My Manor

If it's around November, such fat swimming crabs, if they don't charge you 120 yuan per catty, then those people are being fair to you. This is a city like Bingcheng, where the cost of living isn't high and it's not far from the sea.

Jiang Hai once heard from a friend in Sichuan that the live shrimp sold there aren't mud shrimp but ordinary, small ones, and they sell for nearly 100 yuan per catty.

In the past two years, the price has dropped, but it's still over 80 yuan. Eating crabs in a place like this—haha—it's really not something ordinary people can afford. While seafood is expensive, river products, including crayfish, are very affordable.

Ai Xiaoxi's family isn't from Sichuan, so she often eats seafood, but this is the first time she's had such delicious crabs.

"This tastes amazing!" After the two of them recovered from their shock, they couldn't help but look at each other. Ai Xiaoxi also whispered something, but though her voice was soft, Jiang Hai heard her clearly.

"If you think it's good, eat more. The lobster is great, and the sea cucumber is huge. Oh, and the beef is the most important—it's the most expensive and valuable item on the table." Jiang Hai smiled as he spoke, looking at Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi. When they heard his words, they paused, forks in mid-air.

"You mean, this beef is valuable? How valuable is it? More valuable than lobster?" Feng Yunchen asked, curious. She took a piece of beef and cut into it. She had to admit, Jiang Hai's beef felt special. Even though the knife wasn't sharp, it sliced through all the tendons in an instant, the cut neat. Though it was fully cooked, the blackened beef skin revealed bright red, tender meat inside. If no blood were flowing, she might have thought it wasn't cooked at all.

She looked at the piece of beef before stuffing it into her mouth. To be honest, she didn't believe the beef could be more expensive than lobster.

But the moment the beef hit her tongue, the rich aroma rushed into her senses.

Without thinking, she bit into it, and the savory juice locked in the beef exploded in her mouth. The chewy texture made her unconsciously chew faster.

At that moment, Feng Yunchen felt as though her soul floated to another world—a place with blue skies, white clouds, and green grasslands, where cows frolicked, chasing each other for food. It felt like the purest force of nature. As she got lost in such thoughts, she was suddenly jolted back to reality by a gentle push and looked around in a daze.

"Sister Chen? Sister Chen?" Ai Xiaoxi noticed Feng Yunchen's dazed expression and couldn't help but feel a little concerned, gently nudging her. When Feng Yunchen finally snapped back to attention, Ai Xiaoxi looked at her awkwardly.

"This beef is amazing." Feng Yunchen quickly looked at Jiang Hai, cutting another piece of beef and hurriedly stuffing it into her mouth.

"Of course, if I were to sell this beef, it would cost about 400 US dollars per pound. Lobster's only a few dollars." Jiang Hai smiled at her words. He was confident in his beef, and soon, he'd have just as much faith in his fish.

"400 US dollars per pound? That's about 2,600 RMB, and one pound is roughly 9 taels. My God, are you saying this pound of beef costs 3,000?" Ai Xiaoxi, who hadn't eaten yet, was about to try it but froze when she heard Jiang Hai's words. The hand holding the beef shook slightly.

"It doesn't matter, eat as much as you want. Why are you so scared?" Jiang Hai grinned, clearly pleased with her reaction.

Ai Xiaoxi still had doubts, but since she was already here, it would be a shame not to try. So after a brief hesitation, she decided to go ahead. It wouldn't kill her, right?

The moment she took a bite, she felt like she had wasted the first half of her life.

At least in terms of food, looking at Jiang Hai—whom she had thought of as just a cowherd—Ai Xiaoxi suddenly felt like crying.

The cost of raising cattle could almost match the salary of a fresh graduate. What was the point of going to school with a monthly wage?

What's the point of struggling in society? Look at Jiang Hai—eating lobsters and beef every day without a care in the world, making more money than others could earn in several lifetimes. It was almost enough to make her feel envious.

Looking at Jiang Hai and thinking about her own life, Ai Xiaoxi suddenly wanted to cry.

Thankfully, she managed to hold it back, but her mood became inexplicably downcast. However, no matter how down she felt, she couldn't stop eating—who knew if she'd get the chance to have such food again?

Seeing her quiet down, Feng Yunchen also quickened her eating pace, afraid she wouldn't have enough.

But she clearly overestimated herself. Jiang Hai had prepared ten pounds of beef—about twenty pieces. They couldn't finish it all by themselves. Additionally, there were thirty pounds of lobster, crabs, Arctic shrimp, and sea cucumber. Naturally, they didn't finish everything, and what was left was mostly given to the dogs. Well, being rich does have its perks.

About an hour later, Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi were too full to eat anymore, lounging on their chairs without any sense of decorum.

"Jiang Hai, I've never envied anyone in my life. Others are others, and life is a gift from God, not something you fight for. I've always believed I could make my life better with my own effort. I never had big ambitions, but now I suddenly envy Qi Li. If I had married you, would I be eating like this every day? How will I eat when I go back?" Feng Yunchen said weakly, touching her stomach and venting her frustration.

"Then stay. Eat as much as you want," Jiang Hai said casually. He got up, cleared the table, and poured the remaining food into the bowl next to him for the dogs—Xiao Huang and Xiao Bai's dinner.

Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi didn't make a move, but they shivered at the idea. Ai Xiaoxi looked at Feng Yunchen with envy and jealousy. She was impressed by having such a big boss, with money, looks, and everything else—eating delicious food every day without a care in the world. Meanwhile, Feng Yunchen's face showed surprise, a bitter smile, and a hint of disappointment.

"If this were junior high, I would definitely agree." Feng Yunchen said with a self-deprecating laugh.

"With your junior high school look, I wouldn't have liked you either. Haha, enough about that. You two can hang out or watch TV. After digesting, head upstairs to rest—you both must be tired." Jiang Hai joked, then took the plates and bowls to the kitchen, where his dishwasher did all the work.

There was no need for human involvement. Just pour the leftovers, place the plates in, and the machine would wash, disinfect, dry, and store them automatically.

When Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi saw this, they didn't offer to help. There was nothing to assist with. As Jiang Hai finished, they went straight upstairs.

It wasn't that they didn't want to watch TV, but the TV was naturally in English, which they didn't understand well. Their English was limited to basic communication, passing their English exams, but far from being fluent enough to converse with foreigners. The only reason they could communicate with Darlene and Marianne was because they spoke Chinese. Jiang Hai's approach to education was more than just talk.

Back in their room, they showered, dried their hair, and then flopped on the large bed without any regard for their appearance. Ai Xiaoxi hesitated and finally asked, "Sister Chen, you... must like Jiang Hai. Why didn't you agree when he said you could stay?"

Feng Yunchen, still scrolling through her phone and preparing to upload the photos she'd taken that night, paused for a moment before continuing as if nothing had happened.

"You're still too young. Let me ask you, what do you think of Jiang Hai?" Feng Yunchen asked without looking up.

"He's rich, not ugly, tall, in great shape, and seems to have a good personality. Most importantly, he doesn't have to socialize much, and he's kind-hearted. The food here is great, and I feel pretty good." Ai Xiaoxi recalled the impression Jiang Hai left on her. If she had to rate him, he'd get 99 out of 100—one point off just in case he got too proud. If he was this handsome, though, she'd give him a perfect 100.

"You thought of that, but did I not? But have you considered this? Would a man like that be short of women?" Putting down her phone, Feng Yunchen looked at Ai Xiaoxi seriously.

Ai Xiaoxi fell silent. As Feng Yunchen said, a man like that wouldn't be lacking in women.