My 1995 Small Farm.

"Shut up! Ah Hu, Ah Bao! Don't be rude!"

Zhang Lihua sternly rebuked him.

The mastiffs seemed to obey him. Although they still kept a watchful eye on Chen Ling and his companion, their growls subsided, and they slowly lay back down, though their eyes remained fixed on them.

"Please excuse my poor behavior, these guys are very territorial."

Zhang Lihua smiled helplessly, but her eyes were full of affection.

Chen Ling nodded secretly; these Tibetan mastiffs were indeed of good quality.

Although, perhaps due to the climate, its coat color and spirit were slightly inferior to the top mastiff king he had seen on the plateau in his previous life.

But it has a very good foundation; its skeleton and head are top-notch, clearly showing that Zhang Lihua has put a lot of effort into selecting and feeding it.

Next to the largest kennel, there was a shed made of insulating material with a ventilation fan on.

A faint "woofing" sound came from inside; it was from a dozen or so Tibetan Mastiff puppies nursing or playing around. They were fluffy and looked like little balls of flesh, so adorable.

"Brother Hua, your business is really big!"

Director Zhong exclaimed in amazement, "This is practically a Tibetan Mastiff kennel!"

"Sigh, it's just an obsession!"

Zhang Lihua sighed, but her face showed satisfaction. "I only raised one at first, but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it, so I couldn't help but want to raise more, breed them, and have babies... and this is how it ended up."

"Just taking care of their food, water, and toilet needs every day is a huge undertaking!"

A servant brought over tea sets, and the three of them sat down at a stone table under the shade of a tree in the courtyard.

Zhang Lihua poured tea for Chen Ling and Director Zhong, and asked impatiently, "Zhong said on the phone, 'Ah Ling, are you also a dog lover? Do you have a fierce dog at home? Tell me about it!'"

Director Zhong chimed in, "Brother Hua, they're more than just fierce dogs! Ah Ling's two, Heiwa and Xiaojin, let me tell you, their intelligence and their imposing presence!"

"I've filmed so many movies, but I've never seen such an intelligent and human-like dog! I even brought the photos!"

As he spoke, Director Zhong took out several color photos from his handbag, which were taken by the assistant director and others.

In the photo, Heiwa and Xiaojin stand proudly in the snow, their fur clearly black and yellow, their eyes sharp and lively, their bodies strong and perfect. Against the backdrop of the vast snowy landscape, they look like mythical beasts descended to earth.

Zhang Lihua took the photo, glanced at it, and her eyes widened!
He jumped to his feet, peering closely in the light, his fingers trembling slightly: "This...this dog...this quality! This spirit! My God! Ah Ling, this...this is your dog?!"

"What breed is this? I've never seen such a... such a magnificent dog before!"

He was so excited that he was incoherent, and his gaze towards Chen Ling had completely changed, filled with shock and inquiry.

Chen Ling smiled modestly: "Brother Hua, you flatter me. They're just two mongrel dogs that happened to grow up to be a bit sturdy and more intelligent."

"A mongrel? Impossible!"

Zhang Lihua shook his head vigorously, "I've been playing with dogs for almost ten years, what kind of purebred haven't I seen?"

"Look at your head, your frame, your coat color, your eyes... you're definitely not an ordinary mongrel!"

"This is clearly... a wild mastiff that has gained sentience!"

Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Director Zhong added fuel to the fire, lowering his voice and saying with a hint of mystery, "Brother Hua, you don't know this yet, do you? Ah Ling isn't just good at raising dogs! He also keeps two of these at home..."

He gestured a huge outline with his hand, emphasizing, "The real one! The king of the forest! The great tiger!"

"What?! An old... tiger?!"

Zhang Lihua's hand trembled, nearly dropping the teacup. His eyes widened, and his voice trembled, "Really...really? Privately raising tigers in mainland China? This...how is this possible?!"

"Absolutely true!"

Director Zhong vividly described the scene: "Although I haven't seen it with my own eyes, our assistant director, Mr. Jiao Huang, and several of his friends who have visited him have seen it!"

"Moreover, Ah Ling is no ordinary person. He spends his years exploring the old forests and has real skills!"

"He captured a leopard with his bare hands and surrounded a pack of wolves with a pack of dogs!"

"That's a ruthless person who has truly fought against wild beasts!"

Zhang Lihua stared wide-eyed at the handsome, composed young man before her, as if he were a character straight out of a martial arts novel.

Raising spirit mastiffs, taming fierce tigers, capturing leopards and fighting wolves...

This is not something a modern young person would do.

That sounds like pure boasting!
Compared to Chen Ling, my hobby of raising Tibetan mastiffs is nothing more than child's play!

His expression slowly changed from shock and disbelief to immense admiration and a kind of fervent joy at finding a kindred spirit!

"Oh dear! My apologies! So Mr. Chen... no, Ah Ling, you're truly a hidden talent!"

Zhang Lihua excitedly grabbed Chen Ling's hand again and shook it vigorously, "I've been playing with dogs for so many years, and I thought I had some experience, but today I realized that there are always people more knowledgeable than you!"

Compared to you, my little thing is really... really nothing to brag about!

Chen Ling was a little embarrassed by his enthusiasm: "Brother Hua, you're too modest. Tibetan Mastiffs are divine dogs from the plateau, with an ancient bloodline and a resolute character. To be able to raise them like this in Hong Kong, you are the real expert!"

"I fully understand the hardships involved."

These words struck a chord with Zhang Lihua. He seemed to have found an outlet, let out a heavy sigh, pulled Chen Ling to sit down, and began to speak freely:
"Ah Ling, you understand me! You really understand me!"

He pointed to the Tibetan mastiffs panting and cooling off in their dens, his tone filled with emotion and helplessness: "To be honest, raising these big guys has really taken a lot of effort and I've suffered a lot!"

“Years ago, I encountered some setbacks in my business and felt depressed, so I went to the snow area alone to relax. I said it was a pilgrimage, but actually I just wanted to find a quiet place.”

"At the entrance of a large temple in Nagqu, I saw the Tibetan Mastiff that the temple kept as a guardian. Good heavens, it was so majestic! Like a little lion! It just lay there quietly, its eyes seeming to see right through people!"

“I don’t know what came over me at the time, but I felt that I had a connection with it. I went to great lengths to ask the lamas in the temple for help and spent a lot of money to buy one of its puppies, which is the ancestor of the current ‘Lion King’.”

Zhang Lihua pointed to a large black mastiff, the largest of the three, with a thick, lion-like mane around its neck.

"When I brought it home, I treated it like a precious gem. Little did I know, the trouble was just beginning!"

"What's the climate like in the snowy areas? High altitude, cold, oxygen-deficient, and dry! And Hong Kong Island? It's humid and hot! This mastiff couldn't stand it as soon as it arrived!"

"First, I suffered from water and soil incompatibility, vomiting and diarrhea, and almost lost half my life."

"After finally recovering, it got too hot and stayed lying down all day, listless, its fur lost its luster, and it became prone to skin diseases!"

"The worst part is that they're used to running freely on the plateau. Even though my yard is big, they feel cramped! They've become irritable and sometimes inexplicably anxious."

"I consulted veterinarians, researched information, improved ventilation in the kennel, installed air conditioning fans, and adjusted the diet—I tried everything!"

"I don't know how many brain cells I lost or how much money I wasted before I slowly figured out the tricks of the trade and got them to adapt."

"But you saw it too..."

Zhang Lihua shook his head with a wry smile, "Even if we raise them to live and make them strong, compared with their counterparts on the plateau, they always seem to lack... a bit of that spirit, a bit of that 'wildness' and 'spirit'."

"Moreover, breeding is a major problem. The conception rate is low, and the survival rate of puppies is not as high as at high altitudes. These puppies, though numerous, are truly the result of a lot of money and hard work!"

He spoke with great emotion, his eyes even reddening slightly, clearly showing the immense effort and affection he had poured into these Tibetan mastiffs over the years. Chen Ling listened quietly, nodding occasionally to show his understanding.

He could sense Zhang Lihua's genuine love for Tibetan mastiffs, rather than seeing them merely as something to show off or as pets.

This kind of "obsession" is universal.

"Brother Hua, you've already done an amazing job."

Chen Ling said sincerely, "You are a person who truly loves and understands Tibetan Mastiffs."

Zhang Lihua was in high spirits after receiving Chen Ling's approval. She waved her hand and said, "Sigh, I was really obsessed. But seeing them all healthy makes me feel at ease."

"Ah Ling, you have a sharp eye. Take a look at these guys and see if there's anything that needs improvement?"

"Or, is it possible... to restore some of that energy they had on the plateau?"

He looked at Chen Ling with anticipation, as if he regarded him as a master who could turn stones into gold.

Chen Ling did not answer immediately, but stood up and walked to the kennels to observe them carefully.

His gaze swept over each Tibetan mastiff, observing their eyes, coat color, physique, and gait.

Zhang Lihua and Director Zhong followed behind, holding their breath.

When Chen Ling walked near the puppy kennel, his gaze paused slightly.

On a straw mat in the corner of the shed, a puppy about two or three months old was lying alone.

Unlike its lively companions, this puppy appeared somewhat listless and lethargic, with a slightly dry coat, a thin build, and seemingly more rapid breathing than the other puppies.

But its eyes were exceptionally bright, with deep pupils. When Chen Ling looked over, it raised its head and met his gaze. Its eyes seemed to hold a kind of stubbornness and intelligence that was inconsistent with its age.
Chen Ling's heart stirred slightly.

He subtly activated a sliver of his inner perception, vaguely sensing that the puppy's life force was weak.

But its core possesses a peculiar "purity" and "resilience," making it seem somewhat different from other puppies around it.

"Brother Hua, what's going on with that puppy?" Chen Ling asked, pointing at the puppy.

Zhang Lihua looked in that direction and sighed, "Oh, that one? It was the weakest one in the last litter. All its brothers were strong and healthy, but it couldn't compete with them for milk when it was little and almost died."

"We managed to save him, but he's always been thinner and smaller than the other kids. He gets a little breathless when the weather is hot and humid, probably because his cardiopulmonary function is congenitally weak."

"I'm worried about whether I can raise it to adulthood."

Chen Ling nodded, having made up his mind.

He turned to Zhang Lihua and said, "Brother Hua, your Tibetan mastiffs are all of excellent quality, and you have taken great care of them. The main problem is that the climate is not suitable, which has led to a lack of spirit."

“We mountain folk have an old saying: ‘The land and water of a place nurture the dogs of that place.’ The spirit of wild beasts and birds of prey mostly comes from the land and environment in which they grow. Once they leave their homeland, it’s like a tree without roots; it’s difficult for them to fully regain that ‘wildness’ and ‘spirit’.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lihua's eyes dimmed slightly, but she still nodded: "Yes, I understand that principle. It's just... I'm not reconciled."

“However,” Chen Ling changed the subject, “there might be some ways to improve their physical condition, enhance their tolerance to hot and humid environments, and make them more energetic and have shinier fur.”

"Oh? What method?" Zhang Lihua's eyes lit up again.

Chen Ling smiled and said, "We live off the mountains and have been dealing with the forests for generations. My father-in-law and my wife have some knowledge of herbs."

"Some special medicinal materials have remarkable effects on strengthening the muscles and bones of livestock and regulating their internal organs."

"I came in a hurry this time and didn't bring much with me."

"If it's convenient next time, I can bring some over for Brother Hua. You can mix it into the feed and see how it goes."

He was referring to the special herbs nourished by the spiritual water of the cave, which were extremely beneficial for improving the physical condition of animals.

"in addition……"

Chen Ling pointed to the frail puppy, "I think this puppy has a certain charm. With its constitution, it's definitely difficult to raise in Hong Kong. If you trust me, Brother Hua, why don't you let me take it back and give it a try?"

“Although the climate in our mountains is also hot, it’s drier than Hong Kong Island, so there might be hope.”

"Even if he can't be saved, it will save you from worrying about him every day, Brother Hua."

Chen Ling's words were half true and half false.

He did feel that this puppy was a bit special and wanted to take it back to nurture it with the spiritual water of the cave, hoping that it might be able to be trained into a special mastiff.

At the same time, it was also a pretext to establish a deeper connection with Zhang Lihua, making it easier to obtain high-quality Tibetan mastiff breeding stock in the future.

Zhang Lihua paused for a moment, looked at the sickly puppy, then at Chen Ling, and hesitated before saying, "This... Ah Ling, I would be extremely grateful if you would be willing to help!"

"But this puppy is too weak. What if... what if something happens to it on the way? Wouldn't all your efforts be for nothing?"

Director Zhong chimed in, "Brother Hua, Ah Ling is a master! Since he's offered his services, he must be quite confident! Let him give it a try! Maybe he can really create a miracle!"

Looking at Chen Ling's calm and confident eyes, Zhang Lihua recalled Director Zhong's "deeds" of taming tigers and capturing leopards, and gritted his teeth: "Alright! Ling, then I'll leave it to you! I'll entrust this 'little patient' to you! Whether it works out or not, I, Old Zhang, will remember this favor!"

"Brother Hua, you're too kind. I'm a dog lover too, and I can't bear to see promising young dogs die young," Chen Ling said with a smile.

Next, Director Zhong explained another main purpose of his visit—to borrow the mastiff for filming.

Upon hearing that Chen Ling was involved in the project, and that Director Zhong had specifically emphasized Chen Ling's importance and that it was also a project to promote a positive image of Tibetan mastiffs, Zhang Lihua immediately approved it.

He lent out his most beloved and photogenic mastiff, named "Lion King," and personally served as an "advisor" to ensure the smooth and safe filming process.

With the matter settled, the atmosphere became even more harmonious.

Zhang Lihua insisted that Chen Ling and Director Zhong stay for lunch. During the meal, she asked Chen Ling and Director Zhong for detailed advice on raising and training dogs. When she heard the most interesting parts, she was completely engrossed and exclaimed that she was thoroughly enjoying the conversation and regretted not having met them sooner.

Before leaving, Zhang Lihua personally packed the puppy, named "Little Sick," into a bamboo basket lined with a soft cloth.

They also brought a lot of the milk powder and nutritional paste that it usually eats, and after repeatedly reminding it to bring them to the car.

"Ah Ling, I'm entrusting everything to you! Come visit often when you have time!"

"If you need information on any dog ​​breeds, or if you want to find good Tibetan Mastiffs for breeding in the future, just let me know!"

“I’ve spent a lot of money in the snow area and I have some connections!” Zhang Lihua held Chen Ling’s hand, reluctant to part.

"Definitely, Brother Hua, please wait."

Chen Ling took the bamboo basket, and the weak Tibetan Mastiff moved inside, letting out a soft whimper.

Her clear eyes glanced at Chen Ling, but instead of being too panicked, she gradually calmed down.

On the way back, Director Zhong was in high spirits: "Haha, Ah Ling, today went so smoothly!"

"Brother Hua is a very stubborn man. He usually treasures his 'Lion King' like it's the most precious thing, but I didn't expect you to handle it so easily, and even got a free... oh no, I mean, you took over a puppy!"

Chen Ling looked at the little guy in the basket and smiled: "It's fate. Director Zhong, please take good care of the filming."

"Don't worry! I've got your back!"

The car drove back to the hillside, and Chen Ling got out carrying a bamboo basket to say goodbye to Director Zhong. (End of Chapter)