My 1995 Small Farm.

The two returned to the farm.

Gao Xiulan has prepared all kinds of ingredients.

Chen Ling can just cook.

He always cooks very quickly; once the ingredients are prepared, he can cook a dish in three to five minutes.

Before long, a table full of dishes was prepared.

Braised wild rabbit, stewed pheasant, stir-fried garlic sprouts with cured pork, stir-fried leeks with eggs, and a large bowl of pickled fish. The staple food was white flour steamed buns and millet porridge.

When Li Lianjie saw the dishes, his eyes widened: "So lavish!"

"It's just a simple meal, don't be shy," Chen Ling said, gesturing for him to sit down.

Wang Cunye also returned from the village and had dinner with us.

During the meal, when the topic of medicinal herbs from the mountains came up, Li Lianjie showed great interest, asking all sorts of questions.

"If Mr. Li wants to go into the mountains, I'll take you there tomorrow."

Wang Cunye said, "At this time of year, some medicinal herbs are at their best."

"That's daring!"

Li Lianjie readily agreed: "Besides buying dogs, I also want to get some good medicinal herbs this time. I'm getting old, so I need to nourish myself and take care of my health."

Chen Ling laughed and said, "Mr. Li doesn't look like he needs any supplements. With the physique of a kung fu king, how could he be lacking?"

Li Lianjie waved his hand and said modestly, "Hey, it's all just fancy moves I learned while filming. They look solid, but actually I'm covered in injuries, it's all old ailments."

"Then take two jars of medicinal wine from me later, something gentle to nourish your body."

"Alright! Then I won't be polite!"

After finishing their meal and resting for a while, Chen Ling took Li Lianjie to the forest farm.

The two rode a small blue horse and a packhorse, respectively.

Blackie and Little Gold ran ahead to clear the way.

In the early winter forest, the leaves had not yet all fallen.

But the leaves have already turned yellow.

Yellow ginkgo leaves, red maple leaves, and green pines and cypresses.

Layer upon layer, colorful and beautiful like a painting.

Li Lianjie, riding on horseback and looking at the surrounding scenery, exclaimed, "Mr. Chen, this place is truly a paradise. If I didn't have to film, I would love to stay here forever."

"Come stay anytime you want, I have plenty of room," Chen Ling said.

When they arrived at the dog farm, the dogs were still being looked after by Chen Dajiang and a few other villagers.

Upon seeing Chen Ling, he came out to greet him: "Fugui has arrived!"

"Brother Dajiang, I've brought a guest to see the dog."

Chen Ling dismounted and said with a smile, "This is Boss Li, who wants to buy a few good dogs."

"Hello, Mr. Li!"

Chen Dajiang grinned: "You've come to see the dogs, huh? Perfect timing! Several litters of puppies just opened their eyes these past few days, and they're so energetic!"

The dog farm is divided into several areas, including a breeding dog area, a puppy area, and a training area.

As soon as Li Lianjie entered, he was surrounded by a cacophony of barking dogs.

"So many dogs!"

He was dazzled by what he saw.

"This is the breeding area; most of the best offspring are from here."

Chen Ling led him inside.

There were more than twenty adult dogs in the cage, all of them plump and strong with glossy fur.

When they saw someone coming, some stood up and wagged their tails, while others lay still and lazily looked up.

Li Lianjie looked at each dog one by one, his eyes growing brighter and brighter: "Good dogs, all good dogs! This bone structure, this coat color, are much better than the purebred dogs I've seen in Hong Kong!"

“Most of the dogs here are of hunting lineage; we value practicality over aesthetics,” Chen Ling said.

He and Lynx dominate the dog farm here.

There's also Zhang Lihua's share behind it.

Among the three, he was the one who contributed technology as equity.

Even without investing money, they still make up the majority.

There was nothing he could do; he had something good.

So everyone follows this model when they seek cooperation with him.

The same is true for lynxes.

I wouldn't feel comfortable not bringing him in.

"Practicality is key!"

Li Lianjie squatted in front of a cage, staring wide-eyed at a large, golden dog inside.

"This one is..."

"This is Hutou, Heiwa's grandson. He's a year and a half old this year, in his prime."

Chen Ling explained, "Its father is Da Mao, a first-generation wolfhound, and its mother is a purebred tiger-headed yellow dog brought from a mountain village. It has a pure bloodline and is an excellent hunter."

When Tiger Head saw someone squatting in front of the cage, he stood up and walked to the door. He stared intently at Li Lianjie with his bright eyes, neither barking nor making a fuss, remaining very calm.

"That's a good personality."

Li Lianjie liked it more and more as he looked at it: "Mr. Chen, can you sell this one?"

Chen Ling looked at Chen Dajiang: "What did the lynx say?"

Chen Dajiang scratched his head: "This one won't work. You know Fugui, Hutou is meant to be kept for breeding. The next batch of cubs has already been ordered."

Li Lianjie was somewhat disappointed, but he didn't insist: "Then let's look at some others."

After looking at a few more, Li Lianjie stopped in front of a black and white female dog.

This dog is smaller than Tiger Head, but very well-proportioned. Its fur is black and white, and it has two tufts of white hair above its eyes, making it look like it has four eyes.

"This one is..."

Li Lianjie asked.

"This is Si Yan, Sanmao's daughter, who is two years old this year."

Chen Dajiang said, "It has already given birth to three litters at the dog farm. The puppies are all strong and have stable temperaments. If you want it, this one can be sold."

"However, this is not a puppy; you can't raise it from a puppy to an adult."

Li Lianjie carefully examined Si Yan, who looked at him quietly with a gentle gaze.

"Okay, I'll take this one."

"I can't just pick a puppy without knowing how to choose. I know the rules here at Mr. Chen's place: you can't just throw money at people."

"Otherwise, we'll have to buy all the puppies here no matter what."

Li Lianjie shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"Let's get a female dog first, at least she'll be a stud dog."

"Anything else? I'd like to pick out a male one to make a pair."

"There are several males, look at this one..."

Chen Ling led him to another area.

In the end, Jet Li chose two dogs.

Besides Four-Eyes, there is also a male dog named Big Black.

This person is Heiwa's great-grandson.

They were also a little over a year old, similar in age, and at that lively and active age.

"One steady, one lively, just right."

Li Lianjie was very satisfied: "Boss Chen, what's the price for these two?"

"Just give me whatever you think is appropriate."

Chen Ling laughed and said, "We're all friends, let's not talk about money."

"That won't do. Even brothers should keep clear accounts."

Li Lianjie insisted: "How about this, two dogs, I'll pay this amount."

He held up two fingers.

"Two thousand?" Chen Ling asked.

"Twenty thousand," Li Lianjie said.

Chen Ling and Chen Dajiang were both stunned.

"Mr. Li, this price is too high."

Chen Ling quickly said, "The best dogs we sell here cost around a thousand yuan, not this expensive."

"I think it's worth it."

Li Lianjie said earnestly, "I would pay the same price for a purebred dog in Hong Kong. These two dogs of yours are of good bloodline, have excellent appearance, and are even intelligent. Twenty thousand is not expensive."

Chen Ling wanted to decline, but Li Lianjie waved his hand and said, "Boss Chen, don't refuse. I've come all this way, and I'm happy to be able to buy a dog that I like."

"Keep this money. If there are any problems with the dog in the future, I'll have to come to you."

"Besides, didn't you say you don't have dogs at your kennel? Are you going to ask me to find them somewhere else?"

"I'll give you this 20,000 yuan all at once. You just need to pick out a good puppy for me from somewhere else."

Having said that, Chen Ling couldn't refuse any longer: "Alright, I'll keep the money. Don't take the dog away yet. Let it stay here for a few days to get used to it, and then take it with you when you're ready to leave."

"And didn't you want the puppies to grow up with the tigers?"

"After bringing it home, just let the puppy train with the tiger." "Okay, I'll do as you say. I knew Mr. Chen was a straightforward person."

Li Lianjie readily agreed.

After buying the dog, Chen Ling took him to see the tigers at Charles's place.

Maya's belly was already quite big, and she lay lazily in the greenhouse.

Charles was delighted to see Chen Ling and said in broken Chinese, "Chen! Maya is about to give birth! In the next two weeks!"

“Really? Then we need to keep a close eye on them,” Chen Ling said.

Looking at Maya's round belly, Li Lianjie asked curiously, "How long has this tiger been pregnant?"

“It’s almost three months. Tigers have a short gestation period, usually around 100 days,” Chen Ling explained.

"Then we'll see the tiger cubs soon!"

Li Lianjie immediately said excitedly, "Boss Chen, can I stay a few more days? Can I wait until the tiger cubs give birth before leaving?"

"Of course, you can stay as long as you want."

By the time we left the forest farm, the sun was already setting.

The two rode back on horseback, and Li Lianjie was in a very good mood, humming a little tune all the way.

"Mr. Chen, this trip was definitely worth it."

"I bought a dog, saw a tiger, and even met a finless porpoise. My luck has really improved ever since I met you."

Chen Ling laughed and said, "That's because you're blessed with good fortune."

"No, I really feel that my luck changed after I met you."

Li Lianjie said earnestly, "Last time I came, my leg injury had healed. This time, I've encountered so many good things. Boss Chen, you are a blessed man; everyone who is associated with you is lucky."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ling burst into laughter: "Mr. Li, you certainly know how to talk."

I'm serious.

Li Lianjie also laughed and said, "So I'll have to come here often in the future to share in your good fortune."

The two returned to the farm chatting and laughing; it was already getting dark.

The aroma of food wafted from the courtyard.

Wang Susu has returned from the village and is busy in the kitchen.

Gao Xiulan was feeding the chickens in the yard, while Rui Rui was chasing puppies with her younger siblings.

Standing at the gate of the courtyard, watching this heartwarming scene, Li Lianjie suddenly said, "Boss Chen, sometimes I really envy you."

"What do you envy about me?"

I envy your life.

Li Lianjie exclaimed, "Having a family, a career, a wife and children, and so many animals to keep me company, I feel at ease and at peace."

"Unlike me, I'm always running around. It looks glamorous, but I'm actually very tired."

Chen Ling patted him on the shoulder: "Everyone has their own way of living. If you're tired, come to my place anytime. I'll provide food and lodging, and you can stay as long as you want."

"Okay, I'll remember that!"

Li Lianjie laughed and said, "Next time I'll bring my family here so they can see your paradise."

"That would be great, you're welcome anytime."

After dinner, Wang Susu took Li Lianjie's pulse and prescribed a remedy.

Li Lianjie treasured it and carefully put it away.

That night, Chen Ling arranged a guest room for Li Lianjie and returned to his own room.

Wang Susu was still awake, reading a book against the headboard. When she saw him come in, she asked, "Is Boss Li asleep?"

"I'm going to sleep. I'm tired after sitting in the car all day."

Chen Ling took off his shoes and got into bed: "He bought two dogs today, and spent 20,000 yuan."

"Twenty thousand?"

Wang Susu looked up in surprise: "Give so much money? Didn't you say before that this person has some personality issues?"

"The problem is that he's willing to make friends with anyone, not that he's stupid."

Chen Ling lay down, smiling and sighing, "This guy is loaded, and he's really into raising dogs."

"That's true. I saw him playing with the dog today, and he was as happy as a child."

Wang Susu closed the book: "Is Dad taking him into the mountains tomorrow?"

"Hmm, let's go for a walk and gather some medicinal herbs."

Chen Ling said, "By the way, he said he wanted to wait until Maya gave birth to tiger cubs before leaving."

"Then we'll have to stay for quite a few days."

Wang Susu calculated the days: "Maya doesn't know if she can give birth to the tiger cubs before we go to Beiji."

"Yes, I also hope to have a baby soon."

As Chen Ling spoke, he yawned and said, "It's a pity, you can never be sure about these things."

"Just like Afu and King Kong, they seemed to get along well, but they didn't end up together."

"That makes sense. Go to sleep early." Wang Susu snuggled into his arms and rubbed against him.

……

Silent all night.

The next day, Chen Ling continued working on his hydroponic vegetables.

Li Lianjie is going into the mountains today, so there's no need to help him look for puppies at other people's homes.

Wang Cunye led Li Lianjie into the mountains, with Afu and Ashou following behind.

Actually, Ah Fu and Ah Shou have been going into the mountains with people every day lately, mainly following those who pick wild fruits.

It helps to ward off wild animals.

Even the presence of a tiger can be inspiring.

Many villagers were excited after seeing the tiger follow them into the mountains. Even those who hadn't planned to go immediately went along.

Many teenagers and little kids from various families went with them.

As a result, every day was a bountiful harvest of wild fruits.

Han Chuang even had tractors come and haul it away several times, making quite a scene.

Besides hydroponic vegetables, Chen Ling also takes time to go to Dongtian to collect seaweed and similar products.

He dried the kelp and stored it away.

He used to be worried about the seaweed overgrowth.

I'm not so annoyed anymore.

The main reason is that he figured out how to use it.

Kelp can also be used as a seasoning ingredient.

For example, it can be used to enhance the flavor of dishes and soups.

Besides that?

His main thought was to improve the competitiveness of his instant noodles.

Take the shrimp noodles for example.

It has never been as popular as braised beef in the country.

Chen Ling thought of using the kelp produced in this cave in the seasoning packet of the shrimp noodles.

A 2% to 5% ratio of seasoning can make a significant difference in flavor.

He hadn't told Liang Yuemin about this yet.

Let's talk about it after his year-end meeting and during the New Year's gathering.

In short, as the second-in-command, it's only right that I occasionally contribute some special technologies and formulas to support my company.

Besides these.

Chen Ling's experiments in the cave and some new discoveries aroused his playful spirit.

It initially stemmed from pests that infested hydroponically grown vegetables.

He was inspired by the ants, scorpions, centipedes, snakes and other poisonous insects he cultivated in the cave.

After a few simple attempts, I discovered that it's really amazing.

Some insects don't eat vegetables, but they do prey on pests, and they do so very quickly and in large numbers.

This discovery made Chen Ling feel as if he had suddenly attained enlightenment.

They felt that the pests that eat vegetables were like the sparrows and other harmful birds that eat grains.

The insects that prey on pests are like birds of prey such as hawks and falcons.

Birds of prey control harmful birds, but do not feed on crops in farmland.

Just like insects that control pests, they don't eat vegetables.

You can simply put insects that eat pests on the vegetables and they will kill the pests directly.

"Is this what later generations called biological control?"

"I guess you could say I developed my own farming skills!"

Chen Ling was very excited about his discovery.

Take out paper and pen and quickly write it down.

He had a premonition that this biological control method would require a lot of experimental data to support it.

Having a hidden world within himself makes things far more convenient than for ordinary people, allowing him to complete the task quickly. (End of Chapter)