Victory Banquet and Resting Racehorses

(Three chapters today. Aside from this transitional chapter, the other two are setting supplements and will be posted at 6 PM. Feel free to skip them if you are not interested.)

After the race ended, Cloudstream Flying Shadow headed toward the exit area. Luo Yong congratulated Zhang Jun and told him to go take photos first.

Zhang Jun walked over to Cloudstream Flying Shadow. The mare, who had just won a Graded Stakes, was still panting hard, her breathing rapid. Yet she seemed to know she had won. Her ears perked up again, her head held high, and she looked radiant as her dark brown, watery eyes gazed at her owner.

"Thanks for the effort." Zhang Jun stroked her neck, feeling the veins beneath her skin pulse powerfully. "You ran brilliantly."

Cloudstream Flying Shadow snorted and rubbed her head against Zhang Jun's hand.

Shan Yao excitedly thanked Zhang Jun. After their hug, she removed the weights and equipment strapped to Cloudstream Flying Shadow and headed to the weigh-in room to confirm her weight.

Zheng Shan took the reins and led Cloudstream Flying Shadow on a slow walk. Once the weighing was done, a staff member came over and notified them that the winning horse and relevant personnel were to proceed to the parade ring for photos.

This was Zhang Jun's second time taking photos in the parade ring—the first had been after Shadow Hunter's Debutant Race victory.

But this time felt completely different. This was a Graded Stakes victory, and it carried enormous significance.

Cloudstream Flying Shadow was led to the center of the parade ring. Shan Yao stood to her left, holding the winner's number cloth. Zhang Jun, Lin Zhi, and Zheng Shan stood in turn to Shan Yao's left, while several Jian'an Racetrack administrators stood on the right.

The photographer directed their positions. "Owner, please move a little closer to the middle. Yes, smile. Good—"

The shutter clicked, freezing the moment.

After the photos, there was a brief post-race interview since this was a CN3 Graded Stakes event.

Reporters from several racing newspapers crowded around, aiming microphones and recording equipment at Zhang Jun, Lin Zhi, and Shan Yao.

"Mr. Zhang, congratulations on winning the Jian'an Fillies' Championship. As a new owner, this was your first Graded Stakes race, and you won it. How do you feel?"

Zhang Jun thought for a moment, then thanked everyone involved. "I'm very happy, and very grateful. I'm grateful for Cloudstream Flying Shadow's outstanding performance, Trainer Lin Zhi's meticulous training and tactical arrangements, Jockey Shan Yao..."

"Cloudstream Flying Shadow transferred from the central circuit to the local circuit. Why did you decide to buy her in the first place?"

"I believed she had great potential. She simply hadn't found a racing style that suited her," Zhang Jun replied. "The facts have proven that, on the right track and at the right distance, she can show her true strength."

The reporters asked Lin Zhi several more questions about training and tactics, which he answered one by one.

When they turned to Shan Yao, she modestly credited the horse and trainer. She also thanked Zhang Jun again for giving her the opportunity to ride. As her emotions deepened, tears began falling again without her realizing it.

The interview lasted only a little over ten minutes. Once it ended, Zheng Shan led Cloudstream Flying Shadow to the wash stall. Zhang Jun followed behind, smiling as he watched Zheng Shan rinse her with warm water.

Water streamed over her reddish-brown coat, washing away the white sweat foam. Cloudstream Flying Shadow stood quietly, occasionally tossing her head and scattering droplets everywhere.

After her bath, Zheng Shan dried Cloudstream Flying Shadow with towels, then led her slowly back to the stable. Zhang Jun accompanied them for part of the way before stopping just short of the barn.

"Get a good rest over the next few days." He took out the carrots and sugar cubes he had brought and fed them to Cloudstream Flying Shadow. "You were incredible today."

Cloudstream Flying Shadow took the carrots and sugar cubes into her mouth. Her large, watery eyes watched Zhang Jun as she proactively stuffed her head into the crook of his arm and bobbed it up and down.

Chuckling, Zhang Jun used his free hand to stroke Cloudstream Flying Shadow's head and neck, then kissed her forehead.

After staying for a few minutes and waiting for Cloudstream Flying Shadow to finish the carrots and sugar cubes, Zhang Jun left the stable so she could rest properly. None of Lin Zhi's stable horses or Shan Yao had races in their next three events, so Zhang Jun gathered them and Luo Yong for a celebratory dinner at a reserved restaurant.

Zheng Shan did not come. Last time, there had been enough time for him to join the celebration after preparing Shadow Hunter's food. This time, there was not enough time, and he had to remain in the racetrack's underground stables to prepare Cloudstream Flying Shadow's evening meal.

They arrived at the restaurant and sat down in a horse-racing-themed private room. It was not large, but it was elegantly decorated. Several ink paintings with horse-racing themes hung on the walls, while a few potted green plants sat on the windowsill.

"My treat today. Order whatever you want." Zhang Jun ordered minced chicken, one of his favorites, and handed the menu to Lin Zhi.

Everyone had grown familiar with one another, so Lin Zhi did not stand on ceremony. He took the menu and ordered several signature dishes: lychee pork and sweet-and-sour ribs. Luo Yong added a pot of corn and rib soup, while Shan Yao ordered two vegetable dishes. After handing the menu to the server, they began discussing the race they had just watched.

As they chatted, the dishes arrived one after another. The aroma of the minced chicken instantly filled the room, its sesame oil gleaming golden beneath the lights. The lychee pork was crisp outside and tender within, while the rib soup steamed invitingly.

"Come on, let's have a toast first—to our huge victory today!" Zhang Jun raised his glass. They were drinking fruit wine brewed by his late father, Zhang An. Because of Zhang An, Zhang Jun disliked beer and baijiu, so he had simply brought fruit wine up from the cellar for today. It tasted excellent.

Zhang An had also left behind the recipe for brewing it, kept in his study. Zhang Jun planned to buy some fruit in the next few days and brew wine according to the recipe. Once he had brewed enough, he would register a wine company named after Zhang An and sell it, which could count as one way of letting Zhang An continue to exist in this world.

They clinked glasses, and the atmosphere grew lively.

After dinner, Zhang Jun packed up the leftovers. He also specially ordered a rice bowl for Zheng Shan and asked Lin Zhi to bring it over. Then he rode his little electric scooter back to the villa, where he received calls that evening from Luo Heng and Luo An.

Like Zhang Jun, Luo Heng studied remotely. Whenever he had spare time, he helped out at the ranch, and he had called with Luo Fei and Liu Li to congratulate him. Luo An, meanwhile, had gone to the capital to prepare for the Founding Celebration Series during the National Day holiday, so he called separately.

The next morning, Zhang Jun first went to the training center at Jian'an Racetrack.

Cloudstream Flying Shadow had already been transported back and was resting in her stable.

Zheng Shan said she had slept soundly the previous night and had a good appetite that morning, eating one-third more feed than usual.

Zhang Jun entered the stable. Cloudstream Flying Shadow, who had been lying down and rolling around inside, immediately got to her feet and walked over to the railing.

"Good morning, Miss Champion." Zhang Jun joked as he handed her a carrot.

Cloudstream Flying Shadow took the carrot in her mouth and chewed slowly.

Her eyes were bright and alert, and she was in excellent spirits. She did not look at all like she had just gone through an intense race yesterday.

Zhang Jun patted her head and spent half an hour playing with the horse toys he had brought for her that day.

After Shadow Hunter returned from training and finished his bath, Zhang Jun took out new horse toys and played with him for another half hour. Finally, he fed both of them some carrots and sugar cubes before leaving the stable and taking the high-speed rail to Mindu to visit the two young fillies.

It was two in the afternoon when he reached the ranch. The autumn sunlight was warm without being scorching, spilling across the vast pasture and coating everything in a layer of gold.

Luo Heng was already waiting in front of the main building. The moment he saw Zhang Jun get out, he ran over.

"Brother Jun!" He hugged Zhang Jun. "I watched yesterday's race live. Cloudstream Flying Shadow was amazing."

The two chatted as they headed toward the yearling training area. When they arrived, they happened to see the ranch staff conducting desensitization training.

Desensitization training was an important part of a young horse's development. Its purpose was to gradually accustom horses to all kinds of stimuli that might frighten them, such as unfamiliar sounds, objects, and movements, so they would not panic and have accidents when they entered training and racing in the future.

Wind-Chasing Hound's training assignment that day was getting used to the sound of plastic sheeting. A staff member stood at a distance and shook a large blue plastic sheet, producing a loud rustling sound.

Wind-Chasing Hound was somewhat nervous at first. Her ears flattened back, and her body tensed.

But she did not run away. Instead, she stepped in place, her eyes fixed tightly on the plastic sheet.

"Good girl, don't be afraid." The staff member soothed her in a gentle voice while slowly approaching.

After several minutes, Wind-Chasing Hound gradually relaxed. When the staff member reached her side and lightly touched her body with the plastic sheet, she merely shivered a little without any strong reaction.

"She's improved a lot," Zhang Jun said with feeling.

"Training consistently every day will always produce results," Luo Heng said.

After Wind-Chasing Hound's training ended, it was Lightning Chaser's turn.

Her assignment was getting accustomed to sudden noises—the staff would clap or strike objects nearby when she was not paying attention.

Lightning Chaser's performance surprised Zhang Jun somewhat.

This timid mare would still startle at sudden sounds, but she quickly calmed down afterward and did not panic. Her improvement was extremely obvious.

After the training, the staff led the two young horses to the railing. Zhang Jun took out the carrots and apples he had prepared.

Wind-Chasing Hound was still as shy as ever. She watched warily for a while before carefully taking a carrot, then retreated several steps away to eat it.

But she was already much better than she had been a month ago—at least she was willing to eat in front of Zhang Jun now.

Lightning Chaser, on the other hand, was completely different. She proactively came over and rubbed her head against Zhang Jun's hand, then unceremoniously took the apple and devoured it right in front of him.