Thinking of castrating Big Spot?
Mi Niang watched the mountain ferrets running ahead and reminded him, “The Alse wolves haven’t slept at home for over three months.” They had been running since the second day after being castrated, coming home only to eat and drink. Once they finished, they wiped their mouths and ran off again, refusing steadfastly to sleep at home. The closest they had come back was to the open space across the river, where they could see the situation in the courtyard clearly. They would wake up immediately at the slightest sound of footsteps approaching.
Dogs are smart creatures; Bahu hadn’t completely fooled it. Or perhaps he had, but it still blamed him for not saving it.
“Dogs are born to guard, with loyalty engraved in their bones. Even if they hold grudges against people, they still remember their duty to guard and protect the home. As for Big Spot, if he ran away once, he could run away a second time. Once they get used to the wild outside, they gradually lose the desire to come back.” Mi Niang advised Bahu not to take action. “He’ll come back this year. Next year, even if he goes to the mountains, he’ll come back again. He knows better.”
It seemed that the mountain ferrets only reached sexual maturity at two years old. By March next year, the two little ferrets would not yet be a year old. With Little Spot having cubs by her side, she might not leave. Only Big Spot wanted to leave home. With Little Spot at home, he would always have her in mind and rush back as soon as he went to the mountains.
Bahu stared at Big Spot’ backside, and the thoughts he had been pondering for almost half a year were now scattered. He tripped Big Spot, thinking of the Alse wolves that would bark at him when they saw him. Big Spot thought he was playing with it and turned around to jump up and kick him with its thick claws.
“You’re only fierce with me. If you’re capable, go and bring back the female beast you’ve been looking for. Then, you won’t have to go into the mountains next year.” Bahu’s main concern was that when Big Spot returned from the mountains again, they might have already moved east. If it traveled alone to find them and encountered a hungry wolf pack, it would probably not escape unscathed.
Mi Niang thought about leaving Uncle Muren in Lingshan. This year, he didn’t go back to the winter pasture to cut grass. He caught a cold in early autumn and was bedridden. It took him several jars of bitter soup to get back on his feet. With illness striking like a mountain collapsing, the old man’s spirit had declined significantly. Bahu didn’t want him to make the long journey back, so he stayed in Lingshan.
“We won’t let Uncle Muren come over here next spring. He can live on the other side of Wahu Lake, keep twenty or so sheep for himself to graze, and take care of himself. He can visit the Xia Ranch. If Big Spot comes back late, there will be someone at home for him, and he can keep the old man company.”
Bahu nodded. “That sounds good.”
Big Spot didn’t know it had narrowly escaped a disaster. As the eldest, it had caught a lynx, and it was still chasing after Da Hu and Xiao Mo, pinning the two little lynxes down and howling. Little Spot stood by steadily, looking like it had raised three cubs.
…
Calves born in late spring or early summer were already three months old and could be weaned. Normally, the people who had rented the cows would come to take them back. However, separating the calves from their mothers would cause the cows to enter their mating season. Bahu decided to raise them for two more months until they returned to Lingshan, where it would be colder, before renting out the calves.
But unexpectedly, the cows at home were well-fed. It was already the end of September. When the calves were taken away, the cows immediately went into heat. The unattended breeding bull couldn’t contain its excitement and chaos ensued without anyone to supervise.
Bahu was awakened just after he had fallen asleep, without even having time to put on his outer robe. He opened the door and asked, “Slow down, what happened?”
“Quick, come with me to the cow pasture! The cattle suddenly started fighting, and it’s just the two of us. We can’t handle it alone,” the servant urged anxiously.
Bahu’s drowsiness disappeared instantly. He turned around, went inside to grab his outer robe, and said to Mi Niang, who had just sat up, “There’s trouble with the cattle. I’ll go take a look. Take care of the three kids at home.”
Uncle Muren, hearing the commotion, also came out. Putting on his hat and taking out a felt raincoat, he said, “I’ll go take a look too.”
As the three of them walked halfway, they heard a chaotic mix of barking dogs and mooing cattle. Other people who were on night watch elsewhere also came over. Without a word, they all grabbed their horse harnesses and restrained the aggressive bulls. Two or three people together managed to separate the bull that had gone berserk.
With a whistle in his mouth and a whip in his hand, Bahu scolded and beat the confused cattle. “Old man, call all the dogs back home.” The dogs were no match for the cattle’s legs; they could easily break bones if stepped on.
The sudden turmoil didn’t calm down until late at night. Bahu, panting heavily, looked at the strong bulls lying on the ground, helpless and groaning. They were really something; Bahu had carefully selected these breeding bulls himself. They had sturdy frames and good teeth, and even their horns were among the best in the herd. One thrust of their horns could dig a hole in the ground.
“Master, six are down—five bulls and one cow,” the servant counted and reported. “They must have fought over the cow. It’s those cows that gave birth this year; they’re in heat again, and we didn’t notice.”
Bahu didn’t scold the servant; he hadn’t noticed either. All he thought about was that it was getting cold and not suitable for breeding anymore.
“Tonight, separate the bulls from these cows. We can’t afford another incident like this,” Bahu instructed. He went to thank the people who had helped him. On such a bitterly cold night, everyone was sweating profusely. Bahu walked over and threw the found shoes on the ground, asking, “Whose shoe fell off?”
“Mine, mine! I was just looking for it… Still missing one. Has anyone seen it?”
In the darkness, someone chuckled, and heads turned to search around. During the chaos of herding the cattle, it was unclear who had kicked the shoe where.
“Couldn’t find it. Tomorrow, Bahu will compensate you with a new pair,” someone replied.
Bahu immediately agreed, “Tomorrow, I’ll buy two pairs and send them to your house. If we find the missing shoe, I’ll send it to you too.”
He continued, “Thank you all for working hard all night. It won’t be long before dawn. Instead of going back to sleep only to wake up again, why don’t you stay here and help me slaughter the cattle? I’ll go get some oil, salt, and seasoning. Let’s have a meal together and roast some fresh beef.”
“That sounds good. Bahu is so generous. Let’s light the fire.” In other households, losing six cattle at once was a big loss, and everyone was anxious, so there wasn’t much room for laughter.
Autumn is the best season for collecting dried cow dung on the grassland. You can walk in any direction for a while and collect a basketful. Five fires were lit, flames soaring high, and the sky brightened a bit.
Bahu brought a Lele cart over, laid the cowhide on the board, and put the knives and axes in a basin. There was also a cutting board in the basin.
They slaughtered one cow first, skinned it, dismembered it, and put it on the fire to roast. The people with nothing else to do helped Bahu slaughter the two cows with the most serious injuries.
“Shall we take them to the market in Xushui when it’s light?” someone asked.
Bahu nodded. “That’s the plan for now. When my wife wakes up, I’ll see if she has any other ideas.” All the beef was excellent, and he couldn’t bear to sell it. The cattle he raised at home were fatter than the beef sold at the butcher’s, and beef with thicker fat was better for hotpot in winter.
The aroma of the meat had already filled the air. The people cutting the bones and dismembering the meat hastened their movements so they could finish roasting the meat and eat it. After cleaning the blood off their hands and faces in the river, several people sat down on the ground with crossed legs. “Come on, cut me a slice. I’m starving.”
In the flickering firelight, Bahu carefully looked at the people around him, some of whom he didn’t recognize. “Where did you get the alcohol? Did you go back to get it?”
“Ha ha, the rumors are true. Bahu, you really don’t drink?” Someone tossed a bag of mare’s milk wine over to him. “Who doesn’t bring alcohol for a night watch? Can you endure it without a sip or two?”
Bahu tossed the alcohol to someone nearby. “I don’t drink. I only eat meat.” With the freshly slaughtered beef, fatty and thick, crispy and fragrant, he didn’t use the chili oil and garlic and scallion segments he brought. Just a sprinkle of salt made it exceptionally tasty.
Perhaps it was the atmosphere, but Bahu ate the meat heartily, listening silently to the men who usually only nodded when they met, drinking and chatting.
The night sky was sparsely dotted with stars, the autumn wind chilly, but amidst the lively chatter and the bright firelight, Bahu didn’t feel cold even though he was only wearing a single robe.
When the fire died down, they threw in some semi-green, semi-yellow miscellaneous grass. After the meat was gone and they had finished eating, they went to the river to pour half a bag of water. After swishing it around, they could barely taste a hint of the alcohol.
As the sky faintly revealed a hint of dawn, Bahu greeted Uncle Muren, then slipped back to fetch Qiqige and Jiya, waking up Mi Niang and carrying the little Habul, wrapped in a thick blanket. The family of five happily headed to enjoy the dawn barbecue.
“Oh my, the whole family is here?” Someone noticed their arrival, making room and offering skewers of roasted meat to Jiya and Qiqige. “Let Uncle share your joy. Maybe your aunt will have a pair of babies soon too.”
Qiqige and Jiya were used to hearing such remarks from the elderly and women in Lingshan, although there were fewer this year. Last year, people even asked them for diapers and baby clothes.
After taking a bite of meat, Qiqige generously said, “Thank you, Uncle. When it’s light out, I’ll give you the diapers my brother and I used when we were little.”
The man laughed heartily. This child looked just like her father but had a much more pleasing mouth. “I’m getting a big advantage here. You eat, and Uncle will grill more meat for you.”
Seeing this, Bahu and Mi Niang let go of their hands. Bahu put the grilled meat from earlier into a bowl and handed it to her. “Have some of this first. I also brought chili oil. If you get tired of it, I’ll add some spicy oil for you.”
The scent of the spicy oil, when stirred over the flame, was both pungent and fragrant, momentarily clearing the heads of those who had stayed up all night. Even though they were already full, suddenly they found themselves hungry again.
“What good stuff is this?”
“Why did you keep such good stuff hidden, Bahu?”
“You should have woken up your sister-in-law earlier. Bahu, we didn’t see you grilling meat all night. It took you to come along.”
Mi Niang smiled as she watched Bahu. He was somewhat uncomfortable with this lively banter and teasing, unlike when he was being playful with her.
“I brought the chili oil last night, but none of you touched it. I thought maybe you weren’t used to it,” he explained earnestly.
No one paid attention to him, busy brushing the chili oil onto the beef. The first bite burned like fire, too hot to spit out, but too spicy to swallow comfortably. They endured the heat and hastily chewed a few bites, feeling the spiciness from their tongues to their stomachs, immediately breaking into a sweat.
“So refreshing, even better than drinking!”
Another round of grilling started, attracting more passersby who sat down to join. In this damp late autumn, just grilling meat consumed half a cow.
When the daylight brightened, they poured water to extinguish the fire. As everyone wobbled to their feet, they waved off Bahu’s offer to give them meat as thanks. “Don’t bother, just sell it all. We’ve had our fill tonight. No matter how much meat you give us, we won’t exchange it for the happiness we’ve had tonight.”
The man who had been barefoot last night found his other shoe in the grass by the river. He walked over to Bahu and said, “Found my shoe. You don’t need to buy me another pair. My ranch is not far from yours. If you need anything, just shout, and I’ll come.”
“Yeah, just shout.”
After everyone left, the family of five stood on the blood-stained grass, looking around. The Lele cart was piled high with beef, ready to be sold before the noon heat set in.
Mi Niang glanced at the Lele cart and then at Bahu “You seem quite happy.”
“Really?” Bahu glanced at the water in the bucket, which didn’t seem heavy at all.
Clearing his throat, he lowered his voice. “You’re mistaken. I’m actually quite worried.” Then, afraid she might take him seriously, he added, “Oh well, things are as they are. Let’s look on the bright side. At least we can sell the meat and enjoy it. We have plenty of cattle at home. A few more or fewer won’t make a difference.”
