Chapter 653 - 423: Rendezvous
West Yellowstone City.
Located in Montana, it sits just one kilometer from the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park and serves as one of its main entry points. U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 191 pass through the town.
According to the 2017 census, West Yellowstone City had a population of 1,120 and a total area of 2.031435 square kilometers, all of which is land, resulting in a relatively low population density.
Its economy relies mainly on tourism, especially from the large number of visitors attracted to Yellowstone National Park.
The small town provides comprehensive services for tourists, including lodging, dining, and shopping, with numerous hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and shops. In 2016 alone, tourism generated $423 million in spending for West Yellowstone City, with over half of that annual business coming from Chinese tourists.
What!
Feng Shan stared at the numbers in the brochure, unable to hold back a gasp of astonishment.
Annual spending of $423 million, and over half of the business actually came from Chinese tourists.
He couldn’t help but marvel at the spending power of his fellow countrymen.
Seeing that enormous figure, a fire ignited in Feng Shan’s heart.
’It’s just natural scenery. What Montana has, the Crown Territory has too. And what Montana doesn’t have, Alaska still has.’
’Besides, Alaska has its own unique advantages.’
’Polar bears, pods of whales, herds of walruses, plus glaciers, icebergs, and the Bering Sea.’
’These unique natural landscapes are all prime attractions for tourists.’
’Why should all that money just flow into Montana’s pockets?’
At this thought, Feng Shan could no longer contain himself. He poked his head out from his seat and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Mova!!"
"Boss!" Hearing his call, Mova came rushing out of the crew cabin like a gust of wind.
She half-knelt, a concerned expression on her face, and asked softly, "Is something the matter?"
Feng Shan handed the West Yellowstone travel brochure to Mova, his eyes filled with anticipation. "Study the contents of this carefully," he said. "Whatever we can use, we’ll use as is. For what we can’t, find an equivalent in Alaska. We’re going to become the biggest travel agency in Alaska."
"Boss, I’d like to visit the Crown Territory to get a firsthand understanding of the tourism situation," Mova said earnestly after taking the brochure.
Feng Shan nodded, a slight smile on his face. "Of course. After this trip is over, you can come back with me to the Crown Territory and get familiar with the place."
Just then, a clear announcement came over the cabin’s broadcast system.
["We will be arriving at West Yellowstone City Airport in five minutes. Please fasten your seatbelts."]
As the announcement ended, the Petroleum began its slow descent, starting to pass through the cloud layer.
The moment it broke through the clouds, a snow-covered pine forest came into view.
Feng Shan quietly gazed out the window at the approaching horizon.
Below was a boundless snowfield, shimmering with a cold light under the sun.
The pine forests were like the earth’s dark eyelashes, resting silently upon the white expanse.
Snow-capped mountain ranges rolled into the distance, seeming to connect with the horizon.
And nestled in the middle of this silver-white world was a small, snow-mantled town.
In the town, log cabins were arranged in a charming, irregular pattern. Wisps of smoke drifted up from the chimneys, quickly condensing into tiny ice crystals in the cold air, adding a dreamlike touch to the sky.
"Boss, please fasten your seatbelt. The Petroleum is about to land!" Mova’s voice was professionally gentle as she leaned over slightly to buckle his seatbelt for him.
As she leaned over, a faint, elegant, and fresh scent of cedar drifted from her hair. Mova asked softly, "Do you need me to adjust the angle of your seat?"
Feng Shan gently shook his head, his gaze still fixed on the view outside the window.
As the Petroleum descended, the scene on the ground grew clearer, and a hint of anticipation showed in his eyes.
The runway lights on both sides lit up in sequence, their bright glow casting two long, orange bands of light across the snow, guiding the Petroleum in for a safe landing.
With a gentle jolt of the fuselage and a sharp screech of tires against the runway, the Petroleum touched down smoothly.
The snowy landscape outside the window rapidly receded.
Everything fell silent once the Petroleum came to a slow, steady stop in the center of the apron.
"We have arrived in West Yellowstone City. The outside temperature is -24°C, with a ground wind speed of 5 meters per second. Please take precautions to stay warm."
The captain’s steady voice came over the broadcast, announcing that the journey had officially reached its destination.
The moment the plane came to a stop, Feng Shan eagerly unbuckled his seatbelt and strode to the cabin door.
Seeing this, Mova hurriedly grabbed a gray cashmere blanket from the crew cabin and rushed over, saying quickly as she walked,
"Boss, a cold front just passed. It’s minus 24 degrees Celsius out there. You’ll be warmer if you put this blanket on."
’Only minus 24 degrees.’
Feng Shan scoffed inwardly. He’d never been afraid of the weather in the Crown Territory, even when it dropped to more than 50 degrees below zero in winter.
’And they have the nerve to call minus 24 degrees cold?’
He raised an eyebrow, then waved his hand, signaling for the door to be opened.
Mova felt a little helpless in the face of her new boss’s stubbornness, but she skillfully pulled the hydraulic lever for the cabin door nonetheless.
With a soft HISS, the cabin door slowly opened. A bone-chilling wind, carrying fine particles of snow, instantly surged in like a violent tide, kicking up a frigid vortex inside the cabin.
The cold wind on his face felt like countless tiny blades scraping his skin, making it sting with pain.
Just then, four black Chevrolet SUVs appeared in the distance, like bolts of black lightning, tearing through the curtain of snow as they raced toward the plane.
They screeched to a halt beside the Petroleum, the immense inertia causing their wheels to kick up a huge cloud of snowflakes.
The snowflakes, like white sprites, fluttered down onto the aircraft’s boarding stairs.