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Xu Li filled a cup with wine for his father-in-law, and the family enjoyed a lively dinner together. Two increasingly robust Siberian Hamsters nibbled on roasted beef bones by the sofa, primarily to help wear down their teeth and pass the time.
The next morning, Andrei took Xu Li into the Small Farm's Cattle Shed, where they stood before their dozen or so Beef Cattle. Andrei selected two one-year-old calves, declaring, "These two!"
Xu Li nodded and opened the Low Fence to lead the calves out. Once outside in the open space, Andrei secured the Low Fence and brought out a metal frame, handing a heavy hammer to his son-in-law.
Xu Li took the large hammer and hefted it. Just as one of the calves lifted its head after finishing its grass, he swung the hammer down onto its skull: crack!
The calf didn't make a sound; its limbs tensed as it collapsed onto the ground, twitching slightly before going still. Xu Li delivered another blow to the nearby calf, sending it to join its companion in silence, then tossed the hammer onto the snow.
He punctured a hole in the calf's hind leg joint and then hoisted the eight or nine hundred-pound calf onto a hook. After inserting a knife into its neck to let it bleed out, Andrei stood by, smoking and watching with amusement.
The young man was growing broader and sturdier; his strength was increasing along with his physique, resembling that of a Slavic man or a robust youth.
The two men, each with a cigarette in hand, efficiently processed the cattle. They sorted through the offal and packed it separately. The yellow-fat Beef Cattle were loaded into the truck bed while the internal organs were placed into fertilizer bags in a corner of the truck.
Next, they moved to the pigpen and sheepfold, selecting two large fat pigs and a sheep. After processing them all for dinner, they cleaned up the offal. Xu Li particularly enjoyed pig intestines and liver.
He meticulously cleaned two sets of pig intestines while also preparing beef heart and tripe for hot pot during winter when Anna and Eva liked to enjoy crispy beef tripe.
The sheep heart, liver, blood, and tripe were set aside for soup or as extra meals for Zheng Zheng.
"I want beef liver! I want beef liver!" Xiao Hei bounced excitedly in front of his doghouse. Xu Li ignored him while placing some beef liver in a small bowl. He walked over to Zheng Zheng's doghouse and fed him piece by piece, noticing with discomfort the white foam forming at Zheng Zheng's mouth.
After Zheng Zheng finished eating, he gave small bowls to Da Huang and Xiao Huang as well. Only Da Hei and Xiao Hei were left watching enviously. Xu Li shot a sideways glance at the two silly dogs: "With mouths like yours, it's better if you don't eat."
"You dare challenge us in front of my mom? Just wait!" Da Hei bared his teeth threateningly at Xu Li. "When we get out, we'll teach you a lesson so you know who's who!"
Xiao Hei jumped around in agreement: "That's right! You don't know who's who!"
Xu Li stuffed the last piece of beef liver into Xiao Huang's mouth, patted its big head, then got up to wash his hands at the sink. He shook off some water as he walked into the supply room across from him, soon holding a shotgun.
Click!
Boom!
He fired a shot into the ground between the two silly dogs, sending up a spray of snow that startled Da Hei and Xiao Hei into retreating into their doghouse. Xu Li slung the shotgun over his shoulder.
Kicking their doghouse, he taunted them: "Weren't you two so tough? Now you're scared? Come out for a one-on-one!"
"How old are you? Why are you acting like this with dogs? I thought you were something special."
Andrei stepped outside, a cigarette dangling from his lips, and saw his son-in-law kicking the doghouse with a rifle slung over his shoulder. He approached with a cheerful pat on the back. "Let’s go."
Xu Li nodded and gave the dog brothers' house a kick. "Behave yourselves from now on!"
Once he walked away, Da Hei and Xiao Hei peeked out, their once arrogant expressions now replaced with clarity.
This year's New Year in the village felt particularly quiet. Outside Xu Li's yard, a row of firecrackers had been set up and lit, while his wife held their child, waiting to witness the most dazzling moment of the fireworks.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Wow, so beautiful!"
The two older children and two younger ones clapped their hands joyfully, jumping up and down as they gazed at the brilliant display in the sky.
Xu Li's father-in-law and Zhang Ji Niang snuggled together, happily watching the children with satisfaction gleaming in their eyes.
This year, the eldest and second sons had gone to celebrate the New Year at their respective father-in-law's homes. Lao Si was far away in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, celebrating with family, while Lao Qi and Boyka were busy on an overseas mission and hadn’t been in touch for nearly two months.
Some homes in the village were lit up, while others remained dark, likely because their occupants had gone to the city for the holiday.
After New Year’s, the village returned to its usual tranquility. Aside from some young men working at the ranch, most people stayed home for winter. With new lines installed during the summer, including internet cables, watching television had become much more convenient than before.
During Qingming Festival, Xu Li was the only one who went to sweep graves. He spent several days in Siberia because there was a lot of work this year. He had ordered a large batch of half-year-old calves and bought over a hundred young ponies, along with more than ten newly improved Don Horses.
The Don Horse originated from areas near the Vilyanov River tributary of the Don River and around the Volga River in the former Soviet Union. Initially, it was a semi-wild Russian steppe pony. However, over time, bloodlines from Arabian Horses, Ahal Tekin Horses, and Karabakh Horses were introduced, shaping today’s Russian Don Horse.
The more than ten Don Horses he purchased were a new generation bred from recent crossbreeding with larger horses. They were robust, powerful, fast, and had excellent endurance—though they didn’t come cheap. Since he bought so many ponies to be used as meat horses as well, the ranch owner gave him a discount.
At that moment, these new little guys were leisurely grazing and drinking water on the pasture. The villagers of all ages who could work came to help dismantle the old low fence and began extending it according to this year's plans.
The stable and new cattle shed were contracted to a construction team of dozens of workers who busily worked from dawn till dusk. Xu Li was accompanied by a middle-aged fat man wearing a hard hat who stood on a dirt slope with blueprints in hand, pointing out details for the cattle shed.
"If we’re going to renovate according to your requirements, you’ll need to consider spending more money," he said. "After all, with an increased number of cattle and horses, you'll need a manure pit and wastewater treatment system; otherwise, they could easily fall ill."
Xu Li took a drag from his cigarette and looked towards the cattle shed and the stable under construction. "Present me with your best proposal. I plan to expand here every year; if your design can save me some costs, I’d consider continuing our collaboration."
He patted the man on the back. "It's almost the end of the month. Our summer is short, so you'd better hurry up."
The man nodded and ran toward his small car, planning to head to the company and have the designers create a new plan based on this young man's requirements.
Xu Li flicked away his cigarette butt and mounted the Black Horse beside him, one of the Don Horses he had purchased. It was a stallion he had chosen at first sight, and he had given it a striking name: Black Dragon.
Riding on Black Horse's back, he let the stallion carry him as it galloped across the vast grasslands and through patches of shrubs. With his bare torso exposed and arms wide open, he reveled in that sense of freedom, feeling utterly enchanted.
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