Hokkaido Horse Racing Story

I silently recited the self-introduction that I knew by heart, trying to calm the pounding heartbeat in my chest.

In fact, I'm already starting to get scared.

I even began to imagine that I would arrive at the ranch and be told cold words like "recruitment is closed" or "female workers are not welcome."

"disaster."

The footsteps stopped in front of the main gate of the ranch.

Beyond the half-man-high fence, the buildings sandwiched between two grazing areas are mostly covered with decoration curtains.

[The ranch is temporarily closed to the public during renovations. Applicants should first register at the building to the right of the entrance.]

There are notices in both Japanese and English hanging on the fence.

Following the instructions, a simple bungalow painted white and green came into view.

"Aren't you going in?"

After putting down his luggage, the Indian asked in a surprisingly gentle voice.

"Go in...just go in!"

It was as if their tongues were fighting, and the English that came out had a more curry-like accent than the Indian accent.

Throwing her luggage aside, the girl raised her leg and pushed open the gate with an unprecedentedly stiff expression.

As you step over the threshold, you'll find the ebony-glossy floor beneath your feet, which is completely different from the plain exterior and exudes a touch of elegance.

The corridor extending from the entrance soon reached the end and branched to the left and right.

My footsteps hesitated and stopped at the fork in the road——

At this moment, my eyes caught the sign that said "Applicants please go this way."

After turning the corner, the scene before my eyes suddenly unfolded.

On one side are several rows of empty shelves, and on the other side is a layout resembling a Japanese-style coffee shop.

On the side closest to the grazing ground is a huge glass window that takes up the entire wall.

Outside the window, several pairs of shoes of different heights were neatly arranged on the wooden-floored terrace.

On the display shelf directly in front of my sight, the golden trophy was blurred by the light.

"So sharp—"

A slight exclamation was heard.

The sudden pressure made the girl back down.

"Oh, is it new?"

The blond man behind the counter shouted and stood up.

I took a deep breath, but my feet felt like they were filled with lead and I couldn't move.

The Indian fellow traveling with me gave me a look of confirmation.

"You, you go first."

The girl nodded somewhat stiffly.

So the Indian man smiled slightly and stepped forward first.

He started by introducing himself quite fluently.

Eh--

Even Japanese is so good.

It was not until the Indian man who called himself Lavid made room and showed an expression that said "it's your turn" that Rachel Ho took a step forward with a half-beat slow reaction.

After stammering out a few words of self-introduction, he fled to the other side of the room with his head hung.

It’s over——

"The boss will be here soon."

After sending the message on LINE, Zep smiled friendly at the two applicants.

"Before then, would you like something to drink?"

He asked, his hands resting on the counter.

"Water will do."

Lavid nodded slightly.

"Me, me too!"

Rachel Ho, who was counting the texture of the floor with her head down, raised her head hurriedly.

After pouring a glass of water for each of them, Zep turned his gaze to the window again.

"Where's Mr. Morgan?"

The boss's journalist friend was standing there looking out the window at the grazing land.

"Coke, it would be better if you could add some ice cubes."

Mo Jinxian smiled, pulled over a soft sofa and sat down.

A few minutes later, a figure in riding boots strode over from the other end of the pasture.

After changing into indoor shoes on the terrace, Kitano pushed the door open and walked in.

"Good afternoon, David."

He greeted the reporters with a smile.

His gaze naturally slid towards the two people on the other side.

I have learned some information about the two applicants through the LINE message sent by Zepp.

Ravid, who graduated from Maharashtra University of Animal and Fishery Sciences and has two years of experience working at the Bombay Turf Club.

There is also Rachel Ho, who just graduated from Macau Polytechnic University.

Even among the applicants at Mejiro Ranch who were at least two levels higher than their peers, the qualifications of these two were considered outstanding.

"In Japan, it's incredibly difficult to find people to work on a ranch."

I often hear similar complaints from Mr. Xishan.

Even if job vacancies are posted, it is difficult to recruit anyone, and young people in the country are completely uninterested in such hard work.

but--

It doesn't seem as difficult as the old man said.

Less than a month after the recruitment advertisement was released, at least several hundred formal resumes were received.

Of course, most of them are sent by foreigners.

I passed the interview for both of them very quickly.

As for the written test and practical part, they will be held tomorrow.

Zepp drove the two of them to the hotel in the town to settle down.

Although the progress is much faster than expected, the living area of ​​the ranch is still under construction.

The fact that there were applicants so quickly was beyond Kitano's expectations.

He thought that just as Mr. Xishan and Mr. Xuhe said, it would take a month or two for applicants to appear.

After the interview, I turned my head and looked outside through the glass window.

The sky had become completely dark, and even the rough outlines of the stables not far away could only be made out.

"It's almost time for dinner."

Kitano looked at the reporter who was sorting out the interview manuscript and asked, "Do you want to go eat together?"

"Sure, why not?"

Mo Jinxian smiled and nodded.

Thanks to Renyi Fei for the 500 starting coins and Mei Luxin for the 100 reading coins.

Thank you for your support

Ciallo～(∠ω<)⌒★

Today I will adjust my work and rest schedule, only one update

Sorry

Chapter 143 Auction Target for the Second Half of the Year

“The grazing process is not over yet.”

Beside the girl, Lavid, with his arms crossed over his chest, shook his head.

"Eh--"

Rachel Ho counted on her fingers, somewhat unconvinced. "I've already done everything: replenishing feed and water, cleaning the stables, changing the bedding, taking rectal and hoof temperatures...!"

"When grazing, the animals may be scratched and injured, so we must not relax our inspections."

The Indian man signaled the girl with his eyes to give up her seat.

Rachel Ho curled her lips, picked up the leash and took a half step back.

"Okay."

Lavid touched Aru-chan's head, squatted down and pointed at the legs covered with chestnut horse hair.

"Areas like the legs and flanks, which are most prone to scratches, need to be carefully inspected."

Aru-chan shook his ears lazily and stayed where he was cooperatively.

"If the wound is too small, it may be covered by hair, so you need to use a flashlight."

As he spoke, he took out a small flashlight from his pocket.

With a "click", a soft but extremely bright beam of light lit up precisely.

“The tools here are very professional, and the brightness and spot shape of the flashlights are perfect.”

Lavid half-knelt on the padding, carefully examining the back of the horse's legs, and couldn't help but praise it.

The flashlights that Kitano equips its employees are all Welch Allyn veterinary models with high brightness and a CRI (color rendering index) above 95. Without exception, they are equipped with polarized light filters specifically for examining minor wounds and skin conditions.

Of course, the price is also much more expensive than ordinary models.

Rachel Ho pulled out a flashlight of the same model from her pocket, weighed it lightly in her palm, and blinked in disbelief.

"This thing... is so powerful?"

The beam of light went out, and the small stable was instantly filled with soft natural light.

After confirming that everything was correct, Lavid stood up neatly and patted Aru-chan's furry neck.

"Okay, if everything is confirmed to be OK, then we can move on to the grazing record."

After confirming that everything was correct, he pulled the latch of the movable door.

In the silence, the sound of writing can occasionally be heard.

After filling out the grazing records, the morning's work is completed.

"Thank you for your hard work."

In the corridor of the stables, Kitano nodded slightly.

Then, the adoption was announced.

Different levels of excitement appeared on the faces of both of them, and Rachel Ho even let out a long sigh of relief in a somewhat exaggerated manner.

"The probation period is three months, and the benefits and treatment during that period are the same. Is that okay?"

Kitano asked.

"can."