Chapter 91

“Ahhh, it’s finally ready!”

The segment Pasture Grass Is Ripe aired during Longxia’s noon news broadcast. The moment it aired, not only Zheng Yunjie and the flower shop owner, but countless netizens across the country were thrilled. Everyone opened the accompanying image: an endless prairie, lush green grass swaying in the wind, cattle and sheep roaming freely. The scene looked like a heartwarming oil painting.

“Is that Zengrun Grass?” one excited netizen asked.

Zengrun Grass is the most common pasture grass in both Xin and Meng Provinces. Ever since news broke that Longxia was researching ten types of pasture grass, people had been scouring the internet for grass images. In just three months, they’d gone from clueless to full-blown pasture experts.

“It’s Zengrun Grass—the blades are straighter.”

“Are those fat sheep in the picture eating the grass?!”

“I want to go to Meng Province. I want to eat roast whole lamb!”

…

The difficulty and high cost of buying meat had become a major issue for residents. After two years of struggling, pork prices had risen from 65 to 95 yuan per jin, and beef and lamb had jumped to over 150. Watching Pasture Grass Is Ripe, a clear voice echoed in every viewer’s mind: We’ll have meat again!

“I want spicy diced chicken and roast lamb.”

“Kung Pao chicken, sweet and sour pork, spicy boiled pork slices, sweet and sour ribs… Ahhh, I haven’t had meat in three months!”

“I want Little Fat Lamb hotpot, and saucy beef is delicious too.”

…

Netizens began listing the dishes they missed most, and as the list grew longer, many felt tears welling up.

While the internet buzzed with excitement, at 7 p.m. that evening, Longxia released a news bulletin: Policy on Assisting Feed Production and Rural/Large-scale Breeding Subsidies.

The subsidy policy was straightforward and aggressive: subsidies for opening feed factories, subsidies for rural breeding, subsidies for large-scale breeding. In short, mobilize every resource to boost the livestock industry!

…

“Our pasture on the mountain is ripe. I’m thinking of starting a breeding farm.”

“Can’t lose money on this. If we can’t sell domestically, there’s still the international market.”

“Raising pigs is the hot industry right now…”

…

Following Longxia’s subsidy policy, some sharp-eyed residents quickly realized that livestock meat was becoming as essential and valuable as grain. Domestic demand was high, and so was international demand. Within three years, the breeding industry would be all profit, no loss!

With government encouragement and international market analysis, a wave of breeding enthusiasm swept the country.

…

“Hello, I’m the procurement manager for Longqing Fresh Meats. We’d like to purchase thirty tons of pasture feed.”

“I’m from Duoduo Breeding Farm.”

“Hello…”

…

On October 23rd, at the Duomu Feed Mill in Bayanwu County, Alatan felt like a spinning top.

Alatan, the factory director of Duomu Feed Mill, not only managed the feed production but also leased 20,000 mu of farmland. When Acid Rain pasture grass was successfully developed, he followed the trend and planted 20,000 mu of it. Now that the grass was ripe and ready for harvest, Pasture Grass Is Ripe hit the trending list.

Xin and Meng Provinces were the country’s main pasture-producing regions, and now they were carrying the weight of the national feed market. In just two days, Duomu Feed Mill had received over seventy calls.

“If we get more feed, you’ll be the first we contact.”

At 2:20 p.m., after finishing the last call, Alatan collapsed into his chair, exhausted. After a short rest, he turned to the operator beside him and said, “Let’s head out.”

The operator, a veteran employee of the feed mill, followed without a word. Half an hour later, the two arrived at a vast pasture. The grass was lush and green; eagles soared overhead and wild horses galloped through. As soon as they got out of the car, a man in traditional attire approached.

“Alatan.”

“Batu.” Alatan reached out and embraced him.

Batu was a businessman from a neighboring county, owner of both a sheep farm and a cattle ranch. Last year, due to a feed shortage, he had sold off all his livestock, keeping only 30,000 mu of pasture. This year, he planted all of it with Acid Rain pasture. Alatan’s goal was simple: buy the grass and turn it into silage feed.

“Sigh, I sold off the cattle and sheep too early,” Batu lamented after their embrace. Just two years ago, he had over ten thousand head of livestock. Now, his pastures were empty, the only movement coming from the swaying grass.

“If you hadn’t sold, you wouldn’t have been able to keep the pasture,” Alatan replied. The state of the livestock industry back then was no secret; Batu had made a tough but necessary choice.

After chatting for a while, Batu handed over a contract. “This is the pasture agreement.”

Alatan took it.

Currently, the market price for pasture was 300–500 yuan per ton. Batu offered 350—a fair and honest price given the current conditions.

Alatan looked at Batu in surprise.

“Thanks for your help,” Batu said. Three months ago, when the pasture craze swept the nation, he was strapped for cash. It was Alatan who lent him money to buy seeds. The successful harvest was as much Alatan’s doing as his own.

“I can’t use this much grass,” Alatan said after a moment. Longfeng Forage Grass yielded 10,000–15,000 jin per mu. Even at a low price, it was still a hefty sum. After careful negotiation, they agreed that Batu’s pasture would be converted into equity in the feed mill.

“Thank you,” Batu said again. With the national feed shortage, Alatan had the factory and the raw materials—he was essentially giving Batu a lifeline.

“We’ve been doing business together for twenty years. If we can get through this, that’s all that matters.” Alatan didn’t see himself as a saint. Though he helped Batu, Batu had also taken a big risk by working with him. In business, success comes from collaboration.

After chatting a bit more, Alatan asked, “What are your plans for the future?”

“I want to see Batu Ranch full of cattle and sheep again,” Batu said, gazing at his land. He loved the sight of animals roaming freely and had carefully planned it all out. Once he had enough capital, he would bring the ranch back to life—better than ever.

“You will,” Alatan smiled.

By 5 p.m., Alatan had visited several more pastures and secured a total of 50,000 mu of grass, all on a staggered payment plan. Adding his own 20,000 mu, he was now one of the largest pasture holders in Bayanwu County.

At 7 p.m., Alatan returned to the office.

“Director!” the operator burst in excitedly. He had accompanied Alatan on the tour and saw with his own eyes that every household was harvesting grass. With pasture in hand, it meant the feed mill could finally resume operations!

“Notify the staff—we’re restarting production tomorrow,” Alatan said with satisfaction.

This time, it wasn’t a temporary restart—it was a full-scale, long-term relaunch. Duomu Feed Mill had thirty operators, and Alatan wasn’t just restarting; he was expanding. His goal: become the number one feed mill in Bayanwu County.

Silage production involved several steps: harvesting, chopping, fermenting, and usage. Over the next week, Duomu Feed Mill worked overtime. One week later, the first batch of feed was delivered to Longqing Fresh Meats, Yuhe Chicken Breasts, and other nationally recognized breeding bases.

These bases integrated breeding and sales. With feed technology now mature, chickens and ducks could be fattened and sold faster. On October 30th, the first batch of meat chickens and ducks officially went to market.

…

“HDA, Moke… imported frozen meat prices are getting ridiculous,” Zhao Xiaomei muttered on October 31st as she organized the chilled section at Hedao Xiduoduo Supermarket.

Zhao Xiaomei had worked at Xiduoduo for seven years, mainly handling fresh produce. Chicken breasts used to sell for 8.5 yuan per jin. After the Longnan floods, they jumped to 16.5, and this year, they’d soared to 58.5. With pork, beef, and lamb prices sky-high, chicken breasts had become the best-selling item in the chilled section.

According to supermarket data, domestic chicken breasts ranged from 55 to 75 yuan per jin, while imported ones went for 80 to 99. It wasn’t that foreign suppliers were better—just that the “Dead Meat” scandal had driven prices through the roof.

Now, imported meat was more expensive largely due to global shortages. Even foreign countries couldn’t meet their own demand…

“Sigh, can’t afford meat anymore,” Zhao Xiaomei sighed. The average salary in Hechuan was just over 3,000 yuan. At current prices, no family could afford to eat meat regularly.

Half an hour later, Zhao finished organizing the imported section and moved on to the domestic shelves. Aside from local chilled products from around Hechuan, most of the domestic supply came from large manufacturers.

She placed the chilled chicken breasts on the shelf and pulled out the price tags. Out of habit, she was about to stick them on—but paused when she saw the numbers.

The price tags read:

Longqing Chicken Breast: 16.5 yuan/jin.

Yuhe Chicken Breast: 15.5 yuan/jin.

Sansheng Chicken Breast: …

She checked the tags three times, then slipped them into her pocket. After finishing her tasks, she went to find the chilled meat manager.

“Did we print the wrong price tags?” she asked.

16.5 yuan wasn’t exactly cheap—but it definitely wasn’t the going rate for chicken breasts.