My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 426 The Uses of Sauce
"How is the baby donkey? It's been so long since it was born. Does it show any signs of weakness or fatigue?"

"It's alright for now, except that the mother donkey isn't cooperating, and the little guy can't get his first sip of breast milk..."

Chen Ling glanced at the big mountain donkey with bloodshot eyes, panting heavily, and shook his head: "There's no other way. Let's go back and feed it some goat milk. We have some at home."

"The rest is up to us to wait until the mountain donkey calms down before we see how things go."

"Is goat milk okay? If not, we can buy some milk powder or soy milk powder."

"No need, goat milk is the best and most suitable."

Sheep eat all kinds of grass, and sheep milk has the most balanced and abundant nutrition, making it more nutritious than cow milk.

Wild animals in the mountains eat almost anything, and their diet is not much different from goat milk.

In addition, some lactose-intolerant cubs cannot drink milk or formula.

There are no such concerns with goat milk.

You can drink it regardless of whether you are lactose intolerant or not.

Since the others had no experience with this, they naturally believed whatever Chen Ling said.

However, the old man and woman from both families were very concerned about this only son of a mountain donkey, which was all black and wet.

I carefully wrapped it in a thick cotton pad and held it in my arms.

"Oh dear, poor thing, your mother doesn't care about you. You should come home with us."

"Let me hug you, let me hug you."

They circled around the cub, while Chen Ling, Zhao Dahai, and the other two carried the donkey down the mountain together.

The dogs didn't understand how this was different from hunting. They were still at the place where the mountain donkey had given birth, curiously sniffing at the remaining bloody residue.

Erhei even seemed to be baring its teeth to protect its food.

After being scolded by Chen Ling, they quickly stepped back and hurriedly followed along with the pack of dogs.

After descending the mountain.

The elderly couple, Wang Cunye and his wife, had already cleared out another unused livestock pen in the orchard.

There are seven or eight enclosures built outside the farm for poultry and livestock, scattered around the farm, and there is even one at the back of the farm.

However, half of it is unused and filled with miscellaneous items.

During the harvest season, some grain can also be stored away.

The place that Wang Cunye and his companion packed was on the east side; it was a short walk down the mountain to the orchard and you could see it.

“Let’s move it into this livestock pen and let it slowly recover before feeding it water and food again…” Wang Cunye said.

In the old man's eyes, this wild animal was no different from a strange animal he had just bought home. He would wait until the animal was given fresh water and food before discussing anything else.

"Row."

Chen Ling agreed, and the three of them put the mountain donkey into the pen.

As soon as they let go, the mountain donkey frantically broke free, seemingly trying to leap up and escape. However, it was too exhausted to jump and instead pounced onto a pile of hay prepared in the corner, staring at the crowd with its tired, bloodshot eyes.

Seeing this, Zhao Dahai scratched his forehead and exclaimed, "Oh dear, I forgot this thing can scale walls and roofs! If it recovers, won't it run away? Should we tie it up with a rope?"

Chen Ling shook his head: "Why tie it up? You've probably forgotten that we helped it give birth because we were worried about it having a difficult delivery, not that we caught it to raise. Let it run away if it wants to, there's no need to stop it."

"I know, but there's still a baby donkey here. It won't nurse, and what if it runs away and leaves the baby behind?"

Zhao Dahai said urgently.

"Don't worry about that. I'll figure something out in a bit. Let's feed the little one some goat milk first."

Chen Ling glanced at the little donkey in the lynx mother's arms and said.

This little thing wasn't as thin as I imagined. Two old ladies carried it down the mountain, and they even switched hands twice.

The two old men, Zhao Yubao and his wife, were extremely envious, but the old lady refused to let them take over because she was afraid they wouldn't be able to hold them properly and might hurt them.

I stared longingly at the little donkey's long ears, big black eyes, and silly little head. It was so cute that I took pictures of it and played with it all the way. I was extremely fond of it.

Hearing Chen Ling mention feeding the donkey goat milk, he perked up again and volunteered to get the goat milk to feed it.

But this is none of their business.

When Gao Xiulan returned, she had already brought over a bucket of fresh goat milk with three female comrades, including Wang Susu, and two little children.

After the two old ladies put the little donkey down, the three young women put fresh goat milk into one of Rui Rui's old baby bottles and began to feed the donkey.

The donkey in the mountains doesn't care about anything.

Naturally, one must be taught how to breastfeed.

It's called teaching, but it's actually just guidance.

Simply apply a few drops of milk to its mouth.

Perhaps it's because young calves are not afraid of tigers.

Or perhaps the little one is really hungry.

After wiping it a couple of times, I just put the pacifier in front of it and rubbed it against it, and it immediately grabbed the pacifier and started sucking on it.

"Cuckoo~"

The two little children squatted nearby, finding the scene amusing and thoroughly enjoying themselves.

The little donkey quickly finished a bottle of goat milk.

Gao Xiulan then prepared to fill another bottle with goat milk.

As soon as the bottle was removed, the little donkey looked reluctant to part with it, stretching its neck and chasing after the bottle, trying to bite it with its mouth, clearly not having had enough to drink.

This sight amused the adults as well.

"This little thing is so cute and adorable."

"Yes, look at its black color and long ears, it really looks like a newborn donkey."

"..."

The adults were just chatting and laughing, but the two little kids couldn't resist reaching out and touching the donkey's long ears.

Especially since Rui Rui was still wearing open-crotch pants, his face was full of excitement, his two white little bottoms sticking out, and he reached out to scratch the little donkey.

Although the little donkey was just born and didn't know how to be afraid of people, it instinctively felt uncomfortable being touched, so it shook its head and sent Rui Rui sprawling on its bottom.

The little baby wasn't annoyed. It rolled over, got up, its big eyes narrowed into crescent moons, giggled, and relentlessly crawled towards the little donkey...

"Hey, you can't ride this."

Chen Ling pulled his son over and put him aside, saying, "This thing looks bigger than you, but it's actually smaller. If you actually ride it, you'll die."

Rui Rui wouldn't listen; he kept pointing at the donkey with his chubby little finger and clamoring to ride it.

This made the rest of the people laugh uncontrollably.

"As expected of my favorite kid, he dares to ride anything at such a young age."

"Hehe, I've been letting Lingzi ride horses and motorcycles around since he was little, and he's gotten quite attached to it. Otherwise, what kid is this young riding a dog?"

"Haha, it's normal for little kids to imitate adults, that's what makes them cute."

"..." After a lot of trouble, Qin Qiumei finally arrived with Wang Zhenzhen.

Seeing a large group of them gathered here, he called out from a distance.

"What are you doing?"

"Brother-in-law, what did you catch this time? Aren't we not hunting in the summer?"

"No hunting. A mountain donkey was chased over by jackals, and it even had pups..."

"Wow, a mountain donkey! I want to see it! I want to see it!"

By this time, the little donkey had drunk two bottles of milk and was able to run around on the ground.

So Chen Ling put it together with the mountain donkey, letting the mother and her child stay in the same livestock pen.

This little donkey is quite friendly to people after being fed milk earlier.

One moment it runs to the big mountain donkey by the haystack, the next it circles around the livestock pen, then runs up to people, tilts its nose up, and shakes its two long ears, extremely lively, just like a newborn donkey.

Upon seeing such a fun little creature, Wang Zhenzhen was overjoyed, and even Qin Qiumei forgot to catch up with Zhao Dahai's family. After exchanging a few words, she and the others stood outside the livestock pen with smiles on their faces, watching the little donkey wander around and play.

At this point, the big mountain donkey gradually calmed down, but it wasn't very affectionate towards the little donkey.

Chen Ling frowned and slowly began to think of a solution.

After everyone had enjoyed the show, he left Xiao Jin nearby to keep watch, and then led everyone back to the living room so they could chat and catch up.

He stayed in the living room for a while, and after about forty minutes, he went out to the kitchen, scooped some soybean paste into the dog bowl, carried a bucket of water, and walked out of the farm.

"What's the point of getting rich?"

"You guys chat, I'm going to feed the mountain donkey some water and food, and see if I can get the calf some breast milk."

Perhaps because it has picked up the scent of humans, the mountain donkey is not affectionate towards its young. It may change now that it has been a short time, but if it has been a long time, it may really abandon the little donkey and run away on its own.

"Goodness, how could we be left out of this? Let those women talk to them, we'll help you."

Lynx and Zhao Dahai followed together.

"What did you bring?"

"Soybean paste."

"What the hell?"

"Soybean paste, it's just soybean paste."

Why are you bringing this?

"Haven't you heard? All large livestock that eat grass like to eat salt. Not to mention the cattle and horses at home, the hunters here also put them in salt pits when they catch deer and muntjacs. The wild animals will naturally come over and lick them when they see them."

"This sauce is even more fragrant than salt. Do you think this mountain donkey can resist its temptation?"

As Chen Ling spoke, he turned and stepped into the livestock pen, walked to the haystack, placed the dog bowl containing soybean paste in front of the mountain donkey, and put a small half-bucket of water aside.

The little donkey curiously walked over, wanting to sniff it, but Chen Ling grabbed it and told Zhao Dahai and the other two not to come in yet.

He slowly stepped back, grabbed the little donkey, and carried it to the side.

Soon after, the aroma of soy sauce wafted out, and the mountain donkey twitched its nose a few times, glancing at Chen Ling, then at Zhao Dahai and the others outside the livestock pen.

I waited and waited, and it lasted for about two or three minutes.

Those two or three minutes felt like a long time to Chen Ling and the others, as well as to the mountain donkey.

Fortunately, the mountain donkey finally couldn't resist standing up and tiptoed to the dog bowl. He took a bite, then looked up at Chen Ling and the other two with some wariness.

But the next second, after the aroma of soy sauce filled its mouth, it no longer cared that humans were watching. It buried its head and began to eat and lick voraciously, pushing the dog bowl around the livestock pen with a clanging sound.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Dahai and Shanmao showed surprised expressions and whispered to Chen Ling: "This guy should bring this sauce with him when he goes hunting in the future. He can use it not only for food but also to lure wild animals."

Chen Ling smiled slightly and remained silent.

I picked some tender leaves from the basket and threw them in, then left it there.

After all, they are wild animals, and people can't keep guarding them forever.

Then, with two other people on their backs, they carried the meat of the Gongshan donkey to various households in the village.

Zhao Dahai and his companion didn't wander around aimlessly. After dropping off Wang Jusheng at his house, they stopped at Wang Lixian's place and played with his dog and his local dog and big black dog.

After Chen Ling delivered the meat, the three of them returned together.

"Did you hear that? It's making 'plop plop' sounds inside. That must be the mountain donkey drinking water."

"Of course! After eating half a bowl of soy sauce, it was so salty, it would be strange if he didn't drink water."

Walking up to the livestock pen and looking inside, I saw that the mountain donkey really had its head stuck in the bucket drinking water.

A chubby little black donkey was also curiously peeking around nearby.

Upon seeing Chen Ling and the others approach, they trotted over and looked up at them.

Zhao Dahai reached out and touched it. "It seems the mother and son get along quite well. Hehe, Fugui, why don't you try some more sauce? Let's get the little donkey some breast milk soon."

"Row."

Chen Ling glanced at the animals and saw that the tender leaves in the livestock pen had been eaten. The mountain donkey was less wary, so he replied and picked up the dog bowl to go home and fill it with sauce.

Actually, the water and food at home are better than those in the mountains.

Even the soybeans and water in this soybean paste are of a much higher quality than those in ordinary households.

When the mountain donkey eats such good food, it's happy, its stomach is full, and its heart is at ease, so its emotions naturally calm down.

Chen Ling didn't dig much when he got back, only a little over a spoonful of sauce.

This time, as I stepped into the livestock pen, before I even got close, the donkey from the mountains came to greet me.

Chen Ling breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this and beckoned Zhao Dahai and the other man to come in. The three of them first tentatively stroked and scratched the mountain donkey, and when it didn't react much, they let the calf nurse under it.

Even for this one thing, it took more than ten minutes of back and forth to finally get the little donkey its first taste of breast milk, thanks to the temptation of the soybean paste.

"It's not easy."

"Damn it, even breastfeeding is so difficult. It hasn't even smoothed out the wild nature of this mountain donkey yet, but it's almost worn down my temper."

"Haha, anyway, we don't need to worry about this anymore. This afternoon we can help Fugui continue working on the small water tower."

As the lynx said.

With that, the story of the mountain donkey and its calf finally came to an end.

However, after hearing the rumors, the villagers still come to see the spectacle from time to time these past two days.

After all, mountain donkeys are rare, often traversing cliffs or high mountains. Even deep in the Qinling Mountains, they are only encountered by some herb gatherers.

As for the others, it's no exaggeration to say that you might not see them even once in most of your life.

After all, who would want to venture into the deep mountains and forests for no reason?

The mother and son donkey were quite strange. After staying at the farm for two days, enjoying good food and drink, and learning about the benefits of the place, they simply didn't want to leave.

But it gave the villagers a real treat for their eyes.

The little donkey, in particular, was so endearing and silly that the children loved it so much they wished they could live there forever and never leave Chen Ling's house.

(End of this chapter)