Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 216: Hit an Ox

Li Xu wasn’t clear on the development in Shanyang County, so he changed the subject. He then told Ding Kaifang everything about his meeting with Yoshida, including the thinly veiled threats he had made.

He stressed, "Japan’s intelligence-gathering capabilities are not to be underestimated. The watermelon plantation in Zhouzhuang is the lifeblood of our Watermelon Frost production; there can be absolutely no mishaps."

Ding Kaifang was silent on the other end for a moment before chuckling. "Doctor Li, don’t you worry. Our Ding Group still has plenty of sway in Feng City. The Zhouzhuang villagers have signed contracts with us. Even if they break them, we won’t let them sign with the Japs."

Ding Kaifang’s words put Li Xu’s mind at ease.

The Ding Group was a massive enterprise with an extensive network.

Ryukakusan Co., Ltd. might be famous in Japan, but in Feng City, they had to play by the rules.

"Good. Let’s keep in touch if anything comes up," Li Xu said.

Afterward,

He returned to the clinic.

To his surprise, Song Sisi was giving someone a massage.

"Oh, Xiao Xu, Sisi gives a great massage. If I’d known you offered them, I would’ve been here long ago."

Aunt Li said, lying prone on the massage table.

"What’s bothering you?" Li Xu asked as he put on his white coat and went to the sink to wash his hands.

"What’s not bothering me? I’m cleaning all day, every day. My shoulders, my back, my legs... they’re all killing me. This massage feels so much better."

"Well, you should come more often, then."

"Oh, I couldn’t possibly. I don’t have that kind of money," Aunt Li said, waving her hand dismissively.

Li Xu just smiled and said nothing.

He certainly didn’t offer to give her massages for free.

He couldn’t open that can of worms.

They were surrounded by neighbors and acquaintances,

especially the elderly ones.

’Free massages?’

’If they all started coming, how would the clinic even stay in business?’

After drying his hands,

Li Xu sat down to read a medical text.

Aunt Li and Song Sisi made idle chitchat.

RING RING RING~

Song Sisi’s phone suddenly rang.

It was sitting on a small stool right next to her.

She turned her head to look.

The word "Mom" was flashing on the screen.

Song Sisi’s heart dropped.

Her parents were quintessential farmers; they would never call her at this time of day unless it was something serious, afraid they might be interrupting her work.

She hurriedly swiped to answer, her voice holding a barely perceptible tremor of anxiety. "Hello, Mom?"

"Sisi! You have to come home! Something’s happened!" Her mother’s voice on the other end was frantic and panicked, tinged with tears.

Li Xu put down his book and gestured for Song Sisi to step aside for the call. "I’ll take over for Aunt Li."

"Okay."

Song Sisi got up and moved to the side, lowering her voice. "Mom, slow down. What’s wrong? Is it Grandma...?"

"No, your grandma’s fine!"

Her mother cut her off urgently, the sound of whistling wind and a noisy crowd coming through the phone. "It’s your father! He was driving the tricycle to the fields with a load of fertilizer. On that narrow road at the village entrance, he had to swerve to avoid a kid on an e-bike, and... he ended up hitting Foolish Song’s big ox, Da Huang!"

’Foolish Song?’

Song Sisi’s brow furrowed the moment she heard the name.

Foolish Song was notoriously unreasonable in Dasong Villa.

He’d never managed to get married, and he was such an irrational scoundrel that the villagers all called him either Foolish Song or Single Song.

He was a "five-guarantee" recipient—childless, with no one to answer to—and his only prized possession was the big yellow ox he had raised for several years.

"What happened to the ox? Is it serious? Is Dad okay?" Song Sisi pressed.

"Your dad’s fine, the front of the tricycle just got dented. But the ox... its hind leg looks like it’s been broken. It’s been lying on the ground this whole time and won’t get up. Now Foolish Song is raising hell, wailing over that ox of his, saying our family has destroyed his livelihood and demanding ten thousand yuan in compensation! Your dad got furious and started arguing with him. Even the village chief is here, but he can’t talk any sense into them. Please, come back, Sisi. You know your father’s stubborn temper. I’m afraid he’s going to get the worse end of this!" Her mother’s voice was filled with helplessness.

"Ten thousand?" Sisi gasped. "He might as well be a highway robber!"

"I know! But he’s just playing the thug now, saying his ox was hand-picked, that it can plow fields and turn the millstone, that it’s the best ox in the whole village and worth a fortune. Please, just come home, Sisi. I can’t handle this by myself."

"Okay, okay, Mom, don’t panic. Just watch Dad and don’t let him get physical. I’m on my way!"

After hanging up, Song Sisi walked anxiously over to Li Xu. "Boss, there’s an emergency at home. I have to go back immediately."

Li Xu had overheard parts of the call. "I heard," he said gently. "Go on, you should hurry. And remember, any problem that can be solved with money isn’t a real problem. The worst-case scenario is you pay up. If you’re short, come to me."

"Thank you, Boss!" Song Sisi quickly shed her work uniform, grabbed her bag, and rushed out the door.

Aunt Li was older and hadn’t heard clearly. "Oh dear, what was that all about?" she asked with concern. "It sounded serious."

"Her father hit a cow back in her village, and now someone’s trying to extort him," Li Xu explained briefly before continuing the massage.

His technique was far superior to Song Sisi’s.

Aunt Li felt relief spread through her body. "That Sisi is a nice girl, but she’s from the countryside... a little out of your league. Sigh. If only my niece hadn’t gotten sick. You two would have been a perfect match."

Li Xu was speechless.

’Even if she weren’t sick, I wouldn’t dare get involved with her.’

’She’s way too wild.’

"How is your niece doing?" Li Xu asked, a little curious.

Aunt Li sighed. "What can you do? She fights with her mother every day at home and has to stay on her medication..."

...

It was already past five when Song Sisi left the clinic.

She hailed a taxi, and by the time she arrived home, the sky was already growing dark. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The moment she stepped out of the car, she saw a large crowd gathered on the village’s concrete road. A chaotic mix of shouting, placating voices, and the pained lowing of an ox was audible even from a distance.

She pushed her way through the crowd and immediately saw the scene at its heart.

Her father, Song Xuecai, a simple, honest farmer, was red in the face with fury, the veins on his neck bulging as he pointed at a scrawny, withered old man and yelled, "Foolish Song! You’re nothing but a lowlife! Your ox wanders into the middle of the road every single day, eating everyone’s crops! Who in this whole village doesn’t know it? It was my bad luck to hit it today, and I’ll own up to that! But demanding ten thousand yuan out of nowhere? You might as well be a goddamn bandit!"

The old man known as Foolish Song was squatting beside a massive yellow ox, one hand stroking its leg, the other wiping away muddy tears as he howled, "My ox! My poor ox! I raised him from a calf with my own two hands! Look at his leg, it’s broken! How is he supposed to plow the fields now? How is he supposed to live! Song Xuecai, if you don’t give me ten thousand yuan today, this isn’t over! I’m just a worthless old man with nothing to lose! I’ll fight you to the death!"

The big yellow ox was indeed a powerful animal. Its back and shoulders were broad, its muscles solid; a single glance told you it was an excellent beast of burden.

It was currently lying on the ground, its right hind leg bent at an unnatural angle. It panted heavily, letting out a pained, low moo from time to time.

Beside the ox was her father’s blue motor-tricycle. Its front bumper had a large dent, and bags of fertilizer were scattered on the ground nearby.