Chapter 133: The Black Calf Shows Its Might

By the side of the road.

Seeing Li Weiwei sitting in her wheelchair, pale and with beads of sweat on her forehead, Director Wu and Zhang Xiangjun immediately asked Li Dawei, "What's wrong with the child? Is it her old illness acting up?"

"No, she has never had symptoms like this before. And look, she's dazed; she doesn't respond when I call her, as if her soul has left her." Li Dawei's eyes were red with anxiety. "It's all my fault, all my fault! Why did I bring her to the market for no reason? If she had just stayed in her room, this wouldn't have happened."

"What's the point of blaming yourself now? Take her to the hospital immediately!" Zhang Xiangjun reminded him.

"That's right, taking her to the hospital is what you need to do right now," Liu Xing, who had just rushed over, added, his voice filled with concern.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! I must take her to the hospital." Li Dawei tapped his forehead and started pushing Li Weiwei’s wheelchair away.

But the next second, Li Weiwei suddenly spoke, her eyes regaining their clarity: "Dad! Don't move me, I don't want to go to the hospital."

"Why?" Li Dawei asked, astonished.

Director Wu, Zhang Xiangjun, Liu Xing, Ding Lan, Niu Lianfang, and the others were also deeply confused. If she was this pale and still didn't go to the hospital, it would be troublesome if something happened.

Li Weiwei cried, "Dad, please, just stop asking. A moment ago, I could feel my legs. It hurt a little, but it was real. If you keep asking and distract me, I’m afraid that feeling will disappear."

"Ah?" Li Dawei froze upon hearing this. Director Wu and Zhang Xiangjun were also stunned. They finally realized that Li Weiwei wasn't sick; she was on the verge of being able to stand. For Li Dawei, this was wonderful news.

Liu Xing, Ding Lan, Niu Lianfang, and the others immediately fell silent. After all, they all hoped that Li Weiwei could truly stand up and break free from the shackles of her illness.

However, after waiting for a long time, Li Weiwei, sitting in the wheelchair, still didn't show any signs of movement. Liu Dongju lost her patience. After giving Zhao Dongkui a look, she took the little one clinging to her leg and went back. Liu Xing had originally intended to leave with Guazi as well.

But at this moment, Li Weiwei spoke up, looking at Li Dawei: "Dad! I want to ride the ox. The reason I felt my legs earlier was entirely because I was riding the ox."

"This..." Li Dawei hesitated. After all, you can't just ride anyone's ox. Especially after what happened with the black calf Liu Xing raised, how could he have the face to ask?

"Dad! Actually, the first time Brother Liu Xing brought the black calf to the Hengshui Distillery for me to ride, my legs felt numb. I just didn't tell you at the time," Li Weiwei whispered, choked with emotion. This wasn't a lie; it was the truth. It meant that if they missed this opportunity, they didn't know when the next one would come.

Hearing this, Li Dawei could only look at Liu Xing: "My daughter's request, is it possible?"

"Of course it is. I'm not like you, calculating everything," Liu Xing said, then turned and walked toward the cow shed.

Li Dawei was deeply moved and quickly pushed Li Weiwei's wheelchair behind him. Director Wu and Zhang Xiangjun exchanged glances and couldn't help but smile. For them, this was a moment of true relief.

"Let's go and have a look, too! It's Sunday anyway," Zhang Xiangjun suggested.

"Agreed!" Director Wu nodded, and he and Zhang Xiangjun walked toward the cow shed. Ding Lan and Niu Lianfang followed, with Ding Lan picking up Guazi along the way.

However, before they had even walked ten meters, the sound of the black calf’s urgent, lowing bellows came from the direction of the cow shed.

Yes, urgent bellows.

This sound made Liu Xing pause, and as he regained his senses, he broke into a full run toward the cow shed. Director Wu and Niu Lianfang also sensed that something was wrong and followed at their fastest speed.

Just as they came within sight of the cow shed at the foot of the mountain, a sudden change occurred. With a muffled thud, the cow shed, built of mud bricks, collapsed with a roar.

Then, the black calf was seen charging out, furious, chasing a burly man wearing a conical bamboo hat. The man was fierce and murderous—it was none other than the ox thief, Zhu Dachang. But at this moment, there was a trace of panic in his eyes.

This panic didn't come from Director Wu or Niu Lianfang, but from the black calf's terrifying combat power. To have collapsed the shed without any momentum from being locked inside—this strength was the most formidable he had ever seen in a water buffalo.

Seeing that the commotion of the collapsing shed had attracted the surrounding police, Zhu Dachang gritted his teeth and didn't run toward the pine forest. Instead, he pulled out a dagger and ran directly toward Li Weiwei, who was sitting in her wheelchair at the foot of the mountain. He knew to pick the softest persimmon, and Li Weiwei, who had no strength to resist, was that soft target. As for Li Dawei, who was standing frozen behind the wheelchair, and Director Wu and Niu Lianfang running from afar, he ignored them entirely.

Yet, at this critical moment, a scene occurred that left everyone dumbfounded. Li Weiwei, sitting in the wheelchair, suddenly stood up and ran, and she moved quite quickly. In the blink of an eye, she had put distance between herself and Zhu Dachang.

Seeing this, Li Dawei was astonished, but he quickly discarded the wheelchair and ran to protect Li Weiwei. This comical scene left Zhu Dachang somewhat at a loss. Damn it, the person in the wheelchair could run—he was truly seeing something new today.

But he didn't flee. He waved his dagger and turned to pounce on Liu Xing, who was closest. In his mind, it didn't matter who he took as a hostage. Liu Xing was the nearest, so he couldn't let him go.

This action terrified Director Wu and Niu Lianfang, and even more so Zhang Xiangjun and Ding Lan, who had just arrived. After all, Liu Xing was closest to Zhu Dachang; if anything happened to him, his life would be in danger, as Zhu Dachang was a desperate criminal who struck without restraint.

However, what they didn't know was that Zhu Dachang's decision had directly enraged the black calf. To the black calf, killing it was one thing, but killing Liu Xing, who raised and loved it, was another. After all, it wasn't stupid; if Liu Xing died, its future would be very bleak.

In its fury, the black calf went completely berserk. It pawed the ground with its front hooves, and white steam puffed from its nostrils. Just as Zhu Dachang was about to strike Liu Xing with the dagger, the calf lowered its head and rammed him with all its might.

This was something Zhu Dachang had never expected. Usually, when ordinary plow oxen encountered him, they would wait obediently for their deaths. But this black calf... it actually dared to attack him. It was simply fearless!

Annoyed, Zhu Dachang rolled on the ground to dodge. But the black calf was no ordinary plow ox; since it had chosen to strike, it wouldn't back down. The moment Zhu Dachang rolled onto the ground, the calf’s front hooves came down without hesitation. A crisp *crack* sounded—it was unclear where it hit, but some bone had certainly broken.

This maneuver left Director Wu stunned, and Niu Lianfang was frightened. Although she had known the black calf was intelligent, she had never expected such ferocity. Just as she was about to find a way to help, the black calf lowered its head, hooked the fleeing Zhu Dachang with its horns, and charged at full speed, slamming him into an arm-thick locust tree nearby.

The tree snapped in two on the spot. Zhu Dachang was sent flying, and when he scrambled up to escape, a mouthful of bright red blood sprayed out.

"This is impossible... this is impossible. How can a plow ox be this strong?" Zhu Dachang finally knew fear. After wiping the blood from his mouth, he turned and scrambled toward the pine forest. But he was already injured; how could he run? Before he had gone five meters, the frenzied black calf caught up to him. With another muffled thud, he was sent flying again.

After he landed, the black calf didn't let the unconscious Zhu Dachang go. It lowered its head, hooked him again, and charged toward a large pine tree. This pine tree was as thick as a water bucket—if the black calf slammed Zhu Dachang into it, he wouldn't survive.

Seeing this, Liu Xing cried out in agony: "Black calf, no..."

Unfortunately, it was too late. Almost simultaneously, the black calf slammed into the pine tree with Zhu Dachang. As a large amount of pine needles showered down, Zhu Dachang's head slumped powerlessly.

But the black calf still didn't let him go, continuing to ram him with its horns until, finally, Liu Xing reached its side. Only then did it collapse on the ground, panting heavily.

*Moo~~!*

The black calf rubbed against Liu Xing's arm. Seeing many people surrounding them, it struggled to stand up but ultimately gave up and remained lying on the ground, as it had no strength left.

"Liu Xing, is the black calf okay?" Director Wu asked with concern.

"It should be fine, but it killed Zhu Dachang—will this cause trouble?" Liu Xing asked, feeling nervous.

"It won't, don't you worry." Director Wu smiled and patted Liu Xing on the shoulder, then looked at everyone who had arrived: "Did any of you see the black calf kill Zhu Dachang?"

"No, he was shot dead by us," Niu Lianfang replied, catching the drift.

"We didn't see anything," several police officers immediately stated.

"Neither did I." This was Li Dawei’s voice, filled with disbelief. After all, a notorious ox thief being killed by a plow ox was bizarre, but it was the truth—a truth he had to believe.

"Lianfang, take your team and process the scene," Director Wu ordered, seeing that everyone understood the situation.

"Yes!" Niu Lianfang waved her hand and led the officers to act.

"Let's leave here first," Director Wu said to Li Dawei and Liu Xing.

"Right!" Li Dawei nodded. Liu Xing didn't linger either; he stroked the black calf's horns, and after waiting for it to stand, he followed behind.

On the way to Liu Dongju’s house, Director Wu asked Li Dawei curiously: "What happened with your daughter earlier? Weren't her legs crippled? How did she suddenly start walking so well?"

"I don't know what happened either. Maybe Zhu Dachang triggered some hidden potential within her?" Li Dawei replied with a bitter smile.

"In that case, you have to thank Zhu Dachang," Director Wu teased.

"True," Li Dawei nodded in agreement. If it weren't for Zhu Dachang's pressure, Weiwei might never have stood up. Seeing Weiwei waiting at the entrance of the shoe shop, he quickened his pace to meet her.

Director Wu shook his head, watching Liu Xing, who was walking behind with a troubled look. He said, "Don't worry, the black calf will be absolutely fine. If it weren't a plow ox, I'd want to give it an award!"

"Please, don't! You really shouldn't. People fear fame just as pigs fear fat. If the black calf gets noticed by other ox thieves, I'll have no tears left to cry." Liu Xing sighed. "You don't know—it's lucky I left myself an out this time."

"What do you mean?" Director Wu was curious.

"Haven't you noticed? The black calf didn't have a nose ring today," Liu Xing pointed out.

"Are you saying...?" Director Wu's eyes brightened.

"Plow oxen—nine out of ten have their noses pierced. The one that doesn't usually ends up on the dinner table. The reason is that only the nose rope can control an ox; otherwise, when it goes wild, no one can stop it." Saying this, Liu Xing reached out and stroked the black calf. "I was afraid that if the black calf were targeted by Zhu Dachang, it would suffer, so before I put it in the shed, I removed the nose rope, giving it the ability to move freely."

"So that's it." Director Wu realized. "In other words, if not for your careful planning, the black calf wouldn't have been able to collapse the shed, and it would never have escaped Zhu Dachang's clutches."

"Yes," Liu Xing nodded.

"Hahaha... you rascal! You had a trap set for Zhu Dachang all along!" Director Wu laughed heartily. He finally understood that Zhu Dachang’s death was not unjust at all.

Seeing that Liu Xing was still uneasy, he comforted him: "Don't think too much. Get some sleep tonight, and you'll be fine by tomorrow." He had felt uneasy when he first saw scenes of death, but over time, that feeling would soon fade.

"That's all I can do," Liu Xing nodded slowly.

"Rest assured! I'll make sure everyone who saw the black calf kill Zhu Dachang keeps their mouth shut," Director Wu promised, patting Liu Xing's shoulder.

"Yes, I trust you, Uncle," Liu Xing smiled.

Director Wu smiled back. Seeing Zhang Xiangjun waving at him from the entrance of the shoe shop, he said goodbye to Liu Xing and walked over. Liu Xing did not follow; instead, he headed to the kitchen entrance, picked up a bucket of water, and began washing the dirt and blood off the black calf.

Liu Dongju came out from the backyard with Guazi and the little one. Her face was pale. "Brother, was Zhu Dachang caught?" It turned out that the moment the black calf collapsed the shed and chased Zhu Dachang out, she and Zhao Dongkui had hidden in the backyard with the children. Only now, seeing Director Wu return, did they emerge, still shaken.

"Caught, and killed on the spot," Liu Xing said with a smile, trying to downplay it so Liu Dongju wouldn't worry.

"Brother, can we go see?" Guazi asked, looking toward the cow shed with curiosity.

"I want to see too," the little one raised her small hand. For them, they couldn't miss such excitement.

Hearing this, Liu Dongju's face darkened instantly. Without a word, she picked up a bamboo stick from the corner: "What did you two just say? Say it again if you dare?"

"I said I wanted to eat twisted dough sticks," Guazi shrank her neck and quickly led the little one into the kitchen. Liu Dongju, fearing they would sneak off to the cow shed, followed closely behind.

Liu Xing watched this and smiled, continuing to wash the blood off the black calf. Only when it was clean did he enter the kitchen, grab a bucket of rice bran mixed with wild vegetables, and feed it.

Li Dawei then walked over, supporting Li Weiwei. "Liu Xing, I have to take Weiwei to the hospital for a check-up. Can we handle the costs for the rice seedling transplanting and the distillery equipment repairs tomorrow?"

"Sure," Liu Xing nodded. He looked at Li Weiwei: "You really found a blessing in disguise. Go back with your father and get some rest." Since the grudge between him and Li Dawei had been cleared under Director Wu's mediation, he naturally wouldn't bring it up again.

"Yes," Li Weiwei nodded, a happy expression on her face. This happiness wasn't just because her legs could walk, but because she was surprised to find that Liu Xing's attitude toward her was much better than before.

Li Dawei noticed this too, but he didn't show his joy, instead supporting Li Weiwei toward the car parked by the side of the road. On the way, they met Ding Lan. After chatting for a while, the three of them came back to Liu Xing.

Li Dawei smiled sheepishly: "I heard from Ding Lan that an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor has recently arrived at the market. Liu Xing, could you take Weiwei to see him?"

"Of course," Liu Xing nodded. It would indeed be inconvenient for Li Weiwei to rush to the city. With the help of Elder Xie, it would surely be of great help to her condition, even if she could already walk.

"Should we go now, or..." Li Dawei looked at the black calf, which was busy eating.

"Wait for me." Liu Xing went into the kitchen, told Liu Dongju a few things, and then led the way to Village Chief Zhao's house. As for the black calf, he didn't worry about it.

Soon, Zhao Dongkui appeared. He didn't use a rope but instead used a bucket of slop to lure the black calf. The calf glanced at Liu Xing walking away, and after Liu Xing waved at it, it reluctantly followed Zhao Dongkui into the backyard.

At the kitchen entrance, Liu Dongju watched this and shook her head: "That black calf is truly intelligent. Surviving this disaster, it looks like it can live a few more years."

"Mommy, Mommy, why did that big bad guy want to kill the black calf?" the little one asked, hugging Liu Dongju's leg. Guazi, sitting on a small stool, was equally curious.

"Because that big bad guy was sent to prison by the black calf before," Liu Dongju replied jokingly. Remembering how the calf had teased Zhu Dachang in the fields earlier, she couldn't help but laugh. Guazi and the little one giggled too. Hearing the black calf’s lowing from the backyard, the two children ran off on their short legs.