Primary School Student Bedside Book - 100 Touching Stories for Cultivating Primary School Students' Morals (Diamond Edition)

Author: Qin Yu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: A True Story of Unconditional Love
This is a true story. It takes place in a desert area in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in western China, where water is extremely scarce. Each person's daily water allowance is strictly limited to three pounds, and it must be transported from a great distance by the military. Daily drinking, bathing, washing dishes, doing laundry, and even feeding livestock all rely on these three precious pounds of water. Humans cannot do without water, and livestock cannot either—they are thirsty! Finally, one day, an old cow, always considered kind and loyal, became so desperate from thirst that it broke free from its harness and forcibly entered the only road in the desert, which was also the route for the water supply vehicle.
Finally, the water supply vehicle arrived. With incredible recognition, the old cow quickly dashed onto the road, and the military vehicle slammed to a halt with a sharp brake. The old cow stood silently in front of the vehicle, ignoring the driver's scolding and urging, refusing to move even a step. Five minutes passed, and the two sides remained locked in stalemate. The soldiers who were transporting water had encountered situations where animals blocked the road to get water before, but none were as stubborn as this cow. The man and the cow continued to endure, eventually causing a traffic jam. The drivers behind grew impatient, and some even tried to start their engines to push the vehicle forward, but the old cow remained unmoved.
Later, the cow's owner arrived. Enraged and humiliated, the owner raised a long whip and fiercely whipped the gaunt back of the cow. The cow was whipped until its skin was torn and it bellowed in pain, but it still refused to move. Blood seeped out, staining the whip red. The cow's mournful bellowing, mixed with the biting cold wind in the desert, seemed even more tragic. The water supply soldier nearby cried, and the impatient driver also cried.
Finally, the water supply soldier said, "Let me break the rules once. I am willing to accept the punishment." He took half a basin of water from the vehicle—about three pounds—and placed it in front of the cow. Surprisingly, the old cow did not drink the water it had fought so hard for. Instead, it looked up at the setting sun and bellowed into the sky, as if calling for something. At that moment, a young calf ran out from behind a sand dune. The injured old cow looked lovingly at the calf as it greedily drank the water, licking the calf's eyes with its tongue. The calf also licked the old cow's eyes. In the silence, people saw tears in the eyes of the mother and child.
Without waiting for the owner's command, they turned around and slowly walked back in silence.
Warm Reflection
To ensure her thirsty calf could drink, the cow mother willingly endured being whipped until her skin was torn and refused to give up this only chance. This act of unconditional love truly moved us. Motherhood is, even animals without the rich emotions of humans can be willing to give everything for their children. P4-5