People who have lived abroad know that rice is available in supermarkets in European and American countries, but it is not a staple food for most locals. Instead, they are more accustomed to eating pasta, bread, and similar foods, whereas Asians prefer rice as their primary carbohydrate.
When it comes to rice, there are three major rice-producing regions in the world, known for producing the most delicious varieties. Of course, rice quality varies by grade and type. Ordinary hybrid rice serves only to fill the stomach, while premium varieties offer a superior taste and texture.
Among the three major rice-producing regions, the lowest-quality rice comes from Korea, mid-tier rice is produced in Northeast China, and the highest-quality rice comes from Japan. However, due to Japan's limited land area, its rice production is low, making it expensive. It is hard to imagine that a single bowl of rice, combined with a Japanese-made rice cooker, can cost dozens of yuan—an astonishing price.
In China, two regions are particularly renowned for their rice: Changwu City in Heilongjiang and Jinpan in Liaoning Province. Initially, Jinpan rice was a specialty product, but due to Liaoning's industrial development and resulting land pollution, its rice lost its former reputation. Meanwhile, Heilongjiang, long considered China's granary, has risen in prominence, ranking first in national grain production for consecutive years. The province's seasonal grain output alone is enough to feed the nation for three months. The quality of its rice is also among the best, though this depends on the specific variety.
Pearl rice, commonly found in supermarkets nationwide, is produced in large quantities in the Northeast. However, in rural areas, it is often sold cheaply or even used as chicken feed. People seldom consume it as a staple, though they may eat some when the new harvest comes in. In places like Bingcheng, residents primarily consume higher-quality rice varieties.
In the southern regions of China, this kind of rice is notably expensive. COFCO Group sells a 10-kilogram bag for over 80 yuan. The better-quality rice is sold at more than 10 yuan per kilogram. Locally, the same rice is priced at just three to four yuan per kilogram, with premium varieties going for around six yuan. When transported to the south, the price doubles. When exported abroad, it increases sixfold. In Winthrop, where Jiang Hai buys rice, Korean rice costs $21 per kilogram, Northeast rice is $18 per kilogram, and Japanese rice is $32 per kilogram. Despite being inferior in quality, Korean rice is priced higher than Northeast rice, which is frustratingly expensive at $18 per kilogram—roughly $9 per catty, or over 50 yuan per catty.
Fortunately, Jiang Hai is financially comfortable, so he never paid much attention to these prices before. However, now that he has seen them firsthand, he is considering the possibility of growing rice himself. He called Robbins to ask if anyone in his family knew how to cultivate rice, but the answer was no. Still, rice farming is not particularly difficult, especially in a mechanized country like the United States. Given Winthrop's abundant water resources, rice cultivation should be feasible.
After some thought, Jiang Hai mentally prepared a rice purchase plan. However, since it was already June, he had missed the planting season, meaning he would have to wait until next year to grow it. For now, he could buy a batch to eat, which was the most immediate concern.
In addition to rice, Mongolia offers many delicacies, such as Ujumchin sheep, which Jiang Hai has long coveted. This breed produces the best lamb for hotpot, far superior to Boer goats. Naturally, Jiang Hai wanted to buy some.
He was also interested in Texas meat donkeys from Shandong Province, famous for their high-quality meat. There's a saying: "Dragon meat in the sky, donkey meat underground." Jiang Hai wanted to see if the donkeys he raised would taste as exceptional as rumored. Besides donkey meat, he was also keen on pork.
Although pork is available in the United States, it is scarce and of average quality. Pork is not a staple in American cuisine, so few people buy it, resulting in limited production. Since Jiang Hai planned to purchase pigs, he decided to bring some back with him. He chose Congjiang Xiang pigs, a nationally protected second-level livestock breed considered the best in China. These miniature pigs, mainly found in Congjiang, Guizhou Province, rarely exceed 30 kilograms in weight and can even be kept as pets. However, their true value lies in their meat, particularly when roasted, which is exceptionally flavorful.
Beyond these food items, Jiang Hai also planned to purchase tea trees, which he believed could absorb spiritual energy. Unlike before, when he had to beg for tea trees, he could now acquire as many as he wanted. Although he already had a few tea trees at home that were thriving, they produced very few leaves, forcing him to ration his tea consumption. With a larger supply, he could enjoy Longjing, Xueya, or Taiping tea as he pleased.
After spending over three hours making his selections, Jiang Hai compiled a list of items he wanted to buy. This was just the beginning—if he remembered anything later, he would purchase it as well. The authorities had no objections to him acquiring these items.
In addition to the three types of fish he initially wanted, he also requested:
200 nine-jin yellow chickens, 200 Langshan chickens, 100 jin (50 kg) of saffron bulbs, 1,000 Ujumchin sheep, 20 Texas donkeys, 100 Congjiang Xiang pigs.
The most important item was rice with a fragrant aroma. Although it could only be grown once a year, Jiang Hai didn't mind. He could always return next year to buy more. China was relatively open to rice exports.
After finalizing his order, Jiang Hai paid a deposit. While he purchased a large number of items, their actual cost was not exorbitant—the most expensive aspect was transportation. Shipping live animals to the United States required a boat, as air transport would be fatal for most of them. The shipping process alone would take nearly a month, and the associated freight and feed costs were significant. However, Jiang Hai wasn't concerned about the expense.
To facilitate the transaction, Jiang Hai entrusted Sun Yuan with one million yuan upfront. If the final cost exceeded this amount, he would pay the difference later. If there was a surplus, Sun Yuan could keep it as compensation.
As for the three types of fish Jiang Hai originally wanted, Sun Yuan provided an update. "Mr. Jiang, Minister Qin has already arranged for the fish you requested. The yellow croaker is easy to obtain and will be shipped with the other animals at a price of 8 yuan per fry. This price was set by the higher-ups."
Jiang Hai was surprised. "Eight yuan? Then I'll take three million fish."
What Jiang Hai didn't realize was that the exorbitantly priced yellow croaker he previously ate was wild-caught, whereas farmed yellow croaker typically sold for only 40–50 yuan per fish. The price difference was substantial, but Jiang Hai wasn't concerned. After all, his fish would be raised in an environment even wilder than the wild, a fact he considered his secret advantage.
Hearing Jiang Hai's order for three million fish, Sun Yuan was taken aback. He initially thought this was a small deal, perhaps a few hundred thousand or even a few million yuan. He never expected Jiang Hai to invest 24 million yuan in fish alone.
Sun Yuan continued cautiously, "Regarding the Yangtze River knife fish, Minister Qin has made special arrangements, so we can offer you up to 100,000 fish at 70 yuan each."
Jiang Hai quickly calculated and responded, "I'll pay 80 yuan per fish. See if you can get more." The Yangtze River knife fish was his primary target, and he was confident he could cultivate them successfully.
Sun Yuan hesitated. "I'll inquire, but we can't deliver these fish to you. You'll need to visit in person to finalize the deal. As for the yellow croaker, we've dispatched people to catch them, but so far, we have only one. It may take some time to secure all eight."