When she went to work in the fields the next day, Song Xia indeed did not see Shen Hu. She felt somewhat relieved, knowing that Shen Hu had taken Ah-Li to see a doctor.
Today’s progress was still not very fast, primarily because Song Xia could not handle such heavy physical labor. Shen Chunming, being a young boy, actually recovered his stamina faster than Song Xia.
Just as the two of them were sitting at the edge of the field for their third break, Song Xia heard someone calling her name.
“Little Lady Song? Little Lady Song? Song Xia!”
“Yes!” Song Xia turned her head and, seeing that it was the village chief, hurriedly put down her water flask and stood up.
Soon, her attention was captured by the creature standing behind the village chief.
What was that? An ox?!
Song Xia looked at the village chief in sheer disbelief, her speech turning somewhat stammering: “Chief, i-is this your family’s ox?”
“That’s right.” The village chief chuckled upon seeing Song Xia’s expression. The Shen estate had far more than just one ox! Why was she still so surprised?
“How does it look? Do you know how to handle it?”
“You’re lending it to me to use?” Song Xia was truly astounded this time. She had been dreaming of having an ox, but in this era, draft animals were far more precious than people!
She had once asked Brother Shen why no one in the village seemed to raise cattle. After all, having a beast of burden would make the farm work much easier.
Shen Daniu had laughed back then, saying that across the entire village, only the village chief’s family could afford to keep an ox, and even if the chief could afford it, he usually wouldn’t have the heart to make it work hard.
After hearing Shen Daniu’s explanation, Song Xia agreed it made sense. Didn’t they see the chief’s son, Shen Hu, working the fields by himself every single day?
So Song Xia had simply encouraged herself in secret, vowing that once she saved up some money in the future, she would definitely buy an ox to plow her fields!
Yet to her surprise, before she had even managed to save up the money, the ox had appeared right in front of her!
Song Xia looked at the animal in disbelief. This was an ox! Such an animal would be considered quite valuable even in modern society!
“That’s right. You helped our family such a massive favor yesterday, so I can at least afford to let you use an ox,” the village chief smiled.
“You really don’t have to go this far…” Song Xia felt rather embarrassed, as helping out had never been done with any expectation of reward.
“What? You don’t want to use it?”
“No, no! Not at all!” Hearing the village chief phrase it that way, Song Xia immediately grew anxious: Please don’t tell me he’s joking! I’ve already taken it seriously!
“Well then, do you know how to handle it?” Seeing her reaction, the chief smiled and asked again.
“Yes! Of course I do!” Song Xia immediately straightened her posture, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the village chief and replied loudly!
Jokes aside, even if she didn’t know how, she would know how right this instant! Besides, she was an agricultural college student, after all! How could she have never handled cattle before?
“Heh, even if you do know how, I can’t let you use it.” The village chief looked at Song Xia with a smile, but his words suddenly took a sharp turn, catching her completely off guard. Song Xia’s smile froze straight on her face.
Village chief, you didn’t walk all this way just to play a practical joke on me, did you?!
Seeing Song Xia’s stiff expression, the village chief burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha, I’m not letting you use it directly, but I’ve already talked it over with Shen Daniu. He’s willing to help you plow this plot of land. I wouldn’t feel at ease letting you plow it yourself.” The village chief was direct in explaining his concerns to Song Xia. “You’re a young woman; while you won’t exhaust the ox, if you don’t know how to handle it and bungle things, spooking the animal and getting yourself injured, you’ll be the one suffering the loss. But if you come out unhurt and the ox gets injured, I wouldn’t want that either.”
Draft oxen were exceptionally precious. Even if the village chief wanted to express gratitude for Song Xia’s help yesterday, there was no way he would hand an ox over to a seemingly delicate young woman. Before coming over, he had made a special trip to find Shen Daniu, offering to let the ox help plow an extra plot of land for Shen Daniu as compensation if he agreed to plow Song Xia’s field.
Shen Daniu had already been eager to try the curved-beam plow designed by Song Xia. Hearing the village chief’s proposal, his heart bloomed with joy: this way, not only would he get to use the curved-beam plow, but he’d also have an ox to help plow the fields! This was an absolute stroke of good fortune! As for helping Song Xia plow her land, that was even simpler—he had originally wanted to help her anyway, but Song Xia couldn’t keep up with the pace and the matter had been put on hold. Moreover, with an ox doing the work, he wouldn’t even need to exert much physical effort.
Thus, behind Song Xia’s back, the village chief and Shen Daniu had already settled the whole arrangement.
Hearing the village chief’s explanation, Song Xia was left completely dumbfounded.
Huh? I don’t even have to plow the fields anymore?
Soon after, Shen Daniu walked over from the distance.
“Chief, Little Song.” Shen Daniu was all smiles, a happiness that couldn’t be concealed plastered across his tanned face.
“Daniu, I’m handing this ox over to you, so you better handle it properly! Every evening when you return it, I’ll be inspecting it!” Even though he was lending the ox out, the village chief still felt a deep pang of reluctance. With an affectionate gaze, he patted the old yellow ox beside him and repeatedly admonished Shen Daniu, “Don’t you go exhausting the ox!”
“Yes! Chief, don’t you worry at all! I’ll treat it like my own ancestor and worship it!” Shen Daniu chuckled foolishly, patting his chest to guarantee it to the chief.
After waiting for both Song Xia and Shen Daniu to give repeated assurances, the village chief finally turned around and walked slowly away, turning back to look with lingering attachment every few steps.
“Hehehe.” Shen Daniu stroked the old yellow ox with a silly grin.
It had been many years since he last used a draft ox!
Curious, Song Xia also stepped forward to stroke the village’s sole old yellow ox, while Shen Chunming stood at a distance watching—having never seen an ox before, he felt a bit intimidated.
The old yellow ox looked quite advanced in age, but because it had been exceptionally well-cared for, it still appeared very robust and sturdy. Feeling the two of them gently stroking it, the ox proudly tossed its head and let out a low “moo,” as if saying, Look at how ignorant you two look!
Song Xia couldn’t help laughing. The days of running around the campus helping senior students handle cattle felt as though they were right in front of her eyes.
What Shen Daniu hadn’t expected was that Song Xia genuinely knew how to handle an ox.
Once Shen Daniu led the draft ox into the field, the old yellow ox suddenly stopped in its tracks for no apparent reason. Shen Daniu tugged on the rope twice, but it wouldn’t budge.
Song Xia had been walking ahead and, noticing that Shen Daniu hadn’t followed, turned her head to find Shen Daniu locked in a stalemate with the old yellow ox right in the middle of the field.
Shen Daniu didn’t dare pull too hard on the rope, and sweat soon popped up on his forehead.
Hurry over, Song Xia took the lead rope quite naturally, stroked the animal a couple of times, whispered something quietly into its ear, and gave a gentle tug—whereupon the old yellow ox actually began walking along behind Song Xia.
Watching this scene unfold, Shen Daniu looked at Song Xia with profound astonishment.
“Little Song, you actually know how to handle a draft ox?”
“That’s right.” Song Xia smiled. When she was studying at agricultural college, she had taken an elective course in “Cattle Husbandry” and lived alongside Simmental cattle for half a semester.
Although this current animal was a native yellow ox, the principles were largely the same. Leading an ox—wasn’t that a walk in the park?
Song Xia led the ox over to the curved-beam plow, expertly tied the reins to the draft harness, positioned the plow correctly, and gently urged the old yellow ox forward, smoothly beginning to plow the field.
The old yellow ox let out a long moo and slowly started walking ahead.
Song Xia instantly felt a massive wave of relief wash over her. Sure enough, a curved-beam plow truly belonged with a draft ox!
Seeing Song Xia start moving, Shen Daniu hurried forward: “Little Song, let me take over.”
“Brother Shen, let me try it out first; this is my first time trying this setup here too!” Filled with the excitement of playing with a new toy, Song Xia felt as though her body was brimming with energy.
And just like that, amidst the slow pacing of the old yellow ox, Song Xia finished a round of plowing. Yet even with the assistance of the old yellow ox, Song Xia was still exhausted.
Shen Daniu had been watching eagerly from the sidelines for a while; although he desperately wanted to jump in and try it himself, he exercised self-restraint and carefully observed Song Xia’s plowing technique. After all, this curved-beam plow was about to be lent to him, and if he ended up breaking it, that would be a disaster!
When Song Xia stepped aside to yield her spot, Shen Daniu rubbed his hands together and stepped forward with an expression that mixed embarrassment with excitement.
“Little Song, then I’ll begin?”
“Mm-hmm, then I’ll have to trouble you, Brother Shen.” Song Xia chuckled, having read Shen Daniu’s mind long ago without pointing it out, simply clearing the way for him to figure it out himself.
Sure enough, Shen Daniu had already figured it out through observation.
Although his movements weren’t entirely proficient at first, they still had a proper form to them.
He started off with a bit of awkwardness, but quickly got the hang of it, and the plowing speed picked up considerably.
The old yellow ox was extremely intelligent as well. Sensing the brisk pace of the farmer behind it, the animal cast aside its earlier leisurely demeanor, flicked its tail, and began marching forward with long strides.
Seeing that his services were no longer needed today, and still genuinely terrified of the old yellow ox, young Shen Chunming had scampered back home long ago, leaving only Song Xia behind in the fields to watch.
Sitting on the ridge of the field to rest, Song Xia took a gulp of her own brewed tea, used her straw hat to fan herself, and watched Shen Daniu work with careful attention.
Tsk, as expected of someone used to farm labor; everything he does looks so much more efficient than my fumbling attempts!
Sigh, can’t be helped. Back at school, everyone just operated small machinery. Making me revert to the most primitive methods of cultivation really is pushing my limits.
Smoothing back a lock of hair plastered to her forehead by sweat, Song Xia thought with a discouraged sigh that she had overestimated herself earlier—Shen Hu hadn’t been entirely wrong when he said her farming skills were truly subpar.
Yet shortly after, Song Xia pumped herself back up: It’s fine, I’m just not used to it yet. I’ll get used to it soon enough!
With the help of Shen Daniu and the old yellow ox, the field was plowed in no time at all.
Song Xia hurried forward and handed her water flask to Shen Daniu: “Brother Shen, thank you so much for today!”
Shen Daniu was covered in sweat as well, but his face beamed with radiance: “We still have to thank the village chief—the yellow ox from his family is truly wonderful to work with! Ah, I really wish I could raise one myself!”
Hearing this, Song Xia stepped forward to stroke the head of the old yellow ox as well, speaking to it in a gentle tone: “That’s right, we have to thank you today too!”
Seeing Song Xia actually conversing with an ox, Shen Daniu couldn’t help laughing out loud: “Little Song, it doesn’t understand a single word you’re saying. Oh right, since your family’s field is completely done today, what about tomorrow?”
Shen Daniu looked at Song Xia with a hint of bashful expectation in his eyes.
Catching that look, Song Xia laughed: “Brother Shen, if you still have the energy, you can pull the plow over to your own fields right now. Just return it to me whenever you’re finished using it.”
Hearing her say that, Shen Daniu let out a heavy sigh of relief. He knew Song Xia had a good heart, but until the equipment was genuinely in his hands, he couldn’t feel entirely secure!
Now that Song Xia had given him permission to haul the plow away directly, Shen Daniu felt completely at ease.
“Right! Thank you, Little Song!”
Hearing Shen Daniu’s joyful tone, Song Xia felt quite happy herself.
The curved-beam plow truly doesn’t deceive! It’s worthy of being something left behind by our ancestors! When I have some free time, maybe I can have a carpenter in the county town build a few more, or see if I can start a business venture with a carpenter?
Lost in these thoughts, Song Xia unconsciously walked all the way to her doorstep.
As soon as she arrived home, she spotted a figure standing right outside her door.
“Oh, Sister-in-law Xing! Why are you here? Why are you just standing outside the door? Come on in and sit down.”