My Manor

"Hey, you've been waiting for a long time!" Jiang Hai said with a chuckle as he looked at the ruddy fishermen in front of him after getting out of the car.

Looking at the tire tracks on the snow in front of the parking lot, they had been blown away by the wind, indicating they had been here for a while.

"No, no, we just got here too." Hearing Jiang Hai's words, Andrew Christian immediately shook his head and said. Behind him was a woman who also appeared to be Latino, likely younger than Andrew Christian. She should be his wife. This was not uncommon in chaotic South America, as marrying him would grant her resident status in the United States. If he hadn't arrived in the U.S. earlier, even if he went back now, he would still be one of the most sought-after men, with women younger than him eager to throw themselves at him.

"Hello, since you're all here, let's go sign the contract. You can go back and pack your things later. Although the villa in the manor hasn't been occupied for a while, it has basically everything. You only need to bring some personal belongings. I'll ask Edward to take you with him. Let's get familiar with the manor first." Seeing the woman behind the group, Jiang Hai nodded to them and then addressed the four people standing there.

Hearing Jiang Hai's words, the group had no objections and immediately nodded in agreement.

The group then went upstairs together. There were lawyers in the town's law firm, but only three of them actually had a lawyer's license. They were all generalists, not particularly skilled, and came to this town to make a living. They might not even be able to recite the entire Constitution of the United States. If anyone were to sue them, they'd likely lose!

This law firm had two main functions. First, when the town's court started hearing a case and the plaintiff lacked a lawyer, the firm would step in as a guest lawyer. Second, the firm issued labor contracts for employers in the town.

The labor contracts were essentially the same, with only the salary and benefits to be filled in, and Jiang Hai had filled them out many times before.

He was familiar with the process and quickly completed the formalities for the four people. Then, the four of them drove back home to pack their things. Edward left with them. He had driven the F750 here today, not only for transportation but also to help them carry some belongings. Compared to single men like Robbins, those with families often had a lot of luggage. A good comparison was Philemon Turner, who had a lot of toys at home.

After they left, Jiang Hai didn't go back home but drove to the town's primary school in the southeast.

Winthrop Town is neither too big nor too small. Compared to Australia and Canada, the population density in the United States is moderate, with 300 million people spread across the country. Of course, it's quite sparse compared to China.

Although it is located in the Greater Boston area, Winthrop is at the edge of it. The entire state of Massachusetts has a population of just over 6 million, with more than 3 million concentrated in Boston, Cambridge, Newton, Quincy, Revere, and Chelsea. In small towns like Winthrop, you've barely walked halfway after arriving at the airport.

The permanent population is only about 20,000—less than 30,000. This small town has a university, three middle schools, and three elementary schools, indicating that the school density is quite high.

The university is a different matter. Among the three middle schools and three elementary schools, one was established by the town, the so-called public school, and the other two are private. In the U.S., unlike in China, private schools are generally considered better than public ones because private schools can offer better pay and resources, attracting better teachers.

In China, teachers prefer working in public schools because of job stability, even if the school fails. They can still find other jobs through the Education Bureau. Private school teachers, on the other hand, often worry about their schools shutting down.

In the United States, there are no stable government jobs like in China, and the income and social status of civil servants are lower, so fewer people enter this system. The education system is divided into public and private schools. Public schools are free for families who can't afford private schooling, whereas private schools cater to the well-off and are for-profit institutions. As a result, private schools tend to offer better facilities and teachers, and the pay there is much higher than in public schools.

These well-funded private schools don't mind the occasional snowstorm. If a building collapses, it's not an issue—they can just build two more using tuition fees. Public schools, however, can't afford such luxuries.

Even so, some people still hope to dedicate themselves to education.

Although Jiang Hai didn't have such lofty ideals, it didn't mean he wasn't moved by those who did.

Jiang Hai drove through the streets of Winthrop. It was still early in the new year, and the festive atmosphere was strong. This was the first time he drove through the town without a specific goal.

Normally, he was too lazy to shop. If he needed clothes or food, he'd go to the store and leave right after purchasing what he needed. He'd never really taken the time to explore the town. Compared to metropolitan cities, Winthrop had far fewer modern features and more bungalows than high-rise buildings. Only about a dozen buildings in the town were over five stories tall. The snow-covered streets made it look like a fairy-tale world.

If it weren't for the abundance of blonde, blue-eyed white people or black people with dark skin, Jiang Hai might have mistaken this for a small town in China. Perhaps because it was still a holiday, there were many young people on the streets, making it livelier than when he last came to buy clothes.

What bothered Jiang Hai most, however, was the openness of young men and women in the U.S. They hugged each other on the streets—what a joke! Every glance felt like a blow to Jiang Hai, a lonely man.

The cold air and snowy landscape couldn't stop the warmth of love between couples. Some snuggled close, leaned in each other's arms, or rubbed their ears to stay warm. Some girls held their boyfriends' arms, others stuffed their hands into their boyfriend's coat pockets for warmth. Some couples sat in front of a convenience store with steaming coffee and snacks, watching the quiet town outside.

The romance, warmth, and surge of hormones in the air made Jiang Hai uncomfortable.

"Damn, I wish all lovers in the world were siblings," he muttered, taking a final glance at a square in the distance. A girl was crouching there, while her boyfriend opened his coat and hugged her from behind. The two of them chatted and played, and Jiang Hai's heart was seized by the scene, extinguishing his earlier thoughts of donating money.

Determined to remain positive, Jiang Hai rolled up the car window, stepped on the accelerator, and drove toward the southeast of the town. This was why he hated going out shopping.

"I am destined to be a lonely star!" Jiang Hai muttered, driving and recalling his 27 years of life. He had matured late, had crushes in junior and high school but never dared to pursue them. At that time, he preferred playing games. College was a time when many people fell in love, but he never had a relationship. Later, when he worked and stayed home, he had no opportunity to meet other women.

Though he had been with women before, his first experience was when he was drunk and gave himself to Dabaojian.

For the rest of his life, only Xiaozuo and Xiaoyou had accompanied him. He finally married a beautiful woman, but unfortunately, she didn't like him. Even after getting married, he still had to rely on Xiaozuo and Xiaoyou...

After much effort, he became wealthy, with a fortune of hundreds of millions, but still had to rely on Xiaozuo and Xiaoyou...

"Hey, you're the only ones who never leave me. The New Year is coming soon. Should I buy a doll to reward myself? I heard the dolls from the island country are almost like real people..." Looking at the snow and wind outside, Jiang Hai muttered softly. He didn't know why, but as he spoke, he suddenly felt a bit sad.

When he had no money, he dreamed of having wealth. Now that he had it, the biggest problem still wasn't solved.

While Jiang Hai was lost in his melancholy, his car slowly approached the gate of the town's primary school. From a distance, it was clear that the school's situation wasn't ideal. There had once been a large building, but three buildings in the northwest corner had collapsed. Behind the main structure, a small building that resembled a warehouse more than a gymnasium had also collapsed.

"It looks like it's indeed not in good shape," Jiang Hai muttered as he looked at the school from the car window.