My 1995 Small Farm.

When Ah Fu and Ah Shou heard that they were going to go into the water, they became excited and strode ahead.

Heiwa and Xiaojin naturally stood guard on either side, while Xiaotiedan, with his short legs, excitedly ran back and forth.

Rui Rui and Xiao Ming were like birds released from their cages, chattering away non-stop.

The procession arrived at the reservoir in a rather impressive display.

After several months without large-scale fishing, the shallows and areas teeming with aquatic plants exposed by the receding water level in the reservoir appear even more vibrant.

The water shimmered in the sunlight, and a gentle breeze brought moisture, instantly making it feel much cooler.

Chen Ling did not rush to take action. He first strolled around the reservoir and observed it carefully.

Two years ago, there were many crayfish in the shallow waters. After Sun Yanhong opened her shop, she caught and sold them.

He had expected fewer this year, but upon closer inspection, he was pleasantly surprised.

At the entrances of some muddy bank caves partially obscured by aquatic plants, crayfish could be clearly seen moving around. They seemed to be larger than those seen last year, waving their dark red claws.

Moreover, he actually saw quite a few rather large river crabs in some crevices of rocks and at the roots of aquatic plants, their bluish-brown shells faintly visible underwater.

"Huh? This is an unexpected surprise."

Chen Ling thought to himself, "It seems that the ecological environment of the reservoir is getting better and better. Not only are there more crayfish, but there are also more crabs."

It's estimated that the subtle influence of the spiritual water from the grotto has made this area more nutrient-rich.

"Dad, where are the crayfish?" Rui Rui asked impatiently.

"Don't rush, watch Daddy."

Chen Ling smiled and took out several prepared fish traps and nets.

He first put some bait mixed with chicken intestines and animal offal into the fish trap, and then carefully placed it in a place with abundant aquatic plants and possible caves.

"Xiaoming, Ruirui, you two take Xiaotiedan and try using a net in this shallow area. The water's shallow, so be careful. Catch any crayfish, small fish, or shrimp you see," Chen Ling instructed the two younger ones.

"Okay!" The two children excitedly took their small nets, rolled up their trousers, and carefully waded into the knee-deep shallow water.

Little Iron Egg barked and rushed into the water, splashing around, but it was too small. Not only did it not help, it stirred up the water, causing Rui Rui and Xiao Ming to yell loudly.

Chen Ling looked on and laughed.

He then called out to Ah Fu and Ah Shou, "Ah Fu, Ah Shou, don't you two like water? Go play in a deeper spot, and see if you can help me stir up the water plants over there and scare away the fish and shrimp hiding in there."

Upon hearing this, Afu and Ashou let out a low growl and stepped gracefully into the water.

Their massive bodies created waves as soon as they entered the water.

The two tigers seemed to really enjoy swimming. They paddled leisurely in the deep water, sometimes burying their heads in the water, sometimes splashing each other and having a great time.

Their commotion indeed startled the creatures in the aquatic plants, and many small fish and shrimp darted out in panic. Even a few unlucky crayfish were carried out by the current.

"Uncle! Look! There's a big lobster over there!" Xiao Ming, with sharp eyes, pointed to the water plants that Afu was stirring up and shouted.

Chen Ling looked closely and sure enough, a small crayfish, as long as a palm, with a thick shell and large claws, was frantically crawling towards the shore.

Before he could even make a move, the little white calf, who had been quietly following beside him, suddenly lowered its head gracefully and gently nudged the snarling crayfish with its nose, sending it tumbling over onto the grassy bank where it futilely waved its large claws.

"Haha, Little White Ox is really amazing!" Rui Rui clapped his hands and laughed.

The little water buffalo, on the other hand, was naturally fond of water. Upon seeing the reservoir, it became excited and, without being urged, walked into the shallow water area on its own, comfortably soaking in it, with only its head and back sticking out. Its large ears twitched to shoo away mosquitoes and flies, looking completely content.

Seeing this, Chen Ling simply handed the net over to Wang Susu and Gao Xiulan, letting them try to catch the shrimp and crabs that had been startled from the shore from a safe spot.

He rolled up his pants and went into the water, ready to catch some big ones himself.

He had a clear goal and headed straight for the muddy banks that looked like they had caves.

Sure enough, large crayfish were lurking at the entrances of some caves.

Chen Ling was skilled and seized the opportunity to strike quickly. He pinched the back of the lobster's carapace with his thumb and forefinger from behind, and no matter how the lobster waved its large claws, it couldn't grab him.

In no time, the bucket in his hand contained more than a dozen lively and enormous lobsters.

In addition to lobsters, he also discovered several gathering places for river crabs.

Although these river crabs are not as famous as the Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs, they eat natural aquatic plants and small fish and shrimp in the reservoir all year round. Each one has a green shell and a white belly, and feels quite heavy when you pick it up.

Chen Ling carefully avoided the crab claws and captured them one by one.

After playing in the water to their hearts' content, Afu and Ashou also began to take an interest in "hunting".

Ah Shou dove down into the water, and when he resurfaced, he had a large, struggling crucian carp in his mouth. He threw the fish onto the shore and gave Chen Ling a triumphant growl, as if showing off.

"Well done, you two really did a great job today!" Chen Ling praised with a smile.

For a time, the reservoir was filled with laughter and joy.

The children's screams, the women's laughter, the men's instructions, the dogs' barking, and the tiger's occasional growl and the buffalo's mooing all intertwine to create a lively summer pastoral symphony.

In less than two hours, the harvest far exceeded Chen Ling's expectations.

The two large buckets they brought were filled with two different things: one was full of small, clawing crayfish, and the other mainly contained plump river crabs, as well as several large crucian carp and grass carp contributed by Afu and Ashou.

The production of crayfish has not decreased due to normal water levels this year; on the contrary, the quality has improved due to the optimized ecological environment.

Looking at the bountiful harvest, Chen Ling was overjoyed.

Tonight I can make a spicy crayfish dish, steam a big plate of river crabs, and braise a fish. This meal is so good, even the emperor wouldn't want to eat it!
"Alright, alright, that's enough. We can't finish any more." Chen Ling called everyone ashore.

Although the children were still eager for more, they were quite satisfied with their abundant harvest.

Xiao Ming and Rui Rui were soaked to the bone, but they were laughing heartily. Xiao Tie Dan was also drenched, but he was still wagging his tail excitedly.

Afu and Ashou shook their massive bodies, shaking off the water droplets, resembling a moving miniature waterfall in the sunlight.

The little water buffalo reluctantly emerged from the water, its body still wet.

The group returned to the farm in a grand procession, laden with abundant spoils and filled with joy.

The setting sun cast long shadows of them, casting a warm glow along the way.

Back at the farm, Chen Ling immediately began preparing dinner.

Gao Xiulan and Wang Susu helped clean the crayfish and river crabs.

Chen Ling then put on an apron and showed off her skills.

Spicy crayfish is the main attraction.

Heat a wok with plenty of oil, then add scallions, ginger, garlic, Sichuan peppercorns, and dried chili peppers and stir-fry until fragrant.

Add homemade fermented soybean paste and stir-fry until the oil turns red. Then add the cleaned crayfish and stir-fry over high heat.

Add cooking wine, soy sauce, sugar and a little salt to taste, and finally pour in a can of beer, cover the pot and simmer.

Before long, the enticing aroma of spicy and savory flavors filled the entire courtyard, making mouths water.

Steamed river crabs are much simpler. After washing them, place them belly-up in a steamer, add ginger slices, and steam over high heat for 15 minutes after the water boils. This way, you can enjoy their original, fresh flavor.

Then, using the fish that Afu and Ashou caught, I made a braised fish dish.

At dinner time, the large round table under the grape trellis was filled with dishes that looked and smelled delicious.

The bright red spicy crayfish were piled up like a small mountain, the orange-red steamed river crabs gleamed enticingly, and the braised fish chunks with rich, dark sauce were incredibly appetizing, all served with a few stir-fried seasonal vegetables and a pot of white rice.

Everyone sat around, forgetting all about appearances, and started peeling shrimp with their hands. Xiaoming and Ruirui had a competition to see who could peel shrimp faster, their mouths dripping with oil as they ate.

Liang Yuemin and Liu Yinhuan also praised it highly.

As Chen Ling peeled crabs for everyone, he drank ice-cold beer, felt the cool summer night breeze, and listened to the laughter of his family. He felt that this was the most beautiful aspect of life.

……

The weather is getting warmer.

May is said to be a month of poison, but when May truly arrives, the air is filled with the fragrance of fruits.

The whole world seemed to become more abundant and vibrant.

As dawn broke, Chen Ling pushed open the door and was immediately surrounded by the sounds of birdsong.

The sounds were not scattered, but layered, high and low, near and far, weaving a dense and vibrant sound network that enveloped the villages, fields, forests and farms.

"The birds come in full at the Lesser Fullness of Grain, this is absolutely true."

Chen Ling took a deep breath of the air, which was sweet with dew and fragrant with grass and trees, and squinted at the orchard and the distant mountains and forests.

Sure enough, all I could see were birds.

Under the eaves, last year's old swallow nest has been renovated. Several swallows carry mud and grass stalks, moving lightly in and out, chirping and discussing their plans for raising their young.

Under the newly built eaves of the farm, several new nests have appeared, clearly indicating that the swallows that arrived this year have chosen this auspicious spot.

The orchard was bustling with activity.

On the branches of the peach and apricot trees, several round, plump figures were perched—they were turtledoves.

With grayish-brown feathers and black and white spots on the back of its neck, it was making a deep, resonant "coo-coo-coo" sound, carrying a hint of憨厚 (honest and simple) charm.

They weren't very afraid of people. When Chen Ling approached, they would just tilt their heads and look at him with their small, black bean-like eyes before continuing to preen their feathers or hop around on the branches, pecking at the unripe fruit.

"These greedy fellows."

Chen Ling laughed and cursed, then walked closer to a peach tree to take a closer look.

Sure enough, small pits had been pecked into the tips of several early-ripening, bright red peaches, revealing the sweet flesh inside.

The turtledove is a habitual offender, always choosing to eat the sweetest fruit.

Besides doves, there were many other small and agile birds.

Sparrows, needless to say, are always the largest and noisiest group, hopping and foraging among the branches and leaves of fruit trees and on the ground in flocks, their chirping creating a noisy background sound.

The yellow-throated bunting, with its conspicuous yellow throat, darted in and out of the low bushes.

The grey magpie, with its long, sapphire-blue tail feathers, chirps loudly from a high branch, its voice clear and slightly hoarse. Occasionally, it imitates the calls of other birds, appearing clever and mischievous.

Chen Ling strolled to the edge of the irrigation ditch.

This place is a paradise for waterbirds. Several white wagtails walked back and forth along the damp canal with their small, quick steps, their long tails bobbing up and down, their black and white feathers standing out brightly in the morning light.

They would occasionally bend down to peck at the small insects washed ashore by the current, their movements as fast as lightning.

On the water's surface, several small pelicans, like tiny submarines, would sometimes dive into the water to catch small fish and shrimp, and sometimes surface, shaking off water droplets and making soft "quack" sounds.

Even the kingfisher, which only visited occasionally last year, has now become a regular. A sapphire blue, lightning-like figure perches on a withered branch by the water, motionless, intently staring at the water's surface, ready to launch a fatal attack at any moment.

"Dad! Come quick, there's a beautiful bird's nest in the tree!"

Rui Rui also ran out at some point, pointing excitedly at an old persimmon tree by the orchard.

Xiao Ming followed behind him, his two little heads held high.

Chen Ling walked over and looked in the direction his son pointed.

High up in the tree branches, a beautifully woven and perfectly round bird's nest sat securely.

The nest walls are woven from a mixture of twigs, grass stems, moss, and even some feathers, and the inside is lined with soft feathers and fine grass, clearly the work of a skilled bird.

“It’s a magpie’s nest.” Chen Ling recognized it at a glance. “It’s very well-built. Magpies are the master architects among birds.”

"Are there any birds inside?" Xiaoming asked curiously.

"They may be incubating eggs now, or the chicks may have just hatched."

Chen Ling lowered his voice, "Let's not disturb them, let's watch from a distance."

Just then, two black and white magpies flew back, chattering, each carrying an insect in its beak.

They glanced warily at Chen Ling and the children under the tree, and seeing no threat, quickly flew back to their nest.

Faint chirping sounds could be heard coming from inside the nest.

"They're feeding the babies!" Rui Rui's eyes lit up.

"Come on, let me take you to the wheat field. There are more birds there." Chen Ling took one in each hand and walked towards the wheat field outside the farm.

In May, the wheat fields are already a sea of ​​green and yellow.

The wheat ears gradually became fuller and heavier, bending low with their weight.

A morning breeze swept by, and the wheat fields rippled and rustled.

The number and variety of birds in the air above the wheat fields, along the field ridges, and in the nearby woods were even more astonishing than those in the orchard.

Flocks of sparrows, like moving gray clouds, fluttered from one wheat field to another, causing the wheat ears to tremble slightly in their wake.

Their main targets are wheat grains and pests hiding among the wheat stalks.

"Look over there!" Xiaoming pointed to a row of power lines on the ridge of a distant field.

Dozens of swallows perched neatly on the power lines, like a string of black musical notes.

Sometimes they stand still, sometimes they take flight, tracing graceful arcs in the air as they catch the flying insects awakened by the morning light.

Deep in the wheat field, several brown shrikes perched on protruding shrub branches or fence posts. Their black, white, and gray plumage, along with a striking black eye stripe, gave them a somewhat fierce appearance.

They are birds of prey among birds. Although they are not large, they feed on insects, small birds, and even mice. At this moment, they are vigilantly patrolling their territory.

“That’s a ‘butcher bird’,” Chen Ling said to the children, pointing to the shrike. “When they catch their prey, they sometimes hang it on the thorns of branches to store it, hence the nickname.”

"Wow, that's amazing!" Rui Rui and Xiao Ming seemed to understand but not quite, only thinking that the bird looked impressive.

To everyone's delight, Chen Ling discovered several reed warblers building their nests in a ditch beside a field.

This small bird is slightly larger than a sparrow, with dark longitudinal stripes on its tan feathers, making it excellent at camouflage.

They carry long blades of grass in their mouths, nimbly weaving among the reeds, creating cup-shaped nests that hang over the water.

"Dad, can we catch a little bird and take it home to raise?" Rui Rui looked at the busy little birds and felt longing.

Before Chen Ling could speak, the chubby boy said, "It probably won't work. The teacher said that birds are good friends of humans."

"There are also baby birds that need to learn to fly and find food from their parents. If they are caught, they will not survive. Moreover, many birds eat pests and are good friends of our crops."

"But they also eat fruit!" Rui Rui thought of the peaches that had been pecked by the doves.

“Rui Rui is right.”

Chen Ling laughed and said, "Birds have good birds and bad birds too. Don't worry, Xiaoming, Uncle has a way to catch birds for you." (End of this chapter)