My 1995 Small Farm.

Back at the villa, I had a meal with Liang Yuemin and his wife.

Then the topic of moving came up again.

Actually, I didn't have much stuff when I moved.

That is, the luggage I brought with me when I came.

And the toys and food I bought these past few days.

Then there's the Tibetan Mastiff, Tiedan, and the injured mongoose.

That's all.

So I want to move there tomorrow.

However, Chen Ling still decided to go there tomorrow to use the medicine pack from Dongtian to fumigate the house.

Then we'll move in.

After seeing Liang Yuemin and his wife off, Chen Ling and Wang Susu chatted about Qin Qiumei's affair before going to bed.

It would have been fine if I had just helped them get it done.

But today, Liang Yuemin suddenly mentioned the name of that rich woman, which made Chen Ling feel increasingly uneasy.

"What's wrong? Do you know this person, Ah Ling?"

"I definitely don't know her. I'll call Jiayi and ask her. She's spent quite a bit of time in Hong Kong."

As Chen Ling spoke, she got out of bed to make a phone call.

I haven't been in touch with my female apprentice by phone for a long time. Apart from exchanging letters, we usually only call each other during holidays.

After all, he was a young master and a beautiful female disciple.

Although it's nothing serious, we still need to avoid suspicion.

Just interact with them like ordinary friends.

If Liang Yuemin hadn't suddenly mentioned that woman's name today, Chen Ling wouldn't have remembered his female apprentice.

"Hey, Jiayi, it's been so long! I have something to ask you..."

"Oh! Master?!"

Shen Jiayi's voice instantly rose in pitch on the other end of the phone, filled with undisguised surprise.

"It really is you, Master! Oh dear, you finally remembered to call me!"

"I thought you'd forgotten about your stupid apprentice!"

She spoke rapidly, like a cheerful sparrow, chattering away: "Master, where are you? Your voice sounds like it's coming from a quiet background, not like you're in the village. Have you come to Beijing? Or have you gone to the provincial capital?"

"You have no idea how much I miss you and your wife! And Rui Rui, Kang Kang, and Le Le, how are they?"

Chen Ling was amused by her rapid-fire questions and patiently replied, "I haven't forgotten, I haven't forgotten. Your teacher's wife and I brought the children to Hong Kong Island. We have some business to attend to and will be staying for a few days."

Hong Kong Island?!

Shen Jiayi was even more surprised: "Master, are you preparing to break out of Asia and go global!"

"Haha! Is Hong Kong Island fun? Is it particularly bustling? Where are you staying?"

"Oh dear, it's a pity I'm in Beiji right now, otherwise I would definitely come and be your and your master's wife's tour guide!"

"It's quite bustling, but the rain just won't stop."

Chen Ling smiled and said, "We're staying with a friend here, halfway up the mountain. The environment is alright. How have you been lately?"

In your letter at the beginning of the year, you said you often went out with Yu Qi'an and Hui Ning. I just spoke with Lao Yu on the phone a couple of days ago and asked him if there was any progress on the dog farm project.

Once this was mentioned, Shen Jiayi couldn't stop talking: "Yes, yes, yes! Master, let me tell you, Brother Yu is so funny! The place he chose is in Changping, near the mountains, the scenery is really nice, but it's a bit remote."

"A while ago, a few of us went to the zoo to see one of his friends who raises elephants. My goodness, his friend was so fat! His arms were thicker than my waist!"

"The elephant smell was a bit strong, otherwise I would have taken more photos with them..."

She chattered on about the fun she had with Yu Qi'an, scouting venues and handling paperwork.

He also mentioned that he had tried making braised pork and beggar's chicken a few times using the method taught by Chen Ling. Although the presentation wasn't great, the taste was praised to the skies by Yu Qi'an and the others.

She also mentioned that by following the health tips taught in her teacher's wife Wang Susu's letter, she felt her skin had improved, and so on.

Chen Ling listened patiently to her little apprentice sharing her daily life with a smile, as if she could see the animated expression on the other end of the phone.

This girl is lively and honest. Since she became his "master," although her culinary talent is average, her enthusiasm and approachability have made Chen Ling and Wang Susu quite fond of her.

Only after Shen Jiayi had finished speaking and caught her breath did Chen Ling find an opportunity to get to the point: "Jiayi, we're relieved to see you doing well. By the way, the reason I called this time is to ask you about someone."

"Asking about someone? Who is it? Master, do you have acquaintances in Hong Kong?" Shen Jiayi asked curiously.

"Yes, a woman named Su Lizhen, probably around thirty-six or thirty-seven years old. I heard she used to work in Hong Kong, then moved to Taiwan, and now she's based in Shenzhen, running something called 'Rongsheng Trading'."

Chen Ling described the information he had heard from Liang Yuemin as calmly as possible.

The cheerful voice on the other end of the phone abruptly stopped.

After a brief silence, Shen Jiayi's voice suddenly changed, filled with disbelief, shock, and barely suppressed anger:
"Su...Su Lizhen?! Master! How do you know this woman?! You...you ran into her?!"

Her reaction was so intense that it completely surprised Chen Ling.

"Hmm? Jiayi, do you know her?" Chen Ling sat up straight, his brows furrowing slightly.

"More than just knowing each other!"

Shen Jiayi's voice trembled slightly, clearly she was furious, "Master! It's this woman! It's her! It was her back then, afraid that I would steal the championship from her daughter in the Hong Kong Cup New Talent Competition, she had someone drug my water and ruin my voice!"

"It was her again. She sent someone to kill my favorite little Bobby, my favorite puppy, and threatened me time and time again, forcing me to leave Hong Kong Island!"

"She's a viper! A venomous woman!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ling was shocked and immediately felt a sense of absurdity.

What a small world!
The wealthy Taiwanese woman, who was involved with Qin Qiumei's ex-husband, as mentioned by Liang Yuemin. She was quite shrewd.

It turns out that he was the culprit who forced Shen Jiayi to give up her singing dream and return to the mainland!
"Master, why are you asking about her? Has she done something bad again?"

"You absolutely must not mess with her! This woman is ruthless and has a very complicated background!"

Shen Jiayi warned urgently, her tone full of worry: "She followed a big shot in her early years and learned all sorts of underhanded tricks. She has some shady connections in Hong Kong and Taiwan!"

Chen Ling processed this unexpected information and calmly reassured her, "Jiayi, don't panic, calm down."

“I didn’t provoke her. I have other business to discuss with her current man, a man surnamed Yang, who happens to be related to her.”

"I suddenly realized that the name sounded familiar, like I'd heard someone mention it before, so I just asked."

He briefly explained the matter Qin Qiumei had entrusted to him, emphasizing that he was only going to deliver a letter, have the other party sign it, and learn about an old story, and that he was not going to cause any conflict.

"A letter? A divorce agreement?"

Shen Jiayi calmed down a little after hearing this, but she was still worried.

"Master, you must be careful! This woman is vindictive and a master of pretense!"

"They may be polite to you on the surface, but who knows what dirty tricks they might play behind your back!"

"Her daughter is no better; she's been spoiled rotten..."

She went on and on about the despicable acts of Su Lizhen and her daughter, her tone filled with lingering fear and disgust.

Chen Ling listened quietly, gaining a more direct understanding of the woman he had never met before.

A dangerous individual who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals and has an extremely strong desire for control.

"Don't worry, Jiayi."

Chen Ling's tone was calm and reassuring.

"I'm just going to deliver something and pass on a message."

"If she doesn't provoke me, I naturally won't bother with her nonsense."

“After Hong Kong Island returned to China, the security here has improved. The security where we live is also good. Your teacher’s wife and children are all safe.” He then asked about Shen Jiayi’s recent situation, told her to take good care of herself, and to come to Chenwangzhuang to visit when she had time. Only then did he hang up the phone after Shen Jiayi repeatedly told him to “be careful.”

After putting down the receiver, Chen Ling leaned back on the sofa and let out a soft breath.

Outside the window, the rain continued to fall steadily.

Unexpectedly, helping Qin Qiumei deliver a letter would bring up Shen Jiayi's old grudge.

The world is indeed too small.

The theory that knowing six people can indirectly lead to knowing the whole world is not without merit.

However, Chen Ling was not one to back down from trouble.

He would leave as soon as he finished his business, as long as the other party didn't provoke him.

If they're really that blind and looking for trouble...

Without surveillance cameras or monitoring, he really has no qualms about being on Hong Kong Island.

"What's wrong, Ling? What did Jiayi say? That Su Lizhen..."

Wang Susu walked over carrying the sleeping Lele and asked softly, her face full of concern.

She had overheard some of it, albeit intermittently.

Chen Ling briefly explained the feud between Shen Jiayi and Su Lizhen.

Upon hearing this, Wang Susu gasped in astonishment, covering her mouth. "My God, is this even possible? This woman is too vicious! Just for a competition spot, she's willing to ruin someone's voice and even threaten to kill a dog in front of them? This... this is simply..."

She couldn't find the right words to describe it, her face filled with disgust and lingering fear.

"So, those who got involved in the underworld in Hong Kong were capable of anything."

Chen Ling sighed and put his arm around his wife's shoulder. "But don't worry, we won't cause any trouble. We're just helping Qiu Mei deliver a message, and we'll leave as soon as we're done."

"Brother Yuemin will make all the arrangements. The meeting will be in Shenzhen, where things are more orderly."

Wang Susu leaned against him, still feeling uneasy: "I'm just afraid... what if that guy surnamed Yang is unreasonable, or what if that Su Lizhen gets involved?"

"Do not worry."

Chen Ling patted her on the back, his tone calm and confident.

“Your man isn’t made of clay either. We have a valid argument, we just want him to sign something so we can part amicably.”

"If he knows what's good for him, things will be easier for everyone; if he doesn't..."

Chen Ling didn't finish his sentence, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

He has always believed in the principle of "I will not offend others unless they offend me," but if anyone thinks he is easy to bully and tries to use underhanded tactics, he doesn't mind letting them know what it means to kick a hornet's nest.

"In short, I will handle this matter well."

"You and the kids can just relax and have fun. We'll be moving to our new house soon," Chen Ling said, kissing his wife's forehead to change the subject.

"Tomorrow we'll go to the new house first. I'll use herbs to fumigate it, remove the dampness, and drive away the poisonous insects. Then we can prepare to move in."

"Ah."

Wang Susu nodded, choosing to believe her husband.

She knew that Chen Ling was sensible and capable of handling these matters well.

After all, she knew better than anyone her husband's ability to capture tigers and leopards and single-handedly wipe out a pack of wolves.

The rain continued on and off the next day, but the intensity had decreased significantly, turning into a light drizzle.

Chen Ling met with Liang Yuemin and told him what she had learned from Shen Jiayi.

Liang Yuemin was also taken aback after hearing this, slapping his thigh and saying, "Good heavens! So this is what kind of woman she is! No wonder the information I got was so vague and had such a sinister feel to it!"

"Wealth and honor, it seems this matter really needs careful consideration!"

After careful discussion, the two decided to proceed with the original plan and arrange to meet Qin Qiumei's ex-husband, Yang Yongjie, under the pretext of discussing cooperation with Mr. Chen, the owner of "Fugui Villa".

However, the meeting place should be a coffee shop in a well-regarded, high-security star-rated hotel near the Shenzhen border.

The time was chosen to be around noon when there were many people.

Furthermore, Liang Yuemin will bring several trusted company employees along, along with a security company.

We won't go in; we'll just wait outside, just in case.

"We're going to discuss business, not to fight. We don't need a big show of force, but we can't skimp on the necessary precautions."

Liang Yuemin said, "I'll go in with you then and see what kind of person this Yang is."

With the plan finalized, Liang Yuemin went to call the middleman to make the arrangements.

Chen Ling and Wang Susu took the children to the new house they had just bought.

Although we haven't officially moved in yet, now that we've decided to live here, we can start making some preliminary preparations.

Chen Ling simply closed the doors and windows and quietly lit some incense made with special medicinal herbs from the cave.

Amidst the swirling smoke, he subtly moved his mind, and wisps of spiritual energy from the cave permeated the air, quietly improving the environment inside the room.

This is not just simple incense; it repels poisonous insects and dampness, bringing peace of mind and good health to those who move in.

Wang Susu, along with Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen, took a measuring tape and measured here and there, planning where to put the sofa, where to put the children's bed, and where to add cabinets, all with great enthusiasm.

Kang Kang and Lele crawled around in the spacious living room, giggling.

Little Iron Egg was full of curiosity about the new environment. He would run into each room to sniff it and then leave his own scent mark in the corner of the yard.

The injured mongoose was placed in a cardboard box lined with a soft cloth in a dry corner of the balcony. It seemed very interested in the sound of rain, occasionally raising its head and pricking up its little ears to listen to the outside world.

Seeing the anticipation and joy on her family's faces as they looked at their new home, Chen Ling felt a sense of satisfaction.

This is the meaning of his struggle: to provide his family with a safe, comfortable, and joyful haven.

In the afternoon, news came from Liang Yuemin's side.

The middleman replied, and when Mr. Yang heard that it was Mr. Chen from "Fugui Mountain Villa" who wanted to discuss cooperation, his attitude became much more enthusiastic.

Although still somewhat cautious, they agreed to meet.

The meeting was set for three days later at the Shangri-La Hotel coffee shop near the Luohu Port in Shenzhen.

"Fugui, they agreed. It seems our 'Fugui Manor' brand works quite well in Shenzhen."

Liang Yuemin laughed on the phone.

“Okay, then let’s proceed according to plan.” Chen Ling nodded.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Ling walked to the window.

The rain had stopped sometime earlier, and a sliver of light appeared on the western horizon. The clouds dispersed, revealing a faint glimmer of sunset.

“The rain has stopped, tomorrow should be a good day,” Wang Susu said as she walked to his side.

"Ah."

Chen Ling looked at the brilliant sunset on the horizon, which illuminated the wet city, making it appear exceptionally fresh and beautiful.

"The rain has stopped. Let's finish this quickly. If we can go into the mountains, we will; if not, we'll go home."

He plans to settle Qin Qiumei's matter as soon as possible, and then, if the weather permits, take his family to explore the mountains of Hong Kong Island to fulfill his small wish of exploring the local forests.

After that, you can relax and prepare to go home.

He kept thinking about his family's animals, including Afu, Ashou, Heiwa, and Xiaojin, as well as the little blue horse that would run wild at night and never come home, the whole family of animals, and the huge farm.

Of course, the most important thing is Xiao Qingma, as Liang Yuemin has already told him.

The horse wandered around aimlessly late at night and inadvertently helped Aunt Hongyu chase away two petty thieves.

Although it did a good deed, what kind of horse would wander around at night? That would be terrifying.

I need to go back and give it a good dressing down. (End of Chapter)