The Rise of the Ranch King

Chapter 74 74. Expansion

"BOSS, which of the two messages do you want to hear first?"

Early the next morning, Lin Feng, who was still sleeping in, received a call from Charlie.

I was on the phone with Jasmine until late last night. If she hadn't had to go to work the next day, I would have talked all night long.

It was another trick of good news and bad news. Lin Feng yawned and asked him to tell the bad news first.

"I suggest you listen to the good stuff first, because the bad stuff will reveal the good stuff in advance." Charlie said.

Lin Feng sweated a little. When did this guy get such stains? He must have been infected by the old man.

"That's fine first. Anyway, just tell me quickly."

Charlie smiled like a gentleman, "The city hall agreed to let us purchase land to expand the pasture."

Lin Feng suddenly sat up from the bed, "Are you sure?"

"One hundred percent."

"Why didn't they call me?"

"This is what I asked my friend who works in the city hall to find out. The plan has been approved and is just waiting for the announcement to be completed."

Charlie is a strict person, and he will not say nonsense.

"What's the bad news? The price is too high?" Lin Feng asked.

Charlie: “The city hall is only going to give us three-fifths of the planned land.”

After hearing these words, Lin Feng fell into thinking for a moment.

According to regulations, the ranch can apply for new land at most as large as the existing area at a time.

They originally planned to double the size of the lakeside ranch, which meant purchasing 500 acres. Currently, the city hall has only approved 300 acres. Although it is different from the plan, it is progress to expand the land.

"Three hundred acres is not bad. I will transfer money to the bank account of the city hall after the public notice period. No matter how big the area is, it is still the first step."

There will still be a half-month public notice period, during which anyone can raise objections. After completing the process, the land will become Lin Feng's legal and permanent property.

Usually foreigners who want to purchase land in the United States have to go through an intermediary company. Charlie took on this job at Lakeside Ranch, so Lin Feng felt that the salary he paid him was well worth it, and Charlie was also happy to do the work.

Charlie came to the ranch at eight o'clock in the morning, and he also brought a satellite map centered on the lakeside ranch.

Lin Feng called David back through the intercom and asked him to participate. It would not be a big problem if the three brothers Gouzi were responsible for the cattle and sheep.

The map is very detailed, including utilities, other pastures, etc.

The city hall approved their purchase of three hundred acres of land, and Lin Feng could choose the location of the new land.

Lakeside Ranch is not bordered by any pasture for the time being, so there is room for expansion in all four directions: east, west, north, and south.

"Charlie, what is your major in university?" Lin Feng asked.

“Social sciences, one of the best majors at Duke, what’s the problem?”

David said first: "No problem, we thought you were from the Engineering Corps Academy."

"Where is this?" Lin Feng asked, pointing to a location on the map.

Charlie looked at it, "Serenity Meadow Ranch."

Quiet Grassland, a very poetic name.

"We still have pastures to the south? I always thought that the lakeside pastures were a desert to the south."

"As far as I know, the rancher of Serenity Meadow is very low-key and has been operating in that area for almost fifty years. A typical family ranch, just like the Franks before him, they are estimated to be in their eighties now." In addition to Serenity Meadow, there are also other surrounding areas. There are six ranches, large and small, scattered around, but they are all a certain distance from Lin Feng's base camp. Only Tranquility Grassland is the closest.

Lin Feng stared at the map intently, and he drew a connecting line between his base camp and the northernmost edge of the tranquil grassland.

"Charlie, how far is this distance?"

Charlie and David both gathered around. The latter frowned. This kind of delicate work was not his thing, so he kept quiet like a white-haired old kid.

"Let me look at the scale." Charlie calculated on the paper, "About four kilometers, no more than five kilometers at most."

"How is the business situation at Serenity Meadows?"

"To make a living, I checked the livestock slaughter records of various ranches in the entire pastoral area from the Internet last year. Tranquility Grassland... there are about 50 cows. The quality of the cows is quite satisfactory." Charlie said.

Lin Feng took the pen and started calculating on the paper.

"Assuming that every cow in Tranquility Grassland is slaughtered at one year old, the average weight can reach 400 kilograms. According to the average meat yield of Angus cattle of 65%, the net weight is 260 kilograms."

"What's the current price of live cattle in Hehe Town, $3.5 per pound?" Lin Feng raised his head and asked.

Charlie nodded, "Yes, $3.5."

He and David looked at each other with surprised expressions, as if they were wondering how the BOSS knew this.

Lin Feng continued to calculate: "260 kilograms is close to 600 pounds. A 2100-month-old cow can be sold for US dollars. Fifty cows are worth US dollars."

This is just the total income. The market price of calves before fattening is 750 per unit, and the cost of 3.75 calves is . Adding in the various hard expenses of running a pasture, even if you are frugal, you will still spend US dollars.

Calculated, Tranquility Grassland’s net profit last year was only around US$3 to US$5, which is not much for a rancher who takes care of his cattle year-round.

Lin Feng's eyes returned to the map. He pointed to the line he drew and said, "If we choose the newly purchased three hundred acres of land here, we can shorten the distance to Tranquil Grassland to two kilometers."

Charlie and David still didn't understand what he meant.

This time Lin Feng chose to be straightforward, "Next year when we sell the first batch of cattle, we will buy Tranquility Grassland, and then buy the two kilometers of land in the middle to connect it."

"what?"

"Acquisition?"

The other two people said in unison.

Lin Feng's expression was serious, "I don't believe that an 80-year-old man will continue to run a ranch that only earns 30,000 US dollars a year. This is not working in a convenience store but doing manual labor every day."

Charlie interjected: "BOSS, there is a key piece of information I forgot to tell you before. The rancher of Tranquility Meadows also has two sons. They may both work on the ranch and will share the land equally in the future."

Lin Feng held his chin and thought for a while, "Their sons will have to pay a large amount of inheritance tax if they want to inherit the ranch. This money may become the last pasture that breaks the camel's back. From the analysis of the operating conditions of Tranquility Grassland, I bet that they will take No money.”

Charlie thought about it seriously and thought that there was a certain possibility. It was best to go and see the situation before doing so.

David was very confused, "BOSS, where did you know all this?"

Lin Feng patted his phone and said, "Internet."

He held his chin and thought for a while, "We should visit this neighbor when we have time. Which of you is willing to come with me then?"

David pointed at Charlie, "Mr. Geraci is more suitable. I will stay and look after the ranch."

However, before they could visit Tranquility Meadow, something unexpected happened the next day and the other party came to the door on their own.

An accident within an accident is a good thing.

(End of this chapter)