Chapter 18

The cows were in heat, which meant the ranch would soon have its next generation.

Even though a cow had just died of illness, Shi Wen couldn't help feeling happy.

After all, he had spent only nine thousand yuan on the three cows. Even with one dead, nine thousand for two breeding cows in their prime was still a tremendous bargain.

Sikewell explained the basics of breeding to Shi Wen, then declined his invitation to stay for a meal. He drove away with the cow's carcass, the contaminated manure, hay, and other materials.

Shi Wen watched the truck leave, then went to check on the two cows.

Even though they hadn't fully recovered and still smelled bad, he felt much more at ease.

Today was almost the most relaxed he had been in a long time.

Although he had been firm about buying the cows at the time, it wasn't as if he hadn't worried. If he had lost the gamble, not only would nine thousand yuan have gone down the drain, but he would also have looked like a joke.

Fortunately, he hadn't lost.

Disposing of a cow weighing over six hundred kilograms in a biosecure manner was a great deal of trouble.

That evening, after Tang Duohai finished his work for the day, he went to play cards with his friends.

His friends had already played a few rounds. When they saw him finally arrive, one of them complained, "Well, look who's here. You're not even eager to play cards? Won enough the other day, did you?"

Tang Duohai picked up his cards. "Bullshit. I worked overtime today, disposing of a big cow. I only just got home, took a quick shower, grabbed a flatbread, and hurried over."

One of his friends asked casually, "Whose cow died?"

"Shi Wen's." Afraid his friend wouldn't know who that was, Tang Duohai added, "The handsome new guy at the ranch."

"I know him. The one who bought three sick cows, right? Nine thousand yuan for three cows—I thought he might get a bargain, but one died so soon. Can the other two pull through?"

At that, a subtle smile appeared on Tang Duohai's face. "Why wouldn't they? The other two have almost recovered, and they've just gone into heat. You should've seen it—he even dragged Doctor Sikewell over today to ask what was wrong, hahaha."

Everyone imagined the scene and couldn't help laughing along.

Afterward, they couldn't help discussing it:

"That guy's really lucky, having two of the three cows survive."

"I think he's genuinely skilled. Who would dare try something like that without knowing a thing or two? No amount of money would cover the losses."

"I think so too. He came from a big city, so maybe he learned something there before."

"Too bad he arrived too late. If he'd come a few months earlier, I could have brought my good cow to him. He might have been able to save her."

Shi Wen didn't know that his presence had sparked a wide-ranging discussion throughout the pastoral area.

He was preparing to breed the cows.

He had looked up a lot of information lately and learned a thing or two about caring for cows. This was the perfect chance to put it into practice.

Before long, his two cows entered their next heat cycle.

Shi Wen asked Sikewell to come over and artificially inseminate them.

Sikewell hadn't seen him for several days. When he returned to the pasture, he turned his head and looked around. "Your pasture really does change every day."

Shi Wen said, "It's July. The grass is bound to grow fast."

"I remember you have a few silage pits on your ranch. When are you going to start making silage?"

"Once the two cows are pregnant. In a few days, I think. I'll probably have to hire a few people then; I can't manage it all by myself."

As they talked, Shi Wen led Sikewell toward the warehouse.

Sikewell asked, "Are the cows still shut in the warehouse?"

"They've only just recovered from being sick, and now they're in heat and about to be artificially inseminated. It'll be safer to keep them in the warehouse and move them to the livestock shed once things have stabilized."

"Speaking of which, I thought you'd find a bull to breed them."

Shi Wen shook his head. "My two cows have only just recovered from mucosal disease. If I looked for a bull, the owner might have concerns, and it wouldn't be good if a dispute came up."

The two of them went straight into the warehouse.

Shi Wen had cleaned and disinfected it especially for the cows, and the windows were wide open.

The grassland breeze blew in, and the warehouse was neither dark nor stuffy. Instead, it carried the fresh scent of fodder.

When Sikewell saw the two big brown cows tied to pillars, surprise showed on his face.

The two cows were tall and sturdy, their large eyes lending them a certain grace. When they looked at the men, their eyes were gentle.

Sikewell hadn't expected the two cows to look so completely different in just a few days. They looked like two entirely different animals from before.

"You've taken such good care of them." Sikewell walked around the two cows, examining them, and couldn't help repeating himself. "Really good. You'd never know they'd once been sick."

Shi Wen smiled. "They can be bred now, right?"

"Yes." Sikewell took two straws of frozen bull semen from the medical case he had brought and handed them to Shi Wen for inspection. "As you requested, it's frozen semen from local brown cattle, produced by Fengfu Animal Husbandry. Two hundred and eighty-one yuan per straw."

Shi Wen carefully checked the labels and made sure there were no problems with the breeding bulls' information. He smiled and handed the straws back to Sikewell. "Everything's fine."

Sikewell took out his gloves. "Then I'll inseminate them. Make sure they're securely tied."

The artificial insemination was very simple. Sikewell finished in just over ten minutes.

Neither of the brown cows showed any sign of discomfort, either.

Sikewell took a needle from his medical case. "I'll also give them each a vitamin injection to improve their chances of conceiving."

The vitamin preparation was injected into the muscle, with the thick needle driven directly into each cow's back. Each cow let out a pained moo.

Hearing them, Shi Wen rubbed the injection sites on both cows, distressed for them.

Sikewell put the needle away and smiled. "You really put your heart into this. They'll surely give birth to two fine calves next year."

Shi Wen nodded. "I hope so too. I just hope they can safely give birth to their calves."

Chapter 18

The difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures at Shi Wen's ranch was considerable. He needed a fleece-lined jacket when he first got up, but once the sun came out, even long sleeves felt hot.