Chapter 21

Yan Kexing walked slowly beside him. "I have a friend who runs a local bank. It would indeed be fairly difficult to borrow from a major bank. Local banks are bolder and more aggressive in how they operate. Given your current situation, you'd have a fairly good chance of getting a loan from one. If you need it, I can introduce you to him and act as your guarantor."

Shi Wen listened in silence. "Aren't you afraid I'll fail and run off?"

Yan Kexing said, "My judgment isn't that bad."

Hearing that, Shi Wen felt his eyes grow hot, and he nearly burst into tears.

This was the second time Yan Kexing had offered to help him, after trying to lend him money.

Since he started university, not even his parents had treated him this well, let alone ordinary friends.

He turned his head slightly, using the darkness to hide his face, and murmured, "You're far too good to me."

Yan Kexing raised a hand and gently patted his shoulder.

Shi Wen sniffed. "Can you give me a few days to think it over and take stock of my situation? I'll give you an answer then."

Yan Kexing said, "All right. I'll wait for your answer."

Chapter 21

Shi Wen thought it over carefully for several days before deciding to accept Yan Kexing's kind offer and meet his friend at the bank.

With Yan Kexing as his guarantor, the loan process went smoothly for Shi Wen.

For the first installment, he borrowed a total of 700,000 yuan.

Combined with the 300,000-yuan subsidy he had secured, that should be enough to fund the livestock operation for the year.

With money in hand, Shi Wen felt much more at ease and was more motivated to build his business.

For the time being, he only needed to manage the ranch and raise the livestock properly. He no longer had to worry about money.

That day, the sun was already high in the sky when Shi Wen and the dogs finally worked together to drive the sheep out of the barn.

Instead of herding them to the pasture they had frequented lately, he drove them toward the large pool beside the house.

He had filled the pool with water early on, and the sun had warmed it by now. The deworming medicine he had added gave off a slightly pungent smell.

Over the past couple of days, Shi Wen had noticed that horseflies had bitten some of the sheep on their backsides. After finding a few maggots in the wounds, he remembered that it was time to give the sheep a medicated bath.

He had specifically asked Fu Meng to recommend the medicinal powder for the bath. Fu Meng said that although this brand of dewormer smelled a little harsh, it worked very well. Once used on the sheep, it would not only prevent insect and fly bites but also drive away parasites.

The sheep's wool had grown somewhat long again, curling into coils that hid plenty of parasites. Shi Wen had no other way to deal with them, so he could only resort to a strong dose.

Shi Wen was giving the flock a medicated bath entirely for their own good.

The sheep, however, did not appreciate it.

They caught the smell from a distance and ran frantically to the side, bleating as they went and kicking up clouds of dust across the pasture.

Shi Wen and the three dogs tried to surround them from four directions, but they still couldn't contain the sheep, and they risked being bitten or butted.

Although Shi Wen knew his sheep had always been a little fierce, he hadn't expected them to be that fierce.

They stopped in front of the pool, bleating loudly, "Baa-" "Baa-" and refusing to get in no matter what.

Shi Wen swung his whip and drove them down, but they could leap two meters into the air and jump straight onto the edge at the other end of the pool.

They didn't dare butt Shi Wen, but when the three dogs tried to drive them back, they really did lower their heads and charge, scaring the dogs off several times.

Heiwa was all right. Heiwa was bigger and had herded livestock since young. The sheep were fierce, but Heiwa was fiercer. After pouncing on and biting several of them into submission, Heiwa left the others too afraid to run in that direction.

Le Wa and An Wa were a little smaller and hadn't established enough authority. When the sheep ran their way, they bit and barked while looking for openings to dodge. Before long, they were panting with exhaustion.

Looking at the two little ones, Shi Wen felt that no matter what, he had to give them extra-large chunks of beef today.

They had worked so hard.

And as for these damned sheep, if all else failed, he might as well pick out the troublemakers and sell them.

The man and three dogs worked hard to keep the flock under control, and all of them were exhausted.

Just as they were matching wits and strength with the sheep, the sound of a motorcycle came from afar.

Shi Wen and the three dogs all turned to look.

Sikewell was riding a motorcycle toward them.

From a distance, Sikewell called out, "Shi Wen! Giving the sheep a medicated bath? Need a hand?"

"It'd be great if you could help." Shi Wen wiped the sweat from his forehead. "The sheep are putting up too much of a fight. Things are getting a little out of hand."

Sikewell parked his motorcycle by the wall around Shi Wen's yard and walked over. "They won't get in?"

"Yeah!" Shi Wen called back. "Mostly, they can jump too well. If I didn't know for sure they were sheep, I'd think I was raising a flock of goats."

Sikewell laughed. "It's your first time giving them a medicated bath, so you don't have much experience. Once you've herded them in a couple more times, you'll get the hang of it."

"Let's get through this time first," Shi Wen called, then asked Sikewell to go between An Wa and Le Wa. "Could you block them in that corner? They're picking on the little dogs a bit."

As Sikewell passed An Wa, he bent down and gave the dog a rub. "You've worked so hard," he said affectionately.

An Wa barked loudly. "Woof!"

With Sikewell's help, they finally managed to pen the flock firmly inside the pool.

Soaking in the irritating medicated water, the sheep bleated even louder. Their cries of "Baa-ah! Baa-ah!" pounded like drums, nearly making Shi Wen's ears ring.

Shi Wen waited until they had soaked long enough, then told Heiwa to move aside and open a gap so the flock could jump out.

Once ashore, the sheep ran wildly for a while, still badly shaken. Only then did they calm down and lower their heads to graze on and off.

After that, all they had to do was wait for the sheep to rest up, then drive them to the designated pasture.

Shi Wen didn't need to handle that part himself. The three dogs could already drive the cattle out to graze with practiced ease.

But the three dogs were panting with exhaustion and needed to rest before they could keep working.

Feeling sorry for them, Shi Wen gave all three dogs water from his flask, then fed them dried meat.

Only after looking after the three dogs did Shi Wen have time to attend to Sikewell.