Chapter 4

Driving along State Route 20, Wei Da felt very cheerful. Classic songs by the Eagles, such as "Hotel California" and "I Can't Tell You Why," played on the car stereo. Wei Da now had the vibe of an American road trip, which he found very satisfying. Although he was on a mission to find more opportunities, the pleasant journey also made him enjoy the trip.

"Hey, buddy!" A convertible sped past, and a few punk youths shouted loudly to Wei Da, "Let's have a race!"

Wei Da ignored these nonconformists. Although his car was traveling at around 100 kilometers per hour, he had no habit of speeding. A speed of 100 kilometers per hour was quite stable and safe. There was no need for him to seek 'excitement' with these abnormal guys. Seeing that Wei Da ignored them, the punk youths gave him a universal gesture, stepped on the gas, and sped away. Wei Da didn't bother to return the gesture; spitting at these guys was enough.

After passing through Fort Worth, Wei Da gradually turned up the volume of the car stereo on this open and flat interstate road. Dynamic rock music was quite flavorful at this moment. Wei Da didn't have a particular preference for any music style; he liked any good song. In such a road trip, rock music naturally made him feel more energetic.

Abilene was just a small city with a population of around 100,000. Wei Da didn't need to wander around the city; the farms and ranches outside the city were his current choice. So, he didn't need to stop. After driving for more than four hours, Wei Da took a break at a cowboy bar outside Abilene, where he might find potential clients.

"Asian kid, this is a cowboy bar, not your territory." When Wei Da pushed open the door and entered the bar, although there weren't many people, he instantly became the focus of attention, and he wasn't exactly welcome.

When people think of American cowboys, they often think of Texas. Not only is it the Cowboy State of America, but it is also the home of cowboys worldwide. American cowboys are often perceived as tough, generous, and chivalrous. In reality, cowboys are people who take care of cattle and horses on ranches. Besides working on ranches, some cowboys also participate in rodeos.

Although the original cowboys are almost gone, Texas, being the home of cowboys, still retains some cowboy spirit and culture. For some old cowboys, they don't like soft and pampered young people; they don't like those flashy young people. They prefer hardworking, adventurous, and brave young people.

"Get me a beer; the weather is terrible." Wei Da ignored the unwelcoming gazes and felt quite satisfied with the unique and flavorful bar. "I'll have a drink, and I'm here to look for work, maybe on a ranch."

"Kid, where's your horse? Can you ride? Do you have a lasso and a saddle? Kid, finish your drink and leave; you don't understand cowboys," a middle-aged man with a large mustache said unhappily, and his words triggered a chorus of boos from the other cowboys in the bar.

"Alright, maybe I need you to teach me some horse riding, but I can assure you that I am a trustworthy partner. You can call me a veterinarian; I also have a good understanding of forage." In America, modesty isn't popular, and Wei Da had his own confidence. "You can call me Wei; I'm glad to be here."

Wei Da's words reduced the slight hostility in the cowboy bar. Although Wei Da wasn't a real cowboy, he was considered a half-colleague by these cowboys, which made them willing to accept him, as they all dealt with farms and ranches.

"Hey, kid, are you really a vet? Do you know about livestock?" Wei Da casually drank his beer; having a large glass of ice-cold beer on such a hot day was truly enjoyable.

"I think so. Maybe you can test me. But I need to clarify that I don't have any certificates." In America, many things are quite rigid, and Wei Da needed to explain his basic situation to avoid misunderstandings.

"I think I can help some ranchers now. You know, in this dry season, they need not only enough water but also disease prevention." Wei Da shrugged, indifferent to the skeptical gazes. He was indeed practicing without a license, but he had confidence, as he had been studying diligently.

"Kid, a few of my cattle have poor appetites. Can you solve this? Of course, this is based on you being able to identify the breed of beef cattle." A cowboy in the corner raised his glass, and his words were followed by laughter in the bar.

"If your preventive measures are good, I believe it might not be foot-and-mouth disease, but possibly anthrax, considering it's summer. But I think you haven't encountered these problems, or you wouldn't be sitting here drinking beer so calmly. Buddy, are you willing to let me check your ranch? I might find a solution. In such bad weather, you need your cattle to eat more to stay healthy." Wei Da smiled, ignoring the skepticism. He needed to prove his capabilities.

In some American ranches, beef cattle breeding is quite meticulous. Vaccinations, health status, medical history, and vaccination records are usually documented to better understand the growth of the cattle.

"Alright, if the price is right, I'm willing to take you to my ranch, which is nearby. But kid, if you can't solve these problems, don't expect to get a penny from me. The cost of feed is high, and the cost of raising cattle is already suffocating me." The old cowboy stood up and walked over to Wei Da. "You can call me Josh."

Josh led the way in his car, and Wei Da followed. The life and business of small ranchers like Josh weren't much better. The rising cost of raising cattle, combined with the dry weather, naturally added more pressure to small ranchers like Josh.

After a bumpy ride on a dirt road, Wei Da arrived at Josh's ranch. It was a relatively small ranch, but for Wei Da, it didn't matter. He needed to earn some money here, and that was it.

Seeing the cattle grazing leisurely, Wei Da recognized the breed. They were Brahman cattle, known for their long heads and faces, large, drooping ears, and wide-set, thick horns. They are medium-sized, with a high meat yield, good heat tolerance, and the ability to thrive on poor-quality, dry pastures that other cattle cannot utilize. They can also adapt to confinement feeding and gain weight quickly.

The heat-tolerant nature of Brahman cattle allows them to survive the hot Texas summers well. Although some ranches suffer from dry pastures due to lack of irrigation, this has less impact on Brahman cattle, as they can eat almost anything.

Brahman cattle are generally timid but have a gentle temperament. Although it was his first time approaching the herd and his first real use of his skills to examine the cattle, Wei Da was confident. He believed he could solve these problems well.

He patted the loose skin of a cow, checked its eyes, and most importantly, examined its lips. For Wei Da, this first attempt had to succeed. He was confident in finding some issues, but being more meticulous would help his judgment.