American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 93 Integrating into the McKinley Family

Arya's due date is at the end of February next year.

That evening after dinner, the two snuggled on the sofa, watching a documentary on TV about the magnificent snowscapes of Montana.

"Honey, shall we go back to Montana to prepare for the birth?"

Arya stroked her high, swollen belly, feeling the powerful movements of the little life inside, and said softly.

"Don't worry, dear. Although we are a Mormon family, we are not the extreme kind of Mormon."

Lin Yu'an was taken aback for a moment, but then said, "Of course!"

“I understand, Ellie. You don’t need to worry about me. I can handle the pressure from your family.”

“We can go back to where you grew up, where there is a wider world, and most importantly, your family is there.”

Aria knew in her heart that Lin Yu'an had made this decision with great courage.

This meant that he would be facing her large and special family for the first time.

A week later.

Lin Yu'an drove his reliable Ford pickup truck, carrying Arya, on his journey back to Montana.

After several days of long journey, as the pickup truck left the highway and entered the vast, snow-covered hilly area...

Arya's face lit up with childlike excitement; she seemed to really like snow, getting especially excited whenever she saw it.

Finally, the pickup truck stopped in front of a huge, Western-style log cabin.

This is the McKinley family's frontier farm, the heart of the entire family.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Lin Yu'an saw a scene that shocked him.

The porch of the mansion was already crowded with people.

The leader was a man with a burly build like a brown bear and a thick beard; he was none other than Aria's father, Robert.

Behind him stood four elegant ladies, each with a distinct temperament, smiling with loving eyes.

What's even more eye-catching is that several heavy pickup trucks, also covered in mud and snow, were parked on the open ground next to the main house.

Sure enough, the moment Lin Yu'an helped Alia out of the car, a large group of people emerged from both sides of the main house and from the direction of the pickup trucks!
Those were Arya's four brothers—Wyatt, Garrett, Bo, and Clay.

Each of them was as tall and strong as their father, Robert.

They didn't come alone; each of them was accompanied by two or three wives and a large group of chattering children of various ages!

It turns out that the family's most beloved youngest sister, Arya, is finally going home to prepare for childbirth.

These four brothers, who have long since established their own businesses in the surrounding area, brought all their families with them today.

In an instant, the entire front yard of the farm became bustling with activity, as dozens of people formed a large welcoming crowd.

Oh! My sweetheart!

Robert opened his arms and gave Arya a very careful hug, as if afraid of touching her stomach.

"Dads! Moms!"

Arya also excitedly hugged her father and four mothers one by one.

Immediately afterwards, his four older brothers and their respective families also gathered around.

"Arya, you look great!"

"Big Brother Wyatt said in a deep voice, while his two wives behind him smiled and greeted Arya."

"You must have had a long journey."

Garrett, the second brother, unloaded the luggage directly from Lin Yu'an's pickup truck, while his three wives held Arya's hands, showing concern and care.

Third brother Bo and fourth brother Clay, along with their families, also expressed their concern in a flurry of voices.

Lin Yu'an stood calmly to the side, watching this huge and harmonious family scene. Although she had seen it in her previous life, she still felt a little strange at this moment.

This is the environment in which Arya grew up.

A large, closely-knit Mormon family, centered around a strong patriarchal authority and composed of multiple smaller families.

Here, there are many family members, but they are filled with genuine love and strong cohesion.

When Alia formally introduced Lin Yu'an to her family, dozens of eyes instantly focused on him.

Robert and his four brothers looked at each other with scrutiny, curiosity, and even a hint of wariness towards their sister.

His female family members, on the other hand, looked at him with gentle and kind eyes.

At dinner time, the huge oak dining table, which could seat more than thirty people, was completely filled.

Roast beef, various vegetable salads, and freshly baked bread—the food was as plentiful as a festival.

The entire family, dozens of people, sat together, with children playing around at another small table and adults chatting and laughing loudly, creating a lively atmosphere.

Lin Yu-an was seated next to Robert, while his four older brothers sat opposite him, forming an invisible "courtroom".

They took turns asking Lin Yu-an questions, from his family background to his experiences in "Living Alone in the Wilderness" and his plans for the future.

Lin Yu'an maintained a humble yet assertive attitude throughout, answering each question calmly.

When asked how he would support Arya and their two unborn children, he calmly recounted his current savings and plans to build a new home in Alaska. His confidence and financial strength gradually won over Robert and his brothers.

Although they are traditional, they have the utmost respect for true strength and responsible men.

Nighttime, in the guest rooms prepared for them.

Aria nestled in Lin Yu'an's arms and asked softly, "Darling, are you... alright today? Did my family frighten you?"

Lin Yu-an said frankly, "Your family... is very powerful."

Arya chuckled. "They're just worried about me. But it's clear they admire you, especially when you talk about your future plans."

She paused, then suddenly looked up, her pale green eyes fixed intently on Lin Yu'an, and said something that caught him completely off guard.

She said softly, “Darling, we are a Mormon family. Look at my father and my brothers, they are all capable of loving and supporting a large family.”

"In our faith, the greater a man's ability, the greater his responsibility and the larger the family he can protect."

“I grew up in this kind of family environment, so I am very clear about the advantages and disadvantages of this kind of family, therefore.”

Lin Yu'an was stunned, not understanding why she suddenly brought this up.

Arya's cheeks flushed slightly, but her eyes were unusually sincere: "So, darling, I hope that our children in the future can also grow up in such a family atmosphere."

"I hope that our two children, and perhaps more children in the future, will receive more care and love!"

"So, I want to tell you that I... I don't mind if you find another wife in the future to build our family together."

“I would even… look forward to other women joining us, understanding our beliefs, and respecting our faith.”

"As long as you always have a place for me and the children in your heart, that's enough."

Lin Yu'an was completely shocked by Aria's words.

He never imagined that Arya would say such a thing to him.

This is a view of family and marriage that stems from her unique upbringing and transcends conventional notions.

“Arya, I respect your beliefs. If—and I mean if—that day really comes, no one can replace you in my heart.”

During the week they were at the farm, the eldest brother, Wyatt, first took the family back to the farm.

Robert's other three brothers-in-law, along with their families, were also helping him with the work.

Lin Yu-an did not see herself as a guest who needed to be taken care of.

He gets up early every day and starts helping his father-in-law Robert with farm work while Arya is still asleep.

The diligence and hard work characteristic of the Chinese people quickly won the initial approval of his in-laws in this traditional family.

He would go to the woodshed and use an axe to chop and stack enough firewood to burn for a day.

"Dad, is this oak wood more heat-resistant than pine?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, he continued to cut along the grain of the wood, whether in China or the United States, when performing at his father-in-law's house.

You must show others what you've done; don't work silently in silence, or in the end, no one may know that you did it.

Lin Yu'an's little trick was just right. How could he not know that oak is more heat-resistant than pine?
Robert observed this and secretly nodded in approval of his prospective son-in-law, who was humble, eager to learn, and hardworking.

Soon after, Lin Yu'an was given another chance to perform.

A small diesel generator on the farm malfunctioned, frequently shutting off and making intermittent noise.

The mothers-in-law gathered together and had their brothers-in-law check for a long time, but they couldn't find the problem. They were just about to call the repairman in town.

Lin Yu'an listened for a while, then stepped forward.

He didn't take action immediately, but instead listened intently to the irregular roar of the generator as it ran, a sound that carried a faint feeling of "not being able to breathe."

"Judging from the sound, it sounds like the fuel supply is unstable, and the diesel filter may be clogged."

Based on his expertise in mechanical engineering, Lin Yu'an made a preliminary judgment.

After obtaining Robert's consent, he found his toolbox, skillfully shut off the oil line, and then disassembled the oil supply line.

Because there were no replacement filters, he had to carefully remove them and repeatedly rinse the inside of the filter with kerosene, which was commonly used on the farm to clean machine parts.

Clean as much of the accumulated black sludge and impurities as possible.

The filter element was then dried with an air pump to ensure there was no kerosene residue before it was reinstalled.

When the generator was started again, the old diesel generator emitted a huge roar that was completely different from the faint sound it had made before.

This professional repair skill made several mothers-in-law even more satisfied with their son-in-law, who was a "mechanical engineer."

Arya stayed with her several "mothers".

In the warm living room, they knitted sweaters for their unborn babies while discussing parenting tips, creating a cozy and harmonious atmosphere.

The four mothers were already very satisfied with the Chinese husbands chosen by their daughters, like mothers-in-law looking at their sons-in-law.

However, this peaceful rural life was completely shattered on the evening of the seventh day by an urgent phone call.

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(End of this chapter)