The most fleeting thing in this world is time.
Jiang Hai wasn't reminiscing about anything in particular—he was simply stating a fact. Time flies. When someone truly enjoys life, time never feels slow. And Jiang Hai was thoroughly enjoying this kind of life.
When he had nothing to do, he sometimes felt bored. But once he relaxed into idleness, he became pleasantly lazy—playing games, strolling around the manor to check on the horses, teasing the dogs, or watching TV. Before he knew it, the day would be over. Even the evenings weren't boring, lonely, or cold, because the girls always found ways to keep him company and entertained.
If there were ever a phrase that perfectly described Jiang Hai's life, it would be "living in pleasure and indulgence." And he truly relished it.
In the end, what do people strive for in life? Isn't it simply to eat well, drink well, and enjoy themselves? Some might say Jiang Hai lacked ambition, but after all the struggle and hard work, don't people ultimately just want time to eat, drink, and relax anyway?
Now, Jiang Hai ate what was arguably the finest food in the world. Everyone knew how expensive his beef, fish, and shrimp were.
He drank his favorite wines—international award winners—and enjoyed the best juices and beverages. He indulged in his hobbies: video games, cars, horses, dogs, and eagles. He could do whatever he wanted. And as for women? He had more than enough companions by his side. Even the position of emperor wouldn't tempt him to trade places.
With food, drink, and pleasure all within reach, if he still wasn't satisfied, he'd simply be asking for trouble.
Fortunately, Jiang Hai wasn't the type to ask for trouble. He was happy, content, and at peace with the world. Life felt exhilarating.
Under such circumstances, even the normally harsh northern winter didn't seem so unbearable. Of course, that only applied to Jiang Hai—everyone else still had to work.
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was December 24th—Christmas Eve.
Jiang Hai had already explained the holiday's origins when he first arrived in Winthrop, so there was no need to repeat it.
For many places, today marked the first day of the holiday season, similar to China's Spring Festival travel rush. The difference was that highways in the U.S. were toll-free, and airfare was often cheaper than trains, so most Americans preferred to fly.
Early in the morning, almost everyone on the estate was already busy preparing for tonight's celebration.
Those spending Christmas here prepared for tomorrow's festivities, while those heading home got their gifts ready—they couldn't return empty-handed.
Americans rarely give money directly as gifts, as it can feel impersonal or even disrespectful. Presents matter more than price; it's the thought that counts. Despite often being labeled cold or overly capitalist, Americans could actually be quite particular about these customs—sometimes even more so than people in China.
Jiang Hai's household also started early, since the evening's celebration would be held at his villa.
There was no special reason—it had simply become tradition. As the host, Jiang Hai naturally had to handle the food.
Christmas wouldn't be complete without turkey. Two wild turkeys Jiang Hai had hunted the previous day were being prepared by Qi Ya, who carefully brushed them with honey and roasted them to perfection. A good turkey wasn't easy to make.
Besides the turkey, there were plenty of other dishes: creamy mashed potatoes, Christmas meringue cookies, and Christmas pudding. And Jiang Hai certainly didn't skimp on the main courses. The finest cuts from yesterday's freshly slaughtered cattle would headline the dinner.
Seafood from last night's fishing trip had also arrived that morning. Today's feast could only be described as extravagant.
Chinese, Western, French—every style of cuisine was represented. It felt as though there was nothing they couldn't cook.
There were five beef dishes alone: red-wine braised beef, pan-fried steaks, Chinese sesame beef, grilled beef rolls with enoki mushrooms, and minced beef stir-fried with seafood broth.
The seafood spread was even more impressive: pan-fried salmon, grilled salmon, stewed haddock, scallops steamed with vermicelli and garlic, grilled and boiled lobster, steamed grouper, tiger prawns prepared two ways, and steamed king crab.
There were also pork dishes made from the estate's fragrant pigs, including Jiang Hai's favorite sweet-and-sour pork.
Several plump yellow chickens were cooked as well—cola chicken wings, Kung Pao chicken, and simple fried drumsticks, which the Americans especially loved.
Fresh vegetables from the greenhouse filled the rest of the table: salads, cold dishes, and crisp cucumber plates.
The only thing missing was the Texas donkey. Americans didn't eat donkey or horse meat, so that was saved for Jiang Hai and his group to enjoy the next day.
Even without it, the meal was more than lavish.
Around noon, Patrick's two sons, Louis Turner and John Turner, returned home. Travel-worn but cheerful, they greeted Jiang Hai first. He invited them over for dinner before they went back to rest.
Louis worked as a high school basketball assistant coach—a stable and respectable job. Patrick was very proud of him. His younger son, however, was about to graduate and still uncertain about his future. He talked about trying his luck in Los Angeles or New York. Though the family supported him, they couldn't hide their worries. Stability always felt safer than chasing dreams in a big city—a sentiment many Chinese families shared as well.
Later that afternoon, Penelope Daller arrived. She had visited last year but left early to spend Christmas with her mother. This time, Burke Daller mentioned that she would stay until the 31st, nearly a full week.
He was delighted. He hadn't spent that much time with his daughter since she was little. His values differed greatly from his wife's—he preferred the quiet hardships of rural life, while she longed for the glitz of the city. She was modern and vain, something Burke could never quite satisfy.
Penelope, however, didn't visit Jiang Hai. That was understandable; she had never had the best impression of him.
As the sun slowly set and the sky darkened, the atmosphere grew lively.
By five o'clock, Jiang Hai's workers and their families began arriving at the villa. There were simply too many people for a formal dinner, so he arranged everything buffet-style. The food was piled high like small mountains. Everyone could serve themselves freely.
They were all his own people—no need for manners or restraint. If he'd made it too formal, like a high-end restaurant, these cowboys and fishermen probably wouldn't have enjoyed themselves.
At Jiang Hai's signal, the banquet began.
The mood instantly erupted. Everyone dug in enthusiastically, mouths stuffed with their favorite foods. Though conversation was sparse, their satisfaction was obvious. Thinking about the rewards after dinner made their hearts race with anticipation.
As the host, Jiang Hai greeted everyone while eating as well. He certainly wasn't going to neglect his own stomach. The entire scene was one of pure indulgence and joy.
After about an hour, when everyone had finished, Jiang Hai walked to the center of the hall.
He clapped lightly, and all eyes turned toward him.
"This year has passed, and another one begins. I'm truly grateful for everything you've done for this manor," he said with a smile. "Hard work deserves reward—that's the law of nature. You plant in spring, and you harvest in autumn. Now it's time to see your harvest!"
Cheers erupted instantly.
Then Jiang Hai pulled out a sheet of paper and waved it.
"Let me explain. This year, as of yesterday, our ranch has sold a total of 16,121 head of cattle. The average price per head was $160,320, bringing the total revenue to… $2,584,196,300!"
The room fell silent for a moment before everyone stared at the paper with burning eyes—especially the cowboys.
That was money.
(To be continued.)