King of the Wilderness

Chapter 112: Chapter 107: Wiseman Village Guardian

”What is this?”

”A self-heating hotpot from China, it can heat up without a fire.”

This fireless heating feature immediately piqued Stan’s interest.

Lin Yu’an tore open the packaging, poured the water from the water bag into the heating pack, and soon the strong aroma of oily beef and spicy flavors filled the cold air!

Stan’s nose twitched, his eyes lighting up.

Once it was confirmed edible, he couldn’t wait to take a bite. It was something he had never tasted in his life! Clearly, he fell in love with the taste.

Lin Yu’an took out a bottle of Wuliangye without a luxurious package from another box, unscrewed the cap, and poured a cup for each of them in stainless steel cups.

”Try this, the flame from China.”

Stan raised the cup, imitating Lin Yu’an, and gulped it down in one go!

The fiery liquid slid down his throat into his stomach, instantly turning his weathered face red and making him let out a refreshing sigh.

”No wonder it’s called the flame! It’s really like swallowing a fire!” Stan praised sincerely.

The two of them had the hot, spicy self-heating hotpot alongside the over fifty-degree strong liquor, sitting silently by the bonfire.

The alcohol and the heat quickly dispelled their fatigue and opened the conversation.

”Kid, you went through all this trouble to settle in a godforsaken place like this, what’s the point?”

Lin Yu’an took a sip of the liquor and slowly began.

”I might not have been able to answer you before, but now it’s for psychological freedom.”

Lin Yu’an watched the flickering flames and calmly continued, ”After participating in ’Alone in the Wilderness,’ I was afraid that everything I had was just a dream. Instead of worrying about gains and losses, it’s better to live earnestly.”

”If we abandon the desires constructed by capitalists, shouldn’t human life be about eating one’s fill, wearing warmth, reproducing, and watching one’s offspring grow?”

”What I want now is a life where no one disturbs me, where I can record my life and share it with others, hoping to provide them with some healing strength.”

Stan nodded, seemingly understanding this concept.

He finished his drink, poured himself another, and gazed in the direction of Wiseman Town, his eyes becoming deep.

”When I was young, I thought the whole of Alaska was my hunting ground.”

”I chased wolf packs, stood against brown bears, got lost in blizzards, and survived on lichens and bark. I thought I’d live like this forever, like an old wolf, dying in the wilderness.”

”But as people age, their thoughts change.”

His voice carried a bit of weathered wisdom.

”Wiseman... there are many old folks like me there. Our kids have gone to the big cities and don’t want to return to this cold and hard land.”

”We’ve grown old, can’t move fast anymore; sometimes when we’re sick, we can’t even cut firewood ourselves.”

”That’s why I stayed.”

Stan looked at Lin Yu’an, his gaze honest: ”What I’m doing now is ensuring that the chimneys of those old pals in the town continue to smoke during winter.”

”If someone’s generator breaks, I fix it. If someone’s road gets blocked by snow, I drive the snowmobile to deliver supplies. If someone gets sick and can’t get out of bed, I take them to Fairbanks.”

Lin Yu’an listened quietly, his heart filled with respect.

He finally understood where that unique aura in Stan came from. It wasn’t just the ruggedness of a hunter, but a deeper sense of responsibility.

”In China, there’s a saying called ’Village Guardian,’” Lin Yu’an said softly.

”Village Guardian?”

Stan pondered over the unfamiliar term.

”Yes, the person who guards the village.”

”Guarding those elders who can no longer move, protecting the last roots of the land.”

There was a glimmer in Stan’s eyes, and he grinned, finding this title fitting.

”Village Guardian... hmm, nice title. But I’m not the only one.”

He stretched out his finger, pointing into the distance: ”That cop called Kage in town, he could’ve gone to Anchorage to be a chief, but he stayed here, saying he wants to ensure the old folks sleep peacefully.”

”And that pilot called Hank, he takes all our aerial transportation needs with his rickety old plane, charging less than anyone.”

”And the young vet named Emily, she not only treats animals but also us old guys, the only doctor in town.”

”They’re all Wiseman’s Village Guardians.”

Stan looked at Lin Yu’an, his eyes becoming unprecedentedly serious: ”Kid, if you want to take root in this land, building a nice cabin isn’t enough on your own.”

”You need to understand that Wiseman isn’t just a place name; it’s a home upheld by us old folks supporting each other. We welcome the strong, but we need neighbors even more.”

Lin Yu’an raised his cup and solemnly toasted to Stan.

He downed the strong drink in one go, a warm flow rising from his stomach, spreading throughout his body.

Tonight, he not only gained an ally but also a key to truly unlock the doors of this land.

The next morning, Lin Yu’an crawled out early from his sleeping bag in the car, the biting cold wind instantly waking him up.

He didn’t start working immediately but first boiled a pot of snow water, cooked instant noodles with beef jerky and vegetable packs, and had a steaming breakfast with Stan.

Stan praised the instant noodles enthusiastically, not expecting such a simple thing could be so delicious!

After replenishing sufficient calories, the battle for a new day began anew.

After a night of low temperatures, the muddy road froze slightly, making it a bit easier to traverse than yesterday.

Lin Yu’an seized this valuable window of opportunity to maximize transport efficiency.

He first drove the Xu Gong loader slowly near the camp and covered it with a tarp.

Stan wasn’t idle either; he used Lin Yu’an’s F-450 as a temporary base, sipping hot coffee while scanning the surroundings with a telescope, alert for any potential danger.

Meanwhile, he also helped move the remaining supplies from the container to open ground, making it easier for Lin Yu’an to load onto the vehicle, greatly saving time.

Around three in the afternoon, when Lin Yu’an drove the tricycle carrying the last box of seeds and bundles of farm tools to the destination, the two-day-and-night ”ant relocation” operation finally came to an end.

He stood on the highest point of the plateau, looking at the heating stove, large iron pot, boxes of tools, bundles of building materials brought here by his own hands...

These things would be his complete reliance for survival and construction on this isolated land in the coming months.

Lin Yu’an took out a roll of plastic sheeting and tore off a portion to cover the ”mountain of supplies” securely.

When he returned to the container, Stan had already tidied up all the scattered items for him.

”All moved?”

Stan looked at him, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

”Yes, all moved.”

After finishing everything, Lin Yu’an glanced at the empty container and said to Stan, ”Stan, thanks for your help, you should head home and rest now.”

”What’s your next plan?”

”We have to return to Fairbanks to return the rented vehicle.”

”You’re going alone?” Stan frowned.

”How will you get back after returning the vehicle?”

”I’m the guide hired by the crew, it’s my duty to accompany you, so I’ll go with you and can also give you a ride back.”

Stan said sincerely as he looked at him.

Lin Yu’an felt a warmth inside: ”Alright, thank you, Stan.”

Finally, the two of them got into their respective pickups, one in front of the other, and drove south along the Dalton Highway to Fairbanks.

Upon arriving at Fairbanks.

The process of returning the vehicle went smoothly; the rental company’s owner inspected the vehicle and equipment, finding no damage to the core components, and promptly refunded the deposit.

After completing all the formalities, it was already late.

Lin Yu’an said to Stan, ”Stan, let’s rest at a hotel tonight, I’ll treat you to the best steak in the city.”

Stan shook his head: ”No, I can’t stand the smell of the city; we need to go back before the road conditions worsen.”

Thus, the two didn’t stay in Fairbanks and drove Stan’s old Chevrolet pickup directly back to the Northern Territory.

When they rushed back to Wiseman Town overnight, it was already midnight.

Lin Yu’an unloaded all his personal gear from Stan’s car, preparing to head to the cabin Jack had rented for the crew.

”Stan, thank you for your help these two days.”

He took out two packs of ”Chinese” cigarettes and two bottles of Maotai from a box, handing them to Stan.

”Take these, don’t refuse.”

This time Stan didn’t decline; he accepted the cigarettes and alcohol and said, ”Kid, it’s up to you now. If there’s any trouble you can’t solve, use the satellite phone to contact me.”

Stan’s old Chevrolet pickup turned around and drove toward his home along the muddy road, eventually disappearing into the night.

Lin Yu’an stood alone in front of the crew-rented temporary cabin, surrounded by silence, only the occasional sound of cold wind sweeping through the treetops.

He moved all his personal gear into the cabin, which was cold inside. After lighting a fire, he took out the satellite phone.

He walked straight to the window and dialed the director David’s number. When the call connected, there was clear DJ noise in the background.

”Herman?” David’s voice was surprised.

”It’s me, David.” Lin Yu’an’s voice was calm.

”I’m ready; you can bring Mike over. The helicopter can land directly on Wiseman’s helipad.”

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end.

David obviously didn’t understand what Lin Yu’an meant: ”Ready? Lin, are you sure? The situation on the northern stretch of Dalton Highway is very bad; many of the things you need can’t be transported in temporarily.”

”I’m sure.”

Lin Yu’an’s tone was indisputable.

”Everything you want to see is here; bring your equipment and enough warm clothing. It’s much colder here than it is in New York.”

”But Lin, logistics and planning...”

”Hurry over.”

Lin Yu’an interrupted him, and after speaking, he hung up the phone, leaving David no chance for further questioning.

Three days later, in the afternoon, accompanied by the sound of rotor blades roaring from afar.

A Bell 206 small helicopter landed on the only simple helipad paved with gravel in Wiseman Town.

David and photographer Mike had just jumped off the aircraft when the incoming cold wind made them shiver.

They saw Lin Yu’an already fully equipped, carrying an enormous backpack almost half his size, quietly waiting there.