Shen Yanming nodded and didn't ask any further questions. This involved the other person's area of expertise, and even if he listened, he would only have a superficial understanding.
"Uncle, are all these cattle and sheep healthy?"
The rancher nodded. "Healthy, they're all very healthy. We've been herding livestock for generations, how could we dare let our cattle and sheep get sick? Don't be fooled by their listlessness, they're actually just hungry. But this is still much better; the grass is turning green, and food will be available soon. We've increased their food allowance."
"Things were really tough a while ago. We didn't dare feed them much, afraid we'd go hungry. We only fed them a tiny bit each day, just enough to keep them alive. The cattle and sheep were all lying on the ground, unable to get up."
"Well, I feel like the longer you raise them, the worse it is. If they become skin and bones, it's better to slaughter them when they're still plump, right?"
“Yes, but we’ve grown attached to them. We can’t bear to part with them unless absolutely necessary. Besides, keeping them also serves the purpose of breeding.” The rancher patted the horse’s rump. “They have the best genes, it’s a pity we don’t have the right conditions to raise them.”
Shen Yanming didn't know what to say. He asked, "How much of your stuff could I exchange for that bag of flour in my car?"
The rancher smiled. "How about one cow?"
Shen Yanming asked in surprise, "A bag of flour for a cow?"
It seems he made a killing! Even if that cow is skin and bones.
But if it's really that good, why isn't anyone else coming to trade with it?
Seemingly understanding his surprise, the rancher explained, "Yes, we mainly eat meat here, and white flour and rice are very rare. We've thought about taking meat to the south to trade, but the travel expenses aren't worthwhile. Most importantly, you never know when disaster might strike."
The guy from that logging farm next door, wasn't he the one who hauled a truckload of cattle to trade for grain last year, only to be caught in an earthquake on the way and lose everything? We never know what tomorrow will bring, so let's just take it one day at a time.
Shen Yanming really wanted to suggest that he could discuss it with the local guard team, but in the end he realized that they had probably already tried everything he could think of.
Perhaps some of the pigs, cattle, and sheep they sell in the market are transported from here.
Shen Yanming thought for a moment and asked, "Can I trade you for a foal?"
The rancher was somewhat surprised. He nodded, "That's possible, but there's not much meat on the foals!"
"Ah, it's not for food, it's just that I wanted the two kids to ride it for fun."
The rancher understood.
Before the apocalypse, many wealthy people came here to pick out horses and play with them; back then, this place could still be called a horse farm. But after the apocalypse, it was completely turned into a breeding farm.
"Okay, let's trade a bag of flour for a foal."
Shen Yanming didn't haggle and readily agreed: "There's still a bag of rice in the car. I'll exchange it for another animal. I need one male and one female, and they have to be unrelated."
"You want to breed them yourself?" the rancher asked in surprise.
"No, but there's always an exception. In case... we don't need to be so nervous."
“That’s true.” The rancher nodded. “Alright, I’ll get you horses born to different mares. If one of them gives birth to a foal, that would be a good thing. But how will you take them with you?”
Shen Yanming was in a dilemma. After thinking for a long time, he said, "I'll leave it here for now and rent a car to pick it up tomorrow."
"Okay, I'll pick the most energetic one for you."
That night, the rancher arranged accommodation for the family of four in a huge, luxurious tent. But the family of four insisted on stargazing on the grassland.
The rancher figured the tourists might have some quirks or quirks, so he didn't interfere. As long as they could make a profit, it didn't matter where they stayed.
Shen Yanming unloaded rice and flour from the car and handed them to the rancher, then took out his own folding tent and set it up in the middle of the grassland. It was An'an and Nuannuan's first time camping, and the two of them ran around the small tent, overjoyed.
Shen Yanming said with a smile, "Let's make one for them in their dreams too, so they can go over and play there anytime."
Bi Qiaoan nodded: "Okay!" Then she glanced around and, seeing that no one was around, gave Shen Yanming a look.
Comrade Lao Shen nodded slightly, and Bi Qiaoan got up with a smile and strolled around the neighborhood.
She deliberately chose to walk in areas with dense pasture, and with each step, a few grass seeds would slip from her fingertips.
They were not transformed by spiritual energy; they were just grass seeds from ordinary pasture grasses on the spatial grassland.
Even so, the couple believed it would be much better than the patchy mess they saw now.
Bi Qiaoan scattered seeds over a space of about 30 to 50 square meters before returning to Shen Yanming's side. She had plenty of grass seeds, but she didn't dare to be too conspicuous.
When Shen Yanming saw her return, he gently took her hand and led her to sit down beside him. Then the couple looked up at the sky and discovered a dazzling Milky Way.
"It's so beautiful! I've never seen such a beautiful starry sky before."
"Of course. In the past, pollution was severe, and the air we breathed every day was toxic. Although the apocalypse came and everyone's life suddenly entered a difficult mode, the frequent natural disasters have indeed reduced pollution a lot, making the mountains clearer and the water more beautiful, the sky bluer, and the air fresher."
"Industrialization and technological advancement have indeed brought many conveniences to life, but it's hard to say whether it's worth it if it comes at the cost of the environment."
Shen Yanming smiled and said, "If you enjoy the benefits, you have to pay the price. This world is very fair."
The two children got tired from running around, and seeing their parents looking up, they imitated them.
However, they didn't grasp the essence of it. Standing there with their heads tilted back, one of them lost his balance and almost fell head over heels.
Luckily, the couple reacted quickly and caught them. Otherwise, they might have not only fallen, but also sprained their necks.
An'an and Nuannuan were startled and pouted, about to cry. Shen Yanming quickly picked An'an up and held him in his arms, letting him lie on his back so he could easily see the starry sky.
An'an was stunned by the beautiful sight. He stared wide-eyed, unwilling to look away for even a moment.
Seeing this, Nuannuan climbed onto Bi Qiaoan's lap and lay down like An'an. Bi Qiaoan smiled and adjusted her position to make her comfortable.
The two children hadn't seen the stars much before, because the couple had almost never taken them out for a walk at night.
Even while strolling around, the guard route was lined with streetlights. Looking up, apart from the lights, there were no stars to be seen. It was only because there was no light pollution here that such a dazzling starry sky could be seen.
The two kids had never seen anything like it before, so they were naturally curious. They pointed to the sky and asked, "Mommy, Daddy, what's that big plate?"
"It's the moon!"
"What about the bright spot next to it?"
"They are stars, they are twinkling and blinking."
The two children nodded, then, in their excitement, they stammered, "Babababa..."
Shen Yanming looked up and saw only the tip of a tail.
"That's a shooting star! My two kids are so lucky, they caught one as soon as they lay down. Quick, make a wish!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
