Future Pet Shop

"Alright, let's head back! We have an early start tomorrow, so let's all go home and get some rest!" Seeing how late it was, Shen Yibin started herding everyone into the car to go home.

This time, he didn't bother moving the tree roots. Marc's carving studio had already been relocated here from the shop. He would just have the workers build a shed to cover the roots and protect them from the rain. When it was time to work, they could just come here, which would avoid disrupting the shop's regular business.

Hah'Er, Xiaoliu, and Bald Qiang swarmed into the car. Shen Yibin then spoke briefly with the construction project manager, gesturing to show the space needed for the shed.

For the construction company, this was a trivial task. The manager agreed without hesitation. "Don't you worry, Mr. Shen. I'll get it done for you in a bit. Even if it rains tonight, those roots won't get wet." It was no trouble at all, so he didn't even bother to mention payment.

"Thanks a lot, then. I'll bring you a bottle of wine next time I'm here." Even though the man didn't ask for payment, Shen Yibin felt bad taking advantage of his kindness. 'Wait, isn't a bottle of Monkey Wine way more expensive than the cost of labor? Looks like the most expensive things in life really are free!' Shen Yibin's heart ached a little, but he didn't dwell on it. If the workers drank such fine wine, they would surely work even more diligently. Then, the manor could be completed sooner while maintaining high quality.

Back at the shop, Shen Yibin checked the traffic conditions for the trip to the logging camp on his phone and prepared everything they needed for the journey. Wen Yuan had already called the head of the logging camp to explain their purpose. Thanks to the heads-up from Qin Qing, the man on the other end was naturally very welcoming.

Early the next morning, Shen Yibin, Wen Yuan, and all the pets from the Future Pet Shop set off for the logging camp to find wood. Along the way, Wen Yuan briefed Shen Yibin on the research he had done the night before. "I looked it up. The tree species in this forest that can grow to thirty meters tall include Iron Fir, Southwest Birch, Simaosong, and Chun Wood. These trees are all very straight and rarely warped, so they're perfectly capable of being cut into pillars over thirty meters long."

"However, not every type of wood is suitable for carving. According to my research, pine wood is soft and has a high moisture content, which makes it prone to cracking. That's a major flaw for carving, so we can rule out Simaosong first. Birch has a fine texture and beautiful grain, but the wood is also quite soft. It's not resistant to rot or wear, and it tends to crack and warp after drying. Worst of all, its fiber shear strength is poor, meaning it can snap cleanly. If we made a Totem Pole out of it and put it outside, a strong gust of wind might just break it one day. So, Southwest Birch is definitely out."

"Fir is relatively better. People often use fir for the beams and pillars of houses, the masts of sea vessels, and for building bridges. Its strength is better than the other two species. Kiln-dried Iron Fir can maintain a stable shape and size, without shrinking, expanding, warping, or twisting. The wood is solid with a fine, even grain. It's highly resistant to rot, especially to water and dampness. If left outside, we wouldn't have to worry about it cracking or breaking. It can be a candidate for the Totem Pole."

"But none of the woods I just mentioned can compare to Chun Wood. Chun Wood has a beautiful grain, is hard and lustrous, and is highly resistant to rot. It doesn't warp, crack, or deform easily. It's also easy to work with, comparable to Mahogany. So, when we get to the logging camp, we should focus on looking for Chun Wood. If we can't find a suitable one, we'll consider Iron Fir."

After finishing his analysis, Wen Yuan sighed. "Sigh... actually, if you want something that looks beautiful when carved and lasts a long time, it would be best to use Yellow Flower Li Wood or Zitan wood for the pillars. It's a shame they don't have any at this logging camp!"

PFFT! Shen Yibin nearly spat. Even a layman like him knew that Zitan wood and Yellow Flower Li Wood were ridiculously expensive. Zitan was known by the saying, "an inch of Zitan is worth an inch of gold." And Yellow Flower Li Wood seemed to be even more expensive than Zitan. The thicker the wood, the higher the price. How much would a thirty-meter-tall Zitan tree sell for? 'It would probably be more expensive than my entire manor!' Even if he could afford it, he wouldn't dare erect it at his gate. If someone stole it, wouldn't he die from the heartache?

Lost in his daydreams, it wasn't long before they drove into the mountains. As soon as they were in the mountains, the little critters became exceptionally happy. If they didn't have business to attend to, Shen Yibin might have let them out of the car to play. After another two hours of winding through the mountain roads, the car finally arrived at the logging camp.

He parked the car and made a call at the entrance. A moment later, a tan, sturdy-looking man walked out. "Mr. Wen, hello, hello! Hey, isn't this Mr. Bin? And Hah'Er is here too!" Well, Shen Yibin was recognized without needing an introduction. "I'm the director here. People call me Lao Qi, and you can too! Come on, let's go inside and rest for a bit, then I'll take you up the mountain to find a tree!"

"SQUEAK! SQUEAK!" Seeing so many large trees around, Bald Qiang's eyes lit up. Shen Yibin quickly grabbed him. "Don't get excited! You can go chew on one after we've found what we're looking for!"

After a short rest, Lao Qi led Shen Yibin and the others into the mountains. "Mr. Wen, you're looking for a tree over thirty meters tall, right? There aren't many trees of that size that we're allowed to fell these days. Look, what do you think of that Simaosong over there?"

"Pine wood isn't very suitable. Let's see if there's anything else," Wen Yuan said, shaking his head and rejecting Lao Qi's suggestion. It wasn't just an issue with the wood type. The trunk wasn't straight enough, it was a bit crooked, and its branches forked too low. It was completely unsuitable for a Totem Pole.

"Look, what about the Iron Fir on that mountain over there?" Lao Qi handed the binoculars to Wen Yuan and pointed at the opposite peak.

Wen Yuan took the binoculars, examined it carefully, then passed them to Shen Yibin. "I see several hollows in the trunk. That's not suitable either." 'This one might be okay for Xiaoliu to brew wine in, but it's not right for a Totem Pole.'

"Come on, let's go to that mountain up ahead." For the rest of the afternoon, Shen Yibin and the pets followed Lao Qi, wandering all over the place. Hah'Er and Xiaoliu had a great time playing, but Shen Yibin and Wen Yuan still couldn't find a tree suitable for carving a Totem Pole.

Either the species was wrong, the trunk wasn't straight enough, or the tree wasn't tall enough to reach thirty meters. There were also other problems like cracks or being full of hollows. By the end, Shen Yibin was starting to feel discouraged. "Why don't we just settle for a shorter one? I thought the Chun Wood on that last mountain was pretty good. Over twenty meters isn't short, is it?"

"No. If we can't find one here, we'll look somewhere else." Wen Yuan refused to give up. He saw this as his job, and when it came to his work, he would not compromise.

"Huh? What's that tree? How is it so tall?" Suddenly, Shen Yibin spotted a massive tree that seemed to tower into the clouds.