Chapter Summaries

Xiong Cen brought Chasing Clouds to live at Shi Wen’s pasture, where the steppe eagle kept birds away and settled into a routine with Shi Wen. Later, An Wa woke Shi Wen and led him toward something on the pasture, leaving Shi Wen and Yan Kexing unsure what they would find.

• Xiong Cen released Chasing Clouds to patrol the pasture and agreed that Shi Wen would feed her meat.
• Xiong Cen told Shi Wen that the rescued eastern imperial eagle would be rehabilitated, trained, and possibly released into a local bird ecosystem.
• Chasing Clouds chose a pavilion near the beehives for her nest and drove away crows and other troublesome birds.
• Shi Wen began leaving meat near Chasing Clouds’s nest, and she regularly ate it.
• An Wa summoned Shi Wen and led him away, so Shi Wen called Yan Kexing to come see what An Wa wanted to show them.

Shi Wen and Yan Kexing harvested their first cistanche with help from the dogs, then cooked it into beef congee. After Shi Wen ate three bowls, he became hot and restless and realized Yan Kexing had known what the herb would do.

• An Wa led Shi Wen and Yan Kexing to a saxaul tree, where they found cistanche growing underground.
• Shi Wen and Yan Kexing dug up several cistanche roots while Cong Zai, Shi Suo, and Laibao helped locate them.
• Shi Wen decided to leave some healthy cistanche to flower and set seed, and he asked to taste the harvest in congee.
• Yan Kexing made beef congee with cistanche for dinner, and Shi Wen ate three bowls.
• That night, Shi Wen grew hot and restless, pounced on Yan Kexing, and accused him of knowing the cistanche's effects.

Shi Wen and Yan Kexing harvested potent cistanche at their ranch, and Shi Wen later began selling cistanche honey to their members. Demand stayed high despite purchase limits, and Old Han reminded Shunzi to be ready for the next sale.

• Shi Wen and Yan Kexing showered together after trying their cistanche, and Shi Wen stayed home the next day while Yan Kexing tended the livestock.
• Zhu Ji spotted the cistanche drying on Shi Wen's roof and took some, while Fu Meng and Zhang Deyuan also came to buy it.
• Shi Wen's family accumulated dried cistanche and began selling cistanche honey for three thousand yuan per fifty-gram bottle.
• Members rushed to buy each batch, so Shi Wen reduced the purchase limit from ten bottles per member to three.
• Old Han called Shunzi and urged him to set an alarm for the evening cistanche honey sale.

Shunzi and Old Han bought Shi Wen’s cistanche honey, while Shi Wen and Yan Kexing kept production at the ranch small and standardized. As the ranch’s reputation grew, Shi Wen said he wanted to improve its livestock rather than expand, but finding good goats remained difficult.

• Shunzi and Old Han discussed the price and benefits of cistanche honey, then each used advance preparations to buy three bottles.
• Shi Wen packaged the orders with a filling machine and put three slices of cistanche in every bottle.
• Shi Wen told Yan Kexing he had no plans to build a factory or turn the ranch into a large company, and Yan Kexing agreed he preferred researching the field to making more money.
• Shi Wen told Zhu Ji that the ranch would not expand because it lacked workers, and that he wanted to improve the animals already there.
• Shi Wen explained to Zhu Ji that finding good breeding goats was difficult and that goats and fat-tailed sheep were entirely different animals.

Shi Wen helped the livestock association promote local meat and tourism, then turned his attention to breeding the farm’s ewes as nearly all 1,687 came into heat. After Yan Kexing noticed the breeding rams were getting worn out, Shi Wen decided to give them a week of rest.

• Shi Wen and Zhu Ji discussed educating customers about mutton, prompting Shi Wen to suggest promoting it and developing processed products to help local herders.
• Shi Wen discussed the idea with Ma Chengfeng, and the livestock association secured government funding for a campaign that boosted tourism and meat sales.
• As nearly all the farm’s ewes entered estrus, Shi Wen paired them with the eight breeding rams, marked matings with colored paint, and adjusted the animals’ feed.
• Shi Wen recorded the ewes’ mating and suspected pregnancy statuses, separating those that had mated from the others.
• Yan Kexing noticed that Eight Treasures and the other rams seemed exhausted, so Shi Wen arranged for them to rest for a week.

Shi Wen considered whether Laibao should breed with the ranch’s cows and introduced Laibao to them. He then learned that two horses in Mole’s neighbor’s care were sick, and the local veterinarians were unavailable.

• Shi Wen gave the breeding rams cistanche honey and grain, while Sikewell checked the ewes and advised that they only needed mineral supplements.
• Sikewell suggested using Laibao to breed the Simmental cows, and Shi Wen agreed to discuss it with him when the cows went into heat.
• After Yan Kexing reassured him, Shi Wen asked Laibao whether he wanted to mate with the cows and led him to their enclosure.
• Mole arrived and told Shi Wen that his neighbor’s two horses seemed seriously unwell and asked him for help because the veterinarians were away.

Shi Wen examined Yalikun’s two sick horses and treated them for suspected poisoning. After they improved, he suggested checking their grazing area to find and remove whatever they had eaten.

• Mole brought Shi Wen to Yalikun’s home, where two horses had become too weak to stand.
• Shi Wen suspected the horses had eaten something poisonous and had them drink milk before making them vomit.
• Shi Wen gave the horses honey water, then felt their heartbeats and blood flow and determined they were out of danger.
• Shi Wen urged Yalikun to inspect the grazing area so the horses would not eat the dangerous forage again.

Shi Wen and Sikewell discovered poisonous drunken horse grass in Yalikun’s pasture and warned local herders about the danger to horses. Shi Wen brought a sample home, where Yan Kexing said he would report its spread and began to share some good news.

• Sikewell arrived at Yalikun’s house, checked the horses, and joined Shi Wen and a group of herders to search their pasture for what had poisoned them.
• A herder found an unfamiliar plant, and Shi Wen and Sikewell identified it as drunken horse grass, which could poison and kill horses.
• Sikewell asked the herders to search for and remove more of the plant, and took samples to report the danger to other herders.
• Shi Wen brought a stalk home to show his horses, and Yan Kexing recognized it as drunken horse grass and said he would report its spread.
• Shi Wen asked whether researchers had found a way to control the plant, and Yan Kexing said they had not before mentioning that he had good news.

Shi Wen and Yan Kexing enjoyed their ranch’s newly ripened tomatoes, learned that the crop had an Ability value of 97, and discussed their livestock’s breeding and retirement. They planned to travel with tomatoes for the two tigers and visit the male snow leopard, while Zhu Ji offered to mind the ranch.

• Shi Wen picked ripe tomatoes and Yan Kexing cooked tomato-braised beef brisket, which Shi Wen greatly enjoyed.
• Shi Wen fed tomatoes to the ranch animals and discovered that all sixty Simmental cows were pregnant; he and Yan Kexing discussed retiring Eight Treasures and possibly selling older ewes in the fall.
• Zhu Ji brought the tomato test results, which showed an Ability value of 97, and Shi Wen said they would keep the crop for themselves, the animals, and April membership gift packages.
• Shi Wen invited Zhu Ji to pick tomatoes while helping look after the ranch as he and Yan Kexing traveled to feed the two tigers and visit the male snow leopard.

Shi Wen and Yan Kexing packed food and supplies to visit their tigress, but found her away from her cave and heard a young animal inside. They uncovered a small, blocked-off cave and prepared to investigate what she had brought back.

• Shi Wen and Yan Kexing planned a mountain trip to bring the tigress, two tigers, and a male snow leopard meat and other treats, leaving Zhu Ji to look after the ranch.
• Shi Wen and Yan Kexing drove into the mountains and carried several bags of food up toward the tigress’s territory.
• They found the tigress’s tracks but no sign of her, so Yan Kexing checked the app and led Shi Wen to her cave.
• Shi Wen heard a faint animal sound near the cave and worried that the tigress might have had cubs.
• Yan Kexing located the sound in a tiny cave blocked by rocks, and Shi Wen stepped forward to move them and see what was inside.

Shi Wen and Yan Kexing discovered that the tigress had trapped an injured, protected wolverine in her cave. They went looking for her, called her back, and reunited with her on the mountain.

• Shi Wen moved the rock at the cave entrance and found an injured male wolverine inside.
• Yan Kexing explained that wolverines were nationally protected, and they decided to wait for the tigress and try to trade for it.
• Shi Wen checked the tigress's tracker, then he and Yan Kexing hiked across the mountain to get closer to her.
• Shi Wen called the tigress using the meal-time call he had used when she was a cub, and she roared in response and came toward them.
• The tigress rushed up to Shi Wen and Yan Kexing, nuzzled Shi Wen, and rolled over to seek affection.

Shi Wen and Yan Kexing visited the tigress, who gave them the injured wolverine and accepted their food supplies. They brought the wolverine back to the ranch for treatment, where a veterinarian found its hind legs badly injured.

• Shi Wen checked that the tigress was not pregnant, then he and Yan Kexing played with her and followed her back to her cave.
• The tigress dragged the injured wolverine out and nudged it toward Shi Wen and Yan Kexing, so they left her their meat supplies and took the animal.
• Shi Wen and Yan Kexing carried the subdued wolverine to their car, and Shi Wen called Zhou Hongzhong to arrange its pickup.
• At the ranch, a veterinarian examined the wolverine and said both hind legs had been bitten through and would need treatment.
• Shi Wen said they would treat the wolverine, and Zhou Hongzhong remarked that the tigress was fierce.

Shi Wen helped Gong Jiang’s team search for a wolverine in the mountains so they could film a wildlife conservation video. He found a female wolverine’s tracks leading toward the riverbank, where the team continued their search.

• Zhou Hongzhong’s team took the injured wolverine to a zoo, and Shi Wen later visited the male tiger and snow leopard with Yan Kexing.
• Gong Jiang and his companions asked Shi Wen to help them find a wolverine for a permitted filming project, and Shi Wen agreed to guide them.
• Shi Wen, Gong Jiang, and the others set out into the mountains while Zhu Ji watched the ranch.
• Shi Wen found wolverine tracks outside the tigress’s territory and explained that the female likely hunted aquatic food because of her small size.
• The tracks led the team to the riverbank.

Shi Wen helped Gong Jiang’s team track down and film a wolverine, and their video premiered to an enthusiastic audience. The chapter ended with viewers marveling that the rare, nationally protected animal was still alive in the area.

• Shi Wen identified the wolverine’s tracks and led Gong Jiang’s team to its cave, where they filmed it.
• Gong Jiang said the team had gathered enough footage for as many as two episodes and planned to edit the video for Saturday’s release.
• Shi Wen watched the newly released video with Yan Kexing and admired its footage and Gong Jiang’s narration.
• Viewers flooded the video with comments when the wolverine appeared, amazed that the rare animal had been found.

After the viral wolverine video brought Shi Wen and his friends together to celebrate, they prepared a feast of pigeon dishes at the ranch. Yan Kexing carefully made braised pigeon and pigeon soup, while Shi Wen helped coat the birds and waited for the meal.

• Lin Chengqian told Shi Wen that the wolverine video had passed thirty million views and was likely to reach a hundred million.
• Shi Wen suggested making mature pigeon soup, and the group agreed to prepare it together.
• Shi Wen sent Gong Jiang and the others to catch and prepare pigeons, increasing their batch from five to fifteen when he requested braised pigeon too.
• Yan Kexing simmered soy sauce and repeatedly brushed it over the pigeons as Shi Wen helped coat them.
• Yan Kexing sent Gong Jiang and the others to pick baby corn for the pigeon soup, which simmered as its aroma filled the kitchen.

Yan Kexing fried pigeons in sheep-pig lard while Shi Wen prepared meals for the animals and their guests. Everyone eagerly ate the crispy, juicy pigeons, and Shi Wen marveled at how delicious they were.

• Yan Kexing used sheep-pig lard to fry the pigeons and explained how it kept them crisp outside and juicy inside.
• Shi Wen cooked meals for the animals as the aroma drew them to wait outside the kitchen.
• Yan Kexing chopped the fried pigeons, and Shi Wen served three pieces to each animal.
• Gong Jiang, Lin Chengqian, and another guest arrived and waited for their share of the pigeons.
• Yan Kexing served the pigeons with ketchup, and Shi Wen praised their fragrant, tender meat.

Shi Wen and the others enjoyed a pigeon feast and discussed growing grapes and finding wild yams. They planned a weekend trip to dig yams, with Yan Kexing agreeing to arrange his schedule despite the long drive.

• Shi Wen followed Yan Kexing's suggestion to dip pigeon in tomato sauce, and everyone focused on eating before enjoying the soup.
• Lin Chengqian recalled tasting memorable roast squab as a child, and Ge Yue and Lin Chengqian discussed pairing wine with the pigeon.
• Gong Jiang offered to introduce Shi Wen to Cai Mingjing, whose family grew fragrant grapes, and Shi Wen agreed to consider planting some.
• Ge Yue told Shi Wen about desert yams growing across a hillside and offered to lead a trip to dig them.
• Shi Wen asked Yan Kexing about the weekend, and Yan Kexing agreed to arrange his schedule for the more-than-two-hour drive.

Shi Wen and Yan Kexing set out with their companions to dig yams, but Chasing Clouds followed their cars and joined them at a service area. They arrived at the mountain with the eagle in tow, ready to begin their outing.

• Shi Wen and Yan Kexing decided which animals could come on the yam-digging trip, leaving the cattle and horses at the ranch under Zhu Ji’s care.
• Shi Wen spotted Chasing Clouds following the cars and arranged to stop at a service area to pick him up.
• Shi Wen told Zhu Ji about the eagle, and Zhu Ji said he would notify the relevant authorities so the group would not be mistaken for poachers.
• Chasing Clouds swooped into Shi Wen’s arms at the service area, and Shi Wen brought him along as they continued driving.
• Shi Wen and the others reached the mountain and noticed its lush, humid forest differed from the scenery near home.

Shi Wen and the others climbed a slippery mountain path to dig up the enormous wild yam Ge Yue had found. After they harvested a tender yam weighing at least ten jin, Shi Wen sent the little ones to search for more.

• Shi Wen, Yan Kexing, and the others followed Ge Yue's tracks up the wet mountain path, with Heiwa and the Wolf King leading.
• Ge Yue showed everyone the huge yam vine and explained that its many sprawling vines came from one plant.
• Yan Kexing, Shi Wen, Gong Jiang, and Lin Chengqian took turns digging until they exposed and removed the yam.
• Shi Wen left part of the yam in the ground so it could keep growing and estimated the harvested yam weighed at least ten jin.
• Shi Wen stopped the little ones from running on the slippery ground, then challenged them to find another yam, promising a reward for the biggest one.

Shi Wen and the others dug up the yams the little ones had found, then weighed them at the ranch. Chasing Clouds won the harvest contest and received a piece of mutton as a reward.

• Shi Wen and the others followed the little ones' calls and confirmed that each had found a yam vine.
• Shi Wen and the others dug up the yams, marked each bundle with the finder’s vine, and restored the soil.
• The group dug until after five in the afternoon and carried the yams back to the ranch.
• Shi Wen weighed the yams and announced that Chasing Clouds had found the heaviest one, at sixteen jin and nine liang.
• Shi Wen gave Chasing Clouds a large piece of frozen mutton, while the exhausted little ones sprawled across the courtyard.