Landlord in the Arctic

With that said, Xiaohua gave Jenny a playful wink and a teasing look.

"Ah!"

Jenny couldn’t help but gasp, a deep blush instantly spreading across her face.

It was hard to tell if the blush was from the steam rising from the hot spring, Xiaohua’s sudden verbal ambush, or the memory of that night with Feng Mountain. A mix of complex emotions swirled within her.

"Maybe... maybe it’s because the food is so good."

Jenny stammered, not even convincing herself. Her voice was barely a whisper, as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.

A knowing, playful smile graced Xiaohua’s face.

She sidled up to Jenny and lowered her voice, speaking like a cunning little fox.

"Ms. Zhan, why don’t you and Brother Shan just get together? Don’t be fooled by his constant smile. He’s actually quite fragile on the inside."

She paused as if recalling something, then continued.

"Ever since Ms. Hong passed away, he’s been living like an old bachelor. It’s perfect—you’re divorced, he’s a widower. You’re such a good match."

Xiaohua grew more and more animated as she spoke, her eyes sparkling as if she had just discovered a match made in heaven.

"Besides, Ms. Zhan, you’re very attractive. Here in Crown Territory, you’re the one helping Brother Shan manage everything, inside and out. The only thing your relationship is missing is a formal title. Or... you could just go all the way, seal the deal, and make it official. Then you two would be a proper couple."

Jenny’s beautiful eyes widened, filled with astonishment and confusion.

She had been studying Chinese diligently with her teacher these days.

She could mostly understand daily conversations now, but when it came to more complex phrases, she was still completely lost.

Take what Xiaohua just said, for example.

All those phrases—"get together," "old bachelor," "widower," "go all the way," and "seal the deal"—sounded like a series of riddles, and she couldn’t make heads or tails of them.

Seeing Jenny’s blank expression, Xiaohua was inwardly amused, but also a little exasperated.

She decided to stop beating around the bush and be direct.

"What I mean is, how about you marry Brother Shan?"

She looked at Jenny with anticipation, her eyes gleaming with excitement, as if she could already envision their beautiful wedding.

Xiaohua, Hu Zi, and Black Hide had actually discussed this very idea back when they were still in China.

After all, the three of them knew that Ms. Hong had been gone for many years. Brother Shan couldn’t just stay single forever and end up dying alone.

If it really came to that, Ms. Hong, watching from the great beyond, would surely not want to see him end up like that.

So, whenever they had free time, these "three stooges" would put their heads together to help Brother Shan find a suitable partner.

After much screening and discussion, they unanimously decided that Ms. Zhan was the most suitable candidate.

In their eyes, Ms. Zhan was the rare, ideal wife and mother.

She was an excellent cook, and her meals always left everyone satisfied. She was also incredibly attentive, taking meticulous care of those around her. And she was a master homemaker, handling any chore with perfect order and efficiency.

Moreover, despite all the hardships she had endured, she still had a kind heart and always treated everyone around her with sincerity and warmth.

The only "flaw," if one could call it that, was the scar on her face.

But now, that scar was on the verge of healing completely. In Xiaohua’s eyes, Ms. Zhan and Brother Shan were a match made in heaven.

As for Ms. Zhan being a few years older than Brother Shan...

So what if she’s older? There’s a saying that an older wife brings good fortune. Besides, older women are more caring.

She was more than good enough for Brother Shan.

Xiaohua looked at Jenny with anticipation and continued, "So, Ms. Zhan, what do you say? If you’re willing, you don’t have to do a thing. How about I go talk to Brother Shan?"

She finished with a blink, her eyes full of hope, just waiting for Jenny to nod her assent.

Hearing Xiaohua’s blunt question, Jenny’s already charming face turned an even deeper shade of crimson, like a ripe apple.

Her thoughts couldn’t help but drift back to that night when, at Erica’s urging, she had entered the room with a heart full of nervous trepidation...

The scenes flashed through her mind, and a shimmering liquid quality appeared in her beautiful eyes. It was like the steam rising from the hot spring pool, coiling in dreamlike wisps within her gaze, revealing boundless shyness and tenderness.

Xiaohua was sharp. Seeing Ms. Zhan’s reaction, she knew the answer instantly. She didn’t need Jenny to say a word.

She immediately puffed out her chest and said confidently.

"Leave this to me, Ms. Zhan. You can rest easy. Hu Zi, Black Hide, and I will be the matchmakers for this one."

With that, she gave a sly smile, as if she could already see the happy ending.

...

On the other side of the camp.

The guests who had come for Christmas were strolling around the camp in small groups, looking around with great interest.

Crown Territory lacked the hustle and bustle of a modern city, but it possessed a unique peace and tranquility that urban centers were missing.

Here.

There was no din of traffic, no oppressive feeling from towering skyscrapers.

There was only fresh air, vast snow-covered landscapes, and a serene atmosphere that made one feel as if they had stepped into a paradise far from the mortal world.

Everyone couldn’t help but imagine.

If the Far North Tundra weren’t locked in a harsh winter for half the year, Crown Territory’s unique natural beauty would surely make it a world-renowned tourist destination.

Unfortunately, the natural environment was not something that could be easily changed.

However, Crown Territory was different. It seemed to have found a unique path to survival and development in this harsh land.

One could foresee a prosperous future, where it would surely become the crown jewel of the Far North Tundra.

At that moment, the chiefs from the various villages and towns of the Northernmost Taiga Alliance were standing on a stretch of lush, green moss.

One had to remember that it was the coldest season in the Arctic Circle, with outside temperatures easily dropping to 40 degrees below zero.

But here, it was only 10 degrees below zero.

For the Tundra People, who were long accustomed to extreme weather, a temperature of 10 degrees below zero was as pleasant as summer. They could even feel comfortable and at ease in just a T-shirt.

Louise, the chief of Kivalina Town, had an expression of envy that was practically overflowing.

Her hometown, Kivalina, was facing the merciless threat of being swallowed by the Chukchi Sea, yet before her, Crown Territory looked like a paradise blessed by the Spirit of All Things.

Everything here, from the vibrant flora and fauna to the orderly construction of the camp, stood in stark contrast to her precarious hometown.

"This is simply amazing! I never imagined such a magical place existed in the Far North Tundra." Old Pete, the chief of Point Laya Village, said with wide eyes, unable to hide his astonishment.

He excitedly squatted down, grabbed a handful of moss, and popped it into his mouth, as if trying to experience the magic of this land in the most direct way possible.

"Grandfather, try the berries. The berries here are especially sweet."

Vera, as the chief’s assistant, had also been fortunate enough to come to Crown Territory.

However, she had her own ulterior motive for this trip: to find Wawa, who had run away from home.

When she first arrived in Crown Territory, she had been reluctantly dragged around by Old Pete to see the sights.

But as the tour progressed, the girl who had grown up by the shores of the Ice Sea found herself gradually captivated by the charm of Crown Territory.

Looking out at the tundra shrouded in night, she couldn’t help but think.

’If this were during the polar day, with the sun bathing the land in light, it would probably be even more dreamlike and beautiful.’

Robert, the chief of Kaktovik Town, and his assistant Bruce had been silent ever since they set foot in Crown Territory, their eyes filled with reverence and focus.

Their trip had been undertaken with the pious intention of a pilgrimage.

In their hearts, Crown Territory had already become the Sacred Land of All Spirits, its status as revered as Jerusalem is to a Catholic.

It was because of Feng Mountain that Kaktovik had received the sacred whale bones, which in turn had brought back the whale pods and, with them, an ever-increasing number of tourists to the town.

Seeing everything Crown Territory had to offer, they weren’t surprised at all.

The chiefs from the other towns and tribes had much the same expressions.

From the moment they stepped off the plane, their exclamations of praise had been like a bursting dam, flowing ceaselessly.

Every scenic view and unique feature of Crown Territory’s construction left them wide-eyed and constantly marveling.

This land, with its unique charm, had deeply captivated every one of its guests from afar.

...