The Year of the Ox is coming. In China, you will find all kinds of ox figures made of gold, wood, （塑料）, paper, and stone on sale in stores and on streets to celebrate the return.
The ox （选择） to be one of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs long time ago, do you how why?
Centuries ago, most people made their living by farming. The ox was used to help work in the fields and carry （重的） things for them.
The ox is considered one of the （象征） of being diligent and hard-working in Chinese culture. When someone gets over something difficult through hard work, people often use "niu", meaning "excellent", to （称赞）him or her.
Oxen （很少地）laugh at the weak or fear the strong. They work hard and always think of others （没有）thinking about themselves.
This is （尤其）reflected in a poem by Lu Xun. He once wrote "Fierce-browed, I coolly defy a （一千）pointing fingers; Head bowed, like a willing ox I serve the children. ", which fully shows the poet's loyalty to the people.
"They never want to be the center of attention," the （网址）China Highlights noted. So naturally, those who were born in the Year of the Ox are often expected to be hard-working, reliable and loyal.
