Chapter 3

*The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing* is one of the four major classic works of Han traditional medicine, but this *Shen Nong Jing* is clearly not the same; this *Shen Nong Jing* seems to focus more on teaching people how to become excellent farmers and veterinarians.

Although Wei Da had just received the inheritance, he had been studying these matters for several days. The *Shen Nong Jing* can be roughly divided into two parts: one part is about plants, and the other is about animals. Both sections introduce the living habits of plants and animals, as well as methods to deal with pests and diseases.

Wei Da felt that this magical scripture seemed to align well with his major. He studied natural sciences, and at this point, he seemed to be developing more into an outstanding farmer. However, there are many professions, and each has its top performers. As long as the content of this scripture is true, Wei Da believed that he, this unconventional farmer, might achieve something truly remarkable.

With his parents' reluctant farewells, he got into the car, first transferring to Shanghai, then flying for over ten hours to Los Angeles, and finally transferring to Dallas. At this point, Wei Da felt relieved; his school was located in the northern part of Dallas.

Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas, located in the north-central part of the state, and the ninth-largest city in the United States. Dallas has a continental climate, with flat farmland, forests, streams, and lakes in the suburbs. The climate is mild but dry, windy, and with little rain. In general, it is warm in winter and hot in summer, with significant temperature differences across the region. However, for Wei Da, this was quite nice. He was from Jiangnan, so a bit of heat was no problem, but cold weather was very uncomfortable.

Dallas has a diverse range of industries, including emerging industries such as electronics, electrical appliances, aircraft, and missiles, as well as traditional industries such as textiles, clothing, food, and agricultural machinery. This is definitely a very developed city. For many domestic basketball fans, the familiar NBA team, the Dallas Mavericks, is based here.

Returning to his rented small house, Wei Da was in a good mood. He was very excited; he was already studying natural sciences, and now he had received this remarkable inheritance. If he could seize the opportunity, he would definitely achieve great success. Dallas was also a great place for Wei Da to show his abilities.

Texas is the largest state in the southern United States and the second-largest state in the country. Agriculture in Texas is well-developed, with major agricultural products including cotton, sorghum, and other grains, as well as vegetables and fruits. Texas leads the nation in livestock, primarily raising beef cattle, pigs, sheep, and poultry. This area seemed very suitable for Wei Da's development, as it was a well-prepared 'base' for him.

Large ranches and large farms are very common in the United States, and there are some good ranches and lands near Dallas. Wei Da now wanted to study carefully. If he really mastered some skills, he wouldn't lack opportunities for development. Many farmers and ranchers need the help of professionals, and Wei Da could use his abilities to earn his first pot of gold.

Driving his old Mercedes to the shopping center, Wei Da usually cooked for himself. Western cooking is mostly about frying, boiling, and grilling, and they don't understand the essence of Chinese cuisine. Although Wei Da could adapt to Western food, he preferred authentic Chinese dishes.

"Hey, Wei!" As he stepped out the door, he saw a friendly, chubby, bearded man waving.

"Old John!" Wei Da smiled and gave the chubby man a bear hug. "How about coming over tonight to try my cooking?"

"No, buddy, your food is too greasy." Old John waved his hands. Although Chinese cuisine is world-renowned, many Westerners may not like authentic Chinese food, and most Chinese restaurants adjust their dishes to suit Western tastes.

"Really a shame. Want a ride?" Old John was a retired worker living next door. Although many people think the welfare in the United States is good, there are still many poor people.

"Sure, I'm going to the supermarket. If it's on your way." Old John patted Wei Da's car and smiled. He had a good impression of this friendly and enthusiastic Chinese boy. Although many Americans think of Chinese as rats, poor, ignorant, and vulgar, his time with Wei Da had made him more fond of distant China.

"Get in, I need to buy some things." Wei Da started the car skillfully. He indeed needed to buy some items, and having a local like Old John was even better. Although he had been in Dallas for nearly two years, Wei Da was still not as familiar with the area as Old John.

"This damn air conditioning is broken again; this is not good." Wei Da slapped his hand in frustration. The summer in Texas is extremely hot, and the temperature was at least 35 degrees Celsius. Even with the windows open, it was still hot.

"Get a new car; this one is ready for the scrapyard." Old John was also dissatisfied with the lack of air conditioning. Fat people are generally heat-sensitive, and Old John was definitely more uncomfortable than Wei Da.

"It's not ready for the scrapyard yet; otherwise, I'd have to walk, and I might faint on the street in this heat." Wei Da laughed. "But in this heat, I think the ranchers and farmers are the most uncomfortable."

"They must be very worried. This kind of weather could cause a drought, which would be a huge loss for them." In the United States, people often talk about the weather when they have nothing else to say. Wei Da, however, was deliberately trying to gather useful information, while Old John might be gloating or something else.

In fact, many American farmers and ranchers are not as wealthy as people imagine. Such a drought would cause them significant losses.

"Old John, are there many farms and ranches near Dallas?" Wei Da began to ask deliberately.

"Maybe you can go to Abilene, about 200 kilometers away. It was originally an agricultural and pastoral area, hosting the Texas State Fair, rodeo performances, and livestock exhibitions every year. Although it has developed other industries, agriculture and animal husbandry still have a certain scale." Wei Da carefully noted the valuable information Old John provided.

"Abilene? Maybe I can go there. You know, my major is natural sciences." Wei Da said half-jokingly. "Old John, how do I get to Abilene?"

"Thirty miles west is Fort Worth, and Abilene is about 200 kilometers southwest of Fort Worth. You can drive along Interstate 20, but unless you want a road trip, there's an Air Force base there." Old John, being a local, was naturally more familiar with this information.

Calculating the distance, it was about 300 kilometers. At Wei Da's speed of 100 kilometers per hour, it would take about three to four hours. Wei Da thought this was a good choice. Although Abilene had developed more modern industries, there were still many farms and ranches.

With a clear goal, Wei Da now needed to improve his professional skills. When he could better enhance his techniques, both farms and ranches would be potential clients, which would be a great opportunity for him to earn his first pot of gold.

With a clear goal, Wei Da began more preparations. He needed to prepare for his schoolwork and also make the most of the inheritance. He needed to ensure his first success and build a reputation, which would pave the way for his future development.

Humming a tune happily, he started cooking. Sitting at the table, Wei Da browsed useful information, such as the drought situation in Texas and the diseases affecting crops and livestock in such weather. With targeted choices and the solutions from the inheritance, Wei Da was more confident in achieving success.