Although the winter slaughter was not a festival, it was livelier than one for the herders. In those days, herders in the mountains usually kept to themselves, only gathering for some fun during the winter slaughter, buzkashi, or horse racing.
Later, when they settled down to raise livestock, their traditions did not change. Every winter, they still gathered for buzkashi and horse racing.
But with less space, and with buzkashi and horse racing involving so much activity, they would take to the roads and pass through villages when there were no dedicated grounds. Inevitably, villagers got hurt, especially children.
In some herder settlements, things like this happened almost every year. Dozens of horses would charge into a village and gallop side by side down the lanes. It was frightening.
Yet such things were difficult to stop. After all, they were ethnic traditions, and some matters could not be reasoned through. The best solution was naturally to have dedicated grounds, like those used by the man who had gone viral this year for standing on horseback, whistling and cheering for his nephew.
They had their own grounds, where they could enjoy the competition and let loose.
The winter slaughter remained lively, much like celebrating New Year or going to a market in the eighties. With everyone finally gathered together, they chatted and laughed, as though they had suddenly rejoined society.
People were social creatures, after all.
As soon as Li Long arrived, they began slaughtering the cow.
Slaughtering cattle was different from slaughtering sheep. A herder like Harimu could handle a sheep alone, but slaughtering a cow was a major job.
Just imagine its hide spread out-it could cover the floor of a small room.
The herders helping with the slaughter were excited too. Each had his own task: skinning, gutting,