The Tempting Educated Youth Married to a Rough Man-Chapter 117 - 113: The Storm Rises & The Cow’s Difficult Labor
Midnight.
Apart from the crackling fire in the hearth flickering, everything was silent, extraordinarily quiet.
Suddenly, the window creaked from a gap.
Wen Ran furrowed her brow in her sleep, flipped over with her rear end in the air, inadvertently letting her leg fall onto Hongguo.
Hongguo felt the pressure, and in a daze, moved Wen Ran’s leg into her own bed, then hugged it, sleeping soundly.
Mrs. Xiao got up at night, wrapped in her robe, shivering as she went out. As soon as she opened the door, she was hit by the wind outside.
Instantly, the sleepiness vanished.
She gathered her robe and muttered, "Heavens, this prairie is really scary, even the wind can hit people."
Back in the house, she resumed sleeping but felt uneasy.
The window creaked even louder.
"Knock knock knock!"
Gula stood at the window, "Get up, everyone, stop sleeping."
Everyone was startled awake, scrambling up, "What’s wrong?"
Gula’s expression was serious, "There’s going to be a storm."
The Xiao Family was unfamiliar with the prairie winds, somewhat bewildered, "Isn’t this a sheltered spot? Even if there’s a wind, it’s nothing serious."
"At this time of year, the arrival of a storm likely brings a snowstorm."
This is a pastoral area, needing to herd livestock. If the snowstorm is too heavy, herders easily lose direction in the vast prairie.
Moreover, if the snow accumulates thickly on the ground, the cattle and sheep cannot eat grass and will starve.
Xiao Chenye and Xiao Chengguang got up, quickly dressed, and ran outside to reinforce the livestock pen and chicken coop.
Especially the chicken coop; if the wind picks up, it might even be blown to the sky.
"Will it be okay?"
Gula reassured from outside the window, "Nothing major, but you should be mentally prepared."
Hongguo was a bit scared, hair standing on end, holding Wen Ran’s arm, "Sis, should I go out and help too?"
"Going out now won’t be much help."
Physical work can’t be done.
"Gula? Is Gula here?"
A bright lantern appeared at the door, swaying in the wind.
It was the village chief, Sahan, an old man with a red nose. He wore a fluffy big hat, and upon seeing Gula, excitedly rushed in, grabbing his arm.
"Finally found you!" Sahan spoke rapidly, "A big wind is coming, Ba Yin’s cow is scared and having trouble giving birth. Can you go over and help?"
"Sure," Gula frowned, "but I need someone to help."
"I can be your assistant."
"Alright."
Gula briefly instructed Xiao Chenyue and followed Sahan into the wind.
Wen Ran, sitting on the kang, was eager to move.
A cow giving birth?
Good heavens, I’ve never seen it, I want to go and see.
"Are you thinking of going to see?" Xiao Chenyue blurted out, Wen Ran shrunk her head, chuckled, "Hahaha, where did that come from?"
"Your body is still here, but your heart is probably ready to fly away."
Indeed.
Xiao Chenyue pondered for a moment, then suddenly got up and started dressing, "Get dressed, let’s go take a look."
Mrs. Xiao: "?"
No, Wen Ran, who loves causing trouble, is being quiet this time, why are you starting?
"Xiao Yue?"
Mrs. Xiao was confused, "It’s not safe now."
"It’s manageable, the wind isn’t that strong. Gula needs an assistant for the cow, I’ll go check.
It’s not safe at night, so I’ll take Ranran along, and with two people on the road, it’s fine."
Wen Ran said nothing, quickly getting dressed.
She planned to show her stance through action; she really wanted to join this excitement.
Only when Xiao Chenyue and Wen Ran’s figures disappeared with the closing door did Mrs. Xiao lift her head in a daze, somewhat gratified, "Old man."
Mr. Xiao looked at Mrs. Xiao, momentarily unsure what she wanted to say.
"What’s up?"
"Xiao Yue has grown up."
She can decide for herself now.
"That’s talking nonsense. Xiao Yue has already had a baby, whether she’s grown up or not doesn’t need you to say."
Mrs. Xiao: "... You foolish man, do you understand what I mean?"
Nope.
Mr. Xiao turned over, muttering, "With the wind not yet strong, sleep, tomorrow there’ll be a lot to do."
The heavens and earth are vast, sleeping is paramount.
If the sky falls, there are always others taller to hold it up.
Sleep!
On the road, Xiao Chenyue was silent, hurrying along.
She soon reached Ba Yin’s house.
In the pitch-black night, Ba Yin’s house emitted a warm yellow glow.
Seeing Xiao Chenyue arrive, Gula was surprised, "Why are you here?"
"I wasn’t too sure," Xiao Chenyue licked her lips, "The village chief and I aren’t as in sync, I’d better take over."
"Alright."
If it were a normal situation, Gula and the team leader might have managed, but this cow is carrying twins, which is already dangerous, and having a difficult birth on top of that.
Taking a deep breath, Gula said gravely, "You know, I’m a hunter by trade, not a veterinarian.
For difficult births, especially twin births, I’m not really confident, so prepare yourselves mentally."
Ba Yin’s bearded face showed a hint of sadness, "If you can’t save the calves, at least try to save the mother cow."
"I’ll do my best."
It was the first time Wen Ran had watched a cow giving birth. She found a sheltered bay and nestled in the barn, watching quietly as time ticked away and the cow’s cries grew weaker.
The mother cow was clearly not going to make it, and Ba Yin was wiping his tears beside her, the tall and sturdy man sobbing uncontrollably, "Can you save my cow?"
Gula’s brows furrowed together, watching the cow suffer helplessly, "I..."
Suddenly, Xiao Chenyue spoke up, "Gula, can you pull the calf out?"
Gula was taken aback, "What?"
"Just reach inside and pull the calf out," Xiao Chenyue said seriously. "Be mindful of the angle, tie the calf’s hooves; as long as you don’t let it scrape the mother’s birth canal, this method is completely feasible."
"Has it been successful before?"
Xiao Chenyue shook her head, "I don’t know, it was just a flash of inspiration, whether it works or not depends..."
She looked at Ba Yin.
Ultimately, it depends on what the owner of the cow decides.
Ba Yin gritted his teeth, "Give it a try."
Now, they could only treat the cow as best as they could.
Looking at the listless mother cow, Ba Yin cried as if he had lost his father.
Wen Ran looked at the various patches on his clothes, feeling a sour sorrow in her heart.
"Uncle Ba Yin, don’t cry," Xiao Chenyue felt bad too, but at this moment, words seemed so powerless, "Do you have warm water at home?
You can add some salt and sugar to give the cow a drink, it might replenish some energy."
"Yes, yes, yes."
Upon hearing this, Uncle Ba Yin couldn’t cry anymore, wiped his tears, and hurried out to get warm water.
He carried the basin back, but was intercepted by Wen Ran halfway.
"You?"
Looking at the unfamiliar little girl in front of him, Ba Yin was confused, "What do you want?"
Wen Ran pointed to the basin, "Can I feed the cow a little?"
Her face had a gentle smile, "I’ve never seen a cow pregnant with twins."
Ba Yin nodded, "Then go ahead."
This unfamiliar child seemed to be related to Xiao Chenyue.
She was probably a kid from the northeast, curious about the northwest cows.
Wen Ran took the water and, taking advantage of nobody’s attention, calmly dipped her fingers in, extracting some spring water from her space before feeding it to the cow without change in expression.
Xiao Chenyue looked at Wen Ran, feeling anxious, "Be careful, getting kicked by a cow is no joke."
"Don’t worry."
After drinking the water, the cow’s condition improved, her vitality restored.
Ba Yin thought the water had worked and slapped his forehead, then fished out two wrinkled apples from the house, carefully offering them to the cow’s mouth.
"Eat, eat more. If you’re full, you’ll have the strength to give birth," Ba Yin gently stroked the cow’s back. "This year there’s plenty of snow, next spring the grass will surely grow well.
You can’t die, I’m waiting to take you to the grasslands."
The cow’s condition visibly improved, Xiao Chenyue was joyful too, "Gula, quick! Pull!"
Gula nodded, reached into the cow’s womb, constantly adjusting his position, trying to pull the calf out.
With nobody paying attention, Wen Ran quietly retreated to the sidelines.
No one had seen pulling a calf before, everyone was watching intently, including Wen Ran.
"Are you related to Sister Xiao Yue?"
Her clothes were tugged, and Wen Ran instinctively looked around, but saw no one.
It was only then she realized the voice came from below.
Lowering her head, she saw a lively little boy.
"Oh, yes, we’re family."
The little boy scratched his head, his dark face revealing a mouthful of white teeth, "No wonder you’re as pretty as Sister Xiao Yue.
Her cooking is delicious."
Ah, so it’s a little foodie.
Wen Ran bent down just at that moment, causing cheers in the crowd.
The calf had been successfully pulled out, it was strong, and soon stood up after hitting the ground.
The mother cow’s eyes were gentle, turning to lick the calf’s membrane away.
Ba Yin nearly cried tears of joy, "Heavenly God! You did it."
Gula also showed an obvious smile, while Xiao Chenyue encouraged, "Again!"
"Alright!"
Having the previous experience, Gula felt a bit of confidence, and after about ten minutes of effort, successfully pulled out the second calf.
The second calf, perhaps from being stuck for too long, wobbled a long time before standing, causing everyone’s hearts to tighten.
The cow gently groomed the calf’s coat, and after shaking its head, the calf stood and even began to gallop around.
Ba Yin, looking at his calves, opened his mouth, but tears came out before his voice.
"I really don’t know how to thank you all."
"Brother Ba Yin, saying that is estranging us. Just nurse the calves, and after they’re full, take them inside; the weather’s too cold, it wouldn’t be worth it if they catch a cold."
"Okay, okay."
Ba Yin watched his family care for the cow and calves, then went inside, bringing out two hens.
"Just one is enough."
"But I got two calves," Ba Yin’s face shone with joy, "it’s what you deserve!"
