The three-day deadline loomed over the West River ranch like a executioner's axe.
Inside the bunkhouse, the air was thick with tension. Li Wei sat at the rough-hewn table, a map of the local area spread out before him. Marks of charcoal dotted the paper, representing routes, water sources, and the location of the Yamen office in town.
Qin Hu stood by the window, his silhouette rigid. He was no longer leaning heavily on his crutch; his leg had healed enough for him to stand straight, transforming him from a wounded veteran into a towering figure of authority.
"The runner will come at noon," Qin Hu said, his voice devoid of emotion. "They like to eat lunch on someone else's coin."
"I have no coin for him," Li Wei said calmly, rolling up the map. "I have something better. I have a show."
He stood up and grabbed his wide-brimmed hat. "Ox, Da Shan! Saddle the horses. We're moving the herd today."
"Moving them?" Da Shan asked, confused. "Boss, the pasture is right here."
"Not to a new field," Li Wei said, a glint of steel in his eyes. "We're moving them to the 'Bull Pen'. It's time Black Wind earned his keep."
***
**The Breeding Protocol**
Li Wei walked to the corral where Black Wind, the massive black bull, was pacing. The animal had calmed down significantly since his capture, but he still possessed a terrifying aura of power. His muscles rippled under his dark hide, and his horns were thick and sharp.
Li Wei climbed the fence. He didn't fear the bull anymore.
"System, initiate Breeding Protocol," Li Wei thought.
**[Protocol Active.]**
**[Objective: Impregnate selected females (Hope, Spring) with enhanced genetics.]**
**[Process: The System will guide the sperm selection of the male and the uterine environment of the female.]**
**[Note: The male 'Black Wind' carries dormant recessive traits for muscle density. The System will activate these traits, creating a 'Founder' generation calf.]**
Li Wei opened the gate to the larger pasture where Hope and Spring were grazing. The cows looked up, ears twitching.
"Black Wind," Li Wei called out. He didn't use a whip. He used a specific whistle—a low, trilling sound the system had taught him. It was a mating call, a signal of dominance.
The bull stopped pacing. He turned his massive head toward Li Wei, then toward the open gate. He snorted, a puff of steam escaping his nostrils.
He charged out of the corral.
It was a breathtaking sight. Half a ton of muscle moving with surprising speed. But he didn't attack. He ran past Li Wei, kicking up dirt, straight toward the cows.
The cows scattered, startled. But Black Wind was in control. He herded them with surprising gentleness, cutting off their escape routes, pushing them toward the lush, secluded patch of alfalfa near the river.
"Good boy," Li Wei murmured. "Your legacy begins today."
**[Breeding Process Initiated.]**
**[Estimated Time: 2 hours.]**
**[Success Rate: 99%.]**
***
**The Return of the Runner**
True to Qin Hu's prediction, the dust cloud appeared on the road just as the sun reached its peak.
The runner returned, but this time he wasn't alone. He had brought two other men—local thugs with thick arms and cudgels tucked into their belts. They walked with the swagger of men used to taking what they wanted.
"Li Wei!" the runner shouted from the gate. He didn't wait for an invitation; he kicked the pivot gate open. "Time's up! Where's the money?"
He stormed into the yard, looking around. "And where's that fat cow? I think I'll take her as a down payment!"
The two thugs laughed, moving toward the barn.
Suddenly, a sharp, piercing whistle cut through the air.
*Whheeeee!*
The sound came from the hillside above them.
The runner looked up. He froze.
Standing on the ridge, silhouetted against the bright sun, was Li Wei. He sat atop Storm, the brown horse perfectly still. On his head was the strange, wide-brimmed hat. In his hand, he held a long coil of rope.
Beside him stood Qin Hu, arms crossed, his face grim. And flanking them were Ox and Da Shan, holding pitchforks.
But the most terrifying sight was what stood *behind* them.
Black Wind.
The bull was panting, his eyes still wild from the breeding. He stood like a statue, his massive horns gleaming.
"This is private property," Li Wei said, his voice echoing down the slope. He didn't shout. He spoke with the calm certainty of a judge. "And that cow you're eyeing? She's carrying the future of this ranch. You touch her, you die."
The runner laughed nervously, trying to regain his composure. "You threaten a Yaman officer? That's a death sentence, boy! Rebellion!"
"I'm not threatening," Li Wei said. "I'm stating a fact. You represent the law? Fine. But does the law pay for stolen goods?"
He reached into his vest and pulled out the crumpled contract from the Fugui Restaurant.
"This contract," Li Wei waved it. "Is signed by Steward Chen, who serves Magistrate Li. It states that the Li Family Ranch is the *exclusive* supplier of Golden Eggs for the Magistrate's table. If you confiscate my cows, or break my fence, you disrupt the supply. You starve the Magistrate."
It was a bluff—mostly. The Magistrate probably didn't even know the eggs existed yet; the Steward bought them for the restaurant's general high-end clientele. But the runner didn't know that.
"You think the Magistrate cares about your eggs?" the runner sneered, though he hesitated.
"Steward Zhou thinks he can squeeze me," Li Wei continued, his voice dropping an octave. "But he's a small fish. I'm supplying the Prefect's banquet in three months. Do you really want to be the man who ruined the Prefect's dinner?"
The mention of the "Prefect" sent a ripple of fear through the thugs. The Prefect was a mythical figure of power to them, far above the local Magistrate.
"You're lying," the runner spat, but his hand moved away from his cudgel.
"Am I?" Li Wei smiled. It was a cold smile. "Go ahead. Take the cow. But when the Magistrate asks why his favorite dish is missing from the banquet table, I will tell him it was Runner Zhang. I will tell him you stole the property of the Empire."
Li Wei nudged Storm with his heels. The horse took a step forward.
"And if you don't believe the law..." Li Wei uncoiled the rope. "Ask my bull."
He whistled again—a sharp, attacking note.
Black Wind lowered his head and let out a ground-shaking bellow. *MOOOOOOOOO!*
He scraped his front hoof against the ground, tearing up the turf. He looked ready to charge.
The thugs, city bullies used to beating starving peasants, had never seen a bull this big or this angry up close. They scrambled back, eyes wide with panic.
"Call off the beast!" the runner shrieked, losing all dignity. "Call it off!"
"Leave," Li Wei commanded. "Close the gate behind you. And tell Steward Zhou that the next time he sends men to my home, they better bring a warrant signed by the Emperor. Otherwise, I feed them to the pigs."
The runner didn't need to be told twice. He turned and ran, his thugs stumbling over each other to get out of the gate. They slammed the heavy wooden door shut behind them and vanished down the road.
***
**The Aftermath**
Li Wei rode Storm down the hill. He felt a tremor in his hands—the adrenaline crash. But he kept his face stone cold until he was inside the bunkhouse.
"Boss!" Da Shan cheered, throwing his hat in the air. "Did you see them run? They looked like scared rabbits!"
"You were amazing, Boss!" Ox grinned. "The Prefect's banquet! You really got them!"
Qin Hu, however, didn't smile. He limped over and closed the door.
"That bought us time," Qin Hu said seriously. "But now you have a real problem. You just lied to the Yamen. If they find out you don't actually have a deal with the Prefect..."
"Then we have to make it true," Li Wei said, slumping onto a bench. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. "We have three months to produce a cow worthy of the Prefect. And we have to get the Golden Eggs into the Magistrate's actual hands."
He looked at the window, towards the barn where Hope and Spring were resting.
"The breeding is done," Li Wei said. "System, status."
**[Breeding Complete.]**
**[Subject: Hope (Yellow Cow). Status: Pregnant.]**
**[Genetic Modification: Applied. The calf will exhibit accelerated growth and improved muscle structure (Brahman traits).]**
**[Subject: Spring (Yellow Cow). Status: Pregnant.]**
**[Genetic Modification: Applied. Calves due in 9 months (Standard Bovine). System Acceleration available with High-Protein Feed.]**
"Pregnant," Li Wei whispered. "Both of them."
"What?" Da Shan leaned in.
"They're pregnant," Li Wei said, a genuine smile finally breaking through. "We're going to have calves. And these won't be normal calves. These will be the start of our legacy."
***
**The Silage Verification**
To celebrate the small victory and distract from the looming threat, Li Wei decided it was time to open the silage pit.
The workers gathered around the earthen mound. The mud plaster had dried hard, sealing the pit airtight.
"Ox, break the seal," Li Wei ordered.
Ox took a shovel and cracked the mud crust. He pried it open.
A puff of gas escaped. The workers stepped back, expecting the smell of rot.
Instead, a sharp, tangy scent wafted out. It smelled like pickles. Like apples. Like vinegar.
It was the smell of fermentation.
Li Wei reached in and grabbed a handful of the alfalfa. It was still green, though slightly browned. It was moist and crisp.
"Taste it," Li Wei told Ox.
Ox hesitated, then took a bite. He chewed. His eyes widened.
"It's... sour! But sweet!" Ox exclaimed. "It tastes good!"
"Bring it to the cows!"
They carried armfuls of the silage to the barn. The cows, Hope, Spring, and even the picky Brave, attacked the food. They ate voraciously, the sound of chewing filling the barn.
"Silage is digested better than dry hay," Li Wei explained to the mesmerized workers. "It gives them more energy. It keeps them warm. With this, we don't need to fear winter. We don't need to fear the drought. We have food stored underground."
He looked at the pit. It was a treasure chest.
***
**The Plan for the Prefect**
That night, Li Wei and Qin Hu sat by the lantern.
"The runner will verify your bluff," Qin Hu said. "He will ask around town. If he finds out the Magistrate hasn't ordered eggs specifically..."
"I know," Li Wei said. "So we change the game. I need to get into the Magistrate's house. Or the Prefect's banquet."
"The Prefect's banquet is guarded by the Imperial Guard," Qin Hu said. "I know their rotation. But getting in is suicide for a peasant."
"I don't need to get in," Li Wei said. "I just need the food to get in. Steward Chen at the restaurant... he's ambitious. If I offer him a dish that guarantees his promotion, he will do the legwork."
Li Wei looked at his pregnant cows.
"In three months, these calves will be born. But I can't wait for them to grow. I need a showpiece now."
He thought of the bull, Black Wind. He was impressive. But he was a worker.
"What about the chickens?" Qin Hu asked.
"The chickens are the key," Li Wei said. "The eggs are good. But what if we did a roast chicken? A specific breed... crispy skin, tender meat..."
He stopped. He had an idea.
"System," Li Wei thought. "Can I speed-grow a batch of meat birds?"
**[System Protocol: Rapid Growth Feed.]**
**[Requires: High-Protein Silage + Special Grain Mix.]**
**[Effect: Chicks can reach market weight in 6 weeks (standard is 5 months).]**
"Six weeks," Li Wei muttered. "That's just in time for the harvest festival."
"Qin Hu," Li Wei looked up. "I need you to teach Ox how to use a spear. Not to fight, but to look good. We're going to turn the ranch into a fortress. And we're going to sell the most expensive chicken the world has ever seen."
Li Wei stood up. The fear of the Yaman was still there, but it was pushed back by the sheer momentum of his plans.
"They want a fight?" Li Wei whispered to the darkness. "They'll get one. But we fight with flavor, with quality, and with money. Lots of money."
He extinguished the lantern. Tomorrow, the real work began.