My 1995 Small Farm.

Perhaps the sea breeze and the moisture after the rain weakened the sun's scorching heat.

The air in the hillside was cool and refreshing all morning.

Sunlight filtered through thin clouds, casting dappled patterns on the damp leaves, grass, and road.

It's like autumn in the mainland.

But it wasn't that dry.

It was incredibly comfortable.

Chen Ling went out, took a taxi, and bought some Chinese medicinal herbs.

Wang Susu and I made some medicinal powder at home.

It's for treating acclimatization problems and regulating the digestive system.

I'm worried that weather changes will affect the dolls.

Just as they finished their work, Chen Ling and Wang Susu were excitedly pulled outside by Rui Rui.

"Dad! Mom! Look! There are so many snails!"

Rui Rui pointed to the base of the courtyard wall and under the bushes, his little face flushed with excitement.

Sure enough, after the rain cleared, it was the perfect time for the snails to emerge from their nests.

All around, the damp corners of the walls, the cracks in the stone slabs, and the low-lying plant leaves were densely covered with snails of all sizes.

Dozens of them can crawl all over a single leaf.

Looking around, there are so many that you can't count them all. I really don't know where they usually hide.

They carry their brown, spiral-shaped little houses on their backs, extend their wet, soft tentacles, and move slowly, leaving trails of silvery slime behind them.

The large ones were as big as a baby's fist, while the small ones were only the size of a fingernail. Their sheer number created a veritable moving "carpet."

Wow! There are so many! And they're all so big!

Wang Zhenzhen exclaimed in amazement that although she was from the mountains, she rarely saw such a spectacular "snail army" in the mainland.

"Auntie, let's collect snails! Let's feed the little meerkats!"

Rui Rui suggested, "The little guy has a great memory; he immediately thought of the 'wounded' family member who needed extra nutrition."

"Okay, okay!" Wang Zhenzhen responded enthusiastically and immediately ran back into the house to find the bucket and clips.

Kang Kang and Lele were also infected by their brother and aunt's excitement. They pointed at the snails all over the ground and struggled to get down from Wang Susu and Chen Ling's arms.

Little Iron Egg was even more excited. It seemed to be full of curiosity about these slow-moving little creatures. It went over to sniff them, but then quickly withdrew, afraid of getting the slime on its skin.

Tilting its head and looking around in confusion, its adorable appearance made everyone laugh.

Chen Ling and Wang Susu exchanged a smile and let the children play.

Wang Susu carefully placed Kang Kang Lele on the dry stone slab road.

Chen Ling rolled up his sleeves and joined the snail-collecting team.

"Rui Rui, Zhen Zhen, pick the big ones, with intact shells, the kind that are lively."

As Chen Ling demonstrated, she taught the children: "Be careful, don't squeeze too hard, pick it up gently and put it in the bucket."

"Okay, Dad!"

Rui Rui learned very well, carefully using tweezers to pick up a large snail and put it into the small bucket, feeling a great sense of accomplishment.

Wang Zhenzhen moved even more nimbly and quickly picked up half a bucket.

Kang Kang and Lele, not wanting to be left out, crawled over and tried to grab the leaves with their little hands, but Wang Susu stopped them with a smile, so they could only pick up the wet leaves on the ground to play with.

The family enjoyed a happy time together in the fresh, rain-washed courtyard, engaging in this simple yet fun-filled activity.

Little Iron Egg wagged its tail and followed at the children's feet, occasionally slipping on the slime and eliciting good-natured laughter.

I collected a small bucket full of snails and returned to the gazebo in the yard.

Chen Ling took out the injured mongoose along with the cardboard box.

After initial treatment in the morning, the mongoose seemed to be in better spirits, but it still huddled in a corner, watching the outside world warily.

Chen Ling used a twig to catch a few of the fattest snails, and then dug up a few plump earthworms from the corner of the kitchen. He put them, along with a few pieces of broken shell from the sea crab from the cave that were left over from yesterday, into the mongoose food box.

"Little one, dinner's ready. See if it suits your taste."

Chen Ling said softly, pushing the food box closer.

At first, the mongoose just sniffed warily and didn't react much.

But soon, it seemed to be drawn to the scent, which was a blend of special spiritual energy and protein aroma.

It cautiously peeked out, its small, shiny black nose twitching rapidly.

It first cautiously licked a piece of shell with crab meat on it, then its eyes lit up, it snatched it up and began to chew quickly.

It makes a soft "click-clack" sound.

Next, it became interested in wriggling earthworms and snails, pressing them down with its front paws and deftly tearing and swallowing them.

Although his eating manners were somewhat awkward due to his leg injury, they exuded a wild vitality.

Especially when eating snails, it seems to know how to deal with the shell, and its skills are quite proficient.

"It ate it! It ate it!"

Rui Rui lowered her voice and excitedly whispered, afraid of disturbing the "guest".

Wang Zhenzhen watched with great interest: "Wow, it eats snails just like we eat sunflower seeds!"

Kang Kang and Lele also clung to the edge of the cardboard box, their eyes wide as they watched this novel scene, making "ah ah" noises.

The children took turns carefully feeding the mongoose with tweezers, watching it gradually relax from its initial wariness, and even occasionally look up at the people feeding it. Its dark eyes seemed to have less fear and more curiosity.

Little Iron Egg lay quietly to one side, sticking out its tongue and watching, no longer making any threatening noises.

This scene of people and animals living in harmony looks especially heartwarming in the fresh courtyard after the rain.

In the afternoon, a light drizzle began to fall again, but it did not dampen the children's spirits.

Wang Zhenzhen was still thinking about the slingshot she hadn't had enough of a couple of days ago, and insisted on taking Rui Rui to try her luck again.

"Brother-in-law, sister, let's just take a walk around the nearby woods. We won't go far. The birds are stupid on rainy days, so they'll be easy to catch!"

Wang Zhenzhen confidently assured him as she expertly examined the finely crafted slingshot that Liang Yuemin had given her.

Rui Rui quickly grabbed his children's slingshot, puffed out his little chest, and declared, "Rui Rui's going too! To shoot the big bird!"

Chen Ling glanced at the rain, which was just a drizzle, and instructed, "Okay, go ahead. Put on your raincoat and stay within sight. Don't go too far."

"Zhenzhen, you have high hopes for Rui Rui and Tie Dan."

"Got it!" Wang Zhenzhen replied loudly, put a raincoat on Rui Rui, and put on a straw hat herself. Like a nimble little deer, she led Rui Rui and the excited little iron egg into the rain and mist.

Just as Wang Zhenzhen said, birds seem to be a little slower to react on rainy days.

At the edge of the woods, sparrows and tits hopped on the branches, their feathers dampened by the drizzle, making them look somewhat bulky.

Wang Zhenzhen lay in ambush behind a tree, held her breath, drew her bow, aimed, and fired! With a "thud," a plump sparrow fell to the ground.

"Hit it!"

Rui Rui cheered, and Little Iron Egg had already shot off like an arrow.

It skillfully retrieved its prize and placed it at Wang Zhenzhen's feet, its tail wagging like a fan.

"Rui Rui, here you go!"

Wang Zhenzhen proudly handed the sparrow to Rui Rui and continued searching for her next target.

She was in excellent form today, hitting almost every shot, and soon caught several sparrows and two gray tits in her little net bag. Although Rui Rui's skills were not great and she didn't hit a single pebble, she ran around with her aunt, directing Tie Dan to "collect equipment," and was having a great time, sweating profusely.

The most surprising thing was that Wang Zhenzhen found a pair of wild ducks taking shelter from the rain near a small pond.

She crept closer and, with incredible luck, hit one of the wings with her slingshot.

The wild duck fluttered into the grass and was caught in the jaws of Tie Dan, who came running at full speed.

When the rain intensified and the two men and their dog returned in triumph, their net bag was filled with little tits and sparrows, and Rui Rui proudly held the plump wild duck that was flapping its wings.

"Brother-in-law! Sister! Look what we've done!"

Wang Zhenzhen was soaked to the bone, but her face was full of excitement as she showed off her spoils.

"Dad! Big duck! We're having it for dinner!"

Rui Rui, his face flushed, staggered in, carrying a wild duck that was almost as big as him.

Wang Susu quickly grabbed a dry towel to dry the children's hair, feeling both sorry for them and amused: "You two little rascals, running outside in the rain! Look how soaking wet you are!"

Looking at the haul, Chen Ling smiled and said, "Great job, Zhenzhen! You're a sharpshooter today! This wild duck is quite plump; we'll roast it tonight!"

As evening fell, the rain gradually stopped, and the air became exceptionally fresh.

Chen Ling set up a grill in the pavilion in the courtyard, coated the cleaned wild ducks with his secret sauce, and slowly roasted them over charcoal.

Sparrows and tits are skewered on bamboo sticks, sprinkled with fine salt and chili powder, and made into small skewers.

Wang Susu prepared several refreshing cold dishes and cooked a pot of fragrant rice porridge.

The charcoal crackled, and the fat from the roast duck dripped out, releasing an enticing aroma that mingled with the smoky scent of roasted sparrows, filling the courtyard after the rain.

The family sat around in the pavilion, listening to the patter of raindrops from the eaves, watching the sizzling, golden-red food on the grill, filled with anticipation.

Kang Kang and Lele sat in their high chairs, stretching out their little hands and babbling.

Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen eagerly waited by the grill, watching with longing eyes.

Little Iron Egg was also so tempted that it circled around the grill. Chen Ling smiled and fed it a small piece of roasted sparrow meat, which it then happily gnawed on.

Just then, the phone rang in the living room.

Wang Susu answered the phone, said a few words, and called out towards the pavilion, "Ah Ling, it's Yuemin calling!"

Chen Ling handed the task of flipping the roast duck over to Wang Susu, wiped his hands, and went into the living room.

"Hey, Yuemin?"

"We're rich! Hahaha!" Liang Yuemin's excited voice came from the other end of the phone. "Guess how much the store's revenue is today?"

"There should be fewer people on a rainy day, right?" Chen Ling guessed.

"Less? Not at all! In fact, it's 30% more than yesterday!"

Liang Yuemin's voice was loud and clear, "You didn't see that scene! On rainy days, many people don't want to go far and eat nearby. Our restaurant is delicious and its reputation spreads quickly. There's a long queue at the door!"

"The three stoves have been running non-stop! Sun Yanhong's voice is hoarse from shouting, but her face is beaming with joy! I say, Fugui, your recipe is absolutely amazing! Even rainy days can't stop this booming business!"

Chen Ling smiled and said, "That's because you've managed things well and the location is good."

"Well, the main thing is that the product itself is excellent!"

Liang Yuemin sighed, "At this rate, I think it won't be more than a month before we have to start planning to open a branch!"

He paused, his tone becoming more serious: "Fugui, there's something I need to tell you."

“Look how good business is now, with plenty of cash flow. Property prices on Hong Kong Island have been rising steadily in the last two years, especially in prime locations like Mid-Levels and Repulse Bay.”

“I figured you’d be going to Hong Kong Island a lot in the future, so it wouldn’t be convenient for you to stay here with me or stay in a hotel all the time.”

"Why not take advantage of our current financial situation and buy property here? Even if we don't live here in the future, the investment will be a sure thing!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ling's heart stirred.

Liang Yuemin's suggestion was indeed spot on.

He had planned to buy a house in Beijing before, and was actually ready to go in the spring, after all, it is the future center.

However, as an international gateway, Hong Kong Island's real estate has considerable potential for value preservation and appreciation in this era.

As "Fu Gui Villa" establishes itself on Hong Kong Island, its connections with this area will undoubtedly become increasingly close in the future.

Having your own place to stay is definitely much more convenient.

The funds he can currently access, besides his family savings, mainly come from the dividends from "Fu Gui Shan Zhuang" instant noodles and the profits from the upcoming Hong Kong Island store.

The money for buying a house in Beijing has already been set aside. It seems that the profits from the Hong Kong Island store have far exceeded expectations. Paying the down payment or even the full amount for a property should not be a problem.

"Brother Yuemin, your suggestion is excellent."

Chen Ling pondered for a moment and said, "I have indeed considered this. However, I am not familiar with the Hong Kong Island property market. I will need your advice on locations, policies, and so on."

"Hahaha! That's right!"

Liang Yuemin was even more pleased to see that Chen Ling was interested.

"Leave it to me! Mid-Levels, Happy Valley, and Repulse Bay are all good places. They have a good environment, great potential for appreciation, and good security. They are suitable for my younger brother and sister-in-law and their children to live in."

"I know a few reliable real estate agents. I'll arrange for you to see some properties tomorrow."

"Alright, then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Yuemin. But don't rush things. Let's meet up and talk things over in detail once the rain stops in the next couple of days."

"Okay! No problem! You go have dinner with your brother and sister-in-law and their child first, and we'll talk in detail tomorrow!"

After hanging up the phone, Chen Ling walked back to the pavilion.

The roast duck is already fragrant, with a crispy skin and tender meat.

The family sat together, enjoying a barbecue dinner in the rain that was full of a sense of accomplishment and warmth.

After dinner, Chen Ling and Wang Susu discussed buying a house on Hong Kong Island.

Wang Susu was initially surprised to hear this.

Because it means spending all the money in the house.

This is no small matter.

After all, property prices on Hong Kong Island were not cheap back then.

"This is worthwhile, Susu. Although we don't have many businesses yet, the dividends are already quite substantial..."

Chen Ling began to analyze.

Having personally experienced Hong Kong Island during this period, especially witnessing its consumer spending power and business vitality firsthand.

Based on his past life experiences, he realized that buying property on Hong Kong Island was also an excellent option.

It's not news that Hong Kong and Taiwanese celebrities speculate on real estate.

Furthermore, with the dividends from "Fu Gui Shan Zhuang" braised beef noodles, plus the expected revenue from the soon-to-open Hong Kong Island store, he has indeed become much more financially secure.

Buying a decent property on Hong Kong Island shouldn't be a problem.

This not only provides a more comfortable and stable place for the family to stay, but also, as Liang Yuemin said, is indeed a promising investment.

“Ah Ling, I don’t understand this, but I do understand that buying a house is definitely better than doing anything else. At least you have a place to live. I heard from Sister Yin Huan that even if things don’t work out, you can rent it out…”

Wang Susu hesitated for a moment, but seeing the confident and determined look on Chen Ling's face, she still chose to believe her husband.

In the past two years, my husband has made no wrong choices.

"That's right."

Chen Ling pulled her into his arms and smiled, "I've told you before, we have a house in Hong Kong Island, a house in Beijing, and when we have more spare money, we'll buy houses in Shenzhen and Shanghai. Then, the kids can go to school anywhere, and we'll always have a place to live." (End of Chapter)