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Yan Kexing: "They just lived a long time."

Shi Wen's eyes practically sparkled. "That's amazing! This is the best cake I've ever eaten in my life!"

Yan Kexing: "Try the filling in the middle, it tastes different."

"Okay! I'll save one for a picnic tomorrow when we go picking wild chestnuts." Shi Wen took a small, precious bite. "It's absolutely delicious."

Yan Kexing smiled and lowered his head to read.

Shi Wen at his gold-rimmed glasses, his chest muscles, and his slender hands, and I would think he was a really great person, but I was too embarrassed to say it.

Gong Jiang and the other two had already returned to the city, leaving only the two of them on the ranch.

After finishing a small piece of cake, Shi Wen went to wash his hands, took out a book, sat down at the dining table, and began reading opposite Yan Kexing.

Yan Kexing reads so many books every day; he can't possibly be ignorant and unlearned.

Early the next morning, Shi Wen drove the rams out to graze, entrusted the pregnant cows and sheep to Old Man Ma, and then went up the mountain with Yan Kexing and their family of cats, dogs, and Hu Zai.

Today is a bright and sunny day, with a clear blue sky and a dry, cold wind blowing from the far north.

Shi Wen was wearing a hat and a jacket, with his hands in his pockets, looking around.

Along the narrow mountain path, the birch leaves had all turned yellow, yet they had not yet fallen, hanging golden on the treetops.

The grass in the woods was almost completely withered, looking as if it had been painted on with a brush, so neatly arranged.

The family dogs, who rarely come out, are now happily running around in the woods.

Cong Zai lacked stamina and didn't run with the dogs; he just strolled slowly beside them.

The two Hu Zai wanted to run, but their short legs couldn't keep up. They stumbled and stopped, running for a while and then stopping again, eventually ending up walking right at their feet.

Shi Wen was worried that the Hu Zai might run out of energy after a while and he would have to carry them. But to his surprise, the two Hu Zai had good stamina and ran around happily, panting.

When you reach the halfway point of the mountain, the path splits into two.

Shi Wen stopped and asked Yan Kexing, "Which way do we go?"

He's good at finding animal trails, but not so good at finding plants; he has to rely on Yan Kexing.

Yan Kexing: "Over here. There's a century-old chestnut tree up there. It doesn't bear many fruits, but they taste good."

Shi Wen's spirits lifted. "Okay, let's go!"

After receiving their instructions, the dogs excitedly ran ahead.

The two Hu Zai gave chase.

Before long, Shi Wen could hear the barking and whimpering of dogs coming from ahead.

"Woof woof woof" is an excited sound, while "whimper whimper" is a sound of pain.

Upon Shi Wen this, Shi Wen immediately said, "They've been found."

Sure enough, after walking a few steps, Shi Wen saw a wild chestnut tree with a canopy like a large umbrella.

The chestnut leaves were still lush and green, and the branches were laden with green and brown chestnut pods.

The dogs walked to the tree and tried to pick up the chestnut balls one by one, but they kept getting pricked in the mouth and nose by the long thorns of the chestnuts, so they whimpered in pain.

Upon seeing Shi Wen, the dogs all turned their heads and Shi Wen.

An Wa was the most enthusiastic, completely ignoring the prickly chestnut ball in her mouth. She forcibly picked it up, ran over, placed it at Shi Wen's feet, gently touched it with her paw, and wagged her tail, baring her teeth. "Woof woof!"

This means that Shi Wen should open the chestnut shell for it.

Shi Wen smiled and rubbed the dog's head, then stepped on the exploded chestnut ball, took out the brown chestnuts inside, and handed them to An Wa.

An Wa Shi Wen two "woof woof" sounds, wagged her tail happily, and unceremoniously took the chestnut to the side to gnaw on it.

The other dogs followed suit, bringing chestnut balls over so Shi Wen them.

Shi Wen fulfilled their every request, and even the two Hu Zai each took a chestnut and started munching on it.

Cong Zai wasn't very interested in chestnuts.

Shi Wen specially found some small chestnuts for the Hu Zai, in case they accidentally swallowed them and choked.

The Hu Zai' teeth haven't hardened yet, so they're not very good at biting chestnuts. They held them in their mouths and gnawed at them for a long time, but they still couldn't crack them open. The chestnuts were covered in their saliva.

With their fluffy, round heads on top, they lay on the ground, biting intently, as if determined to fight the chestnuts to the death.

Shi Wen ignore it; if I really can't chew it, I'll just use it as a toothpick.

Shi Wen peeled a chestnut ball, took out the chestnuts inside, gave two to Yan Kexing, and took one for himself, holding it up and eating it.

Wild chestnuts have a hard shell, but once you bite into them, they taste sweet and have a pleasant aroma, somewhat like eating raw sweet potatoes.

Shi Wen exclaimed with delight, "It's really delicious!"

Yan Kexing: "It would taste even better if we stir-fried it after taking it back, or grilling it would be good too."

"Then let's bring more back." Shi Wen turned around and quickly found a branch. "I'll knock some chestnuts down. Get out of the way, or you'll get hit."

Yan Kexing: "Be careful."

Shi Wen, eager to try, said, "Don't worry, I'm wearing a hat."

Shi Wen him carrying a branch to the chestnut tree, specifically picking out the large, split chestnuts to knock on.

Soon, the chestnut balls fell to the ground like rain, pattering and crackling.

Le Wa, An Wa, and Fu Wa rushed forward, braving the rain of chestnuts, and carried out chestnuts, barking as they were hit, but they were still having a great time.

Heiwa looked at his companions, his furry dog face slightly speechless, and obediently squatted next to Yan Kexing, watching Yan Kexing peel the chestnuts out of the chestnut balls.

They peeled and pounded the chestnuts as they worked, spending most of the day peeling them, and probably got more than forty pounds of chestnuts.

Shi Wen patted his pockets and smiled at Yan Kexing, "This is enough for several meals. Let's come again next time."

Yan Kexing nodded.

So, the two of them each carried a bag of chestnuts, and happily went down the mountain with their cat, dog, and Cong Zai.

Shi Wen could see a familiar car parked in front of his house from a distance—it was Zhou Hongzhong's car.

Hearing the barking dogs outside, Zhou Hongzhong came out with two young men. Seeing them, he waved and said, "Shi Wen, Professor Yan, we've brought over some wild domestic pigs. They've all been quarantined. Have a taste, and while you're at it, give the two tiger cubs a try too, so they can have some wild meat."