My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 1000 Mountain Spirits
Chen Ling stood up and said to Wang Susu, "Let them stay here for a few days to recover. We'll release them back when things improve in the mountains."

Wang Susu nodded, tears welling up in her eyes: "Yes. It's so good that they can come back."

Yeah, that's great.

On this clear morning after the rain, a clouded leopard that had been rescued before led its cubs home.

This simplest form of trust and reciprocation between lives brings inexplicable joy.

Chen Ling stepped out of the woodshed, the sunlight shining on his face, warm and bright.

In the courtyard, Rui Rui and Xiao Ming had already gotten up and were peering through the window of the woodshed with wide eyes.

Kang Kang and Lele also wobbled over, pointing inside and making cooing noises.

"Daddy, is it a kitten?" Rui Rui asked.

“It’s a clouded leopard.” Chen Ling patted his head. “A little leopard from the mountains.”

"They're so thin," Xiaoming said, feeling a little sorry for them.

“So we have to take good care of them, make sure they are well-fed and grow up strong.” Wang Susu walked over and hugged the two children.

The mother clouded leopard raised her head in the woodshed, looked at the family outside the window, and then lowered her head to lick her cub.

……

Inside the woodshed, two clouded leopard cubs waddled along on a haystack, playfully pouncing and biting each other.

Although it was thin, after being washed, its coat of fur with cloud-like patterns was already visible, and its eyes were bright and curious about everything.

The mother clouded leopard lay on her side, still alert but less tense, licking her cubs' fur gently, her eyes occasionally glancing at Wang Susu, who was busy at the door, and making "purring" sounds in her throat.

Rui Rui and Xiao Ming were lying on the door of the woodshed, watching intently.

"Mommy, can the baby leopard drink milk? Can I share my milk with them?" Rui Rui looked up and asked very seriously.

Wang Susu's heart softened, and she patted his head: "They have goat milk to drink. But I'm really happy that Rui Rui has this thought. When they grow up and get stronger, you can feed them dried meat and dried fish."

"Me too! I've saved up lots of dried fish!" Xiaoming quickly raised his hand, afraid of being left out.

Kang Kang and Lele also wandered over, pointing at the little leopard and babbling excitedly.

Little Iron Egg wagged its tail, wanting to get closer and sniff, but was frightened by a low growl from its mother clouded leopard and shrank back to Wang Susu's feet, letting out two pitiful "woof woof" sounds.

In the courtyard, the two big tigers, Afu and Ashou, hadn't left. They were lazily lying under the eaves, dozing off. Their bodies looked like two furry little mountains, as if they were guarding the "guests" in the woodshed and preventing outsiders from barging in.

They seemed to have long accepted the clouded leopard mother and cub; such harmonious interactions between different animals were nothing new at Chen Ling's farm.

Looking at this warm and cozy scene, Chen Ling felt much more at ease.

He looked up at the sky. The sky had cleared up for a short while, but a thick layer of gray-black clouds had gathered in the northwest. The air was stuffy and uncomfortable, and it looked like another heavy rain was coming.

"Susu, I think the weather is not right. We need to go to the dam to check." Chen Ling went into the house to get a raincoat and a flashlight.

"Is this rain still not over?" Wang Cunye frowned, taking a puff of his pipe. "It's only been a couple of days since it stopped."

“That’s how the flood season is, it comes in waves. We’re prepared, so there’s nothing to worry about,” Chen Ling reassured her. Then he said to Wang Susu, “Keep an eye on Yunbao and try to keep outsiders away. I’ll be right back.”

Just as he reached the courtyard gate, he heard Wang Laishun's urgent shouts blaring from the village loudspeaker: "Attention all villagers! Attention all villagers! We've received an emergency notice from the county that there's been a torrential downpour upstream, and the flood peak is expected to arrive tonight! All flood control team members, assemble at the reservoir dam immediately! I'll say it again..."

Chen Ling's face darkened, and he quickened his pace.

The little blue horse didn't need to be called; it followed on its own.

"Ah Ling, be careful!" Wang Susu chased after him, watching him walk away.

"Don't worry!" Chen Ling mounted the horse, spurred it, and the little blue horse immediately shot off like an arrow.

Along the way, many young and strong men were already carrying shovels and sandbags, running out of their homes and heading towards the dam.

Seeing Chen Ling riding over, everyone quickly made way, and someone shouted:
"Wealth and fortune are coming!"

"Uncle Fugui, is this serious?"

Chen Ling shouted back, "Don't panic, everyone! This place is a model that many places follow. We can't afford to panic. Just do what we've practiced! Reinforce the dikes, clear the flood discharge channels, and check the supplies! If we're well prepared, we won't be afraid of the flood peak!"

His calm demeanor reassured everyone, and the panicked atmosphere quickly transformed into an orderly and productive activity.

Tractors chugged sand and gravel up the dam, men chanted work songs as they piled sandbags, and women organized themselves to deliver meals and hot water.

Chen Ling went straight to the command post shed, where Zhao Yubao, Professor Zhong, Engineer Zhou, and the others were already there, discussing things intensely using maps and water level data.

“Fugui, you’ve come at the perfect time!” Zhao Yubao grabbed him. “The rain upstream is too heavy, even more intense than last time! The flood peak may exceed the dam’s capacity!”

Engineer Zhou pointed to the blueprints, his brows furrowed: "The problem is that the wind direction has changed. Now it's a northwest wind, hitting the dam head-on! If the waves get big, they'll crash into the dam!"

Chen Ling said in a deep voice, "The sandbag reinforcement cannot stop. Focus on reinforcing the front of the dam and both sides of the dam! Turn on all the water pumps to lower the water level as much as possible! Notify all villages downstream to double-check that everyone has been evacuated! Prepare rescue boats and life jackets!"

It was completely dark, the dark clouds hung low, and the wind howled, making it impossible to open one's eyes.

The raindrops pattered down, quickly turning into a white curtain of rain.

The dam stood firmly in the wind and rain, but the water level was rising rapidly. The muddy river water, carrying branches and debris, roared and crashed against the dam, splashing up huge waves.

Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, creating a tense atmosphere.

"Oh no! Water is seeping into the bottom of the dam!" Chen Yuqiang, who was patrolling the dam, stumbled over to report, soaking wet.

Chen Ling's heart tightened: "Take me to see!"

The seepage point is below the back slope in the middle of the dam, where streams of muddy water are gushing out from the cracks in the rocks.

This is a dangerous sign that the dam is not holding up!
"Quick! Get the wooden stakes and sandbags! Drill a cofferdam! Drain the seepage water!" Engineer Zhou shouted at the top of his lungs.

Without saying a word, Chen Ling picked up a wooden stake as thick as a bowl and jumped into the knee-deep water, forcefully slamming the stake into the bottom of the seepage point.

The men followed closely behind, piling up sandbags layer by layer in an attempt to block the danger.

The wind and rain were so strong that people on the dam could barely stand.

A wave crashed over, and several villagers who were stacking sandbags slipped and were almost swept into the water.

Chen Ling and Wang Lixian, who were standing next to him, grabbed him.

"Keep up the good work! We absolutely cannot let the dam collapse!" Everyone was in high spirits.

However, the flood peak was still rising, and the wind and rain showed no signs of abating.

Chen Ling, soaked to the bone, stood atop the dam, his eyes fixed on the river.

The little blue horse clung tightly to him, pawing restlessly.

Suddenly, Chen Ling's pupils contracted!
About a hundred meters upstream, a large, dark object could be seen...

It was half an old tree that had been uprooted, like a large, out-of-control ship, rushing straight towards the dam with the current!
"Oh no! A tree is hitting the dam!" Engineer Zhou shouted.

That old tree was thick and big, and the force of the water rushing against it was terrifying. If it were to crash head-on into the dam, that would be terrible!

Some tried to pull it with hooks, but the current was too strong, and they couldn't get a grip. As the tree drew closer, everyone's hearts were in their throats!
At this critical moment, Chen Ling's eyes narrowed, and his consciousness sank into the cave!
In the blink of an eye, he locked onto a patch of water in front of the big tree!
"receive!"

The power of the grotto-heaven is quietly being activated!
If you are far away and don't directly touch anything, the ability and distance at which the cave can collect things are limited.

But with everyone watching, Chen Ling dared to use his limited abilities more freely.

He locked the tree in place and pulled it back sharply...

The big tree couldn't be brought in, of course, but the river in front of it suddenly swirled and a huge whirlpool appeared!

The large tree, hurtling towards them at high speed, plunged into the vortex, its forward momentum abruptly halted, and its direction slightly veered off course!
This slight deflection caused the tree to glide along the edge of the dam with a thunderous crash, slamming heavily against the downstream bank with a deafening roar before being swept away by the water.

The danger has passed!
There was a moment of silence on the dam, followed by a burst of cheers!
"It's over! The flood peak is over!"

As the water level monitor stared at the receding water gauge, Zhou, the engineer, was so moved that tears streamed down his face.

Chen Ling let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if all his strength had been drained.

That last attack greatly depleted my mental energy and the power of my inner world.

He leaned against the little blue horse, watching the river gradually calm down and the villagers who, though tired, were all smiles, and couldn't help but smile.

The wind and rain are still blowing and falling, but the most dangerous time has finally passed.

……

The rain keeps falling.

The torrential rain didn't gradually stop until late at night.

As dawn broke, the morning light pierced through the clouds and shone on the devastated earth.

The villagers of Chenwangzhuang stood on the dam, supporting each other. Looking at the river water below, which was turbid but much gentler, they were all a little dazed, as if they had just crawled out of a great disaster.

The dam is fine, and the village is safe.

Only the fallen trees on the riverbank, the muddy roads, and the flooded courtyards of each house still bear witness to the heart-stopping battle between man and nature that took place last night.

"We made it! We made it!"

With a hoarse voice, Engineer Zhou waved his hand excitedly.

A feeling of joy and pride spread through the crowd.

Chen Ling didn't let himself be happy for long.

Despite his ailing body, he and two elderly professors worked together to help clear the road, check for potential hazards, disinfect, and assess the damage.

Relief and assistance supplies from the county and city arrived one after another, but Chenwangzhuang, through its own preparation and unity, minimized the losses and became a true role model in flood control.

By the time Chen Ling finally dragged his aching body back to the farm, it was already broad daylight.

In the courtyard, Wang Susu was feeding goat milk to two clouded leopard cubs with Rui Rui and Xiao Ming.

The little ones have become very close to Wang Susu, sucking on their bottles with loud "tsk tsk" sounds.

The mother clouded leopard lay quietly beside him, her eyes gentle.

Seeing Chen Ling return, Wang Susu quickly went to greet him. Seeing him covered in mud and looking exhausted, she felt extremely sorry for him: "Come in and take a hot shower. The food has been kept warm."

"Dad!" "Uncle!" The children gathered around.

After washing away his fatigue and changing into clean clothes, Chen Ling sat down at the dining table, drinking hot chicken soup, listening to his wife's soft murmurs, watching the children playing around, and seeing the bright sunshine outside the window after the rain. He felt a peace and tranquility he had never experienced before.

"How's Clouded Leopard?" he asked.

"Much better! The mother leopard is eating now, and the two cubs are becoming more and more active."

Wang Susu said with a smile, "It's Little Iron Egg. He always sneaks over to play with the little leopard, but every time he gets yelled back by the mother leopard. He looks so pitiful."

Chen Ling smiled and said, "Let it get used to it gradually. By the way, I saw that quite a few peaches in the garden were knocked off, what a pity."

"It's alright, the ripe ones should have been picked anyway. I picked some of the good ones, and Rui Rui and the others took the rest to feed the geese and deer, so nothing was wasted."

After finishing his meal, Chen Ling mustered his spirits and went to the woodshed to check on the clouded leopard and its cub.

The mother leopard was still a little wary when she saw him, but she didn't show any hostility.

Chen Ling added some of the spiritual water from the cave to their drinking water, hoping they would recover quickly.

After that, his consciousness sank into the cave.

Moving that riverbed last night took a lot of energy, and the spiritual energy in the cave seems to have thinned a bit.

He needs to rest well and replenish his spiritual energy.

The leeches, nourished by the spiritual water of the cave, grew even fatter and more vigorous, and we can study them further inside.

In the afternoon, Zhao Dahai and Shanmao rushed over after hearing the news.

Lynx asked, "Is the dam alright? The dog farm and breeding farm are fine, except a few sheds had leaks, but they've been repaired. By the way, the city's Public Security Bureau came again, wanting to order another batch of puppies, saying the last batch performed exceptionally well."

Chen Ling nodded: "This is all good news. Once we're done with this busy period, we'll figure out the next steps for the dog farm and breeding farm. Right now..."

He looked out at the fields where the floodwaters had not yet fully receded, and said, "We need to lead everyone to drain the water from the fields. It would be good if we could rush to plant a late autumn crop."

The disaster is over, but life goes on.

After this incident, the people of Chenwangzhuang were more united, and no one could shake Chen Ling's position as the leader.

He knew that the subsequent reconstruction and development would go much more smoothly.

In the evening, a beautiful sunset appeared in the sky after the rain.

Rui Rui and Xiao Ming carefully carried the minced meat that Wang Susu had mixed to the door of the woodshed to feed the little clouded leopard.

Little Iron Egg wagged its tail and followed behind. This time it had learned its lesson and didn't dare to get too close, just staring longingly.

The two leopard cubs were no longer afraid of people. Smelling the aroma of meat, they waddled over and stuck out their pink little tongues to lick it.

Kang Kang and Lele also wandered around watching the fun, babbling and directing their older brother: "Brother, hey! Eat!"

The mother clouded leopard watched quietly, occasionally licking the corner of her mouth.

Afu and Ashou lay a little further away, the setting sun gilding them with gold, making them look lazy yet majestic.

Chen Ling and Wang Susu stood side by side under the eaves, watching the scene of people and animals getting along peacefully together.

"Once they've recovered from their injuries, are we really going to send them away?" Wang Susu was a little reluctant.

Chen Ling gently put his arm around her shoulder: "Let them do their own thing."

Rui Rui hurriedly turned around: "No, Dad, if we don't give the little leopard away, Rui Rui will raise it!"

Chen Ling laughed immediately: "You're still reluctant to send it away? You can't even raise a wild boar properly! Wasn't it Sister Xizi who helped you raise it?"