My 1995 Small Farm.

After dinner, the croaking of frogs and the chirping of crickets gradually grew louder.

At the farm, the children, who had been playing all day, were urged by Gao Xiulan and Wang Susu to wash up. Rui Rui and Xiao Ming were still chattering about who should feed Tie Dan first, while Kang Kang and Le Le were already nodding sleepily like chicks pecking at rice.

Afu and Ashou strolled around the courtyard, found a cool and ventilated corner to lie down, their massive bodies resembling two steady mountains in the twilight.

Heiwa and Xiaojin faithfully guarded the entrance to the main room, their ears twitching every now and then, trying to catch the slightest sounds in the night.

The hustle and bustle gradually subsided, and the farm entered its tranquil nighttime mode.

Chen Ling brewed some tea, lit a mosquito-repelling rope, and then got up and went into the study.

Although it's called a study, it's actually just an elegantly and quietly furnished bedroom with an old-fashioned mahogany desk by the window.

He turned on the desk lamp, and the warm yellow light immediately filled the tabletop, dispelling a corner of darkness.

Paper and pens are readily available.

The manuscript Zhao Yubao was urging him to submit was for a children's book.

He hasn't had much inspiration lately.

Plus, with no one pushing me, I couldn't muster the motivation to write.

But since Susu has already said so, I'll write it down.

That way, I won't have to keep asking people to come and urge me.

That doesn't seem good either.

Moreover, it can easily disappoint children who like him.

After all, he now has many young fans.

Viewers of animated films, young readers of children's stories, etc.

They all know the farm's animals very well.

The packaging bag for braised beef noodles features many animals printed on it.

That's one of the reasons why kids like to buy it.

It's fair to say that just based on these children...

This led to a significant increase in sales.

Chen Ling certainly couldn't let them down.

Stories written for children shouldn't be too profound, but they should be interesting and contain some moral lessons.

but……

What should I write?

He picked up the pen, but it hovered in mid-air, not falling for a moment.

As my thoughts drifted, the expressions of awe and fear on the faces of the villagers when they discussed "Guoshanhuang" during the day, as well as the various bizarre legends about "Donkey-Headed Wolf" and "Wolf Bass" from earlier times, surged into my mind like a tide.

These strange and mysterious tales, passed down among the people in the countryside, are what he is most familiar with.

Let's make a slight modification then.

"An unsolved mystery that the little one loves."

Thinking of this, his eyes lit up.

The pen finally fell, making a steady, scratching sound on the manuscript paper.

Unsolved Mysteries of the Qinling Mountains: The Donkey-Headed Wolf

...The older generation says that deep within the Qinling Mountains, in the most remote and remote part of the land, lies a monster called the "Donkey-Headed Wolf." It has a huge donkey head, long ears, and a piercing, shrill cry that can terrify anyone. Its body is like a wolf's, even more robust, with claws as sharp as iron hooks, and it runs faster than the wind. This creature is nocturnal, incredibly cunning, and preys on lone travelers and livestock on dark, windy nights. It is said that its donkey head can bewitch people; if you hear a donkey braying from afar and think someone's donkey has run away, and you follow the sound to look for it, you're in for a world of trouble...

He was so engrossed in writing that his pen seemed to depict not ink, but the thick darkness of night and the pervasive mountain mist.

He combined the fragments he heard with his own imagination to weave a captivating and slightly thrilling little story.

At the end, he changed the subject and added a few more sentences: ...However, children don't need to be too afraid.

As the old hunters often say, good will always triumph over evil, and a person with an open and honest heart has abundant yang energy, so even mountain spirits and monsters dare not approach easily.

Furthermore, now that we are united as one, building dikes and renovating our homes, and with a thriving population, these things hidden deep in the mountains and forests will naturally stay far away.

After finishing one piece, he put down his pen, stretched his wrists, and was quite satisfied.

It satisfies children's curiosity while subtly conveying positive values.

Then, he began to conceive another story about how the "wolf" that had once caused panic in Yangtougou was subdued by brave hunters and clever hunting dogs.

This time, he subtly incorporated the figures of Heiwa, Xiaojin, and even Xiaoqingma into the story, shaping them into "animal heroes" who are both wise and brave.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the scratching of the pen.

Before I knew it, it was already past 11 p.m.

The moon and stars were few outside the window, their silvery light spilling across the courtyard. The croaking of frogs seemed to have faded, and the night grew even more tranquil.

Wang Susu had already put the children to sleep. She quietly came in and brought him a cup of hot tea. Seeing that he was writing intently, she didn't disturb him and quietly left.

After writing the last word of "Outwitting the Wolf," Chen Ling let out a long sigh of relief, but a strange emotion was surging within him.

Is it the excitement that comes from creating?

Or was it those mountain legends that stirred up the hunter's restlessness in his bones?

He pushed aside the manuscript, walked to the window, and took a deep breath of the cool night breeze.

The moonlight is beautiful, illuminating the distant mountains in sharp lines and making the leaves of nearby fruit trees shimmer with silver light. On such a fine night, wouldn't it be a waste to remain confined to one's study?

An idea popped into my head uncontrollably: go out for a walk, ride a little blue horse, and run around to my heart's content!
The thought made his heart beat slightly faster.

"Oh no, did I catch it from the little blue horse?"

"Does it only occur at night?"

"No, it can't be..."

Little Green Horse was injured during his nighttime outing last time, and although he has recovered, he still has a lingering resentment in his heart.

I also want to find an opportunity to truly appease this old friend and rebuild a more solid foundation of trust.

The moon is bright tonight, the view is good, it's the perfect time.

He quietly left the study, where the clock in the main room was pointing to 11:30.

Heiwa and Xiaojin immediately raised their heads, their eyes gleaming, and their tails swaying gently.

Chen Ling gestured for them to be quiet and whispered, "Watch the house carefully. I'm going out for a walk and will be right back."

The two large dogs were very intelligent and immediately lay down again upon hearing this, though their ears remained perked up.

He went to the livestock shed.

The little blue horse was resting by the trough when it heard familiar footsteps. It immediately raised its head and let out a low, questioning neigh.

Under the moonlight, its satin-like fur shimmered with a soft sheen, the pale pink scar on its neck had long since disappeared, and its eyes were clear and gentle.

"You've been cooped up lately, haven't you?"

Chen Ling gently stroked its smooth neck, feeling the vigorous power emanating from its muscles.

"Come on, let me take you out for some fun. This time we won't go far, just wander around the neighborhood."

The little blue horse seemed to understand his words and immediately became excited, nuzzling Chen Ling's chest affectionately with its head, breathing warm air from its nostrils, and gently pawing the ground with its front hooves, looking very eager.

Chen Ling smiled as he put a simple saddle and bridle on it and led it out of the shed.

Hearing the noise, Afu and Ashou stood up and looked over curiously, making low gurgling sounds in their throats, as if they wanted to follow.

“Not this time.” Chen Ling walked over and patted each of their big heads: “Things have been a bit turbulent lately, so stay home and wait for me to come back.”

The two tigers were somewhat reluctant, but after being soothed by Chen Ling, they lay back down.

Chen Ling flipped himself onto the horse and flicked the reins: "Giddy up!"

The little blue horse let out a long neigh, its voice carrying far through the silent night sky, filled with the joy of regaining its freedom.

It started with a slow trot, then gradually picked up speed after leaving the farm and stepping onto the dirt road leading out of the village.

A night breeze swept over me, carrying the scents of crops and wild grasses, cool and pleasant.

The moonlight, like water, bathed the road in a silvery glow. The horses' hooves clattered on the slightly hard dirt road, their rhythm light and quick.

The shadows of the poplar trees along the roadside were stretched long and swept away quickly.

The lights of the distant villages had long been extinguished, and only the occasional barking of dogs could be heard, which made the wilderness seem even more vast and tranquil.

Chen Ling lowered his body, letting the little blue horse gallop freely.

He could feel the muscles of the horse beneath him bulging and contracting, hear its powerful heartbeat and panting, and a long-lost feeling of unbridled joy welled up within him.

It seems like ages since I last enjoyed a carefree night ride like this.

He had no specific destination; he simply let his horse run freely downstream along the banks of the Jinshui River.

The river surface shimmered under the moonlight, like a flowing silver ribbon.

The river gurgled and splashed, mingling with the sounds of the wind, insects, and horses' hooves.

After running for seven or eight miles, we came to a river bend where the river was wide and the current was relatively gentle.

Chen Ling gently pulled on the reins, slowing the little blue horse down so it could stroll along the riverbank.

Far from the village, the surroundings are even quieter, with only the eternal sound of the river flowing by.

Just then, a series of huge bubbles suddenly rose from the surface of the river, followed by a dark shadow the size of a millstone slowly emerging from the water, reflecting a wet sheen in the moonlight.

It's garlic!
The oldest turtle that followed him the earliest and was the most spiritual.

Chen Ling wasn't particularly surprised; he had long sensed a familiar aura emanating from this body of water.

He gently patted the somewhat uneasy little blue horse, signaling it to be quiet.

Garlic floated on the water's surface, raising its wrinkled head and neck, its small, black bean-like eyes gazing at Chen Ling and Little Green Horse on the shore, its gaze seemingly carrying a gentle greeting.

What surprised Chen Ling even more was that behind Garlic Head, the water surface rippled continuously, and more than a dozen smaller but equally enormous turtles slowly emerged.

Led by garlic bulbs, they stood quietly in the middle of the river, like a silent underwater army being reviewed.

Under the bright moonlight, the scene appeared both mysterious and solemn.

"Goodness, you guys are... having a meeting?"

Chen Ling couldn't help but chuckle softly as he spurred his horse to the water's edge.

Garlic seemed to understand his teasing, nodding slightly and letting out a low, sigh-like "gurgling" sound.

The other turtles also stirred slightly, paddling their limbs to maintain their balance.

Chen Ling recalled that the last time he saw them appear together was a long time ago.

It seems that with the nourishment of the spiritual water in the cave and the passage of time, these old turtles have not only become more spiritual individually, but the connections between the group have also become closer and more orderly.

Garlic remains their undisputed leader.

With a thought, he sank his consciousness into the cave and took out more than a dozen plump, spiritually imbued cave-dwelling crucian carp and grass carp.

As soon as these fish appeared, an indescribable fresh scent filled the air.

"Old friends, it's been a long time. Please treat yourselves to a good meal."

As Chen Ling spoke, he tossed the fish one by one into the middle of the river.

The fish traced a graceful arc in the air before landing amidst the group of turtles.

The once calm turtles suddenly became active. They moved swiftly and precisely, stretching their long necks to accurately snatch the fish and swallow them in a few bites.

After swallowing the fish, they seemed exceptionally satisfied. Some even swam affectionately to the shore and gently touched Chen Ling's dangling ankles with their heads. The touch was cold and hard, yet it conveyed a deep sense of intimacy.

The little blue horse was initially wary, but under Chen Ling's reassurance and the comforting aura emanating from him, it gradually calmed down and curiously looked at its enormous aquatic neighbors.

After feeding the fish, Chen Ling chatted with Garlic for a few more minutes.

He was mainly talking to himself, and Garlic responded with his eyes and subtle movements.

He told them that things had been unsettled in the mountains lately and reminded them to be careful.

Garlic seemed to understand. It submerged its head in the water for a moment, then raised it again, its eyes showing a hint of seriousness.

Then, something amazing happened.

Suddenly, several turtles dived into the water and then surfaced again a moment later, each carrying something in its mouth.

Some were carrying very plump river crabs, each the size of a palm.

Some were carrying rare, giant blackfish with extremely tender flesh, and one was even carrying a smooth, warm pebble the size of a child's fist.

The stone gleamed faintly with a pale white luster under the moonlight.

They swam to the shore, placed these "gifts" in the shallow water at Chen Ling's feet, and then looked up at him.

Chen Ling was taken aback at first, but then he realized that the turtles were expressing their gratitude, or rather, it was a further gesture of goodwill.

Moved, he bent down to pick up the river delicacies. The pebble was also warm to the touch, clearly not an ordinary item.

The Jinshui River was once used for gold panning.

Kinmen Village got its name from this.

It is not uncommon for stones to contain gold.

It's not worth much money these days, but it's a token of my appreciation.

"Thank you all," he said sincerely.

The turtles lingered on the shore for a few more moments, as if they had completed an important ritual.

Then, led by a low, almost imperceptible hiss from the garlic, they slowly sank into the water and disappeared beneath the shimmering silver surface, leaving only ever-expanding ripples.

Chen Ling stood on the bank, holding the "gift" that still carried the coolness of the river water in his hands, gazing at the river surface that had returned to calm, his heart filled with emotion.

Interacting with these spiritual beings always gave him a wonderful connection that transcended words.

The night was deep, and the moonlight was beginning to set in the west.

He remounted his horse and began his journey home.

This time, the little blue horse moved with light and steady steps, as if it could also sense the peace and contentment in its master's heart.

It was past 2 a.m. when we got back to the farm.

All was silent except for the chirping of insects.

He led the horse back to the stable, added good hay, and patted its head as a reward.

Heiwa Xiaojin came up to him, sniffed the river delicacies he had brought back and the peculiar stone, and wagged his tail.

Chen Ling tiptoed back to the bedroom, where Wang Susu and the children were fast asleep.

He placed the pebble on the windowsill, where the moonlight shone and reflected light.

The pale white luster seemed to become more pronounced.

He lay in bed, recalling the pleasures of the night, a smile playing on his lips, before quickly drifting off to sleep. (End of Chapter)