My 1995 Small Farm.

at night.

Rui Rui got tired of playing and was coaxed to sleep early by Wang Susu.

Chen Ling didn't sit idle; he thought of the "unyielding" wild boar king in the cave.

Tell your wife to go to the study and write two articles.

But once inside the study, a thought struck him, and he found himself in a hidden paradise.

In the newly cleared desert area, the Boar King was irritably nudging the pine roots transplanted to the edge of the barrier with its huge tusks.

The two rows of small pine trees were pushed about by it, leaning to one side and the soil around their roots was turned up.

Upon seeing Chen Ling appear, it suddenly raised its head, its blood-red eyes staring intently at him, letting out a threatening growl, and its thick forelegs furiously pawing the sand, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Hmph, that temper, still not convinced."

Chen Ling didn't approach; he just stood at a distance.

He didn't take any tender corn this time; his hands were empty.

With a slight thought, a stream of spiritual spring water suddenly surged from the nearby stone pool, as if it were alive, drawing an arc in the air before precisely falling into the feeding trough.

The clear, sweet scent of the spiritual spring permeated the air.

The boar king's growl paused for a moment, and its huge nose twitched violently, clearly attracted by the scent.

But it was extremely wary, just pacing around anxiously in place, its fangs pointed in Chen Ling's direction, making a gurgling sound in its throat, both craving the water and extremely distrusting the two-legged beast in front of it.

"Stubborn!"

Chen Ling cursed, but wasn't in a hurry.

He knew this big guy was wild and untamed, especially since he had been a mountain king before; he wouldn't be so easily subdued.

Moreover, the old man is cunning and the horse is slippery.

In terms of intelligence, a wild boar king of this caliber is no different from an old boar spirit.

To subdue such a large creature, you have to train it slowly, like training a hawk.

It requires patience.

We also need to prepare for a protracted battle.

then……

He ignored the wild boar king and turned to walk to the area in the cave where things were stored.

There was a thick notebook wrapped in oilcloth, which was his usual record of what he saw and heard in the mountains, the characteristics of herbs, and even some whimsical ideas.

He opened the notebook, found a blank page, and picked up a pencil.

Recalling that fleeting glimpse of a gigantic figure in the snow-covered pine forest—a massive, earth-yellow body, ghostly speed, and cold, amber eyes.

And most unforgettable of all, the striking tuft of black hair on the tip of his ear, which Liu Guaizi described as "wearing a little braid".

The pencil scratched on the paper.

A rough-hewn yet beginning-to-be-charming outline of "Guoshanhuang" gradually emerged.

Chen Ling was very focused on her drawing, pausing from time to time to recall the details.

This thing is so special, and so exquisite.

A head-on confrontation isn't the solution; we need to think of another approach... Perhaps, next time we should try a different bait?
Or, perhaps we could start by examining the patterns of its activity?
The cave was quiet, with only the sound of a pencil scratching across paper and the occasional angry grunts of the wild boar king in the distant desert.

……

At the Chengdong Forest Farm, smoke billowed from the construction site, and the aroma of meat mixed with the smell of firewood wafted far and wide.

Wang Jukun, his back hunched, wielded a large ladle. The slices of fatty meat simmering in the pot trembled, soaked in sauce, glistening with oil.

The potato chunks were stewed until soft and tender, the radishes absorbed the meat flavor, and the cabbage leaves were soft and covered in the rich broth.

A spoonful of scalding hot lard was poured into the rough earthenware basin next to it. With a sizzling sound, the aroma of fried chili peppers mixed with the spiciness of minced garlic suddenly burst forth, making one's stomach rumble.

"Dinner's ready!"

Wang Jusheng was helping his older cousin with his work when he shouted at the top of his lungs, and the men who had been working silently just moments before suddenly swarmed around him.

The freshly steamed white buns are fluffy and warm, feeling like cotton balls when you hold them in your hand.

Each person gets two large steamed buns and a huge bowl of oily, mushy stew. When you poke it with your chopsticks, wow, the big, trembling slices of meat are shaking.

They slurped it down with gusto.

That tasted so good, I wouldn't trade it for a county magistrate position.

Wang Jusheng, holding a large iron ladle, tapped the edge of the pot and shouted, "Don't rush, don't grab it, there's plenty of meat left, finish eating first and then get more!"

"Outsiders are watching. We're from the same village, we can't let Fugui down. We have to eat properly, not like we're starving and haven't seen meat in ages..."

"okay!"

“Smells good! It smells really good!”

"That's about all the profit we'll make during the New Year!"

The men squatted or stood, holding large bowls, slurping their food until they were sweating profusely, their cheeks bulging.

It costs several dollars a day, and they even provide such a hearty meal.

I felt incredibly happy doing this job.

It's a hundred times better than hiding at a relative's house, living in constant fear.

If there are leftovers at night, we can take some leftovers to our relatives' homes.

Even leftovers from such hearty dishes with plenty of meat and fish look impressive.

They also have extra energy when they work.

Zhao Dahai held a large bowl piled high with meat and steamed buns. He took a bite out of half a bun and mumbled indistinctly:
"It feels so good. In this cold weather, I need to do some physical work and then have a hot meal like this. It's much more enjoyable than staying at home."

"Haha, Dahai, you're a leader, how can you be so hopeless? We're hoping you'll become the county magistrate in the future."

"Oh, being a county magistrate is nothing. I just don't want to be one. I just want to be like Fugui, make some money, have a few more kids, and live a peaceful life in the mountains."

"Play when you want, do what you want, that's fun!"

"Tsk tsk, you really dare to dream. Fu Gui is living a very comfortable life. I wouldn't trade him for a county magistrate position, or even a mayor position."

Eating and boasting, the men were having a great time.

Just as they were enjoying their meal, a few figures peeked out from the edge of the forest farm.

Everyone looked up and exclaimed, "Hey? It's those foreign devils!"

Lately, whether it's the villagers in Chenwangzhuang or the people in the county town, they've all been talking a lot about these foreigners.

There were even many people who brought their children to the outside of the county town's guesthouse to see the novelty.

The elderly Chinese man leading the group was the one surnamed Huang.

With a fawning smile on their faces, the leader was the elderly Chinese man surnamed Liu, followed by the tall white man Jackson, and two other foreigners.

Their faces all had a timid, ingratiating look on them.

Hey! See those foreign devils?

A man carrying a bowl nudged the person next to him with his elbow, the sound not too loud, not too soft, just loud enough for everyone around to hear.

"Why did they come here? Weren't they supposed to stay at the guesthouse and wait for the snow to melt?"

"What else could it be? They're scared out of their wits! Haven't you heard... the strange things they've been causing in the mountains near Fenglei Town!"

Another man lowered his voice, but the people eating around him started chattering away.

"As for their situation, they couldn't hit the rabbit right under their noses even with three shots. They chased each other in the snow and got lost. Their compass spun around randomly, like a ghost with its eyes half-closed."

"Several people simply disappeared into the thick fog..."

"Who says it isn't?"

“I heard from my relatives in the city that the news has been circulating among the people at the guesthouse these past few days. They say that those foreigners are afraid to turn off the lights at night, and they scream at the slightest sound, as if they've been strangled by a ghost.”

"Tsk tsk tsk, these foreigners are just bored out of their minds. Why are they going into those old forests when the mountains are blocked by heavy snow? Even we locals don't dare to go there, but they're eager to find mountain spirits and monsters to deal with."

The old hand, Uncle Quan, whom Wang Lixian had recently hired, was smoking a cigarette and squinting.

This old man is quite skilled, but he always likes to make fun of people.

If this happened to a foreigner, it would be even more ridiculous to say that he weighed seven pounds.

"If you ask me, it's their strong, pungent smell that's clashing with the things in the mountains!" "The rules passed down from our ancestors are all based on reason!"

An old woman curled her lip and spoke with great seriousness.

"Hey, do you think that rabbit they're chasing and can't hit might be some kind of spirit, like our 'Over-the-Mountain Yellow'?"

"Who knows! There are all sorts of spirits and monsters in the mountains. Even an old rabbit can become a spirit! If three shots can't kill it, then something in the mountains is 'keeping guests' here! The foreign devils don't know the rules and insisted on pouncing, and now they've run into them!"

The crowd was buzzing with discussion, pointing and whispering about the few timid foreigners.

His eyes held curiosity, pity, and a hint of the "those who don't listen to the elders will suffer the consequences" mentality.

The noise from the forest farm subsided a bit, all focused on those few unusual foreigners.

Jackson and his friends clearly felt the focused attention and buzzing discussions, and their faces grew even more uncomfortable.

The elderly Chinese man surnamed Huang, steeling himself, hurried over to Chen Ling, who was munching on a steamed bun, his face plastered with a smile, tinged with pleading.
"Mr. Chen, I'm sorry to disturb your meal!"

"Well... we couldn't sit still in the guesthouse, we were really anxious."

"Knowing that you're busy with construction here, Mr. Chen, could we... could we come and help out a little?"

"I don't want wages! Just a meal will do! I just... I just want to be closer to you, so I can feel more at ease!"

The foreigners behind him seemed to understand the Chinese and nodded vigorously in agreement.

Jackson, in particular, stared at Chen Ling with his blue eyes wide open, looking just like a frightened rabbit.

Chen Ling chewed on a steamed bun, looking at the few foreigners who were terrified and had volunteered to do hard labor, and couldn't help but find it a little funny.

He swallowed the steamed bun and laughed, "Help? What can you do? Carry bricks? Mix mud? Or climb onto the roof beams?"

Mr. Huang, an elderly Chinese man, quickly said, "We can all learn! We can all learn! We have the strength!"

“Jackson used to work on his family farm, and Mrs. William… uh, you know, Hans’s wife, she was very hardworking!”

He pointed to a foreign woman next to him, who was wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat and had her hair a little messy.

"Um……"

"In that case, why don't you try it here for a day?"

"Let's make this clear beforehand: when you're doing work, just do your work and don't cause any trouble."

Chen Ling hesitated for a moment, then, not wanting to argue with them any longer, shouted at Zhao Dahai:
"Brother Dahai, find them some easy jobs, and teach them how to do them first!"

"Don't collapse from exhaustion, or I'll have to find someone to carry you later!"

"Since you're here, let's eat first... Brother Jusheng, serve them rice!"

"okay!"

Wang Jusheng and Zhao Dahai both responded.

Zhao Dahai, in particular, chuckled as he looked at those foreign devils.

"Come with me, you foreign laborers! Learn to move bricks first. Remember, handle them gently, and don't slip and fall!"

A burst of laughter, filled with curiosity and anticipation, immediately erupted on the construction site.

Foreigners working on construction sites? That's something you haven't seen in hundreds of years.

We old farmers are actually witnessing this strange sight today.

Moreover, foreign devils come to serve us like cattle and horses.

This is truly unprecedented!

That's why I say it has to be wealth and status.

Only he has that ability.

They murmured amongst themselves, their hearts filled with both wonder and pride.

"Alright, alright, let's get them out of here."

Chen Ling still couldn't stand the taste; his sense of taste was too acute.

That foreign devil's smell could really knock him over twice.

Those foreign devils felt like they'd been granted a pardon and quickly followed Zhao Dahai to the brick pile. They clumsily tried to move bricks, their movements as stiff as marionettes, making onlookers grimac.

"Hey, this is something new, foreigners are helping us out!" someone exclaimed.

"Today we are riding on the backs of foreigners."

"That guy's basically using foreign livestock!"

...Since they couldn't communicate in the same language, everyone felt free to make fun of each other.

Chen Ling had no interest in them whatsoever.

After finishing his meal, he wiped his mouth and waved to the lynx: "Come on, let's not get in the way here. We need to take care of the chicks."

The two dusted themselves off, bypassed the noisy crowd at the construction site, and headed toward the makeshift shed.

The shed was built a couple of days ago using wooden stakes and old tarpaulin. Inside, a heated kang (a traditional heated platform bed) was installed specifically for hatching chicks.

The lynx rubbed its hands together, a little excited: "Have you picked out all the hatching eggs? When are we getting them ready?"

"Don't rush it, it's not quite ready yet."

Chen Ling bent down and crawled into the shed.

It's warm and cozy inside, much more comfortable than outside.

In the corner, a dozen large bamboo trays were neatly stacked, filled with dried and soft rice husks, and densely covered with green and pink eggs, each one smooth and glossy, all of which were his carefully selected breeding eggs.

Chen Ling squatted down, gently running his fingers over the round eggs, his eyes looking at them like they were treasures: "Hatching chicks can't be rushed."

"The fire in the heated kang (a traditional heated bed) must be even, and the temperature must be stable."

"The first few days are especially important. It can't be too hot, and it can't be too cold. You have to find the right balance."

The lynx also came over to look and, imitating Chen Ling, reached out to touch it:
"Tsk, it's warm, and the shell seems even smoother and softer..."

He muttered to himself, "Fugui, I heard that when people incubate eggs, they have to use a flashlight to shine a light on them to see if the chicks inside are dead."

"Yes, but I don't need to go through all that trouble..."

"It would be better if it hatched, but it's okay if it doesn't. If it's broken, we can just feed it to the dog."

Chen Ling chuckled and said, "But usually it's fine. The sheds we built here are warm, so the chicks grow quickly in the spring. They eat well and are strong! They lay eggs frequently and get sick less often!"

"When we were holding the baby's 100-day celebration, we had promised a batch of gifts from the city's agricultural science station. This is for them first. Don't take it too seriously, just let them play with it."

"Once they have more experience, they'll sell the chicks to the larger chicken farms in the city..."

He got up and walked to the heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed), bent down and touched the surface, then leaned closer to the fire pit to examine the color of the coal embers inside, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Hmm, that's about it. Come on, lend a hand and bring the bamboo tray up. Handle it gently!"

The two carefully lifted the heavy bamboo tray onto the heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) and spread it out evenly.

Chen Ling checked the temperature of the kang (heated brick bed) carefully again before straightening up:
"It's done! For the first seven days, turn the eggs three times a day and check the temperature once in the morning and once in the evening."

"The flame of a kerosene lamp is only this big, you know?"

He gestured with his hand to indicate a small flame.

The lynx watched intently: "Great! This is simple, much simpler than watching over and delivering puppies!"

"Haha, yours is like an old dog having a difficult birth, how can it compare to this?"

Chen Ling laughed and patted the dust off his hands.

"Come on, let's not stay inside any longer. It's cold outside, but once we come in, we'll be sweating again in no time."

Outside the shed, the construction site of the forest farm was still bustling with activity.

The aroma of food wafted from the stove, mingling with the shouts of men and the scraping of shovels.

Several foreigners worked clumsily but diligently, sweat dripping down their high noses and getting mixed with mud, making them look somewhat disheveled, but their tense expressions seemed to have relaxed a lot.

Heiwa and Xiaojin had wandered over at some point and squatted down a short distance away, lazily basking in the sun. Occasionally, they would glance at the blond-haired, blue-eyed "temporary workers" with a condescending look in their eyes.

Zhao Dahai, relying on the dogs' power, stood next to the two large dogs and shouted.

"Hey! Old Jack! Don't mix the mud too thin! Add some dry soil!"

Jackson looked up blankly, and Old Man Huang quickly translated.

Old Jack, seemingly understanding but not quite, said "OK! OK!" and frantically grabbed some dry soil from the side and threw it in. His clumsy yet earnest manner drew another round of laughter. (End of Chapter)