Bakery.

Chen Niu was inside ordering a cake, with quite a few specifications.

“Use less cream, make the cake layers softer, but don’t make it too sweet.”

“For the plating, can we use the things I brought?”

The bakery owner looked puzzled. “Fruits are fine, but all these grasses and leaves…”

“They’re for him,” Chen Niu said, glancing out the window. Shi Qian was standing there.

Shi Qian was frozen in place. This morning he had heard Chen Niu say seriously that he wanted to celebrate his thirtieth birthday—and the way he said it made it sound like he was on his last legs, which made Shi Qian doubt himself a little.

Thirty years old?

Why did it sound like he was about to leave this world?

It’s just thirty.

If he wanted, he could easily live as long as a cow’s lifespan record.

Shi Qian focused on the sounds inside. When Chen Niu was picking out candles, he “mooed,” drawing Chen Niu’s attention.

Then he tapped the floor lightly three times with his hoof.

Tap, tap, tap—

Three candles would be enough!

Chen Niu understood and instructed, “Three candles will do.”

But in his heart, he couldn’t help muttering—this is starting to feel like lighting incense.

Then he thought about the origins of this old ancestor of his and swallowed the words back down.

After all, lighting incense wouldn’t be wrong either.

With the cake finalized, he wrote down the address and time. Chen Niu stepped out of the bakery and tugged at Ai Mei Niu’s tie. “Let’s go, we’re picking up Nanyin.”

Shi Qian tilted his head and pulled out his summer-colored watermelon tie.

Chen Niu, absolutely jealous of how many ties Shi Qian had and how good they looked, kept tugging it crooked.

Sensing the disdainful look thrown by the cow, Chen Niu: …

“Always showing off.”

Shi Qian replied proudly, “Moo!”

I’m naturally handsome!

Although, in terms of a cow’s age, Shi Qian was no longer young, his body showed no sign of aging, still looking strong and youthful. Among his kind, he was undoubtedly a handsome bull.

Chen Niu knew him too well by now and could fully guess his response, smiling: “Alright, you’re handsome, you’re handsome.”

“I’ll give you a heads-up. There’s going to be a big surprise later, don’t cry when you see it.”

“Moo?”

A big surprise?

Shi Qian couldn’t imagine what could possibly be a surprise for a birthday. They couldn’t produce some kind of medicine named after him, right? A few years ago, Chen Niu had wanted to name a fertilizer that way and got beaten by Shi Qian.

Curious, Shi Qian leaned closer to Chen Niu and asked, “Moo?”

What is it exactly? Aren’t we just going to pick up Nanyin from work?

“Moo—”

Are you going to tell me or not? Just spill it.

Chen Niu said, “Why the rush? You’ll know soon enough. It’s definitely a huge surprise.”

Shi Qian shot him a resentful glance. Not telling him and teasing him on purpose. With four stomachs, his curiosity was fourfold!

Shi Qian glanced at him and then ran ahead, heading to Nanyin’s workplace entrance.

Chen Niu ran after him, realizing he still couldn’t outrun Qian Niuhua.

Panting, the duo arrived at the entrance of her workplace, leaving the security guard staring in surprise.

Someone hurried out, concerned: “Teacher Chen, Qian Niuhua, what’s going on? Is someone chasing you?”

As they spoke, their eyes darted behind the pair, wary of any potential trouble.

Chen Niu and Shi Qian exchanged glances, and Chen Niu explained: “No, no one’s chasing us. Qian Niuhua and I were just exercising—a race.”

“Well, Qian Niuhua won,” the guard said, relieved, smiling as he gave the race result.

Shi Qian smirked proudly: “Moo.”

Winning is normal, four legs and all.

After a brief chat, Nanyin emerged as usual.

But this time was different—behind her followed many people, almost as if they were seeing her off. Young people who studied or worked under her, colleagues of similar or slightly older age, and even older, gray-haired seniors.

Shi Qian thought of the big surprise Chen Niu mentioned and widened his already large eyes.

No way…

As he speculated, an elder spoke to Nanyin: “You really can let go, deciding to leave like this.”

Nearly fifty, Nanyin was a beautiful older woman, full of vitality, her eyes bright. Her hair had quite a bit of white, which Chen Niu always said was from overthinking.

She replied, “There’s nothing to ‘letting go.’ Everyone has their own path.”

“I’ve worked a long time. Wanting to rest now isn’t unusual, right?”

As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Chen Niu and Shi Qian, her face carrying a light smile. Time seemed to flow backward, a momentary flash to many years ago.

Shi Qian stepped forward, rubbing against her: “Moo?”

Why resign all of a sudden?

About half a year ago, Shi Qian’s mission in this world had been completed. Yet he chose to stay.

Long-lived dragons like Long Ye could cultivate for thousands of years in a blink, even tens of thousands.

But for Chen Niu and Nanyin, their lives were destined to be short.

For Shi Qian too, it was brief. With old friends gone, there was no reason to seek them. So he had long prepared for the possibility of staying.

He had never imagined that a workaholic like Nanyin, who might not even go home if there wasn’t family, would ever resign.

Nanyin lowered her head and rubbed his face. “Qian Niuhua, we’ll talk at home.”

Shi Qian, always cooperative, nodded: “Moo.”

Talking at home it is.

On the way home, Shi Qian glanced here and there, thinking: Everyone, keeping things from me.

The big surprise Chen Niu mentioned was probably Nanyin’s resignation. Leaving such an important job wasn’t a one- or two-day decision; she may have considered it years ago.

In other words—the middle-aged couple had secretly planned this behind Shi Qian’s back for quite a while.

Once home, Shi Qian pretended to sigh, lowering his voice.

“Moo.”

You’ve got little secrets now.

“Moo moo.”

Telling me nothing.

“Moo…”

Feeling excluded at home.

Nanyin coaxed: “Qian Niuhua, don’t sigh. It’s all Chen Niu’s idea! He said he wanted to give you a big surprise.”

Chen Niu seriously asked: “Not surprised enough?”

“Look at Qian Niuhua, sneaking glances at us. Probably sighing just for show. This one, always playing the pitiful act, just wants to know what happens next.”

Nanyin disagreed: “Just tell him. We only wanted to make Qian Niuhua happy anyway.”

Shi Qian had once suspected that if Nanyin, with her kind personality, had a child with Chen Niu, she might spoil them too much. Because of work, she rarely saw him, so she had a little guilt, pampering both him and Chen Niu.

Immediately, Shi Qian walked over to her side, ready to hear the spoilers.

Chen Niu whispered, “The cake hasn’t arrived yet…”

Shi Qian loudly said, “Moo moo.”

Ignore him, Nanyin, hurry and tell me.”

Lin Nanyin smiled. “It’s like this—we’ve made a plan. Next, the three of us will go back to our hometown.”

“We can go to Shengli Village, or Nan Nong, or even the agricultural science institute where we used to be. I want to visit all of them.”

“Working every day is tiring. I’ve thought this through for a long time; it’s not a sudden decision.”

“The world won’t stop moving just because one person leaves. Of course, everyone has their own responsibilities and… ideals. When you want to strive, follow your heart; when you want to rest, follow your heart too. There’s always more work to be done.”

Chen Niu looked at his beloved. “If you ever feel idle or tired, you can become a teacher, teach students, and help the next generation excel. That way, our country, our people, can also live better.”

Shi Qian: Some of the aftereffects of being a long-time teacher, still not light.

But hearing that everything was planned, and carefully considered, Shi Qian nodded, “Moo moo.”

Alright, I approve.

For him, it was just a change of scenery.

Ever since technology advanced, Shi Qian hadn’t seriously plowed fields in a long time.

He remembered the last time he went to the fields—Chen Niu was abroad providing agricultural aid, guiding locals in farming, and Shi Qian plowed a five-star red flag into the ground for the natives. While showing off, it even made the news at seven o’clock, leaving Shi Qian too embarrassed to reminisce carelessly.

Back in Beijing, when Shi Qian felt idle, he sometimes ran with the horses at the racetrack. Some people found it rare and wanted to buy him.

It turned out, Shi Qian was also a consumer!

Visiting the old place again seemed quite fun. Shi Qian felt excited.

When the cake arrived, knocking on the door, Shi Qian quickly went to fetch it.

As Shi Qian ran to the door, the couple exchanged a glance and smiled faintly. Lin Nanyin stepped closer and patted Chen Niu’s hand.

Shi Qian opened the door and faced the cake shop owner.

“Moo moo.”

Give it to me.

The owner hesitated. “Is anyone home?”

“Yes. But just give it to the cow.”

The owner carefully handed the cake to Shi Qian, probably thinking a lot internally.

After eating the cake, they returned to Lin Nanyin’s parents’ place in the evening, and Shi Qian received several red envelopes.

Once Shi Qian’s birthday was over, the house was tidied up, and soon they boarded a train to leave.

The first stop: nearby Nan Nong.

Returning to familiar territory, Shi Qian noticed many of the security friends had changed, making him feel a bit desolate.

Chen Niu had just walked around a little with Lin Nanyin when he suddenly called out, “Qian Niuhua Hua, come see this!”

Shi Qian, walking behind, felt curious. “Moo moo?”

What could be so interesting?

He approached and came face to face with a statue of himself.

How to describe the feeling? You feel like you’re not really there, yet somehow you still are, even wanting to step aside to make room.

Shi Qian looked at the three characters beside the statue—“Studious Cow”—and felt utterly helpless.

Years-old rumors were now, years later, turning into “truth” and legend.

The simple display drew the students’ attention; perhaps they were thinking the statue was alive.

An old acquaintance also appeared—Wang Si’an, returning from the grasslands after raising cattle, sheep, and horses.

“I got your call early, but didn’t expect it to be so soon. Welcome back to Nan Nong, Chen Niu!”

“Long time no see, Teacher Wang.” Chen Niu smiled and shook Wang Si’an’s hand, introducing Lin Nanyin, “This is my wife, Nanyin.”

“Much honored.”

Wang Si’an wanted to be polite, but then saw the familiar cow approach, nodding at him and the statue, turning its head.

“Moo moo?”

What’s going on with my statue?

Wang Si’an understood and explained: “It’s to encourage the students. At the time, the idea was yours, and this statue passed unanimously! Shows how much everyone likes you. And since you rarely come back, the teachers missed you and made a statue to satisfy them a bit.”

Just as Shi Qian accepted this warm explanation, he heard Wang Si’an continue: “Look under the left front hoof—there are two nearly broken pig bones, referencing your old newspaper feature—‘Pig-Slaying Hero.’ Doesn’t this make the statue exceptionally complete?”

Shi Qian: …

But I didn’t even kill that pig!

This statue of yours, besides showing my handsomeness, probably isn’t really reliable for anything else.