"Half? 250,000? That's impossible. This is completely different from what we initially discussed."
Upon hearing Jiang Hai's words, the minister shook his head before even considering the offer. This number was unacceptable to them.
Of course, the claim of 500,000 was largely exaggerated. The actual stock was 500,000, including the Yangtze River knife fish from Huayang Group. However, even if Jiang Hai knew the real numbers, he wouldn't care.
He wasn't looking to buy all the fish—just enough to achieve his goal. Once shipped to the United States, he would infuse them with spiritual energy to ensure their survival. With 250,000 fish, it would only take a few years to establish a stable population. That was the reason he dared to propose this deal.
"Initially, we agreed on 70 yuan per fish. I'm now offering 80," Jiang Hai said calmly, meeting the minister's gaze.
At 250,000 fish, an additional 10 yuan per fish meant an extra 2.5 million yuan. Jiang Hai didn't even flinch at the increase.
If these 250,000 fry were delivered to him, at least 100,000 would likely survive. Once they grew to half a catty, they could be sold in China. Currently, fish weighing one to two catties sold for around 400 yuan per catty, while those weighing three to four catties went for 1,000 yuan per catty. Selling a half-catty fish for 6,000 yuan per catty wasn't unreasonable. Jiang Hai, however, planned to sell them in China for $800 per catty—equivalent to 4,800 yuan. With 100,000 fish, that was 50,000 catties, generating $40 million.
If he allowed them to grow for another year and reproduce, the following year could bring in even more. One million fish could yield $400 million—far surpassing the value of American redfish or yellow croaker.
And that was just one million fish. What if he had ten million? Who said fish farming wasn't as profitable as cattle ranching? It all depended on the type of fish being raised.
"Eighty is still too low..." the minister hesitated. He was caught between Jiang Hai's tempting offer and the pressure from above. While 80 yuan per fish was enticing, this wasn't an easy decision.
"One hundred per fish. I want 250,000," Jiang Hai declared, raising the price again—an additional five million yuan. The minister inhaled sharply at Jiang Hai's words.
"I... I need to consult with my superiors." Knowing he couldn't press too hard, the minister stepped aside to make a phone call. Meanwhile, Jiang Hai squatted by the pond, watching the small fry swim. These tiny creatures were like gold bars, no—more valuable than gold bars.
"Let's compromise. My boss is willing to go with 91 yuan per fish, but we can only sell 200,000," the minister said upon his return, his tone serious.
Jiang Hai smacked his lips. Though it was 50,000 fewer fish, he had still met his goal. 200,000 was enough.
Without hesitation, he stood up and followed the minister to Huayang Group's head office to finalize the deal.
Jiang Hai paid 18 million yuan for 200,000 Yangtze River knife fish fry. Huayang Group agreed to deliver the fish to Jiang Hai's estate, guaranteeing a survival rate of at least 90% upon arrival.
This meant that at least 180,000 fish had to be alive upon delivery. If not, Jiang Hai had the right to refuse them. After signing the contract, he transferred an initial payment of 8 million yuan, with the remaining 10 million to be paid upon delivery. Huayang Group was satisfied with this arrangement.
Although they felt a bit reluctant, selling at 91 yuan per fish was still a pleasant surprise. More importantly, they didn't believe Jiang Hai could keep these fish alive. However, when Jiang Hai's first batch of fish hit the Chinese market the following year, they would realize the consequences of underestimating him. Jiang Hai's knife fish were far from ordinary—they were premium quality.
With the contract signed, Jiang Hai stayed an extra day. That evening, he attended a celebratory dinner with Huayang Group.
Seeing that Jiang Hai had brought Penelope, the hosts refrained from making other arrangements for him. Little did they know that he and Penelope weren't in that kind of relationship. Jiang Hai had no intentions of pursuing her.
More importantly, Jiang Hai wasn't experienced in making the first move. Usually, women pursued him, and he went along with it. Now, being expected to take the initiative left him at a loss. So, the night passed uneventfully.
The next day, they returned to Magic City. Jiang Hai stayed there for a few more days, though he didn't wait for CJ's opening. After spending time with Feng Yunchen and the others, he traveled back to the Imperial City with Darlene, Marianne, Azarina, and Penelope. While in Magic City, he also met Feng Yunchen's training partners, treating them to a good meal—not out of romantic interest, but to ensure they took good care of Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi.
After a brief stay in the Imperial City and a meal with Qi Li, Jiang Hai sought out Du Famen.
During these days, Du Famen had been negotiating oil deals between the Arab region and the Chinese government. The oil price had been settled, but disagreements remained regarding delivery volumes.
China, being a major oil consumer, relied heavily on imports for its military and infrastructure. Most of its oil came from Siberia, but securing an additional supply line was advantageous. However, Du Famen was cautious—not looking to shift all his business to China but rather diversify his clients.
For Jiang Hai, meeting Du Famen was about securing his own oil futures.
Over dinner at Du Famen's villa, Jiang Hai acquired a $600 million oil futures contract.
One billion dollars in total—though not an enormous sum—was enough to provide him with some leverage in the U.S. If a powerful entity targeted him, this investment could serve as a stepping stone to gain the protection of families like Rockefeller or Morgan. With their backing, he wouldn't be easily moved. However, he hoped never to use this as a last resort.
With all matters settled, Jiang Hai's trip to China was coming to an end. He and his companions boarded a flight back to the United States.
Before departing, Sun Yuan and Huayang Group had efficiently arranged everything after receiving Jiang Hai's deposit. The Chinese government rented a large cargo ship to transport his acquisitions to the U.S. Under strict American security protocols, all items underwent quarantine to ensure no diseases or hidden tracking devices were present. Naturally, none were found.
His shipment included 200,000 Huayang Group knife fish fry, tea trees, the animals he had purchased, and 3 million large yellow croaker fry from Guangdong. Now, they only needed to catch eight more yellow croakers before setting sail.
Two shipping routes were possible: one crossing the Pacific, entering the Atlantic via the Gulf of Mexico, then heading up to Jiang Hai's estate; the other passing through the Strait of Malacca, crossing the Indian Ocean, and then reaching the Atlantic. The former, though longer, was safer, and the government opted for that route.
The estimated arrival was mid-July—a month away. Back in the U.S., Jiang Hai had plenty to do, starting with digging a river.
Though yellow croaker and yellow-lipped croaker were marine fish, Yangtze River knife fish were migratory, requiring a freshwater section. He also planned to raise other freshwater species. With Xiaoya's culinary skills, he couldn't let such resources go to waste.
Excavating the river required careful planning. The construction team could easily dig a channel, but deciding between diverting water or creating an underground reservoir required research. The river's design was crucial—it needed to allow fish to swim to the sea and return for spawning while preserving the integrity of the grasslands.
"Looks like I'll need an expert's advice when I get back," Jiang Hai mused in his first-class seat. Years of relying on wealth and brute force had made him lazy in problem-solving.
However, he soon chuckled. His trip to China had been incredibly fruitful. Not only was the man who wanted him dead now gone, but he had also gained connections with Du Famen and the government. Though he didn't plan to exploit these ties, they were valuable if needed.
Most importantly, he had acquired a wealth of top-quality food!