My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 936 Ah Ling, You're Going Astray
After a round of laughter and merriment, everyone was still somewhat reluctant to leave.

But they also know how to maintain boundaries.

Gradually, their attention shifted back to the important matters of the village primary school.

"Fifth Uncle, the plan is basically what it is; the key is its implementation."

"Tomorrow we're going to the county. It would be best if we could invite the experienced construction workers or technicians from the construction team to come down and take a look at the site and make a preliminary budget."

"Money should be spent wisely, but we cannot skimp on things that need to be sturdy and secure."

"Yes, yes, that makes sense."

Wang Laishun nodded repeatedly: "I'll go with Lixian tomorrow; he knows the area well."

After chatting for a while, as the sun began to set, Chen Ling stood up and said, "Let's go, Brother Hua. Let's get some good dishes tonight, have a good drink, and shut your gossipy mouth."

Zhang Lihua laughed heartily, stood up, patted his bottom, and said, "Sure, I've been wanting to try your cooking for a while now."

"But Ah Ling, I'm not gossiping, I'm stating a fact. Your charm has been certified by the people of Hong Kong!"

"You still said that!"

Chen Ling pretended to hit him, but Zhang Lihua laughed and dodged.

The two said goodbye to Zhao Yubao, Wang Laishun and others, and walked along the dirt road by the river towards the farm under the still smiling gazes of the villagers.

On the way, Zhang Lihua couldn't help but sigh, "Ah Ling, I really admire you."

"A beautiful woman throws herself into your arms, and a career opportunity is offered—things many people dream of, and you just refuse them like that?"

"To be able to stay in this village and settle down is a remarkable composure."

Chen Ling looked at the wisps of smoke rising from his farm in the distance, shook his head and smiled: "Brother Hua, it's not that I have good willpower, it's that I know what I want."

"No matter how wonderful the outside world is, it's not my home."

"At home, I have a wife waiting for me to eat, noisy kids, a dog wagging its tail to greet me, and livestock that need my service..."

"These are the real, down-to-earth days that bring me peace of mind."

He pointed to the tranquil village bathed in the setting sun, the wheat fields shimmering in warm light, and the faint silhouettes of animals visible in his own orchard:
"Look here, isn't everything here more practical and satisfying than those empty and superficial things?"

Zhang Lihua looked in the direction he pointed. Chenwangzhuang was peaceful and picturesque in the twilight. Villagers who had worked hard all day carried their farm tools home. Smoke rose from the chimneys, dogs barked, and the sounds of children playing could be faintly heard.

All of this was completely different from the neon-lit hustle and bustle of Hong Kong Island that he was familiar with, yet it possessed a unique, heart-touching tranquility.

He paused for a moment, took a deep breath of the air filled with the fragrance of grass and earth, and slowly nodded: "Yes, that's reassuring, Ah Ling, you've figured out how to live."

As they talked, they reached the entrance of the farm.

Little Iron Egg barked and rushed over.

"Brother-in-law! Brother Zhang!"

"Come and see, the baby salamanders are starting to come out again..."

Wang Zhenzhen and Rui Rui squatted by the ditch, with Rui Rui still holding the crab-eating mongoose in his arms.

"Lingzi, that fish you mentioned before, I think it's called cedarwood fish, right? A lot of them have suddenly appeared these past two days, they're everywhere in the irrigation ditches."

Gao Xiulan, who was watching over the children in the pavilion next to her, said.

Kang Kang and Lele sat on the rocks under the pavilion, playing with an ant nest with small sticks. When they saw Chen Ling, they waved their little hands and made little noises.

He called out "Daddy" in a childish voice.

"It must be the season. This stuff is also a medicinal herb, but I don't know if it's edible..."

Chen Ling walked over and picked up the two little ones: "You two, even with your grandma, you don't give her any peace of mind."

"Brother Hua, come and take a look, our little giant salamanders here..."

This scene caused the last bit of restless excitement from the city in Zhang Lihua's heart to subside.

"Hey, here we come."

He smiled and agreed, then followed Chen Ling to the edge of the canal, where he saw the true appearance of the so-called baby salamander and was immediately amazed.

I squatted down and watched for a long time.

The canal contains not only cedarwood fish.

Small fish, shrimp, tadpoles, and turtles, in groups.

Some fish even sleep on the leaves of aquatic plants, and some even rush out of the water to catch mosquitoes and flying insects.

Zhang Lihua was stunned.

Even when it was time for dinner in the evening, he was still reluctant to leave.

Dinner was indeed plentiful.

Chen Ling stewed wild mushrooms and free-range chicken, which Wang Susu loved, steamed cured pork, stir-fried eggs from his own farm, and even made a non-spicy dish of minced meat and tofu for Zhang Lihua.

The staple foods are soft white flour steamed buns and sorghum porridge.

They mainly wanted Zhang Lihua to try things like sorghum porridge and wheat porridge, which they themselves didn't often drink.

Let's eat something fresh.

The guests and hosts enjoy a meal together.

After dinner, Chen Ling took Afu and Ashou out for a walk.

The purpose was to patrol around the farm, putting invisible pressure and warning on the Bull Demon King and his wild bulls.

The night breeze was cool and carried the fresh scent of the fields.

A few barks came from afar, and further away were the blurry outlines of mountains, while the Milky Way shone brightly in the sky.

After inspecting the wounds of the little blue horse, Chen Ling turned and went back.

After Zhang Lihua had eaten and drunk his fill, he went to the backyard to drink tea.

He smiled when he saw Chen Ling approaching.

"Ah Ling, this place is really nice."

Looking at the tranquil village and the dazzling starry sky, he remarked, "On Hong Kong Island, all you see at night are neon lights, and all you hear are the sounds of cars and people."

"Here, you can see the stars, hear the chirping of insects and the barking of dogs... I feel especially at ease."

"Now I finally understand why you like staying in the village."

His words were filled with emotion.

In fact, most Chinese people share this sentiment.

They will awaken at a certain age.

Zhang Lihua has undoubtedly reached this age.

I love mountains and rivers, I love tranquility, I love the peace and serenity of this paradise.

“If Brother Hua likes it, he can come and live here like Uncle Zhao and the others. There’s so much land on the hillside, you can just pick any spot and build a house.”

Chen Ling said sincerely, "We may not have much else here, but we have plenty of fresh air, beautiful scenery, and delicious food and wine."

"Haha, okay, I'll bring my wife and kids with me when I go back to Taiwan!"

Zhang Lihua laughed and patted Chen Ling on the shoulder.

Then we followed him to visit the abandoned tiger den of Afu and Ashou, which is now occupied by many yellow-margined turtles.

Another round of exclamations of amazement followed.

"Let's go back to sleep. Tomorrow I'll talk to Brother Lynx and see when we can go to the city to bring the dog over for him!"

"No problem, I'll come with you guys if I'm free in the next couple of days."

The two chatted and laughed as they turned and went back into the house.

In the courtyard, the lights gradually went out, and the farm fell silent.

Only from the cowshed came the occasional moo of cows and the rustling of the night wind through the treetops, making it all the more quiet.

Chen Ling returned to the bedroom, where Wang Susu had already put the children to sleep and was making the beds.

Women are indeed sensitive.

When Chen Ling returned, he asked what they had talked about on the slope that afternoon.

She heard them laughing for a long time in the vegetable garden outside the farm. "It's nothing."

Chen Ling took out several apricots and handed one to Wang Susu: "That Hong Kong actress is still not giving up. She wants to invest in our shop through Brother Yuemin, but I refused."

Upon hearing this, Wang Susu smiled, her eyes filled with understanding and a hint of teasing: "It seems our Ah Ling is quite the hot commodity now. Even after he left, his suitors have come all the way across the sea."

"What peach blossoms? They're more like rotten peach blossoms."

Chen Ling reached out and put his arm around his wife's waist, and whispered, "In my eyes, all the flowers in the world combined are not as beautiful as my wife."

Wang Susu blushed and playfully slapped him: "You're so improper! What will the children think if they see this!"

But I felt a sweet warmth in my heart.

"Is everything settled outside?"

Wang Susu asked softly.

"Well, Little Blue Horse's injury isn't a big problem, and those cows are pretty well-behaved."

Chen Ling walked over, gently hugged his wife from behind, rested his chin on her shoulder, and inhaled the familiar fragrance of her hair:

"Home is still the best."

Wang Susu leaned gently against him and held his hand: "You've been tired for so many days, get some rest."

"Not urgent."

Chen Ling whispered something in her ear.

"Pah, you've gone astray in Hong Kong. All I know is you carrying your baby around and not watching TV properly..."

Wang Susu gave him a reproachful look, but still snuggled into his arms.

Then the two of them quietly went to the next room.

The next morning, Chen Ling got up early and went to the livestock pen first.

After two days of rest and nourishment from the food at the farm, "Bull Demon King" and his "harem" are in better condition.

Upon seeing Chen Ling, the Bull Demon King didn't even look up, silently eating the fodder in the trough.

The cows were much more docile, or rather, even more docile than before.

The little white calf remained aloof, quietly grazing on the other side of the orchard, maintaining an elegant distance from its new neighbor.

Chen Ling checked their condition, added some hay and water, and even threw two extra fruits from the cave to the Bull Demon King.

The Bull Demon King looked up at him, sniffed at him, and finally couldn't resist the temptation. He rolled his tongue and ate it.

"Take it slow, there will come a time when you completely give in."

Chen Ling smiled and stopped disturbing them.

He then went to the stables to see the little blue horse.

After undergoing some "special training" in the cave, this guy is noticeably more obedient.

Upon seeing Chen Ling, she affectionately nuzzled against him.

Chen Ling examined the wound on its neck, which was healing well, and rewarded it with a handful of fresh alfalfa.

Then they opened the cage doors of the chicken coop and duck shed, letting out the only chickens, ducks and geese to roam the hillsides and peck at insects and grass seeds.

Then he carried a basket on his back, and took a sickle and a wood-chopping knife to the mountain.

He had already checked on the geese in the greenhouse yesterday. The villagers knew he raised them, so no one tried to sabotage them.

Those geese will definitely have their wings clipped later.

Otherwise, they will soon revert to their wild nature.

The reason we're ignoring them for now is because they're still leading the young goslings that haven't hatched yet.

Once the goslings have learned their skills, they can be gradually tamed together.

The mountains in May are full and generous.

Because Chen Ling got up very early, the morning mist had not yet completely dissipated.

Like a thin, damp veil, it entwines itself in the forest.

The air is filled with the unique sweet scent of sprouting plants and ripening flowers and fruits; taking a deep breath feels like your lungs have been cleansed.

Chen Ling carried a bamboo basket on his back and stepped into the soft, thick layer of fallen leaves, wet with dew, alone.

The mountain road winds its way through the landscape, and the familiar scenery appears even more lush and verdant after more than a month's absence.

Clumps of dark purple mulberries weighed down the branches in the bushes by the roadside.

The ripe fruit gleamed with an alluring dark sheen in the morning light. It would fall off with the slightest touch of a finger, its juices plentiful, sweet with just the right amount of tartness.

Chen Ling casually picked a few and popped them into her mouth, her mouth watering. She then picked some of the better-looking ones and put them in the basket to take back for the children to try.

Go further up, on the sunny hillside.

Among the low thickets of thorns, there are dense clusters of bright red berries.

These were wild strawberries, which are what Xun Ge'er called raspberries or wild strawberries.

These thumb-sized berries are a bright red, like concentrated agate, with glistening dewdrops on their surface.

Pick one and put it in your mouth, and the pure and rich sweet aroma of wild fruit explodes instantly.

Chen Ling walked a short distance along the hillside and picked about half a basketful of bright red flowers, which looked very appealing.

After turning a bend in the mountain, several lush shrubs came into view, covered with spindle-shaped, orange-red fruits.

Its skin is smooth with some slightly white spots; it's a goat milk fruit.

When fully ripe, this fruit becomes translucent, with soft, juicy flesh and a sweet and sour taste, offering a unique flavor.

Chen Ling remembered that Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen both loved eating this, so she carefully picked some more and lined them with mulberry leaves from the basket to prevent them from being crushed by other fruits.

Besides these, there are also many wildflowers in bloom in the forest, as well as some medicinal herb seedlings.

Chen Ling walked around, stopping frequently, and whenever he encountered something good, he would transplant it into the cave or collect some seeds.

For him, every trip into the mountains is like a treasure hunt, and he always makes some new discoveries.

The deeper you go into the mountains, the fewer traces of human intervention you see; the trees grow taller and denser, and the birdsong becomes increasingly clear and frequent.

The sun is coming out.

Sunlight filtered through the layers of tree canopy, transforming into beams of golden light that slanted down, illuminating the swirling dust and the occasional darting animal.

After walking for about half an hour, we turned back around.

After passing through the last dense grove of trees, the view suddenly opened up before us.

Nestled amidst mountains, a vast lake lies quietly.

It is like a huge piece of jade that has fallen to earth, or like a piece of jade pool in heaven that has been accidentally poured here.

"Yamachu Lake, it's been so long since I've been here, it's become even more beautiful."

The lake water is extremely clear, and fine sand and pebbles and swaying aquatic plants can be seen near the shore.

The sunlight shone unhindered on the vast lake, making it sparkle and shimmer with a golden sheen.

The lake water's color gradually transitions from a light turquoise near the shore to a deep blue-green in the center, displaying an astonishing depth.

The lake surface was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the surrounding verdant mountains and the cotton-like white clouds in the azure sky.

Heaven and earth seem to overlap here, making it impossible to distinguish between the real scene and the reflection.

Occasionally, a fish leaps out of the water, creating ripples that break the extreme tranquility, yet add to the liveliness.

The lake shoreline is winding and beautiful, covered with large, dense reed beds.

By this time, the reeds had grown to be more than a person's height, lush and upright.

The reeds at the top had not yet sprouted, and they rustled in the breeze.

This is where the flock of red-crowned cranes often rests and forages. Chen Ling wanted to see if they had laid eggs this season.

"The weather is getting warmer, and Xiaoman (Grain Buds) is just around the corner. Birds will come in droves during Xiaoman..."

"I hope this year will bring me some surprises!"

People who read this book also read >>