Landlord in the Arctic

With that, he quickly pulled out his phone and expertly dialed a number.

The phone had barely rung twice when the call connected.

"Hey, where are you? I’ve got an engineer from the construction company here, and they’ve run into some problems with the road. Can you come over to Crown Territory? Or he could come find you, that works too," Feng Shan said into his phone.

"What? You’re in Crown Territory right now? What are you doing here?"

"Celebrating Christmas? What’s an Indian like you doing celebrating Christmas?" Feng Shan retorted, half-joking.

"Alright, see you at the tavern later."

Hanging up the phone, Feng Shan turned to Old Li with a helpless expression and said irritably, "The person in charge of the oil company is right here in the camp, and you didn’t even arrange for you two to meet."

When Old Li heard this, he was so angry he nearly jumped up on the spot, pointing a finger straight at Feng Shan’s nose.

"Who’s in the camp? I don’t even know who the client is! What kind of meeting are you talking about?"

Uh!

Only then did Feng Shan remember that he had apparently never mentioned to Old Li that this new road was a gift to him from the Wild Bull Tribe’s Chief.

"Sorry, I forgot to mention it. The head of the oil company will meet with you at the tavern later. Just go in and ask for Jeff," Feng Shan quickly explained.

"You’re young, but your memory’s shot. Get more sleep and stop staying up all night." Old Li, rarely getting a chance to see Feng Shan at a loss, was suddenly full of bluster. After lecturing Feng Shan for a bit, he led Zhang Qiang and the other two away, swaggering toward the camp.

Feng Shan was helpless and could only swallow this silent defeat.

’That damn old man. I’ll let you have this one, but I’ll definitely get my pride back next time.’

Having met everyone he needed to, Feng Shan finally had some free time. He ambled over to where the Tiger Pack was.

Compared to the adults, the children were clearly much braver.

Showing no fear at all, they pounced right up to the tigers and started playing with them.

And the tigers seemed to be enjoying the affection, not getting angry in the slightest as they obediently let the children clamber all over them.

"Uncle, do they have names?" Fiona, like a brave little cowgirl, was riding on Tyson’s neck. Gripping his ears tightly with her two little hands, she turned and shouted to Feng Shan.

"The one you’re riding is named Tyson. I don’t think the other tigers have names," Feng Shan said, scratching his head in embarrassment.

He remembered that Snow seemed to have given all the tigers names, but he had only managed to remember Tyson’s.

"Then can I give them names?" Upon hearing this, Fiona’s eyes instantly lit up like two little stars as she asked excitedly.

Feng Shan nodded with a grin, agreeing to Fiona’s request. Then he looked at the other children and asked enthusiastically.

"Of course you can! But I need to take them back to the camp now. Does anyone want to be a tiger rider and help me lead them back?"

Me!

I want to ride!

I want to ride too!

The children’s faces were flushed with excitement as they raised their little hands high, their overlapping shouts seeming loud enough to overturn the sky.

"Then hurry up and get on. Everyone be careful, and don’t fall off." As Feng Shan gave his instructions, he looked at the Tiger Pack and said in a gentle tone, "All of you, crouch down. And walk slowly later."

Hearing the command, the Tiger Pack moved their massive bodies and obediently crouched down.

Liu Lan and Fiona were the first to pick their tigers, nimbly hopping on with faces beaming with excitement.

Lotti was a little more scared, but with her friends’ encouragement, she still cautiously climbed onto a tiger’s back.

The other children also chose their favorite tigers and joyfully mounted them.

"Let’s go! Time to go home!" Feng Shan said with a smile, patting Tyson’s head as he took the lead and started walking toward the camp.

Amidst the children’s excited squeals, the tigers stood up one by one and followed behind Feng Shan in an orderly fashion, their steps steady and even.

The other adults watching were all filled with astonishment.

They all took out their phones to record the scene.

After all, it was the first time in their lives they had ever seen such obedient tigers.

"Feng, I want to ride a tiger too!" Erica, Tammy, and Maria’s eyes were filled with envy as they skipped over to Feng Shan’s side.

Then, like little girls trying to wheedle something, they affectionately grabbed Feng Shan’s arm.

They shook it hard, their eyes full of anticipation.

Whenever Erica used this wheedling tactic, Feng Shan was powerless to resist and could only surrender obediently.

He gave a helpless laugh and quickly turned his gaze to the children already occupying the tigers’ backs, saying.

"If you want to ride, then ride. But you’ll need the children’s permission first."

"Okay! Fiona, let your big sister ride the tiger for a bit. I’ll give him back to you in a minute." Hearing this, Erica rushed over to Tyson’s side.

Without waiting to see if Fiona agreed, she simply scooped up the pouting girl and placed her on the back of the tiger Liu Lan was riding.

Then, Erica swung herself onto Tyson’s back and shouted spiritedly.

"Run, my tiger!!"

Tyson seemed a bit confused. He turned his head to look at Feng Shan, his gaze seeming to ask, ’Master, should I run or not?’

Feng Shan didn’t speak, just nodded silently while looking toward the vast Tundra in the distance.

Tyson understood instantly.

Just as Erica was still shouting excitedly, Tyson suddenly surged with power. His whole body shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. WHOOSH.

He left behind only a gust of wind and Erica’s shriek, which changed pitch from the shock of the sudden acceleration.

AHHH!!

Erica’s long, high-pitched, piercing scream instantly tore through the night sky.

Clinging to the tiger’s back like an octopus, she and Tyson’s lightning-fast form soon disappeared into the vast darkness.

Tyson’s unusual behavior instantly caused an uproar among the crowd.

The children, especially, were so scared that they jumped off the tigers’ backs, afraid the ones they were riding would also suddenly go crazy like Tyson.

"It’s okay, Erica probably kicked the tiger by accident." Seeing the situation, Feng Shan quickly put on a big smile to soothe the children and ease the tense atmosphere.

Jenny, who was standing nearby, was more perceptive. She immediately saw that Feng Shan was deliberately playing a prank on Erica, and she didn’t know whether to be angry or amused.

With a look of playful anger, she took advantage of the distraction and secretly reached out to pinch a certain someone’s lower back.

Fortunately, with Feng Shan’s patient reassurance, the children’s frayed nerves relaxed a bit, and they climbed back onto the tigers’ backs.

However, their expressions still held a faint trace of worry, and much of the previous joyful atmosphere had dissipated.

But soon, the Tiger Pack’s docile and obedient behavior made everyone gradually forget their recent fear.

The children’s crisp laughter once again echoed in the night sky.

By the time the Tiger Pack ambled slowly across the camp’s wooden bridge,

Tyson had reappeared silently among the pack at some unknown point, but Erica, who had been on his back, was nowhere to be seen.

Feng Shan remained expressionless, secretly glancing at Tyson, his eyes asking the silent question, ’Where is she?’

Tyson seemed to understand Feng Shan’s meaning. He tilted his head slightly toward the Tundra and let out a low growl from his throat.

’Left her in the grass!’

Feng Shan understood instantly. The corners of his mouth lifted uncontrollably, and a cunning smile appeared.

He pictured the scene in his mind.

Erica, unceremoniously dumped on the Tundra by Tyson, could only stomp back to the camp alone, fuming.

Mumbling and cursing under her breath the whole way—the image couldn’t have been more comical.

’That damn girl. What goes around comes around.’

HAHA!

Feng Shan muttered to himself, unable to hold it in any longer, and burst out laughing.

But as soon as the laugh escaped, he caught himself and quickly suppressed it.

If Erica found out he had ordered the tiger to do all this...

...with her mischievous nature, there was no telling what kind of crazy idea she’d come up with to get him back.

He’d really be in for it then.

The Tiger Pack entered the camp. After the children had safely dismounted, the pack continued to follow Feng Shan to his wooden house.

By now, the wall of trees circling the outside of the wooden house had grown extremely lush, forming a natural green barrier.

Low blueberry bushes nestled beneath tall fruit trees in a well-ordered arrangement.

The branches and leaves of the fruit trees spread out, thick and verdant, completely shielding the area around the wooden house.

It perfectly blocked any prying eyes from the outside, creating a tranquil and secluded atmosphere.

Feng Shan’s gaze fell upon a triangular clearing in the southwest corner, near the Melting Ice River.

A plan had already formed in his mind.

He planned to build a row of dormitories here.

They would be specifically for housing the tigers, giving them a place to live.

This way...

...not only would the tigers have a suitable living environment, but it would also be convenient to care for them daily.

...