A Visit

The weather was clear. Zhang Jun stretched, picked up his phone and sent Luo Heng a few messages to arrange a meeting time, then rode his little electric scooter toward the station.

At the station, Zhang Jun sat on a bench, his thoughts running wild.

It had been a week since Shadow Hunter had gone to Jianzhou Ranch for turnout after the Banyan Tree Stakes. She would return to Lin Zhi's stable next Monday to resume training.

Then there were the two young fillies, Wind-Chasing Hound and Lightning Chaser. They had now been at Jianzhou Ranch for over four months of rearing. He wondered how they were doing—whether Wind-Chasing Hound was still as shy as ever, and whether Lightning Chaser had become friendly with the ranch staff.

And the five mares kept in Luo Heng's stable—had they grown accustomed to their new surroundings and formally entered the body conditioning stage for broodmares?

"Passengers for train D2026, please line up at the ticket gate. Please..."

The station announcement sounded. Zhang Jun came back to himself, took out his ID, and joined the line at the gate to wait for the high-speed train.

Since the journey would take over an hour, Zhang Jun planned to use the time to learn more about the mainstream racehorses, lesser regional racehorses, and bloodline information in Min Province and the surrounding provinces. He deliberately chose a window seat, hoping not to be disturbed.

Time passed quickly when he focused on something. Before he knew it, he had arrived in Mindu. Zhang Jun left the station, hailed a taxi, chatted idly with the driver, and watched the bustling traffic and crowds outside the window.

The taxi stopped at the ranch entrance, where Luo Heng was already waiting. He had returned to help at the ranch after class yesterday, and now wore the ranch staff uniform with a bright smile on his face.

"Brother Jun! ヾ(≧▽≦*)o"

Luo Heng waved, ran up to Zhang Jun, spread his arms, and hugged him before pulling him inside.

"Mom has lunch ready. We'll go see the horses after we eat."

Zhang Jun nodded and asked, "How has Shadow Hunter been doing at the ranch lately?"

Luo Heng replied, "She's doing great! She eats more than anyone every day, sleeps better than anyone, and she's full of energy during turnout, running back and forth across the paddock. She's having a wonderful time."

Zhang Jun smiled. "As long as she's doing well."

Back at the ranch house, Liu Li was carrying dishes out, while Luo Fei was already waiting. Zhang Jun greeted him and sat in his usual seat.

After lunch, Zhang Jun headed to the ranch's large kitchen. That morning, he had asked Luo Heng to collect a package sent to Mindu. It contained ingredients for making horse treats, which he had specifically sent to the ranch so he could make some fresh treats for the horses.

More than two hours later, Zhang Jun emerged from the kitchen carrying one large bag and one small bag.

The small bag contained treats for Shadow Hunter, while the large bag held treats for the other horses.

After lunch, Shadow Hunter continued her turnout. The paddock was about two hectares in size, enclosed by white wooden fencing. Shadow Hunter's red figure raced back and forth within it, her chestnut coat gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.

Hearing footsteps, Shadow Hunter pricked up her ears and turned around. The moment she saw Zhang Jun, she immediately trotted over to the fence.

(￣▽￣)((≧︶≦)

Zhang Jun tucked Shadow Hunter's outstretched head between his arm and waist, stroking her ears, neck, and forehead. He also played the loose-lips game with her for a while.

Shadow Hunter snorted. Apparently tired of the game, she rubbed her muzzle against Zhang Jun's palm and expertly flipped open his jacket pocket with her lips—only to find it completely empty.

Shadow Hunter looked disappointed and gazed at Zhang Jun with pitiful eyes. ~(TロT)σ

Zhang Jun laughed and patted Shadow Hunter's forehead, taking out the horse treats he had prepared for her.

After playing with Shadow Hunter for a while longer, Zhang Jun and Luo Heng headed toward the newly opened No. 8 broodmare stable.

Jianzhou Ranch originally had seven broodmare stables housing one hundred and thirty broodmares. This year, three more broodmare stables had been built. Nos. 9 and 10 were managed by veteran ranch employees, while No. 8 had been handed over to Luo Heng.

No. 8 stable was built of concrete and painted pink on the outside. It contained eighteen stalls and currently housed eleven horses: Zhang Jun's five and Luo Heng's six. Aside from Jian'an Flying Swallow, the other five had all been recommended by Zhang Jun.

Yang Fan, the stable assistant for No. 8, greeted Zhang Jun and Luo Heng. Du Chun, Zhou Fang, Qi Fei, and Huang Tu also greeted them in turn.

"How are these five girls doing? Have they gotten used to the new environment?" Zhang Jun asked.

After exchanging glances, Du Chun answered as their representative, "They're all doing very well. Quiet Night Thoughts and River Snow have completely adapted to the environment here. Their appetites have increased quite a bit since they first arrived, and they've already begun body conditioning."

"Drunken Flower Shade and Shangcheng Heroine are progressing smoothly as well. They can begin body conditioning in another two days. Gentle Breeze Arrives only came over recently, so she's still in her adjustment period."

Zhang Jun nodded in satisfaction, praised them, and walked over to the first stall on the right. Zhang Jun's and Luo Heng's horses were kept separately: Zhang Jun's five were all on the right, while Luo Heng's were on the left.

Quiet Night Thoughts lived in the first stall. The black mare with the white blaze was quietly chewing hay. When she saw Zhang Jun approach, she merely lifted her eyes lazily.

Zhang Jun took out the horse treats he had prepared and placed them in his hand. Since he often came to visit the mares on weekends, she recognized her new owner. Without hesitation, she walked to the door and ate the treat, her eyes instantly lighting up.

(✧ω✧)

While chewing the horse treat, Quiet Night Thoughts pushed her head into the bag Zhang Jun was carrying. Zhang Jun smiled and stroked her neck, interacting with her using treats for a while before going to see the other mares.

River Snow lived in the second stall. More than a month had passed, and she had grown even whiter. She was livelier than Quiet Night Thoughts and was already waiting at the door, constantly rubbing her head against the railing. When Zhang Jun finally came over, she immediately shoved her head into his arms.

n(≧▽≦)n

Zhang Jun smiled and stroked her neck and forehead. River Snow narrowed her eyes.

After feeding her some treats, Zhang Jun continued visiting the remaining three mares. Drunken Flower Shade and Shangcheng Heroine had also grown familiar with him and were willing to let him pet them. They were in excellent condition too, their coats much glossier than when they had first arrived.

Gentle Breeze Arrives lived in the fifth stall. Her graying was far more advanced than River Snow's, and she had already turned completely white, like a white cloud with legs.

Having only recently become familiar with the surroundings, Gentle Breeze Arrives was still a little nervous. She was not as familiar with Zhang Jun as Drunken Flower Shade and the others were, and she stood deep inside her stall until she recognized Zhang Jun and Luo Heng as people she often saw.

Even then, she did not approach the door, only standing in the middle of the stall.

Seeing that Gentle Breeze Arrives was still somewhat wary, Zhang Jun took out a horse treat, waved it in front of her, then handed some to Luo Heng and had him feed them to the six mares under his name.

o(′益`)o

When Gentle Breeze Arrives saw the other mares eating so happily, she struggled with herself for a while before finally walking toward the door.

┗( T﹏T )┛

Zhang Jun laughed wildly inside. No matter how wary and shy you are, you still have to surrender before my horse treats!

Sure enough, the horse treats I painstakingly made are unbeatable!

Hahahaha ´∀)´∀)´∀)*´∀)

Hiahiahiao (*≧▽≦)ツ