Fang Zhao rushed back to Muzhou the day before the Eastern Conference finals. He was still at Shanmu Farm. Wu Yi and Su Hou were already waiting there, unable to contain the joy on their faces.
"Fang Zhao, what breed is that dog of yours? You have no idea that Bingo had diarrhea after eating a field mouse. I was so scared that I almost ended up in the hospital." Wu Yi had never imagined that his decision would result in such a good reward. He had pinned the farm's hopes on this competition. When he had found out that Bingo had diarrhea, he had been scared out of his wits. He had spent a lot of money to hire a few famous Eastern veterinarians. Luckily, it had not been a big deal. It had only affected the next day's competition. However, this was secondary. As long as Bingo could recover and win the next round, everything would be fine.
After that, Wu Yi had hired a veterinarian to do a checkup on each of the dogs. It was probably because they had not eaten anything other than dog food in the past. This time, the reaction from eating random food was a little big. Other than Bingo, the other dogs also had some sort of problem, but it was not obvious. Only Curly Hair, who had eaten the field mouse and gnawed on the wild grass, was completely fine. The veterinarian checked him a few times and concluded, "Very healthy! There are no parasites in his body! "
However, Fang Zhao could not answer this question. Back on the black street, Ai Wan, the owner of the pharmacy, had mentioned this and had even done a DNA test. Even that had not produced a definite conclusion, so Fang Zhao had no idea.
Wu Yi was just curious. He did not really want an answer. As he spoke, Wu Yi chuckled and told Fang Zhao about his cousin bringing the dogs to the farm to play two days ago.
Wu Yi's cousin, who had been the hot topic of "Carrot" Farm, had not made it to the finals. Instead, it was Wu Yi, who had joined forces with someone else halfway through, who had made it to the finals. Thus, Wu Yi's cousin had brought the dogs over for a friendly chat.
Unexpectedly, the two teams of shepherd dogs had started fighting. The farm's guard dogs, Fatty Black, had also joined in the fight and had been bitten a few times. It was Curly Hair who had bitten the other party back. He had even managed to tear off a mouthful of fur from the other party. Because of this, Wu Yi's cousin had almost fallen out with him.
Thinking back to the situation at that time, Wu Yi grinned. It was a good thing that they had won!
From then on, Wu Yi's cousin deeply understood that there was a reason why little Curly Hair could be the lead dog in this team of shepherd dogs. That battle prowess was too strong!
However, compared to before, Su Hou was much quieter. When Fang Zhao and Wu Yi spoke, Su Hou did not utter a word.
"I don't know what's going on with that kid. Two days ago, he was quite lively. Suddenly, he holed himself up in his room for an entire day. When he came out, he became quiet. Could it be that he quarreled with his family?" Wu Yi was puzzled. He had asked Su Hou a few times, but every time he asked, he realized that Su Hou seemed to be very embarrassed to answer. He stammered and did not say anything. However, seeing that Su Hou's training condition was alright, Wu Yi did not bother anymore. This was probably how children were at this age. Their personalities were not formed yet, so it was normal for their emotions to be unstable.
The next day, early in the morning, everyone boarded the aircraft and headed for the Eastern Conference Finals.
Compared to the regular season, the venue for the finals was much larger. There would definitely be a lot of celebrities watching, and some old farm owners who had won a lot of honors would also be there to comment. Not only that, but the number of people watching the live broadcast would also skyrocket.
During the regular season, it was usually people from the Eastern Conference who paid attention to the Eastern Conference Finals, and people from the Western Conference Finals. However, when it came to the regional finals, everyone in Muzhou would be watching. People from the Western Conference also wanted to know which four teams would be competing against their Western Conference star teams.
A few days ago, Su Hou had received a message from his classmates in Qingcheng. Qingcheng was located in the central region between the Eastern and Western Conference. It had been split into the Eastern Conference and then the Western Conference, so before this, people from Qingcheng had paid more attention to the Western Conference Finals. Many of them had only found out from the media that Su Hou had actually made it to the finals after buying the farm!
"Brother Hou, you can do it! We are all watching!"
"Young Master Su, I bet on your team to win! You have to give it your all! "
"Young Master Su, yesterday I overheard our form teacher say that if you can make it to the Eastern and Western Conference Finals, he will not fuss about your numerous absences. As long as you do not fail your exams, it will be fine."
People from Muzhou paid attention to the sheep-herding competition. During the crucial competition days, many people at work or at school could watch the competition live. Most company and school leaders would approve. This kind of thing could not happen in other continents.
Seeing this, Su Hou, who had trained his composure with great difficulty through the regular season, started to get nervous again.
Those watching the competition were not only his classmates and teachers, but also other members of the Su family. The Su family might not pay attention to the regular season, but on such an important day like the Eastern Conference Finals, they would definitely watch.
He was a little excited, but also a little apprehensive. When he thought about the promotional video, his feelings became even more complicated. He had already submitted the video to the organizers yesterday. He had watched it a few times, and every time he watched it, his feelings would be different.
However, compared to Su Hou's complicated feelings, compared to Wu Yi and the others' nervousness and anticipation, the shepherd dogs were still the same. To them, the difference between the Eastern Conference Finals and the regular season was just that the venue was a little bigger, the grass was a little more undulating, and the difficulty of herding was a little higher. What was more nervous? They already did not understand. In any case, they just had to follow Curly Hair when the time came.
Curly Hair lay at Fang Zhao's feet, licking his front paws attentively. Occasionally, when someone mentioned him, he would raise his head and glance at them before continuing to lie down.
Su Hou received a few more messages from his cousin. What she meant was that many members of the Su family were watching the live broadcast. She had already taken out money to bet on Dongshan Farm winning. As for how much she had bet, she did not say.
His cousin also sent a message to Su Hou. "All the best, Little Fatty Su!"
Su Hou was on the verge of tears. He was still young and could not handle too much pressure. After thinking about it, Su Hou found an excuse to enter the single lounge and watched the promotional video twice more.
Much better.
Wu Yi had just realized that Su Hou's state today was too tense. He had wanted to have a chat with him to ease his nerves. Although he was also nervous, as an elder, he had to act calm in front of the younger generation. He had not expected that when Su Hou came out again, he would be full of fighting spirit and in a very positive mood. This caused Wu Yi to swallow back all the words he had prepared.
In the viewing halls of every participating team, as well as those in other viewing halls, they could see the images displayed on the screens in their respective viewing halls and hear the sound coming from the hall's sound equipment.
Muzhou people were nouveau riches. Even if they did not understand hardware, they used very good ones. This was because when they did not know how to differentiate between good and bad ones, they would buy the more expensive ones.
Before the competition, there would be an introduction of each farm team. This was a very good time to advertise. There was no need to pay advertising fees, and many people in the entire continent were paying attention.
Su Hou had drawn eighth in the order of appearance, which was quite close to the end. The promotional video was also played in accordance with the order of appearance.
The first seven teams' introductions were similar to the previous ones. They were all famous big farms. The farm's brand had to be spread, so the ones that occupied the most time in the promotional video were the farm owner, the team's celebrity dog, and the farm's various agricultural products.
"Almost there!" Wu Yi was a little excited. He had not seen the promotional video, and Su Hou had not shown it to him. However, Su Hou had told him that other than the participating dogs, the video would also show Shanmu Farm's entrance sign. Wu Yi would also appear. That was enough.
"Next up is a team that suddenly rose to prominence in this year's Eastern sheep-herding competition. I believe everyone is already familiar with them. Furthermore, this farm owner is very young. Their rise was somewhat unexpected, but now they have qualified for the finals based on their own strength!" The commentator's voice rang out. Following that, the video that Dongshan Farm had submitted was played.
Those who were paying attention to the competition perked up, especially those from Muzhou's Western region. They did not know much about the Eastern region teams, but they were curious about Su Hou! How would Little Fatty Su act cool in the promotional video? Would he declare war on his half-siblings? Just thinking about it made me excited!
...
At the start of the promotional video, it was Su Hou's own voice.
"I want to participate in the sheep-herding competition! I want to participate in the finals! "This was something Su Hou had said many times in the past.
Everyone who was watching the live broadcast saw a youthful and childish face appear on the screen. The naive and stubborn words of a child, as well as the mysterious confidence in his eyes, as if tomorrow was within his grasp.
Even if one did not know Su Hou's name or background, just by looking at the image, many people could tell that this was a chuunibyou pampered and pampered by a rich family. And to be able to say "participate in the finals," it was a display of "not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth" and "the ignorant are fearless."
Behind the image was a trumpet sound. It had an absurd heaviness to it. It was not all that passionate, and the slow, frail sound of the piano was not a good omen.
Another sentence appeared in the video.
"I borrowed money to buy a farm, but it is not what I expected."
Su Hou had only appeared a month after the sheep-herding competition had started. He had bought a participating farm to qualify for the finals. This sort of thing happened every year and was not uncommon.
And before Dongshan Farm had become famous, people had only been able to get a glimpse of what had once been Xishan Farm. Only a small portion of well-informed people had been able to obtain limited information from other people. But after Dongshan Farm had risen to prominence, even more people had wanted to take a look. That place had long changed.
What had Xishan Farm looked like when Su Hou had bought it?
After the sentence appeared and disappeared, the image changed.
A well-dressed young master of a rich family, accompanied by his bodyguards, rode in a high-class personal flying transport, and arrived at a remote and spacious farm in the west of Muzhou.
The tune of a flute had been added to the music. It was a flute made of clay that Muzhou people were very familiar with. It was an ancient method that was rarely used in other continents. At most, people bought it as a souvenir.
Amidst the lonely and desolate sound of the flute, on the image, a dilapidated wooden fence surrounded an empty plot of land that did not even have many weeds. Two or three dilapidated courtyards had been exposed to wind and sun for who knew how long. The door frame was swaying in the wind, and a few dispirited dogs were lying on the side, sleeping soundly. Under the greenish dusk, the faded "Xishan Farm" sign erected high above the mountains in the distance looked small and laughable.
Two pictures appeared on the image. One was information about Xishan Farm that had been publicized online, and the other was the first time Su Hou had seen Xishan Farm's true appearance after he had bought it. At the same time, a large sum of money had appeared, as well as the name of the original owner of Xishan Farm. However, everyone knew that this person had probably slipped away long ago.
There was no concealment. This was something Su Hou had suggested to add, like a person showing the scars of failure to the curious.
Although it was an understatement, people could tell what had happened with a glance.
"Is this the rumored scam of Young Master Su?"
"Su Hou was still too impatient."
"Children are like this, easily impulsive."
People who saw this scene discussed.
At that time, there were many people on the internet who had the mentality of "looking at an idiot" when they saw that incident.
The solo of the wind instrument, the sound of the keys and strings quietly broke down the chord accompaniment, and in the low sound of the violin, some faint harmonies were like a slow sigh.
In the image, Su Hou's eyes, which had been full of anticipation, turned gray, like a fish that had leapt into the air, thinking that it would reach the dragon's gate, but when it landed, it found that it had fallen into an even worse quagmire.
The sound of the piano, which was played in high and low, expressed an intense feeling of difference, like an icy wind blowing from the summit of a mountain, cold and threatening.
The image darkened, and a square window became dimly lit. In front of the window, against the light, a figure could be seen hugging his knees, his head resting on his knees. From his slightly plump figure, it could be seen that this person should be Su Hou. In the dark background, in the cold and gloomy room, Su Hou sat alone, like a cub that had sunk into sorrow and confusion, at a loss as to what to do.
But gradually, the sound of the flute, which had softened, diluted the sorrowful atmosphere, and the sorrow in the music gradually weakened. The drumbeat, with a rhythmic pace, approached the ear step by step.
In the image, the light from the square window gradually became brighter, and the outline of the human figure seemed to be dyed with a layer of golden light.
Another day, the sky had brightened.
Not only the window, but the sunlight also seeped in through the broken walls and the cracks in the door frame. The dark room also became brighter, dispersing the gloomy coldness.
The figure that had been sitting there quietly raised his head and slowly moved. The light that shone in caused his round pupils to contract. He followed the light source and looked out the window. The cracks on the window glass made the sunlight have a mysterious and psychedelic color. The broken window could not block the scenery outside. His pupils, which had adapted to the light source, seemed to see something through the window.
He got up, walked to the broken door, and opened it.
The sunlight shone on Su Hou, and the scene became warm. Some of his messy hair was blown up, and the fresh grass at his feet seemed to be dancing.
The wind played a bright and optimistic tone, and the deep and warm tone of the horn was like a fresh and gentle wind on a lush grassland, completely dispersing the gloomy coldness from before. The bass brass, woodwinds, and strings played a powerful theme in unison with a resolute and powerful tone.
The music took a turn at this moment. After the orchestra and strings played together, the emotions expressed by the music became stronger through off-key and other techniques. Amid the resolute drumbeats, the flute brought with it an upward force, and the strings were pulled as if life was bursting forth, and all things were stirring. Winter had passed, and flowers were about to bloom, and the grassland would eventually return to green.
Two lines of words appeared on the screen:
"I don't understand anything.
"But I will learn."
The repressed sadness in the music became weaker and weaker. Through the sound of the keys, it entered a brighter and wider musical field of vision, as if every note was being rubbed into the depths of the soul.
In the video, Dongshan Farm had a few more hired workers. Su Hou ran along with them, and the hired workers ground the soil with their fingers, saying something. They even dipped some soil into their mouths and tasted it. Su Hou also tried it, and his fat face became distorted. The old man laughed and continued to explain. Su Hou squatted beside him and listened attentively.
Some of the old farm workers not only watched, but also liked to "taste" their farms to understand. Many of the old people watching the live broadcast smiled.
Wu Yi had once said that grass stalks contained the four seasons, and he was not lying. They could use the taste of the grass stalks to know how they were growing, to predict the changes in the soil, and to understand whether changes in the climate would affect the harvest. Similarly, the people who tasted the soil did the same. And in the eyes of many of the old farm owners, the people who did this were people who treated the land seriously and would manage the farm with a sense of responsibility. They were not the "big landowner businessmen" that people from other continents had the impression of.
Following that, Su Hou spoke into the communicator, then quickly ran towards the flying transport. He did not even have time to change out of his work clothes. His body and feet were covered in mud, and his unkempt hair was covered in grass.
After that, the flying transport flew high up into the sky. The strong wind blew away the withered grass that had unknowingly blown over the tarmac. The sound of the engine blended into the music, bringing with it a driving rhythm that continued upwards. It was as if the mood was soaring, and it wanted to go higher and further into the sky!
"Ignorant of the ways of the world, being ridiculed, being ignored, those are not important. As long as you know where you want to go, that's enough."
Continuing the previous melody, the main melody was transplanted to be performed by a string group, with the accompaniment of the flute. The layers of the music were clearly thicker, and the range of the voice was widened. An uplifting horn joined in, and as it continued upwards, the color of the music changed from tense to cheerful, grand, and bright!
In the video, from a bird's eye view, one could see a large green grassland full of life.
Sheep walked slowly on the grassland, and a few shepherd dogs ran energetically around them.
Beside the signboard of Shanmu Farm, Wu Yi, wearing a hat to block the sun, smiled and opened his arms, giving the young boy a hug.
"Happy working with you!"
"I want to stand on the instructor's platform at the sheep-herding competition."
In the video, Su Hou had dark circles under his eyes. His hair was even more disheveled from the wind, as if he had not taken care of it for a long time. Coupled with his pale and chubby face, he looked comical, but his youthful eyes shone with a determined light.
From ignorance to clarity, from confusion to perseverance, step by step, what would the outcome be? Success or failure? None of this was important.
In the high-spirited music led by the wind group, the drumbeats became sonorous and forceful, just like the choice he had made in his heart.
"You need to get their approval as soon as possible, and let them accept you," Wu Yi said.
After that, it was a scene of Su Hou eating and sleeping with the shepherd dogs.
In the video, after Su Hou had fed the shepherd dogs, he carried his own bowl and casually sat on the steps of the kennel, taking big bites of the food that did not look very good. People from Muzhou could tell at a glance that the food was not very exquisite. It was about the same as what they ate on a daily basis.
At night, he slept in the kennel with the dogs.
From the start, the few dogs in the kennel kept their distance from Su Hou. The video even gave Dongshan Farm's A dog, Bingo, a close-up of a look of disdain.
But the video changed. Every day, the distance between Su Hou and the shepherd dogs closed, until a few dogs were by Su Hou's side.
There was no negative self-lamentation. The strings of the zither became more forceful, like a sword taking the initiative to attack. The vocal parts became thicker, and the pitch increased. The rhythm and speed gradually became stronger, as if it was injecting energy again and again. The colorful changes in the harmony indicated that he was constantly working hard.
Together with the shepherd dogs, Su Hou ran on the green grassland.
"Very good! Continue to give them instructions. Keep up, you must keep up! Don't get left behind! Run with them! "Wu Yi's rough voice roared in the midst of the music.
Why not use the grass field car?
That was because many shepherd dogs were wary of the grass field vehicles, which made it even more difficult to get close to the shepherd dogs. The instructors of the competition basically walked and ran with the shepherd dogs at the beginning of their training until they had enough judgment and adaptability. Only then would they gradually pull away from the dogs and not give instructions when they were close enough.
If they could run, they would fall. After falling, they would get back up and continue running. The three bodyguards did not follow beside him. They only watched the surroundings. Every day, they helped spray medicine and treated all sorts of injuries on Su Hou's body.
Su Hou's fair and chubby face had lost weight and become tanned from the sun.
Su Hou was just a newbie, and there was not enough time for him to slowly adapt. Thus, he had to spend more time every day running and herding with the shepherd dogs. He constantly shouted out instructions and called out the names of each dog so that they would remember his voice, even if it was just a hoarse voice. They would remember the hand gestures he made when giving instructions, even if it was a slightly deformed finger from spraying medicine.
On the screen, Su Hou's face was pale because he was too nervous during the first match. His movements were stiff, and he made mistakes in panic. Every part of him told people that he was a rookie.
Many people who saw that scene would comment: With this kind of skill, don't go on stage and embarrass yourself!
However, at this moment, many people watching the live broadcast, especially those from the eastern region, were abnormally silent. They knew what they were about to see.
Dongshan Farm's battle record, as well as their continuously accumulating points.
"Su Hou requests for on-the-spot guidance!"
...
"Su Hou requests for on-the-spot guidance!"
...
"Su Hou requests for on-the-spot guidance!"
...
In different competition venues, different commentators were saying the same thing, but from the screen, it could be seen that Su Hou's attitude changed every time he gave instructions. From hesitation, nervousness, and unfamiliarity at the beginning, to decisively requesting for instructions and calmly making accurate hand gestures.
In the clear and bright music, there would occasionally be a few clumsy chords, but they only existed for a short time. The music seemed to be endowed with a strong and unwavering character. It struggled forward in the howling wind. The flute and the zither both seemed to have a smile of hope.
The screen split into two. On one side, there was Su Hou's request for on-the-spot guidance when something went wrong during the match. On the other side, there was Su Hou's daily training with the shepherd dogs.
The change in tune, the bugle from the expanded brass band, and the flowing strings. It was like a sprout struggling to break through the soil, growing into a tall and straight tree that could withstand the strong winds.
Even if there was no need for him to appear in the next few matches, at that time, people would not say that he was just going on stage to be a decoration.
The harmonized tune of the pipes and strings rose rapidly, rose, and rose again, until it reached its most dazzling moment!
"Dongshan Farm has once again taken first place, obtaining 10 points. With this, they have already qualified for the Eastern finals. Congratulations, Dongshan Farm!" the voice of the commentator in the video rang out.
Su Hou, who had already become like an ordinary farm employee, rushed out from the instructor's platform and excitedly hugged the seven shepherd dogs, letting out a carefree laugh.
When the big screen at the end of the arena displayed the overall standings of the Eastern finals, Su Hou stood up from the grass patch. He did not bother to clean off the grass, wool, and dog fur on his body. Panting, he raised his head to look at the big screen and placed a hand on his chest. His heart seemed to be beating intensely because of joy, and his eyes glistened with tears.
It was the jubilation of victory, a triumphant return of the soul!
Amidst the cheerful music, every syllable concealed a surging power. It was not as lofty as people thought it was, nor was it as vicious as people thought it was. It was not pretentious lyricism. It was warm and firm, as if every ordinary Muzhou citizen had a firm belief in this arena, in this piece of land.
On the screen, the newly made "Dongshan Farm" sign was erected on the grass patch. The once empty field had already been planned and divided. A batch of seedlings had already sprouted from the farmland. In the misty rain, the new farm seemed to have a new life.
Su Hou, who had once again arrived at Dongshan Farm, ran against the wind on the muddy ground between two fields. Then he stopped and turned back to look at the muddy road he had walked on. A happy smile appeared on his muddy face.
I might have cried bitterly because of the difficulties I encountered, but as I walked, I realized that I had already clenched my teeth and walked this far.
The zither played a beckoning tune. The brass, woodwind, and string groups led the tune to the end. The majestic music carried with it the pride of victory. Once again, the fervent emotions surged. It was like a young eagle spreading its wings, waiting for the wind to blow. Then it would welcome new challenges and seize new glory. A clear conscience, no fear of the future. That was the unstoppable momentum of youth.
At the end of the video was a photo of Su Hou and the seven shepherd dogs. Behind them stood two people. One was Wu Yi, and the other was Fang Zhao.
Credits at the end:
Filming: Wu Yi, Su Hou, Fang Zhao
Editing: Fang Zhao, Su Hou
Soundtrack: "Chasing Wind"
Composer: Fang Zhao
However, very few people paid attention to the credits at the end. Most people were thinking about Su Hou in the video. This short promotional video gave people a new understanding of Su Hou.
After the promotional video ended, the commentator was silent for nearly five seconds. Then, with a kind of good-natured teasing, he jokingly said, "Do you know what kind of people I hate the most?"
An invited guest next to the commentator asked, "What kind?"
The commentator replied, "The kind that clearly comes from a good family, but still works exceptionally hard."
The guest laughed. "It has to be said that behind the scenes, Su Hou has also put in a lot of effort. This is an inspirational example. "
Seeing this, many people who were familiar with Su Hou were puzzled.
What?!
Inspirational example?!
That retarded Su Hou?!
Of course, there were people online who had a different focus.
"I took a screenshot of the photo at the end of the video. Everyone take a look. Doesn't the person standing behind look a little familiar?"
"Are you not paying attention to the video? The video says that that is Shanmu Farm's owner, Wu Yi."
"Nonsense. Of course I know that is Wu Yi. I'm talking about the person standing at the other side!"
"Who is that? I don't think he appeared in the promotional video just now. "
There were also people who quickly recognized him.
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