American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 315 Challenges of the China Trip

He dialed the number of CAA agent Scooter.

"Scooter, it's me."

"Lin! My God! You finally had time to call me! Do you know how many offers I turned down this week?"

“Let’s put these aside for now,” Lin Yu’an interrupted him. “I have a new idea, a brand new program that’s all my own. I need CAA’s help to make it a reality.”

What Lin Yu'an wants to do is create a Chinese version of Man vs. Wild, entirely led and produced by himself!
He spoke into the phone, outlining his vision: "Scooter, I want to create a brand new survival challenge show in China. I want to explore the most magnificent and dangerous corners of my homeland."

"For example, go to the snow-capped Changbai Mountain, the misty Ailao Mountain in Yunnan, or the mysterious Shennongjia primeval forest..."

He paused, then added a few more challenging locations that he had already researched.

"Or, go to the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang and challenge yourself to cross the Sea of ​​Death. Go to Hoh Xil in Qinghai to experience the harshness and magnificence of the plateau. These places are full of unique scenery and survival challenges."

After a brief silence, Scout on the other end of the phone exclaimed in genuine admiration, "Lin, you always manage to surprise me. This idea... is brilliant!"

"A global influencer with 500 million followers returning to his mysterious hometown for an adventure? The story itself is incredibly appealing! We will immediately set up a special team to assess the feasibility of this project!"

After hanging up the phone with CAA, Lin Yu'an knew that this grand plan still needed a crucial initiator.

A powerful partner who can provide him with official support and resources within China.

His gaze fell on Sheng Risheng's number in his phone's contacts, and he dialed it.

"Hey?! Anzi!" On the other end of the phone came Sheng Risheng's signature loud, boisterous voice, accompanied by the clattering of mahjong tiles in the background. "You finally remembered me! Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year, Shengzi," Lin Yu'an replied with a smile. "Still playing mahjong?"

"Of course! I won a little money, so I called to share in the good luck!" Sheng Risheng's tone suddenly changed, carrying a hint of resentment, "I'm telling you, you're really not being a good friend, are you?"

"what happened?"

"What else!" Sheng Risheng's voice rose several decibels. "That Lamborghini Urus! Are you crazy? All I did was register a shell company for you in the Cayman Islands!"

"You just gave me a car that could buy an apartment! How am I supposed to ask you for help in the future?"

Lin Yu'an smiled and said, "One thing at a time. You've done me a huge favor, so you deserve this car."

"Hehe! I drive it and another Ferrari to the grocery store every day now, and the attention I get! Tsk tsk~" Sheng Risheng boasted proudly, "By the way, you're a big celebrity now! You're never off the trending topics in China! Awesome, bro!"

After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Yu'an got straight to the point.

"Shengzi, I need to ask you for a favor."

"Tell me! Aside from going through fire and water!"

"I want to make my own survival challenge show in China." Lin Yu'an briefly explained her idea to Sheng Risheng.

"I need official support, such as filming permits and logistical coordination. So, I was wondering if you could first sound out your father-in-law's opinion?"

Sheng Risheng's father-in-law is the deputy director of the Culture and Tourism Bureau of a prefecture-level city in Yunnan Province. Although he is not a high-ranking official, he has been immersed in the system for many years and has extensive connections and knows the rules.

"Is that all?" Sheng Risheng immediately agreed. "Leave it to me! My father-in-law is so worried about their city's tourism GDP that his hair is almost turning white."

"If you, an international superstar, could film just one episode for them, wouldn't they treat you like a god of wealth? Hahaha~ Wait for my news!"

after an hour.

Sheng Risheng called again, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Anzi! It's all done! I just told my father-in-law, and he was so excited he almost dropped his teacup!"

"He didn't dare call you directly, afraid it would be too abrupt. But he asked me to tell you that he fully supports this! Moreover, he feels that bidding in only one city is too narrow a scope!"

"He immediately contacted the director of the Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism! He and that director were old colleagues and had a very close relationship. He said that your project could definitely be elevated to the level of a key provincial-level cultural and publicity project!"

He told you not to rush, that he would first communicate internally to come up with the most complete cooperation plan, and then the leader would personally contact you formally. He told you to wait for his good news!

These words completely put Lin Yu'an at ease. He knew that with his childhood friend's father-in-law acting as an insider, the matter was already half successful.

Two days later.

Lin Yu'an was in his study, planning matters for the Arctic Pavilion with Emily, when a call came in from an unknown number in Yunnan.

He answered the phone, and a steady male voice came from the other end: "Excuse me, is this Mr. Lin Yu'an?"

"It's me, you?"

"Oh, Yu'an, hello there!" The other person's tone instantly became incredibly warm, as if they had met an old friend they hadn't seen in years. "I'm Sheng Risheng's father-in-law, Liang Wenbin!"

"Hello, Director Liang, you're too kind," Lin Yu'an greeted politely, while also making a preliminary assessment of the other party's overly familiar enthusiasm.

"Haha, what director or not? Logically speaking, you and Shengzi are childhood friends, and I'm a few years older. If you don't mind, just call me Uncle Liang, like Shengzi does!" Liang Wenbin used this method to instantly shorten the distance between the two.

"I couldn't possibly accept that, Uncle Liang," Lin Yu'an replied with a smile, maintaining the proper respect.

"Great, great, Yu'an! All of us in the city's cultural and tourism system saw your performance at Madison Square Garden in New York. It was fantastic! Absolutely fantastic!"

His voice was filled with heartfelt admiration.

"Especially when you wore our traditional Chinese clothing and introduced the Chinese New Year to the world, your demeanor and confidence were truly admirable! To be honest, we veteran comrades who have dedicated our lives to cultural promotion feel genuine respect and pride!"

"What you accomplished in one night is more than what we accomplished in a year! You've brought great honor to our country!"

"Uncle Liang, you flatter me. I just did what I was supposed to do," Lin Yu'an replied modestly.

“Oh, that’s too kind!” Liang Wenbin immediately retorted.

"By the way, I heard from Shengzi that you're a father now? And twins, a boy and a girl? How's it going? Taking care of the kids must be tough, right? It's not easy being alone in a foreign country!"

These words instantly shifted the focus from national affairs back to the most down-to-earth family matters, filled with the genuine care of elders for their juniors, which warmed Lin Yu'an's heart.

"Fortunately, my wife is very capable, and we also have a nanny to help out at home."

"That's good, that's good." Liang Wenbin said with emotion, and then seemingly casually got to the point.

"Yu'an, Risheng told me about your idea. To be honest, I was so excited when I first heard it that I couldn't sleep all night!"

“I reported your idea to Director Zhang of our Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism exactly as it was presented. Director Zhang and I have been old buddies for many years, and as soon as he heard it was your project, he approved it on the spot!”

"Director Zhang said, 'What Yunnan needs most right now is someone like you who understands Chinese culture and has global influence, to showcase Yunnan's unique natural scenery and ethnic cultural charm to the world!'"

"Your idea is simply... it's like someone offering you a pillow when you're sleepy!"

"Director Zhang asked me to tell you that as long as you are willing to host the first episode of your program in the YN Provincial Department, they will provide you with the highest level of support!"

"Whether it's obtaining filming permits, coordinating with local governments and nature reserves, or coordinating logistical and security support, we will provide you with expedited processing!"

"To sum it up in one sentence: whatever problems you encounter in Yunnan, our cultural and tourism system will be your strongest support!"

Liang Wenbin's tone became incredibly warm and sincere.

“Well then, Yu’an. It’s hard to explain over the phone. It just so happens that our province is hosting an important international tourism industry summit in Kunming in early March.”

"On behalf of Director Zhang and the Yunnan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, I formally invite you to return to China as our special guest. Let's discuss this in detail!" "We'll arrange your airfare and all the itinerary. Yu'an, we need you! Colorful Yunnan needs you!"

Hearing this sincere and powerful invitation, Lin Yu'an smiled genuinely. He knew that he had taken the first and most crucial step in returning to China to film.

"Uncle Liang, thank you so much, and Director Zhang!" Lin Yu'an's voice was also full of gratitude. "It's my honor to contribute to the promotion of our motherland. I accept this invitation!"

With the main details settled, the atmosphere on the phone became more relaxed.

"Yu'an, that's right! Come home and visit often!" Liang Wenbin said with a smile, his voice full of warmth. "If it's convenient, bring the children with you this time you go back to China!"

"It also lets them experience the landscapes of our motherland and see the local customs and culture of Yunnan in advance. When they grow up, they will know where their roots are."

He replied with a smile, "No problem, Uncle Liang. I will definitely discuss this with my family. They have always wanted to see what China is like with their own eyes."

"As for the children, it is also my wish to let them get in touch with their homeland as soon as possible. I will let you know as soon as we finalize the itinerary."

"Alright, alright!" Liang Wenbin heard the sincerity in Lin Yu'an's words and smiled with satisfaction. "Alright, Yu'an, I won't take up any more of your time. You go ahead and get busy. Just let me know when you've finalized the itinerary."

"Definitely! Please also give my regards to Auntie. When I get back, I will definitely visit you and bring you some local specialties to try."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Yu'an let out a long sigh of relief, a warm current mixed with nostalgia and anticipation surging in his heart.

He turned around and saw Emily holding Olivia, standing quietly at the study door, clearly having listened to the entire phone call.

"Are we... going back to China?" Emily's eyes sparkled with curiosity and longing.

“Yes.” Lin Yu’an stepped forward, gently kissed her forehead, and then kissed Olivia’s chubby little face.

Just then, Arya walked in from the children's playroom carrying Ethan. Upon hearing Emily's question, a bright smile immediately bloomed on her face.

"Really?! That's amazing!" She strode over, her emerald eyes shining brightly. "I can go see where you grew up! And the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and all those legendary delicacies..."

"Could we accompany you on your work trip while also taking a real tour of China?"

Seeing Arya's excited expression as she began planning the travel itinerary, Lin Yu'an couldn't help but smile: "Of course, that's my plan. In my spare time, I'll take you to all the most beautiful places."

"Then we need to get ready quickly!" Arya's efficiency was as strong as ever.

Emily immediately got into the swing of things. She handed Olivia over to Lin Yu'an and then gracefully walked to her desk to look up a strategy guide on her computer.

“That’s right. It’s fine for the three of us, but there are so many things to prepare for traveling abroad with two babies under two years old.”

As she spoke, she quickly tapped and swiped on the screen, her voice clear and organized: "First is the visa. I've checked, and the situation is a bit more complicated than I thought."

She turned the screen to Arya, "Arya, you're the most direct. Because you and Lin have a legal marriage certificate, you can apply for a Q1 family reunification visa."

Then, she pointed to herself, a calm smile on her face: "I can apply for an L-type tourist visa. The procedure is simple; all I need is an itinerary and hotel booking confirmation."

“Right now, the biggest problem is the children.” Emily’s brows furrowed slightly, and her expression turned serious.

“According to my research, because Lin is a Chinese citizen, even if the children are born in the United States and hold American passports, the Chinese government still considers them Chinese citizens. Therefore, they cannot apply for visas.”

"Then how will they get there?" Arya asked anxiously.

“They need to apply for a special document called a Chinese Travel Document.” Emily clicked on a page that showed a small blue booklet that looked like a passport.

"This is equivalent to their passport for entering China. To apply for this, you will also need their birth certificate and the original passports of both of you."

"However, they must have their own U.S. passports before they can apply for travel documents! And that is the biggest challenge."

She switched to the U.S. State Department's application guidelines page, and the list of items overwhelmed Alyssa: "We need to fill out a DS-11 form, provide their original birth certificate, and a passport photo that meets the specifications."

Emily looked at Lin Yu'an and said in an extremely serious tone, "The most important thing is that the law stipulates that both parents must be present when applying for a passport for a child under the age of 16."

The study was instantly filled with the efficient and meticulous discussion of the two ladies.

Looking at the complicated process, Arya immediately thought of the actual operational aspects: "Okay, while you deal with this pile of legal documents, I'll handle the logistics."

"There are no direct flights from Jackson Hole to China. We need to fly to Los Angeles or San Francisco to transfer first... Long-haul flights are too tiring for babies. Let me check which airline has the best baby service."

“Perfect division of labor,” Emily agreed. “Besides, to apply for a travel document, you have to go to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in the United States. The closest one to us should be San Francisco or Los Angeles.”

“We can arrange to have all the passport, visa and travel document processing done in one stop.”

One of them was in charge of macro planning, and the other was in charge of the details. They worked together seamlessly, as if they had rehearsed countless times.

One was researching baby bassinet sizes and children's meal recipes from different airlines, while the other was downloading and printing various application forms, highlighting every detail that needed attention with a highlighter.

Lin Yu'an held the two little ones who were equally curious about the tablet screen, quietly watching this scene, her heart filled with warmth.

This is family—a haven where, no matter where in the world he goes, someone will take care of everything for him and accompany him.

Just as they were enthusiastically discussing what kind of baby food to prepare, and even considering whether to bring a dedicated child safety seat, Arya's discussion gradually stopped.

She looked at the complicated visa application process on the screen, then glanced at Emily beside her who was intently studying the flight route, and finally fixed her gaze on Lin Yu'an's face.

Her eyes, which always sparkled with vitality, now held an unprecedented seriousness and depth.

“Darling,” she began slowly, interrupting Emily’s thoughts, “before we plan this trip to China, I think there is something more important we need to do first.”

"Huh?" Lin Yu'an and Emily both looked at her with some surprise.

“We can’t delay any longer. Regarding Dr. McCormick… we must go see her.”

"Before we embark on our journey to your hometown as a complete family, I hope we can first determine whether our family is truly complete."

These words made Emily instantly understand her intention, and her eyes revealed complete agreement.

Arya looked at Lin Yu'an and continued, "We all like that brave and pure girl. But we can't just leave her alone in Alaska, waiting and guessing about the future."

“So,” Arya made her suggestion, her tone like that of a true queen planning for the future of her kingdom, “I suggest that we take a flight to Alaska soon.”

“We’ll go to Anchorage to see December and Amber in person. Then Emily and I will have a formal talk with Dr. McCormick, tell her everything, and hear her true thoughts.”

“At the same time,” a hint of nostalgia flashed in her eyes, “we’ll go to Wiesman one more time and bring back the whiskey and honey; they deserve to be back with us. We’ll also say a proper goodbye to Stan and his old friends.”

"Once we've sorted everything out, once there are no more unresolved questions in our family, we'll happily embark on our journey to China together."

Lin Yu'an looked at Aria's eyes, which were filled with sincerity and determination, and then at Emily beside him, who was also nodding vigorously in support.

“Okay.” He took a deep breath, his voice filled with determination. “We’ll do it your way. I’ll go and arrange the flight path right away.”

Immediately afterwards, he dialed McCormick's number.

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Lin Yu'an's tone unconsciously softened slightly: "McCoz, it's me... um, my family and I are preparing to fly to Anchorage to see December and Amber."

After a brief silence, McCormick on the other end of the phone immediately agreed happily.

Looking at the magnificent snow-capped mountains outside the window, Lin Yu'an felt a sense of clarity in his heart.

Before returning to his distant Eastern homeland, he must first go back to where his story began, to untie the last knot in his heart, and to welcome the last, and perhaps most unique, family member in his kingdom.

(End of this chapter)