My 1995 Small Farm.

For two consecutive days, Chen Ling worked tirelessly, administering vaccines to chicken farms in several villages surrounding Changle Township.

He was skilled and incredibly efficient. Wherever he went, villagers would gather around him, not only to get vaccinated, but also to chat with him, offer him a cigarette, and catch up on everyday life.

Chen Ling didn't put on airs; he did his work and joked around as usual, and even helped a few families check on minor ailments of their livestock, earning them a lot of gratitude.

By the time they finished getting all the vaccines and returned to the farm with a bag full of thank-you gifts from the villagers, such as eggs and dried mushrooms, it was already evening of the next day.

The setting sun bathed the farm in a warm golden light, and the rich aroma of stewed meat wafted from the courtyard.

Wang Susu was busy in the kitchen, Gao Xiulan was playing with Kang Kang and Lele in the "crawling area" which was covered with a moisture-proof mat, and Afu and Ashou were lazily dozing off under the eaves. Everything exuded peace and tranquility.

"You're back? You must be exhausted. Go wash your hands, dinner will be ready soon." Wang Susu came out carrying a basin of hot water, her eyes filled with concern.

"It's alright, I actually feel more energetic after exercising." Chen Ling smiled as he put down his things and took the hot water. "Where are Mom and Dad?"

“I took Rui Rui and Zhen Zhen to the greenhouse in the village to see the geese, saying that they could also let them graze.”

Chen Ling washed her face; the steam opened her pores, and her fatigue subsided considerably.

He walked into the house and looked at the bowls and chopsticks set on the table and the steaming pot of braised wild boar and potatoes in the middle. His heart felt warm.

This is what home tastes like.

After dinner, Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen returned, led by their parents.

Chen Ling smiled, bent down, and picked up Rui Rui, who was rushing towards him. "You little rascal, did you miss your dad?"

"Yes! Daddy, when I get a shot, will the rooster be good?"

Rui Rui hugged his father's neck, rubbing his little face against his sweaty neck.

"Be good, be good, you won't get sick after the shot."

Chen Ling kissed his son and looked at the expectant Wang Zhenzhen, "Zhenzhen, help me lead the horse to the stable, remove the saddle, and feed it some bean feed and water."

"Okay! I'll go feed it. The little blue horse just stuck its tongue out at me. I'll see if it dares to do it again. If it does, I'll let it go hungry today!"

Wang Zhenzhen responded loudly and ran outside.

Seeing this, Chen Ling smiled and ignored his sister-in-law's entrapment attempt.

I told my family about the smooth progress of spring fire prevention these past two days, and about Old Yang from Yangtougou giving us bear skin and bear bile.

Wang Cunye and Gao Xiulan exclaimed in admiration, "The people of Yangtougou are so genuine and sentimental; this gift is quite generous!"

"Yes, so I was thinking that when I come back from Hong Kong Island, I should find an opportunity to help them check on the situation in the mountains. I can't just take their things for nothing."

Chen Ling poured hot water into the leftover rice bowl, drank a few sips, and said.

“That’s how it should be. It’s good for relationships to be reciprocal.” Wang Cunye nodded in agreement.

After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, they washed the dishes and fed the livestock.

After putting several restless children to sleep, Chen Ling and Wang Susu sat under the lamp, discussing their trip to Hong Kong Island.

"I asked Aunt Hongyu to buy the tickets for next weekend, from the provincial capital."

Wang Susu took out a small notebook, on which she had written down everything she needed to bring.

"Clothes, shoes, commonly used medicines, gifts to bring... everything is almost packed."

"Hmm, I'll go into the mountains again tomorrow or the day after to see if I can get some fresh mountain produce to take with me. Susu, you're right, this is rare in Hong Kong."

Chen Ling pondered, "Bear meat is hard to carry, but bear bile and hide would be good gifts, showing that we are thoughtful."

"Don't overwork yourself. Things aren't safe in the mountains right now. My parents were just saying today that they heard a wild boar came out of the western mountains and started rooting up someone's potato field," Wang Susu cautioned.

"I know, I'll just take a look around, I won't go too deep." Chen Ling nodded.

As the couple were talking, a sudden, urgent car horn sounded outside the yard, followed by the sounds of brakes and car doors slamming.

"Huh? Who's here so late?" Wang Susu looked out the window in surprise.

Chen Ling also stood up. Driving to the village so late, they were probably looking for him.

As soon as he reached the gate of the courtyard, he saw a figure wearing a fashionable brown trench coat, with curly hair, carrying a small leather bag, pushing open the gate and walking in. It was Sun Yanhong.

"Oh my dear Mr. Chen! I've finally caught you! I've written you several letters and you haven't replied. I knew you must have disappeared into some remote mountain village again!"

Sun Yanhong's voice arrived before she did; it was loud and clear, carrying a sense of competence.

"Old Sun? What brings you here at this hour? Come in and have a seat." Chen Ling was a little surprised and quickly invited him in.

Wang Susu also came out to greet him: "Boss Sun is here. Have you eaten yet? There's still some hot food in the pot."

"I've already eaten, I've already eaten in the county, Susu, don't worry about me."

Sun Yanhong waved her hand and followed into the house. Her eyes lit up when she saw several packed luggage bags in the corner.

"Oh, are you really planning a long trip? Going to Hong Kong Island?"

"Yes, tickets for next weekend, let's take the kids out for some fun."

Chen Ling poured her a cup of hot tea. "Old Sun, you're here so late, is something urgent?"

Sun Yanhong took the teacup without any ceremony, plopped down on the stool, took out a document from her purse, and slammed it on the table.

"Urgent! Of course it's urgent! It's fantastic news!"

She took a breath, her face flushed with excitement: "Fugui, didn't I go to Beijing to investigate the place a while ago? I've already found a place!"

"There's a shop near Wangfujing that's in a great location and is the perfect size. The rent is a bit high, but it's definitely worth it!"

"If we put our 'Wealthy Manor' brand up right here in the capital, we're guaranteed to be an instant hit!"

Chen Ling nodded: "This is a good thing. The Beijing market is big. Lao Sun, just make sure you've got the target. How much capital investment is needed? Give me a business plan."

"Funding is one aspect!"

Sun Yanhong abruptly changed the subject, leaning forward and lowering her voice, her eyes fixed intently on Chen Ling, "I heard you're going to Hong Kong?"

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

"What's wrong? My dear Mr. Chen! This is Hong Kong!"

Sun Yanhong excitedly slapped her thigh, "If Beijing is going to open, Hong Kong Island can't be left behind! It returned to China last year, now is the perfect time to go!"

"Our hot pot, crayfish, and your secret recipe braised beef noodles—if we took them to Hong Kong, wouldn't we make a killing?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ling's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He put down his teacup, his tone calm but firm: "Old Sun, the situation in Hong Kong... might not be so simple now."

I know what you mean!

Sun Yanhong immediately chimed in, "You're worried about not knowing anyone there, and about the trouble with gangs and local bullies, right?"

"I've also inquired about it; it is a bit complicated, but not that scary!"

"They've come back to normal, and things are much more orderly than before!"

She became more and more excited as she spoke: "And wealth, don't you have friends in Hong Kong Island?"

"That Mr. Leung Yuet-man, doesn't he have quite a few connections over there? And I heard that the official from some bureau who came here last time was begging you to share your beef noodle recipe, right?" "What does that mean? It means our stuff has a market in Hong Kong! People recognize it!"

"We don't have to start from scratch like we did in Beijing; we can find partners!"

"Let's cooperate with Boss Liang, or even go for a franchise!"

"We provide the brand, the technology, and the standards, let them operate it, and we just sit back and wait for the profits! Isn't that much easier?"

Sun Yanhong was clearly well-prepared; she spoke clearly and logically, her eyes shining.

Wang Susu listened quietly without interrupting, only refilling Sun Yanhong's teacup with hot water.

Chen Ling pondered for a moment, then unconsciously tapped his fingers on the table.

Sun Yanhong said that he had actually considered it.

He knew the market and opportunities in Hong Kong Island better than anyone else.

But his concerns went beyond just the so-called gang troubles.

More importantly, it's about the current economic environment in Hong Kong, consumer habits, and his own allocation of energy.

His roots are in Chenwangzhuang, and this whole affair is inseparable from him.

The farm, the breeding grounds, the increasingly "lively" creatures in the mountains, and three young children...

Opening a branch in Hong Kong Island, even through a partnership or franchise, requires a significant investment of time and energy in the initial stages for investigation, negotiation, establishing standards, and quality supervision. It's not something a hands-off manager can do well.

"Old Sun."

Chen Ling slowly spoke, "Your idea is good, and your insight is accurate. However, the waters over Hong Kong Island are much deeper than those over the mainland."

“Language, culture, regulations, and even the food supply chain are all problems.”

"Brother Liang works in finance and real estate; the catering industry is a completely different field."

"As for the official connections, they're asking us for favors, but personal relationships are one thing, business is another, and mixing them up only makes things more complicated."

He looked at Sun Yanhong and said sincerely, "Let's take it one step at a time, get the store in Beijing up and running first, build a reputation, and accumulate enough experience and capital. Wouldn't it be more prudent to consider Hong Kong Island when the time is more right?"

Sun Yanhong's excitement faded a bit; she pursed her lips, clearly unwilling to give up.

"Fugui, I know you have many concerns and are afraid of trouble. But that's how business is; opportunities don't wait for anyone!"

She picked up the document and flipped to the back pages: "Look, this is a preliminary overview of the catering industry in Hong Kong Island that I had someone look into, especially hot pot and specialty snacks. The demand is huge! The rent is expensive, but the customer traffic and spending power are also high!"

"As for the troublesome matters..."

Sun Yanhong gritted her teeth, straightened her back, and looked at Chen Ling with a determined gaze. "If you trust me, I'll handle things here in Hong Kong myself! I'll negotiate! I'll keep an eye on things!"

"You just need to provide the formula, set the standards, and grasp the general direction."

"I'll handle all the networking, socializing, and dealing with all those messy relationships!"

“I’ve run a shop in the city for several years and dealt with all sorts of people, so I’m not afraid of this!”

Her tone carried a sense of recklessness: "As for the store in Beijing, I can have my husband keep an eye on it for a while. As for the Hong Kong store, as long as you agree, I can go and do the paperwork tomorrow to get a feel for it!"

Chen Ling looked at Sun Yanhong with some surprise.

He knew this woman was capable and had guts; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to run her shop in the city so successfully and even dare to think about opening a shop in Beijing.

But I didn't expect her to be so determined, even willing to personally go to Hong Kong Island to develop the market.

This courage and sense of responsibility truly exceeded his expectations.

The room quieted down, with only the soft rustling sound of Wang Susu mending clothes for the doll.

Wang Susu glanced at Chen Ling, then at Sun Yanhong's resolute expression, and gently put down her needlework.

"Aling."

She spoke softly, "Boss Sun is genuinely interested in getting things done and has the ability. If we think the timing is right, why don't we let her give it a try? Things are quite stable at home now, and her parents can help out."

Sun Yanhong immediately cast a grateful glance at Wang Susu.

Chen Ling's fingers stopped tapping.

He looked again at the plan on the table, and then at Sun Yanhong's eyes, which were full of expectation and determination.

He suddenly smiled, shook his head, and then nodded when Sun Yanhong's expression changed slightly.

"Old Sun, things have come to this point. If I stop you now, it would make me, Chen Fugui, seem too cowardly and heartless."

He took a deep breath and finally relented: "Alright, since you're so determined, then we'll do as you say about Hong Kong Island. You can go and test the waters first."

"Ah! Really? Fugui, you agreed?!" Sun Yanhong almost jumped up in surprise.

"Okay." Chen Ling nodded, his expression becoming serious. "But let's agree on three rules."

"First, the initial stage is just for investigation and assessment. We are not allowed to invest money blindly. All expenses must be budgeted and reimbursed by me."

"Secondly, safety is the top priority. If you encounter something you can't handle, tell me immediately or ask Brother Liang for help. Don't try to tough it out."

"third."

Chen Ling emphasized, "The Beijing store is fundamental and cannot be neglected. Let Lao Yu and the others keep an eye on it. You need to clearly establish the rules for them and report to me regularly."

"No problem! Absolutely no problem!"

Sun Yanhong blushed with excitement and patted her chest to assure him, "Fugui, don't worry! I know the rules! I'll definitely handle things perfectly and won't cause you any trouble!"

She immediately picked up a pen, ready to add clauses to the plan: "I'll write these down right now!"

There's no rush.

Chen Ling waved his hand, "Since it's decided, you should plan it out properly. We'll talk in detail when I get back from Hong Kong Island. I'll introduce you to Brother Liang then; perhaps he can offer some help."

"Hey! Good! Good!"

Sun Yanhong nodded repeatedly, unable to stop smiling.

After discussing some details, Sun Yanhong was satisfied and hurriedly took her leave. The sound of the engine faded into the distance, and the farm returned to tranquility.

Wang Susu tidied up the teacups and said softly, "This Sun Yanhong is really capable, but she works too hard. To put it bluntly, she's too ambitious and blinded by greed."

"However, he knows when to advance and when to retreat. He pledged his loyalty when the name was changed to Fugui Manor, saying he wouldn't dare to provoke you."

Looking out at the dark night, Chen Ling smiled and said, "Yes, he's a talented person who dares to think and act, and knows right from wrong. That's good, our business really needs someone like him to expand our territory."

"I hope everything goes well on Hong Kong Island."

He knew in his heart that the road ahead would not be as smooth as Sun Yanhong imagined, but since he had made the decision, he would take it.

His most important task right now is to settle everything at home and then take his family to enjoy their upcoming trip to Hong Kong.

The storms in the mountains and the battles in the business world can wait until we get back.

He turned to Wang Susu and smiled, "Alright, things at home are almost settled. I'll go to the city in the next few days to complete the final procedures for our trip to Hong Kong."

"Once we get back, we'll prepare to set off and take you and the kids to see the wonderful world over there!" (End of Chapter)