My Manor

The plane above circled three times before flying off, signaling the end of its task. Maren Rupert headed back into the hold, preparing to return.

"Is that it?" Jiang Hai asked as he walked into the hold with Darlene and Marian, who were still reluctant to leave. He suddenly felt a pang of doubt—had he just wasted his money? Throwing those seaweed seeds into the ocean seemed reckless.

The seeds were purchased with real money, after all. Could they even guarantee the seaweed would grow?

"This is how it's done," Maren replied, smiling at Jiang Hai's skepticism. "These seaweed seeds were carefully cultivated. Before scattering them, the team tested the water quality and checked the weather forecast to ensure no southward currents or blizzards would disrupt the area in the near future. As long as the seeds settle safely on the sandy bottom, there's a more than 70% chance they'll grow into healthy seaweed."

Jiang Hai frowned slightly, still unconvinced. The ocean was no farmland where seeds could be planted neatly row by row. There was water pressure to contend with, not to mention the depth of his fishery, which reached several hundred meters in places. Neither people nor machines could operate down there effectively—otherwise, seaweed seeds wouldn't be so inexpensive.

Despite understanding Maren's explanation, Jiang Hai couldn't help curling his lips in dissatisfaction. He still clung to a small-scale farmer's mentality, struggling to adapt to this large-scale operation.

"I can accept losing some seaweed seeds to the currents," Jiang Hai muttered, "but what happens when I start raising fish? What if the fish swim away?"

Maren chuckled, recognizing the concern. "There are two solutions. First, you can build barrier nets around the fishery, but I wouldn't recommend it. They'd be a hassle for fishing boats, as the nets could easily entangle with propellers. Plus, to keep fry in, the mesh would need to be extremely fine. That would block not only the fish but also microorganisms, shrimp, and other small marine creatures vital to the ecosystem. Over time, the coral reefs you've preserved might die off from starvation, destabilizing the environment and degrading the water quality."

Hearing this, Jiang Hai sighed. His idea of using nets suddenly seemed shortsighted.

"What's the second solution?" he asked after a moment.

"The second option is to feed the fish. By regularly introducing bait near the fish schools, we can encourage them to stay in the area. This method is common in modern fisheries, and it even attracts fish from outside the boundaries," Maren explained.

Jiang Hai considered this. Feeding the fish was undoubtedly more practical than building nets, but it sounded labor-intensive.

"Feeding them sounds like a lot of work," Jiang Hai said, frowning.

"It is," Maren admitted. "Our current fishing boats aren't ideal for the task. If we use them to distribute feed, we might set out in the morning and not return until the next day."

Jiang Hai remembered that Edward Anderson had once mentioned his desire to purchase a plane, which Maren could pilot. Although Jiang Hai hadn't been serious about it at the time, the idea now seemed worth revisiting.

"Planes are expensive..." Jiang Hai muttered, though the prospect of simplifying fish feeding made the idea tempting.

"They're not as costly as you think," Maren replied. "Most estates of this size have at least two planes—a helicopter and a standard agricultural plane. For fisheries, Polish M18s or Australian GA200s are popular, though American Air Tractors are top-of-the-line. Recently, even China's Nong-5 models have improved significantly."

Jiang Hai's head spun as Maren listed the options. "How much do they cost?" he asked.

"Prices range from $100,000 to $300,000, depending on the model," Maren said.

"Seriously? That's cheaper than I expected," Jiang Hai admitted, surprised. He had always imagined planes as multimillion-dollar investments—luxuries for the ultra-wealthy. But these agricultural planes were clearly in a different category.

Maren explained that agricultural planes weren't like commercial jets. They were basic machines designed for farmwork, with speeds rarely exceeding 300 kilometers per hour and limited to altitudes of a few thousand meters. They couldn't even use large airports.

Hearing this, Jiang Hai became intrigued. "Where can I buy one? And do I need a runway?"

"You've got a Black Gold Card, right? Just call American Express, and they'll handle the rest," Maren suggested. "As for the runway, a simple concrete strip a few hundred meters long will do. Add a small hangar, and you're set. It shouldn't cost more than $10,000."

By the time the ship returned to the dock, Jiang Hai had made up his mind. He called American Express, and within minutes, his phone was flooded with quotes and specifications for various aircraft. Among the options, the Air Tractor AT-802 caught his eye.

The AT-802 was a behemoth among agricultural planes, weighing three tons with a maximum takeoff weight of six and a half tons. It wasn't particularly fast—its top speed was 360 kilometers per hour—but it was the fastest in its class.

Jiang Hai was particularly impressed by its versatility. In underdeveloped regions, the AT-802 was sometimes used as a light attack aircraft, capable of carrying weapons like Gatling guns and rockets. While Jiang Hai had no intention of arming it, knowing the plane's robust build and high performance reassured him of its value.

With the decision made, Jiang Hai felt a sense of relief. The plane wasn't just an investment in his fishery—it was a step toward modernizing his operations and ensuring their long-term success.

(To be continued.)