He's a madman, so he doesn't mind such fanatical reasons.
But a professional is a professional.
"The reason is well-crafted; it sounds quite touching."
Old Hope sneered, toying with the knife in his hand. "But this is a workshop, not a church. Want to try it? Fine."
"Tell me, what are the steps involved in making a shoulder and chest specimen that can be hung on a wall?"
The old man suddenly launched an attack.
This is a test.
If Su Wei can't answer, or even hesitates a little, then it proves that this kid is just a fool who is all talk and no action.
Su Wei didn't think for a second.
Last night, " Hopkins's Anatomy Notes " was completely analyzed by the system, and the knowledge is as if it were engraved in my mind.
"The first step is peeling and initial processing."
Su Wei raised one finger.
"For this brown bear, if we're making an upright specimen, the incision line will be along the central axis of its back. If it's a shoulder-chest specimen, the incision will be Y-shaped on the back."
"The key is to preserve the integrity of the eyelids, the inner side of the lips, and the nasal cartilage. The inner lip, in particular, must be preserved by at least two centimeters for later flipping and reshaping."
Old Hope raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.
Su Wei continued:
"The second step is to remove the meat and fat. This is the most tedious but also the most crucial step."
"Every gram of fat and connective tissue under the skin must be thoroughly removed with a rotary cutter. This is especially important for bears, as their fat layer is thick. If any residue remains, the tanning solution cannot penetrate, and even a small patch the size of a fingernail will mold and fall out within six months, rendering the entire pelt unusable."
"The third step is preservation and tanning."
"After soaking in an acid bath for 72 hours and adjusting the pH to around 2.5 to disrupt the bacterial environment, a tanning paste is applied. This breaks down the protein structure through chemical bonds, transforming the raw hide into tanned hide."
"Only in this way will the hides remain soft and resistant to decay, and this state can be maintained for a hundred years."
Su Wei spoke more and more fluently, and the professional terms flowed from his mouth in a rhythmic fashion.
"The fourth step is implant refinement and fitting. The polyurethane foam implant is polished; this step determines the specimen's appearance."
"Step 5: Stitching and makeup. Use epoxy resin to reshape the eyelids and nose to restore their hydration, and use oil paint to repair faded skin."
He finished speaking in one breath.
The factory returned to quiet.
The anger on Old Hope's face completely vanished.
He put down the knife and looked at the young man with some surprise.
What you just said was well-organized and focused.
Especially the details of removing the flesh and fat while preserving the inner lip are things that many apprentices who have been in the industry for two or three years tend to overlook.
This kid definitely did his homework.
"You recited your lessons quite fluently."
Old Hope snorted, but his tone wasn't as sharp as before. "Even a fool can memorize what's in a book. But the feel for things can't be written in a book."
He turned and strode to the table in the corner piled with small animal carcasses.
"Splash."
A scalpel soaked in ice water was thrown on the table in front of Su Wei.
Water droplets splashed up.
"Since you know everything, then stop talking nonsense."
Old Hope pointed to the frozen snow hare and the mud-covered otter beside it, "Want to touch a bearskin? Sure."
"Take care of these first."
Old Hope raised his wrist and pointed to the wall clock.
It's 6:15 AM now.
Before noon.
"I want to see the complete pelts of these three animals."
Old Hope held up three fingers and waved them in front of Su Wei.
"There is only one requirement: the integrity of the pelt must be no less than 95%."
"Especially the snow hare's ears, which are made of cartilage with only a thin layer of skin; a slight tremor in the hand can easily cut through them."
"And the otter's claws—the bones have to be completely removed without breaking the skin."
This is an extremely demanding test.
Snow rabbits have skin as thin as paper and are extremely easy to damage.
Otters have extremely thick subcutaneous fat, and their skin and flesh are tightly connected, making separation extremely difficult.
For a beginner, being able to handle one a day is considered exceptionally talented.
Three in half a day, and you still need to ensure 95% integrity?
Purely making things difficult.
A wicked, smirk appeared on Old Hope's face.
He wanted to teach this arrogant brat a lesson and make him back down.
Or, perhaps, one truly wants to achieve it.
Then show us your true strength!
If it really exists.
"If you can't do it."
Old Hope leaned closer to Su Wei and lowered his voice, "Then you'd better go wash the pool properly. Even if you were introduced by that bastard Black, don't even think about touching that bearskin."
Su Wei looked down at the several cold, stiff corpses on the table.
The snow hare's white fur was stained with blood, and the otter's limbs were twisted.
Su Wei took a deep breath, his lungs filled with the smell of disinfectant.
The smell woke him up.
If he didn't take this job, he could only watch Old Hope operate from the sidelines. He might be able to gain some experience by observing, but he would definitely not be able to trigger the [ Blessing ] effect.
If he wanted the tyrant specimen that could be hung in his territory to ward off evil spirits to have special attributes, he had to cut it himself.
He must accept this test!
Chapter 136 Waltz on the Knife's Edge and Submission Under the Spatula (Please Subscribe)
The air inside the factory was thick with the smell of grease, mixed with the stench of formaldehyde and animal carcasses; an ordinary person entering would probably feel nauseous on the spot.
Su Wei, however, didn't pay much attention.
He ignored Old Hope's scrutinizing and malicious gaze, walked straight to the stainless steel workbench, and picked up the gleaming No. 4 scalpel.
His left hand gently pressed against the thawed snow hare; it was icy cold to the touch, its fur was wet, and it had a fishy, foul smell.
The moment my fingertips touched the corpse, pale blue lettering flashed across my vision.
[ Crafting Module ] Passively triggered.
The world before Su Wei's eyes had changed.
Beneath the snow rabbit's skin, the structure is revealed layer by layer, with muscle texture and fascia direction clearly discernible, and even the tiny blood vessel connections gleaming with a faint light.
This is the Touch of X-Ray Vision.
Without the slightest hesitation, Su Wei brought down the blade.
"Laugh."
A very faint sound.
The blade sliced along the midline of the inside of the hind leg without any resistance, the process was very smooth.
Old Hope leaned against the main table, toying with a boning knife in his hand, a cold smile playing on his lips.
Only he knew how tricky the question was.
Snow rabbit pelts are a nightmare for all taxidermy apprentices. The pelt is even weaker than a soaked napkin. If too much force is applied, or if the blade is deflected even slightly, it will instantly cut through the dermis.
Once it has a hole, it's no longer a specimen, but garbage.
"Kid, don't let your hand shake."
Old Hope snorted inwardly.
"The first cut is easy, but the rest are full of pitfalls."
Su Wei's hand was very steady.