American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 297 The King's Authority

Finally, Arthur led them in the private elevator, which was wrapped in brass and dark brown leather, to the master suite on the third floor, which belonged only to the owner.

“The entire third floor is a complete, independent, and private space,” Arthur explained in the elevator.

When the elevator doors opened, what first caught the eye was not a bedroom, but a cozy living room with a huge fireplace and an unbeatable lake view.

In one corner of the living room, there is even a fully equipped tea bar with a coffee machine, a small refrigerator, and an ice maker.

Passing through the living room and pushing open a heavy wooden door, the actual bedroom came into view.

The design of this space perfectly embodies the concept of understated luxury.

The enormous bed, crafted from cedar wood and capable of accommodating four people, is undoubtedly the star of the show.

The headboard is upholstered in beige velvet with a checkered pattern, giving it an incredibly comfortable look. The bed is covered in soft, smooth, and luxurious Italian Frette bedding, with a cool, silky feel.

The most unique design feature is the huge curtain behind the bed, made entirely of deep olive green velvet.

It not only visually extends the space, but also adds a theatrical feel and unparalleled tranquility.

On the bedside tables on both sides of the bed, there are elegantly designed glass lamps that emit a soft glow.

Directly opposite the bed is a floor-to-ceiling glass door that leads directly to a private viewing balcony belonging only to the owner.

Arya and Emily slowly walked to the window and looked down.

From this highest point known as the Nest of Eagles, they could clearly see the last rays of the setting sun, which were dyeing the snow-covered kingdom beneath their feet into a dreamlike golden-red hue.

The frozen mirror lake, the winding river of giant stones like a white ribbon, the continuous dark green pine forests covered with snow... everything is within sight.

At that moment, they finally understood what it meant to hold the horizon in their hands!
“Darling…” Aria’s voice trembled slightly as she turned around and hugged Lin Yu’an tightly. “Thank you, thank you for creating all of this for us.”

Emily hugged him from the other side, pressing her cheek against his chest.

Lin Yu'an held the two most important women in his life, his heart filled with unprecedented satisfaction.

He looked out at the magnificent kingdom and said softly, "No, it was together that we found our home."

As night fell, the family returned to their warm living room.

The living room at night exudes a charm completely different from that of the daytime. The outdoor world has turned into a deep, dark blue, and the snowfield gleams with a cool light under the moonlight.

Inside, however, was a warm ocean of light, with the fire in the fireplace burning even brighter, casting a rosy glow on everyone's faces.

The family was comfortably nestled in the huge corner sofa, covered with soft blankets.

The two little ones were already fast asleep in a warm embrace, with contented smiles on their faces.

Lin Yu'an, Aria, and Emily didn't speak, but simply nestled together quietly, listening to the crackling of the burning firewood in the fireplace and the occasional whistling of the wind through the pine forest outside the window.

This sound is the most beautiful symphony in the world.

This is their kingdom.

And tonight marks the first day of a new era for this kingdom.

The next day, as the first golden rays of dawn crossed the main peak of the Teton Mountains, turning the snow-capped peaks into a brilliant rose gold, Lin Yu'an had already woken up.

Without disturbing Arya and Emily, who were still fast asleep beside him, he quietly got up and stepped barefoot onto the warm oak floor, which had been heated by the underfloor heating.

The hard work of the previous night did not leave him feeling tired at all; on the contrary, it seemed to have injected new energy into his body. He stood steadily in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, quietly looking at the view before him.

Unlike the deep blue tranquility of last night, the Eagle's Nest in the early morning displays a magnificent beauty full of boundless vitality.

In the distance, the crimson canyon is clearly outlined in the morning light, resembling a sleeping giant, with every ravine exuding a sense of power.

A thin layer of mist rose from the nearby forest, and sunlight pierced through the mist and treetops, casting dappled shadows on the snow.

The whole world was so quiet that you could only hear your own heartbeat and the faint, steady breathing of this land in the distance.

He took a deep breath, and the pure air, mixed with the scent of ice, snow and pine, filled him with unprecedented strength and clarity.

This is his kingdom. From this day forward, he will hold its scepter in his own hands!
When Arya and Emily awoke, they were greeted by the warm fire that had been rekindled in the fireplace, and the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee and toast filling the air.

A woman named Elena, dressed in a neat uniform, introduced herself as the exclusive chef of "Eagle's Nest" and had prepared a sumptuous breakfast for them.

Fresh milk freshly squeezed from their own farm, American-style scrambled eggs made with their own organic eggs, paired with perfectly fried black pork bacon and local specialty venison sausage.

Freshly baked sourdough bread, served with French Iseni butter and New Zealand Manuka honey.

There was also a large plate of sliced ​​seasonal fruit, each piece plump and juicy as if it had absorbed the essence of sunshine.

The two little ones received top-notch care; their breakfast was made by Elena using a nutritionist's recipe, consisting of organic vegetable and beef puree and oatmeal porridge.

The two little ones were eating with great relish, their faces covered in food, making satisfied "mmm" sounds.

“I feel like a real queen,” Arya said sincerely, taking a sip of her fragrant Blue Mountain coffee and lounging back on the soft sofa.

Emily smiled at Lin Yu'an, her eyes filled with tenderness and pride. She knew that from this day forward, her man would begin to truly take control of this vast "empire."

At exactly nine o'clock in the morning, Arthur Vanderbilt appeared at the study door. He held a heavy leather folder in his hand, his expression respectful and serious.

"Good morning, Mr. Lin, ladies. All department heads are already waiting in the small conference room downstairs."

“Before you meet them, I think it’s necessary to give you a detailed report on the complete asset list and financial status of the ‘Stone River Heritage Ranch’.”

“Very good.” Lin Yu’an nodded. He had changed into a well-tailored casual suit, making him appear calm and in control. “Let’s talk here.”

Inside the study, several reports were already laid out on the huge mahogany table.

Arthur turned on the 8K ultra-high-definition laser projector in the study, and a detailed panoramic map of the ranch, marked with different colored blocks, appeared clearly on the wall.

His voice was calm and clear. He picked up a laser pointer and pointed it at the map. "Mr. Lin, first and foremost is the land that forms the foundation of the ranch. This is the ranch's most core and irreplaceable asset."

"The Great Stone River Heritage Ranch covers a total area of ​​31,000 acres, which is larger than the capital cities of some countries."

"This land contains three main ecosystems: alpine meadows, mixed forests of Douglas fir and aspen, and the valleys of the Great Stone River."

"This means your farm has an extremely rich diversity of biological and natural resources. Above the land is your real estate, currently valued at approximately $85 million."

“This includes,” Arthur said, moving his finger across the map, circling each item and listing the details clearly.

"The Eagle's Nest has a total floor area of ​​35000 square feet, with 8 bedroom suites, 15 bathrooms, and all the amenities you saw yesterday. Its independent valuation is $45 million."

“Three separate luxury guest cabins, each over 5000 square feet, with more than five bedroom suites and separate kitchens and living rooms, decorated to a standard no less than the main house. The total value is approximately $12 million.”

"A comprehensive staff services building, located in the heart of the ranch's operations area, contains sixteen high-class staff dormitories, a large dining hall that can accommodate 100 people, a fully equipped gym, and a recreation room. The total value is five million US dollars."

"Twelve ordinary employee family housing units, all three-bedroom, two-living-room detached wooden cabins, are distributed throughout the ranch to facilitate employees working nearby. The total value is six million US dollars."

"And a series of professionally operated buildings, with a total value of approximately US$17 million, including..."
Equestrian Centre: A top-class stable with 20 individual stalls, underfloor heating, and an automatic watering system.

A standard 200x85-foot indoor training area. An outdoor field with a full set of obstacle courses. And a state-of-the-art veterinary workstation.

Cattle ranching facilities: Three large hay warehouses with a total capacity of over 6,000 tons. A modern meat processing plant (in town) integrating slaughtering, aging, cutting, and packaging.

Logistics support: A mechanical repair center equipped with three large hydraulic lifting platforms, a full set of German-made repair tools and vehicle diagnostic computers, and a temperature-controlled hangar.

This list of properties alone gave Arya and Emily a deeper understanding of the scale of the ranch.

This is no longer the concept of a home; it's a fully-equipped and functional independent town.

Lin Yu'an listened quietly, his heart unmoved. This was all within his expectations; it was hardware he had acquired for 220 million US dollars.

In his initial vision, buying the ranch was primarily about providing his family with a top-notch home.

He was already mentally prepared to invest tens of millions of dollars annually to keep the ranch running. As long as it brought happiness and peace to his family, it was all worth it. He had even planned that if the ranch's existing operations became too cumbersome, he would only retain the most basic maintenance team, turning it into a private estate regardless of cost.

However, Arthur's next words surprised him for the first time.

"Next is the ranch's core profit-generating business – the cattle ranching industry."

Arthur switched the projection page, and a series of photos of plump, strong black bulls appeared before his eyes, along with detailed financial data analysis.

"As mentioned yesterday, we are focused on breeding top-quality Wagyu beef (American Wagyu F1 grade). This is not just agriculture, but also the luxury goods industry. In fact, Mr. Hunt defines it as a living work of art."

"Based on the carrying capacity of 31,000 acres of grassland, and to ensure ecological sustainability, the ranch currently has 1,200 registered cattle, a scientifically calculated balance figure."

These include:

Our breeding herd consists of 500 cows, which is the core of our productivity.

Top-grade breeding bulls: 20 in total, each with rigorously selected genes, and each worth over $50,000.

Approximately 350 fattening calves.

Approximately 330 head of fattening and ready-to-be-slaughter beef cattle.

The estimated value of the entire herd's biological assets is approximately $3.2 million.

"The previous rancher's business model was order-based production and targeted supply. He didn't pursue quantity but only the ultimate quality and profit margin."

"In the last fiscal year, a total of 158 fattened cattle were slaughtered. The average live weight of each cattle was about 1300 pounds, and after slaughter, about 750 pounds of bone-in beef was produced."

Arthur pulled up an extremely detailed income and expenditure report.

“Pricing varies depending on the cut of meat. The top cuts of ribeye, sirloin, and tenderloin can fetch up to $150 per pound for Michelin-starred restaurants.”

"Common cuts such as brisket and shank cost around $30 per pound. After processing and packaging at the factory, the average total sales revenue per cow is about $77600."

"Therefore, the total sales revenue of 158 cattle last year, i.e., the gross revenue from the cattle ranching business, was US$12,260,800."

“But the cost of maintaining this quality is also extremely high.” Arthur’s tone was very serious as he pointed to the huge figure in the expenditure section. “This is the necessary price to maintain quality. Last year’s total expenditure was $10.66 million.”

Lin Yu'an quickly did the mental calculations. Expenses of 10.66 million... Income of 12.26 million... There was indeed room for profit, but it was far less than he had imagined.

This made him even more convinced of the project's authenticity and sustainability.

He originally thought that if the supporting industries of such a top-tier estate could achieve a balance between income and expenditure, it would be considered to be operating quite well.

Arthur's voice continued, pulling Lin Yu'an back to reality from her thoughts.
The specific expenditure composition is as follows:

"Employee compensation and benefits: $3.8 million. The average annual salary for the 45 employees exceeds $84,000, which is absolutely top-tier in Wyoming's agricultural sector and is enough to attract and retain top talent."

"Feed costs: $3.3 million. This is the largest single expense besides salaries. To ensure the ultimate meat flavor, the farm uses an extremely complex feed formula, which includes a large number of special ingredients that need to be sourced from outside."

"Veterinary and Pharmaceuticals: $600,000. You have a small, independent genetic laboratory that has established a complete genetic profile and health traceability system for each cow, using the highest level of preventive medicine standards."

"Energy and Fuels: $800,000"

"Equipment depreciation and maintenance: US$1.8 million."

Property tax: $900,000.

"Insurance: $460,000. Each top-grade bull is covered by separate, high-value life and fertility insurance."

"Administrative and Miscellaneous: $300,000"

"Genetic research and development and grassland ecological maintenance: $1.1 million. This money is used not only to introduce new top-quality bull semen, but also to cover the huge expenses of rotating grazing, soil improvement, and irrigation system maintenance on 31,000 acres of grassland each year."

Arthur paused, then pointed to the number at the very bottom of the report.

"Therefore, despite such a huge investment last year, the cattle ranching industry achieved an operating net profit of US$1.6 million,080 after deducting all costs, with a net profit margin of approximately 13.1%."

"Sir, compared to the typical net profit margin of 5% to 10% for a conventional commercial ranch in the United States, the fact that a net profit margin of over 13% can still be achieved with such a luxurious operating scale proves the unparalleled value of the Rock River brand."

Lin Yu'an was once again astonished. The nearly four million US dollars in salary not only supported these forty-five families but also sustained the daily operation of such a vast and luxurious estate...

The key point is that it can actually make a profit of more than 1.6 million every year! He originally just wanted to buy a superyacht moored in a quiet harbor, but he didn't expect that this yacht not only comes with its own fuel supply system!

They can even go out to sea to catch the most precious bluefin tuna while anchored and then sell it for a high price!

This is no longer a business focused on maximizing profits; it's an artistic creation that disregards costs. The former owner, Mr. Hunter, with massive investment, transformed a traditional agricultural project into a luxury brand with healthy profit margins.

Net profit exceeding $1.6 million annually!

what does this mean?
This means that this vast ranch, this kingdom with its ultra-luxurious residences, top-notch horse farms, private airport, and dozens of employees, can truly be self-sufficient!

Not only does it not require any additional investment in maintenance, but it also generates a surplus of $1.6 million after covering all business costs.

This money is more than enough to easily cover most of the expenses of non-profit assets such as horse farms, allowing the entire kingdom to be nearly perfectly self-sufficient!
Lin Yu'an's knuckles began to tap unconsciously on the smooth mahogany table surface.

He was even more satisfied with the result; it was no longer just a consumer product, but a high-quality asset.

This is not only a profitable project that can generate stable cash flow, but more importantly, it is a luxury goods company with top brands, high barriers to entry, and strong bargaining power.

The former owner, Mr. Hunter, spent decades meticulously polishing a dazzling commercial diamond, and now that diamond has fallen into his hands.

A barely perceptible curve unconsciously appeared at the corner of Lin Yu'an's mouth.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

Given such a strong brand foundation, why not expand it further? With such high profit margins, why not try optimizing production capacity?

With such a high-caliber clientele, why not develop more value-added services around them? For example, private hunting experiences? Premium fly fishing trips? Or even... a members-only private club?

For him, increasing the net profit margin from 13% to 15% or even 20% does not seem to be a difficult task.

At this moment, Lin Yu'an's perspective on the ranch completely changed.

If yesterday he was a homeowner content with simply finding the perfect home for his family, now he has switched to a mindset of conquering the business world.

This ranch will no longer just be his home.

It will become a shining pearl with boundless potential on his business empire.

Arthur continued, "In addition to the core cattle ranching business, the ranch also possesses several prestigious assets that do not directly generate profits but are crucial for maintaining the ranch's quality and brand image."

The projected image switched to a bright and magnificent stable.

"First is the horse farm. Based on the previous owner's setup, there are currently sixteen registered horses here."

"Ten of them are well-trained American Quarter Horses, which are the cowboys' most capable assistants in managing the cattle."

"The other six were the former owner's personal mounts, including two docile Arabian horses and four Quarter horse crossbreds suitable for family members to ride."

"By the way, sir, these six horses are all of very purebred lineage. They were specially selected by Mr. Hunter from a top breeding farm in Kentucky, and their total value exceeds five hundred thousand dollars."

“The horse farm itself is a purely investment-intensive department… last year’s annual operating costs were approximately $350,000.”

"Secondly, there are the equipment and work vehicles." Arthur turned to the next page, where rows of green-painted heavy machinery were neatly parked in a huge warehouse.

"The ranch has a fleet of work vehicles built to ensure its operation, with total assets valued at approximately $3.8 million."

This includes.
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.

(Hehe, the scale of the farm in your mind has increased, hasn't it?)

(End of this chapter)