American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 317 Nationality Conflict (Seeking monthly votes~ *sobs*)
She carefully reached out and gently placed her hand on December's broad head. The thick, warm touch made her gasp in surprise.

December seemed to really enjoy the caress; it squinted its eyes comfortably and even gently rubbed its big head against Arya's palm, making Arya giggle.

Then it turned to Emily and sniffed around her legs in the same way.

When it smelled Emily's unique scent, which carried a hint of life, its movements visibly paused.

It tilted its huge head, seemingly deep in thought, and then made a move that surprised everyone.

Instead of rubbing against Emily's legs, it very gently and cautiously touched Emily's slightly protruding belly with its nose.

Then, it let out an extremely soft "woo~" sound, as if it were communicating across species with the unborn little life.

This scene instantly melted Emily's heart, and tears of emotion welled up in her eyes.

Amber, the eternal imitator, saw that her sister was well-liked by her two new friends and immediately followed suit.

It trotted over to Arya and Emily on its short legs, sniffed them carefully, then raised its head and tried to imitate December, letting out a soft, cute "Awoo?"

This adorable look instantly captured the hearts of Arya and Emily.

"Oh my goodness..." Arya was the first to crouch down, carefully reaching out her hand to touch Amber's furry little ears.

Amber didn't flinch; instead, she leaned her little head closer and let the gentle hand caress her.

The entire venue was filled with the joyful shouts of the two little ones and the women's suppressed, maternal exclamations of wonder.

They excitedly circled around the four people's feet, taking turns rubbing their furry heads against each person's legs, welcoming the arrival of their family in their own way.

Seeing this heartwarming scene, McCormick stood at the door with a relieved smile on his face.

She knew that whatever choice she ultimately made, the two little ones had found the best home. Her heart was clear and at peace like never before.

After a two-day stay in Anchorage, Lin Yu'an and her family took off again with an answer yet to be revealed and a heavy expectation.

Their destination was the place where their story began—Wiesman.

Stan, George Sr., Hank... all the friends he had forged deep friendships with in Alaska were already waiting on the frozen riverbank.

Whiskey and honey, like two black and white lightning bolts, raced wildly across the ice, barking with joy and eagerness.

That night, the only pub in Wiesman was brightly lit and bustling with people.

Lin Yu'an kept his promise and hosted a banquet for all the residents of the town.

This was a grand farewell, and also a joyous reunion.

When Lin Yu-an raised his glass to toast all the friends who had helped and accepted him, he knew that his story with Alaska was not over.

It was simply etched into his life in a deeper, more profound way.

After saying goodbye to Wiesman, the family finally embarked on their journey home.

Before leaving, Lin Yu'an handed the keys to Sean the keys to his first car, a Ford F-150 that had been heavily modified by his brother-in-law Bo.

He patted Sean on the shoulder and said solemnly, “From here, head south along the Alaska Highway, through Canada, and finally to Wyoming. It’s over three thousand miles, and the road conditions are complicated, so be careful. I’m counting on you two to take care of my two big guys.”

“Don’t worry, sir.” Sean and Mike stood at attention, their eyes resolute. “We guarantee to complete the mission.”

As Lin Yu'an and his family boarded their chartered plane and took off from Wiesman, heading towards their warm home in the south, a black steel behemoth, carrying two excited and curious Bernese Mountain Dogs, also embarked on the long road leading south.

They will eventually arrive in a new and wider kingdom, where they will begin a new and happy life.

On the plane back to Wyoming, the faint sadness of saying goodbye to Alaska was quickly replaced by an unspoken expectation.

The cabin was unusually quiet, with only the steady, low rumble of the engines.

Arya and Emily no longer discussed things with the same excitement they had when they arrived. They simply watched the clouds rushing past the window in silence, occasionally exchanging a knowing glance that only they understood.

Lin Yu'an remained silent as well, and he could clearly feel the shared concern in the hearts of his two wives beside him.

He knew they had opened their arms wide to that uncertain future. But equally, the right to choose, and the immense pressure of making that choice, weighed heavily on that lonely figure in Alaska.

In the few days since returning to Eagle's Nest, the feeling of home has become even stronger, but there is also a hint of anticipation.

Preparations for their trip to China were proceeding smoothly. Emily and Arya were efficiently handling various documents and itinerary plans, but they would unconsciously pick up their phones to glance at them during conversations, and then put them down again without making a sound.

They gave McCormick ample space and time, without sending any messages urging or inquiring. This patience itself is the deepest form of respect.

Until the evening of the fourth day.

The fire in the fireplace burned brightly, illuminating the large living room with warmth. The two little ones had already drifted off to sleep in the care of the nanny.

Lin Yu'an, Ailiya, and Emily were comfortably nestled on the sofa, enjoying a rare moment of peace during the day.

Just then, Arya's phone, which was on the coffee table, emitted a crisp notification sound, breaking the silence.

Arya held her breath involuntarily. She slowly reached out and picked up her phone.

On the screen, there was only one name—MacKenzie.

Arya tapped the screen lightly with her finger. The message was extremely brief, just one sentence, yet it acted like a key, instantly unlocking the door in everyone's hearts.

I'll be waiting for you in Alaska when you return from China. Also, December and Amber... they'll miss you terribly.

Arya slowly raised her head, a radiant smile spreading across her face. She turned her phone screen towards Emily and Lin Yu'an beside her.

Emily smiled and held Arya's hand tightly.

As for Lin Yu'an, looking at the simple text on the screen, he felt as if a huge boulder that had been hanging in his heart for a long time had finally been lifted off his feet.

Arya's voice was filled with the joy of fulfillment and anticipation for the next goal: "Now, our complete family can truly embark on our journey to China!"

Lin Yu'an nodded vigorously, his gaze passing through the huge French windows to the tranquil and vast kingdom under the starry sky, his mind clear.

The story of Alaska has come to a perfect end.

With their biggest concern resolved, preparations for the trip to China were immediately given top priority. A few days later, a Gulfstream G550 business jet took off from the private runway of Rock River Ranch, carrying Lin Yu-an's family and two childcare workers, heading towards the East Coast of the United States—New York.

The reason for choosing New York was not only because Lin Yu'an had a special affection for the city, but more importantly, because the Consulate General of China in New York is one of the largest and most efficient agencies in the United States in terms of visa and travel document processing volume.

They decided to complete all the tedious document processing here in one go.

The plane landed smoothly at Teterboro Airport, and a waiting car took them to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Columbus Circle. From the suite's huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the entire winter view of Central Park was laid out before them.

The next morning, the family began the first leg of their document-processing journey: obtaining U.S. passports for Ethan and Olivia.

Their appointment was at a passport office in Midtown Manhattan. Facing the cold, professional camera and the serious-looking staff, taking passport-quality photos of their two toddlers, both under two years old, turned into a chaotic yet hilarious battle.

Ethan grinned as soon as he saw the camera, revealing his newly grown baby teeth, which was completely contrary to the requirement of a "neutral expression"; while Olivia was terrified of the flash, and every time the shutter was pressed, she would subconsciously bury her head in Emily's arms.

Finally, after Arya used a small toy to attract the baby's attention from behind the camera, Emily gently held the baby's head still, and Lin Yu'an personally took nearly a hundred photos before finally selecting two "serious face" photos that barely met all the requirements.

On the DS-11 application form, Lin Yu'an and Ailiya, as the legal parents, solemnly signed their names. Emily, meanwhile, gently helped the two somewhat impatient little ones straighten their clothes.

After submitting all the documents, the staff informed them that even with expedited processing, it would still take three to five business days to receive their passports.

Taking advantage of this necessary waiting period, the family enjoyed a rare urban vacation.

Lin Yu'an took them back to Central Park. Alia was as excited as a child, pulling Emily along to skate on the frozen Wollman Ice Rink. Lin Yu'an, meanwhile, pushed the stroller, acting as the most dutiful spectator and photographer on the sidelines.

Emily took this opportunity to return to the familiar world of art. She spent an entire afternoon alone at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), immersing herself in the tranquil world created by Van Gogh's "Starry Night" and Monet's "Water Lilies".

When she returned to the hotel, satisfied, she discovered that Lin Yu'an had prepared an even bigger surprise for her.

"What is this?" Emily asked in surprise, looking at the huge easel and the complete set of top-quality painting tools that had appeared in the room.

“A belated gift.” Lin Yu’an hugged her from behind, his chin resting gently on her shoulder. “I know you’ve always dreamed of being a painter. Now, we have a beautiful manor, and it needs a dedicated artist to document its four seasons.”

Emily's eyes instantly welled up with tears. She turned around and gave Lin Yu'an a deep kiss.

A few days later, when a courier envelope bearing the U.S. State Department emblem arrived at the hotel suite, everyone knew that the first hurdle of their trip to China had finally been overcome. Inside the envelope lay Ethan and Olivia's first passports.

Having obtained the children's U.S. passports, they immediately launched the second step of their plan.

At the appointed time, the family set off again, arriving at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, located on the banks of the Hudson River. Unlike the quiet post office, the visa hall here was bustling with people, filled with Mandarin and English spoken in various accents.

When Lin Yu-an appeared in the lobby carrying the child, it immediately caused a small commotion. His immense popularity, built up through concerts and television programs, has given him a very high level of recognition within the Chinese-speaking community.

A very capable-looking female consul personally led them to a VIP window, greatly reducing their waiting time.

“Mr. Lin, we all saw your performance at Madison Square Garden. You brought great honor to the Chinese people!” the consul said with a smile, her eyes full of admiration.

Arya submitted her application materials, including a copy of her marriage certificate and a handwritten invitation letter from Lin Yu'an, and successfully applied for a Q1 family reunification visa.

Emily also submitted her L-type tourist visa application, along with a detailed travel itinerary and hotel bookings that the CAA team had already prepared for her, down to the day.

Finally, it was the two little ones' turn. Lin Yu'an solemnly handed over Ethan and Olivia's two brand-new U.S. passports, along with their birth certificates, their parents' original passports, and all other materials.

While waiting, Arya looked at the complicated forms and asked Emily in a low voice with some curiosity, "Honey, I still don't quite understand."

“Since the children already have US passports, why can’t we just apply for visas for them like we do? This travel document sounds so special.”

Emily adjusted her glasses and explained softly to her that this was the core conclusion she had reached after several days of research.

“That’s the most interesting and complicated part. It involves a legal concept called conflict of nationality,” Emily said in a low voice.

"First of all, China's Nationality Law is different from that of the United States. It mainly focuses on bloodline. The law stipulates that as long as one parent is a Chinese citizen and does not reside abroad, then their child, regardless of where he or she is born, is recognized by China as having Chinese nationality."

She looked at Lin Yu'an and pointed out the most crucial point: "Lin has not acquired U.S. citizenship. Therefore, although Ethan and Olivia were born in the United States and automatically acquired U.S. citizenship and passports, in the eyes of the Chinese government, they are first and foremost Chinese citizens."

This conclusion surprised Aria: "Does it mean...they are both American and Chinese?"

“That’s right, but the key point is that China doesn’t recognize dual citizenship,” Emily continued to explain. “So that’s where the conflict arises: China recognizes them as Chinese citizens, but they do hold American passports. So the question is, how do you get them back to China?”

"Can't I just apply for a visa with my US passport?" Arya pressed.

“No.” Emily shook her head decisively. “Because the Chinese government cannot issue ‘foreign visas’ to its own citizens, which doesn’t make logical sense. But at the same time, because their nationality status is special, we can’t just issue them Chinese passports.”

“So, the ‘Chinese Travel Document’ came into being.” She picked up a brochure and pointed it out to Alia. “You see, this is essentially a temporary document used to replace a passport and prove one’s Chinese nationality.”

"It declares to border officials in all countries around the world: This child holding a foreign passport is a Chinese citizen as recognized by our laws, and therefore his/her identity is recognized by China."

Aria suddenly realized: "So, they need to use this travel document to go back to China, but they still need to use their US passports to go to other countries?"

“Absolutely right.” Emily nodded firmly. “In China, they can register their household registration and enjoy education and healthcare just like other Chinese children. But it’s not a permanent status.”

Emily concluded, "Simply put, our babies have a very unique identity before they reach adulthood. They are U.S. citizens protected by U.S. law, and Chinese citizens recognized by Chinese law."

"This travel document is a clever solution to this legal dilemma, and it is a legitimate document for them to travel to their father's hometown."

This detailed and clear explanation made Lin Yu'an and Ailiya suddenly understand. For the first time, they understood so profoundly the unique and fortunate identity of their children.

Soon after the information was confirmed to be correct, the staff at the window officially accepted their application for Chinese travel documents.

After all the documents were submitted and several days of patient waiting, the consulate's notification of document collection arrived, and the last piece of their journey was finally complete.

In the document bag retrieved from the consulate, Arya and Emily's passports already had the Chinese visa with the Great Wall pattern and bright red stamp affixed to them.

And those two dark blue "Travel Documents of the People's Republic of China" belonging to Ethan and Olivia, leading to their father's hometown.

With all the necessary documents in place, the road to the East was now fully open.

It was already the end of February, and there was less than a week left until the Kunming Summit in early March.

"It seems we have to start directly from here." Lin Yu'an looked at the brand-new documents in his hand and made the most direct decision.

"Fantastic! An Eastern adventure that can be embarked on at any moment!" Arya cheered excitedly, showing no dissatisfaction whatsoever with the sudden change in plans.

Emily immediately got to work, picking up the phone to contact the hotel's private butler to coordinate luggage packing and car booking.

(End of this chapter)