古时有一县官，性情刚正，深得百姓爱戴。某年洪水泛滥，冲毁桥梁，损毁田地，更将一尊重达千斤的铁牛卷入河中。此铁牛乃前朝所铸，用以镇水患，百姓视为神物，一旦遗失，恐再起洪灾。
县官闻讯，忧心忡忡，召集乡贤商议对策。众人皆认为铁牛沉于河底，难以寻回，建议重新铸造。然而县官却道：“神物不可轻弃，吾当设法将其打捞。”遂命工匠打造巨型浮筒若干，并令壮丁日夜赶工织制大网。
待一切准备就绪，县官亲临河边指挥作业。他命人将浮筒置于水中，用大网缠绕铁牛四周，然后逐步向岸边拉拽。起初水流湍急，浮筒几次险些倾覆，但众人齐心协力，终于稳住局面。经过数日努力，铁牛终被缓缓拖至岸边，围观民众无不欢呼雀跃。
县官见状，抚须笑道：“人心齐，泰山移。今日之举，非一人之力，乃众志成城也。”随后命人修缮桥梁，加固堤坝，以防日后水患再次发生。从此，此地风调雨顺，百姓安居乐业。
翻译如下：
An ancient official was known for his integrity and was beloved by the people. One year, a flood ravaged the area, destroying bridges and farmland, and even swept away an iron ox weighing thousands of jin into the river. This iron ox had been cast in the previous dynasty to ward off floods, and the locals regarded it as a sacred object. Losing it was feared to invite another disaster.
Upon hearing the news, the official became deeply concerned and called a meeting with local elders to discuss possible solutions. Everyone agreed that the iron ox was at the bottom of the river and impossible to retrieve, suggesting instead to recast it. However, the official stated, "We must not abandon such a sacred item; I will devise a way to recover it." He then ordered craftsmen to build large floats and instructed strong men to weave huge nets.
After all preparations were completed, the official arrived at the riverside to oversee the operation. He directed that the floats be placed in the water and the net be wrapped around the iron ox, gradually pulling it toward the shore. At first, the swift current nearly capsized the floats several times, but through the concerted efforts of everyone involved, stability was restored. After several days of hard work, the iron ox was finally dragged onto the bank, to the cheers of the onlookers.
Seeing this, the official smiled and said, "When people unite, they can move mountains. Today's success is not due to one person alone, but rather the collective effort of many." He then ordered the repair of the bridge and reinforcement of the embankment to prevent future flooding. From then on, the region enjoyed favorable weather conditions, allowing the people to live in peace and prosperity.
