Ji Xiaolan????tells stories about cause and effect #33 The cattle redeemed to protect its master 贖牛

(English subtitles) 紀曉嵐因果故事 Ji Xiaolan (紀曉嵐1724-1805) was an influential philosopher, politician, and writer in the Qing Dynasty of China.
Subtitles:
【紀曉嵐講因果故事】第33集 - 贖牛護主
在河間縣以東四十里的護持寺村，住著一位姓于的農夫。他家小康，日子還算過得去。 乾隆癸亥年，河間縣閙了大饑荒。許多養牛人家買不起草料，多半都把耕牛賣給了屠宰場。
In Huchisi Village, twenty kilometers east of Hejian County, lived a farmer surnamed Yu. His family was comfortably well-off, they were doing alright. In 1743, a great famine swept through the region. Many cattle-raising families could not afford fodder and most sold their cattle to slaughterhouses.
有一次于某經過屠宰場，看到有兩頭牛快要被趕進屠宰場的時候，悲哀的趴在地上吼叫，不肯再往前走。于某心生憐憫，於是脫下身上的衣服，典當後用錢贖下了這兩頭牛，並忍受著寒冷把牛趕回家飼養。
Once, Yu was passing by a slaughterhouse, he saw two cattle about to be driven into the slaughterhouse.
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They lay on the ground and bellowed sadly, refusing to go any further. Feeling pity, Yu took off his clothes, pawned them, and used the money to redeem the two cattle. He then endured the cold to drive the cattle home, and raised them.
一天夜裡，于某因事外出，有幾個盜賊從于家的屋頂上跳下來揮動斧頭，乓乒乓乓把門劈開。當時，家裡只有婦女和小孩，他們嚇得趴在床上發抖，聽天由命。
One night, Yu went out on some business. Several burglars jumped down from the roof of Yu's house and swung axes, smashing the door open with a loud crash. At that time, only women and children were at home. They were so frightened that they lay trembling on the bed, resigned to their fate.
就在這危急關頭，他家所飼養的兩頭牛，突然怒吼著跳進屋裡，奮起牛角和強盜博鬥。兩隻牛越鬥越勇，盜賊紛紛受傷，最終狼狽逃竄而去。
At that critical moment, the two cattle kept by his family suddenly charged into the house, bellowing furiously, and fought the bandits with their horns. The two cattle fought with increasing ferocity, injuring the thieves one by one, who eventually fled in disarray.
村民劉東堂說 : 「強盜在屋內，而牛關在屋外牛棚裡，竟然會知道房內發生了危險事情，進而奮力衝出堅固的牛欄，跳牆進入屋內，這一定是有某種力量，在暗中護佑于某一家人吧。」
Villager Liu Dongtang said: “The bandits were inside the house, while the cattle were locked in the barn outside.
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Yet somehow they sensed the danger unfolding indoors and fought their way out of the sturdy pen, leaping over the wall into the house. There must be some force at work, silently protecting the Yu family.”
他還親眼見過這兩頭牛，牠們身上都還留著好幾處傷疤。想當初于某不忍牛被殺，忍寒搭救，所以忍難之時，牛便誓死護衛于某一家人，報答恩情。這便是善有善報的道理吧 !
He had seen these two cattle with his own eyes, their bodies still bearing several scars. Back then, Yu could not bear to see the cattle slaughtered, so he braved the cold to rescue them. Thus, when Yu faced hardship, the cattle vowed to protect his family with their lives, repaying his kindness. This, perhaps, is the principle that good deeds induce good rewards.