My 1995 Small Farm.

The next morning, before dawn, Chenwangzhuang was still shrouded in a pale blue morning mist.

The farm was already brightly lit and bustling with people.

"Let me check: diapers, bottles, changes of clothes, and common medications... are you sure you've brought everything?"

Wang Susu carefully checked the large bundles one last time, giving them detailed instructions.

"Everyone's here, Susu, don't worry. It's not like your dad and I are new to looking after the house."

Gao Xiulan held the sleepy-eyed Lele and gently patted her back.

Wang Cunye then stuffed a heavy cloth bag into Chen Ling's hand: "Lingzi, these pancakes and salted duck eggs are for the journey. Food on the ship is expensive and may not suit your taste."

"I understand, Father." Chen Ling took the cloth bag and felt its warmth.

"Daddy, big ship! Let's ride on a big ship!"

Rui Rui was already dressed and excitedly circling around Chen Ling, her little face flushed with excitement, showing no signs of early morning sleepiness.

Wang Zhenzhen, carrying her own little schoolbag, excitedly helped carry a small net bag containing Rui Rui's toys and snacks.

Sensing the commotion at home, Afu and Ashou strolled over from the backyard. Their enormous bodies were faintly visible in the morning mist, and their amber eyes held a hint of barely perceptible affection as they gently nuzzled Chen Ling and Wang Susu with their large heads.

"Alright, alright, you two big guys, keep watch over the house."

Chen Ling vigorously rubbed Afu's thick fur on the side of his neck. "Listen up, you're not allowed to scare the village's livestock, you're not allowed to chase the red-crowned cranes, and you're not allowed to sneak into the river to catch fish! If I come back and hear that you two have caused trouble, see how I deal with you!"

Afu made a pitiful "woo-woo" sound in his throat, as if to say "I know".

Heiwa and Xiaojin sat obediently to one side, their tails gently brushing the ground.

"I'm so sorry to trouble my parents and Aunt Hongyu to take care of things at home."

Chen Ling spoke to Wang Cunye, Gao Xiulan, and Liang Hongyu, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

"Go ahead and have fun!" Liang Hongyu said with a smile, patting her brother-in-law on the shoulder.

"Let's go!" Chen Ling took a deep breath, picked up Rui Rui with one arm, and carried the heaviest luggage with the other.

Wang Susu carried Kang Kang, Liang Hongyu carried other miscellaneous items, and Wang Zhenzhen followed like a little tail. The family bid farewell to the reluctant elderly couple and the two big tigers, stepping through the dew.

They got into the car that Liang Hongyu had driven.

When we arrived at the Tenghe Township Wharf, the eastern horizon was just beginning to lighten.

The dock was already bustling with noise.

In the dawn light, the boatmen's chants, the shouts of those trying to attract customers, and the clanging of iron chains filled the air.

And the "whoosh" of the river water lapping against the bank is full of the vitality of spring.

The air was filled with the distinctive sweet and fishy smell of the river, the odor of diesel fuel, and the aroma of food wafting from the breakfast stalls.

"Brother Feng! We're here!" Chen Ling spotted Old Feng, the boatman, waiting at the agreed location.

"Hey! Brother Fugui, Boss Chen!! We've been waiting for you! The boat has been ready for a long time, just waiting for you!"

Old Feng greeted them warmly and helped them with their luggage.

He prepared a medium-sized wooden passenger and cargo boat, its hull coated with tung oil, making it look clean and sturdy.

The boat awning is made of woven bamboo strips, which can provide shade and rain protection while also allowing for ventilation.

"This boat is good! It looks very stable!" Wang Susu nodded in satisfaction.

"Absolutely! I knew you had a baby with you, so I specially picked this one. My eldest son is the most experienced, so I guarantee it will be fast and steady!"

Old Feng smiled and led his family onto the boat.

Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen took the lead, carefully stepping onto the gangplank and, with the help of the boatmen, onto the deck, looking around curiously.

"Wow! What a big ship!" Rui Rui exclaimed, her eyes wide as she touched the smooth hull of the ship.

"Hehe, it's many times bigger than the boat in our village reservoir!" Wang Zhenzhen's face lit up with excitement.

Chen Ling and Wang Susu settled in, carrying the child and their luggage.

The boatmen helped put the luggage in the cabin.

The cabin wasn't spacious, but it was clean and tidy, with clean straw mats and thin cushions laid out.

"Let's set sail!"

With a long shout from Old Feng, the boatman untied the mooring rope, and with a tap of the long pole against the shore, the wooden boat glided lightly away from the dock and into the shimmering main channel.

Just then, the sun rose over the eastern mountains, casting countless golden rays onto the river, turning the water a golden-red hue, sparkling with countless tiny gold specks—a truly breathtaking sight.

The green mountains on both sides of the river are shrouded in a thin morning mist, like a traditional Chinese ink painting.

"Let's set sail!" Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen waved excitedly toward the shore, mimicking Lao Feng's tune, though the people seeing them off on the shore could no longer see them.

As the boat traveled along the river, its speed gradually increased.

A gentle spring breeze, carrying the cool moisture of the water, was very pleasant. Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen initially sat obediently in the cabin, but soon they couldn't stay still and began to lean against the gunwale to admire the scenery.

"Dad! Look! Water birds! White ones!" Rui Rui shouted, pointing to the egrets skimming across the water.

"That's a egret, it eats fish," Chen Ling explained with a smile.

"Sister! There are so many ducks over there! They're lined up!" Wang Zhenzhen also discovered a new world.

The river was indeed bustling with activity. Besides various water birds, you could also see fishing boats casting their nets that shimmered silver in the sunlight.

The cargo barges were drafted quite deep and moved slowly.

Occasionally, a diesel-powered boat would paddle by, stirring up white waves that made Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen shout and yell.

Kang Kang and Lele were also attracted by this novel experience. With their big, bright eyes wide open, they waved their little hands and made little noises. Kang Kang even tried to climb to the side of the boat, but Wang Susu picked him up and brought him back.

"These two little guys have so much energy."

Chen Ling smiled and shook his head, then took out a rattle drum to amuse them.

Wang Susu took out the pancakes and salted duck eggs that Wang Cunye had prepared and distributed them to the family for breakfast.

Enjoying the hot rice porridge on the boat while watching the scenery moving along both banks, this breakfast on the boat had a unique flavor.

After breakfast, the sun felt a bit warmer.

Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen began to feel dissatisfied with just looking at the scenery.

"Dad, are there fish in the river? Can we go fishing?" Rui Rui asked, looking up.

"You can't fish with the boat sailing right now."

Chen Ling patted his head and said, "When the boat docks to rest, Dad will take you to catch small fish and shrimp with a net."

"Yeah!"

The two little ones were immediately filled with anticipation.

The scenery changed along the way.

At times, the mountains on both sides are steep and shaded by green trees.

Occasionally, vast fields of rapeseed flowers appear, their golden hues dazzling, like a blanket of sunshine covering the ground.

Occasionally, you can pass by quiet villages and see women washing clothes by the river, children playing in the water, and water buffalo grazing leisurely.

As they passed each treacherous shoal, the captain would shout a warning, while the boatmen would work together nervously, punting and steering. The wooden boat tossed and turned in the rapids, and the splashing water would occasionally land on their faces, cool and refreshing, eliciting screams of fear and excitement from Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen.

After passing the rapids, the water surface returns to calm, and everyone breathes a sigh of relief.

At noon, the ship made a brief stop at a large town dock to load cargo and unload passengers.

Chen Ling led Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen ashore and fished for a while at the dock using a simple net.

Although they only caught a few finger-length fish and a few transparent shrimp, the two children were overjoyed and carefully kept their "trophies" in a glass bottle filled with water.

In the afternoon, as the sun began to set, the river breeze became even cooler.

After sitting on the boat for several hours, Wang Susu and Liang Hongyu both looked tired and dozed off in the cabin.

Kang Kang and Lele finally fell asleep while being rocked.

Only Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen remained energetic!
“Auntie, let’s play ‘Guess what’s on the next bend’!” Rui Rui suggested.

"Great! I bet there's a big waterwheel!"

"I bet there's... there's an old man herding cattle!"

The two children clung to the bow of the boat, chattering excitedly, full of boundless curiosity and energy for the journey, showing no signs of fatigue.

Even the boatmen smiled and said to Chen Ling, "Boss Chen, your two kids are really strong! They've run such a long way and they're not tired at all!"

Looking at his energetic son and daughter and sister-in-law, Chen Ling felt a surge of pride.

This is thanks to the long-term nourishment of the spiritual water, and also inseparable from running and playing all over the mountains and fields on a daily basis, which laid a good foundation.

As the sun sets, the river is dyed a warm orange-red, and the calls of returning birds rise and fall.

A lantern was lit in the cabin, casting a dim, yellowish glow over the family.

Around 9 p.m., the wooden boat finally slowly docked at the city's passenger terminal.

The shore was brightly lit and bustling with people, a stark contrast to the tranquility of the countryside.

"We're here! Wake up, everyone, we're getting off the ship." Chen Ling gently woke the sleeping Wang Susu and picked up Kang Kang and Lele, who were also sleeping soundly.

Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen immediately came to their senses and curiously looked around at this unfamiliar world, brightly lit and bustling with traffic.

"Daddy, it's so bright here! There are so many people!" Rui Rui clung tightly to Chen Ling's clothes, both excited and a little timid.

"This is the city, it's much bigger than our county town." Wang Zhenzhen seemed calmer, but her eyes were still too busy to take it all in.

After saying goodbye to boatman Lao Feng, Chen Ling and his family dragged their luggage out of the bustling dock, hailed two pedicabs, and headed straight for the guesthouse they had booked in advance, which was not far from the People's Hospital where they would be visiting the next day.

The guesthouse is a three-story building that looks a bit old, but it's still fairly clean.

After checking in, Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen became excited as they walked into the corridor covered with a dark red carpet.

"Daddy! The ground is shaking!" Rui Rui stepped on the carpet, finding it soft and wonderful.

"Auntie, look! The light is hanging! It's sparkling!" Wang Zhenzhen pointed to the ceiling light in the corridor.

Once inside the room, it was like opening the door to a whole new world.

A spring bed, a writing desk, a rattan chair, and a separate bathroom with a shower head that can provide hot water!
"Wow! This bed is so soft!" Rui Rui jumped on the bed and giggled happily.

"Sister! Look! Just turn this on and there's hot water!" Wang Zhenzhen shouted in the bathroom.

Kang Kang and Lele also woke up, and curiously crawled around, touching here and looking there.

Watching the children explore and laugh in the room, Chen Ling and Wang Susu smiled at each other, and the fatigue of the journey seemed to dissipate.

The novel experience of this hotel is a fun adventure in itself for the children.

After settling their luggage and giving the children a quick wash, Chen Ling said to Wang Susu, "You guys rest first, I'll go to the front desk to make a phone call."

Remembering Zhao Yubao's instructions, he went downstairs to the guesthouse's front desk and dialed that number.

The phone rang a few times before being answered. A woman with a heavy southern accent and a slightly anxious voice said, "Hello? Who is this?"

"Hello, is this Mr. Li's house? I'm Chen Ling, the one Uncle Zhao Yubao introduced..." Chen Ling politely introduced himself.

"Oh! It's Dr. Chen! Mr. Chen! I've been waiting for your call!"

The woman's voice on the other end of the line instantly filled with excitement and relief, "I'm the injured person's mother! Have you arrived in the city? You must have had a long journey."

"Aunt Li, please don't be so polite. Just call me Chen Ling. We've just settled in and arrived in the city. Everything is going smoothly."

"That's great! That's great! Thank God!"

Li's mother's voice choked with sobs, "We...we really have no other choice. The hospital said the skin grafting wouldn't be effective, the technology in China isn't advanced enough, and the scar contracture is severe. My child is only in his early twenties, what are we going to do..."

"Brother Zhao has mentioned the miraculous effects of your folk remedies many times, and there have been many reports in the newspapers as well. We...we really see you as our last hope!"

"Aunt Li, don't worry, and don't have too high hopes. Let me check the situation first."

Chen Ling's tone was calm and composed, "I'll settle things at home tomorrow morning, and then go to the hospital around nine o'clock. Is that convenient for you?"

"Convenient! Convenient! Convenient anytime! We are in ward 306 of the surgical department on the third floor of the People's Hospital! We are waiting for you! Thank you so much!" Li's mother thanked her repeatedly.

"Okay, see you tomorrow then."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Ling let out a soft sigh of relief.

He could sense the anxiety and expectation of a mother on the other end of the phone.

Back in the room, Wang Susu had already prepared formula for the children, and Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen were excitedly discussing what they would see and hear the next day.

"Did you make the call?" Wang Susu asked.

"Yes, I've already called. We'll go to the hospital tomorrow morning." Chen Ling nodded. "The other party is in a great hurry."

"How can I not be anxious? The child has suffered so much." Wang Susu sighed. "Just do your best and don't put too much pressure on yourself."

"I know."

Chen Ling smiled, looking at the children playing on the bed with gentle eyes.

"You've had a long day, get some rest. You'll be busy again tomorrow."

"I want to sleep, but look at them, they're making such a ruckus, it's never going to end."

Looking at the still energetic children, Wang Susu smiled helplessly, "Kang Kang and Lele have started to get into mischief..."

Chen Ling laughed and said, "That's great. It means our kids are healthy and energetic. They didn't seem tired after traveling all day. It looks like these little ones will be up for a while before they can sleep tonight."

Sure enough, it wasn't until after 11 o'clock, after repeated urging from Chen Ling and Wang Susu, that the excited Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen finally managed to lie down, but they were still chattering quietly in bed.

Kang Kang and Lele finally got tired of playing and gradually drifted off to sleep.

Outside the window is the city's night view in the late 1990s.

Although it was not as prosperous as later times, the dim lights and faint sounds of cars gave it a unique charm.

To be honest, Chen Ling is more looking forward to Hong Kong Island, or rather, Hong Kong and Taiwan, than to this city.

What was life like in that era?

In my past life, I had only heard about it, but when I was young, I had no money and no means to experience that prosperity.

Now that I have the chance, I must go and see them all. (End of Chapter)