Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 217: A Valuable Ox

The village chief, Song Dehai, stood between the two, desperately trying to mediate.

"Both of you, calm down! Xuecai, it’s a fact that you hit the cow with your vehicle. Uncle Han, we’re all upset that your cow is hurt. Here’s what I think: let’s each take a step back. Ten thousand yuan is really too much, and Xuecai’s family isn’t wealthy. How about this? Pay three thousand. We’ll call it even, alright? We all live in the same village and see each other every day. Let’s not ruin the harmony."

"No! Three thousand? Are you trying to shoo away a beggar? I’ve raised this cow for three years. It was fat and strong. If I’d sold it, it would’ve gone for at least thirty thousand. Now that its leg is crippled, I might not even get twenty thousand for it. And you offer me three thousand? Not a chance! If I don’t get ten thousand, I’m sleeping right here tonight and not leaving!"

Foolish Song leaped to his feet, his attitude incredibly aggressive.

"I won’t even give him three thousand!" Song Sisi’s father was a stubborn man himself. "His cow was wandering all over the place, it was his fault to begin with! I’ll give him a thousand yuan at most as compensation! Take it or leave it!"

The surrounding villagers started murmuring among themselves.

"That Foolish Song is a real piece of work. His cow chewed up my vegetable patch just last week!"

"Exactly. And since he’s a childless elder supported by the village, no one dares to mess with him."

"But Xuecai is definitely in the wrong this time. After all, he did cripple the cow."

"Sigh, what a mess..."

Although everyone secretly sided with Song Xuecai, Foolish Song was notoriously thick-skinned and difficult, so no one dared to offend him to his face.

Song Sisi walked over quickly and steadied her father, who was trembling with anger. "Dad, please calm down."

Her gaze fell on Foolish Song, and she tried to keep her voice calm. "Uncle Han, my dad hit your cow. It was our fault, we admit that. But ten thousand yuan is really too much. As for the thirty thousand you mentioned, it’s not worth that at all. Beef prices are low right now; your cow would sell for fifteen thousand at most."

Foolish Song sized up Song Sisi with a sidelong glance and said sarcastically, "Well, well, look at the educated city girl, trying to reason with us? Let me tell you, this isn’t just any cow. This cow has feelings! It’s like a son to me! You hit my ’son’ and think you can get away with just a few words? No way! If you don’t cough up ten thousand yuan today, none of you are leaving!"

"You..." Song Xuecai was about to erupt again but was held back firmly by Song Sisi.

Song Sisi took a deep breath. She knew it was pointless to reason with someone like him.

In the current situation, the village chief’s mediation wasn’t working, neither side was backing down, and continuing to argue would only escalate the conflict.

She made a quick decision and said to her father, "Dad, stop arguing with him. Let’s call the police. Let them handle it."

"Right! Call the police! Let them come and sort this out!" Hearing this, Foolish Song was not only unafraid but grew even more agitated. "I’m an old man with a clear conscience, I have nothing to fear! Let the police come and see how you’re bullying a lonely old man like me!"

The village chief sighed, knowing this matter wouldn’t be resolved peacefully today.

Soon, a police car from the local station arrived.

After understanding the situation, the two young police officers felt a massive headache coming on.

These kinds of civil disputes, especially in rural areas, were the most difficult to handle.

They first took photos as evidence, then attempted to mediate again.

The ordeal dragged on from evening until past eight o’clock at night, but there was still no progress.

The two officers talked until their mouths were dry, but the two men remained like stones in a latrine pit—foul and unyielding.

Finally, the officers ran out of options and had to make a decision. "It’s late, and both of you are very emotional. How about this: everyone go home and cool down for now. Come back to the station at nine tomorrow morning to continue mediation. Uncle Song, we’ll help you find a place to keep your cow for the time being. Master Song, your three-wheeler will be impounded here as collateral."

The crowd had no choice but to disperse, exhausted.

Back home, Mrs. Song had already prepared dinner, but no one had an appetite.

Song Xuecai sat on a stool, silently chain-smoking in frustration as the room filled with smoke.

Mrs. Song sighed beside him, her eyes red.

"Dad, don’t get so worked up. We’ll find a way to solve this," Song Sisi said gently.

"Solve it? How?" Song Xuecai angrily stubbed out his cigarette on the floor. "That Foolish Song is just a scoundrel who knows he can walk all over us! Ten thousand yuan... how many acres of land would I have to farm to earn that back?"

Song Sisi urged, "Don’t get angry with a scoundrel like him. It’s not worth harming your health. Dad, don’t worry about it. I’ll pay the ten thousand."

Song Xuecai looked up and frowned. "You just graduated. Where would you get that much money?"

Mrs. Song’s eyes lit up, and she immediately started gossiping, "Did Li Xu give it to you? What’s going on between you two now?"

Song Sisi’s face turned red. "Just don’t ask."

Just then, her phone rang.

She picked it up and saw it was Li Xu.

She walked into the courtyard and answered the call. "Hello, Boss."

"Sisi, how are things? Is everything at home settled?"

"Not yet... It’s a bit complicated."

"No rush. Tell me all about it."

So, Song Sisi recounted the entire afternoon’s events. She told him about her father hitting the cow, Foolish Song’s shameless behavior, the village chief’s failed mediation, and how the dispute had escalated all the way to the police station. She finished by explaining they had to go back for more mediation tomorrow.

"...So now we’re at a stalemate. My dad is furious, and that Foolish Song is such a thick-skinned rascal. I really don’t know what to do."

After hearing the whole story, Li Xu chuckled on the other end of the line. "Sigh, it’s not a big deal. It’s only ten thousand yuan. It’s not worth ruining your health over."

As he spoke,

Song Sisi’s phone chimed again.

It was a text message.

A bank transfer notification for ten thousand yuan.

"It’s not for free... When you get back, you can give me a massage. Unlock a few new positions..."

"Hmph, in your dreams."

...

Inside the main hall.

Song Xuecai and his wife watched their daughter talking on the phone in the courtyard.

Mrs. Song sighed. "I think we should just let it go. Ten thousand it is. If this drags on, it’ll be bad for our daughter’s reputation. What if it makes Li Xu unhappy..."

Song Xuecai kept his head down for a long time before finally saying, "Fine. We’re letting Foolish Song off easy."

...

After hanging up, Li Xu read his book for a while longer.

「The next morning」

He checked his intelligence feed.

[Today’s Intelligence: The big yellow cow raised by Foolish Song of Dasong Villa has a top-grade Bezoar in its gallbladder...]

"Huh?"

Li Xu smiled.

’A top-grade Bezoar, of all things.’

’This is great!’

’I’m going to make a fortune this time.’

A Bezoar is a calculus formed in the biliary system of a cow.

When a cow’s biliary system becomes inflamed or obstructed, bile can’t be excreted properly. Components in the bile, like cholesterol and bilirubin, are unable to be discharged. They gradually deposit and form crystals.

This bile retention leads to an excessive buildup of cholesterol and bile pigments. The crystals then clump together into a granular substance, which ultimately forms a Bezoar.

The formation of a Natural Bezoar usually takes several years and is more commonly found in healthy, adult cattle.

Therefore, a Natural Bezoar is extremely precious, with an international market price far exceeding that of gold.