June was a very boring yet comfortable time, at least that was Jiang Hai's opinion.
Out of the twelve months in a year, he had tasks almost every month, aside from going home for the Lunar New Year. January was for planting seaweed; February was for putting out bait, specifically small octopuses and squids, and also for starting the preliminary preparations for planting vegetables.
March was the time to release fish fry, plant fruit, plant grapes, and sow vegetables.
April involved harvesting tea leaves, celebrating the Sea God Festival, releasing the cattle from the pens, and attending the annual beef cattle exhibition and wine competition.
May was similar, with a wine competition to attend. August was the best time for tuna fishing, and late August was when the grapes ripened and harvesting began. September saw the large-scale ripening of grapes and the start of winemaking.
Also, late September to early October was the time to buy the cattle for the new year. The latter half of October marked the final period before winter, requiring all necessary preparations. This was followed by a string of holidays, with November and December being spent indoors celebrating until the year concluded. The most boring time for Jiang Hai every year was probably June and July.
During this period, most people couldn't go swimming because the water temperature was still slightly cold. The real window for enjoying the ocean was from late July through the entire month of August and into early September—a period of less than two months.
When Jiang Hai went into the sea, it was just to check things out; there wasn't much fun to be had.
The cattle were fine, the fish were fine, and frankly, there wasn't much to do roaming around the ranch.
Of course, Jiang Hai didn't feel bored, as he had grown accustomed to this homebody life on the ranch.
He had so many girls accompanying him every day, he could eat whatever he wanted, buy whatever he wanted, and if he got bored, he could just take a trip into town. What was there to complain about under these circumstances? At least Jiang Hai felt pretty great.
However, during this boring month for Jiang Hai, one group of people was extremely busy: Basileon Mardin and his crew. Since signing the agreement with Jiang Hai at the end of last month, Jiang Hai had proven to be a man of his word.
With him, there were no concepts of futures, loans, or IPOs. He was definitely not a qualified businessman because he wouldn't borrow money to expand. He was that straightforward: what he said was what he meant, and he stuck strictly to the rules.
Since he had signed the contract with Basileon Mardin, upon returning, he immediately sent over the first shipment of wine that Basileon Mardin had requested that year. Naturally, Basileon Mardin had to transfer the cash to his account first; even a single cent missing was unacceptable. This strictness was one reason why Jiang Hai's products, despite their quality, had never achieved massive scale.
One reason was that Jiang Hai didn't want to make it big, and the second was his personality. Situations like'sell it first, and we'll discuss the price later if it does well' would never happen. His business philosophy was simple: you get what you pay for. Buy it or don't—if you didn't want it, he wouldn't sell it to you. While the saying goes that harmony brings wealth, a businessman like this would typically find it hard to prosper. Of course, Jiang Hai was an exception.
Once the first batch of wine arrived, Basileon Mardin's operation immediately kicked off.
Compared to Jiang Hai, he was a genuine master of operations and possessed numerous high-end sales channels.
Almost as soon as the first shipment of 5,000 bottles arrived, Basileon Mardin had already determined the destination for 3,000 of them: the Vatican.
Speaking of the Vatican, this country within a country, most people probably know something about it, even if they haven't visited.
This location was originally part of Italy, but during the height of theocracy in the Middle Ages, it became a state, though Italy refused to recognize it. However, during the inter-war period of World War II, Mussolini acknowledged its legitimacy in order to gain religious support. To this day, it remains the legendary Papal State.
It is the holy site for Catholicism, a faith followed by one-sixth of the world's population. The other major holy site is Jerusalem, which is sacred to both Christianity and Islam. However, religious matters were not something Jiang Hai needed to concern himself with.
Those who reside within the Vatican are members of the Holy See, or at least devout believers. All religions worldwide have clear doctrines, and Catholicism is no exception; originally, Catholics were not permitted to drink alcohol.
Because the Bible contains many passages about drinking, and Catholicism discourages drunkenness, any beverage containing alcohol was technically forbidden. However, times change, and interpretations evolve. Since the Passover Supper, when Jesus turned water into wine—an event interpreted and translated differently by modern people, and who knows if it truly became wine?—
Ever since this interpretation emerged and was accepted, Catholics have been permitted to drink red wine during celebrations.
Some fervent believers even refer to red wine as the Holy Blood, though the exact reason for the name wasn't entirely clear.
The Vatican, being the Holy Sanctuary of Catholicism and the residence of the Pope, conducts annual red wine procurement. It is well known that whichever winery they select instantly gains fame. The sole requirement for selection is quality. They demand a significant quantity—not just one or two bottles—but the quality must be uniformly high across the entire batch, which presents a major challenge for many wineries worldwide.
Basileon Mardin had noticed this opportunity long ago, but he didn't possess a winery capable of meeting the demand—until he met Jiang Hai. This was precisely why he had been so determined to secure this business deal.
Once the first batch of wine arrived, he immediately sent it to the Vatican, and the results left him quite excited.
After half a month of evaluation, the Vatican signed a contract with him. Not only did he secure a massive order, but the name 'Tenglong Ranch' also caused a huge sensation in the wine industry.
Tenglong Ranch actually already had some influence in Europe, but that influence was primarily centered on its beef and fish.
They knew Tenglong Ranch's wine was decent, but they truly didn't realize just how good it was.
Many people had tried it, but the general consensus was simply "it's alright" or "not bad," far short of the recognition it deserved.
After all, most consumers weren't professional sommeliers, and because Tenglong Ranch was American, there was also a degree of regional bias. Consequently, Jiang Hai's wine struggled to gain sales and reputation in the European market.
If it couldn't break through in Europe, the American market was even harder; most Americans traced their tastes back to Europe rather than developing native preferences. This explained why Jiang Hai's wine hadn't become hugely popular even after winning a gold medal last year. But now, everything had changed.
Following the Vatican's announcement, word of Jiang Hai's wine spread overnight throughout the highest circles of Europe, particularly reaching those who enjoyed fine wine and those who liked to chase trends but weren't necessarily connoisseurs themselves.
They remembered that this wine had been available at Walmart supermarkets, so that very night, many people flooded into the stores. Unfortunately, due to the contract Jiang Hai had signed, the wine had already been pulled from the shelves.
Not a single bottle could be found in all of Europe. Of course, some exceptionally wealthy individuals could fly to the U.S. to buy and drink it, but not every rich person had that kind of time. For three days, all of Europe searched for Jiang Hai's Tenglong Ranch wine, but not a bottle was available, as all the stock was now in Basileon Mardin's hands.
By this time, Basileon Mardin had nearly finalized negotiations with several famous European wineries, distributors, and top entertainment venues. Thus, in mid-June, he released the first batch of wine, consisting of only 500 bottles.
Five hundred bottles of wine would be difficult to sell out if placed in a single supermarket, no matter how large.
But spread across the entirety of Europe, this quantity was far too small. Some entertainment venues only received one or two bottles each.
Wine endorsed by the Pope—it didn't need any advertising. The bottles were bought up almost before they were put on display. The price, however, had already surged. Jiang Hai originally sold a bottle for $800, and Basileon Mardin purchased it for $968. Naturally, he couldn't sell it at the base price, so he rounded up. No, not to $1,000—he wouldn't profit enough at that price. He priced it at $1,200 per bottle.
Yet, even at $1,200 a bottle, the wine remained in high demand. Those who secured the first batch naturally boasted about it to their friends, and the wine's inherent quality spoke for itself. Aside from the relatively unknown brand name, even the most critical sommelier would struggle to find fault with it.
Just like that, the Tenglong Ranch wine brand instantly became a hit, much like the original iPhone 4 had been in China.
Westerners were naturally quite adept at the concept of 'hunger marketing.' With only 2,000 bottles remaining, it was difficult to meet the soaring demand. After releasing the second and third batches, Basileon Mardin was left with only the final 500 bottles. He was preparing to place an order for the second major shipment, but this time, he planned to visit Jiang Hai personally. He wanted to assess the maximum supply Jiang Hai could provide, and ideally, take some photographs.
However, upon learning that he was traveling to see Jiang Hai, an old friend of his came looking for him...
Madan Arrives
Logan International Airport, officially known as General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport, is located in the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts, USA. It is an airport that appears frequently in the narrative. There's no helping it—Jiang Hai lives nearby, and before he owned a plane, he always traveled through this airport when going anywhere other than home (when returning to China, he had to go through New York).
This airport is the eighteenth busiest airport in the United States and the largest in the New England region. The New England region is the northeastern corner of the US, which was originally British territory, hence the name New England.
The airport has a total of four terminals and six runways. However, Jiang Hai has now leased one of the runways. Of course, the airport management can still use it, but only when Jiang Hai is not using it.
If Jiang Hai's plane needs to take off, other airport traffic must wait. Jiang Hai has a large number of flights taking off daily; don't forget that Tenglong Company also utilizes this airport.
If this were in China, a private plane would have to wait due to air traffic control, but this is America, and the wealthy are the bosses. Jiang Hai is the boss. The money he pays the airport annually is substantial, and the airport certainly wouldn't want to cross him. If they angered Jiang Hai, it wouldn't be impossible for him to build his own airport, and then they would be in trouble.
Early this morning, Jiang Hai arrived outside Logan International Airport. However, he wasn't there to catch a flight; he was there to pick someone up. Basileon-Madan had called last night to confirm he would be arriving today.
As a business partner, Jiang Hai naturally didn't mind him coming over to tour the manor, and hosting them was no trouble at all.
So, early today, he drove two sedans over. There was no alternative; Westerners are very particular about these things.
No matter how good your SUVs or armored vehicles are, you can't drive them when picking up guests; the guests will take issue with it. Therefore, he absolutely had to drive sedans. Jiang Hai has many cars at home; the two F-750s, which belong solely to the manor, go without saying.
The cars he drives for fun include an F-650, a War Shield, a Rolls-Royce, a Ford E-350, and three Teslas—which Jiang Hai considers black technology. However, some people still find it unacceptable to be picked up in a Tesla.
Since they are electric vehicles, some guests might even complain about that. So, on the advice of Pula Walton, Jiang Hai recently bought two more cars: Audi S8s. To be honest, Jiang Hai has complained about the price difference between cars in China and the US more than once.
But every time he buys a car, he still gripes about it; the disparity is too great. Jiang Hai asked Qi Li about the S8's price in China—it sells for 1.98 million RMB for the top-spec model, of course, as someone of Jiang Hai's wealth wouldn't buy the standard or mid-range version.
Yet, this car only costs $96,200 USD in America. Even if you multiply that by 7, it's only 670,000 RMB.
That's a difference of over a million RMB—it's truly too expensive. Basileon-Madan naturally wouldn't come alone. According to him, he was bringing five people: himself, his bodyguard, a videographer, a lawyer, and his old friend, Pierre Gagnier—the French chef whom Jiang Hai had previously promised a visit. Since five people couldn't fit into one car, Jiang Hai brought two: a Rolls-Royce and an Audi S8. Azalina was driving the Rolls-Royce, and Belle Leicester was driving the Audi S8.
Jiang Hai rode shotgun in the lead car, while Connorsen Peters took the co-pilot seat in the other car.
After waiting in the parking lot for about ten minutes, the sound of the plane landing reached them. Soon after, Basileon-Madan and his group of five emerged, carrying their luggage, and spotted Jiang Hai from afar.
To be honest, they were stunned when they saw Jiang Hai. In a situation like this, which is essentially a formal occasion, wearing a suit is mandatory, even if the weather is warm. However, Jiang Hai's attire was, well, very cool and casual.
He was wearing a loose T-shirt, multi-pocket shorts, and sneakers. Although all the items were branded and expensive, the outfit looked quite jarring. Fortunately, both guests knew Jiang Hai's personality, so they didn't comment. They walked over with smiles and shook hands with Jiang Hai one by one.
"Jiang, you're dressed quite casually!" Basileon-Madan couldn't help but say with resignation after they shook hands.
"Hahahaha, you'll get used to it later. I'm accustomed to being lazy, so unless it's a truly formal event, I absolutely refuse to wear a suit." Hearing Basileon-Madan's comment, Jiang Hai laughed.
"I truly admire your character! Where are we going now? Your manor? I'm already a little impatient." Hearing Jiang Hai's words, Pierre Gagnier also laughed. For him, if Jiang Hai showed up at his restaurant dressed like that, he probably wouldn't even be allowed in. But because this was Jiang Hai, his attire didn't matter now; his real interest lay in the ingredients.
"No, I'll take you to your accommodations first, and then we'll go to my place." After saying this to the two men, the entire group got into the cars. The entourage naturally went into the Audi S8 in the back; the interior space was quite large, so having three grown men in the back didn't feel too cramped. The Rolls-Royce, of course, was reserved for Basileon-Madan and Pierre Gagnier. To be honest, Jiang Hai should have been sitting in the back, but he was used to ignoring minor formalities.
The front passenger seat is usually occupied by bodyguards because it is the most vulnerable position, but Jiang Hai simply opened the door and got in.
Seeing that Jiang Hai didn't care, the two guests felt awkward saying anything and simply got into the back.
As the car engines started, they sped off toward Winthrop. Since they were visiting, Jiang Hai naturally had to provide lodging. Fortunately, he had plenty of places for them to stay—though definitely not his own home. Are you kidding? Jiang Hai wasn't about to let these guys stay in his villa with so many women around; what if something unexpected happened?
The "plenty of places" he referred to were the villas he owned along the coast. When he first built them, Jiang Hai was primarily focused on making money, but now they served as excellent accommodations, and staying there certainly wouldn't look cheap.
As the cars drove, Basileon-Madan and Pierre Gagnier pressed against the windows to look as they passed Jiang Hai's manor. Unfortunately, the car was moving quickly, so they couldn't see clearly. However, they had one immediate impression: Jiang Hai's manor was truly enormous. Pierre Gagnier was especially excited when he spotted the distant herd of cattle, knowing that this was the best beef in the world—it no longer needed qualifiers like "one of the best" or "possibly." It was simply the best.
Once they passed the boundaries of Jiang Hai's manor, people gradually started appearing in greater numbers. Before arriving, they had heard that Winthrop was now a tourist town, but they hadn't expected the tourism industry here to be so developed.
After entering the town, tourists were everywhere in small groups. Chinese visitors accounted for about eighty percent, with the remaining twenty percent being European and local American tourists. As they drove and observed, both men couldn't help but feel impressed; the town was beautifully built. The blue sky, white clouds, clean and tidy streets, completely unpolluted air, and large expanses of lawn and trees planted along the roads all gave the entire town a fresh, vibrant feeling.
Having visited Argentina, Jiang Hai had returned with an appreciation for colorful houses, so he had mentioned it to Mayor Wallis. Consequently, many residents in the town painted their homes in bright colors: blue, yellow, pink, green... These colors made the houses look even more beautiful and vibrant. Brighter colors naturally lift people's spirits, although of course, some people still prefer darker hues.
Looking at the vibrant, thriving town, Basileon-Madan and Pierre Gagnier both had an excellent first impression.
However, their thoughts diverged. Pierre Gagnier thought that the place was truly beautiful and the people looked happy.
Basileon-Madan, on the other hand, was thinking that Jiang Hai's influence was quite significant. He had certainly investigated Jiang Hai before coming and knew that Winthrop was Jiang Hai's territory; Jiang Hai was like a local emperor here. The fact that he could manage his 'domain' so well showed that Jiang Hai's strength was indeed formidable, confirming that this was a person worth partnering with.
Driving on, Jiang Hai soon delivered them to their temporary accommodation: a sky-blue villa painted with clouds. This was a substantial villa, covering 500 square meters and featuring its own parking spot. It was originally intended for visiting families. The first floor included a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and study, while the second floor had six bedrooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom. On the other side of the house were the beach and the ocean. To be honest, Jiang Hai never worried about renting out houses like this. Whether the tourists were from China or the US, this type of house was always the first choice. Daily rental fees ranged from $150 USD for smaller ones to $200 USD for larger ones. For a house like this, $200 a day, including water, electricity, gas, and internet, and capable of squeezing in over a dozen people—what more could you ask for?
Consequently, Jiang Hai's villas are almost always occupied. If you don't book in advance, you can't rent one, regardless of whether it's peak or off-peak season.
Time to Bluff!
After dropping them off at the villa, Jiang Hai returned home. Since they were eager, they planned to start the tour that afternoon. The group spent the midday wandering around Winthrop, grabbing a casual lunch. Once they had eaten their fill, the car Jiang Hai sent to collect them arrived. Around three in the afternoon, they finally reached Jiang Hai's manor.
Upon arriving, they saw Jiang Hai and Connorsen-Peters already waiting for them.
As their car pulled into the designated parking area, they realized just how much stuff Jiang Hai had on his manor.
They saw many animals at a glance: Xiao Bai, Xiao Huang, Jiu Jiu flying overhead, and the long-legged creatures slowly moving in the distance. However, upon seeing Xiao Huang and Xiao Bai, Basileon-Madan's bodyguard instinctively tensed up.
He sensed an aura of danger emanating from the two animals. Heaven knows what those two dogs had been through, but if he had to face them without a gun, he would genuinely feel a chill down his spine.
"Hello everyone. My staff is preparing dinner. After the tour, please stay and enjoy a good meal here. I guarantee plenty of fine wine, beef, and seafood." Fortunately, Jiang Hai didn't give them much time to observe their surroundings. Watching the group exit the car, he walked over with a cheerful smile and addressed the people in front of him.
Hearing Jiang Hai's words, the others smiled, except for the still-vigilant bodyguard.
These people knew exactly how much Jiang Hai's wine, beef, and fish sold for. Tonight might very well be the most extravagant dinner they would ever have in their lives. Pierre-Gagnaire also smiled; he was genuinely eager to experience it.
After everyone stretched their legs, Jiang Hai led them around the immediate vicinity. The first place they went to see was naturally the wine estate, as it was the closest. As they walked, Jiang Hai began introducing his vineyard.
"My wine estate has been established for quite some time. I hired Dulles-Gerard, a famous French winemaker, and he is currently in charge. The people used for everything here, from planting to harvesting the grapes, are strictly selected—I only use extremely beautiful women..." Looking at Basileon-Madan and the others, Jiang Hai opened his mouth and began to spin a tale.
When bragging, naturally everyone praises their own goods. Although they were entering a partnership, it didn't stop Jiang Hai from spinning a yarn first.
To be fair, what Jiang Hai said wasn't entirely wrong, right? The winery had indeed been built many years ago, established by the previous owner of the manor; it just hadn't been used. Jiang Hai hadn't specified when his current grapes were planted.
The women who planted and harvested the grapes were indeed beauties. Under the nourishment of Jiang Hai's spiritual energy and his own influence, they would score at least eighty points out of a hundred. If they were back in China and became internet celebrities, their looks alone could easily net them over a hundred thousand a month. With beautiful faces and perfect figures, they were considered top-tier beauties in everyone's eyes.
But who would know that these beauties spent all day revolving around Jiang Hai, obeying his commands unconditionally?
While listening to Jiang Hai's tall tales, the group entered the wine estate. As soon as they stepped inside, Basileon-Madan couldn't help but smack his lips. He had initially assumed Jiang Hai was just bluffing, but now it looked like what he said might actually be true.
Grapes are perennial plants; only older vines produce grapes that are large, round, and appealing. Although Jiang Hai's vines had only been planted for two or three years, he utilized spiritual energy, so his grapes were producing exceptionally well and yielding a high volume. To Basileon-Madan, they naturally looked like old vines. Although he was slightly puzzled as to why the wine here was so good yet had only emerged in recent years, what Jiang Hai said seemed undeniable.
And when he saw Afra and the others busy working beneath the grapevines, he was absolutely stunned by their beauty.
Earlier, when listening to Jiang Hai's bragging, he didn't believe the part about old vines, and naturally, he didn't believe the claim about beautiful women planting the grapes. He thought Jiang Hai was just looking for an excuse to boast. However, seeing Afra and the others skillfully tending to the grapes now, he couldn't help but believe it.
"Holy cow, they really are beauties, and so many of them..." The cameraman behind him muttered quietly after seeing Afra and the others, and his camera didn't stop clicking. To him, Afra, Dina, Hilda, Becky, Sheila, Auxilia, Bridget, and Janice looked like goddesses who had stepped out of a myth, skillfully working amidst the lush green vines.
Perhaps sensing the flash of the camera, the girls looked over, gave Jiang Hai a sweet smile, and then immediately returned to their labor. For them, besides taking care of Jiang Hai, tending to the grapes was their job. Watching these women, Basileon-Madan's subordinates were left slightly bewildered.
"You really spare no expense. With looks like that, they could all be models outside. Having them plant grapes here, you are truly extravagant." Basileon-Madan tugged on Jiang Hai's sleeve and whispered, looking at Afra and the others in the distance.
"Hey, man, relax a bit. These are all my women," Jiang Hai said with a chuckle, looking at him.
"What? What? What do you mean by that?" Basileon-Madan asked, his face full of surprise upon hearing Jiang Hai's words.
"Exactly what it sounds like. They are all my women." Jiang Hai shrugged and said cheerfully.
"That truly is incredible. I'm starting to envy you, my friend." Looking at the figures and faces of Afra and the others, Basileon-Madan let out a speechless sigh. The world was inherently unfair, and now it seemed full of malice. After spending some time at the wine estate—mainly for the cameraman to finish taking pictures—Jiang Hai led them elsewhere. Of course, there was no need for photos at the other locations, but the things that continued to impress the visitors kept coming.
This time, however, the source of excitement wasn't beautiful women. There were no beauties in Jiang Hai's ranch or fishing grounds. What impressed them now was money.
Chinese people adhere to the principle of not flaunting wealth, making it difficult to know how much money a person has, with the exception of those who like to show off.
Americans, on the other hand, believe in showing their wealth, as it is a standard way to demonstrate strength. Jiang Hai was currently demonstrating his financial power.
The richer you were, the more reassured your partners would be—a lesson Prue-Walton had taught him.
Next, they went to see Jiang Hai's ranch. When the visitors learned that there were nearly fifty thousand cattle on Jiang Hai's manor, and that each one could sell for over a hundred thousand US dollars, they became quite agitated. If Connorsen-Peters hadn't been present, they might have considered trying to kidnap Jiang Hai.
Seriously, fifty thousand cattle, even if each sold for only a hundred thousand US dollars, that was five billion—five billion! Moreover, Jiang Hai sold them for more than a hundred thousand, likely upwards of one hundred fifty thousand, which amounted to over seven billion dollars. And they were talking about US dollars.
Thinking of this immense wealth, the smile on Basileon-Madan's face grew more assured; this financial capability alone was enough for him. Meanwhile, Pierre-Gagnaire's eyes were practically gleaming as he looked at the cattle.
A good chef naturally pays great attention to selecting ingredients. In his eyes, all of Jiang Hai's cattle possessed the 'golden ratio.' He had never seen such a large herd of such high-quality cattle; it was truly stunning.
Leading the group, who were completely overwhelmed, Jiang Hai took them to the dock, where they took a fishing boat out onto the sea for a short trip. While doing so, he introduced them to the fish in his waters. The others might not have understood the significance of these fish, but Pierre-Gagnaire was still deeply shocked, because these were the very fish he had to scramble to buy every week. To see them now at their source was truly astonishing.
Before they realized it, the sky had gradually darkened. Jiang Hai led them back to his villa, where Qi Ya had already prepared dinner for the evening. As the guests watched Afra and even more beautiful women bring the dishes to the table, every single person present couldn't help but envy Jiang Hai.
He had money, power, and dozens of women who could easily be considered their dream goddesses. What more could life offer? He could simply stay home, make babies, and count his money every day. It was the heavenly life they only dreamed of.
Unfortunately, they could only dream. After serving the food, Jiang Hai's women all withdrew. Jiang Hai's women had leaders: Qi Jie, Qi Ya, Ai Xiaoxi, and Feng Yunchen. These four were Chinese, and in Chinese custom, women naturally withdrew when men discussed business. It was only because they left that the men could pull their attention away and focus on the dishes in front of them. When they finally looked at the food, they all gasped again.
The beef they had seen earlier was now cooked and laid out in thick slices, piled up like a small mountain on the plates. There were massive lobsters weighing dozens of pounds, deep-sea groupers about a meter long, and all sorts of other delicacies, making the guests swallow hard in anticipation.
Pierre-Gagnaire, however, frowned slightly. Although he could tell the ingredients were excellent, he couldn't quite agree with the cooking methods. Still, adhering to the principle of "when in Rome," he didn't say anything, cutting a piece of steak and eating it. The moment the steak entered his mouth, his eyebrows shot up. The flavor was incredible!
Going Out to Sea
"The most important thing in searing a steak is the temperature. The temperature of the iron plate shouldn't be as high as possible, nor should it be as low as possible. Different fuels produce different steak qualities and flavors. This requires a lot of experimentation and proportioning to achieve. For example, if you use Apple wood as fuel, the steak will take on the aroma of the Apple wood, and the temperature is best maintained at... if using natural gas, maintain it at... if using charcoal, the temperature should be... You must never use an oven, because heating from all sides like that causes the moisture inside the steak to vanish rapidly. A steak cooked past medium-well will have no texture other than being dry and tough. Next, I'll teach you how to make the sauce..." Pierre Gagnaire said as he demonstrated on the iron plate in front of him, looking at Qi Ya, who stood beside him in white, constantly taking notes.
"Old man, I envy you so much! I've never even dreamed of a life like yours in my life. It's fantastic. This place is simply paradise, a man's paradise," Basileon-Madan said with no small amount of envy on the yacht's terrace, sunbathing while drinking red wine from Jiang Hai's manor and looking at Jiang Hai beside him.
"Haha, this isn't something you can just envy," Jiang Hai shook his head and laughed at his words. He was telling the truth; it really wasn't something one could just envy, as he was the only one in the world with the Dragon Pearl.
"Top-tier red wine, top-tier food, top-tier wealth, and more than one top-tier beauty. Honestly, when a man is surrounded by all this, there are very few people who wouldn't envy you." Basileon-Madan let out a sigh and continued. This was their second day in Winthrop.
After Jiang Hai treated them to dinner last night, they went back to sleep and returned early this morning. Jiang Hai had just woken up. To show off his skills and avoid feeling like he was just there for a free meal, Pierre Gagnaire gave Jiang Hai and the others a demonstration. If he were using ordinary ingredients, he might not even be as good as Qi Ya.
But now that he was using Jiang Hai's ingredients, Jiang Hai almost swallowed his tongue after the food was made; it was too delicious. Qi Ya had naturally tasted it too and was greatly surprised, so she whispered to Jiang Hai that she wanted to learn.
Seeing her interest, Jiang Hai suggested that since the weather was nice today, they could go out to sea. At the same time, he could ask Pula Walton to add an extra portion to the meat and seafood shipments sent to Paris specifically for Pierre Gagnaire. Of course, there was a condition: Pierre Gagnaire had to teach Qi Ya. Unlike Chinese chefs who might be protective of their secrets and stick to their own schools, foreign chefs are generally quite comprehensive when they teach students.
Especially since he was getting a benefit out of it, he agreed immediately. Thus, Basileon-Madan left his three inspection team members behind to continue looking at the winery, with Jiang Hai asking Bell Lester to accompany them. Jiang Hai then took Edward Anderson, Qi Ya, and Connerson Peters on board with the two guests. Edward Anderson steered Jiang Hai's yacht, speeding deep into Jiang Hai's stretch of ocean, while Qi Ya spent the time on board studying cooking with Pierre Gagnaire.
After a while, Qi Ya came out from inside carrying a plate of steak, walking over to Jiang Hai with a smile.
"Here, try some." She had cut the steak into small pieces and used a toothpick to put a piece into Jiang Hai's mouth, waiting for his evaluation. After eating the steak, Jiang Hai felt the texture carefully and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows and nod.
"It really is better than before. The beef is cooked through, but the moisture is locked inside. It's not dry at all, it's very chewy, and the flavor is great." Although Jiang Hai's cooking skills were average, his palate for tasting food was excellent.
After all, he had eaten so much delicious food that there was no problem calling himself a foodie.
The biggest difference between a foodie and a glutton is that one knows how to eat, while the other can just eat a lot. A glutton only knows if something is good or bad but doesn't know why, and even if it's not good, they'll still eat it.
But a foodie finds it hard to eat things that aren't good, and for things that are good, they can tell you why they are good.
Jiang Hai was now a professional foodie. Except for eating insects, he could tell what was good and what wasn't about everything else. To be honest, the steak Qi Ya made now tasted better than what she had made before.
Qi Ya had a lot of culinary talent, but because of her previous illness, she had learned to cook from TV, the internet, and books without a professional teacher to guide her, so she was still lacking a bit.
"Miss Qi is a very talented young person. If I met such a young person in France, I would definitely invite her to intern at my restaurant for a while. But Miss Qi doesn't need that now; being by Mr. Jiang's side is the best internship," Pierre Gagnaire walked over with a smile, complimenting Qi Ya.
He was in a very good mood. Not only had he seen beautiful scenery, but his gains this time were substantial. Getting Jiang Hai's special permission to skip the line for their ingredients was an absolute win for him.
To this end, he even made a special call to his restaurant, saying that as long as Jiang Hai called, he didn't have to wait in line at all and would get an immediate reservation. This was the reward Jiang Hai received in return; as for guiding Qi Ya, that was just a casual favor.
"Hahaha, then I've stolen a good student from you." Hearing his words, Jiang Hai also laughed, and everyone on the boat joined in. Then, facing the rising sun, they continued to chat and laugh.
Soon, the sun rose high. After the speedboat had been running for a while, its speed gradually slowed down and it began to cruise automatically. At this time, Edward Anderson also came out from the cockpit.
"Boss, let's go rest in the lounge. It's almost noon, the sun outside is too hot, and we need to prepare the ingredients for lunch." Hearing Edward Anderson's words, Jiang Hai took a look and saw that the midday sun was indeed a bit too dazzling. So everyone returned to the cabin. Connerson Peters was responsible for cleaning up the wine bottles and beer cans on the deck. Once inside the cabin, Pierre Gagnaire began to study the available ingredients.
"Master, let me do it. You just guide me." Seeing Pierre Gagnaire's actions, Qi Ya walked over and said to him with a smile. Pierre Gagnaire nodded with a smile and then looked at Jiang Hai in confusion.
"Jiang, why haven't you prepared any seafood here?" Pierre Gagnaire asked in confusion as he looked at Jiang Hai.
"Seafood? Haha, tell me what seafood you want, and I'll get it for you in a minute." Hearing his words, Jiang Hai also laughed.
"Mr. Gagnaire, you are currently at sea. My boss's fishery may not be the absolute best in the world, but it definitely wouldn't fall out of the top three. There are countless precious seafood ingredients here. Just say the word for whatever you need. If it exists in the sea, it's here." Hearing Jiang Hai's words, Edward Anderson also spoke up with a smile.
"Wow, I forgot if you didn't mention it! Haha, if we're at sea, naturally we should eat seafood. And the seafood preparation in Northwestern France is unparalleled." Hearing Jiang Hai and Edward Anderson's words, Pierre Gagnaire also laughed. He had forgotten that the seafood that Michelin restaurants in Paris fought over every week came from right beneath his feet.
"Northwestern?" Hearing his words, however, made Jiang Hai a bit curious, and he looked at him.
"Although France isn't as big as the US or China, the people in different regions are different, and their eating habits are also different. We divide France into four parts." Seeing Jiang Hai's curious gaze, Pierre Gagnaire also laughed.
Many people know about French cuisine and many have eaten it, but those who truly understand French food know that it is divided into regional styles. Just like the eight major cuisines in China, French cuisine is categorized differently based on the local conditions of various regions.
The Southwest region is near the interior, so it mainly eats meat and poultry. Honey-glazed duck breast, Cassoulet (stewed meat with beans), and the most representative French dish, foie gras, are the signature delicacies here.
The Southeast region is rich in water resources, like near the Alps, and there's also the sea, so they mainly eat river fish. Typical dishes are Pike Quenelles with Lobster Sauce, Bouillabaisse, Ratatouille, Jiang Hai's favorite Cheese Fondue, and 'Crying' Roast Leg of Lamb. The Northeast region consists of the Burgundy and Alsace areas; this place produces a lot of red wine, so everything is cooked with red wine.
Coq au Vin (red wine braised chicken), Boeuf Bourguignon (red wine braised beef), sausages with sauerkraut, and Quiche are also specialties there. And if you're talking about the most representative French food, they naturally have it there: white snails (Escargot).
Remember, if you want to eat authentic French foie gras, go to the Southwest of France; if you want to eat authentic white snails, go to the Northeast of France.
And if you're talking about the most representative French population centers, that would be Paris and the Northwestern region. This area has the most coastal land, so it is the hub for seafood dishes in French cuisine.
St. Jacques scallops, Mussels steamed in white wine, and various oysters—this place is a paradise for those in the world who love shellfish.
Of course, besides shellfish, Steak Tartare and Crêpes are also very popular.
Halibut Sea Fishing
Upon hearing Pierre Gagnaire's words, Edward Anderson steered the boat, stopping it near a patch of reefs. How did he distinguish the reefs, you ask? He simply looked at the sonar. There was sonar beneath the boat that could depict the underwater situation.
It was easy to find reefs and coral reefs. After locating a suitable spot, Edward Anderson and Connorsen Peters went into the sea together. Although the water temperature in early July was still a bit chilly, it was within their acceptable range.
After all, they were grown men, not so delicate, and they weren't expected to stay in the water for too long anyway.
Armed with a dagger, the two of them, equipped with snorkeling gear, dove in. Ten minutes later, Connorsen Peters and Edward Anderson surfaced, each carrying a bag of harvested shellfish.
There was a variety of shellfish: scallops, oysters, and abalone, all wild. Jiang Hai didn't farm these, so everything here was wild. But to be honest, his farmed products were almost indistinguishable from wild ones.
As soon as the shellfish were brought up, Pierre Gagnaire eagerly went over to process them.
While processing, he couldn't help but exclaim how truly abundant Jiang Hai's place was. Even though the French specialize in eating these things, they still fell short compared to Jiang Hai's offerings. Besides sighing, there was nothing else he could do.
Although Pierre Gagnaire was not young, no chef starts out as a head chef from birth.
They all work their way up, from dishwasher, prep cook, line cook, to sauté chef, plating, and then finally becoming a head chef.
In China, being a master chef is not just a title; it requires rounds of examinations. Only after serving in the current position for three years can one apply for the next level. Therefore, even the youngest master chef would be in their thirties.
Western cuisine, especially French cuisine, is even more particular about these things, so naturally, Pierre Gagnaire's skills were quite impressive.
After observing for a while, Qi Ya also started working. She was there to be an apprentice, not to play.
"Qi, you truly have a gift!" After processing the shellfish, Pierre Gagnaire also began teaching Qi Ya how to prepare them. It had to be admitted that Qi Ya might have been inherently intelligent, or perhaps it was due to the spiritual energy, but it was not an exaggeration to say she grasped things quickly. Pierre Gagnaire had only taught her once, and Qi Ya was already doing it like a pro.
Seeing this, Pierre Gagnaire couldn't help but sigh with emotion, admitting that Qi Ya truly had a gift.
"It's because the teacher taught well," Qi Ya modestly replied, hearing Pierre Gagnaire's words.
A delicious lunch was enjoyed out at sea. After lunch, everyone returned to their respective rooms for a rest. Around two in the afternoon, when the sun was less intense, they came out. However, they weren't sunbathing anymore. Basileon Martin and Pierre Gagnaire noticed Jiang Hai had sea fishing rods and decided to give it a try.
Jiang Hai merely chuckled at this. The fish in his fishery were quite cunning; they usually wouldn't bite without bait infused with spiritual energy. Even seasoned anglers like Edward Anderson found fishing a bit difficult, let alone them. So, Jiang Hai simply sat by, discussing French cuisine with Qi Ya, letting the two men experience their frustration.
Sure enough, after an hour of fishing, the two gave up. It wasn't that there were no fish; they could see them, and occasionally, some fish would even leap out of the water in the distance, as if mocking them. The bait they used was often eaten by fish, but none ever got hooked. They were quite speechless about this.
At the critical moment, it still fell to Jiang Hai. When the two had already given up, Jiang Hai took one of their fishing rods, baited it with a piece of beef he had brought onto the boat, and with a strong cast, threw the bait far into the ocean.
"Jiang, I'm not trying to discourage you, but the fish here can only be caught with a net." Looking at Jiang Hai's actions, Basileon Martin couldn't help but lean over and say to Jiang Hai. Hearing his words, Jiang Hai just smiled. What did he know?
"Basileon, I have a feeling Brother Jiang might actually catch something. After all, this is his territory. If these fish don't give him face, aren't they afraid he'll just net the entire sea dry?" At this, Pierre Gagnaire also chuckled and leaned over, saying to Basileon Martin. Of course, he was speaking sarcastically.
Upon hearing his words, Basileon Martin also laughed, but just as the two of them were laughing happily, Jiang Hai's sea rod's reel suddenly began to spin rapidly. Seeing this, both of them were stunned and immediately fell silent.
Jiang Hai immediately picked up the fishing rod and tried it out; it was a small fish, not very big. There was no need to play it. Jiang Hai simply reeled in the line, and before long, a red figure appeared before everyone.
"Oh, it's a red sea bream." Seeing its silhouette, Pierre Gagnaire, being an expert, immediately recognized it and couldn't help but exclaim with some emotion. When Jiang Hai pulled the fish onto the boat, everyone saw that it was indeed a red sea bream.
Red sea bream is a type of sea bream, of the order Perciformes, family Sparidae, and is one of the more valuable types of sea bream. Jiang Hai did not cultivate this species because it is difficult to raise, as they are not schooling fish, though their numbers are not small.
This fish doesn't grow very large; this one was about thirty centimeters long and weighed a little over two catties. After it was taken off the hook, Pierre Gagnaire was very happy because it would be part of dinner, and he could show off his skills. Qi Ya was also delighted, as there was more to learn.
However, one two-catty fish wouldn't be enough to feed everyone on the boat, so the next time Jiang Hai baited his hook, he deliberately used a larger bait, intending to catch a bigger fish.
However, when he cast the bait, he threw it relatively close. Jiang Hai's bait was a bottom-fishing bait, the kind weighted with lead.
If the bait is thrown far, you can wait a bit, but if it's thrown close, you have to pull it up immediately.
But with that pull, Jiang Hai felt a heavy tug in his hand. He knew he had another fish, and this one was quite large.
But no matter how big it was, it was useless; Jiang Hai's immense strength was there. Unless it got snagged on a reef, as long as it was a fish, he could pull it up. As Jiang Hai gradually applied more force, the fish underwater was slowly being pulled up. Feeling its struggling power, Jiang Hai knew it was indeed a fish, and a sizable one at that.
At this moment, Edward Anderson, who was watching from the side, first froze when he saw Jiang Hai's significantly bent fishing rod, then immediately prepared himself. He knew that a fish capable of bending Jiang Hai's rod like that was certainly not to be trifled with.
As he was getting ready, the people who had been gathered around the red sea bream also noticed something was amiss and crowded over. Just then, the creature that had been battling Jiang Hai underwater for about ten minutes slightly slackened its struggle. At that moment, Jiang Hai used both arms to heave upwards, and instantly, a massive flatfish was pulled onto the boat by him.
Once on the boat, the huge fish continued to flap, but unfortunately, this was no longer its territory.
"What a big halibut!" Looking at the fish, Edward Anderson couldn't help but smile. This fish looked like it weighed over a hundred kilograms, no wonder it could last so long in Jiang Hai's hands. If they brought this back, every household would probably have some to eat. As for Pierre Gagnaire, his eyes lit up even more.
Halibut is a type of flounder. In China, some people say these two fish are different, but in fact, they are the same.
Flounder is also called flatfish, and halibut is another name for it. Of course, different species have different names, like three-eyed flounder, speckled halibut, and so on. This type of fish lives on the seabed, and it has a characteristic.
That is, if you generally leave it alone, it will grow very large on the seabed. Some people have even caught ones over two hundred kilograms, and of course, there might be even bigger ones, but who knows?
This type of fish is basically very difficult to catch with a fishing net, unless it's a bottom trawl net. But Jiang Hai's area has many coral reefs and rocks, so such nets definitely cannot be used. Therefore, it's estimated that the number of these fish in Jiang Hai's estate will certainly not be small.
Sea fish are different from freshwater fish. Some people like to eat small freshwater fish because the meat is more tender, but for sea fish, apart from a very few small species like herring, most people prefer to eat large fish.
Especially Westerners, they don't pick out fish bones, so they only eat large fish or fish fillets. Looking at the large fish in front of him, Pierre Gagnaire felt he had a chance to show off his skills again!
After catching this fish, Edward Anderson also controlled the boat and started heading back. This day, whether it was Basileon Martin, Pierre Gagnaire, or Jiang Hai and Qi Ya, everyone felt very good; they all had a fruitful day.
In the evening, Pierre Gagnaire taught Qi Ya to make dinner, which, naturally, was extremely well-received.
After dinner, the two of them also left with their subordinates. Jiang Hai and the others tidied up and prepared for bed.
However, before going to bed, showering was a must. After Darlena, Marian, and Talaga had all showered, Jiang Hai also entered the women's bathroom. Lately, he seemed to be showering in the men's bathroom less and less...
"Hoo…" A deep breath, accompanied by the sound of splashing water, Wallace Shelley stood up from the hot spring pool, her face drenched, and then playfully swam towards Jiang Hai. Jiang Hai, on the other hand, leaned against the edge of the pool with a calm expression.
Afra sat behind him, letting his head rest on her chest. Daina massaged Jiang Hai's left shoulder, Hilda massaged his right shoulder, Peggy massaged his left hand, and Sheila massaged his right hand. Azalina and Galina Vasikaya supported Jiang Hai's waist, while also licking his abs with their tongues.
Ocelia supported his left foot, Bridget supported his right foot, constantly playing with Jiang Hai's toes with their tongues. Janice was bent over, passionately attending to certain indescribable parts. Qi Jie sat a distance away, applying body wash to Feng Yunchen, while Ai Xiaoxi sat next to Qi Ya, watching her record the dishes she learned today and some key points to note, unafraid of her notebook getting wet from the mist.
Wallace Shelley, having swum over, came to the other side of Jiang Hai's indescribable parts, actively taking over Janice's work, while Janice moved down a bit, starting to attend to the 'eggs'. Their cooperation was quite skilled.
"Are those guys coming tomorrow?" At this moment, Qi Jie, who was sitting in the distance, had finished applying body wash and was rinsing herself while asking Jiang Hai. It was clear that she was accustomed to such scenes; almost every night, such a scene would play out here, though the positions might vary. Thus, Jiang Hai's nights were never unfulfilling. If it were any other man, he might have already notified his family to collect his body.
"They probably won't be coming!" Hearing Qi Jie's words, Jiang Hai also opened his eyes and said to her with a smile.
"It's best if they don't come. Those foreigners keep looking at us with lustful eyes. If they weren't considered guests, I would have already gouged out their eyes!" Hearing Jiang Hai's words, Qi Jie said with annoyance.
Hearing her words, Jiang Hai gave an awkward smile, but couldn't refute it. Indeed, those people's gazes were quite lewd.
There was nothing he could do; they were French. What kind of place is France? A haven for illicit affairs! It's a country where a man and a woman can make eye contact on the street and go directly to a hotel to play games without even asking each other's names. What more could you expect from them?
Jiang Hai had visited various European countries. If he were to name the most open country, it would have to be the Netherlands, because the Netherlands was built on reclaimed land, and the entire country is constantly afraid of what would happen if the country were to be lost one day, and they were to die.
So the entire country of the Netherlands is hedonistic, but why France is so open is unknown.
But to say France is open, it doesn't have S-E-X capitals like Amsterdam and Manchester.
Yet, generally speaking, in France, if a married couple isn't together, there's a seventy percent chance they're out having affairs.
Moreover, French law particularly protects women. For example, if a couple is married and the man cheats and is discovered by his wife, it's the man's responsibility, and he loses seventy percent of the family assets. If the woman cheats, it's also the man's responsibility, and he loses fifty percent of the family assets.
So in France, to be honest, young people rarely get married; they all go out and have affairs. Very few people get married before the age of thirty.
The women around Jiang Hai are top-tier beauties, no matter where you go in the world. These guys can control themselves, but they can't control their eyes. Jiang Hai couldn't do anything about it. Basileon Martin had already spoken to them very seriously, but they still snuck glances. Jiang Hai couldn't possibly gouge out their eyeballs, could he?
Fortunately, these guys aren't coming tomorrow; otherwise, who knows, Jiang Hai might really dig out their eyeballs one day.
"Alright, alright, if you soak any longer, you'll dehydrate. Tonight it's Feng Yunchen and Xiaoxi, right? Paired with Hilda and Peggy. Hurry up and take him back!" After confirming that those people weren't coming tomorrow, Qi Jie also seemed very happy. She glanced at the calendar hanging in the bathroom and said to everyone.
After hearing her words, the other girls reluctantly released Jiang Hai's body. After drying Jiang Hai, the group returned to the villa. Once back at the villa, Jiang Hai and the other four returned to Jiang Hai's room. What they did there needs no further elaboration. The night passed without a word, or if there were words, they were words that are not allowed to be written.
Jiang Hai got up early the next morning because today was the day Basileon Martin and his group were leaving. After all, they had so many things to do in Europe and couldn't stay in Winthrop for too long.
Basileon Martin's purpose this time was to inspect Jiang Hai's winery and confirm its production capacity; everything else was secondary. Pierre Gagnaire had originally just come to observe, but unexpectedly, he solved the raw material problem for his restaurant. He was extremely satisfied, having achieved his goal by a thousand percent.
Since they had already gotten what they wanted, there was no need for them to stay here for too long.
So, they were pretty much going back today. Jiang Hai picked them up when they arrived, and naturally, he would send them off when they left.
The two cars took the five of them to Boston Airport, where they boarded their return flight.
Jiang Hai then drove back to the estate. Originally, he had planned to continue being a homebody after returning. There was no life happier than this, at least in his opinion.
But unfortunately, it seemed God didn't want him to continue staying at home. Just as he was about to reach the estate, his phone rang. He picked it up and saw that the caller was none other than Pura Walton.
Come to think of it, Jiang Hai contacted two people almost every day: Qi Li and Pura Walton. Even Selena Gomez only contacted him two or three times a week at most. He had just called her yesterday, and she was calling him so early today? Although a little puzzled, Jiang Hai still answered the phone.
"Hey, Pura, so early today!" After answering the phone, Jiang Hai said with a smile. Azalina, who was acting as his driver beside him, chuckled when she heard him, then turned her head and continued driving.
"I dreamt of you last night, and when I woke up this morning, I found you weren't there, so I called to ask where you went." When it came to flirting, Pura Walton was probably the most skilled among the women around Jiang Hai.
Hearing Jiang Hai's words, Pura Walton naturally continued the conversation, making Jiang Hai feel ashamed.
"Cough, where else would I be? At home, of course." Hearing what she said, Jiang Hai coughed lightly, then said somewhat awkwardly.
"Hehe, I won't tease you anymore. The reason I called so early is to tell you something. Our family is holding its annual family meeting the day after tomorrow. Our big supplier, are you interested in being my male companion?" Hearing Jiang Hai's slightly awkward words, Pura Walton said with a playful smile. Hearing what she said, Jiang Hai thought carefully.
"Isn't your annual meeting during the 'weiya'?" Hearing her words, Jiang Hai asked with some confusion.
"Weiya" is a Minnan term meaning the end of the year. In the Minnan region, the second and sixteenth days of each month are when Minnan people worship the Earth God, called "ya." The sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month is the last "ya," hence called "weiya." Nowadays, it also means the end of the year.
Later, it spread to China, and annual company meetings held at the end of the year were called Weiya. Of course, Jiang Hai just mentioned it casually.
"Our annual meeting doesn't have a fixed date; we can hold it whenever we want." However, after hearing Jiang Hai's words, Pura Walton said with a chuckle. Hearing what she said, Jiang Hai had nothing else to say but "uh." This large corporation was truly casual! One must know, this was the world's number one retail giant, and even their annual meeting could be so informal?
"Alright, the day after tomorrow? Still in New York, I presume!" Hearing her words, Jiang Hai thought for a moment. Regardless of his identity as a supplier or his relationship with Pura Walton, he should at least make an appearance at her family's annual meeting.
"Yes, I'll go to New York tomorrow. You can just come over then, and I'll tell you the address." Hearing Jiang Hai agree, Pura Walton also said with a smile. Although the annual meeting was the day after tomorrow, it was impossible to go on the day of the meeting itself, right? Especially Pura Walton, who was considered a host, naturally had to go early, and Jiang Hai also had to go early.
"Mm, okay." Attending an annual meeting would only take two or three days, so it didn't really matter. He'd just treat it as a trip.
"Get a good night's rest tonight, because I won't be the only one you'll be seeing tomorrow." Hearing Jiang Hai agree, Pura Walton lowered her voice and whispered to him. Hearing her words, Jiang Hai couldn't help but have a thought. He didn't need to think twice to know that Pura Walton must have prepared many 'programs' for him. However, looking at Azalina, who was smiling ambiguously beside him, it seemed he would have a hard time conserving his energy tonight. This little girl used to be cold and distant, but now it seemed her relationship with the others in the house was getting closer. It looked like what Pura Walton had just said, she might very well go and tell tales. But fortunately, Jiang Hai's physical strength was already there.
If it's a fight, then it's a fight. When it comes to fighting, Jiang Hai can shamelessly say that everyone in his family is trash.
The Walton Family Annual Meeting
"Times Square, Hilton Hotel, this must be the place..." Driving his car, Jiang Hai looked at the location on the navigation screen and muttered softly. He was still wearing an outdoor short-sleeved shirt, but a suit lay on the back seat. He likely knew that he wouldn't be allowed entry in his current clothes.
Speaking of the Walton family, very few people probably know about them.
First, the family is extremely low-profile, and second, they genuinely lack mainstream fame.
In the United States, when discussing prominent families, besides the four political families—the Adams family, the Roosevelt family, the Kennedy family, and the Bush family—there are also four major families in business: the Rockefeller family, the Morgan family, the DuPont family, and the Mellon family. These four families represent the core of American finance. There are ten major financial groups in total in the US, but only these four are family-based; the others are regional or corporate entities. The other six financial groups are First National City Bank (now representing the US government's financial interests), the Boston financial group, the Cleveland financial group, the Chicago financial group, the California financial group, and the Texas financial group. These four major families have historically had intricate connections, to varying degrees, with Europe's largest financial power, the Rothschild family—the so-called Emperor of Capital, considered the foundation of all modern global capitalism.
Speaking of the Rothschild family, anyone knowledgeable about finance simply cannot be unaware of them. This family once ruled the entire world in the 19th century. At that time, their word carried more weight than the British Royal Family, which was famously associated with the empire on which the sun never sets.
That was the reality; it has been said that for twenty years, this family governed the entire world, and that assessment is largely accurate.
However, on this path to world domination, one wrong step led to a series of mistakes. At the time, the Rothschild family failed to focus on the burgeoning United States, instead keeping their attention primarily fixed on European soil.
When war broke out, the Americans watched from afar, profiting immensely by selling weapons until they became the world's leading superpower.
Meanwhile, the original European powers gradually faded from the historical stage. Due to the spread of war across various nations, economies naturally entered a state of collapse, and the Rothschild family slowly relinquished its claim to world dominance.
For details, one can read a book called *Currency Wars*. Jiang Hai hasn't read it himself; this information was gathered from online encyclopedias.
The reason he mentioned this was primarily due to recent news regarding the Hilton Hotel. Besides the hotel itself, the most famous association is a woman, Paris Hilton. Recently, her sister married into the Rothschild family, bringing that dynasty back into the public eye. But as the saying goes, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse; although the Rothschild family is no longer the world's number one, its influence in Europe remains considerable.
Regarding the US, the four major families mentioned above are still the ones people talk about, but honestly, in terms of wealth, the Walton family is no less affluent than those four. What the Waltons primarily lack is influence.
The Walton family doesn't own banks or deal in oil, so they are inherently considered slightly inferior to the other four.
But when it comes to sheer money, the Walton family is arguably the strongest, bar none.
The Walton family collectively holds 48% of Walmart's shares, which translates to 140 billion US dollars.
Figures like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, even combined, are no match for the Walton family.
However, few people realize this because the Walton family is notoriously frugal. The chairman's office is only twelve square meters; if five people go in for a business meeting, it feels cramped. The CEO's office was specially requested for expansion during Jim Walton's tenure, making it twenty square meters—enough space for five people to meet comfortably now... Still, given the immense wealth they possess, they always make sure to maintain appearances for their annual meeting.
Furthermore, the Walton family's annual meetings are famous for being frequent and irregular. For instance, Jiang Hai asked Pura Walton why they were holding an annual meeting when it wasn't the end of the year or any holiday. Her answer was simple: "No reason, we just hold one when we feel like it."
Since the second generation of leadership stepped down, the third-generation leaders of the Walton family have essentially been in a state of mutual rivalry, especially Pura Walton's father and her uncle. Since Rob Walton took over as chairman in 1992, they have held the annual meeting roughly three times a year, serving as a family gathering.
After driving up, naturally, a doorman and valet staff took Jiang Hai's car to the underground parking lot, while Jiang Hai himself, carrying his suit, walked into the Hilton Hotel.
As soon as he stepped inside, a woman who had been reading a magazine in the distance quickly stood up and walked toward him.
"Hi, Jiang, you finally made it!" Seeing the woman, Jiang Hai couldn't help but smile, as he knew her.
Cheryl Lee was one of the women Jiang Hai interacted with frequently. A South Korean, she had even accompanied him when he went to South Korea. She was one of Pura Walton's women and, naturally, shared a deep relationship with Jiang Hai.
"Whew, Cheryl, long time no see. When did you all arrive?" Seeing her rush over, Jiang Hai gave her a hug, intending to let go, but Cheryl Lee wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him into a passionate kiss. After about a minute, she finally released him, making Jiang Hai sigh deeply as he asked her.
"We left this morning and had lunch here," Cheryl Lee replied with a cheerful smile.
Looking at the time, it was already past three in the afternoon, so they had indeed been waiting for a while.
"Alright, alright, I left a bit late. Come on, let's go up!" Jiang Hai chuckled at what she said, then spoke to her. Hearing his words, Cheryl Lee smiled, took his suit, and led him toward the elevator.
Taking the elevator to the top-floor suite, Cheryl Lee used the key card to open the door and led Jiang Hai inside.
However, as soon as he entered, Jiang Hai couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!" Clearly, the girls hadn't been idle while waiting for him. Pura Walton had brought five women this time: besides Cheryl Lee, there were Colleen Baffordwich, Barbara Martina, Feller Farrio, and Isabel Rolland. As the old saying goes, after a good meal and in warm weather, desires arise. Having eaten and with nothing else to do, they had naturally started things in the room. Pura Walton was currently sitting on the sofa, with Isabel Rolland and Feller Farrio attacking her chest, their hands also assaulting an indescribable area below. Pura Walton's hands were returning the favor. Meanwhile, Barbara and Colleen Baffordwich were on the carpet, forming two opposing digits.
Upon seeing Jiang Hai arrive, the girls' eyes instantly lit up.
"You finally showed up. Hurry up and take off your clothes, we don't have much time," Pura Walton said with a smile, looking at Jiang Hai. Cheryl Lee immediately started helping him undress until he was completely naked.
"But who should I start with?" Ready to go, Jiang Hai scratched his head and asked them.
"Anyone is fine, just hurry!" Hearing Jiang Hai's question, the girls instinctively exposed their private parts even more to attract him. Jiang Hai gently patted the nearest one, picking up Cheryl Lee—she would be the first! As certain indescribable sounds filled the air, the battle in the room began... Just as Pura Walton had warned, they didn't have much time. Two hours later, a text message arrived on Pura Walton's phone. Looking at the message while still engaging with Jiang Hai, Pura Walton sighed and showed him the screen. Jiang Hai immediately sped up his pace, as the text read: "Dinner at 17:30. Do not be late." The sender was none other than Pura Walton's father, Rob Walton.
Although Pura Walton held a significantly important position within the Walton family thanks to Jiang Hai's presence, being late was still unacceptable. The battle concluded at 5:15 PM. After a quick shower, the two changed into formal attire and headed to the prepared dinner venue. When Jiang Hai arrived, he noticed there weren't many people in the dining room, only about twenty in total. These were all members of the Walton family and key personnel from the company. As Pura Walton's companion and one of their most crucial suppliers, Jiang Hai naturally had the right to be there.
As the pair walked into the dining room, nearly everyone's eyes turned toward them, though most focused on Jiang Hai. Pura Walton was a familiar sight to them, but Jiang Hai was rarely seen, like a dragon whose head is visible but never its tail.
In fact, Jiang Hai's personal wealth might have been the greatest of anyone in the room.
Yet, he almost never appeared at any gatherings, regardless of the purpose—whether for socializing among the wealthy, charity events, or parties—Jiang Hai avoided them all. To see him now was genuinely surprising.
However, a slight smile appeared on Rob Walton's usually serious face. He had kept the news of Jiang Hai's arrival a secret, intending to observe their surprised reactions. Jiang Hai's presence was extremely important.