"Oh, and you guys too." Jiang Hai looked at the man in front of him and couldn't help but chuckle. Then he went to the kitchen and took out ten kilograms of meat from the refrigerator. The meat was bought by him earlier that day. After distributing some to a few families, there was still some left. However, it just happened to be dog food.
If outsiders knew that Jiang Hai used standard-grade beef as dog food, they would probably be appalled. Rich people are so indulgent.
After placing the ten kilograms of beef into the extra-large oven to thaw and cook, Jiang Hai brought the meat to the two dogs. The Caucasian dog, smelling the meat, couldn't resist and walked over with its tongue hanging out. The Blue Wolf Mastiff, on the other hand, lazily lifted its eyes and ignored Jiang Hai.
"Although I don't know how you can sense my presence, since you can, then become my helper!" Jiang Hai said with a chuckle, looking at the blue wolf. He then took out a knife and made a small incision on his index finger. Three drops of blood dripped onto the beef. Jiang Hai felt a twinge of discomfort as nine of his snake scales disappeared. As for the blood, it absorbed into the meat as soon as it touched it.
The Caucasian dog tilted its head in confusion at Jiang Hai's actions. However, the Blue Wolf Mastiff's eyes lit up. Clearly, it could sense the power within Jiang Hai's blood.
After dividing the ten kilograms of beef, he gave four pounds to the Caucasian and six pounds to the Blue Wolf Mastiff, then threw the meat into their respective cages. Jiang Hai felt somewhat perplexed. The three drops of blood seemed to have had a significant effect, and the feeling of discomfort in his chest made him uneasy.
He laughed to himself. "I don't know why I got so excited. Did I just give these two guys a spiritual awakening?" He didn't think much more of it, heading upstairs to rest. The two dogs didn't do much after their meal except eat.
The Caucasian dog lay down in its cage, making some silly noises after eating, while the Blue Wolf Mastiff, after forcing itself to finish the meat, deliberately went to a corner of the cage, curled up, and fell asleep.
When Jiang Hai woke up the next morning, the two dogs were still sleeping. He felt that perhaps it was his blood that helped the dogs evolve. Once he confirmed their stability, he didn't linger at home and left.
Since he had already bought a car and other essentials the day before, today he planned to buy a cow.
After having breakfast at Philemon's house, Jiang Hai, Robbins, Philemon, and Burke-Daler drove two F750s and left the manor, heading for a livestock market in the north of town.
Just like in China, there are places in the United States that specialize in trading livestock. Due to the strong smell of these large animals, they cannot be traded in city centers but are instead sold in suburban areas.
Winthrop was no different. To the north of the town, between Jiang Hai's manor and Winthrop, there was a livestock market. This market mainly traded cattle, sheep, and other livestock, although there were some other animals, albeit in small quantities. This market was organized privately and couldn't be held every day. It typically took place twice a month, on the first and third Saturdays.
Jiang Hai and his team arrived just in time. They were driving the large F750 trucks when they attracted attention from people around.
As the vehicles stopped, the four jumped out, but before they could settle, someone came to greet them.
"Hey, Robbins, oh? Burke and Philemon are here too. So this must be the mysterious Oriental tycoon who bought Green Forest." The voice came before the person arrived. Philemon and the others smiled when they heard it, recognizing the voice.
"Hey, Lehman! I heard you went to Texas, didn't you? Why are you still here?" Philemon spoke first when he saw the man approaching. The man, Lehman, looked to be in his forties, with a large, bald head and a big beard. He wore a cowboy hat that was slightly too small for his head, giving him a distinct appearance.
"Haha, Texas is not my place. I still prefer our prosperous East!" Lehman laughed, clearly in a cheerful mood.
"Boss, let me introduce you. This is Lehman Frye, one of the largest cattlemen here. If we want to buy cattle, we'll probably need his help," Robbins said as he stepped over, punching the man lightly before turning to Jiang Hai.
"Hello, my name is Jiang Hai. You can call me Jiang or Hai," Jiang Hai greeted, extending his hand.
"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you. You can just call me Lehman," the man said as he stretched his hands toward Jiang Hai. He tried to speak some Chinese, saying "Nice to meet you" in Chinese, though it seemed like he'd practiced that phrase for a while.
"I've always been interested in the mysterious Eastern country. When I retire, I must go see the magical Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors in the Emperor's underground palace." He seemed very excited about visiting China.
"Uh… that's called the Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors," Jiang Hai corrected him after a brief hesitation.
"Wait for you to retire? It's too early for that. People in our industry don't even know if we'll live that long," Philemon chimed in. The retirement age in the U.S. is relatively late.
In China, there's often talk about retirement policies being too strict. But compared to Europe and the U.S., China's system is more humane. In the U.S., people can retire at 66, and their pension only amounts to around $1,000 a month. Social security and health insurance are mandatory, and people must pay into it for 40 years to retire.
"Okay, stop arguing. We came here to buy cattle. Do you have any recommendations?" Burke-Dale, the old cowboy, interrupted. He took out a cigarette from his pocket, handed one to Lehman, and asked him.
"Buying for Green Forest? That's a big deal. It can raise 100,000 cattle. How many are you looking to buy this time?" Lehman asked, lighting his cigarette.
"I plan to start with 20,000 cattle," Jiang Hai answered according to his original plan.
"20,000? That's a lot. If you get all of them, it will cost millions. This is a big business." Lehman exclaimed, his face lighting up with excitement.
The so-called cattle brokers are middlemen who help facilitate deals between sellers and buyers. They have a wide network and take a commission. But buying and selling cattle in the U.S. is quite straightforward. Commissions are clearly marked, and the amount depends on the quantity of cattle.
"We need about 20,000 cows. Let's go see what's available at the auction. If there's anything left, we'll contact you," Robbins said, signaling to Lehman that they were aware of the market and wouldn't be easily swindled.
Lehman wasn't trying to deceive them. After all, with 20,000 cows, there was more than enough business for everyone.
"Let's go over there and take a look. The auction should be starting soon," Lehman said, smiling as he led the group toward the auction area, which looked like a small stadium. This was where cattle auctions were held. There was a small platform in the center, and surrounding stands were set up for attendees to watch and bid. Since the people here were familiar with each other, there was no need for deposits or bidding signs—just raise your hand if you liked a cow.
This was Jiang Hai's first auction. He felt a bit nervous but was determined to stay serious as he looked toward the platform.