My 1995 Small Farm.

These water buffaloes we keep at home are definitely not for eating.

It's very different from scalpers.

So it doesn't really matter what names the children have.

Once the name "Fu Bao" was introduced, the little ones on the farm remembered it perfectly.

Rui Rui and Xiao Ming leaned over the barn fence, watching longingly as the wet little creature stumbled and staggered past its mother.

He kept chanting, "Fu Bao, Fu Bao, grow up quickly, grow up to be as majestic as the Bull Demon King!"

Chen Ling chuckled and patted the back of the two children's heads: "Alright, stop crowding around here. The cow just gave birth and needs to rest. Go and bring over that basket of tender grass from the yard, the tenderest kind."

"it is good!"

The two children ran off in a flash.

Wang Susu brought over a basin of warm water with a little brown sugar and salt mixed in, and gently placed it by the cowshed: "A-Ling, this water buffalo just gave birth, it needs some nourishment. I see it has plenty of milk, but it's best to add some soybean cake for the next couple of days."

"Hmm, I'll go to the mill and get some fresh soybean pulp later."

Chen Ling nodded and squatted down to check the cow's condition.

"The placenta came out, it was a natural birth, no problems."

The calf's wet coat had been half-dried by its mother's licking, and its brown and white spots were gradually becoming clearer.

It tentatively took two steps, its thin legs still trembling, yet it stubbornly refused to fall.

“Cunye, we have quite a few pregnant livestock on our farm this year, so we’re going to be busy,” Qin Rongxian said.

"It's good to be busy, it's good for things to prosper. Lingzi's family is small, the more busy I am, the happier I am."

Wang Cunye squatted by the cowshed, smoking his pipe, and squinted as he smiled, "I counted them. Of the water buffaloes Lingzi brought back from the south, the remaining five cows are quite pregnant. I think the yellow cattle at the county farm will be ready soon too."

Indeed, they were all part of the Bull Demon King's harem.

The Bull Demon King is so strong and wild.

In the wild, where they can mate freely, and with its size, there's no competition for its size, so it's only natural that the cows will conceive early on.

That's not...

At the other end of the cowshed, the cows brought back from Hong Kong Island all had round, bulging bellies and shiny, swollen udders.

The way she walks with her hind legs spread wide is a sign that she's about to give birth.

They chewed their fodder slowly, their eyes gentle, occasionally flicking their tails to shoo away flies.

A brown cow with white spots was lying on its side, its belly so big it was almost touching the ground, panting heavily.

It would occasionally turn its head to look at its belly, making a low "moo" sound in its throat.

The other black-haired one stood still, occasionally kicking its belly lightly with its hind hooves, looking like it would be over soon too.

"This will be done soon, in just three to five days," Chen Ling said to Wang Cunye, who had come along.

Wang Cunye: "That old bastard Bull Demon King is really something. Look at these cows, they're all plump and strong, their calves must be pretty good too."

As they spoke, everyone looked into the distance and saw the Bull Demon King lying under the shade of a tree on the slope. His shiny black fur gleamed in the morning light, and his massive body resembled a small mountain.

It ruminated slowly, occasionally glancing in the direction of the cowshed, looking completely at ease.

It was as if all of this had nothing to do with it.

“This guy…” Wang Cunye laughed and scolded, “He just washed his hands of it after planting the seeds, like a rich landlord.”

Just then, lively voices came from outside the courtyard gate.

Yu Bin's father, Chen Guowang, walked in carrying a hoe, followed by several villagers who had just come to work in the fields.

"Fugui, I heard your water buffalo had a calf?"

Chen Guowang's voice boomed, "We just got back from the fields when we heard the news!"

"Yes, Brother Guowang, he just had a baby bull." Chen Ling greeted him with a smile.

The villagers swarmed around the cowshed, peering inside through the bars.

Seeing the brown and white calves standing shakily and nursing, smiles appeared on their faces.

"Wow, this kid's got some muscle! Those legs are so thick!"

"Its color is also good, just like its mother's, with white lips, it will definitely be a good laborer in the future."

"Fugui, your family is going to be rich this year. Let me count... this litter has just given birth, and there are still five more pregnant, right?"

Chen Ling nodded: "Pretty much, it's all the work of the Bull Demon King."

"The Bull Demon King is truly powerful!"

A young man said enviously, "My cow only got pregnant after three matings last year. Look at your cows, they're lined up one after another."

"That's because the wealthy know how to raise children well."

Chen Guowang said, "The livestock eat well and live well here, and they're in a good mood, so they naturally conceive easily. Haven't you seen those chickens, ducks, and geese? They lay eggs very frequently!"

This remark drew a chorus of agreement.

"That's true! My family raised twenty chickens this year with Fugui, and they lay eggs every day. The baskets are almost overflowing!"

"My ducks are the same. They collect more than forty eggs a day. We can't eat them all, so we pickle them into salted duck eggs."

"You have to admit, Fugui has a good eye for things. When he started the farm, we thought it was just a waste of time. But look at him now, that's what it means to live a good life!"

Just as they were having a lively conversation, Chen Ling's cell phone suddenly rang.

These days, cell phones are still a rarity, and the villagers immediately fell silent, watching curiously as Chen Ling pulled out that small, dark cube.

"Hello? Mr. Anderson? It's me." Chen Ling answered the phone.

Anderson's excited voice came through the phone, tinged with static, but clear enough to hear:
"Chen! My old friend! Good news!"

"The coordination with Charles is going very smoothly. The two Bengal tigers are both four years old, healthy and beautiful, with complete pedigree certificates. All quarantine and anesthesia have been completed, and they are now being loaded onto the plane!"

Chen Ling was surprised: "So fast?"

“Charles used all his connections, and shipping and customs all went smoothly.”

Anderson chuckled, "With the estimated flight time and layover, we should arrive at the provincial capital airport in three days! Our pick-up vehicles and temporary enclosures are ready. After resting in the provincial capital for a day or two, we'll transport them directly to your county. Chen, what about your site..."

"The venue is fine."

Chen Ling replied, "The isolation fence has been reinforced according to the blueprints you provided, the water source has been diverted there, and the surrounding area has been cleared to ensure quiet."

"That's fantastic! Chen, you have no idea how much I'm looking forward to this 'blind date'! This is absolutely a romantic and scientific experiment in the field of animal protection!"

Anderson's voice was excited. "By the way, I've faxed the list of costs and medical equipment to the county. Remember to check it. Also, Charles said he'll be coming along himself; he wants to witness this moment with his own eyes."

"Okay, I'll contact you when I arrive."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Ling walked out of the house.

Everyone in the courtyard was staring at him expectantly.

“Fugui, a foreigner’s phone call? What did they say?” Chen Guowang couldn’t help but ask.

Chen Ling smiled and didn't hide anything: "The foreign friends who came last time have made arrangements. They've selected two Bengal tigers and sent them on the plane. They'll arrive in three days. They said they want to 'meet' Afu and Ashou."

"Whoa!"

The courtyard immediately erupted in chaos.

"Really...really tigers were brought in from abroad?"

Everyone's eyes widened. "You came by plane?"

“Of course, Anderson said it would be a smooth ride all the way.” Chen Ling nodded.

"My goodness, our Afu and Ashou have really made a name for themselves!" Qin Rongxian exclaimed in amazement. "An international matchmaking trip! I've only ever heard of this kind of thing in Beijing City, I never thought even tigers would do this!"

"That's called scientific exchange."

Wang Cunye corrected him, but couldn't help but smile, "But then again, if our Afu and Ashou really hit it off with a foreign tiger and had a cub, wouldn't that be a 'mixed breed'? How fancy!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Rui Rui and Xiao Ming didn't understand much, but they knew that a foreign tiger was coming, and they jumped up and down excitedly: "Dad, what do foreign tigers look like? Are they like Ah Fu and Ah Shou?"

"Bengal tigers, they have darker stripes and may be a little smaller, but they are still big cats."

Chen Ling patted his son's head, "I'll take you to see it from a distance, but you can't get close."

"I know! You can't touch strangers, even foreign tigers are tigers!" Rui Rui remembered it well.

As they were chatting and laughing, suddenly hurried footsteps and shouts came from outside the courtyard gate: "Fugui! Is Fugui here?!"

Chen Guoping rushed in, sweating profusely: "Fugui! Fugui! Quick, come to my house and see!"

Chen Ling hurriedly asked, "Brother Guoping, what's wrong?"

"My cow... is having a difficult birth!"

Chen Guoping was extremely anxious: "We've been struggling since this morning, and the baby has only shown its two hooves, but it just won't come out! If this drags on any longer, it might result in the death of both mother and child!"

The villagers immediately fell silent, their faces showing solemn expressions.

Farmers all know that a difficult birth for livestock is a serious matter; it can result in the loss of both the mother and the offspring.

Without saying a word, Chen Ling turned around and headed home: "Brother Guoping, don't worry, I'll grab my things and head over right away!"

Wang Susu hurriedly followed: "A-Ling, what do you need? I'll go get it. You change your clothes before you go."

"Bring that brown medicine box; it contains a small birthing rope and pulleys. Also, get a bottle of iodine and a bundle of cotton."

As Chen Ling spoke, he took down his special dark blue work jacket from the wall.

These clothes are thick and durable, making them perfect for childbirth.

Wang Cunye also stood up: "I'll go with you, it'll be good to have another person to lend a hand."

"Dad, keep an eye on things at home. These cows are about to give birth, so make sure nothing goes wrong. Susu, watch over the children and don't let them come along and cause trouble."

After quickly giving his instructions, Chen Ling took the medicine box from Wang Susu and followed Chen Guoping outside.

"Fugui, wait a minute, we'll go help too!" Chen Guowang and several villagers quickly followed.

The group hurriedly left the farm and ran along the newly paved asphalt road toward Chen Guoping's house.

On the way, Chen Guoping briefly explained the situation.

His family raises two cows; the cow is a four-year-old yellow cow, and this is its second calf.

I started having contractions just as dawn broke. I thought it would be a natural birth, but the baby was breech. The front legs came out, but the head was stuck inside.

Anyone who has raised cattle knows this.

When a calf is born, the front legs come out first, followed by the head; this is a natural birth.

The experienced midwife went to check, but after two hours of trying, she still couldn't get it out. She shook her head and said she had no idea what to do.

"Fugui, you absolutely have to save it!"

Chen Guoping's eyes were red. "This ox is the mainstay of our family's operations. We rely on it for plowing and pulling carts. If we lose it... all our hard work these past two years will have been for nothing!"

"Brother Guoping, don't panic. Let's see what's going on when we get there."

Chen Ling kept walking, deep in thought.

Dystocia is caused by a few factors: malpresentation of the fetus, an oversized fetus, or a narrow birth canal in the cow.

The description suggests that the baby's head and neck are bent to the side or downward, requiring manual intervention to correct the baby's position.

They soon arrived at Chen Guoping's house.

There were many people outside the cowshed; they were all villagers who had come to help after hearing the news.

Upon seeing Chen Ling arrive, they quickly made way for him.

"A fortune has arrived! Make way!"

"Fugui, you've finally arrived! Any later and it would have been too late!"

Inside the cowshed, the yellow cow lay on its side on the hay, soaked to the bone, panting heavily, its eyes half-closed, and it had little strength left.

Two small calf hooves covered in slime were indeed visible at the hind legs, but they just hung there, motionless.

An old man with gray hair was squatting nearby, sweating profusely with anxiety. When he saw Chen Ling arrive, he quickly stood up and said, "Fu Gui, look! This kid's head is stuck. I've put my hand in and felt around, but I just can't straighten it!"

This old man is from Jinmen Village. He is related to Liu Hongxing, Erni'er's husband, and has delivered many cows, horses, donkeys, and mules.

“Okay, let me take a look.” Chen Ling put down the medicine box and squatted down next to the cow.

He first touched the cow's belly, then looked at the exposed hooves.

The hoof facing upwards is normal, indicating that the foreleg posture is fine.

The problem lies in the head.

"Brother Guoping, bring me a basin of warm water, clean hot water. And some soap too." Chen Ling said as he took off his coat and rolled up his sleeves.

After the warm water was brought over, Chen Ling carefully washed her arms, all the way up to her elbows, and then lathered them with soap.

This is to prevent infection and also to make the arm more slippery so it can be inserted more easily.

"Help me hold the cow down, don't let it move around." Chen Ling took a deep breath and slowly inserted his right hand into the birth canal.

Everyone around held their breath, watching intently.

The birth canal was warm and tight. Chen Ling carefully probed inside, his fingers first touching the calf's foreleg, then moving up the leg and quickly reaching the neck.

Sure enough, the calf's head bent downwards, its chin pressed tightly against its chest, getting stuck at the pelvic inlet.

In this position, the calf simply cannot get out.

This guy is trying to pull the baby out of the way instead of adjusting its position; he's really going to kill this mother and baby!

“It’s a downward bending of the neck,” Chen Ling said to Old Man Liu. “Uncle Liu, you’re right.”

"What should we do? Can we straighten it?" Old Liu asked nervously.

"I'll give it a try." Chen Ling adjusted his position, pressing down on the cow's abdomen with his left hand from the outside, while his right hand groped inside the birth canal, finding the calf's chin and gently pushing it upwards.

However, the calf had been stuck in the birth canal for too long and was already somewhat swollen. The space was also small, making it difficult to exert force with one hand.

I tried several times, but it didn't work.

Sweat beaded on Chen Ling's forehead. He pulled his hand away and said to Chen Guoping, "Brother Guoping, go find a sturdy rope, and make sure it's smooth."

He then said to the villagers who were watching, "Two more people, come and help me. When I yell 'pull hard,' you can help me pull it out."

"I'm coming!"

Count me in!

Several strong laborers immediately stepped forward.

After getting the rope, Chen Ling tied a slipknot at one end, reached in again, and groped to loop it around the calf's exposed front leg.

After securing the rope, hand the other end to two villagers.

They were about to begin the artificial delivery.

This method, though seemingly simple and crude, is indeed the most commonly used method for delivering large livestock calves. (End of Chapter)