Chapter 16

Shi Wen smiled. "Their names mean peace and joy, and being content wherever you are. I only just brought them back, so I'll wait a couple of days for them to settle in before letting them out."

Zhu Ji stood up and looked at the livestock shed. "This ranch has come back to life in your hands."

Shi Wen showed Zhu Ji and Duan Kuo the livestock shed and introduced the cows, sheep, dogs, and geese he was raising. Then he took them to the backyard to see the vegetables he had planted earlier.

The ranch had been in his hands for less than two months, so the changes were limited. Even so, it was clear that the whole place was improving, with a flourishing air about it.

After the tour, Zhu Ji said to Shi Wen, "Taking everything into account, you can be classified as a Mid-Level Abilities User now."

Shi Wen was startled. "That soon?"

He remembered the handbook said that both Divinity and Abilities had to exceed five hundred to qualify as a Mid-Level Abilities User. His Divinity was high enough, but his Abilities were still more than a hundred points short, so he didn't meet the requirements yet.

Zhu Ji smiled. "In theory, you'd have to wait a while longer, but your bloodline is very rare, and you're progressing very quickly. Taking everything into consideration, we can make an exception. It'll be better for you to be classified as a Mid-Level Abilities User sooner."

Shi Wen thanked Zhu Ji.

"You're welcome," Zhu Ji said. "It's our job. In your situation, you can apply for special funding to develop yourself sooner. If anything comes up, you can contact me or Duan Kuo."

Zhu Ji made a point of adding Shi Wen on WeChat and also left his phone number. Duan Kuo added Shi Wen too.

They didn't stay long at the ranch. After exchanging contact information, they headed back.

After seeing them off, Shi Wen thought for a moment and sent Yan Kexing a message: [Director Zhu just came to see me.]

A while later, Yan Kexing must have found a moment in his busy schedule to check his messages: [Zhu Ji? Did they come to assess your situation?]

Shi Wen: [Yes! Director Zhu said I can be classified as a Mid-Level Abilities User, and I can apply for special funding on the Abnormal Affairs Bureau's official website afterward.]

Yan Kexing: [The requirements for the Abnormal Affairs Bureau's special subsidies are fairly flexible. You can give it a try and apply for as much as possible.]

Shi Wen: [Director Zhu said the same thing. If my application goes through, things will be much easier for me here.]

Yan Kexing stared at those words for a while. Only when someone called him did he turn off his phone's screen and place it facedown beside him.

That evening, after finishing his work, Shi Wen sat down at his computer.

The Abnormal Affairs Bureau's official website had an exceptionally simple layout.

He looked at the funding application page.

From low-level to high-level and then Divine Level Abilities Users, the available funding went from tens of thousands to tens of millions, and then to a hidden option—the funding available to Divine Level Abilities Users was the hidden option, which Shi Wen couldn't open at all.

What kind of people are God-Level Abilities Users?

At that thought, Shi Wen suddenly remembered Yan Kexing.

Could Yan Kexing be Divine Level? Why else would his secrecy level be so high?

Shi Wen stared blankly at the computer for a while before returning to the funding available to Mid-Level Abilities Users.

Mid-Level Abilities Users could apply for sums in the hundreds of thousands, from one hundred thousand to nine hundred thousand. Each tier required different documentation.

After carefully studying the examples, Shi Wen decided to apply for the three-hundred-thousand subsidy.

His ranch was genuinely up and running. With a total of one hundred and fifteen sheep, plus two dairy cows, thirty geese, and three puppies, it wasn't a small operation.

Zhu Ji had said himself that his bloodline was rare and he was progressing quickly. That ought to count in his favor on the application.

If it really didn't work out, he could drop down a tier next month and apply for two hundred thousand instead.

Shi Wen filled out the application with great care, taking the required photos, uploading the required data, and attaching the required purchase records. He wanted to get the funding on his first try.

If he had the money, he wanted to repair the ranch's wire fencing and make some changes to the livestock shed. It would be even better if he could buy some more farm machinery.

Perhaps it really was because Zhu Ji had taken notice of him, but Shi Wen's application went very smoothly.

In just one week, the first payment of fifty thousand yuan landed in Shi Wen's account.

Looking at the suddenly well-filled account, Shi Wen was overcome with mixed feelings.

A five-figure balance—it was such a welcome sight that it almost brought him to tears.

Now that he had money, Shi Wen contacted Zhang Deyuan and said he wanted to buy a few cows. He asked whether Zhang Deyuan knew a suitable source.

As soon as Zhang Deyuan received Shi Wen's message, he called. "Shi Wen, what kind of cows do you want to buy? Have you settled on anything?"

Shi Wen: "Dairy cows. Local brown cattle will do. I don't have much money, so if they're cheap enough, I'll see if I can buy three or five."

There were only two dairy cows on the ranch now, far too few.

With a ranch this big, it would be a real waste not to buy a few more dairy cows to fill it out.

After hearing what he wanted, Zhang Deyuan said, "There really aren't any cheap dairy cows. You get what you pay for, and dairy cows have been expensive lately. I'm afraid it'll be hard to find a good deal."

Shi Wen said, "Brother Zhang, keep an eye out for me. If there's really nothing, I'll go look at the Grand Bazaar."

Zhang Deyuan said, "Why not buy from local farmers instead? There have been a lot of sick cows lately. I've heard of several people who bought sick ones."

You can end up buying sick cows? Shi Wen asked, "Have a lot of cows been getting sick lately? What kind of diseases do they have?"

Zhang Deyuan: "Mucosal disease, bluetongue, brucellosis... all sorts. The rain has been on and off these past few days, and livestock get sick pretty easily. Sikewell has been treating illnesses and dealing with sick livestock these past few days, busy on his feet all day."

"Dealing with them?" Shi Wen pressed. "You mean disposing of them safely? Burning them? Burying them?"

"Something like that. Livestock that die of disease can't be left on the ranch or out in the open. They have to be brought back for disposal, or they'll cause secondary contamination. Never mind Sikewell, even I've helped out quite a bit these past few days. If you want to buy cows, it'd be better to wait a few days until the weather clears up."

Shi Wen's mind raced. "Would anyone sell sick cows? Would they be much cheaper?"

Zhang Deyuan was taken aback. "Sick cows?"

Chapter 16

Shi Wen held his phone.

On the other end of the line, Zhang Deyuan's voice suddenly rose. "Why would you think of buying sick cows?"