American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 151 Autumn Vegetable Planting and New Family Members
Just a few days after Lin Yu'an and his team's successful hunt, other hunting groups also had a great haul, and their bountiful meat was carefully stored in the residents' freezers.

The hustle and bustle and fatigue gradually dissipated after a few days of rest, but the entire Wiesman community was immersed in the joy of the harvest.

Lin Yu-an's life, however, returned from the wilderness filled with the smell of gunpowder and bloodshed to the peaceful and vibrant daily life in the woodland.

By the end of September, autumn was in full swing in Alaska.

The morning air carried a frosty chill, and the leaves of the birch forest were already golden and translucent.

On this day, Lin Yu'an had an important task to do: to plant new vegetables for the long winter that was about to begin.

He and Arya first picked the last batch of ripe cucumbers and tomatoes from the greenhouse. Looking at the three large, heavy baskets of their bountiful harvest, Arya's face was filled with a satisfied smile.

After the harvest, Lin Yu'an began to clear out several elevated seedbeds in preparation for transplanting new seedlings.

Arya, holding her daughter Olivia, stood by watching him work and suddenly said, "Honey, can you manage all this by yourself? This looks like a very meticulous task that requires a lot of patience."

"It's alright, I can do it, it just takes a little more time." Lin Yu'an smiled.

“I think this will be a wonderful family event.” Arya looked at him, a meaningful glint in her pale green eyes!

"Besides, Ethan will be waking up soon. I can't take care of two little ones by myself, and I also have to help you transplant the seedlings."

She paused for a moment, then revealed her true thoughts: "Why not invite Emily over? She loves children, and I think she would be happy to participate."

"That way, we can take turns caring for the children and also finish the work in the vegetable garden together. Don't you think so?"

Lin Yu'an looked at his wife and immediately understood her intention. He could only nod helplessly and pick up the satellite phone.

After the call connected, he said directly, "Emily, it's me. Are you busy?"

"We're getting ready to transplant the seedlings in the greenhouse. Arya thinks it would be a great family activity, and she can't take care of two kids by herself. I was wondering if you'd be free this afternoon to come and help out?"

Emily on the other end of the phone was clearly surprised to receive such an invitation. She paused for a few seconds before replying with a hint of delight, "Of course! I'll be right there!"

Lin Yu-an had already started this vegetable planting plan for winter reserves a month ago, at the end of August.

Even before the wooden house was fully completed, Lin Yu-an was already carrying out this hopeful and meticulous work.

He slowly added warm water to the professional seedling substrate soil, which he purchased from Fairbanks and was mixed with peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite, and carefully stirred it by hand until the substrate reached the optimal moisture state of "being able to be squeezed into a ball but crumble when dropped".

After evenly filling the seedling tray with substrate soil, he began the most crucial sowing process.

He carefully sowed each seed of cold-resistant cabbage and cherry radish into the center of the planting hole, strictly controlling the depth to about twice the diameter of the seed, to ensure the best germination environment.

After sowing, a thin layer of vermiculite is covered on the surface to retain moisture and prevent moss growth.

Finally, he placed the seedling trays, covered with transparent plastic lids, on a simple seedling rack equipped with a heating pad and a full-spectrum plant grow light.

In the fall in Alaska, when both sunlight and temperature are insufficient, he used this artificial intervention to create a perfect incubator for these seeds with a constant temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and 16 hours of light per day.

The seedlings have been growing for over a month now, and Lin Yu'an has carefully taken them out of the wooden house.

In the seedling trays, tender yet robust cabbage and radish seedlings are unfurling their true leaves, lush and green, full of vitality.

Half an hour later, Emily arrived in her Subaru.

She brought a large bag of oatmeal beef cookies that she had baked herself.

"Wow! They're growing so well!" Emily exclaimed, looking at the seedlings that had been thriving for over a month.

Arya had laid out a thick picnic mat in a corner of the greenhouse, where Ethan and Olivia lay, looking around curiously.

"Now, we're going to move them from the crowded kindergarten to their spacious new home," Lin Yu'an said, pointing to several raised seedbeds that had already been cleaned up.

He first picked up a small hoe and dug out small planting holes in the fertile soil of the seedbed, according to the different plant spacing of cabbage and radish.

Using a small wooden stick, Lin Yu'an gently pushed a cabbage seedling, along with its complete root ball that had grown into a white ball of yarn, upwards from the bottom of the seedling tray.

Lin Yu'an did not fill the soil directly before placing the seedlings into the planting holes.

He took out the two types of organic liquid fertilizer he had purchased earlier, fish fertilizer and kelp concentrate, and mixed them into a spray bottle filled with water according to the instructions, shaking it well.

For crops like cabbage and radish, whose main edible parts are roots and leaves, the focus of topdressing during the seedling stage is to promote the rapid growth of roots and leaves.

The two fertilizers he chose are a perfect combination for this purpose. Fish fertilizer is a high-nitrogen organic fertilizer that can provide the core driving force for leaf growth.

Kelp concentrate is rich in natural hormones that stimulate root development and a large amount of potassium.

He poured the appropriate amount of this nutrient solution, which he called "root-setting water," into each planting hole.

Then, the cabbage seedling was carefully placed into the hole, straightened, and its roots were gently covered and compacted with the surrounding soil.

With Arya and Emily immediately joining in, a wonderful assembly line of three parents was formed.

Arya was in charge of the gentlest and most meticulous work, taking each seedling out of the seedling tray with extreme tenderness, as if she were handling a newborn baby.

Lin Yu'an was responsible for connecting the two. He took the seedlings from Ailiya, watered them to help them take root, and then carefully placed them into the holes and straightened them.

Emily, a veterinarian, is highly skilled with her hands and was in charge of the final filling and compaction work.

Her movements were swift and precise, always using just the right amount of force to firmly anchor the seedlings in the soil.

The three worked together seamlessly, without uttering a word. The warm sunlight shone through the plastic sheeting onto their figures as they worked diligently.

The greenhouse was filled with the fresh scents of soil and plants, and the sounds of dogs and babies laughing and playing on a picnic mat in the distance.

At this moment, the greenhouse was bustling with activity and warmth. Just then, a loud cry came from the picnic mat.

It must be that her son Ethan was hungry, and he sounded quite hungry. Soon after, Olivia, who was next to her, seemed to sense it and started whimpering as well.

"Oh, it seems our darlings are starving." Arya put down what she was doing, a helpless smile on her face.

"Emily, darling, I'll leave this place to you for now. I need to go prepare 'lunch' for these two little ones."

After she finished speaking, she got up and walked to the picnic mat, skillfully picked up Ethan, who was crying the loudest, and then picked up Olivia and walked towards the cabin, leaving the two of them some space to be alone.

As soon as Arya left, the atmosphere in the greenhouse instantly became somewhat awkward.

Without Arya acting as a buffer, the interaction between Lin Yu'an and Emily became somewhat silent and awkward.

After all, Arya's almost matchmaking approach had a significant impact on both of their worldviews.

“I…I’ll get the seedlings.” Emily broke the silence. She walked to the seedling tray and, imitating Arya, carefully pushed a seedling out.

Lin Yu'an nodded and continued to take charge of watering the seedlings and placing them in the soil.

The two worked in silence. The assembly line remained efficient, but without Emily's intervention, the warm and harmonious atmosphere they had shared had vanished.

"Thank you for that day."

"It wasn't just that you fixed my car, but also... what happened afterward. I don't think I've ever properly thanked you yet."

Emily's voice was soft, but it was unusually clear in the quiet greenhouse.

Lin Yu'an paused for a moment. He didn't turn around, but said in a low voice, "No need to thank me, it's what I should do."

"Do not."

Emily shook her head, looked at Lin Yu'an's broad back, and mustered her courage to continue.

"The most important thing is not that you saved me, I mean... you chose a way for me to live."

"Although it was... very cruel, I understand that it was the best choice at the time. Thank you for not killing me; I know you could have done it easily."

He turned around and, for the first time, looked seriously at Emily, setting aside all distractions.

Sunlight filtered through the greenhouse film, gently bathing her in its warmth. A few specks of dirt clung to her face, and strands of hair on her forehead were damp with sweat, clinging to her smooth skin.

At this moment, those blue eyes were devoid of the fear and vigilance they had shown before, replaced only by a clarity and serenity that comes after the storm.

"It's all in the past." Lin Yu'an finally said just that. "Yes, it's all in the past." Emily nodded, looking at Lin Yu'an with a self-deprecating smile.

Then, she raised the most crucial question that had been lingering in her mind.

"I just didn't expect Arya to react like that. She's a... very incredible woman."

She raised her head, looked directly into Lin Yu'an's eyes, and asked in a questioning tone, "So, Lin, what do you think about her invitation? Can you really... accept all of this?"

This question, like a scalpel, precisely dissected the feigned awkwardness between the two.

Lin Yu'an fell silent; he couldn't answer immediately.

Accept it? Traditional values ​​made it difficult for him to accept.

Not accepting? Arya's expectations of the Mormon faith, and the woman whose fate was already intertwined with his, left him with no reason to refuse.

Seeing his silence, Emily seemed to understand something. She took a step forward, closing the distance between them.

"You see, you're conflicted too, aren't you?" Her voice became softer, carrying a hint of allure.

"You're someone who's used to being in control. But now, this is beyond your control. Aren't you... a little resentful?"

She reached out and gently wiped away a speck of mud from Lin Yu'an's cheek with her fingertips—a gesture full of ambiguous probing.

Lin Yu'an's body tensed instantly. He took half a step back, his eyes sharpening: "What do you want to say?"

Seeing his reaction, Emily not only did not back down, but smiled, with a hint of understanding and a hint of bitterness.

"Lin, Arya gave you a way out, and she also gave me a choice."

"But ultimately, what determines our relationship is not her! Nor those damn secrets and videos! It's you and me."

Her voice was lowered so that only the two of them could hear it, and a hint of vulnerability was revealed in her blue eyes.

"I just wanted to tell you, Lin, that I've been feeling really bad lately."

“I always have nightmares. Sometimes I dream that you shoot me, just like I did to that man!”

"Sometimes... I even dream that you and I are getting married in a church, and Arya is smiling down below, blessing us! Ethan and Olivia call me Mom."

"The scariest thing is that I also dream that the three of us are wearing prison uniforms and spending the rest of our lives in prison!"

"I can't tell which is reality and which is fantasy!" Emily looked at him, her emotions becoming somewhat agitated, and her eyes extremely serious.

"My mind is a mess, Lin. I know that's not my love for you."

"I don't know what our relationship is, and I don't want to define it. I just want to... end these nightmares and find a place where I can sleep peacefully."

"And everything that happened between us that night... it bound me, you, and Arya together so tightly! I can't break free! And I don't want to break free anymore."

She took a deep breath, meeting Lin Yu'an's sharp gaze without backing down.

"Lin, I don't need your pity, and I don't need your love either." Her voice was full of determination.

"Before I met you, I was living well on my own in this damn land. I could shoot a gun and take care of myself and my clinic."

She stepped forward again, and this time, Lin Yu'an did not back down.

“Arya’s invitation was sincere and unexpected, and I am very grateful to her. But more important than her attitude is your opinion.”

She looked at him and said, word by word, "Arya has opened a door for me, but only you can decide whether I can really walk in."

"I want to end these nightmares, I want to find a definite place, I want..."

"So, I need an answer, Lin, a clear answer from the bottom of your heart."

Emily looked into his deep eyes, and her tone became extremely solemn.

“I’ll only mention it this once. Whatever your answer is, I will fully understand. From now on, I will never say another word.”

“We will start as friends, just as Arya would like. I will be your best and most reliable neighbor and friend, but that’s all.”

After saying that, she turned around, picked up another seedling, and said calmly, "Alright, let's get back to work. These little seedlings can't wait too long."

Lin Yu'an stood calmly in place, watching Emily's seemingly strong back, but her heart was not as calm as it appeared.

This woman is not asking for anything, but seeking a kind of liberation, a liberation that can be obtained through the confirmation of her identity.

She completely handed over the final decision-making power to him.

Refuse? The thought flashed through Lin Yu'an's mind in an instant.

Maintaining a distance while remaining friends seems to be the choice that best aligns with his values.

But he immediately dismissed the idea.

Lin Yu'an doesn't understand psychology, but he does understand the psychology of wanting to join forces when you can't win.

If Emily continues to be tormented by this incident, he can't guarantee that one day she won't, for the sake of inner peace, raise a gun on her entire family.
He thought of Emily again—intelligent, independent, and brave. They were accomplices, and perhaps... after that night, they were even closer.

More importantly, Lin Yu'an can see in Emily a warning bell that can constantly ring the dark side of his heart!
Having learned from this experience, he must better control the power of his cheat ability in the future to avoid more trouble caused by such consequences.

A woman once said that the fastest way to win a woman's heart is to get her to have a child for you.
Lin Yu'an decides to accept Emily into the family, transforming their initial bond of mutual benefit into a deep connection with the family, especially if they have children in the future.
He believed that the accomplice incident would surely be buried forever beneath the Alaskan permafrost!
Having figured all this out, Lin Yu'an no longer hesitated.

He took off his gloves and strode forward, gently taking Emily's hand from behind as she filled the hole with soil.

Emily's body stiffened abruptly.

Lin Yu'an didn't speak, but used an irresistible yet extremely gentle force to pull her up from her half-kneeling position, then turned her body so that she was facing him.

Emily looked up and saw a pair of deep, incredibly serious eyes.

Those eyes no longer held the struggles and contradictions of before, only a firm resolve that had led to the final decision.

Then, in the warm, humid air of the greenhouse, witnessed by the garden full of vegetable seedlings, Lin Yu'an gently, yet with utmost solemnity, kissed her.

This kiss was devoid of any lust or aggression.

It's more like a silent answer, a solemn promise.

Emily's eyes widened in shock at first, then she closed them again. Her long-held, strong defenses crumbled completely at that moment.

After a long time, the lips parted.

Looking into her now watery blue eyes, Lin Yu'an said in a gentle tone he had never used before, "Welcome home, Emily."

This is the scene that Arya saw when she returned to the greenhouse with her two babies, who had been fed and had their diapers changed.

Lin Yu'an and Emily were kneeling side by side in front of the seedbed, working together seamlessly to carry out the final transplanting work.

Sunlight shone on their focused profiles. They didn't speak, but the air was filled with a tranquil and intimate atmosphere, as if the dust had settled.

A satisfied smile appeared in Arya's eyes.

After the last radish seedling was successfully transplanted, Lin Yu'an started his simple automatic drip irrigation system.

Clear water droplets began to nourish the newly sown seedlings, drop by drop, evenly.

"Alright." Lin Yu'an patted the dirt off his hands, looked at the neat vegetable garden in front of him, and smiled with satisfaction.

"Now, we just need to wait, and probably before the first heavy snow arrives, we will be able to eat the freshest cabbage and radishes that we grew ourselves."

And Lin Yu'an's family is becoming more and more stable in an unseen but more complex way.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

(Standing here begging for monthly votes!)

(End of this chapter)