"Welcome to the Prussian Livestock Company. Our beef cattle are raised in the heart of Montana. They drink fresh mountain spring water and graze on lush, green grass. The result? Tender, flavorful meat with well-proportioned bodies and a delicate texture..."
"Come visit Charles Farming Company. Our beef cattle are raised on ranches around the world, including in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. They offer a top-tier taste and an excellent chance of marbled meat..."
"Welcome to Karatki Livestock Company..."
"Visit Suzuki Livestock Company..."
As the crowd swelled, many companies began their marketing campaigns at the beef cattle exhibition.
In today's world, advertising is essential. The number of products sold is directly proportional to the quality of their packaging and publicity. It's not just about the product itself—often, the real money is spent on marketing.
For example, if a movie has a total budget of $100 million, $30 million goes to the actors, $20 million to production, and $50 million to marketing.
Though livestock companies may not spend as much as movie productions, they still invest heavily in publicity.
Jiang Hai didn't feel much when attending the beef cattle show in Massachusetts, but this time, things were different.
As people filled the venue, major companies began to launch various activities. There were three main components: balloons, banners, and beautiful women, all essential elements. Larger companies also set up multiple TVs to showcase their estates, their breeding methods, and their company philosophies.
Some manufacturers partnered with game companies to create interactive games. Visitors could play on mobile apps or on-site, simulating the growth of a calf, for example.
However, the most eye-catching element wasn't the games. It was the row of beautiful women dressed in simple attire at nearly every booth. These women wore minimal clothing to protect modesty, along with horns on their heads or cow hats—everything from a western cowboy look to cute pink cow styles.
The crowd was diverse: European, American, Latin American, and Asian beauties, all dancing, handing out flyers, or performing actions to draw in visitors.
Though it was early April in New York and not the ideal time for such attire, these women were working hard for their companies.
"Look at them—this is a talent show, Robbins! What are we doing here?" Jiang Hai couldn't help but comment, his gaze lingering on their long legs and curvy figures. Robbins was a bit unreliable, but Jiang Hai's frustration was clear.
In contrast to the bustling booths around him, Jiang Hai's display felt somewhat lacking.
His booth had a good location, ranking in the top five at the exhibition hall, though it wasn't the prime spot. For a $1.1 million investment for just three days, the location was decent, but many booths that spent far less were far more lively.
There were no beautiful women, no banners, no TVs, and no interactive games at Jiang Hai's booth. Instead, there were just four large men standing by the door, while fifteen cows stood behind them, staring vacantly into the crowd.
"Boss, I don't think we need all that flashy stuff," Robbins said sheepishly. It wasn't that he hadn't considered it, but he simply lacked experience in this kind of promotion. He had been to the New York exhibition nearly a decade ago when things were much simpler. Back then, there were only about 20-30 cattle in the hall. Now, with over a hundred cattle, Robbins had been busy tending to them in the cowshed.
Even Bell Lester, a novice, hadn't experienced such events.
Without flashy advertising, keeping the crowd's attention was difficult.
People occasionally peeked into Jiang Hai's booth, but they quickly moved on—there was no one to engage with them. Jiang Hai didn't know how to do it himself, and Robbins, while knowledgeable about cows, wasn't the best speaker.
Without promotional materials or lively entertainment, the booth felt deserted.
"Look at that pitiful booth," mocked a nearby group from the Carlett Company. One of them, who had been forced to back down from a $10 million bet with Jiang Hai, sneered at the sight. Even Paul Kaye, who had bet $1 million, wiped his brow nervously. With such a sad turnout, Jiang Hai had no chance of winning.
Jiang Hai noticed the mocking looks but remained silent. He wasn't interested in making a spectacle of himself, but he was certainly frustrated to see his $1 million investment going to waste.
Just as he was pondering whether he should go outside and make an announcement, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. Looking up, he saw the old man from the Boston supermarket, accompanied by a middle-aged man and a woman in her forties, along with a shy-looking girl.
"Hey, Uncle, what brings you here?" Jiang Hai greeted him with a smile.
"We run a supermarket too. Why wouldn't we come?" the old man replied. Without hesitation, he walked into the booth and sat down. His family followed suit, and Robbins quickly brought over chairs for them to sit.
"If I'd known you were coming, we could have come together," Jiang Hai said, offering a friendly smile.
"You didn't ask!" the old man replied with a chuckle. "But I have to admit, your booth is a bit... quiet."
Jiang Hai smiled awkwardly. "It's my first time participating, and I didn't know what to expect. My cowboys aren't familiar with these promotional tricks. Looks like today might not improve much."
"Seems like you've got a lot of money to spend, though. That booth location alone must be worth around a million. But did you even prepare? You don't know what to do with it," the old man remarked.
Jiang Hai nodded. "I do know the basics. The exhibition lasts three days. Today is mostly for visitors and buyers to come and vote. Each booth is assigned a number, and visitors vote for the cows they like. The top sixteen will move to the semi-finals tomorrow. On the final day, the cows will be judged, and the top eight will be slaughtered. It's not just about appearance—they also judge the meat quality, the marbling, and the amount of meat."
He paused, reflecting. "Even if a cow wins the title of Cattle King, it's more for the owner's honor, since the cow will already be slaughtered by then."