What everyone said next was basically more of the same. Although the prices of beef, pork, and lamb varied by state, they at least needed to unify a price point first.
About a decade ago, China had suffered a major loss in this regard.
China is different from the United States. Here in the US, beef and lamb are the primary foods. Although pork ranks second in global storage, most of it is used for canned goods, sausages, and things like pork chops. Beyond that, only Chinese immigrants in the US would go out and buy or eat these things.
But in China, pork is actually the main meat consumed. However, the farmers there are very scattered.
China's livestock industry uses a free-range system. In other words, cattle, pigs, and sheep in rural areas are all raised scattered among various households, making it not very easy to track. That's why one year, the statistics weren't handled well.
Pork was overflowing and quite cheap. Jiang Hai remembered that in that year, pork seemed to be only four or five yuan per jin, and vegetables were even more expensive than meat.
Afterwards, when everyone realized pork wasn't profitable, no one raised pigs the second year. That turned out great; the price of pork instantly skyrocketed, more than tripling, even selling for over twenty yuan. At that time, everyone saw pork prices reach that point.
Many people went back to raising pigs, and then the price of pork dropped again. The wealth that evaporated during this period was quite staggering.
Most importantly, everyone lost confidence. Later, the government reacted and began to regulate prices and check inventory levels.
Although they couldn't track it down to the specific household, they at least needed to know over seventy percent of the data and how much could be produced next year. This would facilitate regulation, as pork prices vary by region, and there is a range for regulation.
For example, if the average price is 15, plus or minus two, then it's normal for pork to sell between thirteen and seventeen yuan.
The summit that Jiang Hai and the others were attending now had the same purpose. The US Government needed to know how many cattle were in stock this year and how many could be produced next year, and then everyone would set the price. Yes, that's how the price was set. It wasn't like those high-sounding things involving experts or professors; it was just decided through discussion like this.
It's just like the annual fashion trends; it's really just a few major brands and designers getting together to discuss what colors they like recently, what they are into, and what colors companies are planning to release. Then they integrate these ideas, seek common ground while respecting differences, and what they agree on becomes the trend for the year.
The price of beef and such is the same. However, this had nothing to do with Jiang Hai because he didn't deal with these mid-to-low-end consumer markets. He only sold high-end products. He didn't care how much prime, standard, or commercial beef sold for; he just sold his for 400 dollars and up. Do whatever you want; if you want to buy it, buy it; if not, forget it. This was a pure seller's market.
Precisely because of this, to the traditional livestock owners, Jiang Hai was a freak. A small rancher with only 45,000 head of cattle being able to squeeze into their circle—wasn't that just based on Jiang Hai's reputation?
But when it came to hard power, these people looked down on Jiang Hai. This was also the reason why the bald man beside Jiang Hai was disdainful of him. He had 800,000 head of cattle, and if he earned 1,000 dollars per cow, he could earn 800 million a year slaughtering cattle. Furthermore, he didn't worry that he wouldn't be able to sell them one day, because as long as there were people in the US, Americans would eat beef. It was that simple.
As for the high-end market that Jiang Hai was in, who knows when it might disappear? In their view, Jiang Hai's current situation could be summed up in four words: unstable foundation. So they didn't look up to Jiang Hai, except for his pasture grass.
But likewise, Jiang Hai didn't look up to them either. Earn 1,000 dollars per cow? Hehe, he wouldn't do business like that.
Under these circumstances, it would be a miracle if he could listen to what they were saying, so he just boredly scrolled through his phone.
Fortunately, these people weren't very long-winded. After chatting for about an hour and a half, they had reached a consensus, which basically didn't differ from what Jiang Hai already knew.
If there were changes, it would prove that the US's international status had changed, because these things all followed the US dollar. As long as the US dollar remained strong and was still the world's primary currency, then everything was easy to talk about.
After the discussion concluded, no one here mentioned treating anyone to a meal or anything. Once the discussion was over, everyone could just leave.
"I told you, it was redundant for me to come; I didn't even know what they were talking about." As he walked out, Jiang Hai said to Moses Adams. Moses Adams had really hit the jackpot today; he had seen many big shots, the kind of big shots that someone at his current social stratum couldn't possibly get into contact with. Of course, he was just seeing them.
Big shots like these all had their own exclusive lawyers and wouldn't use him, but gaining some experience and bluffing others was pretty good, right?
Besides, if you swing your hoe well enough, there's no corner you can't dig away at, right? Ahem, of course, he wasn't just saying that.
"Boss, you don't know how many people break their heads every year trying to attend this summit." Hearing Jiang Hai's words, Moses Adams recovered and said to Jiang Hai with some helplessness. He had to admit that sometimes Jiang Hai was really too casual.
"Really? How come I didn't know?" Hearing his words, Jiang Hai curled his lips and said with some disdain.
"Of course, for example, me." Before Moses Adams could reply, Terry Boggs, who had greeted Jiang Hai earlier, leaned over and said with a smile. Hearing him interrupt, Moses Adams stepped back; this was not the time for him to speak. Jiang Hai shrugged when he heard his words.
"Actually, if you had known me earlier, you wouldn't have had so much trouble. I would have just given you the spot." Hearing this person's words, Jiang Hai said casually. It seemed he really didn't care about his position today.
"Haha, you are really humorous. I wonder if you have anything to do later? If not, I'd like to invite you to dinner." Hearing Jiang Hai's words, Terry Boggs couldn't help but laugh and say.
"Oh? Sure!" Hearing his words, Jiang Hai was stunned for a moment, then nodded. He had always felt that this guy's motive for seeking him out wasn't pure. Rather than letting him hold it in, it was better to let him say it. Jiang Hai wasn't the type who couldn't refuse others. In fact, he could see that it seemed like the number of people who wanted to find him now was definitely more than just Terry Boggs.
"Oh? Ah? Oh, okay!" Hearing Jiang Hai agree so readily, it was Terry Boggs who was a bit confused.
When he came, he had inquired about Jiang Hai and knew that Jiang Hai was quite unsociable.
He didn't like to go to parties or go out to play. His only hobby was staying at home. As for being lecherous, what man isn't? Moreover, in his view, Jiang Hai was lecherous with principles.
So in his view, perhaps Jiang Hai was a bit of a loner, not good at socializing, and a bit introverted. Therefore, inviting him to dinner wasn't actually an easy thing. But unexpectedly, as soon as he opened his mouth, Jiang Hai agreed.
Actually, he wasn't wrong; finding Jiang Hai was indeed not an easy task. Among the twenty-plus people present, only two had any connection with Jiang Hai: Luke Shawn and John Malone. But these two had never hung out with Jiang Hai—not that they didn't want to, but Jiang Hai skipped over it every single time.
And this time, the reason Jiang Hai agreed to Terry Boggs's proposal was, firstly, because he knew that if he didn't agree to one first, it wouldn't be easy to dodge other people's dinner invitations later, and he would also offend others.
Instead of that, it was better to just agree to the first person who invited him.
Secondly, because Jiang Hai was actually a bit hungry now. Ahem, the second point was definitely not the reason for his agreement.
But regardless, Jiang Hai agreed, and for Terry Boggs, this was an out-and-out big deal.
He immediately put on a smile and led Jiang Hai out of the White House. The others who had originally intended to make friends with Jiang Hai, seeing Jiang Hai and Terry Boggs leave, couldn't help but frown and held back their steps.
The people here could be said to be famous across the United States; they didn't have the habit of proactively using a hot face to press against a cold butt.
After Jiang Hai and Terry Boggs left, they got into their respective Lincoln sedans. Then the two of them drove one after another towards the city center of Washington. Soon, they arrived at a high-end restaurant named George... or some other long mess of a name. Jiang Hai was really too lazy to remember the name. After walking in, it was indeed a very upscale Western restaurant.
This person took Jiang Hai to a separate booth. Besides that, he specifically opened three separate tables for their entourage—that is, Moses Adams, Azalina, and Wallis Shelley on Jiang Hai's side, and he also had his follower from earlier and his driver on his side. Each ate their own meal, which wouldn't leak any content of their conversation and could also guard against others.
"Come on, brother, the seafood here is excellent." After the two sat down, a waiter walked over with two menus. Hearing his words, Jiang Hai smiled and took the menu. However, when he opened the first page, he saw it written: "Top-tier seafood from the mysterious waters of Winthrop."
For some reason, looking at this passage, Jiang Hai felt a bit awkward and also a bit happy... (To be continued.)