My 1995 Small Farm.

Xiao Ming held the little muntjac as if it were some rare treasure, handling it with utmost care, even holding his breath softly, afraid of startling the furry little life in his arms.

The little deer was initially trembling slightly, but gradually, feeling the chubby boy's warm embrace and gentle caresses, it slowly calmed down, its dark eyes curiously observing the unfamiliar chubby baby.

"Uncle, it's not afraid of me anymore!"

Xiao Ming lowered his voice in surprise, a bright smile spreading across his face.

Seeing this, Chen Ling's heart softened a bit, and he smiled and said, "Animals are the most intelligent; they know who treats them well."

"I promise I'll treat it well!"

Xiao Ming immediately puffed out his little chest: "I'll build it a little nest, feed it fresh grass every day, and I can also cook for it."

These words made the adults laugh.

Liu Yinhuan shook her head helplessly: "This child can't resist small animals. Fugui, I'm sorry to have caused you trouble."

"What's the trouble?"

Chen Ling waved his hand: "It's good that the children are kind-hearted. Our farm is so big, raising one more deer is nothing. We just have to be careful not to let Afu and Ashou scare them... But Afu and Ashou are very intelligent, I will explain it to them."

After taking another tour of the forest farm and checking the conditions of each breeding area, Zhao Dahai said everything was normal, which put Chen Ling at ease.

"Brother Dahai, how have you been lately? You volunteered to come here and have been busy for so long, and you do look like you've lost weight."

Zhao Dahai chuckled when he heard Chen Ling's words: "Alright, alright, after losing weight, I feel great all over. I reckon I'll be able to conceive my second child soon."

This caused everyone to burst into laughter again.

Indeed.

Zhao Dahai is also a leader, albeit a minor one.

Under normal circumstances, who would stay at the dog farm for almost two months?

Ultimately, I still want a second child.

She's hiding here to give birth.

At the same time, it was also because he listened to Chen Ling's advice.

First, lose some fat and get your body in good shape; then everything will be fine.

Seeing that the sun was already setting, Liang Yuemin suggested, "Fugui, why don't we go back now? We can pick up my parents on the way and have some fun at your place tonight. I haven't had a proper meal with them since I came back this time."

"Okay."

Chen Ling readily agreed: "The villagers gave us a lot of good things yesterday. I'll cook tonight, and we'll have a nice feast."

The group drove away from the forest farm and first went around to Liang's small courtyard north of the county town.

Liang Hongyu and Qin Rongxian, the elderly couple, have renovated their courtyard quite nicely. There is a vegetable garden outside the wall where they have planted some flowers, herbs, and vegetables.

As soon as the car came to a stop, I saw Qin Rongxian wearing reading glasses, squatting by the vegetable patch building trellises for tomatoes, while Liang Hongyu was knitting a sweater on a recliner under the eaves.

"Dad! Mom!" Liang Yuemin called out as he got out of the car.

Qin Rong looked up first and saw her son's family, as well as Chen Ling getting out of another car. Her face immediately lit up with a smile: "Oh my, Yuemin, Yinhuan, Xiaoming! Fugui is here too! Come in, come in!"

Liang Hongyu put down her knitting needles, stood up and came to greet her. She first hugged her grandson Xiaoming, who rushed over and kissed him, then took Liu Yinhuan's hand and looked at her closely: "Yinhuan looks good. You may be busy in the city, but you must take care of your health."

"Mom, I'm fine."

As they chatted, the topic naturally turned to the village primary school and the recent news about the yellow chrysanthemums.

"Mobilizing the masses to reinforce the dikes is a good idea."

Qin Rong pondered for a moment and said, "It can both prevent flooding and gather people to deter wild animals. It's a win-win situation. The city should support this. If not, your aunt and I will go and ask around."

As evening approached, Qin Rong and his wife tidied up, locked the door, and then went to Chenwangzhuang together.

Two cars were driving one after the other on a country road.

The setting sun painted the sky a golden-red hue, softening the outlines of the distant mountains.

In the nearby fields, farmers are carrying their tools home, and wisps of smoke rise from the village, creating a tranquil rural evening scene.

When they returned to the farm, Wang Susu and Gao Xiulan had already prepared the ingredients for dinner:

Fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as mutton and cured meat that Chen Ling brought back yesterday.

A faint aroma of firewood wafted through the courtyard, where Kang Kang and Le Le were crawling around excitedly with A Fu and Ashou.

Wang Zhenzhen and Rui Rui were playing with the turtles under the eaves.

"Uncle, Aunt, please sit down."

Wang Susu greeted them gently, "I haven't had a chance to visit you lately, but I've been troubled by things at home, and I've been troubling you all so much..."

"Don't mention it, you silly girl, you're being too polite with us!"

Liang Hongyu gave Wang Susu a reproachful look, then turned to Kang Kang and Lele, her eyes full of affection.

"I heard that Dahai is also having a second child."

"Yuemin, Yinhuan, why don't you give Xiaoming a younger brother or sister too..."

Liang Yuemin and his companion broke out in a cold sweat.

"Mom, what are you saying? Let Fugui give birth, why are you rushing us?"

"This has nothing to do with me, so don't drag me into it..."

"I have three kids already, that's enough."

Chen Ling washed her hands, tied on her apron, and replied in this direction.

Then he went into the kitchen and started working.

Wang Susu assisted him, while Gao Xiulan chatted with the guests and looked after the children.

Chen Ling plans to make a more lavish meal tonight.

A large fire was burning in the stove, and he started by processing the mutton.

The sheep was delivered from Yangtougou yesterday. It has already been chopped into large pieces and soaked in water to remove the blood.

Heat plenty of oil in a wok, then add scallion segments, ginger slices, Sichuan peppercorns, and dried chili peppers and sauté until fragrant.

Next, stir-fry the mutton until it changes color, then add cooking wine to remove any gamey smell.

Then add enough boiling water, a handful of salt, a few rock sugar pieces, two bay leaves, and a star anise. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer.

While the mutton was stewing, he began preparing other dishes.

The cured pork is sliced ​​thinly, with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, and is translucent.

Wash and cut the garlic sprouts into sections, and cut the green and red peppers into chunks.

Heat oil in a pan, add slices of cured pork and stir-fry until the pork releases its oil and becomes translucent and curled. Add garlic sprouts and chili peppers, stir-fry quickly, drizzle with a little soy sauce, and sprinkle with sugar to enhance the flavor.

Stir-fried garlic sprouts with cured pork is a simple yet delicious dish that goes perfectly with rice.

Yesterday, the villagers gave me some fresh fish. I picked out two large ones and cleaned them.

Make diagonal cuts on both sides of the fish, marinate with salt, cooking wine, scallions and ginger. Boil water in a pot, put the fish in after the water boils, add a few slices of ginger, and steam over medium heat for eight minutes.

After removing the dish, pour out the broth, discard the scallions and ginger, and then top with fresh shredded scallions, ginger, and red peppers, and pour over fermented black beans.

Finally, with a "sizzle," it was poured over with boiling hot oil.

The deliciousness of the steamed fish is instantly brought out.

The tender green beans that were just picked from the field were trimmed at the ends and broken into sections.

Heat oil in a pan, sauté minced garlic until fragrant, add green beans and stir-fry, add salt and a little water, cover and simmer for a few minutes until the green beans are soft and flavorful.

Stir-fried green beans are sweet and refreshing.

There is also a cold dish.

Smash and chop the cucumber, tear the soaked black fungus into small pieces, and add fried peanuts to a bowl. Add minced garlic, salt, sugar, vinegar, and sesame oil, and finally drizzle with a spoonful of chili oil. Mix well and serve.

Sweet, sour, and slightly spicy, it whets the appetite and cuts through the greasiness.

The aroma of stewed mutton filled the entire courtyard. The broth in the pot had thickened, and the mutton was tender and flavorful. Chen Ling sprinkled on some chopped cilantro, turned off the heat, and served it.

Finally, I used the remaining fish head and bones to make a pot of milky white fish head tofu soup, sprinkled it with chopped green onions, and added a few drops of sesame oil.

By the time the dishes were placed on the large round table under the grape trellis, it was already completely dark.

The lanterns under the eaves cast a warm glow, and the dishes on the table steamed and smelled delicious.

"Wow! It smells so good! Uncle's cooking is so delicious, much better than my dad's!"

Xiao Ming's eyes widened, and he couldn't wait to sit on the stool.

“Your uncle’s cooking is indeed delicious, but you can’t praise him to the skies and belittle others, that’s not right!” Liang Yuemin pretended to be unhappy and lectured his son.

The chubby boy just chuckled.

They ran off together with Rui Rui, who was only focused on holding the turtle and shouting.

Everyone sat around, raised their glasses, and started eating.

The mutton is tender, fragrant, and slightly spicy, making people sweat but unable to stop eating.

Stir-fried garlic sprouts with cured pork is savory and delicious with rice; steamed fish is tender and smooth; stir-fried green beans are sweet and refreshing; cucumber salad is crisp and refreshing...

Every dish was incredibly appetizing.

The adults ate and chatted, discussing everything from the construction of the village primary school to the development of the cannery and the idea of ​​a flood control embankment.

Qin Rong listened attentively and offered suggestions from time to time.

"The key to mobilizing the masses lies in organization and mobilization."

Qin Rong put down his chopsticks and said, "The county's documents alone are not enough. We need to make the village secretaries and village heads take it seriously and explain the reasons to everyone..."

"It's not only for flood prevention and safety, but also to earn money to supplement their household income, and more importantly, to prevent the yellow worm from causing trouble. Once the people understand this, their enthusiasm will naturally be high."

Chen Ling nodded: "Uncle Qin is right. Our village party secretary is already very motivated. Other villages still need the township and county governments to do more work."

As they were talking, Liang Yuemin's phone suddenly rang.

He took it out, said "sorry," and walked a little further away to answer the call.

At first, the signal seemed to be weak. He said "hello" a few times and walked a few steps to the edge of the yard. His voice was intermittent.

In the end, we had no choice but to go to the rooftop.

About ten minutes later, he hung up the phone and came back, his face beaming with undisguised joy.

"good news!"

Liang Yuemin sat back down, lowering his voice but unable to hide his excitement.

"That was Secretary-General Li from the city government on the phone. He said that the city leaders attach great importance to our suggestion to mobilize the masses to reinforce the dikes, and think it is very forward-looking and feasible."

"The county will officially issue a notice first thing tomorrow morning, requiring all townships to immediately begin preparations and strive to start construction in full swing after the wheat harvest!"

"Really?" Chen Ling's eyes lit up.

"Absolutely true!"

Liang Yuemin smiled and said, "Secretary-General Li even asked about your situation, saying that Comrade Chen Ling is thoughtful and responsible, and the city leaders appreciate him very much."

"I reckon people from the county will be coming tomorrow, and they'll definitely want to have a chat with you."

Qin Rong clapped his hands and laughed, "Great thing! If this is done well, it will be a great deed. It will prevent flooding, benefit the people, and deter wild animals in the mountains... a triple win!"

Liang Hongyu was also pleased: "Fugui is so quick-witted, he can come up with such a method."

Chen Ling felt relieved and picked up his teacup: "It's mainly because Brother Yuemin ran around doing all the work. He knows everyone in the city and the province. Come on, let's toast everyone with tea instead of wine!"

Everyone raised their glasses in celebration, making the atmosphere even more lively.

Although Xiaoming didn't quite understand the specifics of what the adults were talking about, he knew it was a good thing and laughed along with them.

He and Rui Rui huddled together whispering to each other, and didn't forget to feed the little muntjac a couple of tender vegetable leaves.

After dinner, Wang Susu and Gao Xiulan cleared the dishes, Chen Ling brewed a pot of tea, and everyone sat in the courtyard to continue chatting.

The night breeze was cool and carried the fragrance of grass and trees. In the distance, the faint croaking of frogs and barking of dogs could be heard, creating an exceptionally peaceful atmosphere.

Mr. and Mrs. Qin were elderly, so they sat for a short while before getting up to take their leave.

Chen Ling and Liang Yuemin drove them back to the county town, agreeing to meet again in a couple of days.

When Chen Ling returned to the farm, it was nearly 10 p.m.

Wang Susu had put the children to sleep and was mending clothes in the main room.

Seeing him return, she asked softly, "Are you tired? Wash up and go to bed early."

"I'm not tired, I feel at ease." Chen Ling sat down next to her and squeezed her hand. "The dam issue has been resolved, the threat of the yellow leopard can be alleviated, the village school is under construction... everything is moving in a positive direction."

Wang Susu looked at him gently: "You just love to worry, but... you're only worrying about important things, so I support you."

Chen Ling felt a warm glow in her heart and whispered, "Once everything is sorted out, I'll spend more time with you and the baby. I won't go anywhere for the next two months."

"It would be weird to believe you."

Wang Susu smiled and said, "You're just a restless person."

……

The farm awoke to birdsong the following morning.

As usual, Chen Ling got up early and went to take a walk around the livestock shed first.

"Bull Demon King" seemed to have gotten used to life here. When he saw Chen Ling, he even came over and touched Chen Ling's hand with his nose.

Several cows were in better condition and came over to lick his hand.

"Oh ho, so you've finally given in? That's quite unusual today!"

Chen Ling was greatly surprised. He thought he would have to wait a while, but he didn't expect the Bull Demon King to start approaching him so quickly.

"Okay, okay, it's better to do it this way sooner rather than later..."

Chen Ling patted the Bull Demon King's big head: "Give me more offspring, preferably a powerful second-generation Bull Demon King, to be a son-in-law to the little white ox..."

"Xilulu."

Seeing that he was only with the cow, the little blue horse walked over with great enthusiasm, bellowing loudly.

Its wounds had healed to the point that only a shallow scar remained.

Chen Ling glanced at it, then called it and the little white ox together, added some hay, and rewarded it with some fruits from the cave.

After returning home and having a quick breakfast, I went for a walk on the mountain by myself.

Around noon, he had just returned to the farm and was washing his hands.

"Hey! Hey! Attention all villagers! Attention all villagers!"

It was Wang Laishun's voice, carrying a buzzing electrical sound through the loudspeaker, yet it clearly echoed throughout the entire village.

"Following instructions from higher authorities, in order to do a good job in this year's flood prevention work and protect the lives and property of the people, the county has decided to reinforce and repair the main rivers and reservoir dams throughout the county! Our village is responsible for the downstream section of the Jinshui River and the dam on the east side of the old reservoir!"

"Starting tomorrow, the village will organize able-bodied men to work! The specific arrangements are as follows: each household will send one male laborer aged 18 to 50! Ten work points will be awarded per day, and wages will be settled after the work is completed! Those who perform outstandingly will receive additional rewards!"

"This is a great thing that benefits the country and the people! It can prevent floods and ensure safety, and also provide wages to supplement household income! We hope everyone will respond actively and sign up! This afternoon, the team leaders will count the number of people, and we will start work first thing tomorrow morning!"

The sound of a loudspeaker echoed over the village, startling a flock of mountain birds.

At the farm, Wang Zhenzhen came out holding her new schoolbag, blinking her eyes: "Brother-in-law, are we going to repair the dike?"

"Hmm." Chen Ling nodded: "Good thing, but I don't need to go into battle. I have to lead the tigers on patrol."

Rui Rui asked, seemingly understanding but not quite, "Dad, what's the purpose of building a dike?"

"It's to make the riverbanks stronger so they won't collapse during floods, protecting our crops and houses," Chen Ling explained patiently.

"Oh..." Rui Rui thought for a moment, "Then I want to go help too!"

Chen Ling chuckled: "You're still young. We'll talk about it when you're older." (End of Chapter)