My Manor

Zhang Lao sighed as he reviewed the reports sent by his subordinates. He glanced at Jiang Hai, who was sitting beside him, and half-jokingly said, "I feel more and more that the amount of beef I ordered is too little. Will you sell your cows?"

He knew that those who raised cattle rarely sold their cows. Breeding bulls were replaced every one or two years, but cows were different. A single cow could give birth to seven to ten calves in its lifetime, meaning one cow could effectively produce ten more. Although a cow that had given birth to ten calves would lose its commercial value, most estate owners either butchered it for meat or kept it until the end of its life. Jiang Hai, being the type who valued his livestock, would likely let it live out its days peacefully.

However, before Jiang Hai's cows reached that point, Robbins would never agree to sell them. More importantly, Jiang Hai was no fool. These cows were raised on his high-quality pastures, and the calves they produced would likely be of even better quality. So when Zhang Lao made his remark, Jiang Hai merely smiled, knowing it was a joke.

Understanding Jiang Hai's stance, Zhang Lao did some calculations based on the reports before him. While the cattle had been raised for over a month, their quality had slightly declined compared to when they were first showcased. If the cows Jiang Hai originally exhibited were valued at over $160,000, these were now worth between $140,000 and $150,000, averaging around $147,000 per head.

Jiang Hai was quite satisfied with this price, and Zhang Lao was even more so. There were many wealthy Chinese in the U.S., and while they liked to save money, they would not hesitate to spend on high-quality food. China, with its 5,000-year culinary history, had always placed great importance on cuisine. Every dynasty had its signature dishes, and the Chinese people had never shied away from indulging in the best.

Once Zhang Lao announced that he had secured the finest beef in the world, the first batch was quickly pre-ordered. Now, looking at the data, he couldn't help but feel emotional.

"You really made a fortune this time," Zhang Lao said, shaking his head as he put away the report.

"We make money together," Jiang Hai replied with a chuckle.

Indeed, he had earned a substantial profit. The best cuts of beef were sold to Zhang Lao at $400 per pound, which Zhang Lao would sell for at least $480 per pound. After deducting shipping and other costs, Zhang Lao still made around $75 per pound. With 200 cows, each yielding about 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of premium meat, this translated to over 40,000 pounds. At $75 per pound, he stood to make over $3 million just from this first batch.

To put it into perspective, the net profit of an entire year's operation in Haishang City was only in the tens of millions. This single batch was catching up to a month's worth of sales. And there were still 1,800 more cows to be sold. After selling all 2,000 cows that year, the net profit from premium cuts alone would exceed $30 million. Reflecting on this, Zhang Lao felt he had indeed ordered too few.

As more cattle were slaughtered, the smiles on Jiang Hai and Zhang Lao's faces grew wider. As Jiang Hai had said, making money together was the key to long-term success.

By 3:00 PM, all 200 cows had been processed, and Zhang Lao took possession of the beef. As for the hides, Jiang Hai sold them directly to the slaughterhouse, which had connections with major suppliers. Given the exceptional quality of Jiang Hai's cattle, the slaughterhouse paid him $1.6 million for the hides—$800 per piece—matching the best quality on the market.

For Jiang Hai, however, $1.6 million was merely a small bonus. He gladly accepted the payment but wouldn't have minded if he hadn't received it. What he did regret was the offal. In his eyes, these were valuable, but unfortunately, most Westerners didn't eat offal except for foie gras. As a result, these parts were discarded, benefiting only the local rodents and stray dogs.

Once the meat was loaded, Zhang Lao didn't linger. He promptly transferred the full payment for the 200 cows—each priced at $147,800—totaling $29.56 million. While this didn't break the $100 million mark, it was only the beginning. Moreover, Zhang Lao wasn't Jiang Hai's biggest buyer; according to Pra Walton, she had secured an order for 1,000 cows in the first batch alone, which would push the total sales well over $100 million. Jiang Hai was more than pleased with how the beef business was shaping up.

Following Chinese custom, they celebrated the deal with a meal. Jiang Hai invited Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi to join them, instructing them to bring their own food while he and Zhang Lao enjoyed drinks at his home. Robbins accompanied them, while Burke Dahler returned to the manor to share the good news with the workers.

Jiang Hai didn't just make money for himself—he ensured his workers profited as well. Including the revenue from the hides, he had earned a total of $31.36 million. He took $30 million for himself and distributed the remaining $1.36 million among his five cowboys, giving each $272,000. For them, this was a fortune. Burke Dahler was eager to relay the news, knowing it would boost morale.

At the manor, the cowboys had envied the fishermen for their high earnings. But now, the roles were reversed. While the fishermen watched in envy, the cowboys reveled in their windfall. However, both groups understood that as long as they followed Jiang Hai, they would be well taken care of. Their financial prospects had never been brighter.

As the manor celebrated, Jiang Hai headed to Zhang Lao's house for drinks. Meanwhile, Ai Xiaoxi and Feng Yunchen had just finished their photo shoot for the day. When Burke Dahler returned with the news, they were left in shock—not only at the staggering $31.36 million Jiang Hai had made in a single day but also at his generosity in sharing the wealth. Converting $272,000 to RMB, it amounted to roughly 1.77 million yuan—an astronomical sum compared to their earnings.

Both women suddenly felt an urge to reconsider Jiang Hai's previous proposition. But even if they were inclined to agree, they'd have to wait for him to return. In the meantime, they focused on dinner. Fortunately, Aphra, who had assisted them throughout the day, took the initiative to cook, much to their gratitude. As the group walked toward the villa, Darlene and Marian led the way, while Aphra deliberately lagged behind with Ai Xiaoxi and Feng Yunchen. The two women exchanged glances, sensing that Aphra had something to ask.

"I need a favor," Aphra said hesitantly, speaking slowly so they could understand.

"Go ahead. We'll see if we can help," Feng Yunchen replied with a smile, appreciative of Aphra's help throughout the day.

"I know you two have been with the boss," Aphra began, blushing. "I don't mean anything bad by it—I support him completely. In fact, I want to be with him, too. But he always ignores me. So… could you teach me how to get his attention?"

Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi froze. Was this even a real question? They exchanged glances, their minds racing. Ai Xiaoxi blushed and looked away, unwilling to comment.

Feng Yunchen studied Aphra in silence. This felt like something out of a melodramatic TV drama.

"My situation was different from yours," Aphra continued. "I was in a bad place before. The boss saved me, gave me a job, a new life, and even cured my throat. He's everything to me."

Taking a deep breath, she added, "If you want Jiang Hai to love you, I can't help. Because… he doesn't love me. But if you just want to be with him, that's easy."

"I don't expect him to love me," Aphra said quickly. "I just want to be with him… that's enough for me."