"That place is completely rotten now."
The old man exhaled a puff of smoke, which was instantly dispersed by the wind.
"Recently, a lot of homeless people have been coming in from outside, as well as some drug addicts who have nowhere else to turn. They ask for low prices, but they're dishonest. Last week, Old Peter hired two people to repair the shipyard, but the next morning, all the copper cables and generators in the shipyard were gone, and the men had vanished without a trace."
Su Wei frowned. Although the security situation on Kodiak Island wasn't bad, the potential dangers brought by this transient population were indeed a big problem.
If you let such a person into your territory, that room full of guns and expensive equipment will be a ticking time bomb.
"Then where should I look for someone?"
"Don't rush."
Old Kash flicked his cigarette ash.
"If you trust me, have Aruk go around the community and give them a shout. There are quite a few young men from Alutiiq who are out of work in the winter. They may be a bit slow-witted, but they're hardworking and we know them well. As long as you pay them fairly, even if you don't pay in cash, meat will do."
That would be perfect.
Su Wei breathed a sigh of relief. This kind of employment based on clan and community ties is often more stable than a simple monetary contract.
"I will pay you 10% more than the market rate, and it will be settled daily."
Old Kash nodded in satisfaction, stubbed out his half-smoked cigarette, and carefully tucked it behind his ear.
"Let's go inside. I see that brat Aruk yelling and screaming in there again."
The two pushed open the door and entered the house. The atmosphere in the living room was even more lively than before.
Isaac and Lily were lying on the carpet, their eyes fixed on the old television.
Aruk, holding a handful of sunflower seeds, was excitedly pointing at the screen, spitting as he spoke.
"Look! Right here! That strike was absolutely divine!"
Su Wei changed his shoes and walked over. A high-definition outdoor program was playing on the television screen.
The camera was shaking violently, with a desolate gravel beach in the background, and the wind was howling through the microphone.
In the center of the image, a man wearing a tattered reindeer skin coat is squatting next to a musk ox that has just collapsed.
He had no modern firearms, only a homemade spear and a hunting knife.
The man turned around; his face was gaunt and withered from long periods of wilderness survival, and ice crystals clung to his beard, but his eyes shone with an eerie light.
Su Wei abruptly stopped in her tracks, her hand that was about to grab the water glass.
He knew that face all too well. Although it was younger and wilder, the contours, the faint scar across the brow bone, were unmistakable.
It's Black.
"This is the most awesome scene in season seven of ' Alone '!"
Aruk shouted excitedly when he saw Su Wei approaching.
"Uncle Black killed a musk ox in the 100-Day Challenge with just a knife! The other contestants that season were practically on a spring outing; they all withdrew before the snow even came."
Su Wei stared at the screen.
A caption appeared at the bottom of the screen: [Day 86, Contestant Black Anderson successfully hunted a large musk ox, food reserves: sufficient.]
Su Wei was stunned.
In his memory, the champion of the seventh season of " Alone " in his previous life should have been a ruthless person named Roland, who also participated in the 100-day challenge and hunted musk oxen.
But in this world, the one who accomplished all of this became Black.
The silent mentor who was usually so strict with him, almost to the point of being abnormal, teaching him how to tell the wind direction and how to cover up his smell, turned out to be the million-dollar prize winner of the world's most popular survival show.
No wonder...
Su Wei muttered to himself.
No wonder Black knew every detail about polar survival.
No wonder his room was always filled with all sorts of strange and primitive tools.
"Is this show very popular right now?"
Su Wei sat down on the armrest of the sofa and asked a question.
"Fire? That's incredibly hot!"
Aruk spat the sunflower seed shells into his palm.
"Tens of millions of people around the world are watching. I heard the prize money for next season has increased to one million US dollars. What? Are you tempted too?"
Aruk chuckled and looked Su Wei up and down.
"With your skills and your current marksmanship, you're sure to place. However, you can't bring guns; you can only bring ten tools."
One million US dollars.
The number flashed through Su Wei's mind for a moment before being dismissed.
For him, who wanted to build a top-tier estate, this amount of money was just the cost of building a helipad.
Moreover, they would have to endure three months of hardship in the wild and sign a series of harsh agreements.
This is not the path he wants.
Su Wei watched the TV screen as the program switched to highlights of the season.
The comments and bullet screen messages scrolled rapidly at the bottom of the screen.
[This is a real man!]
[This swordsmanship is so relaxing, I've watched it a hundred times.]
Where can I buy the same knife he uses?
[This kind of wilderness life is so enviable, although I only dare to look at it on screen.]
Su Wei's gaze was fixed on the comments, and an idea grew wildly in his mind like weeds.
People yearn for the wilderness, for that primitive, powerful way of life.
Black became famous by appearing on television shows, but that was just a money-making tool for the TV station.
What if... I made it myself?
Su Wei's fingers unconsciously stroked his chin.
He has unique advantages.
He lives in real Alaska. He has a system-enhanced hunting skill that allows him to find giant beasts that others cannot.
He has top-notch Cooking, capable of turning bloody prey into tempting delicacies.
He also has an Asian face that would be considered quite handsome even in Hollywood.
Instead of participating in that dependent program, why not create your own channel?
In this era of exploding short videos, traffic equals cash flow.
He quickly constructed a business model in his mind. In the early stages, he would build a following through hunting and food videos. In the mid-term, he would take on advertising orders for outdoor equipment.
Later on, after he established his persona as a "top hunter" and "wilderness guide" online, wealthy people who craved thrills naturally came knocking on his door.
At that time, his estate will no longer be a simple residence, but a world-class high-end hunting club.
That's the real gold mine.
" Aruk."
Su Wei suddenly spoke.
"What's wrong?"
Aruk was engrossed in watching and didn't even turn his head.
Do you still have your old GoPro action camera?
"Yeah, it's just gathering dust in the shipyard. Do you need it?"
Aruk turned his head, somewhat puzzled.
"I want to take some photos."
Su Wei stood up and stretched his stiff neck.
"Shoot something different."
It's getting late.
Su Wei glanced at the wall clock; it was almost nine o'clock.
"I have to go back."
Martha was just coming out of the kitchen, carrying two huge insulated containers and a net bag of frozen venison.
"Leaving already? Not staying at home for the night?"
"No, I still have a lot of things to take care of."
Su Wei accepted the heavy load of food.
Martha, Aunt Martha.