My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 996 Grain Collection and People's Peace, Traces of Huang Guoshan
When I got home, the sun was already setting, and the pale gray light on the horizon was being quickly swallowed up by the leaden clouds. A damp, stuffy wind blew through the courtyard, carrying the oppressive feeling of an impending mountain rain.

But the farm was a warm and lively place.

Wang Cunye was patiently helping Kang Kang and Lele crack walnuts with a small wooden mallet.

Two little children sat side by side on a small stool, their bright black eyes fixed on their grandfather's hands. When they saw the tender white walnut kernels peeking out, they couldn't wait to reach out their chubby little hands to grab them, making "ee-ee-ya-ya" noises, their little faces full of anticipation and satisfaction.

Gao Xiulan was washing the freshly picked water celery by the well, preparing to make dumplings for dinner.

"Dad!" Lele, with her sharp eyes, spotted Chen Ling first. Clutching half a walnut kernel, she wobbled to her feet and pounced over like a little penguin.

Kang Kang followed closely behind, and the two children hugged Chen Ling's legs on either side.

"Oh my, my two little darlings!"

The gloom in Chen Ling's heart was instantly dispelled. He bent down, picked up the babies in one arm and one in the other, and kissed each of them. His stubble pricked them, making them giggle.

Do you miss your dad?

"Yes!" the two children answered in unison, their voices still sweet and childlike.

Wang Cunye looked on with a smile: "You're back just in time. The walnuts are still crisp and raw, freshly cracked. How's it going at the forest farm?"

"Everything is fine!"

Chen Ling put the children down and let them continue eating walnuts, then went to the well to fetch water to wash his hands.

"There are quite a few pregnant cows, sheep, and deer, and the dog farm has also had several litters of puppies. Erhei is managing everything very well. It's just that the weather... it looks like it's going to rain again."

Gao Xiulan looked up at the sky with concern: "That's right, this rain just won't stop. By the way, Lingzi, Zhenzhen was sent back by Hongyu a couple of days ago. She said that the county school was worried about accidents from the continuous rain, so they gave the children an early holiday and told them to stay at home."

Just then, they heard a burst of silvery laughter and hurried footsteps coming from outside the courtyard.

Wang Zhenzhen led the way, followed by Rui Rui, Xiao Ming, Liu Ni'er, Xi Zi, and a whole bunch of other children. They all had their trousers rolled up and were covered in mud, but they all ran in excitedly.

Wang Zhenzhen was also carrying a small wooden bucket, which contained several palm-sized crucian carp and a lot of small shrimp.

"Brother-in-law! You're back! Look at the fish we caught!"

Wang Zhenzhen proudly brought over the bucket, "It's right over at the old river bend south of the village. The water's receded a bit, and the fish have all gone to the shallows. They're so easy to catch!"

Rui Rui and Xiao Ming squeezed next to Chen Ling, gesturing excitedly, "Dad, we even rowed a small boat!"

"Uncle, Auntie is amazing at rowing! The geese and wild ducks aren't afraid of us at all; they just swim right next to us!"

Chen Ling smiled and patted their heads: "Really? That's amazing! But you have to be careful, the water is high now, so don't go into the deep water."

"Okay! We're just playing by the river. Afu and Ashou are watching us from the bank!" Wang Zhenzhen said with a smile, her face radiating youthful energy.

She seemed to have grown up a bit since returning from the county town, and now looked like a young lady, but in front of her family, she was still that lively and mischievous little sister.

Looking at the children's carefree smiling faces, Chen Ling was thinking about things further ahead.

He helped Gao Xiulan carry the water celery into the kitchen and said to Wang Susu, "Susu, I'm going out for a bit to talk to Uncle Zhao and the others about something."

Wang Susu was rolling out dumpling wrappers when she heard this. She looked up and gave him a gentle look: "Go on, come back for dinner early. Today I'm making your favorite pork and water celery dumplings."

Chen Ling nodded, went out the door, and strolled towards the edge of the village.

He didn't ride a horse; he just wanted to walk alone and clear his mind.

On the slope outside the village, Zhao Yubao and Professor Zhong, wearing straw hats, were inspecting the soil that had been soaked by rainwater.

Although the two professors are old, they have a deep affection for the land and crops, and have been helping the village with ideas and solutions during this time.

"Uncle Zhao, Uncle Zhong," Chen Ling greeted as he walked over.

"Oh, Fugui has arrived."

Zhao Yubao straightened up and patted his back. "Just got back from Fenglei Town? Are your older brother and the others alright?"

"It's alright, the road is fixed, and everyone is safe."

Chen Ling squatted down, grabbed a handful of wet soil, and rubbed it between his fingers.

"The water in this field probably won't be drained out anytime soon."

Professor Zhong sighed: "Yes, the continuous rainfall has raised the groundwater level. Look at this stubble field. Although the wheat has been harvested, leaving it soaked like this will affect the planting of autumn grain in the second half of the year."

"The key issue is that many of the wheat harvested by each household is damp. If it is not properly handled, it may mold and sprout."

These words struck a chord with Chen Ling.

On his way back, he saw many people drying wheat in their yards, but the drying effect was minimal due to the high humidity. Some of the wheat piled up in the barns was even more worrying.

Grain is the lifeblood of farmers. If it gets moldy, all the hard work of the year will be wasted, which will be a huge blow to the villagers who have just begun to see a glimmer of hope for a better life.

"Uncle Zhao, Uncle Zhong, I was just about to discuss this matter with you."

Chen Ling's expression turned serious. "I want to buy all the wheat from the villagers in this village, and even from the surrounding villages, at the market price, no, at a price slightly higher than the market price."

"Acquire the entire company?" Zhao Yubao and Professor Zhong were both taken aback.

This is no small amount. The wheat harvest from Chenwangzhuang, Jinmen Village, Yangtougou and other villages this year will amount to hundreds of thousands of kilograms.

"Yes, acquire them all."

Chen Ling nodded affirmatively, "Our instant noodle factory and food factory need a lot of flour. By concentrating this wheat in the factory's warehouse in the county, where there is good ventilation and moisture protection, and professional storage personnel, we can minimize losses."

"Flour mills process it into flour, which is then used directly in production."

"In this way, we can solve the problem of storing grain for the villagers and avoid losses, while also ensuring the supply of raw materials for the factory. It's a win-win situation."

Zhao Yubao pondered, "The idea is good, but it requires a large amount of working capital, and the responsibility is heavy. What if..."

"Regarding funding, I've discussed it with Brother Yuemin, and we should be able to get things moving. As for responsibility,"

Chen Ling smiled and said, "Since I dared to think about it, I dared to take on the responsibility. I can't just watch the villagers' grain rot at home."

"Why did we set up the factory? Wasn't it to make everyone's lives better? Now that we're facing difficulties, we have to step up."

Professor Zhong looked at Chen Ling with admiration: "Fugui, your vision is truly remarkable! This isn't just about doing business; it's about taking responsibility and doing a good deed for the benefit of your hometown! I support you!"

Zhao Yubao patted Chen Ling on the shoulder heavily: "Good lad! I didn't misjudge you! Go ahead and do it. If you need anything from us old men, just let us know!"

"We can help contact the county's grain depot to see if they can provide some technical support or coordinate transportation vehicles."

"Thank you, elders!" Chen Ling felt reassured. "Then I'll call Brother Yuemin right now."

Chen Ling returned home and immediately dialed Liang Yuemin's cell phone. The call was quickly answered, and Liang Yuemin's cheerful voice came through: "Fugui? I was just about to call you! I heard you came back from Fenglei Town? How are you? Is everything alright at home?"

"Brother Yuemin, everything is fine." After a few pleasantries, Chen Ling got straight to the point and explained his thoughts in detail.

On the other end of the phone, Liang Yuemin listened quietly, occasionally humming in agreement.

After Chen Ling finished speaking, he almost didn't hesitate and immediately shouted, "Great! Fugui, you did a great job! I support you! This is how we should run a business! Conscientious and responsible!"

"What kind of damn entrepreneur title is important? What's important is living up to the trust of the villagers! Funding is no problem, I'll allocate it right away! Just do as you said, raise the price a little, we can't let the villagers suffer losses!"

"I personally arrange the warehousing and processing to ensure that not a single grain of good wheat is wasted!"

Liang Yuemin's reaction was within Chen Ling's expectations, but his decisiveness still warmed Chen Ling's heart.

"Brother Yuemin, thank you! I feel at ease knowing you said that."

"No need to thank me! We brothers don't talk like that."

Liang Yuemin said boldly, "You are on the front lines solving problems for the villagers, and I am in the rear ensuring supplies. This is my duty! Go ahead and collect the supplies with confidence, and leave the rest to me!"

"By the way, how's your research on those maggots... you know? It sounds pretty creepy, but whatever you come up with is bound to be right. I've had a lot of people asking me these past few days, saying you cured Li Lianjie!"

Chen Ling smiled: "It's just the beginning, still in the exploratory stage. I'll tell you more details when we have a better grasp of things."

"Okay! You go ahead and get busy. I'll arrange for the finance and warehouse departments to make preparations. Bye!"

Liang Yuemin acted swiftly and decisively, hanging up the phone as soon as he finished speaking.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Ling breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a significant weight lifted from his shoulders.

Wang Susu had been listening the whole time, and only then did she walk over and whisper, "Have you discussed everything?"

"Yes, Brother Yuemin fully supports you."

Chen Ling held his wife's hand, "I'm going to be busy again, and I'll have to make you worry again."

Wang Susu smiled gently: "What's the big deal? What you're doing is a good deed, a virtuous act. Don't worry about things at home, I'll take care of it."

Just then, Wang Zhenzhen and Rui Rui came out of the kitchen carrying the wrapped dumplings. Hearing a few words, Wang Zhenzhen asked curiously:

"Brother-in-law, are you going to harvest everyone's wheat? Does that mean our family can open a huge granary?"

Chen Ling was amused by his sister-in-law's naivety: "It's not that our family runs a grain warehouse, it's that we collect grain from the factory warehouse in the city, turn it into flour, and make noodles and instant noodles for you to eat."

"Wow! That's great!" Xiao Ming exclaimed. "I love braised beef noodles!"

The family was happily preparing for dinner.

Outside the window, the pattering raindrops began to tap against the windowpane again, but the light inside was warm and bright, filled with hope.

……

Over the next few days, Chen Ling was extremely busy.

The news of the wheat purchase spread like wildfire throughout Chenwangzhuang and the surrounding villages.

At first, some villagers hesitated. It wasn't that they didn't trust Chen Ling, but rather they didn't trust the weather.

I'm afraid that if it rains heavily halfway through the sale, we won't be able to finish.

But when Chen Ling, Wang Laishun, Zhao Yubao, and others set up a table at the village committee's grain depot.

When the scale was weighed on the spot and cash was paid at a price slightly higher than the market price, all doubts vanished.

"Fugui keeps his word; this price is fair!"

"Exactly! Keeping it at home makes me anxious every day, afraid it will get moldy. It's so much more reassuring to exchange it for money and hold it in my hand!"

"Fugui is helping us! Otherwise, with this awful weather, the wheat would have been ruined!"

"Fugui is truly capable and responsible!"

Praises were endless.

The villagers' faces were filled with relieved smiles. As soon as the rain stopped for a moment, they began to line up to sell their grain.

Tractors and oxcarts, laden with golden wheat grains, were continuously delivered to the village committee's small grain depot.

The scene was even more lively than the annual grain delivery in previous years.

Looking at the bustling scene, Wang Laishun excitedly said to Chen Ling, "Fugui, you've really put the whole village, no, the whole township, at ease! Everyone remembers your kindness!"

Looking at the villagers' simple, smiling faces, Chen Ling felt a great sense of accomplishment.

This is not just about doing business, but also about protecting the villagers' hard-earned fruits of the year and their hopes for the future.

This feeling of being needed and trusted makes him feel more fulfilled than any amount of money he earns.

Of course, he didn't forget his "side hustle".

Taking advantage of a break, he quietly entered the cave to observe the leeches.

Nourished by the spiritual energy of the cave, the leeches grew increasingly plump, healthy, and full of vitality.

He tried feeding them different herbal juices, observed their reactions, and recorded them in detail.

However, just as the grain harvest was nearing its end and everyone was breathing a sigh of relief, one evening, Chen Gannian, an old shepherd, hurriedly found Chen Ling, his face showing a hint of panic:
"Fugui, something terrible has happened! I...this evening I was herding sheep in that mountain hollow west of Wuyun Ridge, and I think...I think I saw the mountain turn yellow!"

Chen Ling's heart skipped a beat: "Fourth Grandfather, are you sure? Are you sure it's a wild gooseberry?"

Chen Gannian, panting and still shaken, said, "It was too far away to see clearly, but that head, that fur, a yellowish color, flashed by in an instant, incredibly fast!"

"It's carrying a half-grown wild boar in its mouth! It's definitely not an ordinary thing! I think it's probably that thing! Has...has it come back again?"

Chen Ling immediately took it very seriously.

Did the continuous rain finally force these "neighbors" deep in the mountains out of hiding?
He reassured Chen Gannian with a few words and promised to take some people to check it out first thing tomorrow morning.

Looking towards Wuyunling, the mountain shadows grew even more somber in the twilight.

Chen Ling knew that what his fourth grandfather said might be true.

If this kind of weather continues for too long, even the yellow chrysanthemums won't be able to withstand it.

But at this moment, he felt little fear; instead, he felt an urge to try.

"The heavens and earth tremble, and the old creatures emerge from their caves. This saying is indeed true. Let's see if Shanhuang is tough enough this time, and not be scared away by Afu and Ashou again. After all, my cave has been yearning for more for a long time..."