Su Wei raised his head, meeting Old Hope's fierce gaze, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
What if I memorize it all?
Old Hope paused for a moment, then grinned, revealing two large, yellowed teeth, and smiled like an old fox who had just spotted a chicken.
"Then you're qualified to touch that bearskin."
Chapter 138 Exhibition Hall Planning and the Upcoming Bearskin Processing
Su Wei, carrying the notebook that smelled of oil and chemicals, got into the driver's seat of the Raptor pickup truck.
The moment the car door closed, it shut out the howling cold wind outside the factory, and it also shut out Old Hope's sharp gaze.
He did not start the car immediately.
He placed the heavy leather notebook on the passenger seat, his fingertips lightly tracing the cover.
It feels hard and greasy to the touch.
On the system panel, the golden progress bar was moving forward at a frustratingly slow pace.
[Analyzing the advanced skill book: Hopkins ' Tanning Recipe and Muscle Remodeling Method... Analysis progress 2%...]
This thing is harder to chew than I imagined.
He leaned back in his chair, having spent four hours piecing together bones with intense concentration. Now that he was relaxing, his whole body started to ache, and his eyelids drooped.
But he was secretly excited.
This notebook is the culmination of Old Hope's life's work, a treasure that even museums would envy.
Once you learn it, the bear king and the antlers can be preserved forever in a perfect way.
Thinking about this, my fatigue lessened a bit.
Su Wei turned the key, the engine roared, and the black Raptor turned around and drove into the night, heading towards Pilan Creek.
Halfway through the journey, the vibration of my phone broke the silence in the carriage.
It's Matt.
The project manager of Polar Strong Shield.
Su Wei put on his Bluetooth headset and answered the phone.
Good evening, Mr. Su Wei. Hope I haven't disturbed you?
Matt's gruff voice came through the headphones.
"Hi, Matt. No, I'm driving home. Did Aruk tell you about the exploration?"
Su Wei asked while keeping his eyes on the road.
"I told you, your friend was very responsible. He walked over those hundred acres of land three times, practically digging three feet into the ground."
Matt chuckled, then changed the subject and became serious.
"We've conducted preliminary exploration and sampling of the foundation, and the situation... is fairly good, but there are still some problems."
"Trouble?"
Su Wei's heart skipped a beat.
"Yes. The surface soil is very stable, a mixture of high-quality black calcareous soil and gravel, so there's no problem with its load-bearing capacity. But as your friend said, your plot is right next to Pilan Creek and Emerald Lake. We scanned it with ground-penetrating radar and found that the groundwater system is more abundant than expected."
Matt's voice sounded more professional.
"This means that the waterproofing and damp-proofing of the foundation must be done to the highest standards. Especially during the spring snowmelt, when the groundwater level rises, if not handled properly, the entire foundation will be submerged. This will increase costs; I estimate that the cost of foundation treatment alone may be 30,000 to 50,000 US dollars higher than originally planned."
This is another considerable expense.
However, Su Wei had anticipated this.
"Money is no problem, Matt. I only have one requirement: it must be sturdy and secure."
"I'm relieved to hear that."
Matt was clearly very satisfied with the answer.
"So, do you have any preliminary plans regarding the specific construction ideas for the house? For example, the number of rooms, the overall style, and... the division of functional areas."
Functional areas.
Su Wei had already considered this problem countless times in his mind when he bought those eighty acres of land.
What he wanted was never just a wooden house to shelter him from the wind and rain.
My thoughts might be a little complicated.
Su Wei slowed down the car and organized his thoughts.
"First, I need a large independent studio."
"Studio?"
"Yes. It must be large enough, at least 200 square meters, with a ceiling height of over five meters. The interior needs to be divided into several functional areas: one for handling large game and making specimens, requiring an independent ventilation and sewage system; one for woodworking, housing various cutting and sanding equipment; and another, a Mechanical Repair area, for which I need a car lift and a full set of repair tools."
Matt remained silent on the other end of the phone.
This is no longer a typical home studio; it sounds more like a small factory.
Su Wei did not stop.
"Secondly, I need a large garage that can park three full-size pickup trucks side by side, with a separate storage room for hunting equipment and outdoor gear."
"Then, there is a separate exhibition hall."
Su Wei's voice was calm.
"This exhibition hall needs bulletproof glass and a temperature and humidity control system. I have some very valuable war trophies that require a sufficiently safe and professional space to display."
That bear king specimen, and the crown antlers.
They deserve a temple.
"Finally, there's the log cabin I'll be living in. Two or three stories will suffice, but I want it to have good heating, a water purification system, and a comfortable living experience."
Su Wei finished speaking in one breath, and only the roar of the engine remained in the carriage.
On the other end of the phone, Matt seemed to be processing his words.
It took him a good ten seconds to finally let out a long breath.
"Mr. Su Wei... you're planning to build a manor?"
Matt changed his word choice from "house" to "manor".
"This is definitely a massive project. Frankly, given the winter construction conditions on Kodiak Island, it's virtually impossible to complete any of the things you mentioned before spring."
"Why?"
"Dangerous, and extremely inefficient."
Matt explained.
"The frozen soil layer in winter is as hard as iron, making excavation work more than five times that of summer. Moreover, the extremely low temperatures pose significant challenges to the setting and curing of concrete. Most importantly, heavy snow can close roads at any time, preventing the delivery of building materials and potentially trapping workers. If construction is forced to proceed, not only will costs double, but the quality cannot be guaranteed."
Matt paused for a moment before giving his final conclusion.
"If you insist on this plan, I suggest waiting until next March or even April, when temperatures rise and the permafrost begins to thaw, before we can begin large-scale construction. At that time, we can mobilize construction teams and complete all the main buildings before winter."
Next April?
That's about half a year left.
Su Wei glanced out the car window; the old wooden house stood tall amidst the wind and snow.
He didn't want to make do here for another six months.
That bear skin and those antlers both need a place to be stored.
" Matt, I understand your professional judgment."
Su Wei asked.
"But what if we scale up our plans a bit? Could we just rebuild the wooden house I live in this winter?"
"Just rebuilding the wooden house?"
Matt thought for a few seconds.
"If it's just renovation and interior decoration on the existing foundation, that's fine; it can be done in two months. But if you want to tear down the whole old wooden house, rebuild the foundation, and construct a new one... then the construction period will be much longer, most likely until spring."
Overturn and rebuild.
This was Su Wei's only thought.
The structure of this wooden house is old and minor repairs cannot solve the fundamental problem.
He fell into a brief silence.
Do we really have to endure this wretched place for another few months?
The car had already entered the land Pilan Creek, and the lights from the wooden house ahead shone with a faint warmth in the wind and snow.
That 600-kilogram bear king, when it stood up, was taller than the second floor of this wooden house.
And that crown and antlers set—it takes an entire wall to display it.