King of the Wilderness

Chapter 408: Chapter 234: Christmas Eve and the Chicken Coop

Early the next morning, Lin Yu’an’s powerful biological clock woke him up at six o’clock sharp.

The sky outside remained as dark as ink, though the distant aurora had already disappeared.

The heating system was still working, the fireplace embers had long since died out, leaving a hint of nighttime chill in the air.

He could hear the calm and peaceful breathing of Aliya and Emily beside him, a sound more soothing than any music in the world.

Without disturbing them, he quietly got up, wearing only a pair of fleece pants, and went downstairs bare-chested.

The passion and buttery hotpot from last night had either replenished his depleted energy or had been consumed again, but a long-lost feeling of strength was slowly returning.

Today is Christmas Eve, and he needs to ride a snowmobile to Hank’s house to retrieve some items he had left there.

Around 7:30, Lin Yu’an returned from Hank’s house with all the items he had prepared and placed them in the storage room.

He then skillfully added logs to the fireplace, watched the dancing flames gradually infuse warmth back into the home, and walked into the kitchen.

There was a pot of rice left from last night’s hotpot in the fridge. He went to the kitchen corner and skillfully turned on a valve connected to a hose.

It was a standard 40-pound propane tank, standing quietly in the cabinet under the stove at a height of 74 centimeters. In Alaska’s wilderness, without convenient pipeline gas, these bottled propane tanks were the most reliable source of flame.

There were five more neatly stacked propane tanks in the storage room, with two 40-pound + one 20-pound tanks as the unwavering standard reserve. A full 40-pound tank could support over two months of normal cooking needs.

After confirming the adequate fuel supply, he took out a few eggs to prepare the simplest Chinese-style fried rice, to avoid wasting the leftover rice.

”Click.”

Lin Yu’an turned the stove knob and pressed the igniter. A ring of blue flame ”whooshed” up instantly, bringing immediate warmth and light to the cool morning kitchen.

As the golden egg liquid wrapped around the glistening grains of rice, they flipped and sizzled in the iron pan, releasing a rich aroma of scallions and eggs that filled the air instantly.

He also prepared formula milk for Ethan and Olivia, keeping it at just the right temperature.

When Aliya and Emily came downstairs, still sleepy-eyed, they were greeted by the fragrant aroma of fried rice and the reassuring figure busy in the kitchen.

The family gathered around the warm dining table, enjoying a harmonious breakfast together.

After the meal, Lin Yu’an turned his gaze to Aliya, with a hint of apology in his eyes.

”Darling, I’m sorry... This Christmas, we might not be able to go back to Montana to be with your parents as planned this year. Given Emily’s current condition, it’s best for her to rest quietly at home.”

”Of course, is that even a question?”

Aliya held his hand, glanced once more at Emily who was smiling gently beside her, and said casually, ”Nothing is more important now than Emily and this little one.”

Lin Yu’an nodded, a wave of warmth surging in his heart. He took a sip of the hot coffee Emily handed him, but his eyes fell on Emily’s face.

Though Emily wore a happy smile, there seemed to be a subtle worry hidden deep in her eyes.

He put down the coffee cup, reached out, and gently covered Emily’s hand that rested on the table.

”You’re worried, aren’t you?” Lin Yu’an’s voice was gentle yet direct, not avoiding the issue.

”You’re worried about how we’ll explain this child’s arrival to everyone in town.”

Emily’s smile paused for a moment; she hadn’t expected Lin Yu’an to be so perceptive. She said softly, ”I...I’m just afraid...afraid they’ll look at us, at you, at this child with different eyes. After all, I...”

She didn’t continue, but everyone understood what she meant. In a traditional society, the appearance of a second pregnant woman in a family could unleash a storm.

Lin Yu’an gently lifted her chin with his fingers, making her look him in the eyes: ”Look at me, darling, this isn’t New York, this is Alaska.”

”Did you forget what kind of people chose to settle here?”

”The core spirit of Alaska is, as long as you don’t harm me or bother me, I don’t care how you live.”

”Here, the standard for neighbors’ judgment is very simple and very pragmatic. They only care if you’re a good neighbor, if you’ll lend a hand when I’m in trouble.”

”They don’t care how many women are in your household. Believe me, as long as we can manage our life well and be reliable and helpful to the community, no one will pry into our private life. Our family will earn respect, not gossip.”

He glanced at Aliya, who was also listening intently, and continued, ”You must understand, a high tolerance for eccentrics is the passport to this land. Alaska naturally attracts the unconventional, and every family might have its own stories and secrets.”

”A man with two wives, in their eyes, is just another person choosing his own way of life, far less shocking than you imagine.”