The Sweet Litte Fulang (SLF)

Chapter 95 - Calf

It was cold at night. The ground in Uncle Ah Jin's barn was covered with hay and straw, and a fire burned steadily in the brazier to keep the chill at bay. Winters were harsh, and the newly born calf needed the brazier's warmth to survive.

Lu Gu stood on tiptoe outside the gathering of people, trying to get a look inside. Many men had come to join in the excitement.

"It's coming out! It's coming out!" someone shouted, and a commotion rippled through the crowd as everyone craned their necks to see the calf being pulled out. The children, filled with curiosity, were especially eager.

Since Shen Xuanqing was the tallest, he could see everything clearly, even from the back of the crowd.

Noticing Lu Gu tiptoeing to try and catch a glimpse, Shen Xuanqing smiled and said, "I'll take you up closer in a bit."

Lu Gu lowered his heels to the ground. When the crowd in front of them thinned out, he followed Shen Xuanqing into the barn.

Uncle Ah Jin had surrounded the barn with old mats to block the wind, ensuring the mother cow and the calf were sheltered from the cold.

The calf was still wet, and there were traces of blood between the mother cow's hind legs—a reminder of how difficult giving birth was, even for animals.

Lu Gu's curiosity was satisfied after seeing the little calf. Before their marriage, Shuang'er and girls generally wouldn't wander into others' homes to witness such scenes, so this experience felt new to him.

In truth, there wasn't much more to see. The sight of the blood made him uneasy, and his heart ached for the little calf. He quickly looked away from the cow, not daring to watch further.

"Mother, why don't you all head back first?" Shen Xuanqing told Wei Lanxiang, who was peeking over to check on the situation.

Turning to Lu Gu, he added, "You go back with Mother. I'll stay and talk to Uncle Ah Jin about the calf."

Farming cattle were invaluable for plowing the fields, and several families in the village wanted one. Shen Xuanqing had already spoken to Uncle Ah Jin about purchasing this calf before it was born. Since it was so close to home, it was far more convenient than going elsewhere to buy one.

"Alright," Lu Gu nodded and left with Wei Lanxiang.

When Shen Xuanqing and his brother returned home later, they brought good news: the calf had been secured, and after two or three months, once it had grown stronger and been weaned, it would be ready to bring back. Wei Lanxiang was overjoyed.

Lu Gu thought of the little calf they had just seen, feeling happy knowing it would soon be their own cow.

The Lantern Festival was just around the corner. While there weren't as many colorful lanterns in the countryside, the towns were far livelier. Lu Gu had once heard Lu Wen say that, during the Lantern Festival, Fenggu Town's streets would be lined with lanterns. People wandered the streets carrying their own lanterns, lighting the night so brightly that it looked like daytime.

Though Lu Gu had never witnessed such a grand sight, Shen Xuanqing had bought nearly twenty lanterns this year in various styles. In the morning, Shen Yan helped him hang up the ones that were to be lit at night.

Since Wangli Village was far away and the opera performance would begin at noon, Lu Gu prepared an early meal. After eating, Wei Lanxiang took him and Shen Yan to the show.

In rural areas, most opera enthusiasts were women or older gers. Shen Xuanqing didn't join them, as he wasn't fond of listening to plays.

Carrying a small stool, Wei Lanxiang called out cheerfully to Aunt Miao and Mother Quan Ziniang as they headed out. Lu Gu followed behind, balancing a small stool and a basket on his right arm. Inside the basket was a bamboo tube filled with hot water, pastries, and a mix of melon seeds and peanuts.