"Next, everyone will participate in the test flight of our BBJ business jet, basic model…"
Led by a flight attendant, Jiang Hai and the others boarded the aircraft. After entering, Jiang Hai took the opportunity to carefully survey the plane.
This aircraft was the basic model of the BBJ series. The interior décor wasn't particularly luxurious, but it was far from shabby.
Unlike ordinary commercial airliners, this was, after all, a private jet. The seating was extremely spacious—comparable to business class on a standard international flight, though not quite top-tier first class. Large reclining sofas were installed, and everyone had their own independent space. It didn't feel cramped at all. Of course, if a buyer wanted to modify the aircraft after purchase, that was entirely their own concern. One could even install a bed here without interference—it was complete freedom.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this basic BBJ aircraft is derived from the 737-700 model. It has a range of 11,551 kilometers, a maximum speed of 827.18 kilometers per hour, and a maximum cruising altitude of 12,496 meters. These figures represented top-tier performance when the aircraft was first test-flown in 1998. The overall length is 33.6 meters, the wingspan is 35.7 meters, and the height is 12.6 meters. The cabin itself is 24.1 meters long, 3.54 meters wide, and 2.2 meters high. The maximum takeoff weight is 70 tons, and the empty weight is 32.5 tons."
Seeing everyone listening attentively, the flight attendant smiled and continued smoothly, clearly well-practiced in this explanation.
"Some of you may wonder—since we've already introduced the BBJ2 and BBJ3 models, why start with the basic BBJ? Let me explain."
She gently rested her hand against the aircraft wall as she spoke.
"This model is still being produced mainly because of its exceptional stability. Just like classic car models that remain in production for decades, some airplanes stand the test of time. This aircraft's stability has been proven through nearly twenty years of operation. For customers who prioritize safety, this is an excellent choice. And most importantly—it's very affordable. Compared to the other aircraft we'll introduce later, this is the least expensive. Currently, custom orders start at 67.5 million US dollars, while pre-orders begin at 65 million. Of course, the final price depends on interior furnishings and customization."
As she spoke, Jiang Hai glanced around the cabin thoughtfully.
He already owned a passenger aircraft, albeit a secondhand one. As long as it could fly reliably, that was sufficient. He had never intended to make money from commercial aviation anyway—the aircraft was mainly used by Tenglong Company for transporting beef and other goods.
Those passenger planes had cost Jiang Hai roughly 300 million US dollars in total. Yet even the most basic new business jet here exceeded 60 million dollars. More importantly, even if he wanted one, he couldn't actually use it.
First, the range was insufficient. The distance from the United States to China exceeded 15,000 kilometers, while this aircraft could only fly about 11,000 kilometers—far too short.
Second, it couldn't accommodate enough people.
Jiang Hai's "family" was sizable: himself, Qi Li, Qi Jie, Qi Ya, Ma Yunchen, Ai Xiaoxi, Afra, Dinah, Hilda, Becky, Sheila, O'Hilaria, Bridget, Janet, Darlene, Marian, Azalina, Relis, Gloria, Beliak, Valentina, Galina, Aller, and Duning—twenty-four people in total.
Including the captain, this BBJ could seat only nineteen people. It was simply too small.
Glancing casually at the BBJ2 and BBJ3 parked behind, Jiang Hai couldn't help shaking his head.
The BBJ2, even with a 2+21 seating configuration, had a range of only about 10,000 kilometers—still too short. The BBJ3 wasn't much better in that regard.
With this in mind, Jiang Hai turned his attention to the information displayed for the remaining aircraft.
Boeing had showcased a total of six aircraft today. The first three were the BBJ series business jets. The remaining three were the Boeing 787 VIP, Boeing 777 VIP, and Boeing 747-8 VIP.
Their prices, however, were staggering.
The cheapest among them, the Boeing 787 VIP, was priced at 240 million US dollars. Just looking at the number made Jiang Hai's heart skip a beat.
Even so, the aircraft could seat forty-five people, which was sufficient. But its range was only 15,200 kilometers.
In other words, flying nonstop from New York to Beijing would still leave over a hundred kilometers unaccounted for.
The 787 was out. The 777 was similar, with a range of around 15,000 kilometers.
That left only one option.
The Boeing 747-8 VIP.
This aircraft had two undeniable advantages. First, it was enormous—offering roughly 4,700 square feet of interior space and seating capacity for up to 150 people. Second, it had a range exceeding 17,000 kilometers.
It perfectly matched Jiang Hai's requirement of flying nonstop from Winthrop to China.
In theory, six planes were available for purchase—but in reality, only this one truly met his needs.
The only bad news was the price: 270 million US dollars.
However, compared to the 787's 240 million, an extra 30 million didn't trouble Jiang Hai in the slightest.
After the test flight of the basic BBJ model, Jiang Hai went directly to speak with the Boeing staff. There was no need to test the other four aircraft—he couldn't use them anyway. The only one he intended to buy was the 747-8.
When the staff heard his request, their eyes lit up instantly. This was currently the most expensive aircraft on the market, and Jiang Hai's willingness to purchase it was electrifying.
They immediately arranged a test flight.
The massive aircraft carried only three people: Jiang Hai, Odelle Bach, and the presenter. Jiang Hai walked leisurely through the cabin, and even he had to admit that this private jet finally felt worthy of its name.
After disembarking, Jiang Hai made his decision on the spot.
The aircraft itself cost 258 million US dollars. He planned to spend another 22 million on interior furnishings, bringing the total to 280 million.
The interior design included a large independent bathroom with a bathtub, a spacious kitchen, a grand dining room, a wine cabinet, a game room, and twenty independent bedrooms—each equipped with its own bathroom, bed, television, and amenities. There was also a large reception lounge with seating designed for socializing during takeoff and landing.
In short, the aircraft had everything it should—and plenty of things it probably didn't need.
Although the space could theoretically accommodate up to 150 people, Jiang Hai estimated it would be most comfortable with forty to fifty. That number could be arranged however he liked.
Jiang Hai had many ideas for the interior, but all were relatively simple. He wasn't a designer—practicality mattered most. There was no need for excessive luxury. For instance, he discarded all ornate ceiling designs, opting instead for a clean, minimalist ceiling with wallpaper. That was more than sufficient.
Since this was Boeing's headquarters, once Jiang Hai explained his ideas and reviewed the concept drawings, the staff assured him that the modifications would be straightforward. They already had an aircraft ready, and the full customization would take less than a month.
Jiang Hai paid a 30% deposit—84 million US dollars—without hesitation and swiped his card on the spot. The remaining 70% would be paid upon delivery.
After completing the purchase, Jiang Hai stayed one more night in Chicago. Nothing noteworthy happened.
The next morning, he flew back to Boston, leaving Odelle Bach behind with a helpless expression.
She genuinely wanted something more with Jiang Hai, but unfortunately, they hadn't even held hands. Jiang Hai had only told her that as long as she didn't do anything to threaten him, he would still be willing to keep her around as a "switchboard operator."
Though somewhat disappointed by the lack of intimacy, his reassurance temporarily eased her dissatisfaction.
The main reason Jiang Hai rushed back to Boston was that the Massachusetts state government had agreed to his proposal—submitted jointly with Winthrop Mayor Wallis—to organize hunting tours for Chinese tourists in the mountains.
There were conditions, of course.
All participants had to register in advance and could only hunt under official supervision. Protected species were strictly off-limits—they couldn't simply kill whatever they wanted.
Jiang Hai was genuinely surprised by how quickly the state government responded.
Although the American government wasn't as sluggish as the Chinese bureaucracy, they were still civil servants handling public affairs. Normally, enthusiasm wasn't their strong suit. Fixed salaries and limited incentives made passion rare.
It seemed the same principle applied everywhere.
Jiang Hai had expected the response to take at least two or three weeks.
Instead, he received approval in just ten days—completely catching him off guard.
Originally planning to spend a few more days in Chicago, Jiang Hai instead booked a ticket, slept briefly, and hurried back to Boston.
After landing at Logan Airport, he spotted someone he hadn't seen in quite some time—Moses Adams.
This Black lawyer, once just an ordinary junior attorney, had risen dramatically thanks to Jiang Hai's influence. He now handled the execution and operational aspects of Jiang Hai's multiple corporate acquisitions.
Between implementing global forage procurement plans and managing complex mergers, these two responsibilities alone had made Moses Adams's name well-known throughout New York's legal circles.
In the past, despite his ability, years of working quietly for Jiang Hai had capped his reputation. At best, he'd been considered a second-rate lawyer in Boston, and perhaps not even third-rate in New York. This had frustrated him deeply, forcing frequent business trips to prove himself.
But now, everything was different.
Through his work with Jiang Hai, Moses Adams had risen to the ranks of top-tier lawyers in Boston. In New York, he was considered elite—just a step away from the absolute pinnacle.
For that, he was immensely grateful.
Without Jiang Hai, he wouldn't be where he was today.
(To be continued.)