Chapter 188: Accidental Fall into Water

"I know about that. What about the fishery?" Jiang Hai nodded after hearing Robbins' words. In fact, he already knew that the grapes were nearing bloom, and it was time to plant them. If this were Northeast China, planting would begin around March, with harvest and winemaking in September. However, Boston's climate was much warmer than Northeast China. Even in its coldest winters, the temperature rarely dropped below minus ten degrees at night. This made it possible to plant grapes earlier here. Later, he would decide whether to produce red wine or ice wine. Yet finding a skilled winemaker was not going to be easy.

Unlike cowboys and fishermen, who could often be found in a bar if you knew where to look, winemakers were highly skilled professionals who rarely had time off. They earned good incomes and were considered part of the high-income bracket in the country. Their lives rarely intersected with those of cowboys and fishermen. If Jiang Hai wanted to hire one, he'd likely have to go through a professional union. This wasn't something that could be rushed, so he decided to take his time with it.

"There haven't been any issues with the fish farm recently. The aquatic plants are thriving, and we've been spreading bait and other necessities. Now it's just a matter of patrolling the fish farm daily and feeding the animals to keep them from migrating elsewhere," Edward Anderson said promptly when Jiang Hai brought up the fishery.

"When will the fish fry be released?" Jiang Hai asked, looking at Edward.

"That depends on the weather. As long as it's March, the temperatures aren't too cold, and there aren't consecutive strong winds, we can release the fish fry. I spoke to Tie Niu the other day—he's already prepared the fish fry. Right now, they're being sterilized and stored separately. After all, this is a significant operation. If anything goes wrong, his losses will be huge," Edward explained earnestly. Jiang Hai nodded in agreement, feeling reassured by Edward's management of the fish farm. He only inquired to stay informed, as being completely detached might lead others to slack off.

"By the way, I heard about the incident at the fishery," Jiang Hai said, shifting the conversation. As soon as he mentioned it, Edward and Robbins, who had been smiling moments ago, turned serious. After exchanging a glance, Edward began explaining.

"It's not too complicated. News of our fishery's success has spread around Boston. Most professional fishermen won't take the risk of poaching here—they know we have five capable men and cowboys like Robbins. Plus, our fishery is in offshore waters, which even some ocean-going companies avoid. But there are always desperate individuals willing to try and steal from us," Edward said, taking a sip of his tea before continuing.

"Frankly, it all comes down to money. The fish in your fishery aren't just fish—they're practically swimming dollar bills. Naturally, some fishermen in Winthrop and Boston know this and can't help but feel tempted. That said, most people with families and steady jobs aren't willing to break the law, especially since the penalties here are severe. Even though the U.S. rarely enforces the death penalty, long-term imprisonment is common—three to five hundred years is not unusual. Most people would rather work within the law to survive."

Edward paused before adding, "Still, there are always a few reckless ones. Some tried stealing fish from our waters. When we confronted them, they cursed us and even fought back. We had to chase them off, and in the process, their boat nearly capsized from the waves we caused. One guy even fell into the water. When he tried climbing back aboard, the big shark you raised bit a chunk out of his leg."

Jiang Hai listened, his expression serious. Edward continued, "After that, we called the police. They arrested the poachers, but fishing theft isn't considered a major crime, so they were bailed out the next day. Since then, we've noticed strangers patrolling near the manor. Fortunately, Xiao Huang and Xiao Bai, the two dogs, were alert. They detected intruders near the residential area, attacked them, and tore a piece of flesh from one man's arm. This incident made us realize we need to strengthen our night patrols."

"These guys are getting bolder!" Jiang Hai muttered. He called over Xiao Huang and Xiao Bai, rubbed their heads affectionately, and smiled. Though Robbins and Edward hadn't explicitly said so, Jiang Hai wasn't naïve. If intruders reached his manor, the consequences could be disastrous—whether they targeted his livestock or people.

"I noticed the outer fence only has barbed wire. What if we build a proper wall, add barbed wire on top, and electrify it? Let's see if they dare to come in then," Jiang Hai suggested.

Philemon, Robbins, and Edward exchanged uneasy looks. In the United States, walls were seen as a symbol of confinement and were generally disliked. Even prisons often used barbed wire instead of walls to enclose inmates. Realizing this, Jiang Hai smiled and dropped the idea.

"If we're not building a wall, we'll strengthen patrols instead. Maybe we can also raise more guard dogs—fierce ones like Xiao Huang and Xiao Bai, but trained specifically for security," Jiang Hai said, offering a practical alternative.

With that, he dismissed them to continue their work. "I've brought back some gifts for everyone. Come by during dinner to collect them. Philemon, ask your wife to help with cooking tonight. I'll go check on my shark."

The three men nodded and left. Jiang Hai handed the gifts to the two sisters working in his villa and headed out. First, he visited the stables. Most of the horses were out grazing with the cattle, leaving the stable empty except for Jiang Hai's horse, Xiao Xia, who neighed happily at his arrival. After feeding it some carrots and chatting for a bit, Jiang Hai made his way to the dock.

He greeted Edward, who had returned, then took a small boat out to the deeper waters. Not long after passing the coral reef, a tall dorsal fin emerged from the sea. Smiling, Jiang Hai pulled out a large piece of beef, smeared it with a drop of his own blood, and tossed it into the water.

"This is your reward!" he called out.

Before he could let go, a sudden tug on the beef yanked him forward, pulling him straight into the sea!

(To be continued…)