My 1995 Small Farm.

In fact, Chen Ling knew that taming a beast of this level could not be rushed.

Today, suppressing its arrogance and making it realize the situation is the first step to success.

He stopped pressuring them and turned to Chen Yuqiang and the others, saying, "Yuqiang, you guys drive the brigade's tractor back. Thank you all for your hard work today."

"Don't leave tonight, eat here. We've stewed a big pot of beef, and we also have some good ingredients that I brought back from Hong Kong Island!"

"Haha, that's great! Fugui, your stewed meat is absolutely superb!" Chen Ze was the first to laugh.

"Exactly, it was worth the trip! It's a good opportunity to hear about your experiences in Hong Kong!"

The other villagers who helped also smiled and agreed.

The crowd dispersed, chatting and laughing, leaving only the "Bull Demon King" standing alone in the open space, gazing at the unfamiliar surroundings and the "neighbors" who either scrutinized or ignored him, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Chen Ling ignored it and called to Zhang Lihua, "Brother Hua, let's go back and prepare dinner. We'll have a good drink tonight!"

"Okay, okay, I can smell the meat! My stomach is rumbling with hunger!"

Zhang Lihua patted her belly and followed with a smile.

……

As evening fell, the farmyard was brightly lit.

Two large wood-fired pots were placed on the open-air stove, with pine firewood crackling beneath them.

In a pot, chunks of reddish-brown beef simmer in a rich, bubbling broth, releasing an irresistible aroma.

In the other pot was a seafood stew made from various dried seafood that Chen Ling had brought back from Hong Kong Island. The milky white broth had a fragrant aroma.

Three large square tables were set up in the courtyard.

Wang Cunye and Gao Xiulan led Wang Zhenzhen and Rui Rui, along with Kang Kang and Lele, to sit at a table.

Chen Ling, Wang Susu, Zhang Lihua, Liang Hongyu, Qin Rongxian, and several other respected elders in the village, along with Chen Ze, Chen Yuqiang, and others who helped out today, sat at two tables.

Heiwa Xiaojin lay on the table, with his special food bowl in front of him, containing rice and chunks of meat mixed with broth.

Ah Fu and Ah Shou weren't very interested in cooked food, and had already wandered off to the back mountain to find their own late-night snack.

Er Tu Zi stood on the beam under the eaves, its sharp eyes scanning the entire area, occasionally lowering its head to peck at the strips of raw meat that Chen Ling had prepared for it.

Little Iron Egg excitedly crawled between the table legs, occasionally being secretly fed a piece of unseasoned meat by Rui Rui, making it wag its tail happily.

The crab-eating mongoose, whose leg injury had healed, seemed to be very adaptable and not at all restrained.

Right now, it's squatting in the corner in front of a small bowl specially prepared for it, enjoying its fish and rice with relish.

The atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

"Come on, Brother Hua, try our local liquor. Although it can't compare to the fancy foreign liquors from Hong Kong, it's strong and mellow!"

Chen Ling poured Zhang Lihua a bowl of his homemade sorghum wine.

"Great! I like this practical approach!"

Zhang Lihua picked up the bowl, took a deep breath of the aroma of the wine, and took a big gulp. He immediately grimaced from the spiciness, but then exclaimed, "That's flavorful! This is the kind of wine a man should drink!"

Everyone laughed.

Wang Laishun took a sip of wine, put down his bowl, looked at Chen Ling, and got down to business: "Fugui, you've come back just in time."

"The donations from those Hong Kong and Taiwan businessmen you contacted a while ago have already reached the village."

"The amount is not small. The township and county governments attach great importance to it and have held special meetings to say that the money should be used entirely for the renovation and expansion of our village primary school."

"We also need to build a decent playground and add new desks, chairs, and books."

"This is great news!"

Chen Ling was also pleased to hear this: "What are the specific procedures? Is there a plan?"

"The county has provided the blueprints, but there are several different plans."

Wang Laishun took out his pipe and tapped it on the corner of the table: "Some say they just demolished and rebuilt it on the original site, while others say they moved it to that open space at the east end of the village, where the place is more spacious."

"What building materials to use, and which construction team to hire—all of these need to be decided."

"Also, the township wants our village to contribute some effort and manpower, so that the money can be spent more effectively and we can save some money."

Chen Ze interjected, "No problem with providing labor! We are peasants, we may not have much else, but we have plenty of strength! It's just that building a school is a technical job, and strength alone is not enough, we need someone knowledgeable to guide us."

Chen Yuqiang also said, "Yes, Fugui, you have broad knowledge and have accomplished great things outside. Can you give us some advice on how to build this school? It should be sturdy and functional, but not too wasteful of money."

Everyone turned their attention to Chen Ling.

Chen Ling put down his chopsticks and pondered for a moment.

He remembered seeing many rural primary schools in his previous life and also knew some basic knowledge of architecture and planning.

Based on the actual situation in Chenwangzhuang, he quickly came up with some ideas.

"Fifth Uncle, and all my uncles and brothers."

Chen Ling organized his thoughts and said, "My idea is that we don't necessarily have to follow the blueprints provided by the county completely. We can make some adjustments based on the actual situation of our village."

"First, the location is a bit small, and it's close to the large pond, so it's not safe for the children to play there."

“I think that open space at the east end of the village is a good option. It’s high up, dry, and spacious enough to accommodate classrooms, and we can also plan a playground and a small garden.”

"We could even set up a small library or activity room."

"Secondly, regarding architecture, we don't pursue anything too fancy, but it must be sturdy, safe, and practical."

"The foundation needs to be solid. We can use stones to build it. There are plenty of bluestones on the back mountain. They are sturdy and cheap."

"Don't use old-fashioned tiles for the roof anymore, they leak easily. Instead, use precast slabs or cast-in-place flat roofs, make sure to waterproof them, and you can even dry things in the summer."

"The windows should be large and bright, which is good for children's eyes."

"Third, materials and labor. Hard materials such as cement and steel bars cannot be skimped on; we must buy the best quality ones."

“We can make adobe bricks ourselves, or we can contact a nearby brick kiln to buy them, and mix them with bluestone.”

"Our village will pay for the labor ourselves, but we must hire a reliable and experienced master craftsman to lead the team. We will pay everyone the due wages, so that we don't shortchange anyone, but we also can't ask for arbitrary prices."

"Brother Xian knows people in the county construction team; he can ask them to send a technician over to provide guidance for a period of time."

"Fourth, planning: In addition to classrooms, toilets must be properly repaired, clean and hygienic, and separated for boys and girls."

"The playground should be flat and not too big, but it should have simple facilities such as basketball hoops and ping-pong tables. The walls should be sturdy, and safety should be the top priority."

Chen Ling explained each point clearly and thoroughly.

It combines practicality with foresight, transcending contemporary rural perspectives.

Wang Laishun nodded repeatedly, forgetting even to smoke: "Good! Good! Fugui, you've thought this through! It's much better than those blueprints from the county! Let's do it this way!"

The other elderly people and Chen Ze also agreed.

"Wealth and status are a valid point. Schools are a long-term project, and we can't afford to be careless!"

"It's good to do the work yourself; it saves money and gives you peace of mind!"

"We need to hurry up and hire a technician. Only with an expert to guide us will we feel more confident."

Zhang Lihua listened from the side and nodded secretly.

He didn't expect that Chen Ling was not only good at breeding and business, but also knew a lot about rural construction.

Moreover, it's clear that he genuinely cares about the village and isn't just going through the motions.

Wang Susu watched her husband speak eloquently and appear trusted by everyone. A gentle smile played on her lips as she wiped the soup from Kang Kang's mouth.

Liang Hongyu and Qin Rongxian, the elderly couple, also looked very pleased.

“It’s not enough for us to just agree on this…” Chen Ling added at the end, “We also need to hold a village meeting to discuss the plan and budget with everyone, and make sure the accounts are open and transparent.”

"Everyone should know exactly how every penny is spent, so that they will be willing to contribute their efforts."

"Yes, yes, yes, it's good to make it public, it's good to make it public!"

Wang Laishun replied, "I'll go to the county tomorrow to report our ideas and inquire about hiring technicians. We'll hold a big meeting when I get back!"

With the important matter settled, the atmosphere at the dinner table became even more lively.

Everyone raised their glasses and chatted about what the village school would look like after it was built. They imagined the children studying in bright new classrooms and running and playing on the smooth playground, their faces beaming with hope for a bright future.

Zhang Lihua was also caught up in the atmosphere, drank a few more bowls of wine, and became more talkative.

Speaking of the prosperity of Hong Kong Island, and also the indifference of the city, the contrast makes the simple warmth of Chan Wong Chong all the more precious.

As night deepened, the moon hung high in the sky.

After a hearty meal, the villagers gradually dispersed, agreeing to discuss the specific details of their work the following day.

Zhang Lihua was also helped back to her guest room to rest by Chen Ling.

After cleaning up the dishes and settling the children to bed, the farm gradually quieted down.

Only the chirping of insects and the gentle evening breeze could be heard.

Chen Ling and Wang Susu stood side by side under the eaves, gazing at the stars in the night sky, enjoying the tranquility and contentment of returning home.

"Are you tired today?" Wang Susu asked softly.

"I'm not tired, and I feel at ease."

Chen Ling put his arm around his wife's shoulder and said, "After going out for a while, I still feel that home is the best place."

Wang Susu gently rested her head on his shoulder and hummed in agreement.

The two stood quietly for a while, then Chen Ling suddenly remembered something and whispered, "You go to sleep first. I'll take a walk outside. I haven't seen that thief horse all day. Don't be too scared to come back."

Wang Susu knew he was worried about the injured little blue horse, so she nodded and said, "Don't stay up too late."

"know."

……

After leaving the farm, we arrived at the orchard.

The "Bull Demon King" has already moved in with those female wild bulls.

It didn't go near the calf.

The calf didn't seem interested in it either.

For wise people, feelings need to be cultivated slowly.

Chen Ling was not in a hurry.

Besides, it's not necessarily true that this big bull is the little white calf's permanent mate.

The little white cow didn't like it, and Chen Ling wouldn't force him.

The moonlight, like water, gently spilled onto the bluestone path of the farm.

Chen Ling, carrying a flashlight, glanced at the now docile Bull Demon King before preparing to go up the mountain to look for Little Green Horse.

He had just reached the edge of the orchard and hadn't yet headed towards the north mountain when he heard a rustling sound coming from the woods.

It wasn't the sound of ordinary night birds or small animals, but rather... the sound of a large animal moving through the forest.

Interspersed with this was the sound of reluctant hooves stomping on the ground.

"Ok?"

Chen Ling stopped and raised the flashlight higher.

Two familiar, massive figures emerged from the forest.

It was indeed Afu and Ashou.

The two tigers had no prey in their mouths, but they walked with a smug air about them, especially Afu, whose thick tail swung like a flagpole.

What surprised Chen Ling even more was that there was a sullen-looking guy following behind them.

It was that little blue horse that was prone to night roaming and had even gotten injured this time.

Little Blue Horse looked quite disheveled at that moment.

The once glossy, smooth fur was now covered in grass clippings and dirt. There was a noticeable abrasion on the upper left hind leg, which had scabbed over, but the surrounding fur was all tangled together.

The most striking feature is its neck, where its mane is disheveled and a few leaves, of unknown origin, are hanging from it.

It lowered its head, dragged its steps, and avoided eye contact, not daring to look at Chen Ling at all.

He looked just like a naughty child who had gotten into trouble outside and was dragged home by his parents.

"Wow, you two are pretty good."

Chen Ling laughed, put down the flashlight, squatted down and rubbed Afu's big head: "I was just saying I was going to look for it, and you guys dragged it out first?"

You can only see the details when you get closer.

Afu walked to the left of the blue horse, occasionally tilting his head to glance at it with his amber eyes, making low growling sounds in his throat as if urging it on.

Ah Shou was on the right, his massive body almost touching the blue horse. The invisible pressure made this usually unruly horse walk exceptionally "well-behaved".

When the horse saw Chen Ling, its ears first perked up alertly, then drooped down guiltily.

Her big eyes darted away, avoiding Chen Ling's gaze.

It moved slowly, taking two steps and then trying to shuffle to the side.

But every time it makes a move, the tiger beside it will growl softly or lightly flick its tail at its hind leg.

"Well done, you've really gotten some skills."

Chen Ling walked closer, reached out and stroked the little blue horse's mane, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger:
"You're running wild while I'm not home, huh? Not only are you out at night, but you're also getting into fights? Huh? Say something?"

Little Blue Horse can't speak.

Afu and Ashou didn't care whether the horse lived or died.

When Afu saw him looking over, it immediately moved closer and rubbed its huge head against Chen Ling's waist, making a coquettish whimpering sound.

The fierce tiger that had been so imposing in front of the "Bull Demon King" just moments before now looked like a big cat begging for praise.

Not to be outdone, Ah Shou stood upright and placed his two front paws on Chen Ling's shoulders.

It had been doing this move since it was a cub, and now that it was bigger, it almost knocked Chen Ling off balance.

It stuck out its rough tongue and tried to lick Chen Ling's face, but Chen Ling pushed it away with a laugh.

"Alright, alright, I know you guys are good. You did a great job tonight."

Chen Ling vigorously rubbed the two tigers' furry heads, praising them generously: "Not only did you tame our 'Bull Demon King,' you even caught this wild horse for me."

"Tell me, what reward do you want? I'll treat you to an extra meal tomorrow—fresh venison, how about that?"

"Roar……"

Afu let out a satisfied growl and nudged Chen Ling's hand with his head.

Ah Shou was even more direct, making soft "ah-woo" noises as he tried to bite Chen Ling's hand, meaning: I want it now.

Chen Ling was amused: "Alright, alright, I'll go kill a couple of deer for you in the cave later, but I need to take care of this guy's matter first." (End of Chapter)