"Bring your pickup over," Su Wei said bluntly.
"My truck can't fit it all."
"All right, all right! I'll be there right-"
"Six this evening," Su Wei said, setting the time. "Be at my cabin on time. If you're late, don't bother coming."
"Why six? I can come right-"
"Because I'm only just heading back from town, Jack." Su Wei frowned at the car turning around in front of him. "And I need time to prepare. My time is valuable."
He paused, then added, "This is just a transaction. There's no dinner at my place, and I don't have any spare chairs."
Those words reminded Old Jack of his last visit to Su Wei's home.
He remembered how he'd made himself at home without the slightest courtesy, and how he'd said, "For your dead father's sake," as though he were giving Su Wei charity.
Now, the tables had completely turned.
Old Jack's weathered face flushed scarlet. He opened his mouth, then finally forced out through clenched teeth, "Fine! You've got some nerve, kid! You're a thoroughly pathetic cheapskate!"
"I, Old Jack, have never begrudged you a bite to eat!"
He cursed aloud, but he knew perfectly well in his heart.
This kid was no longer the pushover he could squeeze however he pleased.
Now Su Wei was the seller holding a precious treasure, while he himself was the buyer begging for a share of the pie.
"Six it is! I'll be there on time! Those things you mentioned had better all be there, or else..."
"All you need to do is bring the money."
With that, Su Wei hung up, unwilling to listen to any more of Old Jack's threats.
Silence returned to the cab.
Su Wei tossed his phone onto the passenger seat and looked at the road ahead, illuminated by the headlights.
A debt of $160,000 still weighed on him.
Now, at last, he had found his first opening.
That greedy fellow Old Jack was the best tool for the job.
The pickup rolled over the snow, its engine roaring far into the dusk as it headed toward the cabin by the lake.
There, Su Wei would make his second fortune.
And all of it had been bestowed by the mountains.
Chapter 32: A Shocked Old Jack
The old Dodge pickup cut two tracks through the snow and stopped in front of the cabin.
Su Wei shut off the engine and pulled out the key. The commotion stopped abruptly, leaving only the rustle of wind and snow against the windows.
He pushed open the door, and the cold wind, carrying a woody scent, rushed into his lungs.
Cotton Candy had long since run out of patience in the passenger seat. Before Su Wei could say a word, the fox darted past his feet in a white blur and raced straight to the cabin door, scratching anxiously at the heavy wooden door with little paws.
Su Wei got out and smiled as he gave Cotton Candy a little squeeze on the scruff of the neck.
Cotton Candy let out an "Awoo," and the big, fluffy tail swept across Su Wei's arm.
He patted Cotton Candy on the head, then took the key from his pocket and unlocked the door.
The moment he grasped the handle and pushed open the door to his home, warmth enveloped him.
[Life Module LV2 active...] [Fatigue Removal: Physical stamina recovery speed increased by 15%, mental fatigue removal speed increased by 15%...]
Almost at once, the weariness from rushing around all day and the aches from a poor night's rest eased considerably.
This was what home felt like.
This was also the power of the module.
"Awoo! Awoooo!"
Cotton Candy circled his legs, rubbing a little head against his pant legs over and over, tail wagging furiously.
Right now, Cotton Candy looked less like a little fox than a puppy.
A distinct feeling reached Su Wei's mind through the Beast Language effect of the Beast Taming Module.
Hungry.
Very hungry.
Hungry enough to gnaw on a table leg.
The corners of Su Wei's mouth lifted. He kicked off his boots, soaked with melted snow, and casually draped his wet clothes over the rack by the door.
"I know, I know. Your stomach's the precious one."
Then again, apart from a meal that morning,
Cotton Candy hadn't eaten anything since.
He went into the kitchen and took a steak from the freezer.
Under Cotton Candy's eager gaze, Su Wei cut the beef into small pieces and, without adding any seasoning, blanched it in hot water to remove the blood and raw odor.
The aroma of meat instantly filled the air.
Cotton Candy was practically drooling, circling Su Wei's feet nonstop and making little whimpering noises.
Su Wei put the warm pieces of meat into Cotton Candy's own food bowl.
"Eat up, you little glutton."
Cotton Candy immediately buried a head in the food, the little body trembling slightly from the force of chewing. The smacking sounds were clear in the quiet cabin.
Seeing how content Cotton Candy was, Su Wei felt hungry himself.
He put on a kettle of water, planning to make himself a quick meal of instant pasta while he thought about how to deal with that old fox Old Jack later.
He had to drive up the price. With a $160,000 debt, every extra cent brought him one step closer to his goal.
The water hadn't boiled yet.
"Beep, beeeeeep! Beeeeeep!"
Outside, a shrill horn shattered the peace.
Speak of the devil.
Old Jack had arrived.
Su Wei put down the kettle, setting aside thoughts of eating for the moment.
He walked to the door, and just as he put his hand on the handle, he heard a car door slam hard outside, followed by hurried footsteps.
The next second, pounding sounded on the door.
Su Wei pulled it open.
A short, stout figure stood on the doorstep: Old Jack.
He wore an ill-fitting heavy coat and a deerstalker on his head. His face was red from the cold wind, and he was breathing hard.
The black Ford Raptor pickup he had driven over was parked beside Su Wei's Dodge.
Its enormous body was imposing, and its headlights were still on.
"Kid! Where is it?!"
The moment Old Jack saw Su Wei, he blurted out the question. His eyes flashed with undisguised greed, and he tried to squeeze into the house as he spoke.
Su Wei didn't move, blocking the doorway with his body.
"What's the rush, Jack?"
He looked at the other man calmly.
Being blocked like that made Old Jack even angrier, but at the thought of the legendary devil's claw, he could only force his temper down.
He rubbed his hands together and turned halfway around on the spot in his impatience.
"How could I not be in a rush?! Do you know what you said on the phone? Devil's claw! Wild! Kid, if this stuff is real, there's hope for your debt this month! Take me to see it, quick!"
His spittle nearly sprayed Su Wei's face.
Su Wei stepped aside to let him through, but didn't lead him into the warm living room.
"Follow me."
He put his boots back on and headed toward the garage beside the cabin.
Old Jack froze for a moment. He looked at Su Wei's retreating figure, then at Cotton Candy, who had a head buried in the food inside, and at the warm fireplace. He muttered discontentedly.
"Cheapskate..."
But he still hurried after him at once, jogging through the snow with uneven steps.
The garage was piled full of odds and ends.