The heat of late summer had settled over Willow Village like a heavy, wet blanket. The cicadas sang their deafening song in the trees lining the riverbank, a rhythmic drone that underscored the hard work of the harvest season.
For the Li family, this summer was different.
In the courtyard, a large bamboo basket sat near the well. Inside, nestled in straw, lay a treasure that would have been unthinkable just three months ago—over two hundred eggs.
"They're laying like they're possessed," Second Brother Li Jun muttered, wiping sweat from his brow as he counted the haul for the third time that morning. "I counted one hundred and ten yesterday. Today, another ninety? We have more eggs than we have room to store them."
Li Wei sat on the edge of the well, sharpening a small knife used for cutting greens. He looked up, his expression calm, though a glint of satisfaction shone in his eyes. The 'Ugly Ducklings'—as the villagers still mockingly called his chickens—had proven everyone wrong. Fed on the high-protein clover and the specially formulated fermented feed Li Wei concocted, the birds had matured into layers of exceptional quality.
"It's the grass," Li Wei said simply, blowing a shaving of wood off the blade. "And the clean water. They're happy."
"Happy?" Li Jun scoffed, but there was no malice in his voice. He picked up an egg, marveling at its size and the rich, brown hue of the shell. "These are twice the size of the eggs Old Man Zhang's hens lay. The restaurant buyer in Qingyang Town is going to faint when he sees this batch."
Li Wei stood up, sheathing the knife. "Speaking of buying... I need to go to town today. Not to sell, but to look."
"Look at what?" Li Mei asked, walking out of the kitchen with a bowl of cold water for her brothers. She wiped her hands on her apron, her gentle eyes curious.
"A cow," Li Wei said.
The word fell heavy in the courtyard. A cow.
In this era, for a farming family, a cow was the ultimate symbol of wealth and security. It was an asset worth more than a house, more than a year's harvest. It was the difference between a man breaking his back plowing the fields and walking behind a strong animal.
"A cow?" Li Jun dropped an egg. It cracked against the rim of the basket. He scrambled to catch it, cursing under his breath. "Wei, have you lost your mind? A good cow costs ten taels of silver! Even a broken-down old ox costs five! We've made money selling eggs, yes, but we're barely at four taels if we count every copper!"
"I'm not looking to buy a prize-winning ox," Li Wei said, his voice steady. He walked over to the cracked egg Li Jun had dropped. It was a shame, but it highlighted the volatility of their current situation. They had liquid assets, but they needed solidity. "I'm looking for an opportunity. There's a difference."
He walked towards the back of the house, where his father, Li Dazhong, was repairing a plow handle. The old man looked up, his face weathered like old bark.
"Father," Li Wei called out.
Li Dazhong didn't stop planing the wood. "I heard. You want a cow."
"I want to see what the market has," Li Wei corrected. "We have the egg money. If we wait until winter, prices will drop, but feed will rise. If we buy now, we have the grass to feed it. The West River pasture is ready for larger livestock."
Li Dazhong paused. He looked at the basket of eggs, then at his son. The dynamic between them had shifted over the last few months. Li Wei was no longer the sickly, dreaming boy. He was a provider.
"A cow needs care," Li Dazhong said slowly. "It needs shelter stronger than a chicken coop. It needs a vet if it gets sick. Can you handle that?"
Li Wei tapped his temple. "The Taoist taught me about cattle too, Father. I know how to check their teeth, their hooves, and their temperament. Trust me."
Li Dazhong grunted, a sound that had become less dismissive and more contemplative. "Take Eldest Brother with you. He knows the market better than you. And don't let the merchants swindle you. They smell poverty like sharks smell blood."
***
**The Qingyang Town Livestock Market**
The market was a cacophony of smells and sounds. The livestock section was crowded with farmers, merchants, and the distinct, earthy smell of manure.
Li Wei walked beside his Eldest Brother, Li Qiang. Li Qiang was a man of few words, his frame solid from years of labor. He walked with his chest out, projecting the image of a man not to be trifled with.
"Over there are the draft oxen," Li Qiang pointed to a row of sturdy, patient animals. "Strong, but slow. Good for rice paddies. Expensive."
They walked past the prime selections. Strong, glossy-coated water buffaloes and yellow oxen. Prices were called out—twelve taels, fifteen taels. Way out of their range.
"Over there," Li Wei pointed to the far corner of the market, a dusty area where the animals looked less impressive. "The culls."
"That's where they sell the sick and the old," Li Qiang frowned. "Wei, we can't afford a veterinarian bill."
"We're not buying a pet," Li Wei said. "We're buying potential."
They moved to the edge of the market. Here, the atmosphere was quieter, more desperate. Farmers were trying to offload animals that had become burdens.
Li Wei's eyes scanned the pens. The **[Ranch System]** hummed in the back of his mind, a subtle overlay of data that helped him filter out the noise.
*[Target: Old Ox. Status: Arthritis. Unfit for heavy labor. Recommendation: Avoid.]*
*[Target: Young Bull. Status: Malnourished, parasite infestation. Recommendation: High risk, moderate reward.]*
Then, his gaze landed on a animal tied to a post, standing apart from the rest.
It was a cow. A female.
She was a local Yellow breed, but she looked miserable. Her ribs were visible, her coat dull and patchy. She stood with her head low, swishing her tail listlessly at flies. She looked thin, gaunt even.
Next to her stood a farmer with a worried face, chewing on a stalk of grass.
"Look at that one," Li Wei said, nodding towards the cow.
Li Qiang squinted. "That? It looks like it's about to die. It's skinny. Probably can't even pull a cart."
"Let's ask," Li Wei said, approaching the owner.
The farmer looked up, hope flickering in his eyes when he saw potential buyers. "Gentlemen! Looking for a bargain? Good milk cow, just a bit thin."
"What's the price?" Li Qiang asked bluntly.
"Three taels," the farmer said quickly. "She's healthy, just had a hard spring. She's a good breeder."
"Three taels for a bag of bones?" Li Qiang scoffed. "One tael, and that's being generous."
The farmer looked pained. "One tael? I can't feed my family on that! She's got good hips! Look at her frame!"
While Li Qiang haggled, focused on the visible weakness of the animal, Li Wei stepped closer.
He closed his eyes for a second, focusing the **[System]**.
*[Scanning Subject...]*
*[Species: Bos taurus (Local Yellow Cattle).]*
*[Age: 5 years.]*
*[Health Status: Severely Malnourished. Internal Parasites (Roundworm). Dental Health: Good.]*
*[Reproductive Status: Pregnant (Early stage - 45 days).]*
*[Genetic Trait: Latent gene for high muscle density.]*
*[System Analysis: The animal is not sickly, but starved. Pregnancy is draining her limited resources. With high-nutrition forage (Clover/Ryegrass mix) and deworming, survival probability is 98%. Calf viability: High.]*
Li Wei's heart skipped a beat.
*Pregnant.*
Not only that, but the system detected 'Latent gene for high muscle density'. This was exactly the starter stock he needed. A local cow that, when bred or fed correctly, could produce the foundation for his improved herd.
The farmer didn't know. He just saw a skinny cow that wasn't pulling its weight.
Li Wei opened his eyes and stepped forward, placing a hand on the cow's flank. The animal flinched, eyeing him warily, but didn't kick. Her eyes were clear, intelligent.
"Two taels," Li Wei said, cutting off Li Qiang's aggressive bargaining.
Both the farmer and Li Qiang looked at him in surprise.
"Wei," Li Qiang whispered harshly. "It's not worth two!"
"It is," Li Wei said firmly, looking the farmer in the eye. "Two taels of silver. But you throw in that lead rope and the leather halter."
The farmer blinked. Two taels was lower than he hoped, but much higher than the one tael the scary brother offered. And he needed the money—desperately. Feed prices were rising, and he couldn't afford to keep a cow that wasn't working.
"Two taels... and the halter," the farmer agreed quickly, afraid Li Wei would change his mind. "Done."
Li Wei pulled out the heavy pouch of silver and copper coins. The weight of his family's hard-earned savings felt like lead in his hand, but he didn't hesitate.
He counted out the silver.
"Brother," Li Wei said, handing the coins over. "Pay him."
Li Qiang stared at his younger brother, then at the coins, then at the cow. Finally, he sighed, shaking his head. "If this cow dies, Father is going to use your hide to patch the roof."
"Get the rope," Li Wei smiled, patting the cow's neck gently. "Her name is going to be 'Goldie'. She's going to make us rich."
***
**The Walk Home**
Walking a cow home was not a fast process.
The animal, despite being malnourished, was stubborn. She stopped frequently to nip at the grass on the side of the road.
Li Wei didn't rush her. He let her eat. He knew she needed the nutrients.
"Two taels," Li Qiang muttered, walking behind them. "Two taels for a cow that looks like a skeleton. The neighbors are going to laugh us out of the village."
"Let them laugh," Li Wei said, leading the cow gently. "Look at her teeth, Brother."
"I'm not looking in a cow's mouth," Li Qiang grumbled.
"I did," Li Wei said. "Her teeth are perfect. She's young. She's not old and worn out; she's just hungry. Look at the way she eats. She has an appetite. A sick animal turns away from food. She's fighting to live."
Li Qiang watched the cow tearing at a clump of weeds with surprising vigor. "She does eat fast."
"And look at her hindquarters," Li Wei pointed. "Wide. Good for calving."
Li Qiang paused. He was a farmer; he knew livestock conformation. He looked again. Underneath the sunken flanks, the bone structure was indeed solid. "She has good hips," he admitted grudgingly. "But she's terribly thin."
"Because she's eating for two," Li Wei said softly.
Li Qiang stopped dead in his tracks. "What?"
Li Wei turned around, a mysterious smile on his face. "I think she's carrying a calf, Brother. It's early, but I can feel it. The way she moves, the slight distension low on her belly."
Li Qiang's eyes widened. He rushed forward, his hands gentle as he pressed them against the cow's side. The animal flicked an ear back but let him. Li Qiang had grown up around cattle; he knew what to feel. It was subtle, a tightness, a different resonance in the abdomen.
His face changed. The skepticism melted away, replaced by awe.
"Gods above," Li Qiang breathed. "You... you think so?"
"If I'm right," Li Wei said, "We didn't buy a cow for two taels. We bought a cow and a calf. That calf alone, once born, is worth three taels. And if we raise it well... it will be worth five."
Li Qiang looked at the cow with new eyes. Suddenly, the bag of bones looked like a treasure chest. He patted her flank, his rough hand gentle.
"Easy, girl," Li Qiang whispered, his voice tender. "Easy, Goldie. We're taking you home. We have good grass for you."
***
**The Arrival**
The sun was setting when they arrived at Willow Village. The orange light cast long shadows over the fields.
As they turned onto the path leading to the Li family home, they saw the family waiting. Word had traveled fast—a neighbor had seen them walking a cow.
Li Dazhong stood by the gate, his arms crossed. Little Li Chen was bouncing on his toes, and the sisters were peering from behind the door.
Li Qiang took the lead rope from Li Wei. He walked up to his father, chest puffed out, a grin splitting his face that was rare for the stoic eldest brother.
"Father," Li Qiang announced, pulling the cow forward. "We're back."
Li Dazhong looked at the animal. He took in the ribs, the patchy fur. His expression darkened. "This is what you spent two taels on? This wreck?"
"Look closer, Father," Li Qiang said, his voice vibrating with excitement. "Look at her hips. Check her teeth."
Li Dazhong frowned, stepping forward. He checked the mouth, ran his hands over the spine and the flanks. He was silent for a long moment.
Then, he looked at Li Wei.
"You knew?"
"I suspected," Li Wei said. "She's with calf. Maybe four months along. She was sold because the previous owner couldn't afford to feed a pregnant cow that couldn't plow the fields. He was desperate."
Li Dazhong stared at the cow. The economics of it were clear. A pregnant cow for two taels was a steal. It was the kind of luck that only came to those who knew what to look for.
"Two taels," Li Dazhong whispered. He turned to Li Wei. "You have a good eye, boy. Better than mine."
It was the highest praise he had ever given.
"Can we keep her?" Little Li Chen asked, running up. "Is she nice?"
"She's tired," Li Wei said, scooping his brother up. "We need to get her settled. Chen'er, go get the best bundle of clover we have. She needs to eat."
"I'll get it!" Li Hua shouted, sprinting towards the drying shed.
Li Wei looked at the cow, standing wearily in the courtyard. She looked around, sniffing the air. She could smell the green. She could smell the safety.
**[System Quest Completed: First Cattle Purchase.]**
**[Reward: Knowledge Unlock - Deworming and Parasite Control for Livestock.]**
**[New Quest Available: Nutritional Recovery. Raise 'Goldie' to Healthy Status before Calving.]**
"Welcome home, Goldie," Li Wei whispered. The first step of the ranch was complete. The chickens had funded the cow. The cow would fund the future.
That night, the Li family didn't just eat porridge. Zhao Lan cracked three of the precious eggs into the pot, making a rich, golden egg drop soup. They ate in the courtyard, watching the new member of their family settle into the stall Li Wei and Li Qiang had hastily cleaned out.
It wasn't a ranch yet. But it was a start. And for the first time, the dream of pastures beneath the empire sky felt like solid ground beneath their feet.