Chapter 215: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 215: Inviting Guests to the Warm Room, Buying Cattle and Horses (8)
Mo Yan didn't know how to choose, so she let Li Zhong decide for himself after listening to his explanation of the advantages of the two yellow oxen.
Li Zhong immediately began bargaining with the cattle dealer, "Brother, I see you're an honest man, but fifteen taels for one head is too expensive. I think ten taels for one head is more reasonable."
"Big brother, these two oxen are the best in my family. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been so interested at first glance, right? Fifteen taels for one head is really not expensive. If you don't believe me, you can ask elsewhere. You won't find a better deal."
The cattle dealer was overjoyed to see that these two were buying two oxen, but he wouldn't make much profit if he sold them for ten taels each.
Li Zhong knew that asking for ten taels was a bit harsh, but two oxen were definitely worth more than thirty taels. He couldn't let Mo Yan be taken advantage of.
After some back and forth, the two parties finally settled on twenty-five taels of silver.
Mo Yan gladly paid the money, and Li Zhong happily took the reins from the cattle dealer. He was ready to go with Mo Yan to see the horses, but the two-and-a-half-year-old big yellow ox stubbornly refused to move, bellowing loudly.
"What's going on? Are you not willing to leave?" Li Zhong joked with the cattle dealer.
The cattle dealer was also anxious. He picked up his whip and gave the ox a light smack. He didn't dare to hit it too hard now that the ox had been sold, but even after several light smacks, the ox still refused to budge, digging its hooves into the ground.
Li Zhong was also worried now. He could ask the cattle dealer to refund the money and not buy the ox, but it was indeed a good ox. He couldn't bear to give it up.
Mo Yan watched the scene of one person pulling and the other pushing the ox with amusement. She held back her laughter and carefully inspected the big yellow ox.
When she saw under the ox's belly, she understood. She said to the cattle dealer, who was still pushing the ox persistently, "Where's its calf? Bring it here and try."
The cattle dealer understood Mo Yan's meaning and quickly went into the house. In a moment, he led out a calf that was up to the waist.
As soon as the big yellow ox saw the calf, it broke free from Li Zhong and ran towards the calf. It stuck out its tongue and kept licking the calf, mooing softly in a surprisingly gentle tone.
The calf also mooed in response, rubbing against its mother's neck playfully, its innocent eyes full of affection.
Seeing this heartwarming scene, all three of them felt moved and didn't have the heart to break up the bond between them.
The calf was only five or six months old. Mo Yan thought for a moment and said to the cattle dealer, "I'll buy this calf too. How much do you want for it?"
The cattle dealer was taken aback for a moment, then smiled, understanding that the girl couldn't bear to see the mother and calf separated. He said, "The calf isn't worth much. Three taels of silver will do."
Li Zhong looked at Mo Yan, then at the mother and calf snuggling together, without objection. He was just surprised that the cattle dealer asked for only three taels of silver.
It was worth noting that even if the calf couldn't work the fields immediately, as long as it was one year old, there would be no problem. Usually, you couldn't buy one for less than five or six taels of silver.
Mo Yan didn't know this and just thought that buying a calf was much more cost-effective than buying an adult ox. She took out three taels of silver and handed it to him.
The cattle dealer took the money and handed the calf's lead rope to Li Zhong, saying, "The calf is still small and its nose hasn't fully developed yet, so it can't wear a nose ring for now. Wait until it's a bit bigger before putting one on."
At this point, the rope was just looped around the calf's neck. If the calf wanted to resist, even an adult would have to use considerable force to pull it.
▶▶The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
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