My Manor

After passing through the carnivore area, they reached the center of the institute.

After walking through the disinfection area, Jiang Hai followed Lu Qing to the door of the laboratory. Looking inside, he noticed that many people were engaged in various research activities. Some were performing dissections, while others were preparing drugs. It seemed incredibly busy. Standing outside the door, Jiang Hai glanced around, surprised to find no familiar faces from Massachusetts. Did he come to the wrong place? Had everyone left in less than six months?

"Wait here for a moment; I'll go inside and see if Professor Gerard is around," Lu Qing said. She noticed the bustling activity inside and realized she couldn't just walk Jiang Hai into the lab. This place wasn't open to casual visitors, and some might be uncomfortable with it. After all, it was a place where life was taken for research, which could be unsettling to some.

"Okay, no trouble," Jiang Hai nodded in agreement and walked a little farther to the side.

Lu Qing entered the lab, but after a quick look around, she realized that not only was Professor Gerard missing, but the associate professor was also absent. Just as she was about to step out and inform Jiang Hai, a large group of people entered the lab. Jiang Hai recognized the elderly man leading the group—he was the same person who had been in charge of the livestock exhibition. But seeing the somber expressions on their faces, Jiang Hai instinctively slowed his pace.

These people ignored Jiang Hai and walked straight into the lab. At their arrival, everyone in the lab, including Lu Qing, paused their work and turned their attention to the group.

"Students, I have some bad news," the elderly man said with a heavy heart. "Due to recent business difficulties at Colorite Company, they will no longer be funding our experiment. With no one to take over, the school leadership has decided to temporarily halt the project. Starting tomorrow, you won't need to come in." As he spoke, the students immediately reacted, expressing their frustration.

"How could this happen?" "After all our hard work, it's just stopping?" "Professor, can't you fight for this? We were on the verge of a breakthrough!" The old man and his colleague sighed deeply. Of course, they had tried to fight for it, but the reality was harsh.

Boston University was not a world-renowned institution. If this research had been at Harvard, it wouldn't have been canceled so quickly, as Harvard could have provided some financial support until a new sponsor was found. But Boston University didn't have the same resources, and once their funding was cut, the project was stopped immediately. It was as simple as that.

Harvard had no interest in the subject either, so it wasn't an option to take over. After discussing it, the higher-ups had decided that the project would be suspended for now.

The mood in the lab soured, and the professor in particular felt the sting, as the suspension meant they would be stuck waiting for the next project approval.

Just as the crowd was getting agitated and the professor appeared downcast, Lu Qing quietly approached him. After speaking briefly, she led him outside to where Jiang Hai was waiting.

"Jiang Hai, this is Mr. Baker-Gerald, professor and vice dean of ecological evolution at Boston University. He is also the main person in charge of this lab. Mr. Gerard, this is Mr. Jiang Hai, who came to you with a small project proposal." Lu Qing introduced the two men, eager to assist Jiang Hai, who had already helped her.

"Sir, I apologize for not welcoming you properly. Our lab has been facing some challenges recently, so we're not in a position to take on private projects at the moment. I'm sorry," the professor said, acknowledging Jiang Hai with a polite but disappointed tone.

Lu Qing had explained Jiang Hai's intentions, but the professor was preoccupied with the lab's situation. Still, Jiang Hai was offering money, so the professor politely declined his project request, and it seemed like he was about to leave. Researchers, whether domestic or international, tended to be straightforward, caring little for maintaining appearances. They valued honesty, even if it meant rejecting someone.

However, Jiang Hai appreciated such directness, as it made interactions clearer and more efficient.

"Sir, this is no small project. I overheard that your lab is facing financial difficulties. I believe I can help solve this issue," Jiang Hai quickly said as the professor prepared to leave.

"Huh?" The professor's eyes immediately lit up. The one thing he needed to hear most was the possibility of funding.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Jiang Hai. Lu Qing has probably mentioned me. I am from Winthrop, and I run a manor. We met during the livestock exhibition in Massachusetts. At the time, Colorite Company was the one funding your research, but since they've pulled out, our relationship wasn't well established," Jiang Hai said with a smile, explaining who he was.

"Oh, it's you—the owner of the miracle beef! How did you raise your cattle so well? They're even better than the famous Japanese beef. Incredible!" The professor immediately recognized Jiang Hai's name. His beef had been the star of the New York Beef Show, and being an insider, the professor had heard of him. But after his moment of fame, Jiang Hai had disappeared, leaving everyone wondering what he had been up to.

"Yes, that's me. I came here today because I wanted your lab to study why my cattle are so exceptional. I, too, would like to understand it," Jiang Hai said with a grin, feeling a bit of pride at the recognition. It felt strange but satisfying to be famous, even in a niche field like this.

"While I'd love to research it, unfortunately, our lab is shutting down. As you heard, due to Colorite's financial troubles, they decided to terminate their investment at the end of May. Today, we received the official notice that the university has decided to stop our research. It's just a terrible situation," the professor lamented, clearly disappointed. He too was curious about why Jiang Hai's beef was so remarkable.

"No worries. I'm also very interested in your original research, especially the docile bison project. How much investment would be required? If possible, I'd like to help fund it," Jiang Hai offered. He could tell that the professor's main concern was money. This was something Jiang Hai was prepared to help with.

"Well, our research isn't too expensive. If you have a group backing you, it shouldn't be an issue. But if it's just you, it could get tricky. Colorite's original investment was about $50 million per year, and 60% of it could be used for tax offsets," the professor said, speaking eagerly as he looked at Jiang Hai.

After hearing the professor's figure, Jiang Hai sighed in relief. $50 million wasn't a small amount, but with the 60% tax deduction, it would only cost him $20 million per year. It was manageable, especially considering the taxes he would have to pay next year from the cattle sales. With the offset, this seemed like a good deal.

"I can invest fully, and I'm willing to increase the stakes. I'll invest $100 million per year, but I expect some projects worth investing in within the next two years," Jiang Hai said, calculating that $100 million would cover $60 million in taxes. It wasn't a huge amount, but it wasn't small either. Plus, the extra projects the professor could offer made it worth it.

"Deal!" The professor, not being a businessman, immediately agreed, clapping his hands with excitement.