My 1995 Small Farm.

The next morning, just after Chen Ling's family finished breakfast, they heard the sound of a car engine and low barking from outside the gate.

"Ah Ling! Are you up yet? It's me, Ah Hua! I've brought 'Lion King' and 'Fire Cloud' with me!"

When Chen Ling opened the door, he saw that it was indeed Director Zhong and Zhang Lihua.

Director Zhong was dressed casually as usual, while Zhang Lihua looked particularly energetic today, wearing neat work pants and an outdoor jacket.

But what's most eye-catching are the two enormous creatures he's holding.

It was his proud giant Tibetan mastiff with a lion's head named "Lion King" and another female mastiff named "Fire Cloud," which was slightly smaller but equally fierce and had a reddish-brown coat.

As soon as the two giant mastiffs appeared, their ferocious aura emanating from the snow rushed towards you.

The Lion King's neck has a mane as fluffy as a lion's, a huge head, and a domineering, steady gaze.

"Fire Cloud" appeared more alert, constantly twitching its nostrils as it surveyed its new surroundings.

Zhang Lihua gripped the thick iron chains tightly in his hands, his muscles bulging and his steps heavy as he walked.

"Brother Hua, Director Zhong, good morning! Oh, you've invited both of you 'mountain kings'!" Chen Ling greeted them with a smile.

"That is required!"

Zhang Lihua has a loud voice: "When filming, you have to find the most photogenic and cooperative actors! 'Lion King' is the main character, and 'Fire Cloud' is his co-star. One is male and the other is female, so they have interaction, and that makes the scene look better!"

As he spoke, he habitually tied the two mastiffs' leashes to the sturdy iron rings next to the gate, which were specifically used to tether large dogs.

This is a cautious habit he has developed over the years, especially in unfamiliar environments, where he must first restrain the fierce dog.

Just then, Zhang Lihua's gaze inadvertently swept over the doghouse with a soft cushion in the shady corner of the yard.

Just a few days ago, Tie Dan had been sickly and was referred to by him as a "little patient," but now he was standing there full of energy.

A pair of bright black eyes stared warily at the two "enormous creatures".

Despite the huge difference in size, they were "old acquaintances" from the same courtyard.

But at this moment, it lowered its forelimbs slightly and made a very low, warning "groan" sound from its throat.

Zhang Lihua's eyes widened instantly, as if she had seen something unbelievable.

He strode over, squatted down, and examined Tie Dan incredulously: "My... my God! Ah Ling! Is this... is this my little patient?!"

"How...how could it...become like a completely different dog in just two or three days?!"

Don't blame him for being so out of sorts.

A few days ago, Tiedan's fur was dry and dull, he was listless, he was unsteady on his feet, and he was breathing rapidly. He looked like he might die at any moment.

Although Tie Dan was still thin and small, his fur had become noticeably shinier.

His eyes were clear and bright, his posture was steady, and his warning growl was full of energy, showing no signs of illness.

Before Chen Ling could answer, Wang Susu came out with a cup of tea and said with a smile, "Brother Hua, didn't you notice? Tie Dan was in much better spirits when we were having a barbecue on the beach the other night."

"The day of the barbecue?"

Zhang Lihua paused for a moment, frowned and tried hard to recall, then suddenly slapped his forehead, his face showing a look of sudden realization and annoyance.

"Oh dear! What a lapse in memory! I was so busy chatting with Ah Ling that day, and... and the barbecue smelled so good!"

"I was so focused on eating that giant grouper and grilled squid that I didn't even notice this little one!"

His words made everyone laugh.

Zhang Lihua smiled sheepishly, then turned to Chen Ling, her eyes filled with admiration and disbelief:

"Ah Ling, you're amazing! To be honest, when I entrusted this 'little patient' to you, I didn't think you could take care of him, but I never expected... you actually saved him!"

Chen Ling waved his hand and said modestly with a smile, "Brother Hua, you're exaggerating. It's mainly because Tie Dan has a good foundation and a lot of tenacity."

"I just used some traditional remedies from my hometown to regulate its stomach and replenish its energy, and then I shaved its fur. It pulled itself together and recovered."

"Folk remedies? What kind of folk remedies are so effective?"

Zhang Lihua's curiosity was piqued. "I have a few weak puppies over there that never seem to grow strong. Could you..."

"Ahem." Director Zhong interrupted him with a smile, "Brother Hua, business comes first! Let's film first, and after filming, you can slowly ask Ah Ling for your 'parenting tips'!"

"The camera crew and lighting crew are already waiting on the mountain road over there."

"Yes, yes, yes! Filming, filming!" Zhang Lihua snapped out of her daze and quickly replied.

At this point, he prepared to untie the leashes of "Lion King" and "Fire Cloud" and take them to the filming location.

However, he soon discovered something unusual.

"Lion King" and "Fire Cloud" seemed a bit unusual as soon as they got out of the car.

Unlike in their own kennels, they did not show strong curiosity and a desire to explore unfamiliar environments. Instead, they seemed somewhat... reserved and wary.

This vigilance is not directed at the environment, but rather at the sense of some invisible threat.

Especially when Chen Ling inadvertently took two steps closer to them, intending to help see how to better lead them, "Lion King," the giant mastiff that usually reigned supreme in the kennel and even dared to pounce on strangers, subconsciously shrank back slightly.

A low, almost defiant "woo" sound came from its throat, and its huge head lowered slightly.

"Fire Cloud" moved immediately and hid behind Zhang Lihua, peeking out cautiously to look at Chen Ling.

"what?"

Zhang Lihua looked at her beloved dog in surprise, then at Chen Ling, who looked completely bewildered.

"How strange! 'Lion King' and 'Fire Cloud', what's wrong with you two?"

There's nothing here, what are you afraid of?

He tried to lead them forward, but the two giant mastiffs seemed to resist, their hooves rooted to the ground, their eyes fixed on Chen Ling with a hint of fear.

Seeing this, Director Zhong seemed to remember something and said to Zhang Lihua in a tone that was half explaining and half teasing, "Brother Hua, you don't understand, do you?!"

"Think about it, Ah Ling spends all his time in the forest, he's dealt with black bears, wild boars, and leopards, and he even keeps a real tiger at home!"

"That menacing aura, like a mountain bandit, how could a dog's nose not detect it?"

"Even leopards and wolf packs are terrified of them!"

"No matter how fierce your mastiff is, it's still a dog. It's very intelligent and can sense the menacing aura emanating from it!"

"In their own home, where the familiar atmosphere of their territory gives them courage, it might not be so obvious, but in unfamiliar places, their senses become much more acute!"

"Otherwise, he wouldn't be like this, so scared of Ah Ling like a cat."

Zhang Lihua listened with skepticism. He had raised mastiffs for many years and knew that fierce dogs could indeed sense scents and emotions that many people could not.

He carefully examined Chen Ling, who appeared to be a tall, handsome, and calm young man, without a trace of ferocity.

He's seen plenty of hoodlums on Hong Kong Island.

Logically speaking, Chen Ling doesn't have that kind of temperament.

If it weren't for the behavior of his two dogs today, he really wouldn't have believed it... "I really can't believe it."

Zhang Lihua clicked her tongue in amazement, "Ah Ling, this is amazing! You can even subdue the King of Dogs! I've really seen something new today!"

Chen Ling smiled, offering no further explanation. He simply released a gentle aura of goodwill towards "Lion King" and "Fire Cloud," taking a few steps back to create some distance.
"What do you mean by 'fierce aura'? Maybe I just smell like the tiger from my house."

"It's alright, Brother Hua. Just guide them gently and let them get used to it."

Sure enough, as Chen Ling stepped back and Zhang Lihua patiently reassured them, "Lion King" and "Fire Cloud" gradually relaxed.

Although he still held Chen Ling in awe, he was at least able to walk normally next to Chen Ling.

The group then led the giant mastiff towards the pre-selected filming location.

Take a walk along a quiet, beautiful, and tree-lined mountain trail near your accommodation.

The subsequent filming went exceptionally smoothly.

Chen Ling changed into a set of dark gray casual sportswear carefully selected by Director Zhong. The outfit was both outdoor-friendly and neat, perfectly complementing his calm and reserved temperament.

Under the director's direction, Chen Ling needed to perform several simple scenes:

I was jogging alone in the mountains early in the morning when I encountered a giant mastiff waiting for me.

Interact with the "Lion King" and stroke its mane.

I strolled along the mountain path with my two mastiffs.

"Lion King" and "Fire Cloud" were indeed well-trained, performing exceptionally well under Zhang Lihua's commands and the intimidating presence of Chen Ling's invisible aura.

Especially the "Lion King," when standing with Chen Ling, one calm and composed, the other fierce as a lion, created a strange harmony in the light and shadow of the forest at dawn, yet it was also impactful.

The cameraman cheered excitedly, zooming in, out, and panning the camera to capture every dynamic moment.

"Great! That's perfect! This is exactly the feeling!"

Director Zhong stared at the monitor, rubbing his hands excitedly. "Ah Ling, you don't even need to act. Just standing there, you're got the look!"

"Brother Hua, your 'Lion King' is truly a gem! Your camera presence is amazing!"

Zhang Lihua was also proud, her face beaming with pride.

Chen Ling himself thought that if his own son, Heiwa Xiaojin, had come, the effect would definitely have been better.

During a break in filming, Zhang Lihua looked at Chen Ling, who got along well with the giant mastiff and could even calm the restless "Lion King" with just a glance, and came over again.

Lowering her voice, her tone became even more fervent: "Ah Ling, I'm completely convinced! The matter with Tie Dan, and what happened today..."

"Look, in my kennel, there are still several dogs with poor health, and two female Tibetan Mastiffs are not recovering well after giving birth and are not producing enough milk... Could you... take a look at them for me when you have some free time?"

"The price is negotiable! Just name your price, whatever rare medicinal herbs you want!"

Looking at the sincere plea in Zhang Lihua's eyes, and thinking of his obsession and dedication to his mastiffs, Chen Ling was moved.

This could be a good opportunity to further deepen cooperation and acquire high-quality Tibetan mastiff breeding stock.

He hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Brother Hua, you're too kind. Helping to check is no problem, but I didn't bring much medicine, I'm out."

"However, every dog ​​is different, so we'll have to see the specific one to know."

"How about this, after filming is finished, I'll find some time to visit your kennel."

"Really?! That's great!"

Zhang Lihua was overjoyed and grasped Chen Ling's hand tightly. "Ah Ling, you are truly my benefactor! You set the time, and I will be waiting for you anytime!"

They added a few more close-up shots, went to the villa, and filmed Chen Ling leisurely handling his work.

The morning's filming session has successfully concluded.

The morning's shooting was completed efficiently and pleasantly.

At noon, Chen Ling hosted a simple banquet at his residence halfway up the mountain to thank Director Zhong's crew and Zhang Lihua for their hard work.

Chen Ling naturally prepared the ingredients, making several home-style dishes, but the taste still received rave reviews from everyone.

As Zhang Lihua ate the delicious steamed fish, he exclaimed, "Ah Ling, you're amazing! You're a master at raising dogs, and you're a master at cooking. Is there anything you can't do? Compared to you, I've wasted half my life!"

Director Chung joked, "Brother Wah, you're only realizing this now? Our Ah Ling is a real hidden talent!"

Amidst laughter and conversation, both host and guests enjoyed themselves immensely.

Before leaving, Zhang Lihua repeatedly invited Chen Ling to visit his mastiff kennel as soon as possible.

After seeing them off, Chen Ling returned home.

Taking advantage of the afternoon sun, Wang Susu taught Lele and Kang Kang to say simple words in the yard.

Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen were teasing Tie Dan in the yard.

Tie Dan seemed to have gained a lot of confidence after "facing" the two giant mastiffs that morning. He ran around happily in the courtyard, and his movements were much more agile than before.

"Is this considered filming finished?" Wang Susu asked, looking up.

"Yes, today's filming is finished. It went quite smoothly. There are still a few more shots to go, but Director Zhong said I'm quite photogenic and don't need to be filmed repeatedly..."

Chen Ling breathed a sigh of relief and took the water glass that Wang Susu handed him.

"Brother-in-law, did Uncle Hua just say that you agreed to take his dog to the vet?" Wang Zhenzhen, with her sharp ears, ran over to ask.

"Okay, let's go take a look and help if we can." Chen Ling rubbed her head.

"Aling."

Wang Susu said with a hint of worry, "Treating people is one thing, but treating dogs, especially such fierce big dogs, isn't there a risk? I heard those dogs are quite expensive, and Brother Hua spent a lot of money to buy them..."

Chen Ling smiled and reassured him, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Brother Hua is a true dog lover; helping him out is also a way to build good karma."

"Besides, he has a lot of good mastiffs, which might be helpful to us in the future."

"Anyway, the main things on Hong Kong Island have been mostly taken care of."

Just then, the phone in the living room rang.

Wang Susu answered the phone, listened for a couple of sentences, smiled, and said to Chen Ling:

"It was Yuemin calling. He said he's made some progress on the matter you asked him to inquire about, and he'll come over tonight to discuss it in detail."

Chen Ling's heart skipped a beat. Was it news about "Rongsheng Trading," Qin Qiumei's ex-husband?

"Also, Aunt Hongyu has been on the phone with Brother Yuemin and Sister-in-law Yinhuan these past two days, saying that our little Qingma seems to be acting up again lately..."

"what?"

Chen Ling was stunned for a moment, thinking of the little blue horse's face, and was speechless for a moment: "This horse, I have to admit it. It has been quite well-behaved for the past six months, very obedient and well-behaved."

"It no longer scares little kids, and it doesn't sneak away at night anymore. I thought it had really changed its nature!"

"I didn't expect that we'd only been gone a few days and our true colors would already be revealed again..." (End of Chapter)