Chapter 181: Returning Early

Where there are people, there are disputes, and where there are disputes, conflicts arise. Some people refuse to live life step by step; they prefer to plunder resources from others to sustain themselves. The most powerful groups become nations, while the less powerful are relegated to the shadows, often called "black zones." The United States, as a capitalist superpower, is no exception.

Naturally, many black zones exist within its borders, and Boston is one of them.

Jiang Hai arrived at a time when the U.S. government was actively trying to improve its global image by cracking down on black zones and racial discrimination. However, no matter how stringent the enforcement, there are always those who disregard the law.

In the Boston area, many residents are descendants of the Irish. It's widely known that the Irish have a complex history. Northern Ireland remains under British control, and many from there do not identify as British despite their citizenship. Instead, their hearts are tied to Ireland. These unresolved racial tensions, which can't be fully expressed in Europe, manifest strongly in the United States, often leading to severe racial discrimination.

In Boston, these dynamics have led to a sharp division. The North District is a haven for the wealthy, with fresh air, bright sunshine, and well-funded police patrolling the streets daily. Despite Boston's narrow roads, the North District thrives. The South District, however, is a stark contrast—a chaotic, dirty, and crime-ridden area. It's Boston's version of New York's Bronx. While good people live there, the bad outnumber them. Robberies, thefts, murders, rapes, and trafficking happen regularly.

Jiang Hai had unknowingly entered the fringes of the South District when he rescued those girls. Luckily, it wasn't the deep core of the area, where even the police tread carefully. Recent government crackdowns have subdued some of these black zones, with many gang leaders arrested or eliminated. Yet, for every fallen leader, another rises to take their place. This cycle is evident in the South District.

The gangsters who recently came to Jiang Hai's manor to steal fish were products of this environment. It seemed like a simple situation—people stealing fish, getting caught, and one man being unlucky enough to fall into the water and get bitten by a shark. However, reasoning with gangsters is futile. They saw this incident as a blow to their reputation and wanted revenge. Since those thieves were taken by the Winthrop police, strangers had been driving around Jiang Hai's manor. According to Robbins and Edward, these people were likely from the gang and intended to cause trouble.

Fortunately, Jiang Hai's manor wasn't defenseless. The cowboys and fishermen there weren't pushovers, especially Bell, a man from Delta State. With his long gun, he was more than capable of handling troublemakers. Because of this, Robbins and Edward weren't overly concerned.

"Be cautious for now. I'll return soon after checking things here. I can't stop worrying while I'm away," Jiang Hai said, sighing. Trouble always seemed to brew when he wasn't around. He initially planned to return after the 15th, but he now considered coming back earlier.

However, as Robbins and Edward reassured him, Bell and the others could handle the situation. Jiang Hai decided he could afford to stay in China a little longer. Edward even shared some good news to lighten Jiang Hai's mood: the manor was running smoothly. The weather was warming, and the snow had started melting. The cleared pastures would soon allow the 20,000 cattle, cooped up for two months, to roam freely again. The vegetable garden had been prepped and planted, with Mrs. Philemon leading the effort. Thanks to mechanization, the vegetable field had expanded to twelve acres, enough to supply the manor's growing population for an entire year.

Hearing this lifted Jiang Hai's spirits. After hanging up, he leaned against his bed, his thoughts drifting to the manor and the people there—Robbins, Edward, Philemon, Darlene, and Marianne. Over time, many people had come to depend on him, a feeling he wasn't used to but found comforting.

He also thought about his pets—Xiaobai, Xiaohuang, Banya, Jiujiu, Xiaoxia, and Dasha. Each had their quirks: Xiaobai danced joyfully, Xiaohuang observed everything with a calm demeanor, and Banya often performed acrobatics. Jiujiu couldn't fly yet but loved running around. Xiaoxia had a fondness for carrots, always licking his hand after feeding, and Dasha, who appeared fierce, had recently helped him settle scores.

"I'll reward Dasha with another drop of blood when I get back," Jiang Hai thought with a smile, imagining the shark evolving into something extraordinary.

His thoughts shifted to the mysterious scales on his tattoo. Since leaving the manor, the scales had been diminishing, possibly influenced by the environment. Still, with only 100 scales left to complete his snake tail, he anticipated an upgrade to his golden finger by March.

His musings were interrupted by loud firecrackers, signaling it was almost midnight. Jiang Hai sighed, letting the festive atmosphere lift his mood. As the clock struck twelve, his phone buzzed with New Year's greetings from friends. Among the messages were two notable ones: one from Feng Yunchen and another from Moses Adams, who had surprisingly sent New Year's wishes in Chinese.

Recalling his experiences over the past year, Jiang Hai felt a sense of closure. He turned off his phone, listening to the crackling fireworks as he drifted to sleep. In his dreams, he returned to his childhood—his parents cooking and setting off fireworks together. The nostalgic scenes filled his heart as the first sunrise of the New Year brightened the horizon.

Early the next morning, his phone rang. Half-asleep, Jiang Hai picked it up. It was Fu Yuan, his persistent friend.

"Don't sleep in! We're downstairs—come to my place!" Fu Yuan's enthusiastic voice broke through Jiang Hai's grogginess.

Jiang Hai groaned but got up, knowing his friend wouldn't let him rest. (To be continued.)