reclaimed years ago, with good soil and a large existing birch forest."
"More importantly, all the way to the U-Shaped Valley, the opposite side belongs to the official hunting grounds. This land, however, is not. Once you buy it, you'll have the potential to build a hunting ground in the future."
The carriage fell silent instantly.
The only sound was the soft crunch of tires crushing the snow.
Su Wei's heart skipped a beat.
land.
Nothing on this planet makes you feel more grounded than the land.
Especially those plots of land that are right next to one's own territory.
If he could acquire those eighty acres, his territory would expand fivefold, transforming a small farm into the prototype of a true estate.