HUN Chapter 107: Guardian of Wiseman Village

"What is this?"

"Chinese self-heating hotpot, it can heat up without fire."

The characteristic of heating without fire immediately caught Stan's interest.

Lin Yu'an tore open the packaging, poured water from the water pouch into the heating pack, and soon a rich aroma of butter and spicy domineering fragrance spread through the cold air!

Stan's nose twitched, his eyes brightening.

When it was confirmed ready to eat, he eagerly tasted it. This was something he had never tasted in his life! He obviously fell in love with the flavor.

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

"Try this, flames from China."

Stan picked up the cup, mimicked Lin Yu'an, and drained it in one gulp!

The burning liquid instantly slid from his throat into his stomach, making his weathered face flush red instantly, letting out a hearty exhale.

"Truly flames! Really like swallowing flames!" Stan praised sincerely.

The two men sat silently by the campfire, eating the hot and spicy self-heating hotpot, drinking the fifty-plus proof liquor.

Alcohol and heat quickly dispelled physical fatigue and opened up conversation.

"Kid, you went through so much trouble to make your home in this godforsaken place, what are you really after?"

Lin Yu'an sipped his drink and slowly began to speak.

"Before, I might not have been able to answer you, but now it's for psychological freedom."

Lin Yu'an looked at the dancing flames and continued calmly, "After participating in Alone ended, I was afraid that everything I had was just a dream. Rather than being anxious about gains and losses, it's better to live seriously."

"If we abandon the desires constructed by capitalists, shouldn't human life just be about eating well, staying warm, reproducing, and watching our offspring grow?"

"What I want now is a way of living undisturbed by anyone, where I can record my life and share it with others, hoping to give them some healing power."

Stan nodded, seeming to understand this way of thinking very well.

He finished the wine in his cup, poured himself another, his gaze looking toward Wiseman town, his eyes becoming profound.

"When I was young, I thought all of Alaska was my hunting ground."

"I chased wolf packs, faced off with brown bears, got lost in blizzards, and survived by eating lichens and tree bark. I thought I'd live like this forever, like an old wolf, dying in this wilderness."

"But when you get old, your thinking changes."

His voice carried a hint of vicissitude.

"Wiseman... there are many old guys like me there. Our children have all gone to big cities, not wanting to return to this cold and hard land."

"We're old, can't run anymore. Sometimes when we get sick, we can't even chop wood ourselves."

"So, I stayed."

Stan looked at Lin Yu'an with honest eyes, "What I do now is ensure that the chimneys of those old buddies in town still have smoke coming out in winter."

"Whose generator breaks, I go fix it. Whose road gets blocked by snow, I take the snowmobile to deliver supplies. If someone gets too sick to get out of bed, I get them to Fairbanks."

Lin Yu'an listened quietly, feeling deep respect in his heart.

He finally understood where that unique quality about Stan came from. It wasn't simply a hunter's toughness, but something more profound, a sense of responsibility.

"In our China, there's a term called 'Village Guardian,'" Lin Yu'an said softly.

"Village Guardian?"

Stan chewed over this unfamiliar term.

"Yes, one who guards the village."

"Guarding those elderly who can no longer walk, guarding the last roots of that land."

A glimmer of light flashed in Stan's eyes. He grinned, feeling this title was exceptionally fitting.

"Village Guardian... hmm, good title. But I'm not the only one."

He extended his finger, pointing far into the distance, "There's a cop in town named Ketch. He could have gone to Anchorage to be police chief, but he stayed. He said he wanted to ensure the old guys here sleep soundly."

"And there's a pilot named Hank. He uses his broken-down little plane that's about to fall apart to handle all our air transport, charging less than anyone."

"And there's a young veterinarian named Emily. She not only treats animals but also treats us old guys. She's the town's only doctor."

"They're all Wiseman's Village Guardians."

Stan looked at Lin Yu'an with unprecedented seriousness, "Kid, if you want to take root in this land, just building yourself a pretty cabin isn't enough."

"You need to understand that Wiseman isn't just a place name. It's a home that we old bones hold up together, supporting each other so it doesn't fall. We welcome the strong, but we need neighbors more."

Lin Yu'an raised his cup toward Stan, solemnly lifting it high.

He drained the liquor in one gulp, a warm current rising from his stomach, flowing through his entire body.

Tonight, he had not only gained an ally but also received a key that could truly open the door to this land.

The next morning, Lin Yu'an crawled out of his sleeping bag in the truck early, the bone-chilling wind instantly awakening him.

He didn't immediately start working but first boiled a pot of snow water, cooked instant noodles with added beef jerky and vegetable packets, and shared a steaming hot breakfast with Stan.

Stan praised the instant noodles endlessly. He never expected such simple food could be so delicious!

After replenishing sufficient calories, a new day's battle began again.

After a night of low temperatures, the muddy road surface had frozen slightly, becoming somewhat easier to travel than yesterday.

Lin Yu'an seized this precious window of opportunity, maximizing transport efficiency.

He first slowly drove the XCMG loader to near the camp and covered it with plastic sheeting.

Stan wasn't idle either. Using Lin Yu'an's F-450 as a temporary base, he drank hot coffee while observing the surroundings with binoculars, staying alert for any potential dangers.

At the same time, he helped move the remaining supplies from the container to the open area, making it convenient for Lin Yu'an to load, greatly saving time.

Around three in the afternoon, when Lin Yu'an drove the three-wheeler to transport the last box of seeds and several bundles of farm tools to the destination, this "ant moving house" operation that had lasted two days and nights finally concluded.

He stood on the highest plateau, looking at this supply mountain he had personally transported: heaters, large iron pots, boxes of tools, bundles of building materials...

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

Lin Yu'an pulled out a plastic tarp roll, tore off a section, and completely covered the "supply mountain."

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

"All moved?"

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

"Yes, all moved."

After completing everything, Lin Yu'an glanced at the now-empty container and said to Stan, "Stan, thank you for your help. You should go home and rest now."

"What are your plans next?"

"We need to return to Fairbanks and return the rented truck."

"You're going alone?" Stan frowned.

"After returning the truck, how will you get back?"

"I'm the guide hired by the production team, with responsibility to be with you, so let me go with you. I can also bring you back."

Stan looked at him sincerely.

Lin Yu'an felt warmth in his heart, "Alright, thank you, Stan."

Finally, the two men jumped into their respective pickup trucks, one behind the other, driving south along the Dalton Highway toward Fairbanks.

After arriving in Fairbanks, the truck return process went smoothly. The rental company owner checked the vehicle and equipment, found no damage to core components, and cheerfully refunded the deposit.

After completing all procedures, it was already dark.

Lin Yu'an said to Stan, "Stan, let's rest at the 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 get back before road conditions get worse."

So the two didn't stay in Fairbanks but directly drove Stan's old Chevrolet pickup back onto the road to the north.

When they returned to Wiseman town overnight, it was already midnight.

Lin Yu'an moved all his personal equipment from Stan's truck, preparing to go to the small cabin that Jack had previously rented for the production team.

"Stan, thank you for all your help these two days."

He took out two packs of "Zhonghua" cigarettes and two bottles of Maotai from a box and handed them to Stan.

"Take these, don't refuse."

This time Stan didn't decline. He accepted the cigarettes and alcohol and said, "Kid, now it's up to you. If you have troubles you can't solve, use the satellite phone to find me."

Stan's old Chevrolet pickup turned around, driving along the muddy road toward his home, finally disappearing into the night.

Lin Yu'an stood alone in front of the temporary cabin rented by the production team. The surroundings were very quiet, with only the occasional sound of cold wind sweeping through treetops.

He moved all his personal equipment into the cabin. The interior was freezing cold. After starting a fire, he took out the satellite phone.

Walking directly to the window, he dialed director David's number. When the call connected, clear DJ noise came from the background.

"Hermann?" David's voice sounded surprised.

"It's me, David." Lin Yu'an's voice was calm.

"I'm ready. You can bring Mike over now. The helicopter can land directly on Wiseman's helipad."

The phone went silent for a few seconds.

David obviously didn't understand what Lin Yu'an meant, "Ready? Lin, are you sure? Conditions in the northern section of the Dalton Highway are terrible. Many things you need can't be transported in temporarily."

"I'm sure."

Lin Yu'an's tone brooked no argument.

"There's everything you want to see here. Bring your equipment and enough warm clothing. It's much colder here than New York."

"But Lin, logistics and planning..."

"Come as soon as possible."

Lin Yu'an interrupted him, hung up after speaking, not giving David room for more questions.

Three days later in the afternoon, accompanied by the sound of rotor blades approaching from afar, a Bell 206 small helicopter landed on Wiseman town's only simple helipad made of gravel.

David and photographer Mike had barely jumped off the plane when they shivered from the oncoming cold wind.

They saw Lin Yu'an already fully equipped, carrying a huge mountaineering pack nearly half his height, quietly waiting there.

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