"Hey, Edward, over here!" Jiang Hai waved, calling out to Edward Anderson, who was just getting off the dock.
Because he had a draft ready last night, Jiang Hai woke up before dawn today. This was the time when Edward Anderson and his crew would return. The fish were caught at night and then transported to the Boston docks before daybreak. That's when people from Tenglong Company and high-end Boston restaurants would gather there.
Walmart representatives, sent by Pula Walton, would tell Tenglong Company what fish they needed and where they should be sent. Tenglong Company would then immediately transport these fresh, chilled, or frozen seafood directly to the airport, from where they would fly directly to the agreed-upon locations, where Walmart employees would be waiting to receive the goods.
Edward Anderson and his crew would then return directly, with all payments deposited directly into Jiang Hai's account.
Normally, by the time they got home, around six o'clock, if it were summer, it would already be bright. But since it was still winter, it wasn't even faintly light. The sea was covered in fog, with only a few rays of sunlight.
Don't assume that living by the sea all year means you'll often see the sunrise. To be honest, just like in the mountains, the times you can see the sunrise are rare, because the fog is unusually thick, whether at sea or in the mountains.
Jiang Hai had lived here for over three years, and while he hadn't seen so few sunrises that he could count them on his fingers, the number wasn't very high either.
Basically, seeing the sunrise one or two days a month was good enough, and today was clearly not one of those days.
"Hey, boss, you're up early!" Edward Anderson said with a smile when he heard Jiang Hai, then spoke to him. Jiang Hai also smiled and waved, and the two walked into the small cabin next to the dock. The weather outside was quite challenging right now, far less comfortable than a heated room.
Some people said Jiang Hai was a loser, and now that he was rich, he was a super loser. If Jiang Hai heard these words, he would say... how could you tell? Ahem, alright, Jiang Hai was indeed a super loser. If he had even a tiny bit of ambition and drive, he could have made more money and had more influence with his abilities, but he didn't.
"I called you over for something. Do you know where sharks are abundant around here, especially great white sharks, and also giant squid or colossal squid?" Jiang Hai pulled Edward Anderson into the cabin and got straight to the point, asking him. Edward Anderson pondered for a moment upon hearing Jiang Hai's words.
He knew where great white sharks were plentiful, and he also understood that Jiang Hai had some special abilities that he couldn't comprehend. However, he had to think carefully about colossal squid, because he truly didn't know about them.
"Sharks are abundant wherever there are plenty of fish. Cape Cod, near us, is a regular haunt for sharks. I remember there used to be many great white sharks there, around thirty to forty, but after some were hunted, they've been rarely seen recently. Still, I'm sure they're there. As for colossal squid and giant squid, boss, I truly don't know…" Edward Anderson said to Jiang Hai, who then gave an awkward smile.
In fact, he had been a bit presumptuous. Giant squid and colossal squid are deep-sea creatures; they don't need to surface to breathe, so why would they come up? Naturally, not many people have seen them.
"But sperm whales feed on these things, so where there are sperm whales, there should be such creatures!" Edward Anderson suggested to Jiang Hai after some thought. Jiang Hai nodded, agreeing. Indeed, he might not be able to find these creatures, but that didn't mean other creatures couldn't. At least for sperm whales, the natural predators of these squid, it shouldn't be a big problem! However, Jiang Hai was a bit conflicted about where to find sperm whales.
"Sperm whales are found everywhere; as long as the water doesn't freeze, you'll see them. It's not hard to find them," Edward Anderson said with a smile when he heard Jiang Hai. Jiang Hai nodded at what he said. Finding them was good news. He was now afraid of another orca invasion, so since sharks were confirmed first, they would go look for sharks first. As for colossal squid, that would depend on the situation!
"Alright, then let's find a chance to go to Cape Cod soon!" Jiang Hai said to Edward Anderson after thinking for a moment.
Edward Anderson naturally didn't mind Jiang Hai going to Cape Cod and simply nodded.
However, if they were going to Cape Cod, Jiang Hai and his crew needed to hurry, because March was fast approaching, and Jiang Hai would be busy. By then, very few people would be available to leave. The fishermen would need to start releasing fry, and on land, it would be time to start planting vegetables, tidying the lawns, and herding cattle. At that point, Jiang Hai wouldn't have extra hands to accompany him to Cape Cod.
Although Azalina and the others could always accompany Jiang Hai, there was a problem: you could ask Azalina to kill someone, but ask her to catch sharks? Heh, that was indeed overthinking it. This task still needed to be done by Edward Anderson.
After making arrangements with Edward Anderson, Jiang Hai went back and thought about it, deciding to go after Robbins Garcia and the others returned. Why wait for them to come back? Because this time, Jiang Hai planned to take Connorsen Peters, Harriman Fells, Bell Leicester, and Edward Anderson with him. Bell Leicester would be responsible for security.
Edward Anderson would be responsible for figuring out how to get the fish, while the other two would be responsible for catching them. Taking women along at this time would indeed be a bit inconvenient. Moreover, the main reason was that Cape Cod wasn't far; it was less than an hour's boat ride from the border of Jiang Hai's fishing ground. Don't forget, Jiang Hai expanded his fishing ground last year.
This time, Jiang Hai planned to take his own yacht. It had been a while since his yacht had been used.
After all, it was a product that cost Jiang Hai over five million US dollars, so just leaving it there didn't seem too good.
After Jiang Hai made his decision, he quietly waited for Robbins Garcia and the others to return. Edward Anderson also had to arrange the rotation of the fishermen during his absence. As for Jiang Hai's women, they wouldn't be too concerned. After all, Jiang Hai was only going to Cape Cod, which was very close. Jiang Hai would only be gone for two or three days. They wouldn't keep him tied down for two or three days, especially since, according to Jiang Hai, this was serious business.
Days passed, and four days later, Robbins Garcia and his team returned. They had left with two cows, and came back with only one Shorthorn cow and a medal.
It goes without saying that the medal was, of course, a gold medal, first place. Jiang Hai's beef cattle had no problem sweeping the competition.
As for the dairy cow, it also won a gold medal, but its ranking wasn't particularly high, as Jiang Hai had only raised it for one winter, not over a year. Even so, Jiang Hai's milk had made a name for itself.
Because purely in terms of nutritional content, Jiang Hai's milk was undoubtedly number one. Australian dairy cows and Dutch dairy cows, in terms of pure nutritional content, were all inferior to Jiang Hai's Shorthorn cows, after all, the grass it ate was rich in spiritual energy.
However, perhaps because it had been raised for a short time, the taste of the milk was not particularly good, so although it was also a gold medal, its ranking was not particularly high. As for the beef cattle, they were naturally an existence that swept everything.
According to Robbins Garcia, they had a smooth journey. This year's San Antonio Livestock Show also had participants from the island nation, who were naturally overshadowed by Jiang Hai. However, those islanders were indeed very sneaky.
They initially sent people to cause trouble, giving the cattle purgatives and such, but they were directly subdued by Harriman Fells, who had accompanied them, and thrown into the police station. Later, they incited American cowboys to demand why these cattle were so good. According to them, they were all raising cattle, so why could Jiang Hai's cattle sell for so much? It was unfair!
However, their plan did not succeed, because speaking of unfairness, it was the Wagyu beef, and the island nation had not publicly disclosed the cultivation methods for this type of meat. Coupled with the fact that America is a country that values human rights and democracy, such a thing did not happen. So, after safely dealing with these scoundrels along the way, they also brought back two gold medals for Jiang Hai.
After Harriman Fells returned, Jiang Hai let him rest for two days, then took the four people he had chosen onto his yacht and headed directly for Cape Cod. He had been worried that the orcas might return these past few days. Jiang Hai valued both his fishing ground and his land, and most importantly, he was a person with little sense of security.
These past few days, even when his girls flirted with him, he felt a bit off emotionally, let alone doing other things.
Harriman Fells also knew Jiang Hai was in a hurry, so after resting for two days upon his return, he followed Jiang Hai onto the boat without any complaints when Jiang Hai beckoned. Because the destination wasn't far, Jiang Hai and his crew prepared their things and even had breakfast before leaving. Edward Anderson, acting as captain, started the engine and sped towards Cape Cod. (To be continued.)
Cape Cod
Fishing, of course, doesn't refer to a place name or a law enforcement method; it's simply a type of outdoor sport.
No one knows exactly how many years fishing has been around, but it's at least tens of thousands of years. Fishing rods and the activity of fishing existed long before human civilization.
The most famous example is from the end of the Shang Dynasty, when a man named Lu Wang fished with a straight hook, only catching nobles and generals. Later, he was granted the surname Jiang for his achievements, becoming the renowned Jiang Ziya. Yes, Jiang Ziya's original surname was not Jiang, but Lu.
The Jiang clan is one of the oldest and most distinguished surnames in ancient China, as its origin traces back to Shennong, also known as the legendary Yan Emperor. The Yan Emperor was born near the Jiang River, so he took the name of the water as his surname, Jiang. Of course, this has nothing to do with Jiang Hai, and as far as he knows, it also has nothing to do with a certain author; he's just padding the word count.
Anyway, fishing is a skill passed down by ancient humans. Many people have fished; taking China as an example, out of 1.3 billion people, at least one-third have fished. Children born or raised in rural areas have definitely fished, and those born in cities have almost certainly visited fishing ponds or reservoirs and fished there too.
However, while many people have fished, not many truly enjoy it.
Across all of China, if one person out of a hundred genuinely enjoys fishing, that's about right.
Don't think this proportion is small. China has 1.3 billion people; if one in a hundred enjoys fishing, that's 13 million people. The country's population base is simply too large, and there's nothing anyone can do about that.
But if one in a hundred Chinese people like fishing, then in America, perhaps... one in a thousand? Or three thousand? Or five thousand? Well, to be honest, very few people in America genuinely enjoy fishing.
It's well-known that although the U.S. government has been committed to changing Americans' eating habits to eliminate the overpopulation of Asian carp in rivers, Americans simply don't eat them, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.
Firstly, America, like China, once polluted vast areas of land and water for development. Now, having reached a bottleneck in rapid development, it has begun to address land, air, and water pollution. However, this effort has only been ongoing for two or three decades. While current results are good, middle-aged people remember how severe the pollution was when they were young. Therefore, middle-aged and elderly people absolutely refuse to eat fish from rivers, as they perceive them to be contaminated.
Secondly, Americans don't like eating bony fish. Someone might say, "All fish have bones!"
But if you look closely at American restaurants, you'll understand that fish can actually be boneless... because Americans prepare fish differently from the Chinese, who fry, pan-fry, stew, or braise it.
Americans only eat fish fillets, fish balls, and similar items. This means that from a whole fish, they make a cut on the left and a cut on the right, only taking those two pieces of meat to eat, discarding the head and tail entirely. Most river fish also have bones in these parts, but many sea fish, like cod, do not, which is why they don't eat river fish.
It is precisely because of these two reasons that Americans do not eat river fish. If someone were to make fish balls out of river fish, they might eat them, but then they would worry if the fish meat was clean, if preservatives were added to the fish balls, how long they had been stored, and so on... So, to avoid these troubles, they decided it was better not to eat river fish.
No demand, no market. Because nobody eats river fish, even if someone fishes for them, it's just for fun. After catching a fish, they usually throw it directly into the trash. But playing for a long time eventually loses its appeal, and they still have to work. Consequently, very few people go fishing along American rivers.
Just like hunting in America, fishing also requires a license, otherwise, if caught, you could end up in jail.
With these two factors combined, it's no exaggeration to say that the number of people who fish in American rivers is extremely small.
There are quite a few people fishing by the sea, and they do eat the fish they catch, but how many people actually live by the sea?
Most importantly, Americans generally have good incomes, and as you know, the price of sea fish in the US is not very high. Under such circumstances, how many people would actually fish?
There's a saying in the NBA: if a team doesn't make the playoffs, or gets eliminated, they're said to have gone fishing, because to them, fishing is synonymous with going on vacation, it means the same thing.
In America, there's only one type of person who genuinely puts effort into fishing, and they are called 'ocean hunters' by people like Edward Anderson.
However, to Jiang Hai and his companions, they are simply fishermen. But these fishermen are different from ordinary ones; traditional fishermen buy a boat, near or far, in their local waters or offshore, cast their nets, make a round trip, and then sell their catch.
These ocean hunters, on the other hand, specialize in fishing, specifically targeting valuable fish species.
For example, the legendary bluefin tuna, and of course, they also welcome yellowfin, masu, bigeye, and others.
Each country has specific open seasons for tuna. For instance, in Canada, it's from August to October each year. The U.S. and Canada are always in sync, so their seasons are similar. Although China doesn't have explicit regulations for tuna fishing, it does have annual fishing bans from spring to autumn, allowing marine life to recuperate, and fishing is naturally prohibited during this time. However, this rule doesn't apply to some smaller nations.
Countries like Japan and some Southeast Asian nations can catch tuna all year round; as long as they are found in the ocean, they can be caught. Mexico, which is closest to the U.S., can also catch tuna from January to November, with only December truly reserved for their recuperation.
Therefore, many ocean hunters drift from place to place throughout the year, spending a few months in one country and then moving on to the next. For them, as long as they can catch tuna, anywhere is fine.
And their income is much higher than that of ordinary fishermen. Imagine, if they got lucky one day and caught a bluefin tuna, even if it wasn't too big, say over 200 kilograms. Bluefin tuna prices vary by part, but if we had to give an average, it would be around $300 per kilogram in the U.S. Of course, this refers to prices in the U.S.; if it went to China or Japan, the prices would skyrocket... In China, the best meat from the gill plate of a top-grade tuna can fetch 3,800 RMB per liang (50 grams), which is 76,000 RMB per kilogram. In Japan, a single tuna selling for millions of RMB, or even tens of millions, is possible, provided it's large enough.
But generally, catching a bluefin tuna and selling it for fifty to sixty thousand US dollars is absolutely no problem.
Coupled with other tuna they catch, just from tuna fishing alone, the average annual income of these ocean hunters is at least $100,000. And they don't just catch tuna; they also catch blue marlin, swordfish, and other billfish.
So, basically, the annual income of these ocean hunters is roughly above $150,000.
In the U.S., $50,000 is considered middle class, so $150,000 is enough to attract a large number of people into this industry.
However, this industry also has some drawbacks. First, it's entirely dependent on luck; you might earn $300,000 in a year, or you might not earn a single cent and even lose money on airfare and fuel. If you average that out between two people, it's $150,000 each.
The second point is that it's not very safe. Let's not even talk about Japan; it's such a tiny place, and there are too many people fishing there, so few go. They themselves go fishing in international waters.
As for other places, whether it's Southeast Asia or Mexico, you can't guarantee that if you catch a bluefin tuna to sell, you won't be robbed on the way... Many people die doing this every year, but there's nothing anyone can do.
People die for wealth, and birds die for food; this is an eternal truth. Precisely because of this, many ocean hunters specifically stay in safe places, such as Cape Cod and Georges Bank within North America... Speaking of Cape Cod, it is indeed a place with a close relationship to the United States, as it was the first stop for European immigrants arriving in America. Without this place, there would be no United States or Canada; it's no exaggeration to say that.
It wasn't tuna season, so when Jiang Hai and his boat arrived, the area seemed a bit deserted. At the Woods Hole harbor, as Jiang Hai's yacht pulled in, many people who were taking advantage of the good weather to dry their fishing nets on the dock looked towards Jiang Hai and his boat. Many young boys and girls even had eyes full of envy and hope.
Cape Cod is located in the gap between Massachusetts and New York. Politically, it belongs to Massachusetts, but precisely because of this, it is not very affluent. While it's not like the rumored extreme poverty, the per capita income here is genuinely not high for Massachusetts. They say that poor mountains and harsh waters breed unruly people; while the people here aren't necessarily unruly, many wish to leave and yearn for the outside world.
As Jiang Hai's yacht docked, many half-grown boys specially came to gather around, waiting to tie mooring ropes, which was their primary way of collecting tips. (To be continued.)
Woods Hole
"Catch!" Jiang Hai picked out a kid on the pier who looked decent and threw the boat's mooring line over. The boy immediately caught the rope and tied it firmly to a distant piling.
As the rope was tightened, Jiang Hai's boat slowly drifted closer. Once Edward Anderson docked the boat, Jiang Hai and the others walked down the gangway. Since someone had to stay behind to guard the boat, only three people came ashore: Jiang Hai, Edward Anderson, and Connorsen Peters. Bell Lester and Harriman Fells remained on board.
"Good job, kid!" After disembarking, Jiang Hai saw the boy who had helped him tie the boat standing at a distance, rubbing his hands together. Knowing the rules of the game, Jiang Hai pulled an Andrew Jackson (twenty dollars) from his pocket and pressed it into the boy's hand. Seeing the tip, the little fellow was so happy he looked like he was about to bubble over with joy.
"Thank you, sir!" He stuffed the money into his shirt and shouted with excitement.
"You earned it. By the way, can you tell me where the best hotel in town is?" Jiang Hai asked with a smile, seeing how excited the boy was.
"Follow me, sir." Hearing that Jiang Hai had another task for him, the boy thumped his chest confidently and led Jiang Hai toward the town.
Cape Cod wasn't actually that far from Jiang Hai's home. If they took a speedboat, they could arrive in about three hours.
If it were a fishing boat, it would take nearly six hours. Jiang Hai's yacht was slightly slower than a speedboat but much faster than a standard fishing boat, so it took about three hours to arrive. This place was roughly 30 nautical miles from his fishery. A normal fishing boat would take over an hour to cover that distance properly, but Jiang Hai's yacht didn't need that long.
Following the child, Jiang Hai soon entered the town. The buildings here were quite old, with no skyscrapers or bustling traffic. The entire town felt very ancient.
The buildings in the town had a strong Gothic feel. Before they arrived, Edward Anderson had already told Jiang Hai that the buildings here could essentially be considered cultural relics.
This was because the buildings in this town were mostly established when Europeans first immigrated to America.
Cape Cod's original name was Cape Cod. Of course, it is still called Cape Cod now; 'Xueyu Jiao' (Cape Cod) is just a nickname.
This place was first discovered in 1602 by a fisherman—well, the official records say it was an explorer named Gosnold. But has anyone ever considered why Gosnold's ship was full of Cod? Regardless of whether they were gilding the lily for these people, the place was named Cape Cod because of that boatload of Cod.
Later, in 1620, a group of murderers, heretics, and people who couldn't survive elsewhere arrived here on the Mayflower.
Once people were here, they naturally had to build houses. So, those original heretics built these structures with a strong Gothic style. Gothic architecture originated during the European Renaissance, starting in the 12th century and disappearing by the 16th century.
During that period, Gothic architecture was no longer popular in Europe. Emerging powers even gave it a derogatory name: 'Gothic' architecture. Yes, 'Gothic' was the original name, but it became a derogatory term back then.
So, if someone travels to Europe and points at some French buildings calling them 'Gothic' in a certain context, they might get beaten up.
The town of Woods Hole itself wasn't large, with a total population of about four hundred people.
Nearly one-third of the residents were ocean hunters, and of that third, only one-tenth stayed on the island year-round. Other young people, if they had any way out, wouldn't return voluntarily except from August to October each year.
The town's primary income for the year came from tourism, as it is considered one of the birthplaces of America.
So, every year, people come here to take photos and see the sights. However, because it's truly small and there are over a dozen other towns on Cape Cod with similar local customs, the town isn't very wealthy when the revenue is spread thin.
But for the sake of this sole source of revenue, they insisted on maintaining the town's style. To Jiang Hai, it was a style that looked very gloomy on overcast days. To a Chinese person, Gothic style... wasn't that just the style of a haunted house or a tomb? Well, Jiang Hai might have been wrong, but he really didn't understand these things.
Following the boy, Jiang Hai walked to the center of town. There was a small plaza in the middle with a dried-up fountain. Around the plaza was likely the town's commercial center, with several hotels and bars. In the distant alleys, there were some professional establishments that only men would visit—not uncommon in America. Leading Jiang Hai there, the boy pointed excitedly at a three-story building called 'Toby & George's Hotel' and smiled at Jiang Hai. Needless to say, they had arrived.
"Thanks for the trouble." As he spoke, Jiang Hai gave him another ten-dollar bill and then stepped into the hotel.
When he walked in, the first thing he saw was a lobby that looked like a bar, along with a staircase leading upstairs.
At the moment, there were only about five or six people in the bar, divided into three groups. Two tables of people were sitting at the far end; they glanced at Jiang Hai and his group when they entered, then turned back, showing no interest.
"Hello, welcome. Are you here for food, drinks, or a room?" Another person, a fat old man sitting in front of the bar watching TV with a cigarette in his mouth, spoke to them.
"Hi, Toby." Before Jiang Hai could speak, Edward Anderson greeted him with a smile.
"Hmm? Edward? I haven't seen you in a while." Hearing Edward Anderson's voice, the fat man turned his head in confusion. When he saw it was Edward Anderson, he couldn't help but cry out in surprise.
"Tell me about it. I thought you were going to close down." Edward Anderson walked over, shook his hand, and patted his shoulder. Hearing Edward Anderson's words, the fat man named Toby laughed. Clearly, he didn't mind the joke; they had been making such jokes for many years.
"Don't worry, as long as I'm not dead, this place will always be open. Are you here for a room, a meal, or just to visit an old friend?" Toby asked with a smile, looking at Edward Anderson.
"All of the above. A room, a meal, and to visit an old friend." Edward Anderson laughed and then stepped back to introduce his boss, Jiang Hai.
"Toby, this is my boss, Mr. Jiang Hai from China." Hearing Edward Anderson introduce him, Jiang Hai said hello and extended his hand.
"Kid, I've heard of you. I hope you have a pleasant stay. How many rooms do you need, and for how many nights?" Toby shook Jiang Hai's hand and spoke with a smile. In Massachusetts, there weren't many coastal residents who hadn't heard of Jiang Hai.
"Let's get three rooms. One single-bed room and two double-bed rooms. We haven't decided how long we're staying yet, but I'll have to trouble you to prepare some food for us while the rooms are being readied." Jiang Hai replied with a smile. This was what he and Edward Anderson had discussed on the boat earlier.
There were five of them in total. Jiang Hai naturally wanted to stay on land every day. Although the sea wasn't particularly rough right now, there was still some swaying. He was the boss; he had the right to stay on shore.
As for the remaining four, they would rotate in pairs—two would come ashore today, and the other two tomorrow. Americans didn't like sharing beds and valued their privacy, which was why Jiang Hai specifically asked for two rooms with two beds.
"Alright, no problem!" Toby responded with a smile.
"Chave, you lazy bum, get the three best rooms ready immediately! One single, two doubles. We have guests, and you haven't moved a muscle! I'm going to fire you sooner or later! George, old friend, Edward brought his boss over. Whip up some of your signature dishes to welcome them! You guys take a seat!" After Toby finished speaking, he shouted at the top of his lungs toward the second floor. A commotion followed his shout, then the sound of rapid footsteps heading to the third floor to get busy. A response also came from the kitchen.
Jiang Hai wasn't put off by this rough-and-ready arrangement; he felt that not being treated like an outsider was the best. Edward Anderson, knowing Jiang Hai's habits, led him to an empty table with a smile.
"Boss, in a bit, you have to try Old George's Pineapple Chicken with Cod. The taste definitely won't disappoint you." Once they were seated, Edward Anderson said to Jiang Hai.
"Edward, since you knew about this place, why didn't you just lead us here directly?" Jiang Hai chuckled but then asked with some confusion, as it had cost him an extra ten dollars.
"Hey, Jiang, you're the boss. You're the one who decides where we go, not anyone else!" Edward Anderson replied seriously. Hearing this, Jiang Hai smiled. He really liked having subordinates like this! (To be continued.)
Setting Sail to Hunt
In a short while, a man wearing a somewhat greasy chef's coat emerged from the kitchen, carrying several dishes.
"This is George. He and Toby own this hotel; Toby put up the money, and since George was a chef, he handles the cooking. He might not have any Michelin stars, but his food is actually quite delicious." Edward Anderson smiled as he introduced George to Jiang Hai, who immediately looked at the food George was carrying. George hadn't bothered with individual plates for them; generally speaking, Americans aren't overly fussy about dining etiquette anyway.
This is especially true when eating dry items like meat chunks. Soups might be served separately, but there aren't many formalities when it comes to main courses.
The first dish that caught Jiang Hai's eye was George's alleged specialty: Pineapple Chicken Chunks and Cod Fillets.
The preparation was simple: the cod fillets were pan-fried, the pineapple chicken chunks were deep-fried, and they were served together with two small dipping sauces—ketchup and sweet chili sauce. Naturally, the real secret lay in the marinating process.
Once the food arrived, Jiang Hai picked up a fork and tried a piece. After chewing, he couldn't help but nod in approval. He truly was an experienced chef; his control over the temperature was exceptional. The chicken chunks and fish fillets were slightly crunchy on the outside but extremely tender inside. The juices were perfectly sealed in, ensuring the meat wasn't dry, yet still retained a satisfying chewiness and a crisp outer crust.
To be honest, Jiang Hai's palate wasn't far off from a child's; he absolutely loved food that was crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. Paired with the sweet chili sauce, the flavor was truly excellent.
Seeing Jiang Hai nod in satisfaction, Old George smiled before returning to the kitchen to continue his work.
After enjoying a pleasant lunch, Jiang Hai made sure to pack two extra servings—they hadn't forgotten the two men still on the boat. After delivering the food to the crew, Jiang Hai and the others returned to the small hotel and went up to their rooms.
On the third floor, Jiang Hai and the others saw Chavy, the man Toby was constantly threatening to fire. After Jiang Hai handed him a twenty-dollar tip, he entered his room. Although the hotel looked a little dilapidated from the outside.
Since it was still a tourist town and a summer resort destination, the interior of the hotel was actually quite decent.
The room was spacious and fully equipped with heating, air conditioning (though the AC wasn't needed right now), a clean bathroom, a sofa, a table and chairs, a TV, and a large bed. Jiang Hai took a short nap there that afternoon.
After rocking on the boat for several hours, it was impossible not to feel a little dizzy, so taking time to adjust now was a good idea.
Jiang Hai woke up before nightfall. After meeting Edward Anderson downstairs, they had dinner in the lobby. Afterward, Edward Anderson led them to a nearby bar.
They weren't going out for fun; they were going to gather information. Great white sharks are not like terrestrial animals such as tigers or lions that maintain fixed territories. Great whites roam constantly; they can be found anywhere there is water. As a result, you often encounter them when you least expect it, and you can't find them when you actively search.
Now they needed to go to the bar to find out where the great white sharks were currently located in the vicinity.
While they were certain that great white sharks existed here—this was Cod Cape, abundant with fish, and where there is prey, there are always predators—trying to find them by randomly searching the ocean surface would be futile. Where would they even start? Sharks aren't whales that spout water; simply looking for a dorsal fin is incredibly difficult. Therefore, inquiring locally to pinpoint a specific area was essential.
"Boss, you go ask around at the bar counter. I'm going to see if I can find any old friends and get information from them." Edward Anderson said this to Jiang Hai just before the three men walked into the bar.
Once inside the bar, Jiang Hai nodded slightly to himself, finding the atmosphere quite agreeable.
Although it was a bar, it wasn't a loud disco or club. It was a classic country bar, much like Old Tony's Cowboy Song, playing vintage country music. Jiang Hai didn't feel out of place listening to the slightly quirky, non-obtrusive music. Nodding along to the rhythm, he led Connorsen Peters to the bar counter.
"What can I get for you?" The young bartender looked up as Jiang Hai approached, asking him while polishing a glass. He was used to serving tourists and knew the routine well, but since this wasn't peak season, he found Jiang Hai's arrival a little unusual.
"I'll take a whiskey. Connorsen, what about you?" Jiang Hai asked Connorsen Peters.
"Just beer, I still need to protect you," Connorsen grumbled.
The reason Jiang Hai brought both him and Harriman Fells along was twofold: their great strength, and their unwavering loyalty. Among the entire group, if Bell Leicester had a 5% chance of betraying Jiang Hai, and Edward Anderson had a 3% chance, these two likely had less than 1%. This was why Jiang Hai trusted them.
"One whiskey, one beer," Jiang Hai said with a smile after hearing Connorsen. The attendant then poured Jiang Hai a third of a glass of whiskey, added three ice cubes, and poured a pint of draft house-brewed beer. Small establishments like this often brew their own beer instead of buying commercial brands, meaning the taste varies from place to place. There is a whole subculture in America dedicated to traveling far and wide just to sample the unique brews at these small bars.
Jiang Hai took the whiskey and slipped a twenty-dollar bill into the nearby tip jar. Considering the prices at a small establishment like this, a glass of whiskey cost maybe five or six dollars, and a beer was only two or three dollars.
Americans usually tip between ten and twenty percent. When someone like Jiang Hai tips double the cost of the drinks upfront, it's a clear signal that they are looking for information. The bartenders were quite used to this practice.
Seeing the twenty dollars dropped, the bartender leaned over the counter, looking at Jiang Hai and waiting for his question.
"Excuse me, which stretch of water nearby tends to have the most great white sharks?" Jiang Hai asked the bartender after taking a sip of his whiskey.
"Those things roam constantly, so no one ever knows exactly where they are. However, about thirty nautical miles from here is the Tenglong Ranch fishery. Their fish are quite delicious, so you occasionally see great white sharks circling around Jiang Hai's fishery, looking to snatch any fish that stray out. If you follow that line, you might spot some great whites, but you need to be wary of the Tenglong Ranch staff. They are extremely strict about their territory. If they find you, you'd better run fast; their water cannons show no mercy." The waiter wasn't concerned about the question, as people came to see great white sharks every year, so he gave the advice casually.
Hearing this advice, Jiang Hai felt a little awkward. It was certainly a strange sensation to be warned by a stranger to watch out for his own ranch, even if the warning was well-intentioned.
"Thank you!" Despite the warning, the sentiment was friendly, so Jiang Hai thanked him and continued drinking. Before long, Edward Anderson returned. The information he had gathered was nearly identical to what Jiang Hai had learned: the great white sharks were likely circling the perimeter of Jiang Hai's fishery.
As for why these sharks didn't enter the fishery? Others might not know, but Jiang Hai certainly did: it was because of Da Sha. Da Sha was now larger than a typical killer whale, whereas the average great white shark was only about six meters long.
Compared to Da Sha, who was approaching ten meters in length, the difference was substantial. With Da Sha, his mate, and a dozen dolphins patrolling that section of the sea, the great white sharks couldn't fight them off. Since they were reluctant to leave the food source, they could only linger nearby. Moreover, great white sharks are quite dull-witted; they lack social awareness and don't charge collectively like orcas. They are solitary hunters, and if they ran into each other, even without Da Sha, they would likely fight amongst themselves first.
Therefore, although these great white sharks were powerful, both Edward Anderson and Jiang Hai viewed them as a force that wasn't threatening. Furthermore, keeping this group nearby had advantages—after all, wasn't Jiang Hai here now specifically to recruit them?
Since the information Edward Anderson brought back was almost identical to what Jiang Hai had learned, the two of them sat at the bar to finalize their plans. After confirming the route for the next day, they left the bar and returned to the hotel for a restful night. The next morning, after breakfast, Jiang Hai and Edward Anderson boarded the boat and set sail towards the edge of Jiang Hai's fishery. Today was the day to hunt great white sharks!
Perhaps even fate felt that Jiang Hai was due for a successful harvest, as the sea was unusually clear of fog, bathed in bright sunshine. Battling the wind and waves, Jiang Hai's boat swiftly reached the boundary line of his fishery. (To be continued.)
Catching Sharks
"Boss, we've arrived!" Bell Leicester lowered his hand, smiling as he pointed toward the signal buoys floating in the distance.
Although Jiang Hai's fishery didn't use nets or fences along its outermost perimeter, Edward Anderson had specifically placed floating signal buoys along the boundary. This was to ensure no one could claim they 'didn't know this was a private fishery.' The buoys clearly marked the boundary line, indicating that crossing it constituted trespassing.
It must be admitted that Edward Anderson's approach was quite effective, especially when combined with 24/7 satellite monitoring and radio surveillance.
People who had no intention of poaching, or those who were too timid to try, would naturally steer clear of the area.
Naturally, there are also some utterly brazen individuals who curse Jiang Hai as shameless. In their view, the ocean belongs to everyone—including them—so Jiang Hai enclosing the fishery and catching fish by himself is the most despicable act possible.
What? Jiang Hai paid money to buy it? He didn't give *them* the money, so why should that mean he bought it?
There are quite a few people in the United States who hold these views, given that this country often embraces such aggressive and entitled logic.
However, most people holding these opinions have quieted down. Since the naval skirmish ended last year, very few people dare to poach in Jiang Hai's waters. Even those who do come use small speedboats, fishing rods, or hand nets under the cover of darkness, keeping the losses minimal. More importantly, these poachers absolutely must avoid running into Big Fool and the others on patrol. If they do, their fishing nets and rods are certainly forfeit, and if they get too greedy, whether their boat and their lives can be saved is another matter entirely.
Perhaps because of the eerie reputation surrounding Jiang Hai's territory, very few people have come to fish in the last six months, allowing the local fish population time to recover. According to Edward Anderson, judging by the ship's sonar, there are quite a few fish in the vicinity; while not as abundant as inside Jiang Hai's actual fishery, the numbers are still considerable.
After following Jiang Hai's line of buoys for about five hours, they reached the northernmost point of the Jiang Hai Manor fishery.
Fifty nautical miles south of this spot is the territory of New York State, which clearly demonstrates the immense size of Jiang Hai's current fishery.
Upon reaching their destination, Jiang Hai and the crew began preparations. After a quick lunch, they brought out the large chunks of beef offal they had prepared. This offal was from cattle freshly slaughtered just before they set sail and had been kept chilled aboard the ship.
Americans rarely consume offal, but they are well aware that it makes excellent fishing bait.
Offal is already remarkably effective bait, but since this came from Jiang Hai's beef cattle—which contain spiritual energy—the results would naturally be even more potent.
Since they were fishing for Great White Sharks, Jiang Hai and the crew had cut the beef offal into substantial chunks. They tied these pieces to the ship using the thickest fishing line available and tossed them into the water. Although the weather was still chilly, the instant the offal entered the sea, countless previously sluggish fish swarmed the bait and began feeding furiously.
Jiang Hai looked down from the bow and whistled—he had to admit, the fishing resources in this area were excellent. All kinds of fish were present.
Barracuda, sea bass, snapper, cod, herring, mackerel, rockfish, scorpionfish, and even some wild salmon were all pecking at the offal. Watching them, Edward Anderson felt a pang of desire. He pulled the offal up slightly, cast a net, and scooped up two Atlantic salmon, weighing roughly ten kilograms each.
He tossed them onto the deck and immediately started cleaning them up; dinner, or at least the appetizer for their evening drinks, was secured.
After gutting the salmon, he put them into the chilled storage unit, then contentedly returned to watching the fish devour the bait.
Soon, that chunk of offal was completely consumed. Knowing that this kind of fishing required patience, Edward Anderson dropped another piece down. This time, they expected a result... because although the fish were eating frantically when the bait first went in, they suddenly paused. The majority quickly scattered, and a tall dorsal fin sliced through the water on the distant horizon.
"It's here, be careful!" Seeing the dorsal fin, Edward Anderson shouted, leading everyone to retreat further onto the yacht. Jiang Hai's yacht was massive, featuring eight rooms, and was certainly too large for a shark or an orca to drag away, so they had no concerns about the vessel. However, if anyone stuck their head out, they had to remember that sharks could jump, and if Jiang Hai were bitten, that would be a serious problem.
*Splash!* Just as Jiang Hai and the others retreated, the shark accelerated, rushing forward swiftly. Without a second thought, it clamped down directly onto the chunk of offal. Before it could swallow, however, the massive hook snagged its mouth. In pain, the creature leaped out of the water, thrashing violently to break free, but the sharp barb held it firmly in place.
"Lucky shot, we got one on the first try!" Edward Anderson grinned widely as he watched the shark leaping.
There are numerous species of large sharks, including Tiger Sharks, Mako Sharks, Hammerheads, and Bull Sharks, in addition to the Great White. Although Jiang Hai and the crew were shark fishing, they couldn't be certain they had hooked the specific Great White they desired. Of course, catching other species would be fine, with the exception of the Tiger Shark.
This is because Tiger Sharks are simply too stupid. If a shark possessed even a minimal amount of intelligence, Jiang Hai might be able to domesticate it, but the Tiger Shark's brain is estimated to be no better than an insect's. It is too foolish for Jiang Hai to train.
Actually, most sharks are quite dull; their brains are only the size of a soybean, and they largely rely on instinct to survive.
The reason Jiang Hai specifically wanted to catch a Great White Shark is that this species is considered relatively intelligent. Unlike the indiscriminate Tiger Shark, which swallows anything, when a Great White attacks a human, it usually doesn't actually like the taste. It often mistakes the person for a seal or other marine mammal, takes a test bite, realizes its mistake, and releases its grip—which is considered a sign of comparative intelligence.
Jiang Hai was fortunate; the shark they caught on the first try was a textbook Great White: white belly, gray body, and small eyes. Edward Anderson had plenty of experience dealing with this creature.
Fishermen initially despised these sharks because they attacked people or, at the very least, consumed the fishermen's catches, causing significant losses. Moreover, the meat was inedible. Sharks lack bladders, so upon death, the urea immediately seeps into the flesh. Even if you butcher it instantly, the shark meat retains a strong, foul, ammonia-like odor.
Consequently, this fish was not eaten in the West until Chinese restaurants began opening all over the world. Fishermen's views changed then, as Chinese cuisine had methods to remove the rank odor, and shark fins were considered a powerful tonic.
Naturally, sharks transformed from despised creatures into desirable commodities, and their populations plummeted quickly. Although the United States does not prohibit shark hunting, it mandates that all Chinese restaurants or establishments importing shark fins must import the entire shark, not just the fins. This measure significantly curbed the widespread slaughter of sharks.
This is because transporting and selling entire frozen sharks is prohibitively difficult and impractical.
Furthermore, with environmental protection organizations constantly causing issues, very few vessels now engage in shark hunting, apart from those from island nations and certain African countries. At least Jiang Hai, despite being a manor owner, has yet to have a proper shark fin meal.
"Control it! Let it jump and wear down its strength." Although Jiang Hai was momentarily stunned by the shark, Edward Anderson was perfectly clear-headed. He immediately grabbed the thickest fishing line and instructed Connorsen Peters and Harriman Fells behind him. The two men reacted instantly, rushing over to take the line, pulling it with alternating tension and slack.
When the shark swam submerged, they let out as much line as possible. When the shark became agitated and leaped out of the water, they would immediately pull back, forcing it to crash back into the sea. Sharks are not particularly intelligent, which allowed them to employ this tactic.
The first shark Jiang Hai caught was not very large, measuring only about three meters long, indicating it was still juvenile. Consequently, both its strength and stamina were limited. After struggling for less than twenty minutes, it was exhausted. Edward Anderson, Connorsen Peters, and Harriman Fells easily hauled it alongside the boat. Jiang Hai then approached, and together they flipped the shark over. When a shark is inverted, it enters a state of tonic immobility—a fact, even if the reason remains unclear.
Some theorize that when the shark is flipped, the world it perceives is inverted, causing intense fear. This triggers the secretion of a chemical in its brain that induces an immobile, comatose state, which some refer to as forced stillness.
Regardless, the effect was real. Jiang Hai smiled as he looked at the completely motionless shark—which only moved to gulp water—and placed his hand on its belly. As the spiritual energy within him surged, a stream of it left his body and entered the shark. Instantly, Jiang Hai felt a connection establish between himself and the creature.
"From today on, you'll be called Big White. Er, wait, that's no good, we already have a Little White at home. Then you'll be called White One!" Jiang Hai patted the Great White Shark's belly and laughed. His private navy had expanded once again! (To be continued.)