My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 43 White Bull
The market for livestock, specifically mules and horses, was located at the westernmost part of the market.

Although it's called Mule and Horse Market, it actually has no shortage of pigs, dogs, cattle, horses, donkeys, sheep, and even chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, and rabbits.

There's no animal, poultry, or livestock that won't be sold.

Because there are many kinds of products sold, there is no so-called livestock shed; it is just a large open space like a square.

Every few steps there is a big tree. These trees grow naturally, but they provide convenience for livestock sellers. Many large animals such as cattle, horses, and donkeys are tied to the trees during market days, which is much easier than any livestock shed.

As Chen Ling pushed his bicycle and followed Guo Baolai into the mule and horse market, in addition to hearing the sounds of various livestock, there was also a pungent smell of animal urine.

Not only was the smell extremely strong, but it also stung my eyes.

"Old Bago, Old Bago..."

Upon entering Luomashi, Guo Baolai clasped his hands and looked around. After finding his target, he called out to Chen Ling, gesturing for him to follow.

Guo Baolai was taking him to find a mule and horse broker he knew. Mule and horse brokers are similar to intermediaries; for a few yuan or a pack or two of cigarettes, they will help you find satisfactory livestock.

Soon, the two arrived in front of an old man with a sallow complexion.

The old man had white hair and beard, a sallow face full of wrinkles, wore a liberation cap and a faded blue Zhongshan suit. He looked to be around sixty years old, tall, and somewhat hunchbacked.

It was the old man Chen Ling had helped start the tractor.

Chen Ling recognized the old man at a glance, and the old man also recognized him.

"Hey, isn't this the young man who sells greenhouse vegetables? I told you to go find Bora to fix your car, and now Bora's come looking for me to watch the livestock, hahaha..."

The old man, with a pipe in his mouth, was slightly taken aback, then burst into laughter.

Then he stood up and asked, "Have you sold your cucumbers and tomatoes yet?"

"It was just sold, so I'm coming over to buy a livestock now that it's sold out."

Chen Ling smiled and handed him a cigarette.

"It actually sold? It was sold for two yuan a pound?"

The old man took the cigarette, a hint of disbelief on his face.

A manure cart with a sideboard was parked next to them, piled high with livestock manure.

Guo Baolai poked at the door with his stick, looked up and said, “Brother Ba, you don’t know, my brother Fugui sold for three yuan to a family in Beijing. They’re not short of money, and they thought Brother Fugui’s dishes were delicious, so they even raised the price by one yuan.”

"Ouch!"

The old man stared in astonishment: "They've really ripped off a big spender! This opening sale is enough to feed them for three years. No wonder they're smoking cigarettes; their pockets are bulging."

Chen Ling and Guo Baolai laughed when they heard this. They had bought the pack of cigarettes specifically for the mule and horse economy.

"Hey old man, let's go pick out a beast of burden for my rich brother?"

Old Ba tucked his cigarette behind his ear, tapped his pipe, and said, "Alright, come with me, I'll show you around."

"Young man, what kind of livestock do you want to buy?"

"A donkey or an ox will do, we can buy them to pull carts or plow fields."

Chen Ling replied.

Old Ba then asked, "You've come all alone to buy large livestock, can you make the decisions?"

"can."

Along the way, first there were stalls selling dogs, then chickens, ducks, geese, and rabbits, then pigs and sheep, and only at the very back were the stalls selling large livestock.

“Young man, you’re a bit late. After noon, there are fewer large animals. Look, there are only about a hundred of them, including donkeys and cows. Let’s take a look around first.”

Old Ba pointed with his pipe and said.

"Okay, it's up to you."

Chen Ling responded and followed the old man with Guo Baolai.

Then they discovered that there weren't many large animals; the tallest, strongest, and best-looking red donkeys numbered only a dozen or so.

Old Ba examined each donkey very carefully, checking their teeth, body shape, hooves, and so on. He inspected all the donkeys thoroughly. Then he took his pipe and silently smoked.

Chen Ling didn't understand what it meant and wanted to ask, but Guo Baolai gave him a look, telling him not to rush.

"Old Ba, give us a heads up if you've got your eye on one. Are you trying to keep us in suspense?"

One of the donkey sellers couldn't hold back any longer and spoke directly to Old Ba.

Old Ba ignored the man, thought it over carefully, and said to Chen Ling, "Young man, how about a mule? Why don't we go and take a look at a mule?"

Mules are strong and good at plowing, but they can't reproduce, so many families don't want them and sell them to slaughterhouses when they reach a certain age.

"Okay, let's go take a look."

For Chen Ling, as long as the item could be used to pull carts and plow fields, that was enough; he didn't have high requirements.

"Hey, don't go! Why are you leaving? The price is negotiable..."

"You old codger, that's really unfair of you! What kind of economist are you? This young man wants to buy a donkey, and you, you old geezer, are making him watch mules..."

The man selling the donkey was getting a little unhappy.

“Little brother, mules can’t have calves. If you buy one, you can work for it for two years, and then you have to sell it for meat.”

Chen Ling smiled but didn't say anything.

Old Ba glanced at the man sideways and said, "Donkeys raised on soybean cakes and feed may look nice, but they're just for show. It's these kinds of donkeys that should be killed and eaten."

After saying that, he continued to walk slowly forward, holding his pipe.

Chen Ling offered him two more cigarettes, which he tucked behind his ear without smoking them.

Soon, the mule finished reading as well.

Chen Ling hadn't done anything yet, but Lao Ba shook his head and cursed, "These bastards, every afternoon it's all this kind of stuff."

Then, with a furrowed brow, he looked at Chen Ling and said, "Young man, let's not go to the cattle market. After noon, the livestock at the market aren't very good; the good ones have all been taken by others in the morning."

"Come a little earlier for the next episode, and I'll pick one you like..."

Chen Ling thought that picking an average one, one that could pull a cart and plow the fields, would be fine. He wondered what kind of livestock this old man would consider acceptable.

Just as I was about to speak, I heard a cow moo from the side.

"Moo! Moo!"

Although Chen Ling didn't understand cow language, he still felt that the cow's mooing sounded a bit strange.

Following the sound, Chen Ling saw a small water buffalo, not too big or too small, tied to a large locust tree not far away.

This little buffalo is quite different from other buffaloes. Its fur is unusually white, except for its brown hooves and gray and white horns. Its entire body is white, making it look like it has albinism.

But, actually, she looks quite good in white.

At this moment, a man wanted to see the buffalo, but the little buffalo wouldn't let him. It circled around the big locust tree, constantly dodging and letting out startled cries.

When the man went this way, the little water buffalo ran to the other side. When the man chased after it, the little water buffalo turned back around.

Chen Ling found it interesting and said, "This little water buffalo is quite pretty, shall we go take a look?"

"Forget it, Brother Fugui. That little white ox is just a novelty. It can't pull a cart or plow the fields. It can't do anything. We've taken it to several markets, but we still can't sell it."

Before Lao Ba could speak, Guo Baolai said.

Chen Ling asked in surprise, "Why is that?"

“This cow is timid and afraid of strangers. Every time it comes to the market, it hides behind a tree. If a stranger comes to look, it hides everywhere and won’t let anyone see it.”

"If the host family forcibly drags them over, they'll be terrified, they'll pee and poop, and they'll scream like a pig being slaughtered."

Guo Baolai explained.

Beside him, Old Ba took a puff of his pipe and chimed in, "I've heard people say that the white cow is different from other cows. Its eyes can see ghosts. I don't know if it's true or not, otherwise why would it be so afraid all the time?"

(End of this chapter)