My 1995 Small Farm.

After seeing off several chicken farm managers, including Lao Zhou and Lao Li, who were quite satisfied, we departed.

And with the group of exhausted but energetic foreign laborers, the forest farm suddenly became quiet.

The once bustling greenhouse is now empty, with only a few scattered, weak chicks and chicken feathers and broken rice scattered all over the ground.

The warm, stuffy smell in the air, a mixture of chicken manure, feed, and the vitality of life, gradually faded away.

Fang Boming, the little sheep, wasn't in a hurry to leave. He'd been quite busy lately and rarely saw Chen Ling. Now that he had, he wanted to talk to her more.

"Uncle Fugui, this is great! We've got a great start to the new year."

"They really want more of these chicks."

"Old Zhou was still muttering to me on the way, saying that if you hadn't insisted on the quantity, he would have sold everything he owned to get a thousand more."

Chen Ling laughed upon hearing this, "It's just a gadget. As long as we enjoy it and others find it appealing, that's fine. But how's things going at the freight station?"

"I've noticed you've been quite busy lately, not even taking a break during the Lunar New Year."

When talking about her business, Little Sheep's eyes lit up even more, with a hint of pride: "Busy! With the arrival of spring, goods are starting to move in all the counties. There are people hauling fertilizer, delivering seeds, and even sending equipment to the mines in the north. I've handled several of those trips."

"Thanks to Uncle Fugui, everyone in the neighborhood knows about my relationship with you. I'm getting more and more work, but I still don't have enough cars, so I have to schedule shifts quickly."

"Good job, keep up the good work. These days, running a transport business is a legitimate way to make money. Be quick-witted, and you'll get plenty of benefits in the future."

Chen Ling patted him on the shoulder, encouraging him.

This young man is energetic, hardworking, and also Wang Lixian's son-in-law, so he is naturally willing to give him some pointers.

"Hey, I know, Uncle Fugui."

The little lamb nodded vigorously, then looked around curiously: "Uncle, I don't see Erhei and the others have gone back to the village? Are they still here guarding the place?"

Chen Ling followed his gaze and saw Erhei sitting upright by the pile of materials not far away, like a serious old butler, supervising several half-grown mutts patrolling around.

Although the dogs were a mixed breed, with some having droopy ears and others having curled tails, they were all plump and strong, with glossy fur and intelligent and loyal eyes. They were the same "Paw Patrol" dogs that Lynx had previously adopted.

"Okay, let Erhei stay here and take care of them for a while."

Chen Ling explained, "We already have Afu and Ashou in the village, so we don't need so many dogs for the time being."

"It's not too late to let these little rascals go back to the village when they're older and can stand on their own."

"By then, the forest farm will also need its own batch of dogs; we can't always rely on me to mobilize troops from the village."

The little lamb looked at the puppies that were already quite imposing and exclaimed in amazement, "Uncle Lynx is really something. He picked up these puppies and raised them to be like this."

"Look at that energy, it's even better than many guard dogs that people properly feed."

"As long as you are willing to feed them, they are all good seedlings, they just need more training."

Chen Ling smiled and said, "With Erhei as a strict teacher, you'll graduate very quickly."

The poor little ones that Lynx picked up before the Lunar New Year are now being trained and cared for by Erhei.

These little ones, their parents have no idea what kind of food they came from, but they're not bad-natured and eat well.

In addition, he has been learning the rules from Erhei, and now he looks like he's starting to take shape.

Chen Ling deliberately let them stay in the forest farm a little longer, so that they could learn the skills of guarding the house and patrolling from Erhei.

Once they are truly capable of standing on their own, we will bring Erhei and the others back to the village.

By then, regardless of whether the lynx runs his dog farm or not, there will be reliable dogs guarding everywhere.

The little lamb suddenly realized and exclaimed in amazement, "Uncle Fugui, you really think ahead! Now that you mention it, you're absolutely right!"

"The dogs Erhei trained are definitely top-notch! In my father-in-law's words, Erhei is a master at managing things in the village, and he's a great dog trainer when he goes out. He'll be of great use."

Those half-grown dogs, which Chen Ling called the "Paw Patrol," did indeed exude a cleverness and fierceness.

Although it still retains some of the playfulness of a puppy, its eyes have already become alert, and its movements are showing signs of Erhei's composure.

Before long, they will surely become a group of outstanding helpers.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Little Sheep went back to dispatch vehicles and said goodbye.

Chen Ling then mounted his little blue horse and slowly made his way back to the village.

Before even reaching the village entrance, the familiar sounds of bustling activity and the aroma of cooking greeted us.

The procession that went out was long and impressive, and the scene of their return was even more enthusiastic.

Every household is busy tidying up.

On the roof, a man was inspecting the tiles and sweeping away the dead branches and leaves that had accumulated over the winter.

In the courtyard, the women were busy airing out their bedding and clothes, with colorful sheets hanging all over the clotheslines.

The children, like playful puppies, chased and frolicked on the familiar ground, eliciting laughter and scolding from the adults.

The smoke rising from the chimney no longer smelled like that of coal stoves in the city, but rather carried a richer, more mellow aroma of firewood.

Donkey carts and handcarts were scattered around the threshing ground and in front of each house, and belongings were being carried back into the house piece by piece.

"Is Fugui back?"

"Sold out of chicks? How was it? Did it go smoothly?"

"Oh, I'm finally back! It's so much better in the village! Even heating a kang (heated brick bed) in the city feels so cramped!"

When the villagers saw Chen Ling, they greeted him warmly, their smiles much more genuine than when he was in the city, reflecting the peace and contentment of returning to their own territory.

Chen Ling responded with a smile all the way, leading his horse to the gate of his own courtyard.

He had almost finished tidying up the farm, but he hadn't tidied up the courtyard in the village yet, which Wang Susu knew.

So we'll definitely come here to clean up first.

Sure enough, Wang Susu and the old lady Liang Hongyu were already busy.

The yard was swept clean, and Rui Rui was sticking his bottom out, holding a small shovel, trying to dig out a dandelion that had stubbornly sprouted from a crack in the brick wall.

He showed it to Afu, who was lying next to him, like a treasure.

Kang Kang and Lele were placed on a thick mat under the eaves, basking in the sun, babbling and watching their older brother and Big Tiger, waving their arms and legs excitedly.

Ah Shou leisurely strolled to the chicken coop, his huge body startling the few remaining hens inside, who clucked and huddled together.

"Look at you, so pathetic!"

Wang Susu jokingly scolded Ashou, who was threatening the hen, then looked up and saw Chen Ling, her eyes crinkling into a smile.

"Has everything been taken care of?"

"Yes, the money and goods are settled. Our Rui Rui brand 'Little One' is safe too, no one took it away."

Chen Ling smiled as he dismounted and tied the reins to the Chinese toon tree by the door.

Upon hearing this, Rui Rui immediately dropped the dandelion and ran over, hugging his leg: "Daddy is so good! You're the best little one!"

"You always spoil him."

Wang Susu said this, but her eyes were full of smiles.

Life at home is better now, the man is capable, the children are lively and healthy, and there are such intelligent and caring people looking after them. Her heart is sweeter than honey.

Grandma Liang Hongyu, holding a winnowing basket of freshly picked beans, smiled and said, "Fugui knows how to raise things, and he's honest too. He said he'd sell five hundred beans, and he meant five hundred. He won't sell a single one more. Once this reputation spreads, our family's things will become even more precious."

Just then, Mountain Cat and Zhao Dahai finished tidying up the small courtyard on the slope and came over to help.

A short while later, Wang Lixian and Wang Jusheng arrived as well.

Otherwise, with so many children, they would be in the way everywhere, and Chen Ling's family really wouldn't have much manpower.

The sun rose higher, shining warmly on the freshly swept courtyard.

Wang Susu and Liang Hongyu were tidying up the clothes and bedding they had brought inside the house.

After the men finished cleaning the yard, they were helping Chen Ling's family pick up tiles from the roof.

Rui Rui squatted next to Afu's huge front paws, carefully drawing circles with a small twig, while muttering to his "big tiger" in a whisper that no one could understand.

Afu and Ashou seemed to be enjoying this moment of peace. Their huge heads were resting on their front paws, their amber eyes were half-closed, and they were purring comfortably, just like big cats being stroked.

Just then, a rustling and hushed excited chatter came from outside the courtyard gate.

"Sixth Sister, hurry up!"

"Keep your voice down, don't scare the big tiger!"

Several small heads peeked out from the gap in the courtyard wall; it was Liu Nier, Xiao Sen, and a few others.

Their little faces were flushed with excitement, their eyes wide open, wanting to come in but also a little scared, clinging to the wall and hesitating to move forward.

As soon as Rui Rui looked up and saw them, she immediately dropped the branch and ran over excitedly: "Brother Liu Ni'er! Xiao Sen! Come in quickly! Look at my big tiger! They don't bite!"

With their little master's encouragement, the children then pushed and shoved each other, carefully moving into the yard.

But as soon as they got close to Afu and Ashou's hill-like bodies, they felt an invisible pressure and couldn't help but shrink their necks, standing far away with a mixture of curiosity and awe, not daring to get too close.

"RuiRui, do they really let you touch them?"

Liu Nier looked enviously at the spot where Rui Rui had just been lying.

"Let it pass!"

Rui Rui puffed out her little chest, looking very proud, and ran back to Afu and Ashou, demonstrating by touching their two thick front legs.

"Look how well-behaved they are!"

As if to please its little master, Afu lazily lifted its eyelids and exhaled a warm breath from its nose as a greeting.

This gentle reaction emboldened the children, who slowly gathered around, cautiously reaching out their little hands, wanting to touch the legendary king of beasts.

Afu and Ashou were clearly not averse to the group of curious, harmless little ones.

It remained lying there lazily, and even let out a huge yawn, revealing its gleaming white fangs, which startled the children, causing them to gasp and take a half-step back. Then, they giggled at its languid appearance.

"Little piglets, do you... dare to go over and touch them?"

Komori lowered his voice, his tone a mix of encouragement and anticipation.

Piggy swallowed hard, mustered his courage, took a small step forward, then immediately pulled back, scratching his head:
"I...I'm a little scared...the breath it exhales from its nose is like a gentle breeze..."

Liu Ni'er was quite bold. She chuckled, took out half a piece of hard, dry malt candy from her pocket, and tentatively offered it towards Ashou:
"Ah Shou, would you like some candy?"

Ah Shou's nose twitched slightly, seemingly uninterested in the sweet smell. He snorted and turned his head away.

"Hahaha, the big tiger doesn't like your candy!"

The children burst into laughter, which eased the tense atmosphere considerably.

Rui Rui puffed out her little chest, looking very proud: "Big Big Tiger! He doesn't eat candy! Daddy said they eat meat! Lots and lots of meat!"

As he spoke, he ran to Afu's side, stood on tiptoe, and laboriously touched Afu's front legs: "Afu, good boy, this is Brother Liu Ni'er, Brother Xiao Sen, Brother Zhuwa..."

Afu let out an extremely low, almost silent "woo-woo" sound in his throat as a response, which startled Liu Nier and the others, causing them to shrink back again, before their faces turned red with excitement.

"It...it seems to understand!"

"Rui Rui is amazing!"

The children surrounded Rui Rui and the tiger, neither daring to get too close nor wanting to stray too far, chattering softly, filling the yard with a joyful atmosphere.

However, this joyful scene was soon broken by an unusual noise.

Suddenly, Afu, who had been lying down, twitched his ears, flared his nostrils twice, and slowly stood up.

Ah Shou, who was standing next to him, also stood up immediately.

The two giant tigers glanced at each other, let out low, ambiguous growls, and then, as if on cue, started walking towards the gate.

"Where is Big Tiger going?"

Rui Rui was taken aback and instinctively wanted to follow.

The children, curious, crowded around and followed behind.

Chen Ling and his group were on the roof, talking and picking tiles with some old men, when they saw this and were also a little puzzled.

Afu and Ashou left the courtyard and did not go far. Instead, they stopped in a relatively quiet corner with soft soil not far from Chen Ling's courtyard wall.

They first lowered their heads and carefully sniffed the ground with their noses, then began to dig a hole with their front paws!
The tiger's thick, powerful claws easily dug through the soil, creating two sizable shallow pits in just a few quick "swish" strokes.

Then, Ah Shou also stood up and followed him over.

The two tigers stood side by side, their hind legs slightly bent, in an obvious pose.

"Uh...are they...going to poop?" Komori said blankly.

Wang Susu was hanging up clothes when she saw this and laughed, "It really is! They're so cute and clean now. Back in the village, they knew to find secluded places to relieve themselves, and they even knew to bury it with soil afterward."

Sure enough, after skillfully relieving themselves, Afu and Ashou actually started digging at the loose soil next to them with their front paws, trying to cover up their excrement.

The scene was both shocking and somewhat inexplicably... comical.

Two incredibly powerful beasts were earnestly doing the job of "burying cat poop".

"Oh? Just like a cat? It even buries its poop after it poops!" Zhao Dahai looked on in amazement from the rooftop.

The lynx laughed too: "Hey! These two big guys! All felines have this habit, they have to bury it after they poop!"

Just then, Chen Yuqiang came out of the front yard carrying a shovel, intending to check on his own wheat field.

Hearing Chen Ling's voices, they immediately spotted the scene.

He was taken aback at first, then his eyes lit up as if he had discovered some treasure. He rushed in, shovel in hand, his voice trembling with excitement:

"Uncle Fugui! No! Don't let them be buried! Please don't bury them!"

Chen Ling was startled: "What's wrong, Yuqiang?"

Chen Yuqiang darted to the corner of the wall and grinned as he looked at the two steaming, substantial puddles of tiger droppings.

It was as if what I saw was not filth, but gold ingots:
"Oh my! This is a wonderful thing! An incredibly wonderful thing!"

He gestured excitedly, "Tiger droppings! The older generation says this stuff is just like tiger urine, it has a strong malevolent aura! It's more effective than cinnabar or realgar!"

"Snakes, insects, rats, and ants flee at the mere mention of its name, and even mountain spirits and monsters dare not approach it!"

"It would be such a waste to bury it! Keep it! Keep it to ward off evil spirits and protect the house!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, and turned to Chen Ling, saying, "Uncle Fugui, I want to talk to you about something! Can you ask Afu and Ashou to poop in that ditch outside my yard wall from now on?"

"I'll come and clean every day! I promise it won't stink in your yard!"

"With this thing around, I can sleep soundly and snore all night!"

"No more weasels stealing chickens or stray cats climbing walls, they won't dare come here anymore!"

He spoke quite loudly, and not only Chen Ling's family, but also the Wang family next door who were tidying up their yard heard him.

Aunt Wang threw down the broom, her eyes lighting up: "Oh my! Yuqiang, you're quick-witted! How come I didn't think of that!"

The old lady rushed over: "Fugui, we shouldn't let the good stuff go to outsiders! Next time! Next time, let them graze behind my chicken coop! My chickens are always being targeted by those mountain weasels!"

Goodness, their actions have even tempted some people on the rooftops.

Wang Lixian, being more practical, rubbed his hands together and said, "So, my greenhouse also needs one of these to keep things in check..."

Zhao Dahai was even more direct, slapping his thigh: "Stop arguing! Fugui, what's our relationship? Next time, bring my courtyard first!"

Looking at the villagers scrambling to get their hands on the excrement, Chen Ling was at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"No... folks... this... this thing is, after all, shit..."

"I don't care about wealth or the stench! I'll just catch it with a basket!"

"Go to my chicken coop! My chicken coop is right next to the edge of the village, and weasels are likely to come here!"

"My pigsty was the same; it even had a wolf attack..."

"At the edge of my vegetable patch! At the edge of my vegetable patch!"

Good heavens! The scene of watching tigers with amusement just a moment ago has instantly turned into a "tiger poop reservation event"!
The villagers chattered amongst themselves, vying to "apply" to Chen Ling.

It was as if that wasn't the smelly tiger droppings, but a golden nugget that could protect the home, ward off evil, and bring good fortune!
Surrounded by these enthusiastic villagers, Chen Ling listened to all sorts of bizarre recommendations for "auspicious places," leaving him both amused and exasperated.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something like, "Tiger poop isn't actually that magical," "It's just ordinary excrement," "It'll still smell even if you bury it"...

But looking at the faces of the villagers, filled with piety, expectation, and absolute trust...

Especially seeing Chen Yuqiang's eager expression, as if he couldn't wait to bring the tiger dung home, he swallowed all his words.

Alright, if the villagers believe this, then let them believe it.

At least it gives me some peace of mind.

Furthermore, tiger droppings have a strong odor, and leaving them around villages can objectively serve to mark territory and warn other small and medium-sized wild animals.

So, it could be considered... to have some scientific basis?
He gave a helpless, bitter smile.

I was thinking that since the tigers are here, there's nothing to be afraid of anymore.

Now it seems there's no point in saying anything.

Meanwhile, Afu and Ashou, who were focused on "doing something important," seemed to have been startled by the sudden, heated discussion surrounding their excrement.

The two giant tigers stopped moving, slightly turning their massive heads, and their amber eyes surprisingly revealed a hint of... confusion and embarrassment?

It's as if it's saying: You two-legged creatures, do you have any manners? Can't we wait until we've finished pooping and burying before we discuss this?

Afu, in particular, seemed a little uncomfortable being stared at.

The thick tail tip brushed the ground slightly and somewhat unnaturally, as if the originally smooth "process" had been affected.

He was so nervous that he started breathing heavily on the onlookers.

But they couldn't resist the villagers' enthusiasm and were completely overwhelmed by it.

Finally, under Chen Yuqiang's almost "supervisor-like" ardent gaze, the project was completed.

Amidst the quiet, expectant chatter of the surrounding villagers, Afu and Ashou finally completed their "sacred mission" and carefully buried the remains with their claws.

Having done all this, the two giant tigers seemed to have completed a difficult task. They immediately strode back to Chen Ling's yard in a slightly hurried manner, found a corner to lie down in, and turned their big heads to the other side.

That figure, no matter how you look at it, carries a sense of melancholy after "social death" and a desire for peace and quiet.

Especially Ah Fu, the tigress, lay there motionless for a long time, as if she was too ashamed to face the tiger.

Chen Yuqiang was overjoyed and rushed forward almost the instant Afu and Ashou left.

Instead of digging, he carefully planted a few twigs around the new soil as markers, muttering to himself:
"Good, good! Now I feel relieved! Really relieved!"

His face lit up with a broad smile, as if he could already foresee a peaceful future where evil spirits would be warded off.

Other villagers also gathered around, looking enviously at the land that had been "blessed," and discussing how they must be the first to book it next time.

Chen Ling could only shake his head and chuckle at the sight.

Lynx and Zhao Dahai came over, exchanging winks and eye contact.

The lynx whispered, "Well, Fugui, your two precious little darlings are going to be on everyone's radar from now on, even when they poop or fart."

Zhao Dahai chuckled, "I think we could organize a 'tiger dung auction' in the future, with the highest bidder winning! It would be a hot commodity!"

"Come on, you were the loudest one shouting just now!"

Chen Ling chuckled and cursed. (End of Chapter)