My 1995 Small Farm.

That night, the sound of rain resumed on the Mid-Levels of Hong Kong Island.

The light drizzle that started in the evening did not stop after nightfall; instead, it became even more intense.

It eventually turned into a torrential downpour.

Large raindrops pounded densely on the villa's roof, window frames, and garden vegetation, creating a continuous and muffled clamor.

The entire world was shrouded in a hazy mist.

The air was filled with a damp coolness, quite different from the freshness after a rain during the day.

It adds a touch of the lingering, sticky feeling unique to the early summer rainy season.

This is how the weather is on Hong Kong Island in summer.

Once it starts raining, it's not uncommon for it to rain for half a month straight.

The villa was warmly lit, keeping out the damp chill of the rainy night.

Kang Kang and Lele had already drifted off to sleep to Wang Susu's gentle lullaby, their little faces serene.

Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen played all day and went to bed early, with smiles still on their faces.

Wang Susu leaned against the headboard, flipping through a medical book she had brought from home by the light of a bedside lamp. Occasionally, she would glance up at the cascading rain outside the window and listen to her husband's even breathing beside her, feeling a sense of peace in her heart.

Chen Ling rested his hands behind his head, closed his eyes to relax, and listened to the symphony of dense rain.

But in her mind, she was already planning the house-hunting trip with Liang Yuemin, her thoughts drifting away...

Meanwhile, in Chenwangzhuang, thousands of miles away, a rain also fell.

However, the early summer rain in the north is completely different from the grandeur of Hong Kong Island.

The fine rain fell silently, gently nourishing the land and the tall wheat seedlings.

The village was quiet in the night, with only the soft rustling of raindrops falling on the leaves and roof tiles, making the silence all the more profound.

In the farm, chickens and ducks are in their sheds, and cattle and sheep are back in their enclosures, creating a peaceful scene.

Wang Cunye and Gao Xiulan, the elderly couple, had already retired.

Heiwa and Xiaojin dutifully lay in the dry spot under the eaves, their ears twitching alertly, catching any unusual sounds in the rainy night.

Ah Fu and Ah Shou, those two mountain kings, occupied the driest and most comfortable spot under the thatched shed in the backyard.

Its massive body was curled up, emitting low, contented snores, completely unconcerned about the drizzle.

However, amidst this tranquility, there was a restless fellow.

It's still Little Green Horse, of course.

There will be no one else but it.

In the stable, the little blue horse paced restlessly, snorting heavily.

The light rain in the afternoon didn't satisfy it at all, and the continuous drizzle at night only stirred up its yearning for "freedom".

Its eyes, still bright even in the darkness, darted around, occasionally glancing at the simple wooden latch at the stable door.

Finally, it couldn't hold back any longer and once again unleashed its "hard-earned" special skill.

With incredibly flexible lips and teeth, she began to carefully deal with the reins on her body.

With a soft click, almost inaudible amidst the fine rain, the reins were untied.

A hint of smugness flashed in the little blue horse's eyes. It cautiously nudged open the stable door with its head and peeked out, looking around.

The drizzle fell on its smooth fur, bringing a cool sensation, but it only made it more excited.

It stepped out lightly, skillfully avoiding the puddles on the ground, and slipped silently out of the farm's orchard, its feet barely touching the soft, wet mud.

In the fields on a rainy night, the air is fresh and crisp, carrying the fragrance of soil and grass.

The little blue horse snorted excitedly, shook its wet mane, and trotted along the familiar village road, its hooves making a "clattering" sound that didn't carry far in the rainy night.

It first ran to Wang Laishun's door, sniffed it habitually, then wandered to Zhao Yubao's courtyard, listened to the silence inside, and then turned around with satisfaction, running towards the more open fields and the direction leading to the county town.

Its steps were light and steady, and it hardly slipped even on the muddy dirt road in the rain.

It first went to the county town, wandered around the deserted streets, and then turned to the forest farm in the east of the town.

It was near the forest farm, where its familiar "old companion" stood.

Those dogs that were originally on the farm but were later assigned to the deer farm and forest farm to help with management and guard duties.

Erhei, who is particularly nosy and has a slight case of "obsessive-compulsive disorder," lives in the kennel here.

As the little blue horse approached the edge of the forest, a low bark immediately came from the kennel.

Erhei, the leader, was the first to rush out. This was a very strong, large dog with shiny black fur, and it was already two years old.

Although not as imposing as Heiwa Xiaojin, he is extremely intelligent and responsible, and can be considered a "veteran" that Chen Ling trained in his early years.

She has an extraordinary protective instinct towards everything in her home; she's practically a "manager."

It immediately recognized the massive figure in the rainy night as its own troublesome blue horse, and was instantly furious.

It barked rapidly at it.

The meaning was clear: "You troublemaker! Out again so late at night! And in the rain! Go home right now! Don't cause any more trouble!"

Little Green Horse was already immune to Erhei's "lectures." Not only was it not afraid, it also felt that the black fellow was meddling and disturbing its leisurely nighttime stroll.

It impatiently rolled its big lips, bared its large white teeth, and made a few half-biting motions towards Erhei.

A threatening growl came from its throat, as if to say, "Get lost! Mind your own business! I can go wherever I want!"

Erhei was even more furious when he saw that this "stubborn bastard" not only ignored his advice but also dared to bare his teeth. He barked even louder and made a move to pounce.

The other dogs joined in the commotion and barking.

Annoyed by the noise, the little blue horse suddenly lunged forward two steps, raised its front hooves and stomped a few times, kicking up a cloud of mud and water, which startled Erhei and the other dogs, causing them to jump back.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, it snorted arrogantly, turned around, and swaggered away, leaving Erhei so angry that it spun around in circles, but dared not actually go up and confront this huge "tough nut".

It could only bark a few times in frustration before leading its pack back to its den, cursing the disobedient horse countless times in its mind.

Having chased away the "meddlesome" Erhei, the little green horse was even more pleased with itself, feeling as if it were the only one left in the world, carefree and at ease on this rainy night.

It jogged slowly along the familiar path, stepping through the fine rain, towards the more distant Changle Township.

The cool raindrops pattered on its body, washing over its fur and making it feel incredibly comfortable.

Unable to resist, it galloped freely across the open fields for a while before gradually slowing down.

When it drifted to the banks of the Jinshui River, the rain seemed to lessen, turning into an almost invisible mist.

The sound of the flowing river was exceptionally clear in the night.

Just then, a very faint sound, almost drowned out by the sound of wind and rain, suddenly came from high in the sky.

A huge black shadow, like a ghost in the night, silently swooped down from the canopy of a large tree on the riverbank.

It landed precisely and lightly on the little blue horse's broad, flat back.

It was indeed Er Tuzi.

This creature seemed to have grown even larger than when Chen Ling left home. Its feathers gleamed with a dark luster in the night, and its eagle eyes were sharp as lightning in the darkness.

It was clearly out for a "stroll" at night, and had long been accustomed to being accompanied by this intelligent horse. The little blue horse was not surprised at all by the "parachute arrival" of the bald man, but simply tilted its head slightly, glanced at the giant eagle on its back out of the corner of its eye, and made a low "humph" sound in its throat, which was almost like a greeting.

It's as if it's saying, "You're here? Where are we going today?"

Er Tu Zi gently combed his slightly disheveled wings with his beak, responding with a very low "gurgling" sound from his throat.

The horse and the eagle had clearly been doing this kind of nighttime outing quite often since Chen Ling left home, and they were very much in sync.

After Er Tuzi steadied himself, Xiao Qingma no longer hesitated. Carrying his "air partner," he started walking slowly and steadily upstream along the banks of the Jinshui River.

Their goal is clear.

To the east of Changle Township lies an even more secluded and rarely visited mountain forest.

That is, the direction of Yangtougou.

That's where the terrain is relatively flat.

Wolves and black bears like to roam there.

To put it bluntly, it's a bit like the old forests in Northeast China.

There were no steep, undulating mountain valleys, only low hills and dense forests, which could not stop the horse's pace.

After the rain, everything in the mountain forest was damp, and the air was filled with a mixture of scents.

The earthy smell, the freshness of grass and trees, the musty odor of rotting leaves, and the faint scents left by various nocturnal animals all mingled together.

The little blue horse carried Er Tuzi nimbly through the forest.

Its familiarity with this mountain forest is probably second only to Heiwa and Xiaojin.

The deeper you go, the denser the forest becomes, and the dimmer the light becomes.

Only the occasional, extremely faint moonlight pierced through the thick clouds and gaps in the tree canopy.

Only then can one barely sketch the outline of the twisted branches and jagged rocks.

When they ventured deeper into the heart of Yangtougou, to a relatively open slope covered with shrubs and rocks, the little blue horse suddenly stopped.

Its ears perked up alertly, and its nostrils flared violently.

The bald man on his back tensed up instantly, his sharp gaze sweeping across a particularly dense darkness ahead.

There seems to be something there.

A faint, pungent odor, carrying a subtle fishy smell and an indescribable sense of oppression, drifted in on the wind.

Then, without warning, two...red lanterns lit up in that deep darkness?

No! That's definitely not a lantern!
They were two enormous, blood-red eyes, filled with ferocity!

The pair of red eyes moved slowly in the absolute darkness, staring intently at the horse and eagle that had intruded into its territory with a chilling scrutiny.
"Moo—!"

A deep, hoarse roar, yet containing terrifying power, rolled through the valley like muffled thunder, causing the surrounding leaves to tremble.

The sound was unlike that of an ordinary wild beast; it carried a fierce and savage quality.

Even the most intelligent and courageous little blue horse felt a sense of unease at this moment, and subconsciously took two steps back, pawing the ground restlessly.

The bald man on its back bristled, its wings slightly spread, and emitted a sharp, warning eagle cry.

"Wow—!"

The cry of an eagle pierced the rainy night and echoed through the mountains and forests.

Upon hearing the eagle's cry, those giant, scarlet eyes did not retreat; instead, they seemed to be enraged.

Slowly, step by step, they emerged from that impenetrable darkness...

When it came out, its enormous body, as large as a tiger, and the two tufts of hair on its head like antennae, all proclaimed its identity.

Over-the-mountain yellow!
Walking at night too often makes you more likely to encounter ghosts.

Little Green Horse and Baldy, these two audacious fellows, seem to have stumbled upon something extraordinary this time!
……

……

Chen Ling was completely unaware of what had happened in Chenwangzhuang that night.

After he got up, he found that although the rain had lessened again, unlike yesterday, it showed no signs of stopping today.

Outside the window, the rain continued to fall softly, tapping against the glass and making a fine, continuous pattering sound.

Once the rainy season begins on Hong Kong Island, it seems relentless.

Standing by the window, Chen Ling gazed at the mountain scenery, which was shrouded in mist and resembled an ink painting, and felt a sense of peace settle down.

Since God has kept us here, let's focus on getting things done.

"Susu, this rain isn't going to stop anytime soon, so we can't get anything else done."

"Perfect timing. Let's see if Yuemin is free. If they are, let's arrange for him to go see the house today."

"It's raining, and it's quiet outside."

Chen Ling turned to Wang Susu, who was feeding Kang Kang and Lele rice cereal, and said.

Wang Susu looked up, a hint of hesitation on her face: "Ah Ling, buying a house is a big deal, do we... have enough money?"

"I've heard that houses on Hong Kong Island are ridiculously expensive."

"Don't worry, I already said..."

Chen Ling walked over, took the bowl from her hand, and skillfully wiped Lele's mouth as she babbled.

“Our ‘Fu Gui Mountain Villa’ braised beef noodles are selling well on Hong Kong Island, and the dividends are more than expected.”

"Brother Yue Min said that with the store that will be opening soon, our current revenue is more than enough to make a down payment on a decent house on Hong Kong Island."

"Even if we take out a loan, the pressure won't be too great. The key is that this is a worthwhile investment."

He paused, looked at his wife, and said seriously, "Since we're going to buy property on Hong Kong Island, my idea is either not to buy at all, or to buy the best."

"The location, the environment, and the house itself must all be top-notch."

"I don't expect it to be perfect from the start, but at least it has to be comfortable to live in, and even if we don't live there in the future, it should have great potential for appreciation. We can't settle for less."

Wang Susu always trusted her husband's judgment. Seeing his confident tone, she nodded and said, "You can make the decision. Anyway, you're the one who earns all the money in the house. If you think it's okay, then it's okay."

"Haha, what do you mean I earned it? We earned it together."

Chen Ling smiled and pinched her cheek: "Once we buy a house, we'll have a real home in Hong Kong Island. When we come back in the future, we won't have to bother Yue Min and the others so much, and the children will be able to live more comfortably."

Afterwards, I called Liang Yuemin.

Leung Yuet-man said that the business deals on Hong Kong Island are almost finalized in all aspects.

The partners are all very supportive, and the branch offices are doing well, so there's not much to worry about.

So I haven't been too busy these past few days.

When Chen Ling returns to the mainland, they can go back together.

Chen Ling wanted to see the house, and he was naturally very happy to oblige.

However, he still needs to contact the real estate agent; please ask Chen Ling to wait a moment. (End of Chapter)