Lin Yu’an’s learning speed was astonishingly fast, and he quickly mastered Earl’s techniques, developing his own shooting style.
At the end of the final training session, Earl handed Lin Yu’an a heavy, long plastic box, which contained a high-powered sniper rifle scope with an adjustable stand!
Earl said lightly, "That old guy Hops doesn’t like drilling holes in his artwork, but you need this."
"I’ve had him reserve an installation interface. You’ll have to figure out the calibration yourself. Consider it my graduation gift to you."
"It’s a pity you’re not an Arican; your talent is exceptional! Otherwise, I would have definitely recomnded you to the US Marine Corps."
"Fortunately, your ambition lies in the wilderness. Rember, don’t waste your talent; you’re a born sniper!"
Lin Yu’an looked at the scope in his hand and then at Earl’s weather-beaten face. The last person who admired him like this was Principal Li, bringing a bit of sadness to his heart.
He didn’t thank Earl verbally, just hugged him and nodded heavily.
In the days after receiving the Winchester M70, Lin Yu’an and the Bilibili operations team edited the footage from the Texas farm hunt.
They ticulously assembled it into a twenty-minute video titled "Return to the Civilized World! I’m Hunting Wild Boar in Texas!"
This video starkly contrasted with the previous extre survival saga at Chilco Lake.
The footage no longer depicted loneliness and struggle but was filled with Texas sunshine, cowboy bravado, the bravery of hunting dogs, and the excitent of team collaboration during the hunt.
Lin Yu’an’s professional skill exchanges with the old hunters, and the final scene of sitting around the campfire, enjoying roasted ribs and chilled beer, exhibited a life that online followers yearned for.
Especially the Archaeopteryx hard-shell jacket he wore throughout the video, showcasing its excellent performance in Texas’s variable environnt, whether morning dew or the scratches from bushes.
That iconic Archaeopteryx fossil logo stood out strikingly under the high-definition cara.
Once released, the video went viral on Bilibili again.
Within a single day, viewership skyrocketed past 30 million, with bullet comnts and the comnt section filled with fans’ fervent admiration.
[Wow! Brother An looks so cool! That outfit, that compound bow, cooler than Hawkeye!]
[This is the life! Hunting dogs, barbeque, and beer! It’s exhilarating!]
[Brother An’s Archaeopteryx outfit is super stylish! I’ve ordered the sa one! Although I’m just walking my dog in the park downstairs, I can’t lose the vibe!]
[Newbie question! Is a compound bow suitable for outdoor hunting? Won’t it easily break?]
[Am I the only one who noticed Brother An said he was raised by a Vietnam veteran?]
[I noticed too! So Principal Li was a veteran who went to war! Surely, you can trust Chinese soldiers unconditionally!]
The amazing popularity of this video and Lin Yu’an’s displayed image imdiately caught the high attention of the Archaeopteryx brand.
For a top outdoor brand like Archaeopteryx, the spokesperson or partner they seek is not just a high-profile celebrity.
They require soone with impeccable outdoor professionalism, a figure that is highly aligned with the brand’s spirit.
A week later, Old Mao, Bilibili’s operations director, called via video with undisguised excitent in his tone.
"Brother An! I’ve got major news! Archaeopteryx’s Canadian headquarters has officially sent you a brand ambassador cooperation invitation through our Bilibili business channel!"
"They are extrely pleased with your image and deanor, and your influence in the outdoor wilderness circle shows them imnse comrcial potential!"
Lin Yu’an calmly asked, "What is their intention for cooperation?"
"It’s not very clear yet, but their only request is that for future outdoor shootings, you must wear the equipnt they sponsor."
"Sounds good, but I need to speak directly with their representative, as there are many details I need to confirm."
"I’ll arrange a eting then."
Soon after, a high-profile online eting was promptly scheduled.
On one end was Lin Yu’an, sitting in the study of his apartnt, calm in deanor.
On the other end was the core team of Archaeopteryx’s Canadian marketing departnt.
Leading the brand’s team was Catherine Walker, a brand director appearing to be around forty years old.
After a succinct and professional opening, Catherine spoke first with a clear and strong voice, full of confidence.
"Mr. Herman, allow to represent Archeopteryx Company in expressing my utmost admiration for the extraordinary skills and resilient spirit you’ve showcased in ’Alone in the Wilderness.’"
"Your ’Farm Hunting’ was incredibly impressive!"
"Especially the footage of you chasing wild boars while wearing the Alpha SV Jacket, perfectly interpreting our brand concept — striving for peak performance in harsh environnts!"
Catherine did not rush into discussing cooperation terms but first gave Lin Yu’an the highest recognition.
"We also noticed, during your first live stream on bilibili, you disabled the reward function. You are not focused on short-term traffic monetization but on long-term reputation."
"This aligns with our brand philosophy at Archaeopteryx, which avoids massive advertising blitzes, relying instead on robust product strength and serving our core user base well."
This comnt sowhat surprised Lin Yu’an, as he hadn’t expected such depth in their background check.
Catherine continued, "So, what we want to discuss today is not just a simple product promotion, but a long-term brand partnership."
Lin Yu’an nodded, indicating for her to continue.
Catherine brought up a polished PPT and said, "Our preliminary collaboration proposal is a one-year brand partnership contract. The endorsent fee and sales commission are expected to yield five hundred thousand US Dollars, though it will be issued in the form of an end-of-year bonus."
"Besides that, which we consider the more important part, is comprehensive equipnt support."
She switched to the next slide, displaying images of the top-tier equipnt from the full range of Archaeopteryx products.
"From the mont you beco our partner, you will receive our latest products every quarter."
The product technical advisor interjected at this point, "We hope you can beco our products’ ’ultimate tester.’"
"You will conduct firsthand user testing of our products in the harshest environnts."
"The data you feedback will be compared with laboratory data, representing the most valuable data for improving and developing the next generation of products."
These words completely moved Lin Yu’an.
This was no longer a simple ’client’ and ’contractor’ relationship but a partnership of mutual achievent.
He pondered for a mont and raised his core concerns: "Ms. Catherine, I am honored to receive such a generous offer of collaboration."
"But I’d like to know what specific obligations I need to undertake in this cooperation? For instance, how many comrcials need to be fild for the brand each year? How much product exposure and verbal ntions need to be in the videos?"
This is the most sensitive part of all comrcial collaborations.
Catherine smiled and gave a response that surprised him once again.
"Mr. Herman, we have almost no ’mandatory’ obligations for you. We do not need you to specifically film any comrcials for us, nor do we require you to make any forced verbal ntions in the videos."
"Our only requirent is for you to continue being yourself in the ’Life Below Zero’ show and Bilibili video creations."
"Continue to wear our gear as you climb, hunt, build, and explore."
"Your every real use is the best display of our products! Your lens is our best advertisent!"
"Of course, we may use so of your portraits or video clips for our official social dia or brand brochures at certain promotional points, but all of this will be specifically defined within the contract."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yu’an was almost convinced in his heart.
"I have another principle that I will not engage in any exaggerated or false advertising in my content. I will only provide subjective evaluations of the products based on my most genuine experiences."
"If I find any equipnt has shortcomings in specific environnts, I will also point them out truthfully."
Catherine said, "Mr. Herman, this is exactly what we want to hear the most! We need your most genuine and professional feedback, whether it’s advantages or disadvantages."
At this point, all the core ideas of both parties have reached a high level of agreent.
Lin Yu’an’s tone also relaxed, "In that case, Ms. Catherine, I agree to this collaboration in principle. Next will be the connection by professional legal personnel."
"Of course, Mr. Herman, I wish us a pleasant collaboration."
During the entire contract confirmation process, it was tedious but exceptionally smooth.
Approximately two days later, a final version of the contract that fully safeguarded both parties’ interests was finally finalized.
That evening, with the lawyer witnessing the whole process, Lin Yu’an and Catherine in faraway Vancouver signed the electronic contract through an encrypted online signing system.
When the screen displayed "Signature Successful," the first top-tier comrcial endorsent of Lin Yu’an’s life had been settled.
He officially beca a brand partner for Archeopteryx!
Just on the third day after signing.
Several cartons with the Archaeopteryx fossil logo were delivered to the bottom of Lin Yu’an’s apartnt building.
"Oh my, dear! Did they... send you the entire store?"
Aliya looked at the boxes filling half of the living room, covering her mouth in surprise.
Lin Yu’an also smiled and shook his head as he opened all the boxes.
The latest Alpha SV and Beta SV hard shell jackets, in his preferred subdued black and military green colors.
Several pairs of Gore-Tex hiking boots and alpine boots with different functions, and extre cold environnt down jackets and cotton clothes made with the most advanced filling technology.
As well as various material base layers, mid-layers, gloves, hats, backpacks... each one representing one of today’s highest standards in outdoor equipnt.
The endorsent contract with Archaeopteryx was set in stone.
At this mont, there was nothing more important than staying with Aliya and waiting for the birth of their twin babies.
————
(The update request tickets have been received! Here it goes, gentlen, here cos the update!)
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