Back to 1984: I built a chicken farm on a barren mountain.

Chen Wenfeng has been busy these past two days buying mushrooms with Zhou Zhiming, Niu Dan and Niu Er. Right now, the three of them, with the help of Old Sun, are putting some mushrooms on the kang (a heated brick bed) to warm up.

The sun hasn't been strong these past few days, so simply sun-drying the mushrooms won't work. To prevent them from rotting and spoiling, we have to dry them manually by baking.

Zhou Zhiming originally suggested steaming them in a pot, but the large iron pot was difficult to control the heat, and the mushrooms were scalded before they could even dry. Having no other option, they changed their approach and slowly dried them on the heated kang (a traditional Chinese bed-stove).

Now the smell of mushrooms can be smelled everywhere in Jiming Mountain.

Chen Wenfeng could barely stand the smell of mushrooms anymore. He couldn't help but sigh, "Even the most fragrant things have to be consumed in moderation."

This principle applies elsewhere as well. It is said that small oars are pleasant, while large oars are harmful, and masts and oars are reduced to ashes. Indeed, this is very philosophical.

Seeing everyone busy, Chen Xiaohei also ran around, occasionally picking up fallen mushrooms.

Chen Wenfeng tried to stop him several times but to no avail. In the end, he had no choice but to temporarily lock Xiao Hei up. Xiao Hei barked unwillingly for a while, but then it quieted down.

When it was completely dark and the light from the campfire was no longer enough to illuminate the area, Chen Wenfeng told everyone to stop and prepare something to eat.

The eight roosters that were originally raised had grown up. Chen Wenfeng asked Old Sun to slaughter one of them early in the morning. Old Sun slaughtered the fattest and largest one. From then on, the eight great roosters on Chicken Cry Mountain became seven little cuties.

At this moment, the rooster was being stewed in a large iron pot, and the aroma of the chicken was wafting out, slowly masking the smell of the mushrooms.

During this time, Fatty came by and told him about Li Cuie's visit to Qin Xiaofen and Han Laosi's plan to get two more dogs.

The chubby boy asked tentatively:

"Brother Feng, why don't we send Xiao Hei to Han Laosi's soy sauce factory? That way, we'll not only have our own people at the factory, but we'll also have our own dog."

Chen Wenfeng thought that if he sent Xiao Hei there, he would definitely be chained up and used as a guard, never having any freedom for the rest of his life. He said:

"Chen Xiaohei is also very important at Jiming Mountain; it's already too busy here to handle everything!"

Fatty didn't quite understand what Chen Wenfeng was saying, but he understood that Chen didn't want to send Xiao Hei to the soy sauce factory.

If you don't want to send it, then you don't have to. Brother Feng really values ​​Xiao Hei.

In rural areas, dogs are primarily kept for guarding the house. These dogs are raised roughly, and it's considered a blessing if they get some leftovers. If a family is well-off, they might occasionally get a bone, which is like a holiday for the dog.

Chen Wenfeng's way of raising dogs is completely different from that of rural people. He treats the dogs as part of the family, and he is willing to feed and care for them.

Fatty stopped dwelling on the issue. He remembered the two eggs he had fried for Qin Xiaofen, which were related to light. However, he was too embarrassed to tell Chen Wenfeng that he wanted some, so he subtly mentioned that he and Hou Laizi had fried eggs for Qin Xiaofen. Seeing Fatty's awkward expression, Chen Wenfeng immediately guessed his thoughts and said with a smile:

"We're not having fried eggs today."

Fatty looked slightly disappointed, but then he heard Chen Wenfeng say:

"We're making chicken soup today, with slices of fatty pork and vegetables in it. Chef Sun will serve you a bowl later, along with some steamed buns."

So, the chubby boy ate a whole bowl of chicken and five steamed buns.

He helped out at Jiming Mountain for a while, but Hou Laizi didn't show up, so he went down the mountain.

Chen Wenfeng, Zhou Zhiming, Niu Da Niu Er, and Lao Suntou sat around a table, drinking chicken soup by the light of the campfire and the faint starlight in the sky.

Although the light was dim, everyone had gotten used to it. Chen Wenfeng seemed to be deep in thought as he said:

"Brothers, what do you think is still missing on Jiming Mountain?"

Everyone was taken aback by his question. What was missing? There was work to do and meat to eat on Jiming Mountain. The food was better than what other families ate during the New Year. What was missing?

After a moment of silence, Zhou Zhiming suddenly spoke:

"Brother Feng, you can have anything you want on the mountain, it's much more comfortable than living in the village, but I know there's something missing on the mountain."

Tell me about it!

"I've been thinking about this for a long time, and the only thing I can think of that's different down below the mountain—there's no electricity on the mountain!"

When Niu Da, Niu Er, and Lao Suntou heard Zhou Zhiming say this, they suddenly realized that there was no electricity on the mountain yet. Although everyone was used to working at sunrise and resting at sunset, and could light a campfire, burn candles, or use flashlights if needed, the inconvenience caused by the lack of electricity was becoming more and more obvious as it got dark earlier.

Chen Wenfeng nodded to Zhou Zhiming and said:

"I've been thinking about this lately. A few days ago, I heard from Uncle Youwei, the village chief, that the entire village of Heihuyu, north of Jiming Mountain, has no electricity. They're currently installing power lines, and once they do, the road behind our mountain will have electricity. I'm thinking of getting our electricity from Heihuyu."

"OK."

Everyone was invigorated upon hearing this; it would be so convenient to have electricity on the mountain.

As the group was chatting, they heard Xiao Hei barking incessantly. Chen Wenfeng released Chen Xiao Hei, and Xiao Hei rushed towards the entrance of the thorn bushes at Jiming Mountain.

As Xiao Hei barked wildly, Hou Laizi walked in from outside, carrying Chen Xiao Hei in his arms.

Hou Laizi was exhausted, thirsty, and hungry from his journey. As soon as he entered, he smelled a strong aroma of chicken mixed with mushrooms. Forgetting for a moment that he needed to report the important matter to Chen Wenfeng first, he couldn't help but call out:

"Is this chicken stew with mushrooms?"

Chen Wenfeng smiled and said:

"There are no mushrooms."

"what!"

"What?! Quickly wash your hands and go get the chicken soup!"

Upon hearing that there was chicken soup, Hou Laizi immediately dropped Chen Xiaohei on the ground, quickly washed his hands, picked out the largest porcelain bowl from the stove, filled it with chicken soup, and then used chopsticks to pick up a lot of meat slices and vegetables.

When Hou Laizi approached the table with his large bowl, Niu Er joked with him:

"Lai Zi, you always make excuses when we ask you to come over for a meal, but every time you come, you look like a starving ghost."

Hou Laizi was busy drinking chicken soup and didn't have time to argue with Niu Er, but he heard Chen Wenfeng say:

"Alright, Niu Er, let Lai Zi eat a few bites already. He's been eating like crazy by Han Lao Si's every day!"

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.

Hou Laizi drank half a bowl of chicken soup, ate quite a few slices of meat, and then ate two steamed buns before finally opening his mouth and saying:

"Brother Feng, if you go to the soy sauce factory to recruit workers, even if you don't pay them, just the food there will be enough to make all those workers want to work for you."

Chen Wenfeng smiled and said:

"You, hurry up and eat, even eating can't shut you up. By the way, next time you come, bring Fatty Yikuai with you, he's a little shy coming alone."

Hou Laizi said:

"Fatty, that's just how he is. He'll be fine once you get to know him. Once he's familiar with you, he'll talk a lot of nonsense!"

Hou Laizi ate two steamed buns with the bowl of chicken soup, then, with a satisfied burp, said seriously:

"Brother Feng, something's up at the soy sauce factory today!"