Page 28

It could work like that?

Shi Wen's eyes widened.

Zhang Deyuan explained, "I bought these sheep for meat, all of them were six-month-old ewes, and none had been spayed. If you picked out the relatively good ewes from among them, you could definitely find some. You saw them yesterday—they're an old local breed, and their frames and builds are decent. I already picked through them once, so they're definitely better than the sheep outside. I just don't know if you'd find them lacking."

"How could I possibly mind?" Shi Wen immediately replied. "Brother Zhang, you're too good to me. You could only have come up with this idea because you treat me like your own brother."

Fu Meng chimed in, "Old Zhang is famous for being generous."

Shi Wen thought it over briefly and felt that it really was feasible.

When he bought sheep elsewhere, he was also selecting relatively suitable ones from a flock rather than buying breeding sheep outright.

There simply weren't as many sheep available for him to choose from outside.

Shi Wen asked, "Brother Zhang, what price do you pay when you buy sheep from outside?"

Zhang Deyuan said, "I buy live sheep directly. The sheep I've bought recently have all been nineteen yuan per jin."

Shi Wen said, "Then how about this? I'll pick sheep from you, and add one yuan per jin—twenty yuan per jin?"

A sheep could earn forty or fifty yuan just by changing hands, so the price Shi Wen offered was not low.

Zhang Deyuan hurriedly waved his hands in refusal. "No, no. How can I charge you extra?"

Shi Wen smiled. "Business is business, friendship is friendship. If I pick directly from your flock, how much of an advantage would I be taking?"

Fu Meng supported him, saying, "Even brothers should settle accounts clearly. I think Shi Wen's suggestion is quite good. No one loses out, and if it works out, you might even be able to cooperate long-term."

Shi Wen said, "If you transfer them to me at the original price, I'd be too embarrassed to buy sheep from you."

Zhang Deyuan considered it. "How about this? Come take a look with me first. If you see something you like, we'll discuss the price then. If you don't, we'll forget it."

That worked too. Shi Wen nodded in agreement.

Shi Wen locked the door, had Black Kid guard the house, and rode in Zhang Deyuan's car to his ranch.

Zhang Deyuan had already isolated the sheep with Bluetongue Disease yesterday. Today, the sheep in the pens were not so densely packed, making them fairly easy to distinguish at a glance.

Shi Wen looked them over and felt that the sheep in the pens did not seem to have any problems.

The culprit behind Bluetongue Disease was the Bluetongue Virus, and it was spread by insects, making it relatively easy to prevent and control.

Skewell was also a highly experienced old veterinarian. With him treating it, there should not be any problems.

Zhang Deyuan led the two of them through the pens, starting with the first one.

This flock of half-grown ewes had already been sheared, making them easier to inspect.

Shi Wen examined the sheep one by one and soon found a ewe with both a good frame and good appearance. He checked her teeth as well, and they were good too. She counted as an excellent ewe.

Zhang Deyuan could tell at a glance that Shi Wen had picked her and handed over the spray paint in his hand.

Shi Wen did not stand on ceremony. He directly sprayed a "1" on the ewe's hindquarters, indicating that she was the first ewe he had selected.

Picking out superior individuals from a flock really was satisfying.

Especially since Zhang Deyuan did not merely have several thousand sheep, but more than ten thousand—there were several large livestock sheds in his backyard, all packed with sheep.

No wonder he had been so nervous yesterday when he said his sheep might be sick.

With more than ten thousand sheep here, an epidemic would mean devastating losses.

Shi Wen chose the best of the best. After looking through more than ten thousand sheep, he ultimately selected seventy-eight ewes.

Zhang Deyuan had been in the sheep-buying business for many years. One look told him that every sheep Shi Wen had picked was among the best of the good ones, and he could not help sighing. "Your eye is really sharp. In another couple of years, your ranch will definitely be one of the best in the whole town, maybe even the whole city."

Shi Wen turned back with a smile. "I hope so too. Brother Zhang, shall we use the price we discussed earlier?"

Zhang Deyuan named the price he had settled on. "If we're going to do business long-term, how about nineteen eighty? We're like brothers, so I have to give you a little discount. Nineteen eighty is a nice-sounding price too."

Zhang Deyuan was sincerely offering a discount, so Shi Wen naturally accepted.

With Fu Meng as witness, the two sides weighed the sheep and made the payment.

The sheep Zhang Deyuan bought were half-grown ewes, averaging more than forty jin each. Shi Wen bought seventy-eight of them, and more than sixty thousand yuan went out in one payment.

Luckily, it was summer now, and the grass and water outside were abundant, so there was not much need to stockpile feed. Otherwise, he would have had no choice but to borrow money.

Hopefully, this batch of sheep would bring in good returns and leave him with a little more financial breathing room next year.

After the sheep were purchased, Zhang Deyuan asked Shi Wen, "I have one more favor to ask. Could you keep the matter of Bluetongue Disease confidential for your old brother? Some people tend to believe every rumor they hear, and it could easily stir up gossip. Don't worry, I'll definitely send the sheep for inspection before selling them. I'll only sell them after they pass."

Shi Wen had just received a discount, so he certainly could not refuse even this small favor.

He readily agreed. "Don't worry, Brother Zhang. I'm not someone who talks too much."

Zhang Deyuan chuckled. "I just wanted to give you a heads-up."

Once the sheep had been handed over, Zhang Deyuan drove the truck directly to Shi Wen's ranch and delivered them.

As usual, Shi Wen kept the new flock in the farthest livestock shed, quarantining them for a while before releasing them once he was sure they had no disease.

There were more sheep at home now, and Black Kid alone definitely would not be enough.

Shi Wen took the opportunity to ask Fu Meng and Zhang Deyuan to keep an eye out for local sheepdogs that were not too expensive.

After all, winters here were cold. Sheepdogs from elsewhere might not adapt to the local climate and environment. If they fell ill, the dogs would suffer, and so would their owners. It would not be suitable.

Fu Meng agreed to help look. Less than two days later, he sent Shi Wen a video:

[You said you wanted sheepdogs. See if these two little guys meet your requirements?]

[Someone found them and sent them to a pet hospital. They're looking for someone to adopt them.]

[Judging by their appearance, I think they're purebred sheepdogs. If you're interested, contact the person arranging the adoption directly and take a look.]

Fu Meng also sent Shi Wen the pet hospital's business card.