My 1995 Small Farm.

"Pretty!"

Zhang Lihua slapped his thigh excitedly: "Ah Ling, your marksmanship is amazing! You took down the Bull Demon King with one shot!"

Uncle Zhou and Commissioner Li also cast admiring glances at Chen Ling.

In that situation, with the target alertly moving, to still be able to hit a vital spot with such precision requires a level of mental fortitude and marksmanship that is beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Uncle Zhou murmured, "Ah Ling, with your skills, you would definitely be considered a martial arts master in ancient times."

Chen Ling smiled, offered no further explanation, handed the tranquilizer gun back to his assistant, and stood up first: "Let's go, hurry down and clean up the battlefield, the tranquilizer time is limited!"

The group quickly rushed down the hillside and arrived at the fallen bison.

A total of six cows fell: one giant cow, five cows, including the one that ran a distance away.

Even when it fell to the ground, the giant bull still created a powerful visual impact.

Upon closer inspection, one can truly appreciate its massive, mountain-like body and its formidable vitality.

Chen Ling directed the group to skillfully tie the limbs of several cows together with the thick hemp ropes and tough rattan they had brought.

Then, a thick wooden bar is threaded through a rope to form a stretcher shape for easy carrying.

In particular, dealing with that giant bull took a lot of effort; it took seven or eight strong men working together to barely manage to tie it up securely.

"Mr. Chen, what's the next step in the transportation?"

"Will you use our trailers to transport it to the port first? And then how do you plan to ship it back to the mainland?"

"If we go by land, this big guy won't be easy to get through, and the journey is long and arduous..."

Commissioner Li looked at the giant bull and was somewhat perplexed.

Chen Ling had already planned ahead. He patted the giant bull's rough fur and laughed, "It's too much trouble for them if we don't take the land route."

"My original plan was to take my family back by boat, from Hong Kong Island to Shanghai or directly to the pier in our provincial capital, enjoy the sea view along the way, and leisurely travel back."

"Now is the perfect time. Let's charter a larger cargo and passenger ship, transport all these treasures on board, and take them by sea."

"The boat is spacious, and if we prepare hay and water, they will be much more comfortable."

"Once we arrive at the port or dock, I'll arrange for a car to pick us up, which will save us a lot of trouble."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Zhou praised, "This is a good idea. The sea route is safer and will cause less suffering for these large animals. Ah Ling, you've thought of everything."

Zhang Lihua's eyes lit up: "Taking a boat is great! Ah Ling, why don't I take the boat back with you? It's been a long time since I've been back to the mainland, so we can look after each other on the way, and I can also visit your dog farm when we get back!"

Chen Ling smiled and agreed, "That would be great. With Brother Hua along, the journey will be even more lively."

Things went unexpectedly smoothly.

With special approval documents from the Agriculture and Forestry Agency, the transportation procedures proceeded smoothly.

Through Liang Yuemin's connections, Chen Ling quickly arranged for a cargo and passenger vessel of sufficient tonnage and good condition, and finalized the charter arrangements.

……

With the boat booked, the next step is to load the cattle onto the trailers.

Then it is transported to the port.

There was no shortage of iron cages for loading cattle onto ships.

Zhang Lihua has been raising dogs for many years and knows where to find them readily available; he had already made contact.

Then, with everyone working together and using the winch and pulley system on the trailer, it took a lot of effort to drag these big guys one by one onto the riverbank and load them into the modified trailer compartment.

The whole process took nearly two hours.

By the time everything was finished, it was already past 1 p.m.

Everyone was covered in sweat and exhausted.

But looking at the six top-quality breeding cattle in the trailer, their faces were filled with the joy of a harvest.

"Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"

Zhang Lihua circled the tow truck, praising it repeatedly.

"This bull, its frame, its muscle definition, and these cows, with their big, full rumps, they look like they're good at bearing children."

"Ah Ling, you've really gone all out this time..."

Commissioner Li also smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, these cattle are the cream of the crop in this herd of bison, especially this bull, which is definitely of the king level."

"I hope they can thrive in your country and contribute to the improvement of livestock breeds."

"I will do my best."

Chen Ling solemnly promised.

He was already planning how to use the spiritual water from the cave to properly care for these cattle, so that they could adapt to their new environment as soon as possible and maximize their breeding value.

The atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant on the way back.

Back in the city, Chen Ling hosted another banquet for Uncle Zhou, Commissioner Li, and others to thank them for their great help.

During the meal, Chen Ling's skills were once again praised.

After dinner, Chen Ling immediately called home to tell Wang Susu the good news and to tell her about his plan to return home by water.

Wang Susu was delighted to hear that a fine ox had been caught and that the little white ox would soon have a companion. She was also looking forward to taking the boat home.

Over the next two days, Chen Ling's family was busy with final preparations.

Obtain quarantine certificates and ship the six bison, and pack their luggage.

Liang Yuemin and Liu Yinhuan helped out with everything, and Sun Yanhong also took some time to see them off and report on the store's situation.

Everything is in perfect order.

The night before his departure, Chen Ling went to the dock alone.

They fed the bison some cave fruits to soothe their tension and alleviate the discomfort caused by anesthesia and transportation.

The five cows quickly calmed down, their eyes no longer showing panic and fear.

But the Bull Demon King was different; he was still breathing heavily and looked very aggressive.

It seems they still need some training.

Chen Ling wasn't in a hurry.

Instead, he looked at its muscle lines with satisfaction, his heart filled with anticipation for the future.

Finally, the day of departure arrived.

On the pier, the sea breeze caressed our faces, and seagulls soared overhead.

The huge passenger and cargo ships, docked at their berths, looked somewhat clumsy, yet gave people a sense of security.

The Liang Yuemin family, Director Zhong, Zheng Shaoqiu, Xu Yingguang, and even Teacher Jiao Huang came to see him off.

The scene was lively, attracting the attention of passengers on the dock.

Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen excitedly ran around on the diving board, full of curiosity about the upcoming sea journey.

Kang Kang and Le Le were held by Chen Ling and Wang Susu, their big, dark eyes wide open as they watched the noisy farewell scene.

"Ugh——!"

A long, drawn-out whistle sounded, urging the departing passengers to disembark.

"Everyone, see you later!"

Chen Ling held Lele in her arms and waved vigorously to her friends who were seeing her off.

"Until we meet again, and have a safe journey!"

"Ah Ling, you have businesses here, come visit often..."

"Haha, alright, alright, stop seeing me off, go back now, I'll be with you."

Zhang Lihua stood behind Chen Ling's family, holding the reluctant-looking little Tiedan, and laughed heartily.

He was going to visit the dog farm, so he went along on the boat.

The ship's gangway slowly retracted, and the massive ship began to slowly leave the dock, sailing towards the azure sea.

The towering skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island gradually shrink in view, eventually becoming a blurry silhouette on the skyline.

The sea breeze is refreshing and moist.

Standing on the deck, Chen Ling and his family watched the silhouette of Hong Kong Island gradually disappear into the distance, their hearts filled with emotion. This trip to Hong Kong Island had far exceeded their expectations.

Their careers took a new turn, their families broadened their horizons, and they unexpectedly gained Tie Dan (a type of animal), several rare animals, and several top-quality breeding cattle.

Just thinking about it makes me feel great.

"Dad, the ocean is so big! How long will it take us on the boat?"

Rui Rui tilted her head back and asked.

"It will take quite a few days to get here."

Chen Ling patted his son's head and smiled, "But it's okay, we can watch the sunrise, see the seagulls, and maybe even see dolphins!"

"Great!"

Rui Rui cheered.

Zhenzhen then asked, "Brother-in-law, are Brother Liang and Sister-in-law Yinhuan much faster than us?"

Before Chen Ling could speak, Zhang Lihua said, "Of course it's much faster. Boss Liang and his group can fly back to the mainland in half a day and arrive this afternoon."

"We'll be drifting on the sea, going around the coastline for many more days."

As she spoke, she dodged Little Iron Egg's biting mouth with a low growl and shouted, "This is outrageous! I'm your former master, how can you forget me so quickly?!"

Seeing this, Wang Zhenzhen chuckled and said, "Brother Zhang, you're still bragging. You said Tibetan mastiffs only recognize one master, but now Tiedan only recognizes my brother-in-law, and you're not happy about that."

"It's obvious you're just bragging..."

"That's right, that's right, Uncle always brags!"

Rui Rui chimed in with her childish voice.

The crowd burst into laughter.

Zhang Lihua pretended to pull Wang Zhenzhen's pigtail, which made the little girl giggle and hide behind Wang Susu.

This immediately made everyone laugh.

Zhang Lihua reluctantly took off his sunglasses, gave the little girl a thumbs up, and mimicked Chen Ling's tone, saying, "Well-reasoned and convincing, Zhenzhen, you're truly amazing..."

Seeing this, Chen Ling quickly said, "Alright, alright, Zhenzhen, you and Ruirui go play with Tiedan. We need to get ready to go fishing."

These days, passenger and cargo ships are very slow, so sea fishing is quite an option.

……

For Chen Ling's family and Zhang Lihua, the next few days of the voyage were more like a leisurely sea vacation.

In those days, passenger and cargo ships were slow, noisy, and their facilities were far less luxurious than later cruise ships, but they had a unique charm.

During the day, Chen Ling's greatest pleasure is sea fishing.

He brought his homemade fishing rod and bait, found a secluded spot at the stern of the boat, and sat there for half a day.

The body, nourished by the spiritual waters of the cave, seems to have a natural affinity and sensitivity to marine life, and can always find waters where fish are active.

Coupled with his extraordinary patience and skill, he almost never missed a shot.

Grouper, sea bream, mackerel... all kinds of seafood were caught, their size and vitality making the other anglers on the boat envious.

On one of his most outrageous occasions, he even caught a huge yellow croaker, causing a sensation on the entire boat, with even the captain coming over to take a photo with him.

Zhang Lihua initially approached the fishing with great enthusiasm, armed with high-end tackle, but unfortunately, his skills were lacking, resulting in nine out of ten catches being empty.

Occasionally, they would catch some worthless small fish, which Chen Ling and Wang Zhenzhen jokingly referred to as the "Seafood Atmosphere Group."

Finally, he simply gave up and focused on taking pictures of Chen Ling fishing and the children playing adorably.

They said they wanted to keep it as a souvenir and also to "steal" Chen Ling's amazing fishing skills.

Wang Susu would take the children for walks on the deck, watch the sea, play games, or stay in the cabin to rest and take care of Kang Kang and Le Le's daily life.

The food on the boat was rather monotonous, but with Chen Ling's continuous stream of fresh seafood, their meals became exceptionally lavish.

Steamed grouper, pan-fried mackerel, fish head tofu soup...

Zhang Lihua thoroughly enjoyed the meal, saying that the ferry trip was even more worthwhile than dining out on Hong Kong Island.

Every night, when the sky is full of stars and the sea is as black as ink, ships sail on it, cutting through thousands of silvery lights.

Chen Ling would hold Lele, Wang Susu would hold Kang Kang, and Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen would snuggle up beside them.

The family listened quietly to the sound of the waves, identified the constellations in the sky, and enjoyed this rare moment of tranquility and warmth.

Little Iron Egg gradually adapted to life on the ship and was no longer nervous. Occasionally, it would chase its own tail around on the deck, making everyone laugh.

Chen Ling also didn't forget the precious bison that were being shipped in the hold.

Every half day, he would make an excuse to go down and check on the situation.

Feed them some local fruits and vegetables to soothe their anxiety caused by the long journey.

The five cows' condition stabilized considerably under the nourishment of the spiritual water.

The wildness in his eyes hadn't faded, but his hostility towards Chen Ling had noticeably lessened, and he would even cautiously approach when Chen Ling fed him.

Only the "Bull Demon King" remained unruly.

Every time it sees Chen Ling, it snorts heavily and paws at the ground.

Its huge bull eyes were wide open, looking ready to fight at any moment.

"Hey, you're a tough nut to crack."

Chen Ling was not angry but pleased. The more cunning a creature is, the greater its value once tamed.

He wasn't in a hurry; he simply kept it alive with the spiritual fruit from the cave, slowly tempering its temperament.

He planned to train it properly once he got back to the farm.

Throughout the voyage, the cargo ship continuously stopped at ports in various coastal cities for resupply and partial cargo loading and unloading.

Sometimes, Chen Ling and the others would go down to the shore.

Sometimes it's late at night, and then I don't have time to think about it.

But when we arrived in Shanghai, it was daytime.

Chen Ling's family and Zhang Lihua also went ashore for a stroll, experiencing the prosperity and vitality of this "Paris of the East".

Looking at the Bund's collection of international buildings and the Pudong area under development across the river, Chen Ling thought to himself:

This place will be incredibly valuable in the future. When I have more money, I'll have to come here and buy some property.

But for now, getting home is the priority.

After transferring to a smaller but faster passenger-cargo ship in Shanghai, they entered the Yangtze River and continued their journey home.

After another half day and night of sailing, they finally arrived at the port of the provincial capital.

"We're here! We've finally arrived!"

Stepping onto solid ground, Zhang Lihua stretched dramatically: "It feels so good to be down on solid ground!"

The Chen family also breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the seascape was beautiful, the long voyage was eventually tiring.

The familiar scent of home, carrying a faint smell of coal smoke and fish, filled me with a sense of warmth and peace.

Liang Yuemin had already received the call and sent a company car and a capable assistant to wait at the dock.

The group first settled down at a guesthouse in the provincial capital, rested for a night, and washed away the dust of their journey.

Chen Ling carefully sealed Qin Qiumei's divorce agreement, which had already been signed by Yang Yongjie, and related documents, and solemnly handed them to the person sent by Liang Yuemin.

Entrusting them to deliver it to Qin Qiumei as soon as possible would be considered fulfilling this entrustment.

The next morning, Liang Yuemin personally came from the city.

"Fugui, Susu, you must have had a long journey!"

Liang Yuemin smiled and hugged Chen Ling, then teased Rui Rui and Kang Kang Le Le, "I've arranged the car. Shall we go back to the city to rest first, or head straight back to Chenwangzhuang?"

"Let's go straight back, Brother Yuemin."

Chen Ling was eager to go home: "My parents must be looking forward to it too, and there's that whole family of lively kids, I can't help but worry about them."

"Alright! Let's go!" (End of Chapter)