American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 304 The Arctic Homeland Project is Finalized
"First, regarding glass curtain walls."

“Mr. Hammond, I fully understand and admire your commitment to the idea of ​​100% seamless connectivity, which is undoubtedly visually perfect.”

He then changed the subject, saying, "However, the long-term maintenance costs and reliability issues under extreme weather conditions raised by Engineer Li are fatal."

"I don't want December's home to become an expensive toy that needs constant repairs ten years from now."

"Furthermore, the huge cost difference between three million and eight million dollars allows us to allocate more of our budget to more critical areas."

"Therefore, on this issue, I chose the sliding curtain wall solution from the Chinese team."

On the other side of the screen, Li Wenbo's team showed a hint of joy in their eyes, but remained professional and restrained.

"Secondly, regarding the visitor area."

"This is a more complex option, and Mr. Hammond's underwater tunnel will undoubtedly provide a unique sensory experience for future visitors."

"This is very helpful in enhancing our foundation's public influence and appeal."

"However, the proposal put forward by Li's team, which utilizes Wyoming regulations to define the visitor area as an educational facility to obtain permanent property tax deductions, is also very attractive."

"This is a cost optimization from an operational perspective, full of Eastern wisdom."

He pondered for a moment and then gave a surprisingly inclusive answer.

"So, my decision is to have both."

Amidst the surprised gazes of the crowd, he explained, "We will adopt the observation mountain design from the Chinese team as the main structure, transforming it into a scientific observation station that integrates popular science, education, and scientific research, to ensure that we can enjoy tax exemptions."

“However,” he looked at Hammond, “inside this observation hill, at one of the observation points, I demand that your underwater corridor concept be realized!”

“We can excavate a tunnel from the underground part of the mountain to connect to the underwater part of Glacier Lagoon Bay.”

"After a series of educational sessions on Arctic ecology, visitors can finally see the polar bears swimming underwater in a private, secluded space."

"Instead of building a separate tunnel, we'll create a final surprise for visitors at the end of that scientific observation station."

“We need to convince the tax authorities that what visitors are seeing is not an entertainment performance, but a dynamic display of scientific research samples. In this way, the entire building can be classified as an educational facility.”

Do you understand what I mean?

Hammond and Li Wenbo on the other side of the screen simultaneously showed expressions of sudden realization, and then nodded together.

This client is not only balancing art and engineering, he's even... designing the law.

"Therefore, Engineer Li, please recalculate the budget. I believe that the cost of implementing this design on a small scale is completely controllable."

"Then, thirdly, regarding the back-end medical center, there is no room for compromise on this issue."

Lin Yu'an's tone became extremely solemn: "The biosafety isolation proposed by Mr. Hammond is the lifeline of this project."

"We cannot expose December to any potential risks just to save four million dollars."

"Engineer Li, your integrated solution is very efficient, but it is also slightly riskier than the independent medical building solution."

He looked at Li Wenbo and said, "I will increase investment if the budget is exceeded, and I can also accept the extension of the overall construction period. In the face of the risks in December, cost and efficiency must give way."

Finally, he addressed the most crucial, and also the riskiest, issue.

"Finally, the fourth point concerns the construction method."

"Mr. Hammond's concerns are entirely correct; such extreme transnational concurrent engineering carries enormous risks."

His gaze turned to Li Wenbo, "However, Engineer Li, I choose to believe in you, and at the same time, I believe in the efficiency of the nation's infrastructure powerhouse behind me."

"I have decided to adopt the infrastructure solution of prefabrication in China and assembly in the United States!"

He looked at everyone and explained his fundamental reason: "Because I can't wait another eighteen months. December and Amber need a real home."

These words are full of emotional power, yet they are based on rational choices.

After making all the core decisions, Lin Yu'an finally presented the final solution regarding the cooperation model.

"To ensure the success of this high-stakes gamble, and to address Mr. Hammond's ultimate concerns about collaboration, I have decided to change our cooperation model."

“From today onwards, your two teams will no longer be independent consultants and contractors.”

“I will establish a temporary joint venture project company in the name of my December Foundation, together with PGAV and Chimelong Design Institute, specifically responsible for the construction of the Arctic Home.”

“My foundation holds 51% of the shares and has the final decision-making power. Your two families each hold 24.5% of the shares.”

"This means that you will no longer be the contractors earning a fixed design fee. You will all become shareholders in this project."

"The total budget for the project has now been adjusted to forty-eight million US dollars. If we can ultimately complete this project perfectly at a lower cost."

"Then all the funds saved will be distributed as profits among the three parties according to their shareholding ratios."

"However, if the project is delayed or over budget due to the mistakes of any of you, then the excess portion will also need to be borne by you in proportion to your shareholding."

He looked at the two team leaders on the screen who were equally stunned by his proposal, and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, I've turned you from employees into my partners."

"Now that your interests are completely aligned, I believe you will become the best partners."

"Any question?"

The meeting room was completely silent.

All that remained were the raging flames of challenge and reward, simultaneously ignited in the eyes of Li Wenbo and John Hammond.

"Very good." Lin Yu'an nodded in satisfaction as he looked at the renewed fighting spirit of the group.

"Well then, gentlemen, now that we're family, let's forget about all the tedious procedures and have a real brainstorming session."

"Our goal remains the same: to create a miracle within nine months with a budget of $48 million. Now we'll fill in every detail of that miracle."

He first turned his gaze to McCormick.

"Dr. McCormick, as our future Chief Animal Welfare Officer, please put aside all limitations and tell me what your dream Arctic home should look like?"

This question instantly ignited McCormick's passion as a scientist.

“Freedom, Lin, absolute freedom,” she said without hesitation. “I’ve reviewed the proposals from both teams, and they are both excellent. But I’d like to add one crucial point: water.”

“Polar bears are semi-aquatic animals. Water is not just a swimming pool for them, but their very soul! So I hope to provide both saltwater and freshwater environments at the same time.”

"It hunts in saltwater simulating the Arctic Ocean and then cleans its fur in freshwater simulating glacial meltwater. This experience will be of great benefit to its behavioral performance."

Hammond immediately pulled up a concept image of the water cycle on the screen, his eyes sparkling with creativity.

“We can connect the two pools with a simulated tidal waterfall! By utilizing the height difference, fresh water can flow naturally and periodically into the saltwater pool.”

"This will be visually stunning and will also provide more playtime for the animals!"

Li Wenbo immediately offered a calm analysis from an engineering perspective. He pulled up an extremely complex diagram of the water treatment pipeline network.

“Mr. Hammond’s idea is great, but to realize it means we have to build two completely independent water filtration and circulation systems.”

“Brine systems require top-of-the-line protein skimmers and ozone disinfection equipment, while freshwater systems focus more on physical filtration and ecological purification.”

“We can share a central cooling and heat exchange unit, but that still means our life support system budget will need to increase by at least one million dollars.”

"Moreover, the cost of creating thousands of tons of artificial seawater that meets the salinity standards of the Arctic Ocean and maintaining its chemical composition stability over a long period of time is extremely high."

Lin Yu'an made the decision without hesitation, "Then let's do it this way. I'll take care of the money. You just need to tell me if we can do it to the best of our ability technically."

"I want the Tidal Falls independent circulation system, all of it. Increase the total budget for the life support system from three million to five million."

"Okay, next one." Lin Yu'an's pace was extremely fast.

McCormick reiterated, "I see the plans behind the scenes, but I need a medical center that meets BSL-3 (Biosafety Level 3) standards."

“In addition to the regular operating room and laboratory, I insist that we must be equipped with a Siemens SOMATOM series dual-source CT scanner.”

Li Wenbo immediately frowned and began rapidly searching on the keyboard: "Dr. McCormick, the cost of purchasing, constructing and installing a dual-source CT scanner specifically for animals."

"It will require at least two and a half million US dollars, which is almost the sum of our original back-office budget!"

McCormick's tone was unwavering. "I know it's expensive, but you don't understand the significance of this device. Polar bears and Siberian tigers are animals with an extremely high pain tolerance." "Many internal diseases and injuries cannot be detected through routine examinations. By the time obvious symptoms appear, it's often too late."

"With this dual-source CT scanner, we can complete a full cardiopulmonary scan in 0.25 seconds while the patients are fully awake and without anesthesia."

"This will not only minimize interference with them, but also allow us to achieve truly preventative diagnosis."

Looking into McCormick's eyes, which were filled with awe for life, Lin Yu'an felt a surge of both reason and emotion coursing through his heart.

He blurted out, "Buy."

However, he explained to everyone, "From the very beginning, this project was not just about December and amber; it is a platform, a benchmark."

"I hope that in the future, this place can become the central hospital and technical support center for all polar and big cat rescue projects around the world. This investment is necessary."

He then looked at Li Wenbo: "Engineer Li, I'd like to add another $300 million to the special budget. What I want is an institution that all the world's top veterinarians dream of working here."

The atmosphere of the meeting was completely ignited by Lin Yu'an's crazy spirit of disregarding costs and only seeking the best.

Michaels continued, “Food! The food supply chain! We can’t rely on airlifting seal meat from the Bering Sea or importing salmon from Norway forever.”

"Logistics costs are too high and extremely unstable. We need a sustainable solution that we can control."

This question immediately piqued the interest of the Chinese team.

In Li Wenbo's team, a young-looking engineer in charge of agricultural planning spoke up excitedly.

“Mr. Lin, Ms. McCormick, our team noticed this problem while studying the ranch data and has developed a bold contingency plan!”

He shared a hydrological and topographical analysis map of the ranch: "In the ranch's 5,000-acre agricultural area, there is a secondary river that never freezes and is fed by geothermal hot springs."

"The water quality test report shows that its purity reaches drinking water standards. This is a natural and perfect breeding ground for cold-water fish!"

"Traditional flow-through aquaculture or cage aquaculture is inefficient and has an impact on the environment."

He switched to a design drawing filled with various pipes and filtration equipment.

"Therefore, our suggestion is to fully import the most mature and cost-effective technology and equipment that is currently commercially operational in the field of recirculating aquaculture (RAS) in China."

"We can specialize in breeding Arctic salmon and alpine whitefish, which have the highest nutritional value and the richest fat content."

"Through this system, we can precisely control water temperature, water quality, and feed, achieving uninterrupted, traceable organic production throughout the year!"

Hammond's eyes lit up: "Fantastic! We can also design this farm as a sustainable ecological agriculture demonstration area open to tourists!"

"Letting tourists see firsthand how food is produced in December using the most environmentally friendly and scientific methods is itself the best form of education!"

"How much budget is needed for this plan?" Lin Yu'an asked.

Chen Zhuo provided a comparative figure: "If a complete RAS system were purchased in the United States, the initial investment would be approximately three to four million US dollars."

“But if we bring the whole set of equipment from China, including the filter tank, aerator, protein separator and intelligent control system, it will be a great success.”

"Then our engineers will guide the local team in the United States to carry out the installation, and the total cost can be controlled within one and a half million US dollars."

This is an extremely tempting cost-halving plan.

But Lin Yu'an didn't make a decision immediately. He looked at McCormick and asked a deeper question: "Mcormick, the fish can solve December's problem. So, what about Amber?"

McCormick immediately provided a professional answer: "The Siberian tiger's main food is terrestrial mammals such as deer and wild boar. Fish alone cannot meet all its nutritional needs."

Lin Yu'an nodded; this was exactly what he was worried about. "So, this aquaculture farm is just the first link in our food supply chain."

“We also need a second link, a small wildlife breeding farm with legal qualifications.”

“We can set aside a specific area of ​​several hundred acres on the ranch for the scientific, small-scale breeding of red deer.”

“They can not only serve as a primary food source for amber in the future, but also enrich the December menu, and even provide the finest organic red meat for our own tables.”

This idea stunned everyone present.

In the United States, obtaining a license to raise fish is relatively easy, but the captivity and breeding of large wild mammals involves extremely complex and stringent legal permits.

Hammond was the first to raise concerns: "Lin, the idea is great, but legally... it's almost impossible."

“The Wyoming Department of Fish and Game has extremely strict approval processes for permits to keep native wildlife in captivity. There has almost never been a precedent of a private farm obtaining such a permit.”

This time, Li Wenbo's team also stood on the same side as Hammond. The young agricultural engineer, Chen Zhuo, shared a new PowerPoint presentation.

Chen Zhuo's expression was very serious. "Mr. Lin, Mr. Hammond is right. Our legal team has also conducted preliminary research on this issue."

“This path is indeed very difficult. We may spend years on applications, environmental assessments, and community hearings, and ultimately it is very likely that our application will be rejected.”

He switched to the next page, which contained a detailed cost-benefit analysis.

"At the same time, we also compared the costs of purchasing and raising the animals."

“A top-tier deer farm in Colorado with USDA certification sells high-quality frozen elk meat for about $20 per pound wholesale.”

"Based on the food intake of an adult Siberian tiger, the annual food cost is approximately $100,000."

"If you raise them yourself, you'll need to build hundreds of acres of safety-standard fencing, introduce initial stock, and construct supporting facilities..."

“We estimate that the initial investment to start this breeding farm will be at least two million dollars.”

"Therefore, from a purely economic point of view, the initial investment in raising your own livestock is more than fifteen times that of buying meat."

"Given the significant legal uncertainties, our advice is to use a more conservative procurement approach in the early stages of a project."

The conference room fell silent again.

A perfect, self-sufficient ecosystem seems to be stuck at the two most realistic hurdles: law and cost.

However, Lin Yu'an still wore that calm and composed smile on his face.

He looked at everyone and slowly nodded. "Very good. Engineer Chen, your analysis is very professional, and the data is very detailed. I agree with your conclusions."

This straightforward answer surprised everyone.

Lin Yu-an made his decision: "In the early stages of the project, we will adopt a procurement approach."

“However,” Lin Yu’an changed the subject, his eyes flashing with a longer-term perspective, “this is only a short-term solution.”

"In the long run, I still insist that we must have a breeding farm that we have complete control over. I don't want my family's food to depend on any external supply chain."

“I know it’s difficult to get aquaculture permits. It may require some unconventional methods.”

Lin Yu-an made the final decision again, "The fish farming plan will proceed as we discussed! We'll put the fish farm issue on hold for now."

The meeting lasted for four hours.

From the need for the stadium roof to withstand the highest level (S-5) snow load standard of Wyoming's record-breaking snowstorms, to the requirement for separate, safe walkways for zookeepers to be designed backstage.

The visitor area requires five-layer laminated ultra-clear one-way glass, 10 centimeters thick, manufactured in Germany.

Behind that AI dynamic lighting system lies a model of real Arctic lighting data spanning ten years…

Every detail was repeatedly discussed, debated, and optimized before Lin Yu'an finalized it in the most decisive way.

Finally, when the meeting ended, a memorandum for launching the December Arctic Home Project, which was over a hundred pages long and filled with countless detailed data, was freshly produced.

At the end of the meeting, Li Wenbo summarized all the new budgets and gave a final figure.

"Mr. Lin, based on our previous decisions, the budget is 3800 million, with an additional 200 million for the visitor area, 400 million for the independent medical center, and 200 million for the life support system."

"An additional $300 million was allocated to the CT project, and $150 million to the recirculating aquaculture system... The total budget for the project was finally set at a staggering $5150 million."

The total project duration was locked at nine months under extreme optimization.

Lin Yu'an looked at the screen and saw the two partners who also looked somewhat tired, but whose eyes were full of excitement and fighting spirit.

He knew that this home, which cost more than 50 million US dollars, had been transformed from a distant dream into a blueprint that could be precisely executed.

(End of this chapter)