My 1995 Small Farm.

The little white calf stood quietly under a large peach tree, its posture elegant.

Its pure white fur shimmered in the morning light, making it look like a forest sprite.

It doesn't seem particularly interested in the approach of the "Bull Demon King" and his group.

It only glanced at it briefly before continuing to leisurely wag its tail.

The "Bull Demon King" stopped a dozen meters away from the little white calf, not daring to approach rashly.

It merely observed from afar, its nostrils flaring slightly, as if inhaling the scent emanating from this special fellow creature that made it feel both comfortable and somewhat ashamed.

Several cows stopped and looked at the calf with curiosity.

"It seems our 'Bull Demon King' is trying to get closer to the little white ox."

Zhang Lihua found it amusing: "But the little white calf doesn't seem to pay much attention to it."

"The little white calf is very intelligent and has high standards."

Chen Ling laughed and said, "Whether it works out or not depends on their own fate. You can't force it. Anyway, we have plenty of cows at home, so we won't miss having another one to keep us company."

Just then, several clear and melodious calls came from the sky.

"Zee——"

Zhang Lihua looked up and saw several elegant red-crowned cranes with long necks and crimson heads, spreading their broad wings and flying gracefully from the direction of the North Mountain.

It circled twice above the farm before slowly landing on the bank of the pond next to the orchard.

With their slender, long legs, they stroll leisurely in the shallow water, occasionally lowering their heads to peck at small fish and shrimp. Their unhurried demeanor is like a moving landscape painting.

"My God! Red-crowned cranes! There really are red-crowned cranes!"

Zhang Lihua was so excited he almost jumped up. He quickly took out his camera and started snapping photos of the flock of cranes.

"Ah Ling! You even have red-crowned cranes here?!"

"That's a crane! A national treasure! I've never seen one in such good condition even at the zoo!"

Chen Ling was already used to this and explained, "There's a lake behind the mountain with a nice environment. They settled there last year and occasionally fly down to visit and find something to eat."

"The villagers are used to it and won't disturb them."

"Incredible! Incredible!"

While taking photos, Zhang Lihua exclaimed in amazement, "Your farm is truly a paradise, a place where immortals live!"

"Tigers, cranes, spirit dogs, precious cows... we have everything!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a thumping sound came from the beam under the eaves.

Two Baldy spread his powerful wings, and with a gentle flap, he shot into the sky like an arrow released from a bow.

Behind it followed two smaller but equally magnificent falcons, its two "little brothers".

The three birds of prey circled briefly in the air before swiftly flying towards the distant riverbank, clearly beginning a new day of hunting.

Holding her camera, Zhang Lihua watched them fly away and exclaimed in amazement, "Ah Ling, your eagle... it's huge!"

"It looks just as good as any golden eagle I've ever seen in the snowy region!"

"That gaze, that aura, he's definitely the king of the skies!"

Chen Ling smiled, his tone tinged with pride: "Er Tuzi is indeed extraordinary. He's been different since he was a child. With them around, the wild rabbits and rats in the nearby mountains are much more well-behaved."

Zhang Lihua put down her camera, turned to look at Chen Ling, her eyes filled with complex emotions—surprise, envy, and a hint of realization.
"Ah Ling, I finally understand now..."

"Understand what?" Chen Ling asked, puzzled.

"I understand why you don't care about the prosperity of Hong Kong Island and are eager to go back to your hometown."

Zhang Lihua took a deep breath and looked around at the orchard, the distant mountains, the pond, and the animals, some leisurely and some lively.

"With such a paradise and such a 'family business,' if it were me, I wouldn't want to go anywhere else!"

He patted Chen Ling on the shoulder and said sincerely, "Brother, you've really figured things out."

"No matter how much money you make, it's just numbers."

"But this kind of life is something that money can't buy."

Chen Ling smiled and said the same thing: "Brother Hua, you are welcome to come and stay anytime. The room will always be reserved for you."

At this moment, deep within the orchard, the Bull Demon King was leisurely grazing with his cows on the grassy slope.

The sunlight shone brightly on their glossy black fur, making them very eye-catching.

Wang Zhenzhen took Rui Rui and Xiao Tie Dan and followed them for a while.

Suddenly she ran over and asked, "Brother-in-law, will our family have lots and lots of little calves in the future? Like little lambs, jumping and hopping around?"

"There will be many."

Chen Ling ruffled her hair, his eyes filled with anticipation for the future: "Not just cows, but also horses, deer, and all sorts of fun things... We're going to build a zoo on the back of our farm, it'll get more and more lively."

Rui Rui, holding Xiao Tie Dan, looked up at his father and said, "Daddy, I want to raise a calf too..."

"Okay, once the calves are born, you can choose your favorite one to raise."

Chen Ling then asked him, "Where's your Little Yellow? And the bravest little chick?"

"Dad, Little Yellow isn't Little Yellow anymore, it's become a strange, colorful thing."

After a trip to Hong Kong Island, Rui Rui speaks fluently, her little brows furrowed as she tries to express herself.

Chen Ling immediately smiled.

This is the awkward stage for chicks and puppies.

Once it's past the fuzzy stage, it doesn't look good anymore.

This brat is a sucker for good looks.

"Ah Ling, Brother Zhang, dinner's ready!"

Wang Susu exclaimed, "Mom made scallion pancakes and steamed egg custard, they smell so good!"

"Okay, coming right away!"

Chen Ling responded and smiled at Zhang Lihua, "Brother Hua, try our family's farm-style breakfast."

"Absolutely! Just smelling it makes me hungry!"

Breakfast was indeed plentiful.

Gao Xiulan's scallion pancakes are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with the aroma of flour mixed with the fragrance of scallions, and one bite makes your mouth water.

The steamed egg custard was cooked until it was as smooth and tender as a baby's brain. A few drops of sesame oil were added, and some chopped green onions were sprinkled on top. It was simple yet delicious.

There were also homemade pickled vegetables, shredded and mixed with a little chili oil, which were refreshing and appetizing.

A pot of millet porridge was cooked until it was thick and the rice oil had come out; it was warm and comforting to the stomach.

Zhang Lihua ate with great relish, drinking three bowls of millet porridge and eating five pancakes, finally patting her belly and exclaiming how satisfying it was.

Wang Susu smiled and added porridge to his bowl, saying, "Brother Hua, eat more if you like it. There's more in the pot."

"I can't take it anymore, I'm too weak to walk if I eat any more."

Zhang Lihua waved her hand, but still took the bowl of porridge: "However... just drink half a bowl, only half a bowl!"

Everyone laughed.

After breakfast, Professor Zhong came to the farm and sat for a while.

After asking.

Sure enough, the main building of the dog farm was completed.

These past few days we've been working on the internal facilities and leveling the exterior. Lynx and Dahai slept at the dog farm last night, and we're finishing up today.

"That's perfect, let's go over there now."

Chen Ling said to Zhang Lihua, "Brother Hua, the dog farm is on the edge of the county town. It takes more than twenty minutes to get there by motorcycle. Do you want to sit and rest for a while, or do you want to leave now?"

"Let's go now! There's no time to rest right after eating. We can digest on the way!"

Zhang Lihua was full of energy and said to Wang Susu, "Sister-in-law, we'll probably have lunch in the county town, so don't wait for us."

"Okay, please go slower on the road."

Wang Susu nodded and handed Chen Ling a jacket: "We don't need to go to Hong Kong Island. It's not summer yet, and it's cool in the mornings. Bring a jacket."

Chen Ling took the motorcycle, casually draped it over his shoulder, and led Zhang Lihua out. They pushed the motorcycle out and drove off the farm onto the country dirt road.

Chenwangzhuang was already bustling with activity early in the morning.

Some villagers carried hoes to the fields, some women carried wooden basins to the river to wash clothes, and children ran in groups of three or five towards the village school.

Although the school buildings are old, the sound of reading aloud is still loud.

Upon seeing Chen Ling's car, the villagers greeted him with smiles.

"Fugui, going out?"

"Let's take Brother Hua to the county for a look around!"

The simple and warm greetings warmed Zhang Lihua's heart.

The car drove out of the village and onto the road leading to the county town.

The road wasn't wide, but it was fairly flat.

On both sides are rolling farmlands and orchards, and in the distance, the green mountains are like dark eyebrows.

“This road needs to be repaired,” Chen Ling suddenly said.

"Hmm?" Zhang Lihua was looking at the scenery along the way when she heard this and turned her head.

“If you want to be rich, build roads first.”

Chen Ling looked ahead and said seriously, "The village school needs to be renovated, which is a big deal, but the roads also need to be repaired, otherwise transportation will be a problem when the scale of breeding increases in the future."

Zhang Lihua nodded: "That makes sense, but road construction is expensive. Does your village... have enough funds?"

"If it's not enough, we can find a way."

Chen Ling smiled and said, "It's all up to us. Let's get the school sorted out first, and we can plan the road issue later."

As the two were talking, the car had already driven out of the town.

The road ahead gradually widened, and the outline of the county town became faintly visible in the distance.

Instead of driving directly into the bustling city, Chen Ling turned at a fork in the road and onto a quieter road lined with lush bamboo groves on both sides.

"Huh? Ah Ling, isn't this the road into town?"

Zhang Lihua adjusted her sunglasses, which had been blown askew by the wind, and asked curiously.

"Okay, let's go to the forest farm on the outskirts of the city first."

Chen Ling slowed down, allowing the motorcycle to travel smoothly along the tree-lined road.

"The dog farm and my larger breeding farm are both located within the forest farm."

"This place is spacious, has a good environment, is close to water sources, and has good air circulation, making it suitable for aquaculture."

"A forest farm? Great! That's a wonderful place!"

Zhang Lihua immediately perked up. As a seasoned dog enthusiast, he knew the importance of a good environment for animals.

The deeper you go into the forest, the fresher the air becomes.

The road is lined with tall trees, and sunlight filters through the layers of leaves, casting dappled shadows.

Birdsong filled the air, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees and the fragrance of earth.

In stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong Island, and unlike the pure rural landscape of Chan Wong Tsang, this place offers a greater sense of tranquility and wild charm.

"This place is really nice!"

Zhang Lihua took a deep breath and exclaimed, "It has mountains, water, and forests, and the terrain is also open."

"Ah Ling, you have a sharp eye for location! Dogs raised here are in a good mood, less prone to illness, and are more likely to thrive!"

"Brother Hua, you're an expert; you saw the trick right away."

Chen Ling smiled and said, "These are the reasons why we chose this place. We're almost there."

The motorcycle rounded a small hill, and suddenly the view opened up before us.

A vast, leveled open space came into view, behind which stood several rows of newly built brick and tile houses, which looked sturdy and practical.

A large activity area was fenced off in front of the houses with sturdy wire mesh, and some workers were doing the final finishing touches, such as reinforcing the fence and leveling the ground.

The most eye-catching features are the distinctive lookout tower built of logs and stone slabs next to the houses, and the training facilities in the activity area made of tires, wooden stakes, and other materials, which are clearly designed specifically for dogs.

"We're here, Brother Hua. This is the result of Lynx and Dahai's hard work over the past half month."

Chen Ling parked the motorcycle at the edge of the open space and turned off the engine.

Almost the instant the motorcycle engine noise disappeared, a low, alert bark came from the direction of the largest row of houses.

Immediately afterwards, a figure as swift as black lightning rushed out first, heading straight for Chen Ling.

It was an extremely large, muscular black dog with glossy black fur that shone with a healthy sheen in the sunlight.

It ran silently, yet with an imposing presence; it was none other than Heiwa's eldest son, Erhei, the captain of the dog patrol team.

"Erhei!" Chen Ling said with a smile as he squatted down.

Erhei rushed up to Chen Ling, but didn't pounce on him like a normal dog would.

Instead, it braked suddenly and came to a stop, its huge tail wagging vigorously and emitting a friendly "woof woof" sound.

It rubbed its huge head against Chen Ling's legs and hands, licking them incessantly with its tongue.

His eyes were filled with the excitement of a long-awaited reunion and absolute loyalty.

Immediately afterwards, more dogs were released from the kennels or the activity area, rushing towards Chen Ling like a floodgate opening.

Aside from Da Mao, Er Mao, and their second-generation wolfhounds.

The remaining group is naturally the Paw Patrol adopted by the lynx.

And it's not the paparazzi's Paw Patrol.

They are Paw Patrol dogs that have grown into half-grown dogs and have a somewhat intimidating physique.

There are now more than forty entries.

It's half again as much as before.

It's estimated that someone else joined along the way.

Although they were of different species and sizes, without exception, they all showed great affection for Chen Ling.

They surrounded Chen Ling, jumping, wagging their tails, and barking excitedly, but they remained orderly and did not cause any chaos or collisions due to their excitement.

Every dog ​​wanted to get close to Chen Ling, rub against him, and sniff his scent.

This is naturally a consequence of Erhei's management.

The village chief is such a perfectionist.

The dogs were made to display 'loyalty' and line up to greet each other.

Even if Chen Ling isn't the master, the lynx is.

But Erhei is in charge, so you have to listen to him.

"My God! So many dogs?!"

Startled by the scene, Zhang Lihua took a half step back and instinctively gripped her camera tightly.

Although he loves dogs and his kennel is quite large, the sight of a pack of dogs surging out at the same time and charging towards a person with a clear objective is still very visually striking.

Especially the big black dog at the head of the pack, its majestic appearance and intelligence, and the leader's aura that it inadvertently exuded, made him realize at a glance that it was no ordinary dog.

"Haha, it's alright, Brother Hua, they're all Heiwa's children, they know how to behave."

Surrounded by the dogs, Chen Ling beamed with a happy smile. He stroked each dog's head and called out their names.

"Da Mao, Er Mao, San Mao... are you all doing well? Have you missed me?"

The dogs seemed to understand him, barking even more enthusiastically and wagging their tails like windmills.

Just then, two more people strode out of the kennel; it was Lynx and Dahai.

Both were dressed in smart work clothes, their skin tanned dark, but they were full of energy.

"Fugui, you're finally back!..." (End of Chapter)