My 1995 Small Farm.

That evening, Liang Yuemin had indeed just returned from Chen Ling's place.

I went and told him in detail about Qin Qiumei's ex-husband.

So after hearing about the little blue horse, it was too late, so she didn't call Chen Ling again.

But after Liang Yuemin and Liu Yinhuan finished washing up and lay in bed, they couldn't fall asleep for a while.

The story about "Little Green Horse" that their mother, Liang Hongyu, had told them on the phone was still echoing in their minds.

"Yinhuan, tell me, how exactly does Fugui raise these guys?"

"Were these animals specially selected because they were considered to be intelligent, or were they raised to be so clever?"

Liang Yuemin turned to look at his wife, his tone full of disbelief, "It's one thing that those two tigers, Afu and Ashou, are intelligent, but Heiwa and Xiaojin are as clever as shrewd people, and now even this horse has become a spirit..."

"Running dozens of miles to the county town in the middle of the night, and still being able to distinguish between good and bad people, scaring the thief unconscious?"

"Who would believe that if I told them!"

Liu Yinhuan leaned against the pillow and smiled gently: "Yes, if Mom hadn't seen it with her own eyes, I would have thought it was a fantasy too."

"Fu Gui... seems to have been born knowing these things."

"Perhaps, as the elders say, some people are born with a bit of 'divine air' and are drawn to these birds and beasts."

"It's more than just getting along well!"

Liang Yuemin sat up, gesturing excitedly, "I'm thinking of giving Director Zhong some advice. If the TV series 'Return to Glory' were to film a storyline about our company, why not just invite all those lively little darlings from the Fu Gui family... Wouldn't that be so interesting?"

"Blackie, Little Gold, Afu, Ashou, Baldy, Little Green Horse, Little White Ox... Just thinking about it is exciting!"

"It's definitely more captivating than the mythical beasts in today's martial arts films!"

Liu Yinhuan was amused by her husband's whimsical idea and playfully slapped him: "Come on, what are you thinking! 'Return to Glory' is a serious drama that tells the story of patriotism and the changes of the times. Its tone is solemn and profound."

"You've brought all those treasures from wealthy families in here, what has it become? Is it like 'Animal World' or 'Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio'?"

"Don't even mention Director Zhong being the first to object! It won't pass the higher-ups' review either!"

Liang Yuemin laughed when he heard this: "Sigh, I was just saying it casually, just to have a bit of fun."

"But to be honest, Afu and Ashou are worth considering. They are huge and intelligent. If they appear once or twice in a specific scenario and are used properly, they might have a miraculous effect."

"I'll have to talk to Director Zhong about this later."

"That's pretty much it."

Liu Yinhuan nodded, then seemed to remember something, her tone slightly lowered, "Yuemin, there's something... I think I should tell you."

"Huh? What's the matter?"

Seeing his wife's unusual expression, Liang Yuemin suppressed his smile.

The topic shifted away from the small animals, and the room fell silent for a moment.

Liu Yinhuan seemed to hesitate for a moment before speaking in an even softer voice: "...Today, when I was helping you organize the materials for the investigation of 'Rongsheng Trading' and Director Qin's ex-husband, I accidentally saw...saw the name of the newspaper where my aunt worked..."

Liang Yuemin's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and the relaxed atmosphere in the room instantly became somewhat stagnant.

He was silent for a few seconds before giving a low "hmm," his voice somewhat heavy: "...I know. I saw it too."

The "aunt" he mentioned was not a relative of Liu Yinhuan.

Instead, it was his mother Liang Hongyu's younger sister, who had eloped with someone many years ago and almost severed ties with her family.

That was also a wound in his mother's heart that she didn't want to touch.

The older man was said to be a somewhat famous writer who later settled in Hong Kong Island.

It appears that he also runs a publishing house or newspaper.

This was the secret he tried so hard to avoid mentioning to his mother and Chen Ling.

"Don't mention this to Mom yet, and definitely don't let Fugui know a word about it."

Liang Yuemin's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible weariness, "Fugui... sigh, his mother's matter is a lifelong pain in his father's heart, and also a knot in Fugui's heart since childhood."

"Although he is now settled down and has a family, it's best not to know these things to avoid causing unnecessary trouble."

"Let's pretend we didn't find anything."

Liu Yinhuan held her husband's hand understandingly and said softly, "I understand. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

"But... if we really do open a shop here in the future, when choosing a location, shouldn't we pay attention to keeping it as far away from that newspaper office as possible?"

"This circle isn't that big, but it's not that small either. What if we run into each other..."

"Yes, you are right!"

Liang Yuemin immediately nodded, "We should stay away from them. Those intellectuals, especially some of them, once they become famous and have some money, they like to start publishing houses and newspapers and the like."

"We'll do our business and not get involved with them."

"When Fugui and I go to check out the venue another day, we will pay special attention to avoiding that area."

The couple discussed a few more details about opening the shop in hushed tones until late at night.

Liang Yuemin yawned: "Go to sleep, it's getting late. Once Fugui has finished filming his scenes and things are looking promising about opening the shop, we'll go back together."

"With Xiaoming not around, the house always feels empty and lacks liveliness."

"Yes, it will be soon. We'll all go back together as a family then."

Liu Yinhuan closed her eyes in relief.

Meanwhile, in another bedroom, after confirming that his wife and children were fast asleep, Chen Ling quietly got up.

He glanced at Little Iron Egg, who was sleeping soundly in the soft nest in the corner, breathing evenly. With a slight thought, he took the now energetic Tibetan Mastiff and once again entered his own private paradise.

The cave remains warm as springtime, filled with spiritual energy.

As soon as Little Iron Egg came in, it excitedly let out two "woof woof" sounds, broke free from Chen Ling's hand, rolled happily on the grass, and then ran towards the newly opened small sea area as if it knew the way well.

It has adapted to and loves the environment here.

Chen Ling smiled as he watched the little guy's energetic back and followed him.

The sea shimmered under the "moonlight," appearing even more tranquil and profound.

He carefully sensed the vitality of this sea area; the marine life that had been placed there was clearly adapting very well and thriving.

He could even vaguely sense tiny lives being conceived and multiplied in the seawater.

Nourished by the spiritual energy, the seawater became increasingly clear and blue, and the seaweed and coral fragments that were thrown into it have already grown noticeably.

It has formed a small, colorful underwater 'forest'.

The fish, shrimp, crabs, and shellfish that were introduced also adapted very well, swimming and darting happily in the shallow water. Their numbers seemed to have increased even more than when they were first introduced, clearly indicating that the environment of the cave was extremely suitable for their reproduction and growth.

Tie Dan squatted on the bank, tilting his head and staring intently at the small fish swimming in the water, making gurgling sounds in his throat, as if he was thinking about how to catch one to try.

It occasionally stretches out its paws to tentatively poke at the seawater, only to be startled by the icy touch and pull back, its adorable appearance making people chuckle.

Chen Ling did not disturb it. He walked to a smooth rock on the beach, sat down, closed his eyes and focused his mind, carefully sensing the changes in this sea area.

In his perception, although this sea area is not large, its internal ecosystem is improving and balancing itself at an astonishing rate.

A rudimentary food chain has formed among various microorganisms, plankton, algae, shellfish, fish, and shrimp.

The vital energy contained in seawater not only promotes the growth of organisms, but also seems to subtly optimize their quality.

"It seems this move was the right one." Chen Ling nodded in satisfaction.

The more perfect the ecology of the cave becomes, the greater the benefit to him.

He planned that next time he had the chance, he would go to deeper waters, or find an opportunity to bring in some large seaweed and coral reefs to further enrich the underwater world here.

Perhaps, we could also try introducing some marine life that is more economically valuable or aesthetically pleasing? The successful development of the Dongtian Sea area means that he will be able to obtain a continuous supply of top-quality seafood nourished by spiritual energy in the future.

Whether for personal consumption or as a secret weapon for future high-end catering, it is of immeasurable value.

On a whim, he retrieved several plump lobsters and a few lively groupers from the deep water, intending to add some extra food to his family's meal the next day.

Although these seafoods hadn't been in the cave for long, their flesh seemed to have become firmer and fuller, exuding an indescribable sweetness.

"Once the sea area expands further and the ecosystem becomes more stable, perhaps we can try stocking some more precious seafood, such as abalone or sea cucumbers..."

Chen Ling was secretly making plans.

He then went to visit the wild boar king that had been isolated in the desert area.

This guy seemed to have become even more irritable because of the bloodletting he suffered last time, but under the suppression of the cave's rules, he could only rage helplessly.

Chen Ling examined the wound on its neck, which had already healed completely.

He pondered that next time he might try mixing its blood with some bone-strengthening herbs to see if it would have any additional effect on the growth of fierce dogs like Tiedan.

Chen Ling strolled around the blessed land.

The spiritual energy nourishes all things, making everything here full of vitality, far surpassing the outside world.

He first arrived at the lush, green area that simulated a mountain forest environment.

The two leopards, who had long since settled in the cave and shed their wildness, now had smooth and glossy fur, were lazily lying on a huge rock, resting in the bright moonlight.

Beside them, two half-grown leopard cubs were playing and frolicking, pouncing and biting each other, chasing and rolling around. Their movements were agile and swift, and they made tender but already showing signs of power "roars," appearing both playful and healthy.

Clearly, the leopard couple lived a very comfortable life in the cave, not only successfully reproducing but also producing healthy offspring.

Not far away, the number of the jackals that had been brought in was significantly larger than before, forming a sizable population.

They seem to have adapted to the cave's environment, where there are no natural enemies and plenty of food. They no longer appear as cunning and ferocious as they do in the outside world; instead, they seem somewhat... at ease.

They mostly lie in groups of three or five in the grass, taking a nap or grooming each other.

Only a few puppies were chasing butterflies and playing, looking more like a group of harmonious adult dogs.

However, when his eyes occasionally swept across the room, a trace of the wariness of a wild beast remained.

On the other side, the population of those mountain raccoons has also clearly grown.

They are much smaller than leopards and more agile, leaping lightly among bushes and low branches, or patiently watching the fish swimming in the stream, maintaining a certain wildness.

But they also clearly live a carefree life, each one of them is plump and strong, with bright fur.

Further away on the grassy slopes, the number of wolves had also increased.

However, they seem to retain more sociality and hierarchical order. An alpha wolf sits on a high place, vigilantly observing its surroundings, while the other wolves lie or stand, relatively quiet.

The deer herd that Chen Ling moved in to breed are leisurely grazing on grass in another area with abundant water and grass. Their population is quite considerable, providing a stable "food source" for the carnivores.

Looking out over this mountainous area, all kinds of animals seem to have reached a wonderful balance. Nourished by the spiritual energy of the cave, they thrive and multiply, creating a harmonious and joyful scene.

However, as Chen Ling looked at it, his brows furrowed slightly.

"Something's wrong..."

He stroked his chin, thinking to himself, "It's comfortable, but it's far too comfortable."

These creatures, whether they were originally fierce jackals and leopards or clever mountain civets, have all become noticeably "plump" after staying in the absolutely safe and food-rich environment of the cave for a long time.

The wildness and sharpness in his eyes had faded considerably, replaced by contentment and languor.

Although the leopard cub was lively, its pouncing and biting actions seemed more like playful play, lacking the ruthlessness and precision required under real survival pressure.

The jackals are practically becoming "mascots".

"If this continues, these elites in the mountains and forests will probably be turned into a group of huge but clawless 'pets' by my cave."

Chen Ling was both amused and exasperated.

This is not what he wants.

He hopes to preserve or even enhance their wildness and instincts, thereby breeding new varieties, rather than keeping them as ornamental plants.

In contrast, it was the birds he didn't deliberately keep in captivity, but allowed to roam freely within the larger area of ​​the cave—such as the golden pheasant, wild pigeons, and various tits—that were truly remarkable.

And the fish, turtles, and tortoises that live in the water appear even more vibrant.

The golden pheasant has brightly colored feathers, is highly alert, and flies swiftly through the forest.

Wild pigeons take flight in flocks, searching for grass seeds and insects.

The fish in the water are exceptionally agile.

"It seems that even the fiercest beast will degenerate without competition and pressure," Chen Ling remarked.

He recalled the ferocious beasts he had seen in the zoo in his previous life. Although they were well cared for, he always felt that something was missing.

Now he understood that what he lacked was that indomitable wildness that belonged to the mountains and forests.

"We need to give them something to do, some pressure is needed," Chen Ling decided.

With a thought, the rules of the grotto-heaven changed.

In that vast and topographically complex border region adjacent to the ice fields and deserts, a new area was invisibly defined.

This area simulates an environment closer to the original mountain forests outside, with steep cliffs, deep ravines, and dense thickets of thorns.

Resources are not as abundant or readily available as in the core area.

Next, Chen Ling began to "select" residents.

He took the male leopard with the broken tail and the female leopard that had just given birth three months prior from the leopard family and moved them to a new "primitive habitat".

From the pack of jackals, about one-third of the individuals were selected, those who appeared relatively capable and whose eyes still retained a more ferocious look.

They took away several of the strongest adult wolves from the pack, including the alpha wolf.

From the herd of wild leopards, we also selected a few of the most agile ones.

He even removed several of the strongest-looking bucks and does from the herd, allowing them to become predators in the new area while maintaining the population's vitality.

"Go, in your new place, survive on your own."

Chen Ling watched as the selected animals, somewhat bewildered in their new environment, quickly became alert, and silently recited a prayer.

He did not provide any additional food. To survive, they had to rekindle their hunting and evasive instincts, compete with each other, and fight against the environment.

After doing all that, Chen Ling went to the vast lake and the irrigation ditch behind the thatched hut.

Here, however, it's a completely different scene.

The aquatic creatures do not seem to have lost their wildness despite the favorable environment.

The giant turtle crawled slowly along the shore, but became incredibly fast once it entered the water.

The unusually thick and long red eel was hidden deep in the water plants, only occasionally revealing a splash of bright red.

The colorful koi and goldfish swim in groups, but they react extremely quickly, scattering at the slightest disturbance.

Even the rare Chinese sturgeon were vigorously thrashing their bodies in the deep water.

"The creatures in the water are quite wild. It seems that the aquatic environment is a world of its own, where big fish eat small fish and small fish eat shrimp, and the competition is fierce."

Chen Ling nodded in satisfaction.

However, he also noticed that the number of these aquatic creatures seemed to have become excessive, especially koi and common fish, which reproduced very quickly.

This can't go on. (End of Chapter)