Chapter 8, Procurement

Zhang Chi originally came to buy a pair of shoes, but in the end, due to various items, he ended up spending over 300 dollars in the store

With a saddle, one must have a sweat pad; with a sweat pad, does that mean a bridle must also be acquired

"Near Amber Town"

What happened

Zhang Chi glanced at the saddle in his hand, made of brown leather, with a large pommel on the front. This is the most distinctive feature of a牧鞍, while the pommel on a typical riding saddle is small and merely decorative.

They just do not know that if you were to build a factory in Chen Town now, the cost of the land alone for the factory would be enough to scare a large number of Americans

You can take it back to try; if it is not suitable, you can exchange it, as long as it is not damaged or has obvious marks

Zhang Chi is also aware of this matter. As the ranch becomes increasingly corporatized, technological, and large-scale, small ranches are losing their competitive edge in the market.

Upon hearing Zhang Chi's words, Kimberly chose not to say anything further

The upper body is dressed in a thick gray checkered shirt, over which is a deep brown vest. The lower body is clad in jeans that have nearly faded from washing, and on the feet are a pair of light brown ankle boots.

The horses commonly used in nearby ranches are generally of a few types: Quarter Horse, American Saddlebred, Paint Horse, and Morgan Horse, with the first two being the most prominent.

"Should I buy some other items? I have bridles and saddles here..." the shopkeeper introduced.

The saddle is quite ordinary, and there is nothing particularly noteworthy about it. As the shopkeeper mentioned, they are all manufactured saddles, and the sizes and specifications are almost identical.

The old cowboy's face is very lean, with the most prominent feature being his thick handlebar mustache. His gaze is sharp, and his expression is serious, with little to no smile on his face

However, such bars are usually like this, displaying an attitude of indifference towards whether you choose to come or not. The way they greeted today can be considered relatively warm.

Moreover, Zhang Chi would not consider himself capable of training a horse, let alone training it well. If he were to train a young horse now, it would likely be no different from courting disaster.

Zhang Chi smiled and pointed at the hat, saying, "This color is not considered a good color for a hat in our culture"

Upon hearing Zhang Chi's explanation, the shopkeeper laughed uncontrollably, repeatedly apologizing to Zhang Chi, and then exchanged a gray hat for him

After speaking, Zhang Chi directly sat down next to the bar, took the beer, and began to drink slowly

What do you plan to raise on your ranch?" Kimberly, seeing that this person had settled in the small town, and would henceforth be her guest, began to strike up a conversation.

Zhang Chi knows that the shop owner's advice is quite reliable. There are many breeds of horses in the United States; to put it this way, you can find almost every breed of horse in the world here. However, when it comes to horses truly suitable for ranch use, if Quarter Horses are said to be second, then other breeds might feel embarrassed to claim the first position.

Zhang Chi prefers quieter places

The shopkeeper smiled as he accepted Zhang Chi's money, then turned and picked up a hat from the nearby hat rack, handing it to Zhang Chi: "This is a gift!"

However, Zhang Chi did not wish to explain, as some individuals are too stubborn, making it difficult to change their minds. Furthermore, to attempt to alter someone's ingrained thinking, Zhang Chi neither had the time nor the inclination.

The woman extended her hand towards Zhang Chi

The walls all around are in a natural wood color, and there are also some classic Western movie posters on the walls

"Give it a try," Zhang Chi said

The woman asked Zhang Chi.

Zhang Chi shook hands with the woman: "Zhang Chi!"

The shopkeeper directly selected a saddle for Zhang Chi.

He took something and went out, threw it into the back compartment, and then drove to his uncle's house for a meal. After finishing the meal, he drove back to his own ranch.

A bottle of beer

Upon hearing Zhang Chi say this, the woman immediately recognized who Zhang Chi was and which ranch he had purchased

Zhang Chixin thought, then let's see.

At the age of around twenty, owning a ranch, no one can say that Zhang Chi is not ambitious

Zhang Chi glanced at the hat but did not dare to reach out for it, as the color of the hat made him feel a bit afraid

Kimberly means that in recent years, raising cattle has not been very profitable

Stopping the car, Zhang Chi approached the entrance and gently pushed open the small barrier door. This bar has a somewhat vintage style; the small barrier door resembles two short doors, with an empty space at the top and another at the bottom, commonly seen in Western films. Nowadays, bars in the city generally do not adopt such designs.

Oh, so that's where it is," the shopkeeper understood upon hearing this, but then asked, "You are from the foot of that mountain, right?

The shopkeeper casually gifted Zhang Chi a hat, the green of which was truly vibrant, a light green reminiscent of a vast spring meadow, so full of life and so unrestrained

These individuals can make money through any means except relying on ranch life

As for handmade saddles, they are almost all custom-made, with prices ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands, and even exceeding one hundred thousand. If you wish to choose, you must first consider how deep your pockets are

Zhang Chi smiled and said, "I haven't bought my horse yet"

In the past, Zhang Chi tried it, and it ended up offending people, leaving him red-faced and flustered

It must be said that the people working in bars have a keen eye.

Pushing open the door and stepping inside, I found that the bar was not very large, approximately seventy to eighty square meters, featuring an L-shaped long bar counter, several round tables, and a jukebox placed in one corner of the room

The old cowboy cast a glance at Zhang Chi, approached the bar, took off his hat and placed it on the counter. Once seated, he crossed his arms, lowered his head slightly, and fixed his gaze on the surface of the bar, as if there were something interesting to look at.

When cowboys are working, they generally wear two types of hats: one is the cowboy hat commonly seen in movies, and the other is the baseball cap that Zhang Chi is currently wearing. The brim of this cap is longer than that of a typical baseball cap, providing more shade from the sun while working

Kimberly

"A small piece of the original Lion Ranch has been divided," said Zhang Chi

The reason is actually quite simple; there has only been one ranch for sale in the vicinity over the past six months. Although it has been divided into several parcels, the individuals purchasing the other parcels of the ranch do not possess the same temperament as Zhang Chi.

Zhang Chi smiled after listening, put on his shoes, stood up, and stepped on the ground a couple of times. He felt that the shoes on his feet were quite suitable, so he prepared to make the payment

However, individuals with a certain level of riding experience will choose a horse that is suitable for their body type. While a tall horse may initially seem impressive to ride, after a few attempts, especially for someone of Zhang Chi's height, one will realize how much effort it requires to mount and ride.

"It is not easy to raise cattle now," Kimberly said

If a novice were to choose a horse, they would certainly opt for one that is exceptionally majestic, with a majority of people likely selecting a white horse due to its striking appearance

The small tavern in the town, in addition to serving drinks, also takes on the task of conveying messages, such as when someone wants to buy something, or if they wish to sell something, especially when the quantity is too small or if it is something that nearby households are likely to have. Typically, a note is left here.

Zhang Chi smiled and said, "Certainly, I cannot afford to buy it anywhere else"

"If the price is not expensive, I will buy it; if the price is too high, I cannot afford it right now," Zhang Chi said with a smile

Green is very vibrant and striking, this is the perspective of Americans, but for us Chinese, this color can be quite overwhelming, and few can feel at ease with it.

A lean old cowboy in his fifties or sixties entered, wearing a gray cowboy hat that had seen better days, with the brim slightly worn at the front.

Zhang Chi smiled as he took the hat and tried it on his head. He found the hat quite satisfactory and nodded in approval

Zhang Chi instinctively looked towards the door upon hearing the sound

This is no joke; it is not an isolated incident that someone has been killed by a horse. Such occurrences are common, and Zhang Chi does not want to risk his life just to show off.

Zhang Chi spoke up: "Is there anyone nearby who has horses for sale? I would like to buy a horse for ranch use, a quarter horse, without the need for pedigree certification. The only requirement is that it should not be too old, around six or seven years old, and well-trained."

Having completed the task, Zhang Chi decided to leave after finishing his drink

However, most of those who suddenly take out such a large sum of money for the ranch do not rely on ranching for their livelihood; rather, it is often used for vacationing or other purposes

I just moved here and bought a small ranch, Zhang Chi introduced himself

Large ranches can raise tens of thousands, or even over one hundred thousand cattle at a time. Naturally, when the costs are averaged out, they are lower than those of smaller ranches, which is a normal phenomenon

A square meter of housing in the special zone is almost comparable to that in New York, especially with the children's factories over there? It's quite amusing

The goods that come off the assembly line are simply inexpensive; no matter how much you ponder and deliberate, it remains inappropriate.

Behind the bar, there is a Caucasian woman in her forties or fifties, polishing a glass. Upon seeing Zhang Chi enter, she asks, "What would you like to drink?"

The voice is very flat, lacking any enthusiasm

The shopkeeper then asked, "What kind of horse are you planning to buy? Generally, ranches have Quarter Horses, and there are also some Paint Horses. My suggestion is that if you are going to buy a horse, you should get a Quarter Horse; they are suitable for ranch work. Also, avoid buying those with pedigree certificates; those things are of little use other than to swindle you out of some money. If you want to buy, you should go to the ranch and get a horse that has been well-trained by the ranch cowboys, which usually costs around four hundred dollars each. Don't go through agents; they are the least reliable, and every one of them is a vampire..."

"Kua Te, I am preparing to raise calves on the ranch," Zhang Chi said

Then it is even more necessary to buy it. Moreover, how many people still make saddles by relying on horseback? They are all machine-made saddles, and we no longer produce them ourselves; they are all handed over to those child sweatshops in Chen Town. Americans have become lazy now

"I am sorry, I do not know. The gray one should be fine, right?" said the shopkeeper

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "It's already impressive; at such a young age, you can buy your own ranch."

Zhang Chi could not help but smile upon hearing this. He did not refute it, as most Americans believe that the goods they currently use, which come from China, are produced by factories employing child labor. This is part of the smear campaign by the American media against the domestic situation.

While Zhang Chi was changing his boots, the shopkeeper asked, "Where is the ranch purchased?"

Just as I was about to put down the bottle and leave, the small door of the bar was pushed open again

The shopkeeper pondered for a moment, feeling a bit curious, and then asked, "Are there any small farms for sale over there during this period?"

Having lived in Forsen for over ten years, Zhang Chi has a certain understanding of horses. Although his riding skills are not particularly impressive, he is aware of what type of horse is suitable for his level.

Zhang Chi said

Next to the small bar, there is a small parking lot, which has no markings or signs; however, you can tell at a glance that this place is a parking lot

I am preparing to raise cattle said Zhang Chi

"The price of the saddle mechanism is the same no matter where you go; it cannot be more expensive," said the shopkeeper

Small farms also have their strategies, which involve focusing on quality and differentiation. In summary, large enterprises have their advantages, while small ones have their own ways of thriving

In any case, Zhang Chi is still reluctant to spend this money to customize this item

I have never seen you before

It is evident that Zhang Chi does not have much money. This is not to say that those who are wealthy here are all ostentatious, but rather that even if the Lion Ranch were to be divided and sold, apart from the piece purchased by Zhang Chi, the prices of the others are all between 2 million and 3 million US dollars

Then I will help you ask

Upon arriving at Amber Town, Zhang Chi did not head directly to the ranch, but instead turned to a small bar in the town

However, it is now quite evident that there is no trace of the wealthy person's aura on Zhang Chi.

To be honest, Zhang Chi does not particularly like bars; firstly, he does not often drink alcohol, and secondly, these places are usually quite noisy