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Lin Chengqian said with feeling, "Mr. Shi, you know these fish way too well. You said where they'd be, and there they were."

Shi Wen smiled. "Just luck. Shall we keep looking?"

Gong Jiang said, "Yes, yes, yes."

The four of them worked all morning and completed more than half of the sampling.

Gong Jiang wanted to finish it in one go, but Shi Wen suggested, "How about lunch first? We can eat something simple at the ranch. It'll be quick, and we can take a break too."

Gong Jiang said, "That's too much trouble for you."

Shi Wen said, "What trouble? It's just a simple meal. Come on, let's eat."

The puppy had been running around after them earlier, but eventually got too tired and went back to the yard to sleep.

When Shi Wen and the others returned, they saw the puppy lying in the sun, sleeping soundly with its little paws for a pillow.

Shi Wen softened his footsteps and stopped talking. The three behind him copied him, tiptoeing inside.

The puppy's ears twitched. Apparently sensing no threat, it continued sleeping deeply.

Once inside, they finally relaxed again.

After working under the sun for so long, everyone was unbearably hot.

Back in the cool house, after drinking some water and resting for a while, they began to feel sleepy.

They had been rather tired that morning, so Shi Wen did not feel like making a lavish meal. He simply boiled noodles in plain water, sliced some cucumber, tomatoes, and braised beef, opened some pickled mustard greens, bean paste, and chili sauce, then brought everything out. They mixed it together and ate, making for a pretty good lunch.

After lunch, they rested for an hour before continuing their work.

It was not until after four in the afternoon, when they had covered every ditch, taken all the necessary photos, and collected all the needed samples, that the work finally came to a pause.

Ge Yue looked around, letting the gradually cooling evening breeze blow over her. "Brother Shi, there are so many kinds of fish here. It's practically a tiny fish reservoir."

Shi Wen said, "Maybe because it was abandoned for several years and nobody disturbed it, so the fish became more plentiful."

Lin Chengqian shook his head. "There are plenty of bodies of water in the wild that no one disturbs, but they do not have this many species of fish. Your place really is unusual."

Shi Wen said, "The aquatic plants in the true wilderness are not as good, and there is not as much food either. My grandfather ran the ranch several years ago, and nutrient-rich water flowed into the ditches. The aquatic plants there must have grown differently."

At the mention of aquatic plants, Gong Jiang said, "The grass here really does grow well. It would probably be suitable for raising some geese here."

Shi Wen's heart stirred. "Raise geese? Would that affect the fish in the ditches?"

Gong Jiang judged, "Probably not. These ditches are all more than half a meter deep, and they are open waters. Water flows in and out, and the fish can travel around with it. If they sense danger, they can just swim somewhere else. They will not stay here."

Ge Yue cut in, "One of the purposes of studying and protecting the environment is to help people live better. Brother Shi, this is a private ranch, not a nature reserve. You do not need to worry so much."

"Hearing you say that, I really am tempted." Shi Wen thought back, then said regretfully, "Unfortunately, no one sells geese at the market here. It would not be easy even if I wanted to raise some. When I have time, I'll look somewhere farther away."

Gong Jiang said, "I know a place that sells geese. If you need it, I'll give you the address."

Ge Yue immediately realized. "Are they the geese Teacher Yan bought before? Those geese were so delicious!"

Lin Chengqian said with great interest, "The ones we bought last winter? They were the best geese I have ever eaten in my life."

Shi Wen, listening from the side, was thoroughly tempted. "Were they really that good?"

Gong Jiang said, "They really were. That farm's geese are especially good. The meat is tender and flavorful, and they have won several gold and silver awards at national agricultural exhibitions."

Ge Yue said, "Don't worry, Brother Shi. My advisor is very demanding. Anything that catches his eye has to be good."

Gong Jiang corrected her, "High standards."

Ge Yue said, "Fine, fine. High standards, not picky."

Hearing them say this, Shi Wen decisively asked for the address. "Where is it? I'll make time to go ask them about it."

Gong Jiang said, "I'll send it to you on WeChat later."

"How about we go eat goose today? It's been a long time since we had their goose, and we can take Brother Shi over to have a look so he does not get lost." Ge Yue looked at Lin Chengqian. "Senior Brother Lin, what do you think?"

Lin Chengqian said, "I have no problem with that. I want goose too."

Gong Jiang looked at Shi Wen. "Then shall we go eat goose? We can treat you to a meal while we're at it."

Shi Wen smiled. "I should treat you. You're still students, while I'm already working."

Gong Jiang said, "It's fine. Put it on my advisor's tab. He reimburses our meals whenever we travel for fieldwork."

Ge Yue said, "Exactly. Brother Shi, you worked with us all day, so you count as staff too."

Shi Wen really did want to buy geese. Hearing them say that, he stopped refusing.

They packed up their things, got into the car, and drove to another small town.

After driving for more than an hour, they arrived outside a farm restaurant at the foot of a mountain.

The restaurant was open for business, and its muddy gravel parking lot was packed with cars bearing license plates from all over the country.

One look at the scene told Shi Wen that the food here had to be good. Otherwise, so many people would not have come all the way to such a remote place.

They got out of the car and entered the farm restaurant. Ge Yue and Lin Chengqian went to queue for a table, while Gong Jiang took Shi Wen to find the owner.

The owner was a man who looked to be in his forties, busying himself in the back courtyard with a cigarette between his lips.

When Gong Jiang saw him, he called out, "Brother Ma, we're here to buy geese from you."

Ma Bingjun took the cigarette from his mouth. "Oh, you came to do field research nearby today? Sure. Do you want braised goose or another kind? How many? I'll give you a discount."

Gong Jiang said, "Not grown geese. We want goslings. My friend here wants to buy them."

Shi Wen stepped forward and greeted him.

Ma Bingjun frowned. "Goslings are a bit difficult. The recent batches have already been reserved, and the orders are booked through next year."

Gong Jiang smiled. "He's my advisor's friend. Please think of a way for us."