A thought suddenly flashed through my mind.
" Matt."
Su Wei spoke.
"Since rebuilding the wooden house isn't feasible, then... how about just building the exhibition hall?"
"Just build an exhibition hall?"
"Right."
Su Wei's thoughts instantly became clear.
"The structure of the exhibition hall is relatively simple; it's just a large space, and the requirements for internal piping are not as complex as those for a wooden cabin. Can it be completed this winter?"
Matt on the other end of the phone seemed taken aback by this reverse thinking.
Clients usually build the land first; who builds an exhibition hall first?
But he quickly realized what was happening.
"If it's just a museum... that's fine."
Matt's voice became more assertive.
"We can use prefabricated steel structures and modular walls, completing most of the fabrication in the factory. On-site work only requires foundation treatment and hoisting and assembly. This will minimize outdoor construction time, allowing us to complete the main structure and external enclosure before heavy snow closes the mountain passes. The remaining interior decoration can be done indoors during the winter."
"This plan is feasible."
Finally, some good news.
That's great.
Su Wei breathed a sigh of relief.
"Stylistically, I want it to look like a traditional Alaska hunting lodge on the outside—rugged, primitive, and able to blend into the surrounding environment. But inside, it needs to have museum-level security and exhibition facilities."
"I understand, it's a design philosophy of understated exterior and luxurious interior."
Matt understood immediately.
"Our company has several very mature, top-tier private showroom design plans. Here's what we'll do: let me add your contact information and I'll send you the electronic version of the design catalog shortly. Take a look first, and if you like any of the styles, we can discuss the details."
"Good."
"That's all for now, Mr. Su Wei. I look forward to our cooperation."
After hanging up the phone, the Raptor pickup truck happened to stop in front of the cabin.
Su Wei pushed open the door and got out of the car; warm air squeezed out from the crack in the door.
He closed the door behind him, shutting out the chill from outside.
The next second, a furry white figure crashed into his arms, making a pitiful whimpering sound.
"Okay, okay, I'm back."
Su Wei rubbed the little fox's thick fur, and the fatigue of the day dissipated considerably.
He took out the half-eaten sandwich he had left over from the daytime from his backpack, tore off a small piece of beef, and offered it to Cotton Candy's mouth.
The little guy immediately grabbed it, its tail wagging excitedly.
Su Wei simply made herself a bowl of noodles, added two poached eggs and a few slices of luncheon meat. After the piping hot soup went down her throat, Su Wei felt her frozen limbs finally regain feeling.
After finishing the beef, Cotton Candy curled up at his feet, resting her head on his slippers, and soon began to breathe evenly.
The crackling flames in the fireplace bathed the entire living room in a warm orange glow.
I've finished a quick wash.
Su Wei did not turn on the main light, but left only a dim floor lamp on.
He nestled on the sofa, his black leather notebook spread out on his lap.
He turned to the first page.
Hopkins ' tanning formula and muscle rebuilding method.
The handwriting is unrestrained and powerful.
The hand-drawn anatomical diagrams beside it are extremely detailed, with every muscle fiber and blood vessel clearly depicted.
Su Wei's fingers gently brushed across the paper.
The system panel lights up at the same time.
[High-level skill book detected: Hopkins's Notes) ]
[Parsing... Parsing progress 10%... 25%...]
As his gaze swept across the lines of text, the progress bar advanced rapidly.
"... For North America gray wolf pelts, the density of hair follicles differs between spring and autumn, so the tallow content in the tanning solution formula needs to fluctuate by about 3.5%..."
"... The ratio of alum to salt is the core of the tanning process, but adding trace amounts of formaldehyde can greatly improve the flexibility of the leather and prevent it from cracking later..."
"... Sea mammal hides, such as sea otter and seal hides, naturally contain high levels of salt and oil, and must first undergo degreasing soaking; otherwise, the tanning solution cannot penetrate..."
This knowledge is obscure and technical, full of chemical terms and complex processes.
However, with the support of the Crafting Module, this knowledge was clearly imprinted in Su Wei's mind.
He could imagine Old Hope experimenting repeatedly to achieve even a difference of 0.1 percent in the proportions.
[Parsing progress 100%]
[Analysis complete.]
[Your branch skill, Preservation Treatment, has gained a massive amount of experience.]
[ Preservation Treatment LV1→ LV2(0/300).]
[Enhanced Effects: You have mastered the intermediate chemical tanning method, capable of processing over 30 types of animal hides. Preservative shelf life extended by 25%, hide flexibility increased by 15%.]
[You have obtained the following recipe:]
[Formula: Basic alum tanning solution]
[Formula: High-efficiency acid pickling and degreasing solution]
[Formula: Color-Retaining Softener for Small Mammals]
[...]
A series of system notifications flashed before my eyes.
Su Wei felt as if his brain had been forcibly filled with the information of an entire library, making him feel somewhat bloated, but more than that, he felt a sense of fulfillment.
His previous understanding of specimen preparation was merely a superficial level, involving skinning, removing flesh, and preservation.
This notebook opened a door to a new world for him.
As Su Wei looked at the contents of his notes, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier without him even realizing it.
The handwriting and anatomical diagrams became blurry before his eyes.
He slumped onto the sofa and fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, just as dawn was breaking.
Su Wei was awakened by the cold.
He found himself still in the same position as last night, the blanket on his body had slipped off at some point, and the fire in the fireplace had long since gone out.
The Cotton Candy had somehow climbed onto his stomach, curled up into a white ball of fluff, and was fast asleep.
He glanced at the time: 4:30.
It's too late.
Su Wei quickly got up, washed up briefly, and prepared food for Cotton Candy for the day.
He grabbed two slices of bread, stuffed them into his mouth, and hurriedly rushed into the still-lingering night.
When he pushed open the familiar iron gate of the red brick factory, Old Hope was already sitting on the high stool, still holding a steaming cup of black coffee.
That familiar smell, a mixture of the stench of corpses and chemical agents, wafted towards me.
"You're three minutes late."
Old Hope didn't even look up, his voice hoarse and displeased.
The snow on the road is too thick.
Su Wei explained as he took off his coat.
That's your problem, not mine.
Old Hope took a sip of coffee and finally raised his cloudy eyes.
"Have you read the notes?"
"I saw it."
"You memorized it?"