My 1995 Small Farm.

The following morning, Hong Kong Island awoke to a light mist and the sound of waves.

Chen Ling quietly got up and glanced at his sleeping wife and children beside him.

Wang Susu's eyes still held the weariness and satisfaction of yesterday, while Rui Rui and Kang Kang Le Le slept soundly with rosy cheeks.

Wang Zhenzhen was curled up like a kitten on the bed in another bedroom.

Outside the window, the air in the hillside is fresh and moist, far superior to the hustle and bustle of the city.

He already had a plan in mind.

The filming is scheduled to begin tomorrow, so today is a free day, which he can use to take care of his "personal matters".

After washing up, I left a note for my family, explaining that I was going out for a walk and would be back before lunch.

Chen Ling then quietly left the house carrying a canvas tote bag that looked quite large.

Instead of calling a taxi, he walked to a small pier nearby, which was not a popular tourist spot but was frequently used by local fishermen, following the directions given by the boat owner the day before.

The mornings here are even more vibrant and lively, with the air filled with the strong smells of the sea, diesel fuel, and fresh seafood.

Small fishing boats were moored densely, and the boatmen were busy unloading their cargo. All sorts of unidentifiable sea fish were jumping and shimmering in the baskets.

Chen Ling's goal is very clear.

He found a kind-looking old boatman who was tidying up fishing nets and struck up a conversation with him in Mandarin mixed with Cantonese:
"Hey bro, are there any boats going out to sea for fishing today? Just not going far, just fishing in the nearshore area. I'd like to try fishing by myself."

The old boatman looked up and sized him up. Seeing that Chen Ling was young but calm and composed, and didn't seem like someone who would cause trouble, he grinned, revealing his teeth stained yellow by smoking: "Young man, want to go fishing? The time is perfect!"

“My boat just got back and I’m about to mend the nets. If you’re in a hurry, I can ask my younger son to take you out in his boat. It’ll take two or three hours, and the charter fee is three hundred. How about that?”

"Okay, thank you for your help, brother."

Chen Ling readily nodded; the price was fair.

Soon, a lean, dark-skinned middle-aged man came over and led Chen Ling onto a slightly old but well-maintained wooden fishing boat.

The engine sputtered and the small boat nimbly sailed away from the dock, leaving the noise on the shore behind.

This time, Chen Ling didn't bring her family, and her purpose was completely different.

He declined the fishing tackle and bait offered by the boatman, saying that he had brought his own.

The boatman was happy to have some peace and quiet, smoking at the bow of the boat and pointing out which areas had the most fish.

Chen Ling sat down at the stern, pretending to fiddle with his high-end fishing gear, but his mind was no longer on fishing itself.

His thoughts sank into his body, connecting with that magical blessed land.

The small boat cut through the azure sea, and sunlight streamed down, creating countless golden glitters.

Chen Ling appeared to be intently watching the fishing float, but in reality, he secretly reached his hand into the seawater.

With a thought, an invisible suction force surged from his palm, silently drawing the surrounding seawater, along with the floating creatures and tiny fish and shrimp larvae within it, into the cave.

He controlled the speed and range to avoid attracting the boatman's attention.

Meanwhile, he kept raising his fishing rod, and one sea fish after another was caught.

Grouper, black sea bream, yellow croaker... and even a rather large octopus.

But unlike yesterday when he was fishing for guests, today he quickly moved all the fish that looked good and were lively into the cave when the boatman wasn't looking.

Only a few ordinary fish were left in the fish basket to decorate the storefront.

"Young man, not bad! This is the spot for grouper, it's up to you now!"

The boatman occasionally looked back and saw Chen Ling catching fish one after another, giving him a thumbs-up in praise.

Chen Ling smiled and continued his "substitution".

He focused on selecting fish species that were vigorous and required high water quality, as well as some unusual-looking shellfish and sea urchins. He even carefully used a net to scoop up some seaweed and coral fragments attached to the reefs.

These are the "seeds" he planted to build the marine ecosystem of Dongtian.

About two hours later, Chen Ling felt that the amount of seawater and the types of organisms collected were enough for a preliminary trial, so he signaled the boatman to return to port.

Seeing that Chen Ling had caught a good catch, the boatman happily turned the boat around.

After docking, Chen Ling gave the fish in the fish basket to the boatman as a token of his gratitude. Amid the boatman's repeated thanks, Chen Ling left the dock carrying the seemingly empty canvas bag.

Instead of going straight back to his residence, he turned into a large seafood wholesale market near the dock.

The area is filled with a dazzling array of fresh seafood swimming in oxygenated pools.

Chen Ling browsed the shop like any other customer, but whenever he got close to the vibrant fish, lobsters, and crabs, he would stop and buy some.

Then, they found a secluded spot and moved it into the cave without anyone noticing.

Then, they moved to another location and continued their selection.

He specifically chose those that looked the most vigorous and of the best quality, especially a few brightly colored ornamental fish and a few huge ornate lobsters, which particularly tempted him.

"Boss, the water is so clear, and the fish are so lively. I have a big fish tank at home, and I like to keep some sea fish."

While "purchasing," Chen Ling casually struck up a conversation with the stall owner, asking him to help her select some "rare species."

"Yes, boss, you have a good eye! The seafood here all arrived this morning, it's incredibly fresh!" the stall owner greeted enthusiastically.

After a thorough sweep, a small "marine life migration team" has quietly taken up residence in Chen Ling's cave.

He felt that was enough, so he bought some common shellfish and some small lobsters, and headed home satisfied.

Back at our accommodation halfway up the mountain, my family had just gotten up.

Wang Susu was preparing breakfast while the children played in the living room.

"Dad! Where did you go so early in the morning?" Rui Rui rushed over.

"I went to the dock and bought some fresh seafood to try at noon." Chen Ling waved the bag in his hand.

"Brother-in-law, did you go fishing again?" Wang Zhenzhen asked curiously.

"Yeah, I fished for a while, and the catch was alright."

Chen Ling mumbled and handed the lobster to Wang Susu, "Let's add a dish for lunch."

After breakfast, Chen Ling used the excuse of needing to organize his fishing gear to go out again.

He went out, hailed a taxi, found a small hotel, checked into a room, and then vanished instantly.

The next moment, he found himself in a familiar blessed land.

A warm, spiritual atmosphere washes over you, accompanied by the melodious chirping of birds and the babbling of a stream.

This time, however, Chen Ling did not linger in the core area's medicinal herb garden and flower sea, as well as the bamboo forest and thatched cottages.

Instead, he headed straight for the special area he had planned out, but which had remained in a semi-abandoned state.

It is a vast depression located at the junction of the desert and ice fields.

The land here was originally barren and the climate was dry, with only a few drought-resistant and strange plants growing sparsely.

It stands in stark contrast to the cold of the adjacent ice field.

Chen Ling hadn't figured out how to make the most of this place.

Now, he has an idea.

He stood at the edge of the depression, took a deep breath, and fully mobilized the power of his control over the cave. He pressed his hands down, and the land in the center of the depression began to slowly sink and compact, with the edges rising to form a huge and regular basin.

At the same time, he continuously pumped large amounts of seawater collected from the outside into it!
"Crash-"

The azure seawater surged in and quickly gathered in the depression, forming a small sea area of ​​about several tens of acres!
The seawater, nourished by the spiritual energy of the cave, appeared exceptionally clear and bright, shimmering with a faint spiritual glow.

Chen Ling carefully threw the various seaweed and coral fragments he had collected along the way into the sea. As soon as they came into contact with the spiritual seawater, they immediately regained their vitality at a speed visible to the naked eye. The coral began to grow slowly and the seaweed unfolded.

Next, we have the marine life.

He released all the fish, shrimp, crabs, and shellfish he caught and bought into the sea.

These creatures, which were somewhat listless during the transport, became instantly lively as soon as they entered this sea area, as if they had returned to their most comfortable home!
Colorful ornamental fish swim happily, while groupers, sea bream, and other species quickly adapt to their environment and begin exploring new territories.

Octopuses hid in the crevices of the coral, lobsters waved their large pincers, and shellfish clung tightly to the rocks.

Even tiny plankton thrive in the seawater, laying the foundation for the entire micro-marine ecosystem.

Chen Ling looked at this newly formed sea area with satisfaction.

With a thought, he adjusted the "rules" at the boundary between this sea area and its surrounding environment, creating an invisible barrier between the seawater and the desert and ice field.

It prevents seawater from flowing back or causing excessive erosion, while maintaining a delicate balance and energy exchange.

After doing all this, Chen Ling did not stop.

He arrived at the boundary between the sea and the ice field, where a unique "cold temperate" coastline was formed.

He attempted to introduce small amounts of cold air from the ice sheet to neutralize the temperature of the seawater, creating an environment suitable for certain cold-climate marine life.

He even fantasized about whether he could one day carve out a cold "Arctic Ocean" and "Antarctica" region beneath the ice sheet.
Will I raise polar bears and penguins in the future?

Then, he walked to the boundary between the sea and the desert.

The sun is intense here and the evaporation rate is high. He planted some salt-tolerant plants on the sandy shore, imagining whether a small "saline-alkali mudflat" or "mangrove" ecosystem could be formed in the future.
With the addition of this sea area, Dongtian seems to have been injected with new vitality.

The air seemed to be filled with more moisture, and even the spiritual energy in the core area seemed to be more vibrant.

Birds that originally only lived in warm areas began to curiously fly to the seaside to peck at food.

Some small animals also timidly came to the shore to drink water.

Most remarkably, the bees and butterflies that originally inhabited the cave seemed to have also taken an interest in this new body of water, flying around the coastline to collect any salt or special pollen that might be present.

"Wonderful!"

Chen Ling was overjoyed. "This seawater not only increases the water area, but also introduces a complete marine ecosystem, which greatly supplements the overall ecological balance and biodiversity of the cave!"

He could almost see it: in the future, this sea area would teem with fish, grow into coral forests, and even attract seabirds to roost there…

A miniature version of the complete ecosystem is taking shape.

He stood by the sea for a long time, feeling the sea breeze on his face and listening to the "waves" gently lapping against the "shore reefs," his heart filled with the satisfaction of a creator.

This is the correct way to experience a blessed land.

It's not just about storage and planting; it's about creating a comprehensive and vibrant little world.

It wasn't until he realized it was getting late that Chen Ling reluctantly left the cave, bought some ingredients, and took a taxi home.

At noon, Chen Ling continued cooking.

Steamed baby lobster, steamed scallops with garlic and vermicelli, and boiled shrimp.

The children ate with their hands covered in oil, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

"Ah Ling, the fish and shrimp you caught this morning taste so fresh and sweet," Wang Susu praised.

"Yes, the water quality is better because it's farther from the shore."

Chen Ling smiled as he peeled shrimp for the children, but his mind was on the boundless potential of the sea within the cave.

The seafood placed in the cave, nourished by the spiritual energy, must taste even better, right?
In the future, this may become another secret weapon for the high-end dining at "Fugui Mountain Villa".

In the afternoon, Chen Ling accompanied her family to visit nearby parks and shopping malls, and bought new toys and clothes for the children.

He was in a particularly good mood, not only because his family was happy, but also because of the transformation of Dongtian once again.

In the evening, Liang Yuemin and Liu Yinhuan came over for a visit and chatted about the progress of choosing a location for the store.

"Fugui, I've got my eye on a shop near Central. The location is fantastic, but the rent is outrageously expensive..."

Liang Yuemin gestured with the blueprints.

As Chen Ling listened, he already had a plan in mind.

Once the store on Hong Kong Island opens, the top-quality seafood from the Dongtian Sea area can serve as the store's signature product, creating a truly unique and unparalleled premium experience.

Of course, one could also be more conservative and start by studying the seasoning of shrimp instant noodles.

Besides braised flavor, shrimp flavor was also a very important category when the business was just starting out.

At least exporting to Russia is a sure thing.

“We don’t need to choose such a good location at the beginning. Although we set our sights on the high-end market, we should start with the mass market.”

Chen Ling pondered for a moment: "People on Hong Kong Island are wealthy, and ordinary people also have money in their pockets. Even if we start by targeting the common people, we can still earn more than people on the mainland. It's okay to sell at a higher price."

This is similar to the online jokes about "Shanghai Master" and "Shanghai Coin" in later generations.

Once you're in the Shanghai Stock Exchange, money becomes worthless.

Everyday necessities, clothing, food, housing, and transportation are priced many times higher than elsewhere.

The same is true for Hong Kong Island in this day and age.

Even driving a large truck can earn you over 10,000 yuan a month.

Can it work in mainland China?
"Okay, I'll listen to you. I originally thought I was going to aim for the high-end market."

Liang Yuemin is now blindly following Chen Ling's orders.

All the previous events have proven that this cousin, whom they have not yet had the chance to acknowledge, possesses a keen sense and vision in this regard that is unmatched by ordinary people.

"Hmm, just something ordinary will do..."

"Brother Yuemin, there's one more thing I need to ask you to do. Help me investigate someone."

Chen Ling brought up the matter of Qin Qiumei.

The two had a detailed conversation.

……

That night, Liang Yuemin and his wife left.

After his family had fallen asleep, Chen Ling entered the cave again.

He arrived at the seaside and saw the moonlight shining on the sea, making it sparkle. The newly transplanted corals seemed to have grown even bigger under the nourishment of the spiritual water.

Small fish and shrimp swam in the shallow water, full of life.

He crouched down, scooped up a handful of seawater, and felt its abundant spiritual energy and vitality.

"It seems we need to find an opportunity to go to deeper waters, or bring in some large seaweed or kelp to enrich the underwater forest."

"Also, we need to test the seafood raised in the cave's seawater to see how different it is from that outside..." (End of Chapter)