King of the Wilderness

(This chapter features a combination of images, each corresponding to different log cabin structures. Please focus only on the structures shown in the images, not the styles depicted in them.)

Early the next morning, the sound of ATV engines echoed once again from afar.

This time, it was Hank, Barton, and Cody, arriving as promised along with Old George and Stan.

A Wiseman construction team of six robust men was officially formed!

They didn’t rush to start working but instead conducted a crucial pre-construction inspection.

”Kid, come take a look.”

Old George called Lin Yu’an over and took out an instrument from his toolbox in the shape of a pistol, with two metal probes at the front.

”This is a wood moisture meter. Before building the house, we need to ensure our wood is up to standard.”

He walked over to a pre-processed log with smooth top and bottom surfaces, inserting the two probes firmly into the cross-section of the wood. The LCD screen on the instrument immediately displayed a number.

”22.4%.”

Old George read the number out loud, then tested a few more times at the other end and the middle of the wood, with readings fluctuating between 22% and 24%.

David asked curiously, ”What does this number mean? Can we use the wood now?”

Old George patted the massive log with satisfaction and said with a smile, ”This summer’s sun was intense, and combined with you smoothing them out and ensuring good ventilation.”

”The moisture content has dropped from over 50% when freshly cut to below 25%, surpassing the most troublesome initial shrinkage stage. We can start building now!”

He turned to explain to David, ”We can’t wait for it to dry completely; that would take years. In its current state, we can build while allowing it to continue slow natural drying.”

”For the remaining settlement, we can leave enough room in the door and window sills and top screws to accommodate it. This is a common method in modern log cabin construction.”

”Before hoisting any logs, we must prepare all the framework first.”

Old George announced the first task: ”Lin, you and Cody will operate that bandsaw. Your task is to process all the main and secondary beams we need from the logs over the next three days!”

Over the next three days, amidst the roar of the bandsaw, Lin Yu’an and mechanician Cody formed a perfect team.

Lin Yu’an was responsible for the main operation, using his precise judgment to determine each cut’s positioning and thickness.

Meanwhile, Cody, with his mechanical knowledge, continuously adjusted, oiled, and replaced saw blades for the high-intensity machine to ensure it always operated in optimal condition.

Stan, Hank, and Barton used the Xu Gong loader to transport the massive round logs to the bandsaw and then moved the heavy cut square beams and secondary beams to another side, spacing them with wooden supports and neatly stacking them into piles.

The process was filled with sweat and sawdust as the six men worked for more than ten hours a day under the polar day.

”Lin, go down half an inch more!”

Cody held a log that was about to be cut and shouted to Lin Yu’an, who was adjusting the saw head.

Lin Yu’an nodded, turned the dial, and precisely lowered the saw blade’s height.

”Done!”

He started the saw blade, and with a long buzz, the saw head slowly advanced, spilling golden sawdust like a waterfall.

”Hey! Barton! Stop slacking! Is the next one ready?”

Stan, not far away, directed Hunter Barton, who was operating the loader to hoist another log to the staging area.

After three full days of hard labor, they finally processed all the lumber needed for the construction platform, including over a dozen huge main beams and hundreds of secondary beams.

Beside the camp, a new ”wood mountain” made from standardized materials had appeared.

”Listen up, everyone!” Old George gathered the group for a brief pre-battle meeting.

”Hoisting the main beams, especially the twelve-meter-long one, is one of the most dangerous parts of the project.”

”It’s heavy and very unstable! I need everyone to be 100% focused and to follow instructions uniformly. Understand?”

”Understood!” everyone responded in unison.

Lin Yu’an operated the Xu Gong loader, using a wide lifting strap to steadily lift the longest twelve-meter main beam.

That giant main beam moved inch by inch, at an extremely slow pace, toward its throne.

When the main beam was just a few centimeters from the steel support, Hank and Cody immediately used crowbars to lock it into place.

”Release!” Old George ordered.

Lin Yu’an gently lowered the mechanical arm.

”Clang—”

Finally, with a dull thud of metal meeting wood, the first main beam settled firmly on two ”steel components”!

”Oh—yeah!!!”

The tough guys erupted in a victorious roar, and even David behind the lens pumped his fist excitedly.

This scene exuded the boundless pride of North American tough men and the supreme charm of teamwork!

They spent another day and a half hoisting and connecting all the main beams on the perimeter and centerline, forming a massive hollow frame.

Once the main beam framework was completed, they didn’t immediately lay the secondary beams.

”Now, it’s time to install all the drainage pipes,” said Old George.

The next two days were dedicated to the meticulous work of pipe embedding and insulation.

Lin Yu’an pulled out his design drawing and, together with Cody, began laying various lines within the wooden grid.