Carrying a Jurassic on me
Chapter 72 - 72 13 Visiting the Cattle Market Again_1

72: Chapter 13: Visiting the Cattle Market Again_1 72: Chapter 13: Visiting the Cattle Market Again_1 The exploration of Cow Breeding Island was quickly completed.

Even by the lake, Yan Fei made use of the daylight to take a tour around it.

He even visited the downstream streams and waterfalls in the lake, but was disappointed as he didn’t find any edible fish.

All the fish looked bizarre, and as he had transformed into a small crocodile, he didn’t dare catch any that he saw.

Having grown up in Sancha River town, Yan Fei knew that there were certain fish that were not to be messed with.

Even in the rivers of Sancha River town, there was a fish that looked somewhat similar to a catfish but was smaller, with three spines on its body.

Locals referred to it as the Fire Scorpion.

Anglers who mistakenly caught it thinking it was a catfish would know how it felt to be stung by the Fire Scorpion.

There was also a species called Spiny eel.

Those who were fishing would often encounter it.

This particular type had not only spines but was also inclined to bite.

Being bitten was much worse than being stung by a gadfly.

The water tower of the cattle farm was also completed, and the necessary water pipes and pumps had been installed and adjusted.

Once the inside of the water tower was dry, it could be officially put to use.

Seeing that there was virtually nothing to do here, Yan Fei’s grandfather decided to head back.

Now that the whole country was striving for modest prosperity, the county aimed to improve rural income by promoting fruit tree planting in various towns and villages.

The county was providing subsidies for fruit tree planting and allowing farmers to get loans to buy saplings.

Since the local area’s primary occupation was farming, these fruit trees were planted in the wheat fields.

As the wheat seedlings were starting to grow, some people were unwilling to plant fruit trees.

Therefore, loud propaganda about the economic benefits of fruit tree planting was broadcasted daily throughout each town and village.

Furthermore, the wheat fields needed weeding.

Thus, every household was busy, including Yan Fei’s grandfather who could no longer afford to stay idle at the cattle farm.

However, Yan Fei sent his medicinal wine with his grandfather.

He had already tasted it several times and let his grandfather try it too.

While they had not detected any recognizable benefits yet, they were certain that it did no harm.

Its effectiveness would remain to be seen.

He also gave his grandfather a rabbit.

The very wild rabbit he caught on his return from the county town.

Originally, he wanted to kill it for meat, but it turned out to be a pregnant doe.

Yan Fei, who was too lazy to raise another rabbit, passed it onto his grandfather.

After all, the whole country was striving for modest prosperity, and who knows, rabbit rearing might lead to a fortune!

The production of bone powder, after days of research, was finally beginning to take shape.

The book didn’t discuss cattle feed but every kind of poultry and livestock, and it also mentioned feeding them bone powder.

As for the actual method of production, Yan Fei had to guess based on the sporadic information given, and then summarize.

To put it simply, the easiest method was to first crush the bones and then soak them in clear water for two days, followed by drying them in the sun.

After this, the bones could be baked in a fire and ground into powder.

Whether it was chickens, ducks, geese, or pigs, cattle, or sheep, a little bone powder could be added to the feed.

There were undeniable benefits, but its overall effectiveness would need to be tested by Yan Fei.

The two bones that had been smashed had been thrown into the small stream for two days and were currently being dried in the sun on the branches of the island.

In a few days, they probably could be baked.

The biggest achievement in this period was not bone powder, but getting praised by his grandfather every day that even he felt embarrassed.

So, he seriously attended a few days of school.

As a student, earnestly attending school was certainly commendable.

So after his grandfather left, Yan Fei felt he deserved a few days off as a reward, and then decided not to go to school for a couple of days!

The radish leaves could probably be sold once more, and then he’d have to wait for the other vegetables to grow.

In the meantime, Yan Fei planned to make the bone powder quickly.

With some money still left, he was considering purchasing a few more cattle.

After comparing the growth and feed records of the calves over these days, unsurprisingly, the poor calf that Yan Fei had bought out of kindness turned out to be the worst among all ten.

Thinking about how he had almost had a conflict with Brother Xiaohei at the cattle market because of this calf, it really wasn’t worth it.

It wasn’t that the cattle seller woman lied, but rather that the other calves were carefully picked by Yan Fei, while he didn’t have much interest in this one.

As such, it could be seen that doing a good deed like Lei Feng doesn’t necessarily receive a good reward, at least this calf could be considered mediocre at best.

But luckily, because he didn’t pay much for it, there wasn’t a possibility of losing money.

However, Yan Fei didn’t plan to sell this calf.

He was about to test the efficacy of the bone powder, and this calf would be a perfect guinea pig.

He would first feed it the bone powder, and if it didn’t die, then he would start feeding it to the other cattle.

The chickens at the ranch were all gone.

Yan Fei hadn’t wanted to raise them in the first place, and since he hadn’t caught any rabbits recently, the gift he gave Xu Xiaoyan was stewed chicken.

Some of the people on the farm ate a few too, and he slaughtered the last few when the water tower and well were finished being built, as a way to celebrate and share a meal together.

Now that a couple of people were helping out, Yan Fei had some free time, so he casually went to the Cattle Market.

“Brother Xiaohei, good morning!” Yan Fei spotted Xiaohei bustling around the market as soon as he entered, and greeted him with a friendly smile.

“Yan Fei, you’re here to look at cattle again.

Come in for some tea later!” Xiaohei shouted back, but seeing that he was busy with something else, he gave a brief greeting and then left.

Then, Yan Fei folded his arms like an old farmer and started surveying the cattle in the market.

“This cow is about to give birth, why on earth would someone bring her here to sell?” Yan Fei was drawn to a pregnant cow.

Normally, nobody would sell a cow about to give birth.

Once the calf was born, it would be like having two cows.

Who would be willing to sell at this time?

“Ah, in our village across the river, three cows were stolen overnight.

These cow thieves are just too much.

I can’t even sleep well anymore.

I’ve decided to sell her if the price is right.” The farmer selling the cow had a bitter look on his face.

“How come I haven’t heard about such a big incident, didn’t anybody report it to the police?” Yan Fei was startled when he heard the news.

“Ah!

The village across the river isn’t part of our township.

So, the ones to report it would be them, they haven’t started stealing cows from our side of the river yet.” The farmer explained to Yan Fei.

“Oh!

Thank you, Uncle!” Yan Fei knew that Jin Shao and Sancha River town were situated right next to each other.

However, this news was certainly not good.

He had been on the island all this time and it seemed like he would have to intensify aerial patrols in the future.

If nobody dared raise cattle anymore, where would he get his cattle?

“Young man, do you raise cattle at your home?” Yan Fei didn’t ask any further, but the old farmer, seemingly having nothing better to do, initiated a conversation with him.

“Yeah, otherwise I wouldn’t come here to endure the stench of cow dung.” Yan Fei responded absentmindedly.

“You need to be watchful.

Nowadays, these cattle thieves have vehicles, which makes the job very convenient for them.

They load up the cattle and flee.

Even if you catch sight of them, you won’t be able to catch up.

Which village are you from?” The old man didn’t seem eager to sell his cow and had time for chat.

“I’m from around here.” Yan Fei too was in no hurry, so he planted himself there and began to look around.

“Good thing you’re local.

The cattle thieves wouldn’t dare to come around here; I heard last year three cattle thieves were caught here, two of them died on the spot.

Raising cattle around here is much safer.” The old man had an envious look in his eyes.

He wished his village would also catch some cattle thieves, kill a few to make an example.

Then, the thieves would steer clear of his village.

“What?

Two of them got killed?” Yan Fei was taken aback.

When did two people die without me knowing?

Then it dawned on him that the old man must be referring to the incident from last year when he caught those three cattle thieves, and Yan Fei couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

The old man’s village, separated from the neighbouring town by a river, was considered far from Sancha River town.

But no matter how far, it was still a small town, so how big could it be?

At most, it would only be a distance of ten to twenty miles.

Originally, three cattle thieves were caught and two were injured.

But the story had somehow morphed into two thieves being killed when it reached the old man!

Yan Fei had no intention of buying the pregnant cow from the old man.

Although in just a few days it could give birth and he’d have two cows, there was still a risk during birthing.

Also, seeing how the old man was in no rush to sell the cow, he suspected the asking price would be quite high.

After looking around for a while and finding no cattle he particularly fancied, Yan Fei prepared to leave.

Just as he was about to leave the cattle market, he saw Ma Chao hurrying over with an old bicycle.

“I went to the school to look for you, but your classmate said you weren’t there.

Then, I went to your house, and couldn’t find you there either, so I thought to try here.

You should hurry back, something’s up at the farm!” Ma Chao blurted out breathlessly, even before Yan Fei could say anything.

“Did a cow fall sick and die?

Or did something else happen to anyone?” Yan Fei’s heart skipped a beat.

“No, it’s not about the cows or anyone else.

It’s something else!”

“Well, calm down, catch your breath before you talk.

As long as the cows are fine, it’s okay, no rush.” Hearing Ma Chao say neither the cows nor the people were in trouble, Yan Fei was reassured.