My 1995 Small Farm.

"They're having a good time, so I should join in too."

"Since we're just idling around anyway, let's sell those fish quickly to prevent them from becoming a plague..."

These past few days, Chen Ling has been keeping fish in the large aquarium again.

However, there are still many koi and goldfish kept in the ponds of orchards and farms.

He planned to have the lambs transported out to be sold, or have Leung Yuet-man ask someone to arrange a boat to transport them to Hong Kong Island.

Chen Ling pondered to himself, holding a martial arts novel as he wandered around the farm.

He stopped when he reached the pond in the center of the courtyard.

The morning light in May shines through the gaps in the grape trellis and onto the water, creating a shimmering effect.

The pond is not large, about two acres in size. It was a spring-fed pond that was specially dug when the farm was built. It draws water from the mountain spring and is crystal clear all year round.

At this moment, the pool water shimmered with a pale golden light, but what was even more eye-catching were the patches of color flowing within it.

Red, gold, white, black, red and white... all kinds of koi fish swim leisurely.

The larger ones are over a foot long, with plump bodies and scales that shimmer like jewels in the morning light.

Even the smaller ones are about the size of a palm, and they are lively and agile.

They gather in groups, sometimes surfacing to forage, sometimes diving into the water to frolic among the aquatic plants, making the pool of clear water vibrant with life.

Even more wonderful are the goldfish.

The round, plump goldfish with its two large eyes and long, misty tail swirls slowly in the water, as elegant as a noblewoman in the water.

The lionhead goldfish, with its fleshy, wart-like crown, is quite endearing.

There are also pearl-scaled, bubble-eyed, and sky-gazing-eye varieties... there are more than ten different kinds.

Chen Ling squatted down and reached out to stir the water.

Several bold koi immediately swam over, thinking they were being fed, and opened their mouths, slurping water as they swallowed.

"You guys really know how to enjoy yourselves," Chen Ling said with a laugh.

The fish in this pond were initially just a few wild fish that he casually caught from mountain lakes and reservoirs. Later, he brought some koi and goldfish fry from Du Guanghe in the city, and sold them for a very short time.

Later, I just kept them as pets.

He didn't pay much attention to it, so he put it in the pond, occasionally fed it some leftover food and vegetable leaves, and let it grow naturally.

Who would have thought that these fish, nourished by the spiritual waters of the cave, not only grow quickly but also have an astonishing reproductive capacity.

In just over a year, the number of fish has grown from a few dozen to this densely packed pond.

Chen Ling roughly estimated that there were at least four or five hundred adult fish in this pond alone, not to mention the tiny fry that had just hatched and were as thin as hairs.

Clumps of dark, juvenile fish swarmed everywhere among the aquatic plants and in the crevices of the rocks, a sight that sent chills down one's spine.

"If this isn't dealt with soon, it might really become a disaster," Chen Ling muttered to himself.

He then walked to the irrigation ditch in the orchard.

The situation here is even more exaggerated.

The canal is about 1.5 meters wide and no deeper than knee-deep, with flowing, clear water.

The banks of the river are covered with lush fruit trees and flowers, a typical scene of the farm.

But after May, the canal was almost completely filled with fish.

Besides common edible fish such as crucian carp, carp, and grass carp, the most eye-catching are the wild ornamental fish.

The most common type is the handkerchief fish, a small fish that is only about an inch long. It has blue and green stripes on its body and shimmers with a metallic luster in the sunlight. When it swims in groups, it looks like a flowing ribbon.

There were also medaka, bitterlings... all sorts of small native ornamental fish, some you might recognize, some you might not, all densely packed together.

It almost burst the irrigation canal.

Ripples occasionally spread across the water's surface as fish scramble for fallen fruit leaves and insects.

Chen Ling poked at the water with a branch, which immediately startled a school of fish that scattered and fled in all directions. The sheer number of them made him frown.

"Goodness, how much is this..."

He shook his head: "If we don't sell now, it might really become a disaster."

He had actually noticed this problem before, but he had been busy with school, dam, and Huangshanhuang issues recently and hadn't had time to deal with it.

Now that things are gradually stabilizing, it's time to resolve this "sweet trouble."

Back in the main room, Wang Susu was feeding Kang Kang and Lele breakfast.

The two little ones sat on specially made high chairs, clumsily feeding themselves rice porridge with small spoons, getting it all over their faces.

"Aren't you going to eat? There's still porridge in the pot, I'll go get you some." Wang Susu got up to go to the kitchen when she saw him come in.

"Not urgent."

Chen Ling waved his hand and sat down at the table: "Susu, don't you think there are too many fish in our pond and canal?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Susu frowned as well: "That's right. Yesterday afternoon, I took Kang Kang and Lele to play by the pond. I threw some breadcrumbs in, and wow, the fish were scrambling for them, splashing water really high. It scared Kang Kang so much that he cried."

She paused, then added, "And over by the ditch, a few days ago I was washing vegetables, and some leaves fell in, and immediately a huge group of fish swarmed around them, a dark mass, it was really creepy to look at."

"If this isn't dealt with, and there's a heavy rain in the summer, they could easily be washed away. And if it's a hot and humid day with low oxygen levels, they might all die within an afternoon, which would be a real problem."

Chen Ling nodded: "That's what I think too. These fish are growing too well and multiplying too quickly here. We need to sell a batch of them as soon as possible."

"Sell? Where to sell it?"

Wang Susu asked, "I'm afraid we can't sell that many in our city, right? And most of them are ornamental fish; who in ordinary households would buy these? Didn't we try it out the year before last?"

"Yes, it definitely won't work in the city."

Chen Ling nodded: "That's what I think too. These fish are growing too well and multiplying too quickly here. We need to deal with a batch of them as soon as possible."

I was thinking, the market on Hong Kong Island is big, and there's a market for ornamental fish, so we could ship them over there to sell.”

"Transported to Hong Kong Island?" Wang Susu was somewhat surprised. "That's so far, how will they transport it? Won't the fish all die on the way?"

"Therefore, we need to find professional transportation channels."

Chen Ling pondered for a moment and said, "I want to contact Mr. Xu Yingguang. He has extensive connections in Hong Kong Island and knows people in the seafood business. He should be able to help me find a reliable live fish transport ship."

"Moreover, Xu Yingguang wants to invest in our restaurant and has donated money to our village. He will definitely help with something as small as finding a boat."

The more he spoke, the clearer his thoughts became: "Our fish are of good quality, all-natural, and should fetch a good price in Hong Kong."

If this shipment is successful, a stable sales channel can be established in the future.

Our farm can not only raise cattle and sheep and grow fruit trees, but also develop ornamental fish farming, providing another way to make money.

Wang Susu was persuaded by him, but she still had concerns:

"The idea is good, but it's the first time we've done it, so there are a lot of risks. If anything goes wrong in the transportation or selling of the fish, all the fish could die, and the losses would be huge."

"There are definitely risks, but it's worth a try."

Chen Ling said, "We can transport it in batches, starting with a small portion to test the waters."

Besides, isn't Zhang Lihua going back to Hong Kong Island in the next couple of days to pick up the Tibetan Mastiffs? We can entrust him to escort them on the ship; with him there, we can rest assured."

"That's one way."

Wang Susu nodded, "Brother Hua is reliable and has lived in Hong Kong for a long time, so he is familiar with the situation there."

"Then it's settled."

Chen Ling stood up. "I'll call Xu Yingguang right now and ask about the transport ship."

He took out his phone, found Xu Yingguang's number, and dialed it.

The phone rang seven or eight times before being answered. Xu Yingguang's slightly lazy voice came from the other end, clearly still half asleep: "Hello... who's up?"

"Mr. Xu, it's me, Chen Ling." Chen Ling smiled. "Did I disturb your rest?"

"A Ling?"

Xu Yingguang's voice immediately became clearer, "No, no! Why did you suddenly decide to call me? Is there some good thing you want to do for me again?"

Chen Ling got straight to the point: "Boss Xu, my farm raises a batch of ornamental fish, including koi, goldfish, and some wild native fish, all of good quality."

We have too many fish and want to ship them to Hong Kong Island to sell. You know people there, could you help us contact a reliable live fish transport ship?

Ornamental fish? You're bringing them to Hong Kong Island to sell?

Xu Yingguang became interested. "How many? What's the quality like?"

"There are six or seven hundred adult fish, and even more sub-adult fish."

Chen Ling spoke frankly, "You can rest assured about the quality. They're naturally raised with spring water and are very beautiful."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then Xu Yingguang's voice became serious:

"Ah Ling, transporting live fish is no small matter, especially ornamental fish, which have very high requirements for water quality, oxygen, and temperature."

It takes at least four or five days to travel from the mainland to Hong Kong Island by river and sea.

Ordinary boats won't do; you need specialized live fish transport vessels equipped with oxygenation and temperature control systems.

"I know, that's why I'm asking for your help."

Chen Ling said sincerely, "We'll pay whatever the fees are, as long as the ship is reliable."

Xu Yingguang thought for a moment and said, "If the fish is really good, I'll help you contact a boat."

I know a few friends who are in the seafood trade. They have a dedicated live fish transport route, and the route from Shanghai to Hong Kong Island is very well-established.

You can transport the fish by land to Shanghai first, and then ship them from Shanghai to Hong Kong Island.

Chen Ling was overjoyed: "That's great! Boss Xu, I'm really sorry to trouble you this time."

"Why are you so polite?"

Xu Yingguang laughed and said, "If you really have good fish and can sell them for a good price in Hong Kong, I'll be happy for you."

Besides, if the supply becomes stable in the future, this could be a source of income.

"That's what I mean."

Chen Ling said, "Please help me contact the boat and the fleet of vehicles, and send me a quote for the cost. If I think it's reasonable, we'll arrange it as soon as possible."

"OK, no problem."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Ling felt much more at ease.

He turned to Wang Susu and said, "Don't worry, wife, Xu Yingguang has agreed to help contact transport ships and convoys."

"Let's go, take the two kids and go fishing."

"There are too many fish fry. If necessary, we can scoop them out and feed them to the turtles."

"How about we raise more ducks..."

Upon hearing this, Wang Susu simply smiled and remained silent, then took Kang Kang and Lele to play by the irrigation ditch.

At the edge of the pond, koi carp swim in groups and goldfish play in the water.

The orchard is filled with the fragrance of fruits.

They then untied the little white calf and the little water buffalo, and they played together in the water.

Not long after, Zhang Lihua returned from the forest farm on his motorcycle.

Seeing Chen Ling busy by the pond, she curiously came over and asked, "Ling, what are you playing?"

"Brother Hua has come at the perfect time."

Chen Ling smiled and said, "Take a look at these fish for me, what do you think of their quality?"

Zhang Lihua leaned closer for a look, and her eyes immediately lit up: "Wow! This koi, the color, the size! Amazing!"
And look at this goldfish, its tail spread is so beautiful!

Ah Ling, when did you get so many nice fish?

"It grew on its own."

Chen Ling explained simply: "There are so many now that it's a disaster, so we want to transport them to Hong Kong Island to sell."

I just spoke with Xu Yingguang on the phone, and he agreed to help me contact a transport ship.

"Ship to Hong Kong Island?"

Zhang Lihua's eyes lit up even more. "Great idea! The ornamental fish market on Hong Kong Island is huge, and these kinds of pure, natural fish will definitely be in high demand."

He paused, then suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, I was just about to tell you that I plan to go back to Hong Kong Island the day after tomorrow to pick up my dozen or so mastiffs."

If you're transporting fish, I can go back on the boat and look after them for you along the way.

Chen Ling was waiting for this sentence: "That's great! I was just thinking of asking you for a favor, Brother Hua."

I feel at ease knowing you're there to look after me on the road.

Xu Yingguang said they could contact a professional live fish transport ship. They could transport the fish by water to Shanghai first, and then load them onto a ship from Shanghai to Hong Kong Island.

"A specialized transport ship?"

Zhang Lihua thought for a moment and said, "That would be the best. The biggest fears in transporting live fish are bumpy roads, lack of oxygen, and large changes in water temperature."

Specialized vessels are equipped with temperature-controlled tanks and oxygenation systems, which can significantly reduce the mortality rate.

He looked at the pond and the canal: "But Ah Ling, with so many fish, we need to plan carefully how to catch them and how to store them."

Different species and sizes of fish should be separated, and the packing density should be carefully controlled.

Chen Ling nodded: "I'll have to ask Brother Hua for some advice on this. You're familiar with the Hong Kong Island market. What kind of fish sells well? What sizes are popular? Can you give me some ideas?"

"Although I've been there, all I saw was that the price of arowana was crazy."

Zhang Lihua didn't refuse. He squatted by the pond and observed carefully for a while, then went to look at the irrigation ditch. He came back and said, "Koi and goldfish are definitely the main products."

When choosing koi, select those with a well-proportioned body and vibrant colors, especially those with distinct red and white markings and deep black hues, which are most popular in Hong Kong Island.

Among goldfish, traditional varieties such as Dragon Eye, Lionhead, and Bubble Eye have stable market demand.

"What about native fish?" Chen Ling asked.

“Native fish also have a market, mainly because people who enjoy aquascaping like them.”

Zhang Lihua said, "Flower handkerchiefs and bitterlings, which swim well in groups, can be sold as a package deal, but their unit price may not be as high as that of koi and goldfish."

He thought for a moment and then said, "I suggest shipping them in batches. Let's start with about two hundred to test the waters. If sales go well, we can gradually increase the number. This way, the risk will be smaller."

"Makes sense."

Chen Lingshen agreed: "Then let's prepare two hundred fish first. Hua Ge, can you help us pick them out and choose the best ones?"

"no problem!"

Zhang Lihua readily agreed.

As the two were discussing it, Xu Yingguang called back.

"Ah Ling, I've already arranged the transport ship."

"The river transport is handled by Shanghai's 'Yongfeng Aquatic Products,' which specializes in transporting live fish inland. They have ten years of experience and are fully equipped."

"The ship belongs to the 'Guangdong-Hong Kong Aquatic Products Transport Company,' and ships depart from Shanghai to Hong Kong Island every day. The live fish hold conditions are excellent."

"What about the cost?"

Chen Ling asked.

“The cost of transporting a boat from your place to Shanghai is 1,500 yuan.”

"Sea freight is charged per container. It costs HK$120 per container to the Hong Kong Island terminal. This is the market price. I made arrangements, and they gave me a discounted price."

Chen Ling quickly did the math in his head.

If you want to transport 200 fish, you'll need about 20 boxes. The total cost for river transport and boat transport will be less than 4,000 yuan.

If the fish can fetch a good price on Hong Kong Island, this cost is perfectly acceptable.

"The price is reasonable."

Chen Ling said, "Boss Xu, thank you so much this time. Here, please help me finalize the date. It's the day after tomorrow, and I'll prepare the fish tomorrow."

"Okay! I'll make arrangements right away."

Xu Yingguang said, "For river transport, we'll contact you tomorrow to confirm the pick-up location and time. As for sea transport, call us again once you arrive in Shanghai." (End of Chapter)