American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 295 The New Owner of 'Giant Rock River Heritage Farm'!
I woke up to the calls of seabirds the next morning.

At the dock, Lin Yu'an not only filled the main fuel tank, but also filled the two long-range auxiliary fuel tanks located under the wings.

What follows will be the most exciting and challenging part of the entire journey: embarking on the transoceanic voyage back to the United States!

"Are you ready?" he asked his family through the intercom system.

“Anytime, Captain!” Arya replied excitedly.

The turbo-beaver roared into the air from the water with a force far greater than that on land. Soon, the town of Ketchikan disappeared behind it.

Directly in front of them stretched an endless and awe-inspiring blue Pacific Ocean.

For the next four hours, there would be no land in their field of vision. Only the sea below, undulating in the sunlight like blue velvet, and the equally boundless, azure sky above.

At first, Arya and Emily were incredibly excited and fascinated. They saw pods of dolphins leaping out of the water and huge blue whales, the size of small mountains, slowly swimming beneath the surface.

But gradually, when only the sea and sky remained around, a sense of insignificance and loneliness in the face of boundless nature began to quietly arise.

Emily started to get nervous, and she instinctively gripped the armrests of her chair.

Arya noticed her emotions and reached out a hand, gently placing it on the back of her hand.

Lin Yu'an noticed this as well, and he began to explain to them in a calm and confident voice through the earpiece.

He pointed to the huge glass screen in the cockpit: "Look here, this is our GPS moving map. We are now on this pre-set air route, which is the most stable and safest air corridor according to the conclusions of countless transoceanic pilots."

He then pointed to another screen, “Look here, this is our real-time weather radar. There’s a small rain cloud about 100 nautical miles ahead of us. Our avionics system has automatically planned the most economical route to avoid it.”

His calm yet confident explanation acted like a highly effective tranquilizer, instantly calming all their anxieties.

Arya and Emily knew that the man piloting the plane had anticipated and addressed all possible risks for them.

All they need to do is trust him completely.

Around noon, when a thin green horizon finally appeared between the sea and the sky, Arya was the first to cheer.

"Land! I see land!"

"We did it! We successfully crossed that daunting deep blue ocean!"

The Washington State coastline, covered in dense forests, came into view before them.

At Boeing Field in Seattle, they refueled and took a short break. In the FBO's VIP lounge, they enjoyed a lunch that was far less delicious than Juno's king crab, but full of the flavors of the civilized world.

In the afternoon, they took off again, beginning the final leg of this epic expedition.

They flew eastward, over the majestic Cascade Mountains, over the vast farmlands of Idaho, and over the winding Snake River.

Finally, on Emily's tablet, the GPS dot finally overlapped with the huge area marked "Metal River Heritage Ranch".

“We…have arrived.” Her voice carried a hint of dreamlike unreality.

Lin Yu'an piloted the plane, slowly descending.

Instead of flying directly to the 2000-meter-long private runway, he began hovering low over their future kingdom, like a king inspecting his territory.

Below them, the magnificent 30,000 acres of land were displayed in the most perfect form.

They saw the "Mirror Lake," which resembled a sapphire, its surface reflecting light like a sapphire.

I saw the winding river of giant rocks, drawing a graceful arc across the golden meadow. Herds of red deer, startled by the roar of the airplane, ran and leaped across the vast grassland.

They even saw a small figure waving at them from beside the main house, "Eagle's Nest," which sits like a work of art on the mountain ridge.

It was Arthur Vanderbilt, the real estate agent who had been waiting there all along.

Lin Yu'an spoke into the intercom to his family in a voice filled with pride and tenderness.

"Ladies and gentlemen, dear little passengers, I am your captain, Lin Yu'an."

"Now, please fasten your seatbelts and stow your tray tables."

"Our plane is about to land."

"Welcome home."

After saying that, he maneuvered the sunbird-like turbocharged beaver, drawing a graceful arc and precisely aiming at the private runway bathed in the golden afterglow.

Then they slowly descended, leaving the first trail on that vast kingdom that would forever belong to them from this day forward.

After the plane had taxied several hundred meters on the runway, Lin Yu'an lightly applied the brakes and skillfully turned onto the taxiway leading to the helipad next to the main building.

"Let's get off the plane." Lin Yu'an smiled as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "Our butler has been waiting for quite some time."

The butler he was referring to was none other than Arthur Vanderbilt, the real estate agent who was already waiting on the tarmac, his hair meticulously combed and dressed in a sophisticated Barbour hunting jacket.

As Lin Yu'an and his family disembarked from the plane, Arthur immediately greeted them with a broad smile. Behind him followed two brand-new Land Rover Defenders.

Arthur's voice was full of enthusiasm: "Mr. Lin! Welcome, welcome to your future kingdom! The flight must have been tiring, right?"

"It's alright, the scenery is nice," Lin Yu'an said casually as she shook hands with him.

Arthur exclaimed sincerely, "Not just good, it's a miracle! You are the first customer to personally fly a turbo-powered beaver all the way from Alaska to inspect this place. Your flying skills and your financial resources are both admirable."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Arthur displayed the professionalism and meticulous care of a top agent. He gestured for them to proceed to a large off-road RV that looked like a mobile palace, located beside the helipad.

Arthur smiled and said, “Mr. Lin, your legal and financial teams have completed all the online due diligence over the past few days. Today, all you need to do is experience this land in person to see if it matches your ultimate vision of ‘home’.”

"This RV will be your mobile castle today. It comes equipped with a chef and a nanny to take care of all the needs of two ladies and children. We can stop anytime, have a coffee and enjoy the scenery."

“Very good, Arthur.” Lin Yu’an nodded in satisfaction. “This arrangement is perfect. Let’s begin.”

The family boarded the top-of-the-line off-road RV, which resembled a mobile palace. The moment the door closed, the chill of the evening outside was completely shut out. The interior was warm and cozy, filled with the subtle aroma of leather and coffee.

A professional driver took the driver's seat, while Arthur sat in the passenger seat. The Lin family sat comfortably on the leather sofa in the back, which resembled a first-class cabin on a private jet, enjoying the view outside through the huge panoramic sunroof and bulletproof glass windows.

The RV slowly started and began its unique kingdom tour along the well-maintained gravel road inside the ranch.

“Mr. Lin, Ms. Arya, Ms. Emily,” Arthur’s voice came clearly, full of passion and pride.

"Welcome to the Great Stone River Heritage Ranch. Over the next few hours, I will show you the soul of this land. Our first stop is the heart of this kingdom – the Great Stone River."

The RV slowly came to a stop on a higher section of the riverbank. Below lay the famous River of Giant Rocks, now a completely different sight.

The river no longer rushes; it lies silently in the valley like a winding dragon frozen in time. A thick layer of ice, covered with snow, completely obscures the traces of its flow.

“Mr. Lin, what you are seeing now is the winter form of the Giant Stone River. Although the river is frozen over, this is precisely the proof of its most precious value.”

He pulled up a video on his tablet, a summer scene showing a rushing river and schools of trout.

As he played the video, he explained, "In the summer, this frozen dragon will awaken."

"This is a top-quality blue ribbon trout river, a twelve-mile stretch of private waterway, meaning that from the spring when the ice melts to the fall when it freezes again, every plump trout in this river will be your private property."

“Moreover,” he pointed to the thick ice outside the window, “in winter, this frozen river becomes a natural white highway.”

"You can drive snowmobiles and ATVs to reach remote corners that are inaccessible by vehicles in the summer, making it a unique winter experience."

The RV continued its journey, leaving the valley and beginning its ascent towards the higher alpine meadows.

"Now, we have entered the kingdom's granary—the winter pasture area."

Before them stretched a vast meadow covered in pristine white snow. At the edge of the distant forest, several haystacks, resembling small hills, could be seen – winter fodder already stocked for the livestock.

Angus cattle covered in thick winter coats and magnificent Quarter horses gathered at the foot of a sheltered hillside, leisurely chewing on the hay provided by the ranchers, their breath visible in the frigid air.

Arthur explained, "This area covers about five thousand acres. In the summer, it's a high-altitude pasture rich in protein. In the winter, it becomes our main winter pasture."

"The Rock River organic beef from the ranch has a more even distribution of fat due to its unique wintering method, and it is sold by the ounce in the top restaurants in Jackson Hole."

Just then, a commotion broke out at the edge of the distant forest.

A herd of enormous red deer cautiously emerged from the forest and approached the fodder feeding area, hoping to share some food for the winter. The cattle seemed quite accustomed to these uninvited guests and did not drive them away.

“Do you see that, Mr. Lin?” Arthur’s tone was tinged with awe. “This is the miracle of the Yellowstone ecosystem! In the harsh winter, they not only have to take care of their own livestock, but also leave a glimmer of hope for survival for these wild neighbors.”

"You will not only be the master of this land in the future, but also its guardian!" Lin Yu'an remained relaxed throughout, focusing more on observing Arya and Emily's reactions. He saw a genuine love for this land on their faces.

When the RV finally arrived at the completely frozen mirror lake, everyone was so stunned by the beautiful scenery that they were speechless.

The vast lake, like an uncut gem, lies quietly nestled among the mountains. In the distance, the Absalok Mountains, covered in snow, appear exceptionally majestic under the clear blue sky.

The RV came to a smooth stop on a cleared plot of land by the lake. The chef had already begun preparing a steaming hot lunch.

Emily and Arya were holding their child, getting ready to put on thick clothes and experience the wonderful feeling of walking on the lake.

Lin Yu'an walked to the front of the RV, sat down on the sofa next to the driver's seat, and looked through the window at the magnificent frozen lake. He then asked Arthur the question he had already prepared.

“Arthur, although my lawyer has handled most of the paperwork, I still want to personally understand the complete process for completing such a transaction in the United States.”

Arthur knew this was the client's final confirmation before signing the contract. He immediately perked up and began explaining in the clearest language possible.

"Of course, Mr. Lin. That's an excellent question. We can summarize the entire process into seven key steps."

"Step 1: Making an offer and negotiating. You have completed this step, and we have received your letter of intent to purchase, submitted through your lawyer and accompanied by proof of assets."

"Step Two: Signing the Purchase Agreement and Depositing the Earnest Money. Once both parties have reached an agreement on the price and core terms, your lawyer and the seller's lawyer will jointly draft a detailed Real Estate Purchase Agreement."

"You will need to sign it and at the same time deposit a deposit, usually 1% to 3% of the total price, into a third-party escrow account overseen by a neutral property rights company. This money serves as proof of your intent to purchase."

"The third and most crucial step: the due diligence period."

He continued, "That's the work we're doing now. The agreement will specify a timeframe, such as 30 or 60 days. During this period, as the buyer, you have the right to conduct the most thorough investigation of all aspects of the land."

"This includes property history, water and mining rights, land surveying, building structure, financial auditing, environmental assessment, etc. If any material defects are found during this period that do not match the seller's description, you have the right to withdraw from the transaction and get your earnest money back in full."

"Step 4: Removal of the incidental clause. Once you and your team are satisfied with all the findings of the investigation, your lawyer will send us a formal letter of removal of the incidental clause."

"This means that you have given up your right to withdraw, and the transaction will officially enter the irreversible transfer phase."

"Step 5: Title examination and title insurance. This is done by the title company we select. They will dig deep into the land's transaction records, mortgage records, and easement records over the past hundred years, like historians, to ensure that its title is clean and free of any legal disputes."

"Then, they will provide you with title insurance. This insurance will guarantee that you will not suffer any losses in the future due to any title disputes that occurred before the purchase."

"Step Six: Final Settlement and Escrow. A few days before the transfer of ownership, the title company will issue a detailed 'Final Settlement List,' which lists all payments, including the purchase price, various taxes and fees, and our agent's commission. You will need to wire transfer the entire purchase price from your bank to that third-party escrow account. By the time we sign the contract today, the funds must have been confirmed to be cleared and securely in your account."

“The final step,” he smiled, his tone noticeably lighter, “is what we’re going to do tonight—the transfer of ownership and registration.”

“We’ll sit down together and sign the final documents. Then, the title company’s specialist will immediately send the new title deed to the Park County government registry for registration. The moment your name is officially recorded in the government’s public archives…”

“And then, congratulations, Mr. Lin,” Arthur said, his eyes filled with respect, “you will officially become the undisputed sole monarch of this kingdom!”

Arthur's detailed and clear explanation gave Lin Yu'an a deeper understanding of all the steps Marty's team took in the early stages, as well as the entire process.

At dusk, in the study of the guest cabin near "Eagle's Nest," overlooking the entire frozen mirror lake and snow-capped mountains, the fire in the fireplace was burning brightly.

A private real estate transaction that could be the largest in Wyoming history is about to be finalized.

Lin Yu'an, Ailiya, and Emily sat on the luxurious leather sofa in the study.

This time, it was no longer Lin Yu'an himself who sat at the head of the negotiating table.

He was leisurely enjoying afternoon tea with Arya, Emily, and their two children who had just woken up on the terrace next to the study, admiring the magnificent view of the sunset painting the snow-capped mountains in a golden-red hue.

For him, once all strategic decisions have been made, the specific execution details should be entirely handed over to the professional team he trusts.

The real battlefield belongs to those agents.

The person who signed on behalf of Lin Yu-an was David Chen, the chief partner of the law firm of Matty Singer. He was a shrewd and capable-looking Chinese lawyer, and next to him was a representative from the accounting firm.

Opposite them sat the seller's legal representative, also a top lawyer from Houston, Texas.

Real estate agent Arthur Vanderbilt and the chief closing agent from First American Titles presided over the closing ceremony as neutral parties.

On the huge mahogany table, there was a mountain of legal documents that had been repeatedly reviewed by both sides' legal teams.

After hours of back-and-forth between David Chen and the opposing lawyer, the two sides finally reached an agreement on the final transaction price late last night.

Two hundred and twenty million US dollars.

This price represents a reduction of $15 million from the initial listing price of $2.35 million. This was a truly miraculous discount that Marty's team secured for Lin Yu-an after applying extreme pressure by exploiting minor flaws they discovered during their due diligence.

After confirming the last document, David Chen turned around and gave Lin Yu-an, who was leisurely holding her child and enjoying the view on the terrace, a nod of absolute confidence.

Lin Yu'an saw his signal, smiled and nodded in return, then continued to feed a small piece of biscuit to his daughter who was sitting on his lap, waving her arms and legs excitedly.

Inside the study, after receiving final authorization from Lin Yu'an, David Chen picked up the Montblanc pen.

He signed his name as the authorized agent on the thick transfer document that represented ownership of a "kingdom".

As he finished writing the last stroke, the chief clerk of the property rights company immediately stepped forward to collect the document.

Instead of announcing "the funds are ready" like in the movies, he turned to his laptop, put on his headphones, and connected to an encrypted video call with the custodian bank.

On the screen was a senior bank manager, equally focused and on high alert. The two were conducting a final verbal check, comparing the document codes on the screen.

"Authorization code Alpha-Zulu-7-9, confirmed."

"Authorization code confirmed. Custodial funds status: liquidated and ready for release." The bank manager's voice came through the headset.

The whole process was quiet and swift, yet more nerve-wracking than any noisy countdown.

This enormous sum of $220 million had actually been lying quietly in an escrow account since yesterday, awaiting this final instruction.

After ending the call, the transfer specialist took off his headset, a relieved smile on his face.

He stood up, cleared his throat, and solemnly announced this historic moment to all the agents present.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have confirmed with the escrow bank that the purchase price of US$220 million has been settled yesterday and securely deposited into a third-party escrow account. All closing conditions have been met."

“I hereby announce that the transfer of title to the Rock River Heritage Ranch is now complete! I will immediately authorize the escrow account to transfer funds to the seller. The new title deed will be sent to Park County for registration within one hour.”

Transaction complete.

The next second, a burst of enthusiastic applause erupted in the room!

David Chen excitedly embraced the accounting representative beside him. Arthur Vanderbilt, the top agent who had seen it all, also clapped enthusiastically.

On the terrace, Arthur Vanderbilt strode over and respectfully presented a freshly opened bottle of Dom Pérignon champagne and several crystal glasses.

“Congratulations, Mr. Lin.” His voice was filled with heartfelt reverence. “Welcome to your kingdom.”

Lin Yu'an stood up, took the champagne, and poured a glass for himself, Alia, and Emily.

The three of them raised their glasses together, looking out the window at the magnificent kingdom that was now truly their home, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. Their hearts were filled with an unprecedented sense of pride and peace.

Aria leaned on Lin Yu'an's shoulder and whispered, "Darling, we...we really have all of this. It feels like a dream."

“This is not a dream, Leah.” Lin Yu’an looked at the sapphire-blue frozen lake in the distance, his voice filled with boundless anticipation for the future. “This is the beginning of our new life.”

He put down his glass, and two furry figures appeared in his mind. He spoke slowly.

"At the same time, they are also theirs."

He stretched out his hand and pointed to a vast area in the distance that connected to Mirror Lake, with flat terrain and backed by mountains.

"Look there."

Arya and Emily looked in the direction he was pointing.

Lin Yu'an's voice was full of determination: "Soon, on that land, the most unique Arctic home in the world will rise from the ground."

“Our December, and its new brother Amber, will grow up there together, never to experience separation or abandonment again.”

"That will be their eternal home."

Arya and Emily smiled at each other, both seeing the same hopeful vision of happiness in each other's eyes.

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.

(Sorry for the lateness.)
(End of this chapter)