The neatly parked excavators of various colors, huge generator sets, and all kinds of agricultural machinery resemble silent steel creations.
The shop assistant was a chubby man in a neat uniform, sitting behind the counter eating a donut, with sugar smeared on his lips.
"Birch syrup equipment?"
After listening to Su Wei's request, the fat man wiped his mouth and began typing rapidly on the keyboard.
"Dude, you've come just in time."
He turned the screen around, and it displayed a set of inventory data.
"We just received a shipment from Anchorage. It was originally intended for a large maple syrup farm there, but due to the economic downturn, they went bankrupt."
The fat man pointed to the devices on the screen that gleamed with a metallic sheen.
"Complete rental. Includes a high-power vacuum pump station, a dual-membrane RO machine with a daily processing capacity of 1000 gallons, and an 80% new fuel evaporator. Although it's second-hand, I've inspected it and it's maintained like new."
How much is the rent?
Su Wei got straight to the point, tapping lightly on the counter with his fingers.
"If you're only renting it for one month, it'll be about $5,500. The deposit is separate. If you're buying a new set, this whole thing will cost at least $40,000. So, can you do the math?"
$5,500. This figure fell precisely at the lower end of Su Wei's psychological budget.
Rather than buying, Su Wei preferred to rent one first to try it out.
This is his first attempt at collecting and making birch syrup, and the specifics, including the potential profits, are still uncertain.
It would be better to rent equipment first to reduce costs, so that even if he fails, he can bear the consequences.
With that thought in mind, Su Wei made his decision.
"Deal. I'll reserve one set. It will be ready for use in early March next year."
"No problem, just pay a 500 yuan deposit first, and we'll deliver it to your door and send a technician to teach you how to connect the pipes."
"No problem, but I'd like to check out the equipment first."
"Come with me."
The fat man picked up the unfinished donut from the table, pushed open the door, and walked outside.
Su Wei followed behind, all the way to the door of a warehouse.
The fat man ate the last bite of the donut in one gulp, licked his fingers back and forth, and casually wiped them on his work clothes.
I pushed open the door and entered.
"You can see for yourself where it is. These are the equipment that will be delivered to your land later; feel free to inspect them."
The fat man pointed to the equipment inside, which was covered by a waterproof sheet, and spoke.
Su Wei walked up and yanked off the waterproof tarpaulin.
A complete set of birch syrup collection and refining equipment sits quietly here.
After a careful examination, Su Wei determined that the problem was not serious.
His mechanical skills allowed him to easily understand how these devices were used.
Indeed, as the fat man said, it's a pretty good set of equipment.
"Let's pay the deposit."
Su Wei put down the waterproof tarpaulin and turned to look at the fat man.
The fat man nodded and led Su Wei back.
With the equipment sorted out, Su Wei felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.
He walked out of the rental shop with the receipt in his hand and lit a cigarette in the cold wind.
The remaining challenge is people.
Since the labor market is unreliable, the only option left is the most basic but stable network of personal connections.
Su Wei exhaled a puff of white smoke, watching it dissipate in the cold wind, and the image of Aruk's honest face appeared in his mind.
Although the Alutiiq people community is hostile to outsiders, it is extremely united internally.
If Uncle Kash acts as guarantor, finding a few reliable and hardworking tribesmen shouldn't be difficult.
Moreover, Su Wei was more inclined to believe the natives who had lived on the island for generations than the group of homeless people.
They may not understand complex mechanical principles, but their physical fitness is unquestionable.
As for how to do it, it's actually not difficult.
Su Wei only needed to give the training once; what he valued more was the other person's honesty and competence.
People who belong to the same community as Aruk carry the unique ties of that local community.
This means they can be WeChat.
"I'll buy two bottles of good wine later and then go to Aruk's house again."
Su Wei stubbed out his cigarette, carefully tossed the butt into a roadside trash can, and turned to get into his car.
On the way back, the weather was a bit gloomy.
Thick, leaden-gray clouds pressed down on the distant snow-capped mountains, seemingly brewing another blizzard.
Just as the Raptor entered the gravel road leading to its territory, the cell phone on the passenger seat vibrated.
Su Wei glanced at the caller ID: Matt.
The construction contractor who promised to start work this week.
Su Wei pressed the answer button, and a burst of noisy background noise immediately came through the car's Bluetooth.
The roar of heavy-duty diesel engines and the creaking of metal tracks grinding against the ground.
"Hey! Su Wei! Tell me, have you cleared that damn road of yours?"
Matt's voice was loud, with a strong nasal tone and barely concealed excitement.
"The road conditions are alright; as long as your truck isn't one of those old relics from World War II, you should be able to get in."
Su Wei gripped the steering wheel and casually retorted, but her mood lifted slightly because of the phone call.
"Ha! Don't worry, I brought some big stuff this time."
Matt burst out laughing.
"Listen, buddy. My construction crew and I are on our way. Two Volvo excavators, a bulldozer, and a whole convoy of building materials."
"We will arrive at the entrance to your territory at six o'clock tomorrow morning."
Su Wei's fingers unconsciously tapped the steering wheel twice.
So fast?
I thought you'd wait until next week.
"That was originally the case. But the weather forecast says there will be a heavy snowstorm next week that will close the mountain roads. I want to take advantage of the slight warming up these next few days to dig the foundation pit and pour the concrete. As long as the foundation is in place, we can still erect the scaffolding even when it snows later."
Matt paused, his voice carrying the fervor characteristic of a construction worker starting a project.
" Su Wei, get your checkbook ready. When the sun rises tomorrow, your wasteland will begin to bleed."
"I mean, Flowing Gold Coin. We're going to start construction on your crazy exhibition hall."
Su Wei stepped on the gas, Raptor's engine roared in response, accelerating up a steep slope.
The view ahead suddenly opened up.
Emerald Lake in the distance is covered with a thin layer of ice, like a giant piece of frosted glass. The birch forest on the shore sways in the wind, awaiting its upcoming transformation.
"Come on, Matt."
Su Wei looked at the white Starlink antenna on the roof of the wooden house in the distance, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
"I am ready."
Chapter 150 Ambition Beneath the Frozen Soil, Borrowing a Ray of Light from Heaven
At six in the morning, the horizon was just beginning to show a hint of iron gray.
The silence of Pilan Creek Valley was shattered by a deep rumble.
The detonation of the heavy-duty diesel engine, mixed with the crunching of the metal tracks crushing the frozen ground, made the air throughout the territory vibrate.
Two Volvo EC480 large excavators, belching black smoke, slowly drove into the designated open space by Emerald Lake.
Following closely behind was a D8 bulldozer, its blade raised high, its yellow paint reflecting a cold light under the headlights.
Su Wei pushed open the heavy oak door of the cabin and wrapped his down jacket tighter around himself.
The Cotton Candy was so frightened by the loud noise that it had already crawled into the gap under the sofa and wouldn't come out no matter how much it was called.
A cold wind, carrying the smell of diesel fuel, swept over us.
Matt jumped out of the driver's seat of the first pickup truck.
He was wearing an orange reflective vest stained with oil and mud, a badly worn yellow hard hat, and had an unlit cigar in his mouth.
Good morning, Su Wei.