A few minutes later, Xia Lun reached the door to the reception room.
The butler ahead of him raised a hand and knocked, then stepped forward and opened the door for him.
As Xia Lun entered, the short, stout Hornard was pacing before the floor-to-ceiling window. Rain pattered against the glass, and droplets slid down it like a curtain behind him, framing his figure.
His son Horn stood by the bookshelf on the west side of the room, studying a decorative bottle of wine.
"Hornard, long time no see!" Xia Lun spread his arms in greeting. "How about sea cucumber for lunch?"
As he spoke, he nodded toward Horn. "And we'll drink the bottle you're holding."
Horn smiled sheepishly, scratched his head, and set the bottle back on the shelf.
"Xia Lun, there's something about the Ranch I'd like your opinion on." Hornard hurried over, his expression grave.
Xia Lun grew serious too. "Go ahead."
"Live cattle prices in the greater Whitewash area have risen a full 800% recently," Hornard said quietly. "I reckon they've peaked. If you agree to sell a large number of cattle from the Ranch now, you'll make a fortune!"
Xia Lun blinked in surprise. "The market price has gone up eightfold?"
A few years ago, a cattle virus had swept through the Grand Alliance, forcing the slaughter of vast numbers of animals. Even that had moved live cattle prices by only around 30%. An 800% jump was like gold falling from the sky.
If Hornard's information was sound, the Ranch's several thousand cattle had suddenly become an asset worth nearly as much as a gold mine.
"That's right." Hornard's eyes practically shone. "At current prices, one cow could buy a car. I'd love to sell, but the Ranch is yours now. I wouldn't dare without