Fu Meng

Biodata

Background / History

After Shi Jingbo’s death, Fu Meng helped handle the old master’s sheep. His familiarity with Shi Jingbo’s ranch—including its livestock sheds, farmland, and drainage ditches—later makes him one of Shi Wen’s most important local sources of support. 3

As village chief, Fu Meng regards the Shi Family Ranch as part of his village’s community. When Shi Wen first returns, Fu Meng recognizes his resemblance to Shi Jingbo, welcomes him as a future neighbor, and urges him to repair the ranch before the spring livestock-buying season ends. 3

Appearance

Fu Meng is introduced as a dark-skinned young man with a practical rural appearance. 3

• Wears a leather jacket and rain boots when first encountered at the ranch. 3
• Frequently travels by motorcycle or a three-wheeled truck used for hauling livestock and farm goods. 3 4

Personality

Fu Meng is outgoing, hospitable, and notably unpretentious. He quickly offers Shi Wen food, transportation, and practical advice rather than treating him as an outsider. 3 4

He is also direct and protective. When Shi Wen considers purchasing seriously ill cattle, Fu Meng personally tries to dissuade him after hearing of the plan from Zhang Deyuan. 35 In business, he values fair dealing and supports Shi Wen’s insistence on paying Zhang a reasonable price for breeding ewes. 28

Abilities & Skills

Livestock Husbandry

Fu Meng has extensive hands-on knowledge of local cattle and sheep raising.

• Advises Shi Wen to renovate sheds, dredge drainage ditches, and buy lambs before seasonal availability declines. 3
• Helps evaluate livestock prices and bargains down Shi Wen’s first ewe lamb from 600 yuan to 420 yuan. 5
• Recommends reliable feed supplier Old Sun and suitable concentrated feed for young lambs. 6
• Teaches Shi Wen to shear sheep with electric clippers and helps process the resulting wool. 25 26
• Explains local planting, dairy, and breeding practices, including the advantages of locally adapted vegetable seedlings and timing lambing for spring. 16 40

Community Connections

As village chief and an established local rancher, Fu Meng connects Shi Wen with people and services essential to operating the ranch.

• Introduces Shi Wen to Old Sun, Dr. Skewell, and wool trader Zhang Deyuan. 6 15 26
• Helps arrange transportation for livestock purchases at local markets and the Cattle and Sheep Bazaar. 4 17 18
• Recommends workers and machinery contacts for Shi Wen’s silage-corn project. 40
• Locates adoption information for Le Wa and An Wa through a pet hospital. 28

Equipment / Vehicles

• Motorcycle — Used to travel between the village and Shi Wen’s ranch. 3 25
• Three-wheeled truck/tricycle — Used to transport Shi Wen, lambs, feed, and market purchases. 4 6 17

Relationships

• Shi Wen — Neighbor, friend, mentor, and business helper. Fu Meng supports Shi Wen from his first visit to the ranch, offering local guidance, transportation, livestock-market assistance, and farming advice. 3 4 40
• Shi Jingbo — Former owner of the Shi Family Ranch. Fu Meng helped deal with Shi Jingbo’s sheep after his death. 3
• Chang Qingqing — Wife. Together, they provide Shi Wen with vegetable seedlings, meals, and guidance on local food preparation. 16 50
• Dr. Skewell — Professional acquaintance and veterinary collaborator; they jointly help vaccinate and tag Shi Wen’s flock. 15 16
• Zhang Deyuan — Fellow livestock-industry contact. Fu Meng introduces Zhang to Shi Wen and supports Shi Wen’s warning about the Bluetongue Disease outbreak. 26
• Old Sun — Longtime acquaintance and trusted feed seller whom Fu Meng recommends to Shi Wen. 6

Story Role / Major Arcs

Welcoming Shi Wen Back to the Ranch

Fu Meng is the first local resident to meet Shi Wen at the inherited ranch. He identifies him as Shi Jingbo’s grandson, explains the ranch’s condition, and helps him reach town after the visit. 3

Establishing the Sheep Operation

Fu Meng brings Shi Wen to the livestock market, assists with lamb selection and bargaining, and helps transport Shi Wen’s thirty-seven lambs and their feed back to the ranch. 4 5 6

Supporting Ranch Development

He assists with sheep vaccination, registration, shearing, wool sales, livestock purchases, and the expansion of Shi Wen’s flock. His network repeatedly gives Shi Wen access to practical services and reliable trading partners. 15 16 26 28

Neighborly Cooperation

Fu Meng and Chang Qingqing provide vegetable seedlings, fermented manure, local dairy knowledge, and instruction in making chive flower sauce. Their family’s hospitality helps Shi Wen become part of village life. 16 40 50

Trivia

• Fu Meng’s three-wheeled truck has a cargo bed usually covered in mud, fodder, and dried manure from livestock hauling. 4
• He considers Black Kid an exceptionally promising sheepdog and initially mistakes the puppy’s herding ability for evidence that Shi Wen had already found a high-quality working dog. 15
• He is impressed by the unusually heavy, clean fleece produced by Shi Wen’s sheep. 26