On the fifteenth day of July, it is appropriate to worship ancestors, but one should avoid going out, traveling far, and holding weddings or funerals.

At noon, Li Gou and his group crossed a mountain pass. Suddenly, a vast valley opened up before them, with a broad river running through it. The river, crystal clear and sparkling in the sunlight, appeared like a jade ribbon embedded in the valley.

This river is a tributary originating from Tianshui, along with the Grand Canal and Yan Zhi River. Due to its clear and gentle waters spanning about a mile wide, it is named Daqing River.

On the north bank of the Daqing River stands a city wall over four meters high, enclosing the county seat of Qinghe. This is the granary of the capital city, supplying nearly half of the grain for the millions of people in Kyoto.

Upon entering the city, they found the residence of Hou Qi, the constable of Qinghe County. It was here that the group from the Constabulary Office learned the detailed circumstances of the matter.

Three months ago, a magnificent and gentle giant bull, with snow-white fur, emerged from the Daqing Mountains and wandered near Qinghe County. Shortly after, the village head of Daqing River Village in Qinghe County brought the bull back home.

The bull was strong and docile, a skilled worker in agricultural activities. The villagers of Daqing River were envious, but since the village head claimed ownership, and promised to dedicate the bull to the entire village, they did not object.

However, rumors spread to neighboring villages, embellishing the story of the bull's supernatural nature. It became as if owning the bull would bring three generations of wealth and prosperity.

Xiao Erxian, the steward of Prince Ning in Qinghe County, learned of the situation from the servants and immediately deduced the origin of the bull. Being well-read and having perused various books, he recalled a passage from the "Records of Mountains and Seas": "North of the green mountains, south of the green grass, there exists a completely white creature resembling a cow, with a roar as melodious as a maiden's voice, called the 'Black Bull,' bringing great fortune."

Such a valuable asset should naturally be in the possession of a virtuous person. This was an opportunity for Xiao Erxian to advance in status.

Now, why would Prince Ning have a steward in Qinghe County? To understand this, one must go back to the irrigated fields along the Daqing River that extend nearly a hundred miles.

The best land in Qinghe County belongs to Prince Ning's family, including the salt mine and iron mountain in the northern Daqing Mountains.

Xiao Erxian, the steward, was also a capable person, shrewd and ruthless, skilled in wealth accumulation. He obtained a batch of unsellable livestock at a low price from Prince Ning's industrial animal husbandry, such as donkeys, cows, and mules, and leased them to the tenant farmers outside the county who cultivated Prince Ning's land.

To cultivate Prince Ning's land, one must use the livestock from Prince Ning's household. While it seemed reasonable, the steward employed various schemes, leaving the hardworking peasants often owing significant amounts of silver to the Prince's estate after a year of labor.

As a result, except for some landlords, officials, and those with recognized achievements, the majority of the people in Qinghe County became servants of Prince Ning's estate—though it sounded better, in reality, they were slaves. Fortunately, they were not starving.

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Upon learning about the appearance of the Black Bull in Qinghe County, the steward, in collaboration with the county officials, used some tricks and paid five taels of silver to bring the enormous Black Bull to Prince Ning's mansion at the northwest corner of Qinghe County.

Following Xiao Erxian's approach, who wouldn't even part with a single tael of silver, it turned out that the village head had a good son-in-law, precisely Hou Qi.

Fortunately, Hou Qi and the old man in his family had a distant relationship, so they didn't delve too deeply into the matter. After everything was arranged properly, a fast horse was dispatched to report to Prince Ning in Kyoto.

In the Prince's mansion in Kyoto, where the Prince was worrying about what birthday gift to present to the Empress Dowager on her sixtieth birthday in August, the news of the auspicious appearance of the Black Bull was enough to make him restless. Prince Ning immediately condescended and, accompanied by hundreds of guards, rushed to Qinghe County from Kyoto.

After a thorough examination, it was confirmed that the Black Bull was indeed an auspicious sign—a symbol of great fortune! Prince Ning gave the Black Bull the nickname "Niu Ding Tian," meaning the royal family's prosperity reaching the heavens.

At that time, instead of bringing it back to Kyoto, the Black Bull was quietly kept in Qinghe County. This precaution was taken to avoid accusations if they couldn't present it to the emperor, making it susceptible to criticism.

The plan was to present the Black Bull as an auspicious gift to the palace on the Empress Dowager's birthday in August, bringing joy to her face. As a reward for the steward's successful handling of the situation, Prince Ning promised to let him take care of the Black Bull.

The day the Black Bull entered Kyoto would also be the day when Steward Xiao Erxian returned to the capital. Xiao Erxian was genuinely invested in this matter and treated the Black Bull better than his own seventy-year-old mother.

He arranged a separate courtyard for the Black Bull and assigned two honest and diligent servants to take care of its daily needs. The Bull received three meals a day consisting of grass and soy supplements, and its water, bathing, and overall care were meticulously attended to.

However, five days before August, an incident occurred. Early in the morning, the servant responsible for feeding water to the livestock let out a piercing scream, waking everyone in the mansion. By the time the guards and other servants rushed over, the servant had only two legs left.

Standing not far away was the two-meter-tall Black Bull. Its crimson eyes and blood-soaked white fur indicated a departure from its usual gentle demeanor. It continued to chew with blood dripping onto the ground.

This scene suggested that the Black Bull was the culprit. The guards and servants dared not approach. They feared both jeopardizing the servant's fate and interrupting Prince Ning's important affairs.

They did not take action, but they also couldn't allow the Bull to continue its rampage. Instead, a guard was dispatched to inform the steward who hadn't arrived yet.

The Black Bull paid no attention to this, violently charging and knocking down more than a dozen slow responders. Others, seeing this, decided to flee.

Those who fell to the ground, lightly injured, got up and ran, while those with severe injuries ended up inside the Bull's mouth. Whether the Bull was full or had indigestion, it soon lay there motionless, only the heavy breathing remaining.

Observing this situation, the brave guard noticed it and, not daring to do anything else, urged everyone to securely seal the courtyard where the livestock were kept.

Being a knowledgeable person, the steward wisely refrained from approaching the mad Bull. He immediately sent someone to invite Hou Qi, the constable of Qinghe County, who had no patience for this deceitful steward.

Hou Qi, not having the same level of wit as the cunning steward, arrived promptly. Upon inspecting the situation inside the Prince's mansion, he exclaimed, "This thing is considered auspicious? Forget it, let's report it."

Fortunately, you, Xiao Erxian, got us into this mess. Otherwise, my old man and my chubby son in the village might have become victims of this Bull's rage. This mansion is no longer suitable for habitation. Who knows when the Black Bull will get hungry and consume a few more people to fill its belly?

Steward Xiao Erxian and his attendants promptly moved out of Prince Ning's mansion, returning to the courtyard they had arranged for themselves outside the city. Indeed, this steward in Qinghe County managed Prince Ning's estate efficiently, and he didn't neglect his own financial affairs, having established a substantial fortune.