The two children cheered and stuck out their forks.
Su Wei first served a bowl of venison soup. The venison had a unique aroma, and the potatoes had completely absorbed the meat's oil, melting in the mouth.
He took a bite of the snow crab.
Martha was also watching this plate nervously.
Su Wei peeled open a crab leg, and the smooth, white crab meat inside bounced out like a plump piece of jelly.
An intense sweetness explodes on the tongue, followed by the creamy aroma of butter and the refreshing tartness of lemon.
"How about it?"
Martha couldn't wait to ask a question.
Isaac had already started wolfing down his food, demonstrating his answer through his actions.
"This is the best crab I've ever eaten!"
The boy called out indistinctly.
Martha tasted a piece herself, then patted Su Wei's hand with a smile.
" Su Wei, it seems you're not only a good shot, but you're also quite skilled in the kitchen."
Su Wei took a sip of the hot soup and felt the Warm Current current slide into her stomach.
Sitting in a warm room, eating with people he knew, completely relaxed his tense nerves.
No one here concealed their desire for food; Aruk was struggling with a large crab leg, while Old Kash leisurely sipped his wine.
This pure family atmosphere was something Su Wei could never experience in the wooden house at the Pillar Mountain.
Halfway through dinner, Old Kash put down his wine glass, the aluminum base of which bumped against the wooden table.
The sound wasn't loud, but the previously noisy Aruk immediately quieted down.
"What do you think of the list Laurent gave you?"
Old Kash's voice was low, with a weathered, hoarse tone.
Su Wei put down the fork in his hand.
He quickly reviewed Laurent's requirements in his mind: two weeks, a large brown bear weighing over 400 kilograms, and the timing when a blizzard was about to block the mountain ridge.
"He's pushing the limits of hunters, and he's also taking advantage of the recent extreme weather."
Su Wei gave a simple characterization.
Old Kash nodded.
"That bear isn't one you can just find anywhere. Anyone who doesn't hibernate in their den at a time like this is a formidable opponent."
"They need a lot of fat to withstand the coming cold, so they are very irritable right now."
The old man leaned forward, his gaze passing over the bonsai on the table.
"If you need help, I can have Aruk take a few trained hunting dogs over. They might not be able to surround the guy directly, but at least they can give you a heads-up."
Aruk, who was standing to the side, stopped chewing and looked at Su Wei expectantly.
Su Wei remained silent for a moment.
He had planned this operation very carefully beforehand.
He planned to go alone.
If he really intends to become a high-end hunting guide in the future.
Therefore, proving one's ability to hunt alone is essential.
Moreover, this was also key to helping him build his fame.
Only by building a reputation can he let more people know about him, especially wealthy people who have already experienced too much and want to try the wild.
His previous King of the Island had given him initial fame.
But that's not enough, far from enough.
I want to try it alone.
Su Wei's voice was calm.
Aruk froze, nearly spitting out the cod he hadn't yet swallowed.
"Are you crazy? Su Wei, that's a brown bear! Brown bears will actively track humans at this time of year!"
Martha also looked worried, and her hand holding the spoon froze in mid-air.
Su Wei shook his head.
" Aruk, you have your fishing boat, and your future goal is to become the strongest captain in these waters. You will face storms and reefs."
He turned to look at Old Kash.
"But I chose the mountains."
"I want to establish a high-end hunting club. Before that, I must prove that I have the ability to handle any unexpected situation independently."
"Bringing hunting dogs or companions would certainly increase the success rate, but it would also diminish my bargaining power with Laurent."
Old Kash stared at Su Wei as if he were meeting his old friend's son for the first time. He picked up his glass and drank it all in one gulp.
"Since you've made up your mind, I won't stop you."
"But remember, there's a natural cliff on the north slope of that area. There's a creature there with a missing piece of its right ear."
"Its weight is definitely over four hundred kilograms. That's the kind of stuff Laurent wants most, and one of the most dangerous bastards on the island."
"It doesn't like fire, nor is it afraid of gunfire. If you encounter it and your first shot misses its central nervous system, run immediately."
Su Wei silently memorized this information. He could sense the goodwill of this veteran hunter, Old Kash.
Time flies after dinner.
Aruk took his younger siblings to the living room to play cards, and the house was filled with the children's laughter.
Su Wei helped Martha clear away the dishes and refused her offer to let him stay overnight.
He pushed open the door and walked into the porch; the cold wind immediately cut his skin like a knife.
The sound of a wooden door opening came from behind me.
Old Kash, wearing a heavy leather vest, came out and stood beside Su Wei.
Two men leaned side by side against the wooden armrest, gazing at the dark, primeval forest in the distance.
The wind and snow swirled wildly under the streetlights.
"When your father passed away, he was always worried about not being able to leave you a decent estate."
Old Kash slowly opened his mouth, and white smoke billowed out, instantly torn apart by the wind.
"He's too soft-hearted. He always tries to take care of everyone, and in the end, he traps himself in his own misery."
Su Wei didn't reply; he just stared into the distance.
You are different.
Old Kash turned around and patted Su Wei's shoulder heavily with his rough, tree-bark-like hand.
"You have a plan in mind, and you're more clear-headed than any of us."
"It's a blessing for Aruk to follow you. He's strong, but not very bright; please bear with him."
Su Wei felt the weight on his shoulder; it was a heavy entrustment.
"We're brothers, Uncle Kash."
This was the first time Su Wei used this title.
Old Kash let out a low laugh, seemingly quite satisfied.
"You are a good boy, Su Wei. You will be your father's pride."
"Thank you, Uncle Kash."
"It may be presumptuous of me, but I do need some extra manpower."
Su Wei smiled and thanked him, then after a moment of silence, steered the conversation back to the practical issues.
He tapped a cigarette out of the pack and handed it to the old man next to him.
"It's not for hunting, it's for that birch forest. I'd like to try collecting some sap there in the spring."
Old Kash took the cigarette, held it between his rough knuckles, and didn't light it immediately.
He turned his head and glanced at Su Wei in the dim light of the porch.
"You want to make birch syrup? That stuff is a physically demanding and meticulous job. You couldn't collect more than a few gallons by yourself, even if you worked yourself to death."
"So I'd like to go check out the labor market on the east side of town."
Su Wei struck a match, cupped the flame in his hands, and brought it closer.
Don't go.
Old Kash leaned closer to the flame and took a puff; the red light flickered on and off on his wrinkled face.