Chapter 36
The family was never large, only ever with a few, though they had many servants and workers; many had too high ambitions.
Heh, who didn’t, right?
“So,” he said, forcing a lightness he didn’t feel. “Tell me about these cattle. Are they Angus? Hereford? Perhaps a bit of both?” He knew he sounded like a bumbling fool, but he had to start somewhere.
She finally looked up, a flicker of something akin to amusement in her eyes. “You actually know something about cattle, Mr Hui?” Zhengri tried not to show his obsession on his face; after all, he is the eldest Hui brother and had to show his dignity in public, and he had his previous life experiences, making him almost a hundred with his two lives combined.
After adjusting himself, Zhengri allowed himself a small, hopeful smile. “I know enough to be dangerous, Miss Mi.”
It might sound cheesy, but it was a start. Beneath them, the helicopter dipped. “Young Miss Mi, we will be landing shortly. Below, Reruken and the others are waiting,” the pilot announced.
“Alright.”
Zhengri watched her adjust the baby in her arms, her focus unwavering. This was his child, but he was not sure how to really approach it in a way she would accept.
The helicopter touched down gently on a wide, grassy field. A small group of people stood waiting, their faces shaded by wide-brimmed hats. Zhengri recognized a couple of faces from the earlier encounter at the villas – the Pan brothers, looking considerably less put out than before.
Like a true bystander, Zhengri Hui stood aside, face impassive, a vast contrast to his inner thoughts and hope watching his wife.
As Vanity stepped out, Curren at her side, the group took off their hats and dipped their heads before putting them back on.
Zhengri remembered that in the book, Vanity had written about Curren in detail, the Pan brothers, and Reruken. Of course, they were key figures who served the Mi family devotedly.
He knew, though, that some had different thoughts, and conflicts will later arise, but forgot exactly when and which branch.
Well, he is here, and if anything did happen, he had no issue becoming ruthless. The constraint of law will end soon anyway.
“Reruken, report,” Vanity said, her voice crisp and businesslike.
Just hearing the name Reruken, Zhengri was curious, trying to imagine what he looked like, having skimmed over his description in the past.
Zhengri frowned when a tall young man with extremely handsome features and a slightly burly body stepped forward.
Reruken stepped forward, his raspy voice speaking up among the sounds of the livestock making noise. “Young Mistress Mi, the cattle are gathered as you instructed. The Pan brothers did a fine job separating them, and the new fences are holding up well.”
“And the goats and sheep?”
“They’re in the west pasture, waiting for your inspection. We’ve already started sorting them by size and fleece quality.”
The Mi family had expanded overseas, so even though they were considered small in size descendant-wise from the main branch, and some looked down on them for it, they still were an old family with ties outside.
Though C country is large with more than three billion people, its money value was not high, and some resources due to population had become scarce.
Land had been last and not sold for a very long time, making the Mi family who still had such land under their name for so long become a fat piece of meat that should be seized.
The Hui family is also similar, but their land was more than half the size of the Mi family, but their fingers were dipped in many pies, allowing them to still be among the top three percent families.
As for the Mi family, who had the Wen family serving them loyally still, Zhengri looked at Curren and found him quite interesting and felt somewhat wary.
Zhengri suddenly felt stunned, remembering suddenly that Vanity is his wife, and even if anything was to happen between her and that man, it would be highly unlikely, especially since he was better looking, bigger, and even richer. Also, Vanity was never interested in anyone before, showing indifference.
Satisfied, Zhengri continued to watch his wife. “Good. Let’s have a look at the cattle first.” She gestured for Curren to lead the way, and the group started walking towards a distant herd grazing contentedly.
Zhengri found himself walking beside Vanity, close enough to catch the faint scent of her perfume – a blend of mangoes and something subtly floral. He resisted the urge to reach out and touch her, to reassure himself that she was real, that this wasn’t some elaborate dream, furthermore lean closer to inhale the intoxicating mixed scent that was familiar.
“Angus, mostly,” Vanity said, breaking the silence. “With a few Hereford crosses. We’re aiming for a good balance of meat quality and hardiness.”
He nodded, trying to appear knowledgeable. “A sensible choice. The Angus is known for its marbling.” Heh, he actually remembered her agonizing over the different types of meat in the last life.
C country had Ox, yellow cattle breeds, and some other imported meat. After discussing for a week straight along with research, she had later decided on the two that would be deemed rare and more refined, catering to the wealthy population.
“Indeed. And the Herefords add a bit of resilience to the breed. This climate can be unpredictable.” If he did not show off, then he never would get the chance. In their past life, he had visited her on her property, though they were not many cows as the few tens including those for slaughter and dairy, they were still a lot for one person. She also had sheep and goats as well and even pigs, chickens, pheasants, ducks, geese and raised fish. He had learned a lot from her even researching a few until he could come and help her slaughter the animals, skin, bone, dry, smoke, cure and even shear the sheep. Doing that for more than thirty years one must know a lot after a while, and he did, because it was to impress her, his dream woman made flesh.
They all died single, but this life was different, even if it was a book.
Now, as his wife and mother to his child, he had to put in the effort.
