November in Xilinhot, the cold feels like fine needles, piercing through the fur coat.
Lan Yiyi pushed open the heavy wooden door of the stable, and a warm wave mixed with hay, fermenting horse dung, and animal body heat surged out, temporarily suppressing the cold wind outside the door.
Little White Cabbage—her docile white mare, stood quietly in the enclosure.
A small dark brown bundle nestled beside it.
Seeing Lan Yiyi come in, Little White Cabbage’s ears immediately turned towards her, and its body slightly shifted, sheltering the foal more securely in the corner between itself and the railing.
Lan Yiyi smiled to herself... It’s Little White Cabbage’s first time being a mother, and she’s inexperienced, even guarding against her. So, she didn’t approach further, stopping a few steps away, her hand resting on the rough wooden railing.
The small bundle moved.
The hair on its body had already dried, fluffy and curly, dark brown, with deeper shades around the neck and back, like freshly groomed lamb’s wool.
A slender leg covered with equally short curly hair clumsily kicked open, revealing the light-color underneath, still with a hint of pink but already noticeably solid little hooves.
It tried to stand up, its front legs pushing against the straw mat with force, while its hind legs slid uncoordinatedly, its entire small body collapsing with a "poof" onto the thick hay.
Little White Cabbage immediately lowered its head, gently yet firmly nudging its side with its nose, and issuing a low, soothing "guru" sound from its throat.
The foal’s large head shook and lifted.
The pair of eyes were astonishingly big, like two deep pools, clear, and naive, reflecting the faint light falling from the stable’s ceiling, with long eyelashes blinking.
It seemed to want to see this "big thing" clearly, straining its neck, but it was evidently too strenuous, its head drooping again, and its chin resting on the hay, making a slight "poof."
It didn’t give up, tried again, its front legs lifting, and its hind legs kicking around messily, finally, its four slender legs, like newly installed supports, stood shakingly apart.
The knee joints particularly quivered as if ready to disassemble in the next second, its small body tensed tightly, its chest heaving rapidly, nostrils flaring wide, exhaling fine white air.
Even though she had seen newborn foals many times, Lan Yiyi was still enchanted by the scene before her.
She couldn’t help but utter "aww" softly... Watching indulgently at Little White Cabbage and its one-day-old foal.
This foal inherits the bloodline of China’s precious indigenous horse breed—the Aletai horse.
These horses are primarily found in the Aletai Region, being one of the large elk horse populations, large in size, reaching nearly two meters in height when mature, with strong and powerful limbs and gentle eyes.
On the plains of Northern Xinjiang, enduring temperatures below minus fifty degrees, they survive and reproduce, their endurance and physique passing harsh tests.
Although the foal in front of slightly wobbly, its framework extended, its legs long and straight, the neck’s curvature smooth, faintly outlining future magnificence.
Little White Cabbage lowered its head, gently licking its spine and behind repeatedly.
Lan Yiyi leaned against the railing, her white breath quickly dissipating in the stable’s warm air.
Fingertips feeling the rough texture and coolness of the wood, yet her mind drifted to... Li Younan.
He would probably like this little guy.
Little White Cabbage turned its head to look at her, the alertness in its eyes faded away, leaving only a kind of serene fatigue.
Only then did Lan Yiyi approach, extending her hand, and it calmly allowed her to touch the thick hair on its neck, the skin warm, feeling the powerful pulse of blood vessels.
The little bundle had its fill, releasing the nipple, satisfiedly shaking its head, the four slender legs still working hard to maintain balance.
It seemed to finally notice this big thing, fixating its large eyes on her for a few seconds, carrying pure curiosity.
Then, as if a tense string suddenly slackened, or maybe feeling safe, its four small legs bent, its entire body softly, defenselessly collapsed onto the thick pile of hay, snuggling against its mother’s solid forelegs.
It curled up, resting its head on the hay, the small ears twitching unconsciously, with its eyelids beginning to droop heavily.
Soon, the little chest only showed even and faint movements, almost invisible under the fluffy brown hair.
Newborn horses need plenty of sleep, at least a dozen hours a day.
The stable was extremely quiet, only the slow chewing sound of Little White Cabbage munching hay, and the extremely faint sound of the little bundle’s breathing as it slept.
Lan Yiyi cheerfully emerged from the stable.
Need to hurry back; she has to go to the airport tomorrow.
Lan Yiyi arrived at the airport early.
She glanced at the time, Li Younan and the others’ flight still had about an hour to go.
During this gap, Lan Yiyi took out her phone, somewhat idly scrolling through the videos and photos she captured the night before of Little White Cabbage and its child.
This foal is a stallion, given its excellent lineage, it will undoubtedly grow up to be magnificent.
One thing is certain: Li Younan really likes horses, and his riding skills are superb.
She watched the videos for a while, then put away her phone, her mind picturing Li Younan riding, still somewhat puzzled in her heart.
She rode horses since childhood, even rode so much she wanted to throw up at one point; that’s why she has such excellent riding skills.
Li Younan also rides so well... From some details, it’s evident, someone who hadn’t ridden for a long time couldn’t be so composed.

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