My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 939 A Special Mating, Poisonous May [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

By the time the last goose's wing was clipped, the sun was already setting.

Chen Ling packed up his tools, dusted off the grass clippings on his hands, and looked at the flock of geese that had temporarily lost their ability to fly.

They didn't hold a grudge at all; some even came up to his feet and gently pecked at his trouser leg with their flat beaks, begging for grains of wheat.

"A gluttonous fellow."

Chen Ling laughed and cursed, then grabbed the last handful of wheat grains from the basket and scattered them on the ground.

"After this meal, I won't have time to visit you every day for a while."

"Take good care of the little gosling and teach it skills. Once its feathers have fully grown in summer, we'll have to trim them again."

The geese honked in response, ignoring what he was saying and focusing on pecking at their food.

Wang Zhenzhen and Rui Rui watched with great interest.

The little crab-eating mongoose in Rui Rui's arms seemed very interested in the wild goose, and tried to jump out of Rui Rui's arms several times, but Rui Rui held it tightly each time.

This little guy isn't much bigger than a weasel.

If you dare to mess with the wild geese, you'll only get beaten up.

"Brother-in-law, with their wings clipped, won't these geese get bullied by the village dogs?"

Wang Zhenzhen asked with some concern.

"how could be."

Chen Ling shook his head: "Didn't I tell you? Our geese are all domesticated geese. You've seen how strong geese are. Geese are no less powerful than geese and are not to be trifled with. If it really comes down to a fight, it's hard to say whether a dog could win."

He slung the bamboo basket over his shoulder and took Rui Rui's hand in one hand, saying, "Let's go, it's time to go home."

Back at the farm, Gao Xiulan was busy in the kitchen.

Wang Susu was picking vegetables in the yard with Kang Kang and Lele. When she saw them return, she smiled and asked, "Finished picking? Did it go smoothly?"

"It went very smoothly." Chen Ling put down the bamboo basket: "Those geese were very well-behaved; they didn't struggle much even when their wings were clipped."

"That's good." Wang Susu stood up: "Rui Rui, Zhen Zhen, wash your hands, it's time to eat. Hasn't Brother Hua come back yet?"

"He said the lynx invited him to eat our local beef in the county town and that he would be back later."

Chen Ling went to the well to fetch water and wash his hands: "I'm going to go to the dog farm and check on the situation."

"Shall we eat first before we go?"

"I'm not hungry. I'll eat when I get back, or I can grab a bite in the county town."

There are babies at home, so they eat very early every day.

It's four or five o'clock in the afternoon now, time for the kids' special meal.

Chen Ling doesn't eat when he's not hungry.

He dried his hands and said to Wang Zhenzhen, "Hurry up and take Rui Rui to eat. After you eat, go do your homework and catch up on your lessons. It's time to send you to school next week."

Wang Zhenzhen stuck out her tongue and pulled Rui Rui to wash her hands.

Chen Ling pulled out his motorcycle, greeted Wang Susu, and headed towards the county town.

……

Forest farm dog farm.

When Chen Ling arrived, the place was bustling with activity.

Lynx and Zhao Dahai were busy in the largest kennel, and Zhang Lihua was also there, holding a small notebook and taking notes.

"Hey, Fugui's here!" Zhao Dahai, with his sharp eyes, was the first to spot Chen Ling.

The lynx looked up, a smile on its face: "I was just talking about you. Here you are. So, has construction started on the village school yet?"

"No, probably in the next day or two."

As Chen Ling entered the kennel, he was immediately drawn to the lively scene inside.

This kennel houses several adult mixed-breed dogs, as well as large dogs of special breeds.

Some of them were brought from the village by lynxes, such as the black German Shepherd that Little Sheep brought to Wang Lixian.

Some of them were stray dogs that Erhei and his gang had abducted from around the forest area, dogs that no one wanted.

At this moment, a peculiar restless atmosphere permeated the kennel.

Several female dogs were clearly in heat; their tails were turned to one side, their vulvas were red and swollen, and they emitted a strong odor.

The male dogs around were extremely excited, pacing restlessly in their respective cages and emitting low growls.

Some even pawed at the railings with their front paws, staring intently at the female dogs in heat.

"Is it in heat?" Chen Ling raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, they're in heat."

Lynx wiped his sweat: "It's the end of spring, and summer is just around the corner. It's the peak season for dogs to go into heat... Several female dogs have gone into heat in the last few days, and the male dogs are getting really restless."

Zhang Lihua came closer, her eyes shining: "Ah Ling, you've come at the right time. The Lynx brothers are explaining how to seize the right time for mating. I've learned a lot."

Chen Ling looked toward a corner of the kennel, where two particularly robust male dogs were kept separately.

One was Da Mao, Heiwa's son, and the other was a second-generation wolfhound that Shanmao brought from Wang Lixian's house.

That is, one of those four grown-up wolfhounds.

Wang Lixian got involved in the dog farm business.

Both dogs were breeding dogs reserved by the kennel, and they were growling at each other across the fence, clearly competing for mating rights.

"They need to be distributed separately."

Lynx pointed to the record in the notebook: "This female dog number three is in heat for the first time, so we need to find a gentle and experienced male dog... Female dog number seven has already given birth to a litter, so she can be bred with Big Fur. Her offspring should be of good size."

Zhao Dahai added from the side: "We have to keep a close eye on them and make sure no one who shouldn't be paired up gets paired. If our dog farm wants to produce good dogs in the future, we need to be strict with pedigree management."

Chen Ling nodded and walked to Da Mao's cage.

When Da Mao saw him, he immediately wagged his tail and came over, but his eyes kept glancing in the direction of the female dog in heat.

"You're getting on in years, kid."

Chen Ling patted Da Mao's head: "Don't worry, I'll find you a good wife."

Da Mao whimpered twice and rubbed its head against Chen Ling's hand.

"Fugui, you've come at the perfect time."

Lynx said, "Tomorrow I want to take a few dogs to the breeding farm for mating. It's a big place there, and letting them mate naturally will be more effective than artificial assistance."

"Okay."

Chen Ling readily agreed: "The farm is probably bustling with activity right now. Normally, at this time of year, not only dogs, but also cows, sheep, and deer are in their mating season."

"Really?" Zhang Lihua became interested. "Can I go and take a look? I've never seen anything like this at the kennels on Hong Kong Island."

"Why not?" Chen Ling laughed. "Let's go together tomorrow, and I'll show you something."

"It's too late today, let's find a restaurant to eat at, and I'll let you try the authentic local cuisine..."

that's it……

For dinner, we had local braised beef and roast chicken.

A small beer to drink.

The next morning arrived.

Chen Ling, Shanmao, and Zhang Lihua set off from the village in a tractor.

The morning breeze in May is exceptionally refreshing, and the wheat fields on both sides of the road ripple with waves of yellow.

In the distance, the mountains are lush and green, and birdsong fills the air.

"The weather is so nice."

Sitting in the back of the truck, Zhang Lihua took a deep breath into the mountain breeze: "It's neither too hot nor too cold, it's the perfect time."

"It's late spring and early summer."

Chen Ling gripped the steering wheel: "At this time of year, the mountains and rivers warm up, the earth's energy rises, and animals are at their most energetic, making it the perfect season for breeding."

"Speaking of which, that's exactly what I wanted to ask you."

Zhang Lihua turned around and looked at Lynx in the back seat: "Brother Lynx, why is late spring the peak mating season? I raise dogs on Hong Kong Island, and I've also noticed that female dogs are in heat particularly frequently at this time." Lynx smiled: "Let Fugui talk about this; he knows more about it."

Chen Ling didn't refuse and explained while driving the tractor, "Brother Hua, this has to do with what our ancestors said. The older generation called the fifth month of the lunar calendar 'poisonous fifth month,' do you know why?"

"Poisonous May?"

Zhang Lihua shook her head: "I grew up in Taiwan, I've never heard of it."

"The fifth month of the lunar calendar is around June in the Gregorian calendar, which is the end of spring and the beginning of summer."

Chen Ling said, "At this time, the weather turns hot, there is more rain and high humidity, and various poisonous insects and germs begin to become active."

"The ancients believed that this month was when 'five poisonous creatures emerged'—snakes, scorpions, centipedes, geckos, and toads all came out, hence the name 'Poisonous May'."

"But what does that have to do with animal mating?"

"It's very important."

Chen Ling turned the tractor onto the dirt road leading to the forest farm: "Think about it, animals are much more sensitive than humans."

"They can sense the changing seasons and know that spring is about to pass and summer is coming."

"Summer is a good time to raise offspring because food is plentiful."

"Therefore, they must seize the opportunity to mate in late spring, so that they can be pregnant for one or two months and give birth in the hottest part of summer. The offspring are born just in time for the season with the most abundant food, and the survival rate is the highest."

Zhang Lihua suddenly realized: "So that's how it is! No wonder all the dogs in my kennel go into heat around this time."

"Not just dogs."

The lynx chimed in, "It's the same with large livestock like cattle, sheep, and deer. When the grass grows in the spring, they eat until they're plump and strong, and their physical condition is at its best. When they mate at this time, their offspring are also the healthiest."

After the lynx finished speaking.

Chen Ling added, "To put it simply, at this time, the earth's energy rises and the sky's energy falls, and the two energies of heaven and earth merge, that is, the yin and yang energies combine, which drives this major breeding season."

"At this time of year, everyone involved in aquaculture, regardless of what they raise, is busy."

"These things can get really horny when they're in heat..."

“No other time, if you go for a walk in the mountains and encounter a snake, you might not be in any danger. But if you encounter one now, it might chase after you and bite you…”

"That's when they're most aggressive."

As Zhang Lihua listened, all her previous doubts were suddenly resolved.

"Oh, so that's it."

"There's another way to say that."

As they were talking, the car had already driven into the forest.

Pick up female dogs in heat at the dog farm and select a suitable male dog.

They got on the tractor and were taken together to the breeding farm on the southernmost side of the forest farm.

Before Chen Ling went to Hong Kong Island, the rams in the flock started to become agitated.

The livestock here are even more restless now.

It's morning now, so the herd of cattle isn't very noticeable yet.

In the nearest cattle-raising area, a dozen or so yellow cattle are grazing leisurely.

These cattle are mostly yellow or brownish-yellow in color, with a well-proportioned body and firm muscles.

It is the best local yellow cattle breed.

Zhang Lihua immediately noticed a particularly robust bull in the center of the herd.

Although it is far inferior to the Bull Demon King, it is almost a size larger than other cattle in the yellow cattle herd.

Its fur is a deep yellow, almost brown, with a healthy sheen in the sunlight.

Its short horns are also thicker and curved in a crescent shape.

With a thick neck and a broad chest, he stood out from the crowd.

"This bull is quite good, comparable to those wild yellow cattle on Lantau Island..."

Zhang Lihua raised her camera.

"This is the best local breeding cattle. The beef you ate yesterday is definitely better than the beef from Lantau Island."

Chen Ling explained.

As they were talking, several cows in heat slowly approached the bull.

The cows seemed very proactive; some nuzzled the bull's neck with their noses, while others made low mooing sounds.

Its tail was slightly raised, revealing its swollen, red vulva.

The bull seemed very familiar with this scene; it first carefully sniffed the rump of each cow with its nose.

Then select the cow that is in the best shape and condition.

The selected cow immediately quieted down, her hooves slightly apart, ready to be mated.

The bull calmly and gently lifts its front hooves and places them on the cow's back, then completes the mating with a steady and powerful movement.

The whole process was unhurried, full of power and rhythm.

"So smooth?"

Zhang Lihua exclaimed in surprise: "It's not as aggressive as a bison, nor as hesitant as some other cattle."

"These are the characteristics of a good breeding cow."

The lynx explained from the side: "It's experienced, calm, and knows when to do what. You see, before mating, it carefully sniffs to make sure the cow is in the best estrus period, which maximizes the success rate of mating."

Chen Ling added, "Moreover, it knows how to choose. Among so many cows in heat, it first picks the one with the best physique. After such a cow becomes pregnant, it can provide the best nutrition for the calf, and the delivery will be smooth."

After the bull had mated with one, it quickly selected a second one.

The whole process was orderly and highly efficient.

The other young bulls watched longingly from a distance, but dared not approach.

They were smaller than bulls and much less imposing.

"Are those young bulls afraid to fight?" Zhang Lihua asked.

"It's not that I don't dare, it's that I'm not qualified."

Chen Ling laughed and said, "In a cattle herd, mating rights are earned through strength. The young bulls in the herd now are all calves from last year, they are still too young and can't breed."

"This bull is now the king of the bulls, and the other calves have to wait until it has finished mating before they can pick up the leftovers."

As they were talking, the bull finished mating with the third cow and stopped to rest.

A young bull tentatively approaches a cow that has just come into heat. The bull immediately raises its head and lets out a deep bellow.

The young bull was so frightened that it took a few steps back and dared not go any further.

"This is the hierarchical order."

"That's how it is in cattle herds with less human intervention," Lynx said. "It ensures that the strongest bulls leave offspring, which is good for the whole herd."

"Let's go take a look over there." Chen Ling led the two towards the sheep-raising area.

The sheep-raising area presents a completely different scene.

Dozens of goats and sheep are kept together, and it is currently the peak of the sheep's estrus period.

Rams chased ewes all over the field, and the air was filled with a strong muttony smell.

Several rams stood upright and butted each other with their horns in a struggle for mating rights, making a "bang" sound.

"Are they having a duel?" Zhang Lihua asked.

"Yes, only the winner has the right to mate."

Chen Ling pointed to one of the particularly robust male goats: "Look at that one, it has the longest and thickest horns. When we were on the farm, it would climb up the mountainside all day long. Before I went to Hong Kong Island, this guy was always jumping around in circles, it was really fierce."

As they were talking, the male goat knocked over its opponent once again.

Then, triumphantly, he ran to a ewe and mated with her.

"Mating in sheep is much more intense than in cattle."

The lynx said, "Rams will fight tooth and nail for mating rights, so we have to be careful not to hurt them too badly."

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