The road to the Zhao Family Ranch wound through a valley significantly richer than the one Willow Village occupied. Here, the hills were gentle and rounded, covered in orderly terraces of soybeans and millet, watered by a sophisticated network of irrigation canals that spoke of old money and established power.
Li Wei sat on the driver's bench of the borrowed cart, his knuckles white as he gripped the rough wooden reins. Beside him, Qin Hu dozed with one eye open, his hand never far from the iron rod hidden under the seat. In the back, Da Niu sat amidst the hay, whispering soothing words to Hei Feng, who was shifting nervously in the cart as the stones rattled beneath his hooves.
"Nervous?" Li Wei asked, glancing back at Da Niu.
The boy looked up, his face pale. "Boss, I've heard of the Zhaos. They have private guards. They say if a peasant looks at the Young Master wrong, they get beaten. Are we sure about this?"
"We are not peasants today, Da Niu," Li Wei said, straightening his tunic. He had put on his cleanest clothes—the blue cotton shirt and the canvas boots. "Today, we are merchants. And we are selling a King. Remember that. Head up. Shoulders back."
Qin Hu cracked one eye open. "The boy is right to be wary. Big families are like tigers. They eat the weak. But they respect the strong. Don't bow unless you have to. And if you do bow, bow lower than them, but slower."
Li Wei chuckled darkly. "Understood."
***
**The Gatekeepers**
By midday, the Zhao Family Ranch came into view.
It wasn't just a farm; it was a fortress. A high wall of rammed earth and stone, topped with sharpened bamboo stakes, encircled the main compound. The gates were massive, reinforced with iron bands. This was a reflection of the chaotic times—bandits were a real threat, and only the powerful could afford such defenses.
Li Wei brought the cart to a halt a respectful distance from the gate.
Two guards in leather armor and holding long spears blocked the path. They looked bored, until they saw the massive, black head of the bull peering over the side of the cart.
"Halt!" one guard shouted, stepping forward. "This is the Zhao Estate. No beggars or peddlers. State your business."
Li Wei jumped down from the cart. He didn't scurry or cower. He walked with a measured gait, stopping just out of spear reach.
"I am Li Wei, from Cloud Hill Ranch," he announced, his voice projecting clearly but without aggression. "I have an appointment with your Steward regarding a breeding matter. I am here to lease the services of my bull, Hei Feng."
The guards exchanged a look. "Lease a bull? We have fifty bulls. Why would we need yours?"
"Because yours are tired," Li Wei said calmly. "And mine is a king. Is Steward Zhao in? If not, I can take my bull to the Li family in the next valley. I hear they are looking to improve their stock."
The mention of a rival family was a calculated risk.
The guard's eyes narrowed. "Wait here."
He turned and spoke to a runner who sped off towards the main house. Ten minutes later, the gates creaked open.
A thin man with a goatee and a grey robe strode out. This was Steward Zhao. He looked like a scholar but moved like a merchant—sharp, assessing, and dismissive. He walked straight to the cart, ignoring Li Wei entirely, and looked at Hei Feng.
Hei Feng, sensing the scrutiny, let out a low, rumbling snort and pawed the floor of the cart. The wood groaned under his weight.
Steward Zhao raised an eyebrow. "Heavy. Good shoulders. But he looks like a wild thing. Is he broken?"
"He is trained," Li Wei said, stepping into the Steward's line of sight. "He responds to voice and pressure. He is not wild, Steward. He is spirited. There is a difference."
Steward Zhao turned his gaze to Li Wei, looking him up and down with a sneer. "A peasant with a fancy name for his farm. Cloud Hill? Never heard of it. You say you have an appointment? I don't recall sending an invitation."
"You didn't," Li Wei admitted. "But I heard your herd's conception rates dropped last season. And your prize ox died in the spring. You need strength. I have it."
The Steward's sneer froze. The information was accurate. The Zhao family had been struggling with their cattle lines for a year.
"You have good ears," Steward Zhao said, his tone losing some of its arrogance. "But talk is cheap. We have a champion bull in our east paddock. If your beast can't match him, don't waste my time. Bring him in."
***
**The East Paddock**
The inside of the Zhao compound was a different world. The barns were brick and tile, not wood and thatch. The smells were of polished leather and expensive grain.
They led the cart to a large paddock where a group of grooms and handlers were waiting. In the center of the paddock stood the Zhao family's current pride—a massive, light brown bull, sleek and well-groomed, chewing contentedly on a pile of fresh alfalfa.
"That is 'Golden Mountain'," Steward Zhao said, gesturing with pride. "He weighs over a thousand *jin*. He is gentle. He is a stallion. Your black beast looks like a rock crawler."
Li Wei looked at Golden Mountain. He was big, yes. But soft. His belly was too round, indicating too much grain and not enough work. His legs were clean, but lacked the dense bone structure of a draft animal.
**[System Scan: Golden Mountain.]**
**[Breed: Local Improved.]**
**[Health: Good (Overfed).]**
**[Genetics: Average. Recessive traits for weak hooves detected.]**
"He is beautiful," Li Wei said diplomatically. "A fine show animal. But I am here for breeding, not beauty."
"We shall see," Steward Zhao said. "Bring him out. Let him walk."
Li Wei climbed into the cart. He unhitched the latch.
"Heel, Hei Feng," Li Wei commanded, tapping the bull's rump lightly.
Hei Feng stepped out of the cart. He didn't stumble or rush. He stepped onto the grass, his hooves landing with a solid *thud-thud*. He shook his head, his black coat glistening in the sun.
The Zhao grooms murmured. The bull was ugly—scarred, black as coal, with a hump that looked like a tumor to the untrained eye. But he moved with a fluid, predatory grace.
"Walk him," Li Wei said to Da Niu, who held the lead rope.
Da Niu walked. Hei Feng followed. They did a lap around the paddock.
"Now, the test," Steward Zhao said. "We have a cow in heat in the adjacent pen. Let's see if he has the interest. Golden Mountain has already serviced two cows this morning."
A gate was opened, revealing a brown cow who was calling out softly.
Hei Feng's head snapped up. He smelled the pheromones. He let out a bellow that shook the tiles on the roof—a deep, primal sound that made Golden Mountain's head jerk up in alarm.
"Easy," Li Wei said, stepping in front of Hei Feng. He blocked the bull's path with his body and the bamboo pole. "Sit."
Hei Feng fought the urge to rush. He wanted to charge. But Li Wei's voice cut through the hormone fog. The bull snorted, pawed the ground once, and… sat down on his haunches. Like a dog.
The paddock went silent.
Steward Zhao's mouth fell open. Even the grooms stopped working.
"He… sits?" Zhao asked, incredulous.
"Discipline," Li Wei said, wiping sweat from his brow. This was the hardest part of the training. "A bull that cannot control himself is a danger to the cows and the handlers. Hei Feng waits for the command. That is the Cloud Hill way."
Li Wei looked at Hei Feng. He was trembling with the effort of holding back.
"Go," Li Wei said softly.
Hei Feng launched himself like a coiled spring. He didn't just run; he glided. He moved to the cow with an efficiency that was breathtaking.
The breeding was quick, efficient, and powerful.
When it was done, Li Wei walked over and patted Hei Feng's neck, offering him a drink of water mixed with electrolytes.
"He has stamina left," Li Wei told the Steward. "He can service three cows a day. And his genetics are different. He carries the traits for heat resistance and muscle density. Your Golden Mountain is pretty. My Hei Feng is a machine."
Steward Zhao looked at the black bull, then at his own Golden Mountain, who was now napping in the shade.
"What is your price?" Zhao asked, his voice business-like now.
"One thousand coins for one month," Li Wei said. "Exclusive lease. I provide the handler." He pointed to Da Niu. "He stays to ensure the bull is fed correctly and not overused."
"One thousand?" Zhao scoffed. "Ridiculous. Three hundred."
"Five hundred," Li Wei countered. "Plus, I keep the pick of the litter from any orphaned calves in the village. And I want a contract stating that if my bull sires over thirty calves this season, I get a bonus of two hundred coins."
He didn't have the leverage to demand 1000 upfront. He had to pivot. The bonus was a bet on Hei Feng's fertility.
Steward Zhao stroked his beard. "Five hundred now. You feed him yourself. I provide the hay. If he gets thirty cows pregnant, I give you another three hundred. Take it or leave."
Six hundred total was below the goal, but it was cash in hand for the deposit.
"I need the five hundred upfront. Now. In silver," Li Wei said.
"Done. But I keep the boy as a hostage for the bull's behavior," Zhao said coldly. "If the bull kills a groom, the boy answers for it."
Li Wei looked at Da Niu. The boy was terrified but nodded.
"He will stay," Li Wei agreed. "But he eats with the handlers, not the animals. And he is not to be beaten."
"As long as the bull behaves, the boy is safe."
***
**The Departure**
The transaction happened fast. A heavy pouch of silver fragments and copper coins was pressed into Li Wei's hand. It felt like a rock.
Li Wei walked Da Niu to the guest quarters—a small room behind the stables.
"Listen to me, Da Niu," Li Wei whispered, gripping the boy's shoulders. "Do not let them overfeed him. Only the bran mix I gave you. Do not let them work him in the heat of the day. Stick to Hei Feng like a shadow. If they try to beat you—"
"I'll endure it, Boss," Da Niu said, his jaw set. "I'm not afraid. I'll guard the bull."
"I'll be back in a month," Li Wei promised. "Or sooner if I get the money. Stay safe. Don't anger the Steward."
He turned to leave. He didn't look back at Hei Feng. It felt like leaving his heart behind.
Qin Hu was waiting by the gate. He saw the money pouch. He saw the empty cart.
"We got the money," Qin Hu said quietly. "But we lost the bull and the boy."
"We didn't lose them," Li Wei said, his voice hard. "We deployed them. Come on. We have to get back. We have an exam to fund."
They walked out of the Zhao compound, the heavy gates slamming shut behind them.
Li Wei counted the silver in the pouch as they walked. 500 coins. He still needed 1000 more.
"One down," Li Wei muttered. "Two to go."
He looked at the sky. The sun was setting. He had to be home by tomorrow. He had to find another way.
And then he remembered the conversation he had overheard in the kitchen of the Fragrant Pavilion. About a local magistrate looking for "exotic gifts" for his superior's birthday next month.
An idea began to form.
**[Quest Update: The Seasonal Lease (Partial Success).]**
**[Funds Acquired: 500 Coins.]**
**[Funds Remaining Needed: 1000 Coins.]**
**[New Lead: The Magistrate's Gift.]**
Li Wei tightened the strap of his pouch. The pressure was still on. But for tonight, they had survived the tiger's den.