Chapter 184: Return to Boston

"Hey, can't you stay a few more days? I've already bought the tickets! Let's go together on the tenth day of the first lunar month!"

Sitting in Fu Yuan's car, Jiang Hai gazed at the snow-covered scenery of Ice City while Fu Yuan kept chattering beside him.

"Do you think I want to leave so soon? If it weren't for the incident at the manor, I wouldn't be rushing back." Jiang Hai replied softly, though whether he truly meant it was something only he knew.

It was the fifth day of the first lunar month, commonly known as Po Wu. For most people, the New Year celebrations officially end after this day. Jiang Hai had chosen today to leave Ice City and return to Boston.

Unlike Jiang Hai, who had the freedom to leave whenever he wanted, Fu Yuan had to stay with his family. He couldn't leave until the tenth day of the first lunar month. Even then, his time to visit Jiang Hai in Boston would be short—his holiday ended on the fifteenth day, giving him just twelve days total. After accounting for four days of travel, only eight days remained to enjoy. Fu Yuan had initially hoped they could travel together, but Jiang Hai's sudden departure on the fifth day disrupted those plans.

In truth, Jiang Hai wasn't just leaving; he was escaping.

The urgency stemmed from a call he received from Robbins two days ago. Apparently, someone had tried to break into his manor but was bitten by Xiao Huang and fled. The police got involved, and Jiang Hai immediately contacted Moses Adams to keep an eye on things.

Despite this, Jiang Hai wasn't overly concerned about the safety of his property. Robbins and Edward had tightened security, and the police were patrolling the area regularly. After all, Jiang Hai wasn't just any citizen—he was the largest taxpayer in Winthrop. If the authorities didn't protect his property, whose would they protect? Moreover, Xiao Bai and Xiao Huang were formidable deterrents. Anyone daring to trespass would have to see if they could handle those two.

However, his rushed return wasn't solely about the manor. Two groups of people were also making his stay uncomfortable.

The first group was his classmates.

It all started with Xiang Hua. After Jiang Hai gave out high-quality beef to his classmates, Xiang Hua, while drunk during a gathering, bragged about the gift. He mentioned that the beef was worth 2,000 yuan per pound and that Jiang Hai had given each person ten pounds without hesitation. Word spread quickly, and some classmates even managed to get Jiang Hai's phone number. They began calling and asking to meet up, making Jiang Hai feel overwhelmed.

The second group was his long-forgotten relatives.

Among his classmates, one had a mother who worked with Jiang Hai's second aunt. When the topic of Jiang Hai's generosity came up, word quickly reached his relatives. They learned that Jiang Hai was thriving in the United States, wealthy, and successful. Soon, these relatives began showing up, eager to reconnect.

While Jiang Hai could refuse his classmates, dealing with relatives was trickier. He held a deep disdain for them. When his mother passed away, most of these so-called relatives hadn't even attended the funeral. Those who did showed up briefly, dropped a few hundred yuan as a token gesture, and left, citing work or other excuses. It was Qi Li's mother who had stepped in, organizing a proper send-off for his mother.

With memories of their neglect fresh in his mind, Jiang Hai had no intention of entertaining them. Apart from occasionally sending gifts to an uncle who had once been kind to his family, he ignored the rest. Yet, his cold attitude didn't deter them. Ultimately, Jiang Hai decided to leave early to avoid them altogether.

He considered taking a trip somewhere else but concluded that returning to his manor was the best option. After all, he missed the peaceful life and familiar faces there.

"Hey, I'm just saying—it's going to be boring flying alone for so long. No one to talk to, nothing to do!" Fu Yuan complained, breaking Jiang Hai's train of thought.

Flying was boring. Unlike a train, where you could enjoy the scenery, planes offered little more than clouds to look at. While Fu Yuan might pass the time flirting with the flight attendants, Jiang Hai wasn't as optimistic.

"Alright, stop whining. It's only five days. I'll come pick you up in New York," Jiang Hai said with a smile.

On New Year's Day, he had invited his friends to visit Boston, but although tempted, they all declined. A round-trip ticket from China to the U.S., even with discounts, cost nearly 10,000 yuan—an expense they couldn't justify. While Jiang Hai could afford to cover their tickets, he understood they wouldn't accept. Friendship was about equality, not dependency.

In the end, only Fu Yuan planned to visit. He would fly out on the tenth day of the first lunar month.

By the time their conversation ended, they had arrived at Ice City Airport. Though Jiang Hai had only been home for six days, it felt like time had flown. With just a single bag, he was ready to leave—though most of his purchases had already been shipped to Boston.

During this trip, Jiang Hai had stocked up on over 400 kilograms of goods, including sauces, pickles, and Ice City specialties like dried sausages and air-dried pork. He had even bought 50 kilograms of Bingcheng-style red sausage, famous for its reputation. However, his plans to bring black pigs and sheep fell through due to legal restrictions on transporting livestock internationally.

In addition to food, Jiang Hai had splurged on tea. Among the varieties he tried, he favored Longjing, Emei Bamboo Leaf Green, and Jintan Queshe. He spent over 10,000 yuan on tea alone, not counting the 8,000 yuan he paid for international shipping. Despite the steep costs, he felt it was worth it—after all, these items weren't available in Boston.

Now, as he boarded his flight to the capital, Jiang Hai wondered if he should plant tea trees on his manor. Yet, the thought of relying on Robbins and the others to care for them left him skeptical. With their rugged, practical attitudes, would they even understand the delicate nature of tea cultivation?

Shaking his head at the thought, Jiang Hai waved goodbye to Fu Yuan and boarded the plane.

(To be continued.)