My 1995 Small Farm.

"Jiang pig! Jiang pig is popping up! Round head, so cute!"

"Look! Over there! A dark shadow! And it's so long!"

"Where? Where? My God, it's over a meter tall!"

People crowded around the water's edge, craning their necks.

Pointing at the huge dark shadows that occasionally flashed across the water or the blue figures leaping up in the distance, they shouted loudly.

Those who brought binoculars became the focus of the crowd, surrounded by a group of people waiting to hear their "live broadcast".

Chen Ling stood on the dam, leading his horse, watching the lively scene, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Wang Laishun came over and wiped his sweat: "Fugui, what should we do? There are more and more people, and the workers can't concentrate on their work."

"It's alright, the novelty will wear off and it'll all be over. Didn't the same thing happen when the Turtle King came before?"

Chen Ling remained calm: "Have someone stretch a rope along the shore to keep people from getting too close to the water. Just make sure they're safe."

“Okay!” Wang Lai agreed and turned to make the arrangements.

the other side……

Li Lianjie was still chatting with the old lady.

He was a little disappointed at this point because he could no longer see the finless porpoises and big fish.

"How can she swim so fast??? She disappeared in the blink of an eye..."

The old lady laughed: "Those big guys are shrewd. When there are too many people, they hide in the deep water."

If you really want to see them, you have to come early in the morning, or on a rainy day... those are quiet times when they dare to come out for some fresh air.

She spoke with a local accent, but her pronunciation was clear and slow, which was very pleasant to listen to.

Li Lianjie relaxed and took off his sunglasses... Anyway, this old lady probably didn't recognize him.

"Do you come here often?" he asked.

"I often come here to collect herbs."

The old lady pointed to the herbs in the basket: "The area by the reservoir is damp, so some good medicinal herbs grow there. My husband is the village doctor, and I'm just his assistant; I know a few folk remedies."

Li Lianjie became interested: "A folk remedy? Is it traditional Chinese medicine?"

"It's not exactly traditional Chinese medicine; it's just some folk remedies."

The old lady was very talkative: "People in the mountains, when they have headaches or fevers and it's inconvenient to go to the township health center, they come to us for some herbal medicine. Some of our old prescriptions have been passed down for generations and they work."

As she spoke, she picked up a plant with purple flowers from the basket: "For example, this 'bone-setting herb' is the most effective treatment for bruises and sprains."

A few years ago, our village was rich... oh, I mean Chen Ling, you outsiders might not know...

When his father was young, he broke his leg while delivering a message up the mountain, and this herb healed it.

Li Lianjie's eyes lit up: "Mr. Chen's father? Are you familiar with him?"

"Of course I'm familiar with it."

The old lady laughed and said, "My old man's surname is also Chen, so we're all from the same family..."

She started talking.

Li Lianjie was eager to learn more about Chen Ling, so he listened very attentively.

"Oh dear, Sister Xiufen, instead of going to see the pigs, you're telling stories to others again..." Some of the village women laughed when they saw this.

The old lady, known as Sister-in-law Xiufen, is the wife of Chen Guoping, the village's traditional Chinese medicine doctor.

Chen Guoping is old, but his skills are actually quite good. When villagers have a headache or fever, they usually go to him for treatment.

For some "phantom illnesses," the older generation still recognizes Sister-in-law Xiufen...

Although she wasn't a proper doctor, she knew a lot about folk remedies and traditional methods, was kind-hearted, and had excellent interpersonal relationships.

"I didn't tell any old stories, I was talking about Fugui's father."

Her words immediately attracted many people from other villages.

"I know that Chen Juncai, who delivered the letter, is a very good person."

"Yes, a really good man."

Of course, there were also people from the city or other rural areas who didn't know him and started asking out of curiosity.

First they asked Chen Ling's father, and then they began to ask Chen Ling.

When Sister-in-law Xiufen saw someone asking, she perked up: "You're from another village, you don't know, but our Fugui has always been different from others since he was a child!"

She lowered her voice slightly, just enough for Li Lianjie next to her to hear: "Just a few years ago, weren't there leopards roaming the mountains?"
The county sent people to fight, but they couldn't catch them. Li Xian and Yu Bin from the village went up the mountain with them, but they didn't see a trace of them either.

And guess what? Fugui went up the mountain alone, and three days later, he came down carrying the leopard. After that, everyone called him Chen Qinbao…”

Several people from out of town gasped in shock: "Really?"

"Many villagers witnessed it themselves, how could it be fake?"

Li Lianjie's heart stirred upon hearing this.

At this point, another person asked, "Is there anything else strange?"

"There are plenty!"

Sister-in-law Xiufen recounted the story with great familiarity: "Take the Miao village north of Fenglei Town, for example. Didn't a wild boar king appear two years ago? It wreaked havoc on crops, injured people, and even dug up graves. In the end, they had no choice but to ask Fugui to stay and help out."

She paused, building up the anticipation before continuing: "Fugui, along with his two dogs... Heiwa and Xiaojin... were keeping watch over there."

After spending most of the night in the deep mountains and forests, they finally managed to kill the wild boar king!
"You didn't see it! That wild boar, wow! It weighed at least a thousand pounds! And its tusks were so long!"

She gestured, her arm stretched out straight.

"A thousand jin? That's like a giant tank! It's practically a monster!" someone exclaimed.

"Of course! It's that old pig spirit!"

Sister-in-law Xiufen spoke with great enthusiasm: "Later, when the wild boar king was brought back, Fugui put up a big skeleton at the entrance of his farm. We guessed it was to ward off bad luck!"

Li Lianjie listened intently.

He has been filming action movies for many years, doing wire work and special effects, and has portrayed countless heroes and warriors.

But those were all just plays.

But Chen Ling, whom Sister-in-law Xiufen mentioned, is a real person, living right here in this landscape.

Capturing a leopard, killing a wild boar weighing a thousand pounds...

This sounds like something out of a martial arts novel.

But looking at the reservoir before me, thinking about the maggot therapy I had personally experienced, and then thinking about the incredibly intelligent animals in Chen Ling's courtyard...

Li Lianjie suddenly felt that it wasn't surprising that these things happened to Chen Ling.

He couldn't help but ask, "Auntie, was Mr. Chen always this capable since he was a child? Did he learn his skills from others?"

Sister-in-law Xiufen turned to look at him, not minding at all, and said with a smile, "We're not bragging. Go ask around the surrounding villages and towns. This reputation of wealth and honor is something we earned through hard work!"

She sized up Li Lianjie: "Young man, judging from your appearance, you must be a cultured man from the city. Let me tell you, being rich and powerful isn't just about strength and boldness, it's also about having a sharp mind! Do you see that harvester over there?"

She pointed in the direction of the old stage in the distance.

"That was a gift from a top professor in the province! Why? Because Fugui helped the professor solve some...some problem! I don't know the specifics, but he's really amazing!"

Li Lianjie continued, "Auntie, I believe in Mr. Chen's abilities, but are these skills innate or learned?"

"This..."

Sister-in-law Xiufen thought for a moment and said, "If you say it's innate, Fugui has been clever since he was a child. He can understand things from the mountains at a glance. If you say it's learned later, he has indeed worked hard!"

She lowered her voice: "Were we just talking about Fugui's father? He only got halfway through the story. He was the village postman who delivered mail, but unfortunately he passed away early."

Fugui's wealth was influenced by his father.

His father delivered messages to various villages, traversing mountains and deep forests.

Years ago, he would often spend days alone in the mountains, dealing with wolves, insects, tigers, and leopards. The villagers all said that Fugui's father was "in tune with the mountains."

"Tongshanxing?" Li Lianjie repeated.

"It means understanding the temperament of the mountains and the nature of the creatures that live there."

Sister-in-law Xiufen explained, "Nowadays, people say that wealth and status are influenced by this intention. Look at his tigers, dogs, horses, and even the eagles flying in the sky. Aren't they all obedient? They weren't trained, they were made by acquaintance!"

"If you ask me, Fugui is a kind-hearted child."

He's so capable, yet he doesn't flaunt it. He's always there to help anyone in the village who's in trouble.

He spearheaded the construction of the dike, organized the building of the school, and now he's leading everyone in fishing and crayfish catching...

Our Chenwangzhuang village owes a great deal of credit to its current prosperity!

Li Lianjie listened quietly.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows at his feet.

In the distance, the reservoir's surface shimmered, and rumors of large fish leaping out occasionally caused a stir among the crowd.

Nearby, Sister-in-law Xiufen's simple yet proud narration paints a picture of Chen Ling that is richer and more three-dimensional than he had imagined.

His ferocity in catching leopards and killing pigs, his wisdom in understanding the nature of the mountains, his compassion in healing the sick and saving lives, and his sense of responsibility in leading his fellow villagers...

These qualities, when concentrated in one person, do not appear contradictory at all, but rather blend harmoniously into one.

"aunt."

Li Lianjie said softly, "You mean, does Mr. Chen believe in... well, you mean those superstitious things?"

Sister-in-law Xiufen was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "You young man, that's an interesting question. Fugui, he believes in 'reason' and not 'evil'."

"How to say?"

"He respects the mountain gods and observes the taboos that are in accordance with the old customs of the mountains. But he believes even more in what he sees with his own eyes and touches with his own hands."

Sister-in-law Xiufen thought for a moment and said, "For example, when treating illnesses, he uses traditional methods, but those methods are ones that he figured out and experimented with himself, so there's some truth to them."

For example, when taming wild animals, if he treats them sincerely, they will treat him sincerely in return… This is 'reason,' not 'god.'

Li Lianjie seemed to be deep in thought.

Over the years, he has met many "masters" and "experts," some of whom are deliberately mysterious, and others are charlatans.

But Chen Ling is different. He does the most practical things right here in the mountains and rivers, yet he achieves the most extraordinary results.

Isn't this the kind of "authenticity" I've been searching for?

"Thank you, ma'am."

Li Lianjie sincerely thanked him, saying, "Hearing your words is better than reading books for ten years."

Sister-in-law Xiufen waved her hand: "Don't mention it! We country folk just like to talk about practical things. If you're interested, young man, you can take a walk around the village. There are plenty of good places in Chenwangzhuang!"

As the two were talking, a commotion suddenly arose from the hillside below.

On the shore of the reservoir, several young people from the city had somehow acquired a small wooden boat and were about to row out to the deeper waters for an "adventure".

Wang Laishun and his men tried to dissuade them, but the men wouldn't listen, shouting, "Look what's wrong with that?" and "They're not going into the water anyway."

Just as a conflict was about to break out, a figure stepped out from the crowd.

It's Chen Ling.

He had clearly just come from the farm; his trousers were rolled up and his feet were covered in mud.

When he reached the shore, he didn't shout at them, but just said a few words to the young men.

The distance was too far to hear what was being said.

Surprisingly, the group looked at each other and then obediently dragged the boat ashore, even helping to persuade the children watching the commotion on the shore to move back.

"Did you see that?"

The old lady laughed and said, "Fugui's words carry more weight than the Party Secretary's."

Li Lianjie asked curiously, "What did he say?"

"I guess it means, 'There are really no big fish in the water, so your rowing is pointless and dangerous.'"

"Fugui speaks honestly and doesn't exaggerate, so people believe him."

As the old woman spoke, she stood up and said, "Alright, I should go back now. Young man, if you still want to hear stories of wealth and honor, just ask any old man in the village. They can talk for three days and three nights."

Li Lianjie nodded and glanced again in the direction of the reservoir.

Sister-in-law Xiufen picked up the basket, then remembered something: "By the way, if you have any chronic ailments, you might as well see Fugui. Don't underestimate him just because he's young; he's quite capable, even better than professors at big hospitals."

After saying that, he waved his hand and went down the mountain along the path.

Li Lianjie suddenly understood why Chen Ling was unwilling to leave this mountain forest.

The story here is more captivating than any script.

Life here is more real than any movie.

The assistant came up to him, panting, "Brother Jie! Shouldn't we be going? The car's waiting!"

Li Lianjie put on sunglasses and gazed into the distance.

Chen Ling was no longer on the shore.

The crowd began to disperse, and the sound of tamping earth echoed again at the construction site.

Everything returned to normal, as if the commotion just moments before had been an illusion.

But Li Lianjie knew that some things were different.

What he saw was not just a mountain village and an extraordinary person, but a way of life.

Rooted in the soil, yet living a more vibrant life than anyone else; residing deep in the mountains, yet connected to the world beyond.

"Let's go," he said to his assistant.

On the way down the mountain, he suddenly asked, "Achang, do you think... if we made a movie about this story, would anyone watch it?"

The assistant was taken aback: "Brother Jie, you mean..."

"It's not a martial arts film, it's a slice-of-life film."

Li Lianjie gazed at the village in the distance, where wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys.

"It tells the story of a person, a mountain, a group of animals, and the changes in a village. There are no special effects or clichés; it's just a true story."

The assistant thought for a moment and said seriously, "If it's filmed well, it should be. There are too many fighting and love stories in Hong Kong movies these days. Pure stories like this are rare."

"But this kind of film is more like an art film, and the pay can't compare to what you used to get, Brother Jie."

Li Lianjie nodded and said nothing more.

But a seed had already been planted in my heart.

At that moment, Chen Ling was standing under the shade of a tree, talking with Han Chuang.

Yes, the excitement today has even reached Huangni Town.

Han Chuang happened to bring his first batch of canned fish and canned apricots this year.

Let Chen Ling taste it.

"Lingzi, who was that person who nodded at you from a distance just now? I took a closer look and he looks familiar, but I can't remember where I've seen him before."

Han Chuang scratched his head, looking in the direction of Li Lianjie and the other person, somewhat puzzled.

Seeing his expression, Chen Ling couldn't help but laugh: "It's normal that you think he looks familiar. You often see this person on TV. Think carefully, who is your most admired martial arts star?"

Upon hearing this, Han Chuang's eyes widened immediately: "Holy crap, Li Lianjie! Ling Zi, are you crazy? You actually know Li Lianjie..."

"No, no, I need to get his autograph."

He tore a crooked piece of paper from the canned goods and ran wildly towards the embankment. (End of Chapter)