TopAppnovel Chapter 393 Yepeson's Hunting Lodge
Chapter 393 Yepeson's Hunting Lodge
Chapter 391 Yepeson's Hunting Lodge
When the shipbuilding contract, which embodied countless wisdom and enormous funds, was finally settled under the weighty Montblanc pen.
The Hazesleu Fjord outside the window was bathed in a flowing golden light by the setting sun.
A perfect collaboration deserves a perfect celebration banquet to mark its success.
That evening, in a private room at the Michelin three-star restaurant "Noma" near Nyhavn in Copenhagen, Yepesen and Jensen hosted a private dinner for Lin Yu-an.
It was less of a dinner party and more of an "academic exchange" about taste.
From the appetizer "Ocean Kiss," featuring chilled oysters with radish and fermented gooseberries, to the main course, a pigeon slow-roasted for 72 hours in birch syrup.
Each dish is like a work of art, full of Nordic minimalist aesthetics and creativity.
While enjoying the food, Yepesen was surprised to find that the young Chinese man in front of him was far more knowledgeable and had a more discerning palate than he had imagined.
When the sommelier presented a bottle of 82 Lafite, Lin Yu-an could accurately describe its complex aroma of cedar, tobacco and blackcurrant after just a light sniff.
When they talked about watches, Lin Yu-an could clearly distinguish the subtle differences in finishing between the Patek Philippe perpetual calendar movement and the Lange "Big Head" movement.
Even when Yepesen, this old-fashioned gentleman, talks about his beloved collection of classic weapons.
Lin Yu-an was able to accurately describe the unique rose and foliage engraving style of the British Purdey shotgun, as well as the advantages of the German Blaser R8's straight-pull bolt action.
This "resonance" that transcends national borders and age, based on a shared fascination with top-notch craftsmanship and precision machinery, brought Yepesen an unprecedented sense of appreciation and pleasure.
He knew that he had found not just a client, but a true like-minded person.
So, as the dinner was about to end, the waiter served the final dessert—pine needle ice cream made with liquid nitrogen and shaped like snowballs.
Yepeson put down his knife and fork and extended an invitation to Lin Yu'an that he couldn't refuse.
"Lin," he looked into Lin Yu'an's eyes, "now that the ship's design has been finalized, construction will take time. It would be such a waste for you to go back to America tomorrow, to enjoy this beautiful Danish spring."
"I have a private forest estate in the northern part of the Jutland Peninsula. This season is the best time to hunt European argali sheep."
"Would you be interested in coming with me tomorrow to experience a real Danish hunt?"
"European argali sheep?" Lin Yu'an raised his eyebrows slightly. This mountain sheep with huge spiral horns is one of the most challenging mountain kings in the eyes of European hunters.
"Yes." Yepeson's eyes gleamed with a hunter's passion.
"They're as alert as ghosts and run like lightning. Hunting a fully grown ram with a 'gold medal' horn requires more than just marksmanship."
"More importantly, it requires patience, stamina, and—a touch of the forest god's blessing. I believe this will be a more exciting game than any business negotiation."
Lin Yu'an was persuaded by him. The allure of engaging in an intellectual and physical battle with a powerful prey in the primeval wilderness was something he couldn't resist deep down.
"I'm honored, Nils," he readily agreed. "However, my hunting license is American, and I don't have a Danish gun license, so I'm afraid—"
"Hahaha," Yan Sen laughed, a confident look on his face. "Mr. Lin, you're overthinking it. Please leave these procedural issues to us."
He explained, "Under normal procedures, it does take several weeks for a foreign hunter to apply for a temporary license."
"However, as a special sponsoring partner of the Danish Hunting Association and the Royal Forestry Bureau, we have a fast-track approval process for VIP guests."
"All we need to do is send scanned copies of your passport and U.S. hunter's license to the association's head. He will personally oversee the issuance of your temporary Danish hunting license."
"We will send it to your email address in electronic format as early as tomorrow noon. You can then print it out."
"As for weapons," Yepeson said, "you don't need to apply for a gun license yourself."
"Under Danish law, one can legally borrow a registered firearm from a landowner for hunting within a private hunting ground, under the supervision of the landowner."
"Trust me, Lin, my private arsenal will not disappoint any man."
[The next day, 8:00 AM]
Lin Yu'an sat in a comfortable leather seat, looking down through the huge porthole at this land that was so different from the tropical Caribbean, a land full of order and vitality.
Spring in Denmark is not as passionate and exuberant as in Florida, but rather possesses a calm and restrained beauty.
Vast fields are being plowed in spring, revealing the moist, dark brown soil that resembles chocolate.
The straight tracks left by the tractor above, together with the winter wheat fields that have already turned green next to it, form a pastoral picture full of geometric beauty.
On the gently rolling hills, those massive white wind turbines are no longer lonely scenic features. They stand like a legion of white giants guarding this land.
Their enormous blades, blown by the strong Baltic winds, slowly rotated in almost synchronized motion.
What Lin Yu'an saw was not just clean energy, but also a country's strong industrial design capabilities and its ultimate pursuit of energy independence.
As the helicopter flew over a centuries-old red-brick castle surrounded by a turquoise moat, Yepesen pointed down and introduced it to Lin Yu'an via the intercom: "Look down there, Lin. That's Ejesco Castle, one of the best-preserved Renaissance-era water castles in Europe."
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"It is said that an entire oak forest was used up to build its foundation."
Lin Yu'an followed his finger and saw the elegant castle standing quietly in the middle of the lake, its red brick walls covered with lush green vines.
Not far from it, separated by a river, lies a dairy farm with huge silver-domed silos, where herds of Holstein cows roam leisurely on the grass.
Ancient aristocratic atmosphere and efficient modern agriculture coexist miraculously here without any conflict.
This scene gave Lin Yu-an a strong and novel cultural shock.
In his mind, the vast farms of Texas in the United States were a kind of rugged magnificence, and the huge combine harvesters demonstrated the absolute dominance of industry over nature.
But Denmark before my eyes presents a completely different scene. Everything here appears so exquisite and orderly.
"Isn't it an interesting sight?" Yepeson's voice carried a hint of self-deprecation and pride.
"The castle's owner, Count Allefert, is a descendant of Denmark's oldest noble family and one of the country's largest suppliers of organic milk."
"6
"He used the profits from running a modern farm to maintain that old castle that didn't generate any revenue."
As the helicopter continued north, flying over Funen Island, a vast, seemingly endless beech forest stretched out below.
"This is a forest reserve in southern Funen. Every tree here is protected by law."
"But at the same time, we are also legally obligated" to hunt excessive deer populations in order to maintain the balance of the forest ecosystem.
"Protection and exploitation, growth and death—we believe that nature itself is composed of countless seemingly contradictory but actually unified balances."
An hour later, the helicopter landed smoothly on the huge lawn in front of the estate, which was manicured like a golf course green.
"Welcome to my castle." Yepeson stepped off the plane, opened his arms, and like a proud king, introduced his territory to Lin Yu'an.
Instead of entering the modern main building that looked like an art gallery, they walked directly through a path lined with birch trees to a building.
This little house is the true heart of the entire estate.
Its walls are painted a deep and warm falcon red, a classic Nordic color, like a beating heart in the forest.
The huge sloping roof, covered with a thick layer of thatch, has a warm, deep gold color that blends into the surrounding forest.
The snow-white, lattice-patterned window frames stand out strikingly and elegantly against the rich red backdrop. A Danish flag hangs high, fluttering gently in the forest breeze.
The entire building seems to have grown naturally from the land of this forest.
Yepeson stepped forward and pushed open the heavy wooden door, made from a single piece of oak and studded with iron rivets.
In an instant, a wild and untamed paradise for men was revealed to Lin Yu'an.
The entire cabin is an open space with an extremely high ceiling. Huge log beams stretch across the ceiling without any concealment, exuding a sense of primal power.
In the center of the room was a sunken fireplace made of huge river pebbles, large enough to seat seven or eight people.
Several enormous sofas, covered with whole cowhides and deerskins, were casually placed around the fireplace.
The walls of the room were covered with a variety of breathtaking trophies, a personal epic written by a top hunter through his life's work.
Lin Yu'an's gaze swept across the room, landing on a complete African buffalo skull and a specimen of a black antelope, pointing directly at the ceiling.
A large Alaskan brown bear pelt covered an entire wall, its massive head and sharp claws still exuding an awe-inspiring wildness.
Beside it is the enormous antlers of a Canadian red deer, which are more than two meters wide.
Even on a relatively secluded wall, there hangs an extremely rare specimen of a snow leopard from the Far East, with a line of small print below it.
"1988, Siberia, official permit." This proves that Yepesen's hunting record has reached an unimaginable level.
However, none of these impressive loot items could compare to the wall at the deepest part of the room.
That entire wall was made of bulletproof glass, like a top-tier museum display case.
Soft spotlights shone down from the top, illuminating the dozens of quietly displayed works of art that represent the highest level of human craftsmanship in small arms.
They are carefully separated, like a miniature exhibition of the history of weapon evolution.
In the classic section, there are several British Holland & Holland Royal double-barreled shotguns with beautiful and intricate "rose and foliage" patterns engraved on the gun barrel and stock. They are a legacy of the golden age of aristocratic hunting in the last century.
In the precision section, several Austrian Voere custom-made long-range rifles, renowned for their extreme accuracy, are on display. Their stocks are custom-made to fit the shape of their owners' hands and faces.
The modern section is dominated by various cutting-edge modern hunting rifles, such as the German Blaser straight-pull rifle, which looks like a weapon from the future.
"Pick whichever you like, Lin." Yepason said with pride, as if introducing his proudest child. "See which one looks more like your partner."
Lin Yu'an's gaze slowly swept over the rows of dazzling artworks.
He didn't linger long in front of the exquisitely carved classic hunting rifles, but went straight to the display case of modern rifles.
His gaze passed over the expensive flagship models and finally settled on a rifle that was entirely black.
Yepesen followed his gaze, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, and immediately began to recommend him.
"Good eye," he said enthusiastically, pointing to the rifle with its carbon fiber textured surface. "This Blaser..."
R8 Ultimate Carbon. This is the performance king of the shotgun world today.
"The full carbon fiber frame is lightweight, sturdy, and impervious to any harsh weather. Most importantly, it features a unique straight-pull bolt action."
"Not only does it allow you to reload incredibly quickly after firing the first shot, but for alert prey like argali sheep, the opportunity for a follow-up shot is fleeting."
However, Lin Yu'an gently shook his head, "No, Niels. I value the one next to him."
Yepesen paused for a moment, then he saw the model number Lin Yu'an was pointing to—it was a Mauser M18.
"Mauser M18?" Yepesen frowned, even thinking Lin Yu'an was joking.
"Lin, are you sure? This is certainly an excellent gun, sturdy and accurate, like a reliable German Shepherd. But—compared to the R8 next to it, it's like—"
He seemed to be searching for a suitable analogy, finally saying, "It's like a high-performance Volkswagen Golf R next to a Porsche 911 GT3. They can both go very fast, but they—are not from the same world."
He pointed again to the Blaser R8, "The R8's straight-pull bolt can buy you crucial time for follow-up shots."
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"Its modular design allows you to change barrels of different calibers in minutes to suit any prey."
"The carbon fiber gun body will save you a lot of energy during long-distance pursuits. Are you sure you want to give that up?"
This was Yepesen's sincere advice as the host; he didn't want his guests to miss out on the best experience because of humility or lack of understanding.
He gave his reasons: "Master calligraphers never need the most expensive brushes. Besides, I like it the way it is."
He pointed to the muzzle of the Mauser M18, which Yepesen had fitted with a cylindrical suppressor that was also matte black.
This combination instantly gave this originally plain hunting rifle a touch of tactical beauty befitting a special operations weapon.
This reason left Yepesen speechless with any further persuasion. The young man before him wasn't choosing the most expensive weapon, but rather the one that best suited his taste.
"Alright! Alright! I take back what I said! I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of amazing masterpiece you, this calligraphy master from the East, will create with this ordinary brush today!"
He turned around, preparing to call a young attendant to fetch Lin Yu'an's gun and adjust the scope.
However, before he could speak, the elderly Danish man, Lars, who had been standing quietly at the door of the armory like a statue, had already silently stepped forward.
He ignored Yepesen and instead took the Mauser M18 with a silencer directly from the wall.
Upon seeing this, Yepesen wore a bitter smile that was both helpless and warm.
He explained to Lin Yu'an, "This is Uncle Ras. He has lived here for over seventy years. You could say he watched me grow up."
Lars didn't speak. He took out a soft deerskin cloth and began to meticulously wipe the gun that Lin Yu'an had chosen, checking every mechanical part of it.
"These things can be done by the other servants," Yepeson said with some reluctance, looking at Rass's wrinkled and age-spotted hands.
As Lars wiped the cold gun barrel, he spoke slowly in his slightly accented Danish without looking up, "Niels, although you've become an old man nearing 70, in my eyes you'll always be that little boy who secretly cried all day because he hit a rabbit."
"After that day, I promised you that I would personally inspect your guns for every hunt, big or small. That was a promise."
These words instantly brought tears to Yepesen's eyes, who had just been full of vigor, as if he were recalling his carefree childhood.
Looking at the nearly 100-year-old man before him, whose back was still straight, he was filled with mixed emotions.
He was terrified that one day, this elder, who was like a father to him, would also leave quietly, just like José.
Taking a deep breath, she said in a childlike, pleading tone, "Okay, Uncle Ras. But you must promise me that when I'm 90, you'll still check my guns!"
A warm smile appeared on Ras's face, which was covered with wrinkles like old tree bark.
He solemnly handed the Mauser M18, which had been inspected and fitted with a top-of-the-line Swarovski Z8i series scope, to Lin Yu'an.
Then, with his cloudy but still sharp eyes, he looked at Lin Yu'an and asked, "Young man, can you tell me why you like this gun?"
Lin Yu-an's answer was unexpected.
"Because I see in it a microcosm of an era."
He gently stroked the classic bolt-action mechanism of the Mauser M18, a modern replica, and said calmly, "It reminds me of the Mauser 98k, a rifle that defined an era—simple, reliable, and accurate."
"It possesses a mechanical beauty born for function. This M18 inherits its strengths and addresses its weaknesses with modern materials. It is a perfect evolution."
These words stunned both Lars and Yepesen. They hadn't expected that a young man from China would have such a profound and unique understanding of European weapons history.
But precisely because of this, they didn't ask any more questions.
Publicly discussing and praising weapons like the 98k, which are closely associated with the Nazi era, in Europe is an extremely sensitive topic. One wrong move could lead to unwarranted accusations.
The atmosphere instantly became somewhat subtle. A complex and unfathomable light flashed in Ras's cloudy eyes, before returning to its usual calm.
"Ahem—" Yepeson coughed lightly, subtly breaking the brief silence. He patted Lin Yu'an on the shoulder and laughed, "Alright, no matter how good the theory is, it all comes down to practical skills! Come on, let's go to the shooting range and see what kind of work this calligraphy master can produce!"
He led Lin Yu'an and Lars out of the warm hunting lodge.
Behind the house is a spacious private shooting range. The range is built along the mountainside, with the firing platform erected on a wooden platform overlooking the entire valley.
On the target lane in the distance, electronic targets at different distances, ranging from 50 meters to 300 meters, are set up.
Lin Yu-an, on the other hand, did not conduct any additional test shots or preparations.
He rested the butt of the gun on his shoulder, leaned forward slightly, and took a few seconds to adjust his breathing, allowing himself to become one with the gun, the surrounding wind, and the distant target.
He didn't even immediately open his other eye to aim precisely; he simply familiarized himself with the weight and balance of the gun.
Then, he opened his eyes.
In that instant, his entire demeanor changed. He was no longer the gentle and humble guest, but a cold, emotionless rock.
He calmly pulled the trigger, facing the electronic target, which was only the size of a bottle cap, two hundred meters away.
"puff"
Because of the silencer, the gunshot was no longer a crisp "bang," but rather a very muffled sound, almost drowned out by the sound of the wind in the forest.
Yepeson and Ras instinctively turned their gazes to the display screen next to the shooting platform, which was connected to the electronic target.
The screen refreshed, and a bright red number popped up—"10.9 rings".
A near-perfect highest ring score!
Yepeson's smile froze instantly. This might be luck—he thought to himself.
However, before he could finish the thought, Lin Yu'an's actions made him hold his breath completely.
Immediately afterward, before Yepeson could react, Lin Yu'an's fingers moved with such speed that they left afterimages as he smoothly executed a set of tactical movements!
With his right thumb and forefinger, he precisely pinched the bolt handle, turned it 90 degrees upwards to unlock it, and pulled it back with lightning speed!
A brass cartridge case bounced out of the ejection port with a "clang".
Immediately afterwards, he pushed his arm forward sharply, feeding the second cold bullet from the magazine into the chamber, and then turned the bolt downwards to lock it.
The entire process of rotating, pulling back, pushing forward, and rotating is, in terms of mechanical structure, far less fast than the direct pull type of the Blaser R8.
But in Lin Yu-an's hands, it is filled with another kind of unparalleled, precise and violent beauty belonging to warriors!
"puff"
The second muffled thud was almost seamlessly connected to the first.
The numbers on the display screen, even after being refreshed again, still read "10.9 rings"!
"puff""
A third muffled thud.
The final results were displayed on the screen at the end of the range, along with an enlarged image of the bullseye.
The three bullet holes are close together, forming a perfect clover shape!
Three bullets, at a distance of 200 meters, almost hit the same bullet hole!
This time, the taciturn guard Ras looked at Lin Yu'an with a gaze that had changed from initial scrutiny to heartfelt admiration!
Yepesen, standing to the side, was completely stunned by Lin Yu'an's superb marksmanship!
The smile on his face had vanished, replaced by undisguised horror!
He wasn't unfamiliar with skilled marksmen. But someone like Lin Yu'an, using a rifle he wasn't familiar with and that wasn't top-of-the-line, and with almost no test shots, was truly remarkable.
To fire with near-rapid accuracy at the level of an Olympic champion—this isn't just good marksmanship, it's terrifying!
He realized that the guest he had invited this time was not an ordinary one!
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Yepeson finally snapped out of his shock, clapping enthusiastically, his admiration evident on his face.
"Lin! Your marksmanship—better than any shooting instructor I know in the Danish Royal Guard! It seems the old argali in the forest has met its match today!"
Just then, several dark green Land Rover Defender SUVs slowly drove onto the lawn next to the shooting range.
Five or six men, all dressed in hunting attire and exuding an air of refinement, got out of the car one after another.
They were the other distinguished guests invited by Yepesen.
(P.S.: Guys who want to try a 82 Lafite can go to Europe; you can save tens of thousands of yuan compared to buying it in China.)